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Although genetically modified (GM) corn is banned in most of the world, it has been approved as "safe" for human consumption in the U.S. for 12 years and is now likely unknowingly consumed, in one form or another, by more than 90% of Americans on a regular basis. But a recent series of peer-reviewed studies were published in 2008 confirming previous studies indicating potentially severe health and environmental problems associated with the biotech crops. Recent alarming scientific research includes:
1) A new long term study by the Austrian government confirms previous findings that consumption of GM corn, for as little as 20 weeks, can damage the reproductive system, lower fertility rates and increase illness and death rates in offspring.
2) Researchers in Mexico reported in December that some popular varieties of GM corn negatively affect the learning response of bees. Scientists say this may be an indicator of the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, a recent catastrophic and mysterious die-off of as much as 30% of the world's honey bee population in the past couple of years.
3) In Italy, scientists published a study that put the biotech industry in a public relations tailspin. In the study, laboratory tests showed a direct connection between consumption of GM corn and a damaged immune system.
Additionally OCA suggests that you can use these tips to help you avoid GMO ingredients and "Frankenfoods."
1) Look for products that voluntarily label themselves as GMO or GE-free.
2) Buy Organic: Products certified as "Organic" are not allowed to contain genetically modified ingredients.
3) Avoid non-organic products that contain the most common genetically engineered ingredients: corn (corn syrup, corn meal, corn oil, etc.), fructose, dextrose, glucose, modified food starch, ingredients including the word "soy" (soy flour, soy lecithin, etc.), vegetable oil, vegetable protein, canola oil (also called rapeseed oil), cottonseed oil, and sugar from sugar beets.
More more information please see OCA's site,
and read this report.


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Catch-up time: Apple buys Workflow, Super Mario Run 2.0, Wikileaks and Dark Matter, Pokémon Go Water Event, Premium Twitter, and more!
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What MWC 2020's cancellation means for the tech industry — and you
Amid growing concerns about the threat posed by coronavirus, Mobile World Congress 2020, one of the year's biggest tech events, was cancelled last week. Here's what it means for the industry, vendors, and consumers.
You might soon be able to set default apps on iPhones, iPads, and HomePods
Hell has frozen over. Pigs are flying. And cats and dogs are living together in perfect harmony
Apple reopens 2 more stores in China, bringing total to 17.
Apple has reopened a further two stores in China, bringing the total of stores now operating in the country up to 17.
Your Fitbit Alta HR just got a little more bling with these bracelet bands
Some people think that once you buy a fitness tracker that you have to stick to traditional bands, and you know what we call those people? Wrong! There's such a variety of stylish bracelet bands and options out there for your Fitbit Alta HR.

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As they’ve done for the past couple of years, Taco Bell and Microsoft today announced that they’ve teamed up once again to giveaway some console bundles. Just like last year, there’s a limited edition Xbox One X at the center of this bundle, with a design that isn’t normally available. There are also a number of other items in the bundle, including the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, which was revealed back at E3 and is launching on November 4th.
While last year’s Xbox One X was dubbed the Platinum Edition, this new one is called the Eclipse Edition. It features the same gradient design of last year’s console, except instead of transitioning from silver to white, the Eclipse Edition transitions from black to silver. And, as with last year’s console, the Eclipse Edition will also play the Taco Bell chime whenever you power it on, so hopefully you don’t mind your Xbox doing a bit of fast food promotion on a regular basis.
For a chance to win one of these consoles, you’ll need to pick up one of Taco Bell’s double chalupa boxes beginning October 17th. There will be a code printed inside the box that you’ll then have to text in to see if you’ve won. Assuming you get lucky, Taco Bell and Microsoft say they’ll have the bundle to your door as soon as 48 hours after you’ve redeemed your code, noting that they’re aiming to make shipping times faster than they’ve been in previous years.
As always, the two companies say they will be giving away one bundle every 10 minutes on average. Aside from the Xbox One X console and the Elite controller, the bundle will also include six months of Game Pass Ultimate, which normally runs $15 per month and includes subscriptions to Game Pass on Xbox and PC along with Xbox Live Gold.
Speaking of Game Pass Ultimate, there’s another aspect to the giveaway this year. Those who order a double chalupa box online or through the Taco Bell app for in-store pickup will receive a code that’s good for two weeks of Game Pass Ultimate. You’ll be able to redeem two of those codes during the contest period, which is good for a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but keep in mind that redeeming them will upgrade any existing standard Game Pass/Gold memberships you have to a Game Pass Ultimate subscription “at a conversion ratio.”
So, all in all, this promotion is more or the less the same as was last year, only with a new Xbox and a new controller. The promotion runs from October 17th to November 23rd, and while we wouldn’t recommend eating only double chalupa boxes for the duration of the giveaway, those of you who eat at Taco Bell regularly might want to consider picking up a few and trying your luck.


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The fallout over Edward Snowden’s leakage of sensitive information about US intelligence surveillance of the internet continues and tech giants are taking it upon themselves to disclose legal orders they have received. The question is this: is Snowden a hero or villain in light of new information that he may be working with China?
Will heads roll over Snoopgate?
The never-ending car crash that is the fallout over revelations of Snoopgate – the US intelligence apparatus’ surveillance of internet data usage inside and outside the US – continues.
According to The Washington Post, top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance orders they believed to be illegal.
“President George W Bush backed down, halting secret foreign intelligence-gathering operations that had crossed into domestic terrain. That morning marked the beginning of the end of STELLARWIND, the cover name for a set of four surveillance programmes that brought Americans and American territory within the domain of the National Security Agency for the first time in decades. It was also a prelude to new legal structures that allowed Bush and then-President (Barack) Obama to reproduce each of those programmes and expand their reach.”
Facebook and Microsoft reveal legal orders
No doubt aware that trust and respect of privacy are their bread and butter in the digital age, Facebook and Microsoft disclosed they received legal orders to turn over details on about one-thousandth of 1pc of user accounts.
CNET reported that Microsoft and Facebook became the first companies to disclose the total number of legal orders they received for user data, including ones from the National Security Agency and from state, local, and federal police performing criminal investigations.
“The total for Facebook: About 18,000 accounts over a six-month period, or one-thousandth of 1pc of user accounts.
“Microsoft’s total was about 31,000 accounts over the same six-month period ending 31 December 2012. A Google representative told CNET this evening that the search company is working on disclosing the same type of statistics, and plans to be more detailed than Microsoft and Facebook.”
Is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor to the US?
But the question of whether Edward Snowden, the ex-CIA contractor who lifted the lid on this veritable can of worms is a hero or traitor has been raised as reports emerge he may sell secrets he gleaned to China.
Business Insider’s Henry Blodget said: “Snowden, most people agreed, had revealed outrageous, illegal privacy abuses by the US government spying machine. Revealing these secrets was a patriotic act, people said. Snowden might have broken some laws, but he had America’s best interests at heart. Americans should be grateful.
“A few days later, however, Snowden’s motives seem less pure. And his characterisations of US intelligence activities seem less accurate, more personal, and more naive.”
New Xbox Music layout
Moving on to a more pleasant topic, music, it appears Microsoft is about to unveil a new-look Xbox Music design, according to The Verge.
The Verge reported: “Screenshots of the new Xbox Music update show a two-panel interface that appears to improve discoverability of music and the ability to quickly access a collection of songs. Xbox Music originally launched in October for Windows 8 and Windows RT devices, with the ability to access songs from an Xbox 360, too. Although the service includes most popular songs and albums, the interface has often been slow and clunky on Windows 8 and Windows RT devices. The updated app clearly aims to improve that, with a ‘simplified design and layout’, according to Microsoft.”
Google to close down AdWhirl
TechCrunch reported that Google is planning to close down AdWhirl, a platform that lets developers flit between different ad platforms, indicating a consolidation of its position in the online advertising space.
It reported: “In a letter to developers sent out today, Google said that they will wait until 30 September to decide where they would like to move their ads. It’s encouraging them to migrate to AdMob Mediation, a competing tool that it launched after the acquisition while continuing to support AdWhirl. They can also continue to use AdWhirl, if they care to use the open source code ‘to run their own AdWhirl service’. But Google won’t be involved with hosting or supporting it.”
Whatsapp with Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia is on the verge of banning mobile messaging app Whatsapp, right after blocking Viber, according to CNET.
“The Saudi Arabian government has cracked down on messaging apps before, temporarily banning BlackBerry messenger services after BlackBerry reportedly didn’t adhere to the country’s regulatory requirements. The Saudi government complained at the time that the encrypted security used in the BlackBerry network prevented the government from monitoring communications channels, which it said could be used to threaten national security.”
In March, Saudi officials threatened to block popular internet chat, call, and messaging services Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber if they did not comply with local regulations.
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Despite strong growth figures recorded in the Europe, Germany in particular, and the United States economic growth in both regions will remain at slow pace as per the IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard. His remarks were published on Monday in a French newspaper Le Figaro, Reuters reported. He reiterated that the euro zone governments should deliver credible plans so as to reduce their budget deficits for medium terms. Instead of stipulating target dates only the contents of the plans would reassure financial markets about the financial health he remarked. “Whether it is 2013 or 2014 is not important,” he said.
Impact on Asia
A slowdown in the US would have automatic impact on growth in the short term Mr. Blanchard was quoted as saying. He might be referring to the dependent on exports to the US of the major players of Asia China, Japan and India. Exports from the three countries are majorly destined to the US and hence the impact. China recently concentrated on developing domestic market to relieve itself from depending on exports to the US. Japan market is already saturated and the haunting deflation for Japan is preventing it to shift priorities in trade it seems. Decreasing prices prevent consumers to come to shops as they expect the prices may further slip. That is making hard for Japan to increase consumer spending.


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Amid rising interest rates and a drastic rotation out of technology, fintech stocks have taken a beating this year, vastly underperforming the overall market. Global X FinTech ETF (FINX), which tracks an index of up to 100 fintech stocks, has plunged 41% over the past 12 months versus the S&P 500’s loss of 15%. Many fintech names are also feeling the pressure from the recent plunge in digital currency prices resulting from the FTX bankruptcy. Meanwhile, competition in the space is intensifying as a wave of fintech startups aim to draw in merchants.
Nevertheless, the shift in consumer spending habits to online and mobile platforms is undeniable. Expansion of the adoption of contactless payment and the growing popularity of “buy now, pay later” transactions should serve as significant tailwinds for the strong names in the industry. But not all fintech companies will stay in the race.
With a potential rebound for fintech stocks on the horizon in 2023, many investors are considering stocks from the group that have had their prices recently slashed. However, not all tickers from the space are equal. Some companies are likely to recover more robustly than others, while others may have further to fall. In this article, we’ll take a look at two firms from the fintech space. One that has several positive qualities that are likely to give it steam for a healthy rebound; the other – not so much.
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StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) provides back-office software, loans, and other financial services to small and medium-sized businesses with a focus on reinvesting the cash it generates to acquire or build new financial products for its customer base. Since early 2019, the company has grown the number of small and medium business clients by 3x, revenue by 2.3x, and net income by 2.2×.
StoneCo has developed a range of payment solutions utilized by e-commerce for businesses and merchants all over Latin America. StoneCo reported about $390 million in revenue and earnings in the third quarter. Small and medium-sized businesses using the platform surpassed 2.3 million, and total payment volume in the quarter also grew to close to $14 billion.
StoneCo stock is down close to 54% this year on news of rising interest rates, macroeconomic risks in Brazil, and some operational blunders. But base interest rates in Brazil seem to have peaked. A potential decline in the second half of 2023 is expected as Brazil’s inflation normalizes, reducing the margin pressure from rising financial expenses. Meanwhile, StoneCo’s revenue growth should benefit from increasing digitization of payments, higher take rates, and elevated growth in banking and software. STNE stock currently trades at roughly 1.4 times projected forward revenue and 33 times forward earnings, which seems fair for a disruptive, fast-growing company in a developing market.
Some prominent institutional investors have recently taken a shine to STNE. At the end of the third quarter, Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a new $110 million position in the company. Cathie Wood’s Ark Innovation fintech exchange-traded fund (ARKF) also owns roughly 2.55 million shares of the payments company valued at more than $26.5 million. STNE has a Hold rating from the pros who cover it and a median target price of $12.41, representing a 28% increase from Friday’s closing price.
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While a winning fintech stock could boost your portfolio significantly, the wrong fintech stock could be detrimental to your precious long-term returns. That’s why avoiding tickers from the group that seem especially vulnerable is critical. One stock we’re avoiding is Upstart Holdings (UPST).
Upstart’s management provided less than inspiring Q4 guidance during the company’s disappointing third-quarter earnings call, sparking yet another sell-off for the stock. UPST share price is down more than 95% from its October 2021 ATH, and it may have more to go as bank partners tighten their fists.
Amid aggressive shifts in monetary policy, institutional lenders are less willing to fund Upstart’s loans than ever. It makes sense for backers to be so cautious in the current macroeconomic environment. Rising interest rates will continue to pressure consumers leading to more defaults. Upstart is especially vulnerable as its AI models have yet to be tested during a significant down period in the credit cycle.
Making matters worse, Upstart more than doubled the amount of loans it funded in Q2 2022 in just a single quarter. The company reported $600 million in loans on its own balance sheet, up from $250 million in the previous quarter, severely exposing its balance sheet to credit risk at a terrible time. This contributed to Upstart’s third-quarter revenue miss and management’s decision to lower Q4 guidance.
Management sees Q4 revenue in the range of $125 million to $145 million. That implies revenue growth of roughly 18%, representing a sharp deceleration from the 252% revenue growth UPST delivered in Q4 2021. With growth momentum slowing while competition in the space is simultaneously growing, UPST is one fintech stock to stay away from for now. The current consensus recommendation is to Sell Upstart. A median price target of $14 represents a 20% decrease from Friday’s closing price.
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For quite some time, the battle for display supremacy has been a back-and-forth campaign: projection strikes out with new capabilities, then flat-panel TV designers counter with bigger and brighter models, forcing the manufacturers of the former to play catch-up. But with the prices of large flat panels falling lower and lower, it has seemed like two-piece projection might at last be forced into capitulation.
But with the growth of new technologies and efforts to target the wider market, projectors are back from the brink–and looking as promising as ever. Part of this resurgence, according to Brian Perreault, COO of Barrett’s Technology Solutions, is due to renewed interest and capability of the high-end buyer. “In particular, there has been more and more demand for dedicated home theaters,” he said. “We believe the uptick in the stock market has really given this segment of our business a boost.”
Craig Abplanalp, president of Seattle-based Definitive Audio, agrees, adding that recent advancements in immersive audio have played a role as well. “High-performance home theater is creating new interest in the residential market,” he said. “Technologies like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, 4K, and HDR have set new performance standards. It’s the combined experience of these technologies that are driving our business.”
For an authentic, larger-than-life silver screen experience, there’s currently no choice other than projection. Its possible cinematic successor, modular direct-view LED displays–like the 146-inch behemoth Samsung debuted at CES 2018 dubbed “The Wall”–have a prominent flaw for this use case, which Michael Heiss expertly identified in his CES recap on page 24: the inability to place left-, center-, and right-channel speakers behind the screen, leading to a subpar audio presentation. And, of course, when such solutions do hit the market, their pricing will put them out of reach of all but the wealthiest of the wealthy.
Projectors, on the other hand, have been grabbing back some turf from the large flat panel market as of late with their push for affordability.
“Lower cost, higher performance 4K HDR projectors from Sony have transformed our previously sluggish sales,” Abplanalp said. “Sony is doing the best job leveraging new technology, building premium product and providing tremendous value.”
Until recently, you could expect a 4K projector from that company to carry a five-digit price hit. At CEDIA 2017, Sony expanded its home theater projector lineup to include an entry-level offering costing less than $5,000, the VPL-VW285ES. Capable of projecting a 200-inch image in 4K with HDR, and handling 60Hz signals with 10-bit depth, the announcement was a big step for the category.
This trend was taken even further last month, beginning with ViewSonic’s pre-CES announcement of its first 4K projector, the PX727-4K. With 2,200 lumens of brightness and a contrast ratio of 12,000:1, the PX727-4K can handle HDR-10 with both Rec. 709 and Rec. 2020 compatibility, and DCI-P3 coverage for a wide color gamut. And, with an MSRP of $1,499, it’s positioned around the typical price of a higher-end 65-inch flat panel.
At the same time, BenQ came out with a $1,499 4K model of its own, the CineHome HT2550 DLP projector. Using 0.47-inch, single-DMD-chip TI DLP technology, it is capable of covering 96 percent of the Rec. 709 color gamut with BenQ’s CinematicColor technology and an RGBRGB color wheel. Like the ViewSonic PX727-4K, it is also capable of displaying HDR10 content.
CES 2018 also saw a reinvigorated push in a different production category: ultra short-throw (UST). Intended for use places where a flat panel display might have been specified, such as living rooms, manufacturers of these devices have been making strides to bring their price points to levels more competitive with flat panels, as well.
Optoma, which also unveiled a 4K home cinema projector at CES for $1,499, launched its first 4K UST model at the show, the aptly named 4K UHD HDR Laser UST. The projector, which is capable of creating a 120- to 140-inch picture–as well as a 100-inch image when positioned 8 inches from the wall–outputs 2,300 lumens with a reported 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Planned for delivery in midyear, the company is targeting a $4,999 price point, far below the industry standard of $20,000, according to the company’s senior director of planning and strategy, Jon Grodem.
At CES, Hisense announced its dedication to an integrated UST projection solution the company calls “Laser TV.” Using TI’s DLP 4K UHD DMD chip, the Laser TV shines 3,000 lumens on an integrated Screen Innovations ambient light-rejecting screen, and will be adding 150-, 88-, and 80-inch variants to its current 100-inch model this year. With the aim of being a standalone alternative to flat panels, the Laser TV features a built-in NTSC/ATSC tuner and Harman/Kardon 2.1 sound system with a wireless subwoofer. According to reports from TWICE Magazine, the 100-inch version is set to ship in late January at an MSRP of $9,999–a significant savings over the price of similar-sized flat panels.
For the client who wants a home cinema that rivals or exceeds the experience of even the finest commercial theaters, there’s innovation on that front as well. Digital Projection International’s HIGHlite Laser 4K-UHD can produce 12,500 lumens from its solid-state, laser-phosphor light source that is capable of operating for more than 20,000 hours–making this a virtually maintenance-free installation until it’s time to upgrade the client to 8K.
Pound for pound and inch for inch, projectors still rein supreme over panels in big screen entertainment–and will continue to for the foreseeable future. And with their push into mainstream consumer price ranges, high-quality home theaters are becoming increasingly in reach of typical households, opening up a tremendous swath of potential clients in the process. Will you be ready to equip them?


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Electronics Production | January 04, 2007
Foxconn has 10-year tax holiday in Czech Rep
Taiwan based EMS-giant Foxconn is one of many companies that have received a 10-year tax holidays in Czech Republic.
Foxconn, that employs 5000 in Czech Republic, have been granted a 10-year tax holidays in the country. The same applies for many other electronics producers in the Czech Republic like LCD-TV producer Changhong for instance. Producing in the EU also lets companies like Foxconn and Changhong to avoid the 14 percent tariff Brussels put on TV-sets that are made in China.


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The Bank of Canada is wading into the fraught and controversial world of digital currencies, launching public consultations this week into how Canadians might use a digital dollar.
“We’ve been researching a digital dollar for quite a while now,” said Carolyn Rogers, the senior deputy governor of the central bank. “And we’re at a point where we need help from Canadians, we need to understand what Canadians want.”
And yet the bank maintains there is neither a need nor a plan to launch a digital loonie.
So, why bother with the public consultations at all?
Rogers says more transactions are being done digitally. Only about 20 per cent of retail transactions are done in cash. And, she says, there’s been a surge in interest in various digital currencies.
When most people think of a digital dollar, they first think of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin or Ethereum. What the bank is looking at is not quite crypto, but it’s not quite what we generally think of as cash either.
“The bottom line is a digital dollar [that’s] backed by the Bank of Canada,” Rogers told CBC News.
The decision would be up to the government
Such so-called central bank digital currencies have gained traction around the world. Dozens of central banks are researching or launching public consultations.
In a statement when its public consultations began, the Bank of Canada reiterated that any decision to create a digital currency would be made by politicians, not central bankers.
“At this time, a digital Canadian dollar is not needed. And any decision to issue one rests with Parliament and the Government of Canada,” the bank wrote in a statement.
But if Parliament decided it wanted a digital currency, the bank would be responsible for issuing one. In that case, Rogers says, policy-makers should make sure a safe and reliable currency is made available.
“If Canadians wanted a digital form of currency, and they didn’t have one available from the Bank of Canada, they might start to use some of those private currencies,” like bitcoin. Those currencies sometimes face wild fluctuations, among other complications.
“So we want to make sure that they have an alternative that is as secure as the cash in their wallet. But digital,” Rogers told CBC News.
But the announcement is being met with a certain level of skepticism.
Benefits of digital currency questioned
Some critics say central bank digital currencies are a way for big governments to have yet more control over the financial lives of citizens. Others say they simply don’t see a need for a digital currency.
“It seems like this is a solution looking in vain for a problem to solve,” said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at the financial payments company Corpay.
His company’s entire business model revolves around finding ways for businesses to pay for purchases in as quick and efficient a manner as possible. And yet Schamotta doesn’t see a role for a digital loonie.
“In Canada we already have near-instant payments between people within the country. We have a very, very small unbanked population. What benefits would central bank digital currencies offer in terms of reducing payment system frictions?” he asks.
The entire idea has become something of a touchstone for conservative politicians who say they’re worried about government overreach.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has spoken out in favor of cryptocurrencies as a way to “opt-out of inflation.”
But he got a roaring ovation when he railed against the very idea of a central bank-backed digital currency at a recent rally in Woodstock, Ont.
“As long as I am prime minister, there will be no digital ID forced on people, no central bank digital currency,” Poilievre said to huge cheers.
In Florida this week, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced legislation that would ban the use of any central bank digital currency as money, saying efforts in that direction by the White House are “about surveillance and control.”
“Today’s announcement will protect Florida consumers and businesses from the reckless adoption of a ‘centralized digital dollar’ which will stifle innovation and promote government-sanctioned surveillance,” DeSantis said in a statement.
International payments problematic
The Bank of Canada says it’s simply trying to make sure the financial system works in a way that helps Canadians. Rogers says if some future government eventually decides to push ahead with the idea, it’s not like cash would suddenly disappear.
“It’s an alternative to the cash in my wallet,” Rogers said. “I can still have the cash in my wallet, we have no plan to get rid of cash. So this isn’t an exercise in replacing anything.”
But in terms of making financial transactions easier or less costly, Schamotta says the central bank is looking in the wrong direction. He says domestic payments, for the most part, work fine.
If there is a problem, he says, it lies with international payments.
He gives the example of someone in Canada trying to send money home to, say, the Philippines.
Each transaction “goes through a whole lot of hoops and steps and intermediaries, as it moves,” he said.
He says those costs add up and make a material dent in global GDP.
“The share of money being subtracted through the banking system as it moves across borders is horrible, and the poorest people in the world pay a huge burden to do this.”
Schamotta says he wishes more policy-makers were looking at ways to reduce friction in those kinds of payments instead of seeking out a role for a digital loonie at home.
The Bank of Canada’s public consultation on a digital currency opened this week. It runs until June 19.


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The Public Lands retailer will commemorate National Public Lands Day by increasing its giveback for a full week.
Public Lands, an outdoor specialty retail brand from DICK’s Sporting Goods, announced plans to double its 1% sales donations, in order to give back to the outdoors. From September 18 to 25, the store will donate its in-store and online profits to the Public Lands Fund nonprofit. Its giveback donations support the effort to protect our public lands in three areas of focus: conservation, access, and equity.
“When we first opened Public Lands, we set out to make a difference not just for our national public lands, but also for our local communities and organizations,” explained Public Lands President Todd Spaletto.
The retailer’s 1% donation of all sales to the Public Lands Fund last year granted more than $500,000 to various conservation partners, both local and international.
And just days away from the annual celebration of National Public Lands Day on September 24, the Public Lands Fund has already announced several of its 2022 grantees. While not an exhaustive list, some of these grantees include:
- Alaska Wilderness League
- Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition
- Conservation Lands Foundation
- First Waves Pittsburgh
- Green Columbus
- Rivanna Conservation Alliance
- Student Conservation Association
- The Conservation Association
- The Honnold Foundation
- The Trust for Public Land
- Wild Virginia
Public Lands Expands This Fall
In addition to doubling its giveback donations, Public Lands has more news to celebrate. This fall, the brand will open four additional stores: Framingham, Mass., on October 14; Melville, N.Y., on October 21; Kennesaw, Ga., on October 28; and Medford, Ore., on November 4.
“We’re thrilled to be able to double our giveback in honor of National Public Lands Day to support the work of these organizations. We also can’t wait to welcome people to our four new Public Lands locations,” said Spaletto.
The Georgia and Oregon locations are the chain’s first stores in the southeast and northwest, respectively.


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Global portfolio managers say Europe, especially its peripheral countries, is the region most likely to reward investors in 2016.
Alan Chua, global equities portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton, cited companies’ ability to cut costs – particularly wages – and the weak euro as supporting the region’s export competitiveness.
This is helping countries such as Greece and Portugal – the markets at the heart of the eurozone crisis that began in 2010 – move their balances of payments to healthier positions, with current-account deficits turning into surpluses. “The last time Greece had a current-account surplus was in the 1950s,” Chua said, speaking to an AsianInvestor institutional investment conference in Singapore last week.
James McDonald, Chicago-based chief investment strategist at Northern Trust, also highlighted investment opportunities in Europe. Compared to the US and Japan, European companies offer lower valuations and higher dividends.
“The European economy is most likely to show upside surprise,” McDonald said. “There’s more pent-up demand” there than in the US or Japan, which will fuel a modest but durable recovery across the eurozone.
Earnings per share for US companies are at an all-time high, while EPS for Europe are moderate, Chua said. Europe also compares favourably in terms of price-to-book valuations and the ratio between stock index levels and earning trends.
Divergence between the two markets has become irrational, he added. Comparing ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell, Chua said: “Both are oil companies owning assets denominated in US dollars, but the US-listed company is much more expensive than the one from Europe. It makes no sense.”
The outlook is also seen to be brightening for European property, especially in periphery countries. Gunnar Herm, head of European real estate research and strategy at UBS Asset Management, said property stocks were due to perform well because landlords could now charge higher rents.
For example, city-centre vacancy rates on the continent have fallen over the past few years, as consumers gradually fill up the shops. German retail sales, for example, grew by 4% in 2015, the highest rate of retail growth in the country since 1991. Herm is not so keen on London, however, where rents are already high and new supply is coming on line.
Economic recovery is creating new investment opportunities in unexpected places. For example, logistics centres in Spain and Italy are attractive because e-commerce is finally starting to take off in those places, said Herm. In addition, property developers are starting to take advantage of new sources of financing to reduce borrowing costs, as capital markets evolve to challenge the dominance of bank lending.


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Friday, January 2, 2009
New News, New Year, New Venues!
Good news to start off the new year. A cabal of bloggers have gotten it in their minds to cheer their favorite books with an award, called the Cybil, after Cybil Shepard, a famous children's book enthusiast and actual shepherd, which is cool in its own way*.
Any-hoo, two Elephant and Piggies have made it onto the list of Easy Reader Finalists, which means that not only are they in very good company (Kate DiCamillo anyone?), but also that for the first time I have the opportunity to lose a single award twice.**
Next week kicks off the Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed Tour. Check out the post as new venues have been added. I hope to see you if you're in the neighborhood.
2009. So far so good...
**All kidding aside, there's nothing nicer than being recognized by such passionate fans and advocates.


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Vermeer Corp. has joined forces with Marty Grunder, president and CEO of Grunder Landscaping Co. in Ohio and a popular green industry consultant, to sponsor educational events throughout the United States and Canada.
In addition to his Dayton area landscaping company, Grunder heads a successful consulting firm, Marty Grunder Inc. He said the firm was “beyond excited” to have Vermeer as a corporate sponsor. “Family-owned businesses like Vermeer are a great example of what can happen when you work hard and do the right thing,” he said.
Vermeer says the educational events – green industry field trips, the Grow! 2017 conference and various field days – will provide landscape professionals with valuable advice on improving business operations and administration.
While Vermeer equipment designed for the landscaping industry will also be highlighted in the sessions, the equipment maker’s commercial business unit manager, Jay Sunderman, said Vermeer’s priority will be taking advantage of the educational program to listen to landscapers.
“This kind of information is vital for Vermeer to continue to develop equipment built with the landscape professional’s needs in mind,” Sunderman said.
Komatsu America to launch Komatsu Southwest
Equipment maker Komatsu America Corp. announced this week the purchase of four branches of Road Machinery LLC that will become company-owned facilities under the Komatsu Southwest banner.
Komatsu America says the four locations – El Paso, Texas; Carlsbad, Albuquerque and Farmington, New Mexico – will support its long-term strategic plans to grow and strengthen the distribution channel.
Terms of the facilities’ purchase from Road Machinery were not disclosed.
“We will more than double the investment in equipment, tooling and training at these locations,” said Rod Schrader, CEO of Komatsu America. “We see this as an opportunity to improve the linkage of our customers to our factory experts with added customer support and responsiveness.”
Husqvarna sponsors breast cancer campaign
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Husqvarna, a division of the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products and lawn care equipment, is partnering with Living Beyond Breast Cancer to raise both awareness and funds to combat the disease.
Husqvarna’s “Saws for a Cause” campaign gives U.S. consumers a chance to help by purchasing limited-edition pink toy chainsaws from local dealers. For every purchase of a pink toy chainsaw while supplies last, Husqvarna and its partners will donate $3 to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides programs and services to those whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer.
To further raise awareness for the cause, Husqvarna is holding the 2016 Husqvarna Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway, where one randomly selected winner will receive a limited-edition pink 450 Rancher chainsaw and limited-edition pink toy chainsaw (both pictured here). You can enter using the link above. Deadline for entries is Nov. 15.
According to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, nearly 150,000 people are living with metastatic, or stage IV, breast cancer in the United States. Thousands more are diagnosed with invasive and non-invasive forms of breast cancer each year.
“We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Husqvarna during Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Jean Sachs, CEO of Living Beyond Breast Cancer. “This campaign will help us continue to provide people diagnosed with breast cancer trusted information and a community of support.”
Consumers can find a local dealer from which to purchase the pink toy chainsaw with the Husqvarna Dealer Locator tool.


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Surveillance drones are headed indoors.
Two technology companies say they are partnering to develop a fully automated drone security service designed to work inside. From takeoff to landing, the drone system, a joint venture between U.S. and Germany-based Skysense and Avansig, a Spanish technology company, will work automatically to detect “potential security threats or breaches,” Skysense wrote.
The drone security guards will apparently follow a pre-programmed route, livestreaming everything they see and flagging anything perceived as out of order. When the drones’ batteries are low, they’ll return to their charging pad and charge up on their own. The system is intended to be fully automated, requiring as little input from people as possible.
Imagine a roving CCTV camera with no blind spots. It would have really complicated the heist plan in Ocean’s 8. (But I’m sure Rihanna would’ve found a way to pull through.)
Generally speaking, automated


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Sports Direct Chairman, Director Step Down
SPD chairman Keith Hellawell and director Simon Bentley both announced they were resigning from the company’s board just before its annual shareholders meeting, even though both were on the ballot to be reappointed. Investors had been pressuring Hellawell in recent months over the company’s treatment of workers and for failing to control CEO Mike Ashley, and advisory groups had recommended against his re-election, according to a report in The Guardian.
Former Nike exec David Daly will take over as chairman of the parent of EMS and Bob’s Stores here. He joined the board last year as ... Log in to view full article.


text: The average American family's annual living expenses are $50,486, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among these expenses were: housing ($17,109), apparel ($1,801), transportation ($8,604), healthcare ($2,976), entertainment ($2,835), insurance ($5,605) and food ($6,443). Savings Nationally, the personal savings rate among U.S. households have hovered around 6%, up from under 1% during the midst of last year's financial meltdown, according to the Federal Reserve. A survey by CareerBuilder.com found that 61% of 4,400 respondents reported that they "always or usually live paycheck-to-paycheck." Thirty% of workers with salaries of $100,000 gave the same response. More than one-in-five workers say they have reduced their 401(k) contributions or personal savings in the last six months to get by. Among workers earning six figures or more, 23% report that they have also reduced their 401(k) or savings. One-third of all workers said they don't put any money aside into their savings each month, while 30% set aside $100 or less per month for savings and 16% save less than $50.


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Future Group is inching closer to a deal with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Retail as the Kishore Biyani firm crossed its first major hurdle by repaying Rs 100 crore interest on its $500 million foreign currency bonds on Monday. Future Enterprises, the parent company of Future Retail, also postponed its board meeting to be held on August 22, by a week to August 28. It’s learnt that due to some delay in talks with Reliance Retail last week, the company had to delay the financial results, though efforts are on to discuss the contours of the deal, following which the company will announce the results.
The missed interest payment on foreign currency bonds listed in Singapore would have led to the downgrading of the company to ‘default’, and lenders putting immense pressure on repayment of the pending dues or invoking pledged shares. The mid-cap company made the payment on the last date of the 30-day grace period. It was originally scheduled to make the interest payment on July 22 but missed the deadline, following which it was given 30-days grace period to honour interest payment.
“In furtherance to our letter dated July 22, 2020, wherein we had informed about the grace period of 30 days for making payment of interest on above USD Notes. Today, we are pleased to inform that the company has made the payment of said interest for the half-year ended for an amount of $14 million on above USD Notes,” Future Retail said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange on Monday.
Future Group is in talks with Reliance Retail to sell its flagship Future Retail to pay mounting debts. The companies have supposedly reached an agreement regarding certain terms and conditions, and a deal worth Rs 24,000-27,000 crore could be signed soon. The deal will make RIL the number one player in brick-and-mortar space after getting access to over 1,800 Future Retail stores in India and will lead to Biyani’s exit from the retail business.
The selling of controlling stake in Future Retail to Mukesh Ambani’s RIL is seen as the biggest setback to Biyani, known as one of the best minds in retail business in India. Future Group has accrued heavy debt over the years. As of September 30, 2019, debt at Future Group’s listed entities rose to Rs 12,778 crore from Rs 10,951 crore as on March 31, 2019. He had the March deadline for repayment of some of these dues. But the Reserve Bank of India’s loan moratorium has provided a breather.


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The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will launch with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, according to a new SamMobile report. Already rumored to debut with cutting-edge hardware, the large smartphone will be among the first devices to debut with the latest version of Android.
Samsung Galaxy Note III will ship with Android 4.3 out of the box. Samsung has just started testing Android 4.3 internally. #CONFIRMED
— SamMobile (@SamMobiles) August 9, 2013
We’re getting quite excited about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3; the device is expected to make its formal debut on September 4.


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A month-old Volkswagen dealership in Rogers is open and thriving, but an established Fayetteville dealer is asking the courts to put the brakes on its new rival.
The dispute has placed a spotlight on two of Arkansas’ better known auto dealership names, Crain and Everett.
Crain Volkswagen of Fayetteville has filed suit against Volkswagen Group of America Inc., saying it had an agreement with the German auto manufacturer to be its exclusive dealer in Washington and Benton counties.
But when the Volkswagen Group asked Crain around 2020 to build another VW dealership in Rogers, Crain balked, arguing it didn’t have enough inventory to supply its existing Fayetteville site, according to Larry Crain Sr., president of Crain Imports of Fayetteville LLC, which operates as Crain Volkswagen.
So Volkswagen turned to the Everett Automotive Group, which built a dealership in Rogers and opened as Everett Volkswagen of Rogers in early December. That site is about 15 miles from the Crain lot.
“There is no basis for adding another point in Arkansas for a Volkswagen store, especially in northwest Arkansas, where we already … had that assigned area,” Crain told Arkansas Business. “And so it’s just a mess. That should never have occurred.”
Crain Volkswagen’s suit claims Volkswagen Group of America violated the dealer agreement. Crain has also filed a separate suit appealing the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission’s decision to award Everett a franchise dealer license to sell Volkswagens.
Volkswagen Group responded with court filings asking for Crain’s lawsuit to be dismissed, or for Crain to amend its complaint with more specific allegations against the company.
Crain Volkswagen “does not specifically identify which contractual provisions have been violated,” according to a filing by one of the Volkswagen group’s attorneys, Paul Collins of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP of Columbia, South Carolina.
A spokesperson for Volkswagen didn’t respond to a call for comment.
The Motor Vehicle Commission said it doesn’t comment on pending litigation. But in its court filings, it asked that the case be dismissed.
Kevin Wilson, the general manager at Everett Volkswagen of Rogers, told Arkansas Business last week that the Everett dealership has no dispute with the Fayetteville location, and that sales in Rogers have been “absolutely wonderful.”
“The first month we did great,” Wilson said.
The lawsuit provides some insight into the auto businesses affiliated with two groups ranked on Arkansas Business’ annual list of the state’s 75 largest private companies. The Crain Management Group of Sheridan reported $791.4 million in revenue in 2021, and Everett Automotive Group of Bryant reported $748 million in 2021.
Coming to Fayetteville
In 2014, the Volkswagen Group sold 367,000 units, a drop from 408,000 a year earlier, according to Crain Volkswagen’s suit, which is pending in U.S. District Court in Little Rock.
In 2015, “Volkswagen represented to us that they were going to get their total annual sales to more than 800,000 units” within four or five years,” Crain told Arkansas Business.
Within a year or two VW was supposed to have sales of 600,000 units.
Based on the manufacturer’s projections, Crain’s company, Crain Automotive Holdings LLC, spent $2.25 million in 2015 to buy the assets of Volkswagen of Northwest Arkansas, operated by J.B. “Bryan” Hunt Jr. of NWA Imports LLC.
At the time, Crain Volkswagen’s dealership in Springdale was the only Volkswagen lot in Washington and Benton counties. The closest VW dealerships were in Fort Smith and Tulsa.
Crain Volkswagen then spent another $7 million to build a VW dealership in Fayetteville, which opened in 2017, absorbing the Springdale location.
The Volkswagen Group “agreed to the construction of the new facility and for Crain VW to be the exclusive VW dealer in Washington and Benton counties,” the suit said.
Crain VW also planned to build a second facility in Rogers about two years after the Fayetteville location opened, Crain told Arkansas Business. But by the time the Fayetteville location opened, the VW brand had taken a blow and sales had plummeted.
In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, sued Volkswagen, alleging the company violated the Clean Air Act through the sale of about 600,000 diesel vehicles that had software designed to cheat on emissions tests. Volkswagen agreed to pay $4.3 billion to settle.
The automaker stopped selling diesel vehicles in the U.S., “which severely impacted Crain VW’s sales and services,” Crain’s suit said. Diesel models accounted for about 20% of Volkswagen’s total sales, Crain said.
He said his company declined to build the dealership in Rogers, even though VW told it to do so. “We said when you get your sales back up to 600,000 like you represented, then we will build that,” Crain said. He said sales didn’t justify another location.
Crain said that Volkswagen told him that if his company didn’t build it, it would find someone to do it.
Enter the Everetts
Dwight and Susie Everett had been in the automotive industry in central Arkansas for more than 30 years when they co-founded the Everett Automotive Group in 2006, according to Everett Volkswagen’s website.
The Everetts own four other dealerships: Infiniti of Central Arkansas, Everett Chevrolet and Everett Ford, all in Benton; and Everett Buick GMC in Bryant. In 2021, the Everett Automotive Group announced it was building a dealership in Rogers to sell Volkswagens. Rogers was selected because of the area’s growth, according to a news release in April 2021.
Crain Protests to State
On Nov. 15, Crain filed a protest urging the motor vehicle commission to deny “any request for an additional new VW dealership” in Washington and Benton counties.
Crain Volkswagen said the manufacturer couldn’t provide “adequate units for sale to meet the current demand of its current dealers,” according to a letter by Crain’s attorney, Skip Davidson of Little Rock.
Crain Automotive Holdings LLC owns more than 20 dealerships in Arkansas, including Crain VW.
Davidson told Arkansas Business the commission awarded Everett the licenses without giving Crain a hearing. “We should have been allowed to present our protest and introduce information about the … lack of availability of inventory,” he said. “And how that additional dealership would be detrimental to the public because of the limitations on inventory.”
He also said a new location wouldn’t result in more sales, but only a change in sales from one to another.
“And that commission said no, we have to issue the license if the new dealership is more than 10 miles away.” Davidson added that the appeal is asking Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Herbert Wright reverse the commission’s decision on the license and grant Crain Volkswagen a hearing.
That case is pending.


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Emergency flights must be allowed to go ahead for up to one million Britons estimated to be stranded overseas as countries impose travel bans over the coronavirus pandemic.
The call was made by the boss of air charter firm Air Partner which worked with the Foreign Office to repatriate passengers from coronavirus cruise ship Diamond Princess from Japan last month.
Chief executive Mark Briffa spoke out in the wake of the Foreign Office telling British people to return to the UK ahead of the country being forced into lockdown.
Briffa revealed that the company is working with customers in the cruise sector to repatriate “significant volumes” of passengers, adding: “We must be allowed to continue to do so”.
He said: “Airports and airways need to remain open for urgent travel and transportation, but currently the trend is going in the other direction, towards universal closure, despite the fact that there are still countless people stranded around the world, with limited – if any – means of getting back to their home countries.
“Presently, there are an estimated 300,000 to one million Britons stranded overseas, many of whom cannot afford the drastically inflated ticket prices for the few flights that are operating back to the UK.
“Governments must have the appropriate designations and approvals in place to enable evacuations and repatriations to take place.”
Briffa added: “Our business, like all others in the global aviation industry, is feeling the impact of Covid-19, but we all understand that, in the health interests of global citizens, travel must be restricted in order to contain the virus.
“But the key here is that travel is restricted, not ‘blanket banned’. We simply ask that proportionate measures are taken.
“We opened up the skies so that we could transport people and goods quickly and efficiently around the globe: let’s not close them entirely when we need to do this more than ever, in order to fly people safely home and get supplies to those who desperately need them.”


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3.28.18 Your morning briefing
The information you need to start your day, from PaymentsSource and around the Web:
Uber the money
Uber has applied for an e-money license from the Dutch central bank, a move designed to diversify the ride sharing app's financial options and gain new revenue streams from its considerable enrollment base.
An Uber spokesperson told Sky News the license would "streamline" Uber transactions and expand its range of products. Uber's international headquarters is in the Netherlands, and a subsidiary called Uber Payments BV is handling the application, reports Sky.
Uber's long been a mixed bag of innovation, fast growth and scandal, but its relatively seamless order-and-pay model is a potential starting point for other transactions such as P2P transfers, a flexibility that's already apparent through partnerships with companies such as Amex. And Asian ride sharing app Grab, has already built retail and P2P transactions into its service.
How Shyp sank
Shyp was to shipping what PayPal was to payments — so much so that both companies can credit eBay with their early success. But while PayPal quickly set its sights on small businesses, Shyp stayed focused on the consumer until it was too late to correct its course.
Shyp, which launched in 2014, shut down on Tuesday, CEO Kevin Gibbon wrote in a blog post that explained how things went wrong. According to Gibbon, the company was encouraged so much by comparisons to Uber that it failed to see the need to pivot until it was too late. Even a pact with eBay wasn't enough to save it.
Its model for payments was also a factor, according to TechCrunch.
Much like Uber makes payments disappear in the background of its ride-sharing app, Shyp attempted the same with a $5 one-size-fits-all delivery fee structure, TechCrunch noted. When this proved unsustainable, the company added other fees for returns and larger shipments, making the payment process far more prominent and complicated.
A new face for Apple Watch
Apple Watch, one of the few smartwatches to support NFC payments in every iteration, will get a redesign this year, according to 9to5mac.
The new edition will have a 15% larger display and added health sensors, but the report does not address whether it will still support Apple Pay. Fitbit's newest smartwatch, the Versa, dropped Fitbit Pay in its standard model but includes it in a version that costs $30 more.
Say 'no' to ICO
Five initial coin offerings have been halted in Massachusetts, under orders of the Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, who declared the coins unregistered securities.
Part of Galvin's concern was that the five companies listed Massachusetts as their location but hadn't registered with the state, Engadget reports. The move is meant to serve as a caution to potential ICO investors.
From the Web
Shares of retailer-turned-cryptocurrency play Overstock.com plunge on share offering
CNBC | Tue Mar 27, 2018 - Overstock.com shares plunge and are down more than 30 percent this year. The e-commerce company is offering 4 million shares of new stock, underwritten by Guggenheim. The company has moved into the cryptocurrency and blockchain space through its subsidiary tZero and is under investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Your guide to cryptocurrency regulations around the world and where they are headed
CNBC | Tue Mar 27, 2018 - As demand for cryptocurrency grows, global regulators are divided on how to keep up. Most digital currencies are not backed by any central government, meaning each country has different standards. Every seemingly small regulation announcement has driven the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in 2018. Here's your guide to where digital currencies stand with governments and regulators around the globe.
Vietnam May Soon Emerge As One Of Southeast Asia's Blockchain Innovation Hubs
Forbes | Tue Mar 27, 2018 - Looking at financial inclusion alone, only 31% of adults in Vietnam have bank accounts. But smartphone ownership is on the rise, with 40% of the population expected to own these devices by 2021, which means app-based, blockchain financial services could bring the underbanked into the fold. Instead of struggling to secure credit or invest their money, more people could grow their wealth and establish financial histories.
More from PaymentsSource
When merchants prefer stale tech, what can innovators do?
There are still millions of merchants in the U.S. clinging to relic point of sale methods — and they are not easily swayed by fancy new touchscreens and mobile wallets. This means companies such as Verifone must go to greater lengths, just to meet them halfway.
Data: P2P’s got problems
Despite more bank and investor activity around digital P2P payments, consumer usage of P2P is a mixed bag.
A 'dual message' that puts issuers' flexibility on the spot
Domestic debit networks' dual-message transaction options have the ability to disrupt the customer experience, add complexity to back offices operations, and impact issuers’ contractual obligations to their global networks, writes Patrick Goodwin, president of SRM.
French supermarket Carrefour gets into mobile payments
French supermarket chain Carrefour has launched its own mobile wallet, making Carrefour Pay available to customers as part of its plan for a complete omnichannel experience.


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According to White House Insiders, Presidents Obamas new Gun Control Task force is looking to get big businesses like Walmart involved in the Gun Control Fight. The Whitehouse is said to be working on strategies that would allow them to bypass congress; some of these proposals include using WalMart and other gun retailers to self-regulate the industry.
WalMart is one of the leading sellers of firearms and ammunition; for their support, the Obama administration would make them one of the only retailers allowed to legally sell firearms. In my opinion, this is an attempt to push smaller gun shops out of business so that one or two major retailers control the entire industry. Once this happens, the White House will have their back door gun control measures in place, and with one executive order could easily crash the entire industry.
Walmart’s not So Gun Friendly Record.
Back in 2008 Walmart, in partnership with Mayors Against Illegal Guns, rolled out a 10-point agreement to track the sale of firearms. The agreement between WalMart and the group set up a surveillance system that videotaped all gun and ammo purchases at every Walmart in the country. Most people don’t realize that these purchases are stored indefinitely by Walmart.
This should be a huge wake-up call to anyone who values their 2nd amendment rights. In my opinion, this news taken with yesterdays Anti-Gun assault from Bank of America, shows how desperate these anti-gun politicians are becoming. It also shows how their partnership with big business can help them shred the Constitution without ever having to go through Congress again.


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Ozark Farmers Market is relocating to the Ozark Mill at the Finley Farms development that Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris is creating near the city’s downtown area.
The farmers market starts its 13th season May 2. It will operate on Thursdays through September at Ozark Mill, according to a news release. It previously was located at the Ozark Community Center, aka The OC, said Katherine Dowdy, co-founder and treasurer of the Ozark Farmers Market, via email.
“We believe in the value of local food and the importance of gathering spaces like farmers markets to strengthen a community,” said Megan Morris, Johnny Morris’ daughter who’s working on Finley Farms and the mill restoration project, in the release. “The Ozark Farmers Market is a proud community tradition that we think will reach great new heights as part of the Finley Farms experience.”
The Ozark Farmers Market will be set up near The Workshop, a former industrial garage at Finley Farms that’s being converted into a culinary, crafts and gardening workshop venue.
Dowdy said the farmers market counts around 25 vendors, who bring produce, fruit, baked goods, beef, eggs, crafts and other items to the weekly event. Food trucks and live music acts also are in attendance at the 3-7 p.m. farmers market.
“Guests will enjoy our proximity to the Finley River and park, as well as the city’s walking trails,” Dowdy said in the release. “It’s the ideal setting to showcase the locally grown foods and artisanal products of our vendors.”
At Finley Farms, crews earlier this year relocated the historic Ozark Mill to a newly constructed foundation as part of revitalization efforts.
Johnny Morris had stayed quiet about some 32 acres he owns around Ozark Mill until January 2018, when he signaled development plans. With the mill serving as the focal point, other planned Finley Farms features include an urban farm, restaurant, speakeasy, an ice cream parlor, and private and public event areas.
The first components are slated to open later this year, with the ice cream parlor, dubbed The Post, scheduled to be finished in the first half of 2019, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.
Bike enthusiast Cody Stringer is betting his bike share nonprofit will lead to a more bike-friendly city.
As employees are more mobile and have a desire to work from home, Haden Long owner of Ellecor, explains office spaces are trending towards a more home-like feel. Things like shared work spaces, office pets, and cozy furnishings allow employees to be selective about where they work and become more effective as a result.
Every industry has to navigate trend shifts, but Scott Shotts of Missouri Spirits describes the changes in beverage industry as anarchy. Tried-and-true spirits rules are being ignored. Learn how the local distillery balances following the trends for product development with taking risks.
Kevin Wyas, founder of ECRI, started his first business at the age of 19, ran the business for 16 years before selling it. He recognizes the benefits of starting a business so young when he had relatively little to lose. "The stress and the uncertainty of this would be crippling," he says for somebody accustomed to a regular paycheck.
ighty percent of questions are common across industries, so you don't need industry-specific experience to do effective market research according to Debra Kassarjian, independent consultant and owner of DKInsights. As a matter of fact, she thinks there is a great deal to be gained from exchanging ideas outside of your industry.
Danny Collins, 37 North founder and guide, says the biggest leap they took in the first year was to purchase a vehicle. That major financial investment, however, allowed them to provide their outdoor guide services at a price point they felt was more appropriate.
Springfield Diner owner Ömer Önder sits down with a restaurant consultant who starts challenging the menu offerings."No bashful food." The blunt conversation is the launching off point to determine how the Mediterranean influence will affect the young restaurant's offerings in the future. Made to Order is an ongoing sbjLive documentary series in collaboration with Springfield Business Journal tracking the rebranding of a local restaurant.
Haden Long, owner of Ellecor, opened a retail home decor business five years ago in a traditional retail space. When the interior design side of the business took off, she decided to renovate a 100-year old bungalow to better show off product samples and installations.
Scott Shotts, partner with Missouri Spirits, says when they started in 2011 there were approximately 300 distilleries in the U.S. and now there are more than 3,000 so competition has grown significantly. Diversification of their business model has helped them succeed.
Matthew Blystone of Theta Float Spa had the financial means to start the unique business, but used crowdsourcing for pre-orders to determine market interest in addition to gathering a nice cash reserve before opening.
Avery Parrish with the Springfield Regional Arts Council explains how businesses can display local art in their spaces for a fraction of the price of investing in a permanent collection. The corporate partnership program allows a business to select from a customized portfolio of local artists' work curated based on the company's mission and aesthetic that can be switched out every six or 12 months.


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BlackBerry company officially denied the information according to which acquires controlling stake in Samsung for $ 7.5 billion.
Despite the denial, shares of Canadian producer jumped in price by almost 30%.
Information about the fact that the leaders of Samsung and BlackBerry last week held talks about a possible deal, today was refuted "blackberry" company.
"We are aware of reports that have been published today in the media about the possible purchase of Samsung BlackBerry. We inform you that the management of BlackBerry does not lead any negotiations with Samsung in this direction ", - says the official announcement
Samsung also made refutation Which says that the company "does not plan to acquire BlackBerry".
Earlier communicated That under the agreement, and the South Korean giant Canadian manufacturer will work to secure smartphones. According to Reuters, Samsung BlackBerry assessed based on the securities of the company, which at that time were worth less than $ 10 apiece.
The rumor that Samsung BlackBerry gets favorable impact on the shares of Canadian companies that have jumped in price by 30%.
According to Reuters, the deal could open for Samsung access to "blackberry" developments in the field of data protection, as well as a large enough segment of the business, which at the time was switched BlackBerry.


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PlayStation 5 restock on February 22: How to pre-order PS5, PS5 Digital Edition online
Due to semiconductor shortages and supply chain constraints, Sony has not met the demand for its PS5 globally. You will need an account to buy the PS5 at ShopAtSC, Sony's website. If you have previously purchased the PS5, you won't be able to buy another from the same account.
Published:Tue, February 22, 2022 9:00am
Sony India has restocked the company's next-gen gaming console, PlayStation5. The gaming console will be made available through Sony authorized stores and online retailers like Amazon, GamesTheShop, and ShopatSC on February 22 at 12:00 PM IST for re-pre-orders. It is the second time in 2022 that the PS5 is available for pre-order. The first restock took place on January 18 of this year.
The company launched PlayStation 5 in November 2020, and a few months later, Sony India brought PS5 to India on February 2, 2021. Since then, the PS5 has seen a lot of demand in the country, and the console gets sold out very fast. Due to semiconductor shortages and supply chain constraints, Sony has not met the demand for its PS5 globally.
How to pre-order
You will be able to pre-order Sony PS5 from 12 pm today, i.e., February 22. Both the models will be available on multiple platforms, including Croma, Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance Digital, Sony Centre, Vijay Sales, Games the Shop. You can pre-order it via prepaid gamer cards.
You will need an account to buy the PS5 at ShopAtSC, Sony's website. If you have previously purchased the PS5, you will not be able to buy another from the same account.
PlayStation 5 shortage
In addition to the standard PS5 console, the PS5 Digital Edition went on sale in the country for the first time through Sony Center. But customers had to face many problems during the digital version booking during this period. As such, only limited units were available. According to the report, one can expect more PS5 digital versions, but nothing is clear about the new accessories.
This is for the 13th time since the launch that the PS5 is made available for pre-booking. Sony recently said that it shipped just 3.9 million PlayStation 5 consoles in the festive quarter of 2021. Reportedly, a total of 17.3 million units have been shipped as of December 31. Notably, the gaming division's revenue fell 8 percent year-on-year (YoY) to 813.3 billion yen ($7.09 billion), but operating profit rose 12.1 percent to 92.9 billion yen ($810 million) as per Verge.
In addition, Sony's important image sensor division had a good quarter, with sales up 22 percent year over year to 57.8 billion ($504 million).
As far as price is concerned, the Sony PS5 is priced at Rs 49,990 in India. However, the cost of the Digital Edition is Rs 39,990. The latter does not have a Blu-ray Disc drive about the difference between these two consoles. Currently, the tech giant has not given information about the shipping and availability date of the console.


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Thanks to its low-price focus, Wal-Mart was one of the few companies that actually benefited from the recession. Now, the retailing behemoth is hoping concerns about a “jobless recovery” will open up the one market Wal-Mart has yet to crack: big urban centres.
In Chicago, city councillors anxious to create jobs recently approved a Wal-Mart store that had previously run into local opposition. Wal-Mart is hoping it’s the beginning of a trend, and is reportedly contemplating smaller stores—about four per cent the size of a typical supercentre—that it can pack full of groceries and wedge into other big-city neighbourhoods.
Another concept is urban stores where customers can pick up items ordered over the Internet. Not only would that be convenient, it would save image-conscious city dwellers the embarrassment of being caught shopping in a chain often derided as a suburban blight.


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MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Sept. 24, 2002 — The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) Monday approved a settlement agreement, which ends an investigation into Northern Indiana Public Service Company’s (NIPSCO) electric rates.
NIPSCO, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and several industrial and commercial customers filed the agreement in June. Under the terms of the approved settlement, NIPSCO’s electric customers will receive bill credits of approximately $55 million each year, for a cumulative total of $225 million for the 49-month term of the agreement.
The electric credits could begin appearing on customers’ billing statements starting in November.
“We’re pleased that this investigation is over,” said NIPSCO President and Chief Executive Officer Barrett Hatches. “The Commission’s order brings a balanced resolution of this issue and represents the hard work of many parties over a lengthy period of time. The agreement also underscores NIPSCO’s continuing commitment to service quality and to economic growth in Northern Indiana.”
Other key elements of the agreement include:
* Current Electric Rates: NIPSCO may only request a rate increase in case of an emergency.
* Economic Development: The company will re-establish an economic development rate designed to promote new business development and job growth in northern Indiana.
* Sharing Mechanism: The IURC may investigate the company’s rates during the term of the agreement. If the commission determines that the company is over-earning in a 12-month period, the amount over-earned will be split with customers. NIPSCO’s allowed net operating income and earnings bank remain unchanged.
NIPSCO, with headquarters in Merrillville, Ind., is one of the 10 energy distribution companies of NiSource Inc. With nearly 700,000 natural gas customers and 430,000 electric customers across the northern third of Indiana, NIPSCO is the largest natural gas distribution company, and the second largest electric distribution company, in the state. NiSource distribution companies serve 3.7 million natural gas and electric customers primarily in nine states. More information about NIPSCO is available at www.nipsco.com .


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Aldi Opens Bottomless Pigs in Blankets Restaurant in Supermarket First
To make sure that Aldi had the news agenda all wrapped up for Christmas, the Clarion team set-about ideating and developing the nation’s first bottomless Pigs in Blankets Restaurant – the ultimate experience for pig in blanket enthusiasts.
Located in North London’s Camden Passage (N1), the exclusive restaurant will allow fans to Press for PIBs and indulge in a six-course menu of Aldi’s biggest pigs in blankets range to date. Better yet, the menu can be repeated, meaning no blanket will be left unturned.
Opening to the public from Friday 24th November – Saturday 25th November, all Pigs in Blanket (PIB) fans need do is visit Eventbrite and select their booking slot. Limited spaces will also be available for hungry walk-ins.
Tickets are available for only £5 per person via Eventbrite with proceeds donated to Aldi’s charity partner – Neighbourly.
With Aldi expected to sell a whopping 43 million of the Christmas staple this year, shoppers should not fear if they can’t make the anticipated event, with the full range of pigs in blankets available in stores nationwide from 24th November.


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Apple’s fifth generation Apple TV, a.k.a. Apple TV 4K, will start shipping to customers on September 22.
As suggested by previous reports, the new set-top box boasts impressive 4K video support — representing a major advance in terms of video quality, and providing what Tim Cook calls “cinematic quality [for] everything you watch.” And that’s not all!
4K video is a go-go!
The 4K video means not just four times the number of pixels as current HD, but the set-top box’s High Dynamic Range also allows for richer color and more detailed images. The entire Apple TV interface (including its screensavers) has been reconfigured for 4K, and it supports both industry standard HDR10 and Dolby Vision profiles.
Best of all? Apple has brokered deals with Hollywood studios to include 4K movies in the iTunes Store, which will priced at the same level as present HD movies. (In a neat touch, Apple will let you upgrade existing HD purchases to 4K free of charge.)
It also includes 4K content from Netflix and, later this year, Amazon Prime Video too. All of this puts Apple on at least the same level as Roku, Amazon, and Chrome, which already offer 4K streaming.
Under the hood
To handle all this awesomeness, the Apple TV 4K packs the same A10X Fusion processor found in the newest iPad Pro, along with 3GB of RAM. This is an upgrade on the A8 chip and 2 GB RAM found in the previous Apple TV. It allows for 4K content to be played at 60 fps — thereby helping make the Apple TV 4K a better gaming machine.
Interestingly, no mention was made of the Siri remote, which has been rumored to include new haptic feedback technology to help differentiate the touchpad area of the remote from the rest of it. Whether this is because Apple’s got a ton of stuff to pack into this keynote, and therefore left it out, or if the rumors were wrong, remains to be seen.
Take our money now
The latest Apple TV will be available on September 22, priced at $179 with 32GB of internal storage or $199 with 64GB. Preorders will open on September 15.
Will you be buying one? Leave your comments below.


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A BARNSLEY-based businessman has completed the buyout of a leading food service and retail equipment supplier.
Phil Williams, of Cudworth, is the current managing director of Victor Manufacturing, in Bradford, and has been with the company for more than 20 years.
The 57-year-old, who has lived in Barnsley all his life, took the decision to take over the company when the firm was put up for sale by the Mrs J M Mountain Will Trust.
Following the takeover, Phil said he has ‘ambitious plans’ to continue the company’s success over the next five years.
“It is a really exciting time for Victor as we enter new markets and continue to grow our existing ones,” said Phil.
“Having been part of the company for almost 20 years, I am looking forward to working with the team to continue the great work we have become renowned for over the last 75 years.
“The new ownership will provide peace of mind to our staff, customers and suppliers that it is business as usual.
“And with my new commitment as owner as well as managing director, they can be confident in a very strong future ahead.”


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Manitobans to pay more for beer starting Friday
Price of beer rising by about $2 per 12-pack on March 8
Manitoba will see a province-wide hike in the cost of beer starting Friday.
The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission is increasing the price of "popular beer brands" due to a supplier price increase and an internal markup.
The MLCC said brands like Budweiser and Molson Canadian will see a $2 increase, making the price jump to $23.75 for a 12-pack.
J.C. Siwicki, who owns the Silver Heights Restaurant and Bar on Portage Avenue, said previous increases have been small, but the latest hike is too much for his business to absorb without raising prices.
"Now it's such a huge hit, like $25 to $30 on a keg," he said. "We have to raise our prices."The commission will also raise the price of liquor next month.
On April 1, prices will go up by about 62 cents per litre. For a 750-millilitre bottle, Manitobans will have to pay about 47 cents more.
You can check on the price of your favorite brand on the MLCC’s website.
The commission last raised the price of beer and liquor in the province in 2010, when they hiked the price of an average 12-pack by $1.25.


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Kanye West Is Officially A Billionaire ! And The Richest Man In Hip Hop!
Kanye West Is Officially A Billionaire And The Richest Man In Hip Hop!! According to a Forbes report. The rapper not only joins hip hop heavy weight Jay Z who have for a while been the richest man in hip hop but displaced HOV who has an estimated network of 1 billion dollars.
Kanye can thank his sneaker deals for his newly found billy status. In a detailed article about Kanye’s sneaker empire, Forbes coined the rapper as having “In just a few years, created a brand that’s challenging Nike’s Air Jordan for sneaker world supremacy”
Kanye’s official net-worth is said to be 1.3 billion dollars, 300 million more than Jay Z and If you curious to know how much Kanye has made from G.O.O.D Music, Documents shown to Forbes indicated that West’s G.O.O.D. label—and his own recorded music and publishing rights—to be worth at least $90 million.
As of today Kanye is the richest man in hip hop , followed by Jay Z with a 1 billion dollars net-worth , Dre comes third with a 800 million dollars net-worth and Diddy last with atleast 750 million.


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As businesses recover from a year like no other, Facebook Ireland has launched its ‘Peak Season Prep Series’. This free online training will help businesses prepare for and utilise the busiest shopping season of the year to further boost their recovery.
Facebook’s latest State of Small Business report found that Covid-19 generated a shift in how SMEs around the world and in Ireland do business. Online sales became a lifeline during the pandemic to help keep many businesses afloat. The report shows that those who made the pivot to online are still reaping the benefits even as stores physically reopen. Half of Irish SMEs (50%) report that at least 25% of their revenue is generated by digital sales, up from 35% of SMEs in February, demonstrating that customers continue to support businesses online.
Facebook’s free training sessions will help businesses benefit from the pivot to shopping more online and will help them focus on how best to acquire and grow a large customer base. Topics include building an actionable business plan for Christmas, how to optimise creativity and influencer marketing tactics as well as covering key insights around sustainable gifting for environmentally conscious businesses. The next webinar will take place on 7th October at 10am and will guide businesses through a step by step process on how to create impactful ads for the peak shopping season.
Commenting on the importance of supporting businesses as they recover; David Harris, Director of Global Business at Facebook said:
“Last year, shoppers in Ireland were in lockdown for much of the peak holiday shopping season. Consumers had no alternative but to shop online and many businesses underwent a radical process of digital transformation in order to survive. This year, with physical stores reopened, we are expecting a big surge in both online and store sales as the pent up consumer demand that built up during the pandemic is released. Facebook Apps are now a key part of both the online and physical shopping experience. Our peak training series aims to help small Irish businesses utilise the Christmas season efficiently to help boost their post-pandemic recovery.
Further updates on the schedule for the free ‘Peak Season Prep Series’ can be found at https://peakseasonprep2021.splashthat.com/ or businesses can watch them on demand at https://www.facebook.com/watch/185130644919625/1680905325444658/


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There was a lot of talk surrounding Google’s introduction of its very own social networking platform: Google Plus. How would it fare next to giants like Facebook and Twitter? While it seems the comparative success of Google Plus is still up in the air in regards to mainstream social networking, many loyal fans of Google Plus argue that the relatively new social media site does fill a creative niche that sets it apart from its competitors. Businesses, especially, are finding that a Google Plus business page can pack a lot of punch when it comes to marketing, branding, and building a credible Internet presence. As a matter of fact, Google recently made Google Plus business pages virtually mandatory for businesses concerned with maintaining the web status quo, with the announcement that Google Plus is completely absorbing Google Places, in the form of Google Plus Local. If you find yourself in the position of making that all-important switch from Google Places to Google Plus Local, then here are some things you should know.
Online Marketers aren't born, they are made, through years of experience, dedication, testing & trying. We made the mistakes so you didn't have to. You benefit by getting results, quickly, repeatedly & cost-effectively. How can we help you?


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The Venezuelan government has seized control of a plant belonging to Smurfit Kappa, the Irish packaging company has confirmed.
On 21 August, the plant was seized and two managers were arrested.
Venezuela claims that Smurfit Kappa engaged in price speculation, smuggling and refusing to sell to local businesses.
It has demanded that the Irish firm immediately adjust all prices for its products.
The seizure of the plant will last for 90 days.
Smurfit Kappa said in a statement that it had operated its Venezuelan operations “to the highest business and ethical standards” in the almost 80 years it had been in the country.
“As a result of this action by the government of Venezuela, it is impossible for SKCV to manage its affairs in a way that complies with our normal business standards,” said Smurfit Kappa.
“Consequently, as of 28 August 2018, SKCV is not responsible for the use of its installations, machinery and equipment, its employees’ safety, that of its surrounding communities, any environmental impact, or the quality of the paper and packaging manufactured in the operations.”
The packaging firm said that it was making all possible efforts to secure the release of its two employees, and that it was fully committed to protecting the interests of its stakeholders.


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British Fashion Awards 2012:Manolo Blahnik to receive Outstanding Achievement Award
With a career spanning almost 40 years, shoe designer Manolo Blahnik's colourful contribution to fashion will be recognised at the forthcoming British Fashion Awards.
Legendary shoe designer Manolo Blahnik OBE will be bestowed with the British Fashion Council's Outstanding Achievement award at the British Fashion Awards, on November 27.
The Spanish-born, Bath-based designer said the award, which was voted for by a panel of leading internationally acclaimed journalists and retailers was "a great honour", adding: "to be recognised for doing something I love is really wonderful."
With a career spanning almost 40 years, his elegant, ladylike designs have won over the likes of Victoria Beckham, Rihanna, US Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and famously, Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw.
The late Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Sir Paul Smith have all been recipients of the Outstanding Achievement Award.
Earlier this year, Blahnik expanded his shoe empire across the capital thanks to a business deal with Kurt Geiger, leading to concessions in Harrods and Liberty, and was awarded an honorary degree by his local university, Bath Spa. The designer is currently working on a creative campaign for the February 2013 instalment of London Fashion Week: an open brief to bring the concept of the catwalk shows and the Somerset House hub will be revealed next year.
In a statement, the BFC's chief executive Caroline Rush said of Blahnik: "Throughout his career he has contributed so much, not only to British fashion but also internationally, he has a worldwide cult following and this is true testament to his enduring talent and success. It is truly well deserved and it will be a great honour to work with him on next season's London Fashion Week, we are extremely excited to see his designs on display at Somerset House."


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Soon, if you miss a morning of NBC’s Today, you’ll be able to catch up with a never-ending stream of material from the show. Beginning Wednesday, NBC is bringing an around-the-clock, free, ad-supported feed of Today to its Peacock streaming platform.
The new Today All Day stream will feature four six-hour blocks of content. It will offer a mix of recent segments, as well as original shows with the current Today hosts. So, it won’t exactly be a streamed version of the four weekday hours and two weekend hours of Today that run on NBC’s broadcast network.
“Those four hours that we do on TV are incredibly important,” Chris Berend, executive vice president of digital for NBC News Group, told Variety. “What we are creating is a complement to that.”
Eventually, Today All Day might appear on other streaming platforms, Berend said. Last year, NBC made its News Now service available on devices like Apple TV and Roku. NBC’s other digital offerings include NBC Stay Tuned on Snapchat and The Report on Quibi. The competing ABC News Live debuted on Roku but is now available elsewhere, and CBS already has its own all-day streaming news feed.
According to NBC, Today has 70 million monthly video views and more than 50 million monthly unique visitors across all platforms. The network says Today has been the number one morning show for the 25- to 54-year-old demographic for 58 consecutive months.


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Gross-Wen Technologies (GWT) is a wastewater treatment technology company that uses algae instead of bacteria or chemicals to recover nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. As the most sustainable wastewater treatment on the market today, GWT’s patented process helps clients meet more stringent water quality standards by using algae to recover nitrogen and phosphorus from the […]
DSC & ATURA broke ground with Good Life RV in Webster City this week on a new design-build 13,200 SF pre-engineered 10-bay service building. This will almost double their space for RV service work.
DSC & Fareway broke ground this past week in Kansas City, Missouri, on a new 8,700 SF Fareway Meat Market. Along with their full-service butcher counter, this location will offer to-go barbeque meals through a nearby catering business including beef brisket, burnt ends, sausage rolls, pulled pork, brisket mac and cheese, steakhouse baked beans, other […]
DSC crews recently finished the Kwik Star in Perry, Iowa, with a detached double-bay carwash, 10-dispenser fueling canopy, and diesel canopy. It opened to the public on July 22.
DSC crews have recently started a 75’ x 100’ warehouse for Herc-u-Lift in Des Moines. The project includes a new interior loading dock, battery charging station, emergency eye wash, racking, and restroom. Crews will also do 17,000 SF of paving along with new water, sewer, and storm utilities. ATURA provided design on the project.
Fareway Stores hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, July 11, for its newest Meat Market located in Olathe, Kansas. The 7,400 SF store provides a full-service butcher counter, offers to-go barbecue meal options through McGonigle’s Kitchen including traditional Kansas City barbecue favorites like beef brisket, burnt ends, sausage rolls, pulled pork, brisket mac and […]
DSC was awarded the $5.47 million bid this spring for a four-phase, two-year addition and renovation project at Franklin General Hospital in Hampton, Iowa. Crews are currently in Phase 1 which includes building a new 1,100 SF, 3-room sleep study addition onto the hospital. When near completion, the emergency department (ED) will temporarily move into this […]
This fall, Dancin’ with Roxie will have enough space to welcome new dance students. In 2006, Dancin’ with Roxie existed in only a small studio in Clear Lake. Demand lead her to buying a new building in 2015. However, it became evident in the last few years that she was already out of space and […]


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Aston Martin sure is busy at the moment. While one would expect the British marque to have its hands full with the recent release of the new Vantage and the DB11 not to long ago, Aston’s busy at work on what they’re calling a flagship super GT. While we don’t know a lot, we do know that the car will be dubbed the DBS Superleggera.
Car enthusiasts and Aston Martin fans won’t have to reach into the deep recesses of their mind to know that the DBS nameplate has played a large role in the automaker’s history. The three letters have been a part of the brand for nearly 50 years. In 1967, Aston unveiled the first vehicle to have a DBS badge. More recently, we saw the nameplate return for the range-topping variant of the DB9 in 2007.
Well DBS fans, the name’s making a comeback. And it’s bringing something even more iconic with it – a Superleggera badge. Now that might throw even some of the astute fans for a loop.
The Superleggera name is legendary
Aston Martin tacked the Superleggera moniker onto vehicles like the DB4, DB5, DB6 Mark 1, and DBS. The automaker used the badge to let the world know that the car had a lightweight body by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. Cars with the emblem were the lightest of the bunch. That makes sense as the word Superleggera translates to super lightweight in Italian.
At the moment, Aston’s keeping a lot of the car’s specs to itself. But you can bet that the car will be light and have performance in mind. Another thing you can count on is the placement of the badge, which will be on the front fender – just like it was on the older cars.
“When you hear the name DBS Superleggera, you know what it is,” said Mark Reichman, Aston Martin’s chief creative officer. “It’s the definitive Aston Martin Super GT. It’s an icon, a statement and this one will be no different. We’ve pushed the boundaries of performance and design to give this car a distinct character and ensure it’s worthy of the heritage and weight that this name carries.”
Aston put out a teaser video, which doesn’t really show a lot except for a little bit of the front end of the vehicle. But, again, there’s not a lot to be learned there. The British automaker has gone from having nothing but old cars in its lineup to new ones that look amazing and have incredible performance. We’re definitely excited for the DBS Superleggera and you should be too.


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Steffens' collections for sale
By Cecelia Campbell-Livingston Observer staff reporter email@example.com
THE much-documented archives of reggae historian Roger Steffens has been put up for sale on the Internet.
Chazz P Morris, a Jamaica-born American citizen, is behind the project which is posted on Kickstarter.com.
According to Morris, the goal is to acquire the largest collection of reggae artefacts in the world
from Steffens, to erect the International Reggae Museum in Nine Miles, St Ann.
The archive is valued at
US$3 million based on appraisal by Robert Santelli, chairman of the Grammy Museum.
Morris announced the initiative via press release Tuesday.
"This acquisition has been a long time coming and now the opportunity is here to preserve the history of reggae music by acquiring this one of a kind collection," she said.
Steffens' collection -- which includes hundreds of autographed album covers and rare singles, original photographs, fliers, T-shirts, postcards, magazines, books, banners, and buttons -- has been the subject of sale speculation for some time.
A possible deal with Jamaican-Canadian businessman Michael Lee-Chin to purchase it three years ago, reportedly fell through.
The New York-born Steffens has shown the world-famous collection at his Los Angeles home for many years.
According to Morris, the proposed museum would comprise a theatre, gift shop and radio station.


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Recently, the Chinese government has issued regulations on allowing minors a three-hour window for playing video games per week. The Chinese youth are now only allowed to play games between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. What does this strict regulation say about the Chinese game market? China’s gaming market is built on highly compelling games.
With over 720 million gamers, China plays an average of 12.4 hours per week. According to Limelight Networks, this exceeds the global average of 8.5 hours per week. Despite the decrease in the industry’s value following the issue with the youth’s gaming habits, the country reached a revenue of 278.7 billion yuan in 2020.
China’s gaming companies continuously diversify their games. Tencent, the country’s biggest gaming company, is known for developing the world’s most popular games. They started with QQ Tang (QQ堂) in 2004, followed by its variant games Dungeon Fighter Online, Q.Q. Fantasy, Xunxian, and more. The company also hosted online multiplayer games in 2011, including Call of Duty Online and League of Legends.
Apart from Chinese P.C. and mobile games, gaming companies also invest in foreign gaming. Tencent, for example, has invested in non-Chinese game publishers and developers since the 2010s. The list includes U.S.’ Riot Games and Epic Games, Japan’s Pocket Gems and Marvelous, and U.K.’s Frontier Developments and Sumo Group.
Chinese game localization plays a big part in the country’s industry. In fact, its impact is evident in the current gaming world. More and more Chinese games enter different markets, and other countries also reach the Chinese game market.