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Social media websites could face a backlash if they don’t become more transparent about how they use data collected on users, according to Dutch social media researcher, Professor José van Dijck.
She told Computerworld Australia social media sites like Facebook have a goldmine of data it has collected from its users -- and it intends to collect more.
“Information quants, the mathematicians who are the wizards of information and data mining ... are becoming more important in defining how this information is used to define our social lives,” she said.
“These companies are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to interfere in the social activities of our lives. They have become very savvy at predicting our habits.”
Being able to predict users’ habits means they are also able to send subtle messages about products they could or should be using, according to van Dijck, a visiting professor at the University of Technology Sydney. This is resulting in social media sites customising the users’ social experience on a mass level.
“What may well happen is these mechanisms become too insidious in people’s lives [and] there may well be a backlash. If people become really fed up with the way in which these companies intrude upon their privacy and their everyday activities, they may well experience a backlash from their customers,” she said.
“So I think that’s a very much a tightrope that companies are walking right now.”
With a total of 82 per cent of the world’s population on social media in 2011, according to van Dijck, social media companies have a potential treasure trove of personal information of all its users. She calls this ready supply of information the commercialisation of everyday life.
Van Dijck said companies such as Facebook – one of the main culprits – are beginning to sell information to third parties and are also using it for their own business strategies for “predictive analytics”.
“Besides that, even if you have read it, it may change the next day and these terms are adjusted virtually every week ... That’s something that I would like to see more awareness of – that people really require [companies] to be open about what is being done to their data.”
While van Dijck said prompting companies to be more open about information sharing is problematic, companies like Facebook and its IPO has made the company more transparent about third party partnerships and how it is selling and sharing data.
“They’re using data for advertisements right now, but there’s other tactics or strategies that they use,” van Dijck said.
Influential users on Facebook and Twitter, such as politicians and celebrities, are also using social media to set the agenda and trends, rather than just following it, and to manipulate users. Van Dijck calls this “trend setting” instead of mining trends or signally trends.
“I have friends who say ‘let’s make this tweet trending’ and that is a symbolic way of saying you can set the trend using tweets. Tweets are very [effective] mechanisms that may help promote certain ideas or certain products,” van Dijck said.
How the control over information will play out is still unclear. Social media sites appear to have the upper hand at the moment, with most outlets prompting users to sign away their rights to control information on the platform, something which Djick said is worrying.
However, she said that while social media platforms do not require users to hand over their credit card details, there’s no such thing as free lunch.
“So what you really need to ask yourself is ‘How do I pay for it? In what form? How am I paying? And in what currency?’ The information you give is your currency and this is something that companies need to be more open about,” she said.
Follow Stephanie McDonald on Twitter: @steph_idg
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU


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Fake news sites have long been used and embraced gotolinks by online marketers as an effective sales tool. You may have seen a fake news site or two before if you’ve been browsing the Internet and looking for product reviews.
The FTC has recently placed a ban on fake news sites. Here’s what to know and what this means for online marketing.
The common signs of a fake news site are either a supposedly legitimate news report video on a product coupled with a number of supposed icons from big-name reputedsites and reputable news sources like CNN. These graphics indicate that the product has been featured on these reputable news sources in the past, and the only reason that these fake news sites are able to display these graphics is if their product truly has been mentioned and featured on these reputable news sites.
The way these fake news linkjuicedirectory sites have gotten away with it in the past simply by using paid advertising to get their product listed on these reputable sites. So when they say that their product has been featured on CNN, this simply means that they have purchased a banner ad to appear on CNN’s website Rappahannockhealth
This is one of the major ways which these sites have been able to sneak under the radar seemingly playing by the rules up to this point. But now the FTC slickr has passed a new law which forbids the use of these sites as a marketing tactic. A number of consumers were likely feeling betrayed and tricked until enough of them complained to get the Federal Trade Commission’s attention.
It won’t take very long for this to pass into other niches. If you’ve been using these kind of sites as your landing pages, it might be time to start looking for other options in terms of marketing your products or services.
The FTC has also come down on using outlandish and specific claims or testimonials unless they are absolutely able to be proven. If you’ve ever visited a weight loss product’s page online, mysmallbiz you’ve probably seen what they’re talking about. Claims about losing 100 pounds in 3 months and displaying a picture of a thin “after photo” person are exactly what they are talking about.
While the FTC is tightening its watch over affiliates, ndt there are still ways to happily coexist and make serious money online through white hat marketing practices. The key as far as the FTC is concerned is transparency in marketing. bhaktimarga

domain: news


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A week is a long time in the motor business and this sh*tstorm just got real.
I sat down today to write something of a Frankfurt IAA overview. A sofa-eye view of the trends, winners, losers and why-botherers. Post-NOxgate however, there’s only one story, no winners and one loser. Well perhaps more than one.
Just seven days ago it was all looking quite jolly for the German auto industry at their home show. New car announcements rubbed shoulders with credibly exciting concepts while the World’s press gathered to listen to the accumulated wisdom of the likes of Zetsche, Winterkorn and Müller, although BMW CEO, Harald Krueger’s collapse prior to his scheduled press conference sounded a decidedly minor note amidst all the chest thumping. Perhaps he was suffering from exhaustion, although it’s equally possible he’d just seen what Mercedes-Benz and Porsche were offering as concepts.
Before news of VW’s emissions cheating broke of course, the over-riding theme of Frankfurt was the belated reaction amidst the big-hitting German marques to the threat posed, not only from Tesla, but Apple, who only this week promised to begin ‘shipping’ Apple branded cars by 2019.
Say what you like about the Californian tech giant, but this announcement will have already reeling car executives reaching for the Rescue Remedy. Overall however, the word last week from IAA was the Teutonic big three were ready to get on the good foot again, infinite loops notwithstanding.
Post NOxgate however, we’re through the looking glass into a landscape that appears to be deteriorating daily. Winterkorn quite naturally is toast, the very idea that he didn’t know about duplicity on this scale being risible and even were it to be true, merely reduces his culpability to that of base ineptitude.
And if the suggestion that uncle Ferdi had a hand in all this is tantalising, the fact he stands to lose at least as much if things go badly awry, as they seem likely to do, makes it less than credible. In fact, as investigations proliferate, it’s probable he’ll be fortunate to escape merely with a few €bn wiped off his retirement portfolio. The ‘I wasn’t there when the excrement started spraying’ defence won’t really cut it if things get truly messy.
But this is bigger than VW’s growing crisis, and this is a huge crisis for the World’s number two car maker, on the back of an already torrid year. Its reputation has been built upon solid conservative values; upon a veneer of material quality and dependable, state of the art German engineering prowess.
Even if VWs have proven no more dependable than their main rivals, the perception has until now at least been largely unshakable amidst the buying public. VW’s ambitions in the United States are almost certain to be set back a good decade. Should things escalate back here in Europe, VW’s hard-won reputation could well be in tatters, and before anyone starts waving their schadenfraude about, the repercussions for the German economy (read Eurozone) and wider motor industry should this come to pass could be equally dire.
Worse still is the fact this whole emissions business has been well known for decades. European Union bureaucrats, Post-Kyoto and under massive lobbying pressure from the motor industry backed diesel in the mistaken belief that getting CO2 down quickly was more important than protecting air quality. If, as is likely, it is found that right across the mainstream motor industry, manufacturers have been fiddling their emissions as regulations tightened, the fines liable to be levied are likely to be vast.
It now seems even more certain the days of the high-performance diesel are fast becoming numbered as the truth about the deadly nature of Nitrogen Oxide particulates becomes widespread public knowledge. The cost of altering course away from diesel could potentially sink several already poorly performing manufacturers, to say nothing of the costs to drivers who bought diesel in the mistaken belief they were buying a cleaner car.
In an interesting twist, PSA announced this week they are scaling down development of their promising hybrid air technology, claiming that without government backing it was uneconomical to pursue further. PSA’s Maxime Picat hinted that governments in backing plug-in hybrids were forcing manufacturers into narrow developmental pathways. A little disingenuous given PSA’s significant investment and historical endorsement of diesel. In a post NOxgate landscape however, its almost impossible not to be cynical of any auto manufacturer’s motives. Certainly, the timing of this announcement begs closer scrutiny.
Another aspect of this unfolding story is the position of the automotive press amidst all this. Oh sure, from time to time we’ve had the odd opinion piece but who amongst our motoring journalists questioned the scientific orthodoxy when the push to diesel was pressed home in Brussels? Where have they been while it’s been screamingly obvious that all manufacturers were lying about their fuel consumption figures for years?
When it’s become blindingly apparent that diesel, far from being environmental salvation was in fact a huge and noxious problem government is only belatedly admitting they’ve rushed and blundered into.
Where were they? On corporate junkets, hooning about in fast cars and generally playing the PR game as though their livelihoods depended upon it. Which they probably did, and even more so will now. It also raises uncomfortable questions relating to a previous VW scandal involving the use of prostitutes in the ‘entertainment’ of, well who exactly?
Bernstein Research’s Max Warburton suggested to the Guardian yesterday that NOxgate is equivalent to the Lance Armstrong doping revelations and certainly there are similarities. Both were broken by US federal investigations, and should this one go the distance, could have a similarly profound effect upon the European (and especially German) motor industry as ‘Big Tex’s fiery descent did for the sport of professional cycling.
Another possible outcome is this. With VW/Audi and who knows who else implicated in what could end being a fraud as big as anything the bankers could have dreamt up, the credibility of big auto is about to take a very hard knock. Which plays right into the hands of Tesla, Google and Apple who as gamechangers can now plausibly lay claim to the high ground – loftily above all this grubby carbon-based shenanigans.
Yes, a week can be a long time in the auto industry. Long enough to go from good foot to back foot. This is the only story in town, and what a story it’s turning out to be. Perhaps I’ll write that Frankfurt review soon, but frankly, who on earth would be interested now?


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Apple Inc. (AAPL) is teaming up with home builders to promote HomeKit, its iPhone and iPad app for connected home devices.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple has joined hands with “a handful of builders” to integrate a connected device ecosystem into the houses they are building. “The best place to start is at the beginning, when a house is just being created,” according to Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president for product marketing, who is quoted in the story.
As an example, such homes are fitted with automated blinds and baby monitors that trigger a coffee brew process in kitchens. The price tag of such homes bumps up with the integration of connected devices. Based on a reading of the Bloomberg story, that increase could range anywhere between $2000 to $30,000. “The gamble is that pricey wireless home devices will be an easier sell when bundled into the home itself,” the story’s author writes. (See also: Is Making Your Home Smart A Dumb Idea?)
The connected home market is expected to explode in the coming years. But the market is yet to mature and faces several problems, such as the absence of an Internet of Things standard to enable connection between devices and the relatively few numbers of connected devices. In its efforts to tap the market, the Cupertino company has taken an interesting approach in that it is not targeting existing homes with new devices. Instead it is integrating its technology into new construction. This helps the company to choose partners for its ecosystem, instead of vice versa.
However, the company is entering a crowded marketplace. Amazon.com Inc.’s (AMZN) Echo devices turned out to be a sleeper hit last year. Similarly, Alphabet Inc. subsidiary Google (GOOG) has also come out with its own version of a connected speaker called Google Home. (See also: Google Vs Amazon In Smart Home Wars). Then, there is Samsung Electronics Co. (SSNLF), which acquired SmartThings, which has an app that is similar to HomeKit. All these companies are locked in a race to integrate as many devices as possible into their ecosystem. Apple’s success in the connected home market, thus, will depend on the number of devices it integrates in addition to the number of homes that are fitted with HomeKit.


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Review: Apple's fourth-generation iPadArguably the biggest surprise product debut from Apple in 2012 is the new fourth-generation iPad, a tablet that replaces its predecessor and doubles its performance after less than a year on the market.
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The new new iPad retains almost everything from the old new iPad, including its price points: $499 for 16 gigabytes, $599 for 32 gigabytes, and $699 for 64 gigabytes. Cellular data options with 4G LTE connectivity are available for $130 more at each capacity, and for the first time ever Apple is offering an iPad model compatible with the Sprint network in the U.S.
Our test model for this review is the entry-level, Wi-Fi-only, 16-gigabyte model. It features the same design, A6X processor and Retina display as all of the other configurations available.
Once it's out of the box, it's hard to tell the fourth-generation iPad from the third-generation model. Aside from the new Lightning port at the bottom of the device, the only change we found is the capacity of the device is no longer advertised on the back panel below the iPad logo.
Apple didn't do much to distinguish the latest iPad from the model it released in March. Even the box looks the same.
But the most important change to the new iPad is found on the inside, in the form of its speedy A6X chip that is advertised to double the performance of the last iPad. But is this enough to justify this upgrade?
On Topic: General
- Google, Johnson & Johnson to partner on surgical robot technology
- Apple's Tim Cook plans to give away all of his money
- Tim Cook 'deeply disappointed' by new Indiana anti-gay law
- Apple's $848M solar power deal better on back end, says environmental VP Lisa Jackson
- Google loses UK appeal in Safari cookie tracking case, could face trial


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By: Raymond Hackney
OrderFlowers.com looks to be the big story today on Go Daddy Auctions. The 15 year old domain is expired and already over $34,000. The auction ends at 4:20 p.m. Eastern time.
The bids have gone up steadily not one jump from $1,000 to $10,000. So far 13 different bidders have made over 100 bids.
The domain was parked many times over the years. In a screenshot from 2009 it looks like Pro Flowers owned the name.
Then it changed to the following:
Here is the link to the auction


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The February 2015 issue of Motor Trend has an interview with General Motors President Mark Reuss that covers a variety of hot topics, most notably offering some vague insight into the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro. Reuss really didn’t reveal anything groundbreaking on the next gen Chevy muscle car, but his brief comments allude to great things for the 2016 Camaro.
The interview is lengthy and it touches on quite a few topics, but the very end is what caught my attention, as Reuss offered some interesting opinions on the Camaro based on his time driving the 2016 model. Reuss told Motor Trend to “think about that satisfaction that a ZL1 offers” and he went on to talk about that satisfaction being offered on other, lower cost models.
ZL1 Qualities in the 2016 Camaro SS
In dissecting Mark Reuss’ comments about the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro to Motor Trend, we have to first look at the current Camaro ZL1. Prior to the arrival of the track-ready Camaro Z/28, the Camaro ZL1 was the best overall performing GM muscle car ever, with a high tech adjustable suspension setup, a big brake package and a high horsepower, supercharged engine.
I do not expect to see a supercharged engine option for the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS, but we can expect to see slight improvements in the brake setup compared to the current SS and I fully expect to see the magnetic suspension system from the ZL1 to be offered in the next gen Camaro SS – even if only as an option. As for the engine, I expect that the 2016 Camaro SS will pack the new LT1 V8 from the Corvette Stingray, which will offer a fair increase over the current LS3 engine.
In the interview with Motor Trend, Reuss also stated that the next generation Camaro would not get heavier. He didn’t actually say that it would be lighter than the current Camaro, but with the move to the new platform, it has been expected that the 2016 Camaro would be lighter than the comparable 5th generation model. When you factor in a slightly smaller stature with a lower curb weight, the 2016 Camaro SS with a higher performance suspension system, a Brembo braking package and the Corvette’s LT1 could conceivably compete with the current Camaro ZL1.
Even if the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS cannot outgun the current Camaro ZL1, the changes mentioned above should make good on Reuss’ promise of ZL1 satisfaction from a less expensive Camaro SS.
Camaro SS as the Muscle Car Standard
Provided that Mark Reuss’s comments about the excitement of the Camaro ZL1 coming to the next generation Camaro SS are true – and I fully expect that they will be – the 2016 Camaro SS will set the new standard for the muscle car segment. Shy of the Camaro Z/28 and perhaps the new Hellcat Challenger, the 5th gen Camaro ZL1 was really the total package for a muscle car. It didn’t pack the raw power of the Shelby GT500 Mustang, but it offered plenty of power to make it a handling beast. While the next Camaro SS wont pack 580 horsepower, the quick revving LT1 with 450-460 horsepower in the lighter 6th gen Camaro could go toe to toe with the current ZL1 in every race shy of a quarter mile drag race.
If General Motors can make the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS as impressive as the ZL1 in terms of handling and braking, the 450 horsepower LT1 should be enough to set the new expectations for the affordable muscle car segment. The 2016 Camaro SS wont compete with the likes of the Shelby GT350 or the Hellcat Challenger (I expect a new super-Camaro to handle those models), but the 6th gen SS package could become the crème of the crop in terms of the high volume muscle cars.
Most importantly, a 2016 Camaro SS that is even almost as good as the current Camaro ZL1 should be enough to hand a serious beating to the 2015 Ford Mustang GT.
The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is rumored to debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, so hopefully we will only be waiting and speculating for another model or so.
Source: Motor Trend


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Thailand is one of the leading countries in the Southeast Asian region in the manufacture of auto parts and cars that operate with internal combustion engines. United and the world.
However, the traditional position of the Thai auto industry is now being shaken with the advent of electric cars, and the accompanying change in consumer preferences.
Despite this, the challenges facing the Thai auto industry did not prevent the sector from turning into a battleground for a fierce battle between Japan and China, a battle in the interest of Thailand, by attracting more investments and advanced technology from both sides.
This conflict was evident at the ceremony held by Toyota, the Japanese auto giant, in the Thai capital, Bangkok, recently, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its first investments in Thailand. Akio Toyoda, President of the Japanese company, at the ceremony, which was published on the Japanese company’s website, reviewed the first electric truck manufactured by Toyota for emerging markets that will be produced in Thailand later, and said, “The future of Toyota and Thailand is bright and will become brighter.”
Some may view the words of the President of Toyota as a kind of courtesy and usual compliment required on those occasions, but the reality of developments in the Thai auto industry reveals that the country is turning into a backyard for major automakers in Japan, which has become the most invested in Thailand.
Toyota alone employs 275,000 employees in Thailand, and the economic contribution of these workers is about 4 percent of the gross domestic product, and since March 2022 Japan has acquired 32 percent of the balance of foreign direct investment in Thailand. Cars and the global economy as a whole pose challenges to Japan’s role in the development of the Thai auto industry.
The most prominent of these challenges is the rise of China in the field of the automotive industry, especially electric cars, which has become a new and unconventional challenge for Japanese capital that it has not encountered before in Thailand, one of its most important international markets in the automotive industry.
Several months before the Toyota ceremony, the Chinese company BYD, the electric car manufacturer, signed a deal to buy nearly a square kilometer on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, for the production of electric cars. A century, or that thanks to that deal, China has now ranked first as the largest investor in Thailand in 2022 after Japan occupied it for years, but the most important thing is that the Chinese company aims to transform its factory in Thailand into the regional center for the production of electric cars, with production starting next year.
For his part, he said to the “Economic” L. De Criss, an investment expert for a number of British hedge funds, said, “Chinese investments in Thailand have become very worrying for the Japanese, and most estimates indicate that if the Japanese do not make qualitative changes in their thinking and investment methods in Thailand, China will outperform them.”
He added, “If China succeeds in removing Japan from the auto industry race in Thailand, this will have repercussions on the status of the Japanese auto industry as a whole. During the past two years, the Chinese Great Wall Motor Company for the auto industry doubled its investments in Thailand to maintain its leading position in car sales.” And since it entered the Thai market two years ago, it employed more than three thousand employees and invested $334 million, and during the first nine months of last year it sold more than eight thousand electric cars in Thailand.
But the question some experts are asking, can Japanese and Chinese investments really save the auto industry in Thailand by pushing it to shift from excellence in manufacturing traditional motor cars to electric cars?
Here, he mentioned to Al-Eqtisadiah, Engineer Joe Ralph from the Research and Development Department of the British Vauxhall Company, that “changing the scene in the Thai auto industry will not be a simple or easy matter, and the process of transitioning from the automobile industry with traditional engines to electric cars will face a severe challenge and a major obstacle due to Thailand has a long history of developing a conventional motor vehicle supply chain, and many stakeholders will need to refresh and re-qualify their corporate management and business skills, and this drains the bulk of the investment.”
Perhaps this is precisely why the Thai government plans to motivate consumers to buy electric vehicles, by creating a fund to support up to 20 percent of the prices of new electric vehicles, and they are also reducing taxes on all types of electric vehicles, although the Thai government announced a plan to make the vehicles Electric vehicles account for 30 percent of car production by 2030. This plan seems more ambitious than reality can absorb, as electric cars do not represent more than 1 percent of new car sales in the country.
Despite the smallness of this sector, Chinese brands dominate it so far, amid expectations that the Thai auto sector will witness more competition not only between China and Japan, but also from other investors such as Taiwan, who have expressed a desire to break into the Thai market, and this has been evident. After the Taiwanese company, Foxconn, announced an attempt to produce electric vehicles in Thailand by next year.
The main problem facing Thailand is that the current plans by foreign investors aim to manufacture electric cars for local markets, with the country becoming the main center in the Southeast Asian region for the manufacture of electric vehicle parts in the future, with this the final word on who will lead the southern region East Asia in the world of cars, specifically electric ones, has not yet been resolved. There is fierce competition facing Thailand from Vietnam and Indonesia. Indeed, some international investors have become more biased towards these two countries compared to Thailand, and the reason is low wages and the availability of raw materials for the manufacture of electric car batteries, and if Vietnam or Indonesia becomes more Attractiveness in the electric car industry compared to Thailand, it could lose between 40 to 45 percent of its market share in the auto industry.
In turn, Dr. Vanda Parriot, a professor of Asian economics at the University of Warwick, explained to the Economist, “Of course, Thailand has a larger stock of foreign direct investment compared to Indonesia and Vietnam, but since 2014 the two countries have outperformed Thailand in attracting investments, in addition to their demographic superiority over Thailand. Indonesia has a population of 273 million, Vietnam 97 million and Thailand 71 million, and its population is the most aging in Southeast Asia after Singapore, and the population is expected to remain constant, and then without more supply in the labor market wages will rise, and the market does not look attractive To increase the demand for electric cars compared to Indonesia and Vietnam due to the population.
These challenges seem logical, but some believe that they ignore an important aspect represented in the escalation of the Sino-American conflict in the field of international trade, and with the United States imposing more restrictions on Chinese industries, Chinese capital wants to search for other outlets through which it can penetrate the markets. America, hence the importance of Thailand for it.
Bangkok is one of the traditional allies of the United States, and then transferring Chinese production in the electric car industry to Thailand enables Beijing to escape from the American trade restrictions on Chinese industries, specifically the automobile industry.
Also, Thailand has a strong base of expertise in the field of traditional automobile industry, and by increasing investment, its workforce can be rehabilitated to be able to deal with the manufacturing requirements of electric cars. Indeed, China adopts a policy based on promoting local talents to high-level management positions, which means Build a better relationship with the Thai community and government.
Of course, the influx of Chinese capital into the Thai auto sector means that the Japanese will continue to invest there as well, as it is difficult for them to get out of this market that they have invested in for years, which is ultimately in the interest of the Thai auto industry and its future.


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Hanging out your “shingle”, running your own business, and being master of your domain sounds like a great goal to many Australians. But increasingly it’s looking like being a small business owner comes with a set of challenges and stresses that lead to a big drop in personal wellbeing.
That’s the finding of Commonwealth Bank Small Business Study which summarise the responses of 500 small business owners.
While the survey was interested in finding out SMEs’ approach to and take-up of technology its findings show that other business stresses are getting in the way of technological progress at a small business level.
Like the recent MYOB survey of SMEs, the CBA said “cash flow remains a stress factor, with half of the respondents opting to not pay themselves a wage one or more times in the past year as a result of cash flow issues”.
There’s also heavy use of personal funds and credit cards to manage cashflow, the CBA said.
The survey showed 32% dipped into their own accounts while 44% use credit cards “as their primary tool to manage cash flow, working capital and business investment”.
The trouble with that, according to the CBA, is it then leads “80 per cent of small businesses [to] delay the adoption of technology offering long-term benefits, despite more than half (58 per cent) claiming to have a good personal knowledge and understanding of technology”.
It seems it’s a question of time as much as money though.
Karen Last, general manager small business, Commonwealth Bank said: “A significant number of small businesses are reluctant to implement data analytics due to cost, or they believe it has limited value, or belongs in the ‘too-hard’ basket.”
The survey showed that 44% of respondents “think they do not spend enough time on personal wellbeing and development – an interesting statistic considering one in two claim looking after themselves is crucial to ensuring productivity”.
That sounds a bit like a chicken and egg argument in some respects. But it’s a crucial one.
In the release that accompanied the survey, the CBA quoted behavioural scientist, Dr Johann Ponnampalam, who noted that “compromised wellbeing and stress often leads to poor decision making, inhibits creativity and increases status quo thinking”.
So it’s no surprise then he said that “stressed out small business owners are failing to recognise the benefits offered by new digital and analytic technologies”.
If only they could find that elusive time and money.
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Snapchat Reported Accelerating Growth. Here’s What to Expect From Pinterest.
April 26, 2021
Pinterest reports on Tuesday, April 27 after market close. The stock recently dropped as much as 10.8% in one day due to reports that the company had a soft ending to Q1.
We wanted to take this opportunity to present the app data for Pinterest and provide an in-depth preview of the upcoming earnings report, which shows approximately 4% sequential growth and 21% growth year-over-year for DAUs. Interestingly enough, this is approximately the same YoY growth level that Snap reported for DAUs in its most recent earnings report, which we cover below.
A glimpse at the App Data
Please note, we use app data to spot trends—we do not use app data to make earnings calls on what a company will report. We use Apptopia data, a provider of app intelligence and competitor tracking service.
Pinterest user engagement remained strong in Q1 2021 despite loosening of Covid restrictions, based on app data from Apptopia. Similar to Snapchat, which reported earnings April 22 and grew DAUs 22% YoY, Q1 user trends for Pinterest were mostly positive.
In Q1, daily active users were up 4.12% QoQ versus 5.09% the previous quarter, and up 21.16% YoY.
Source: Apptopia with graphs by David Marlin
In Q1, monthly active users were up 4.09% QoQ versus 5.15% the previous quarter, and up 21.64% YoY.
Downloads were down 5.80% QoQ versus up .28% the previous quarter, and up 18.69% YoY.
Sessions were up 1.99% QoQ versus 5.11% the previous quarter, and up 20.07% YoY.
Pinterest reports Tuesday, April 22 after close and is guiding for Q1 2021 revenue growth in the low 70% range YoY with non-GAAP operating expenses at a similar level compared to last quarter. The consensus estimate is $475.11 million, up 74.71% YoY, according to Seeking Alpha.
Pinterest executives have warned that reopening could reduce engagement. Like other adtech stocks, Pinterest saw record high engagement but reduced advertiser demand in Q1 and Q2 2020, as advertisers slowed or paused their spend. Advertisers during these early-Covid quarters shifted away from awareness campaigns and towards high performance ads. Later, revenue growth accelerated in Q3 and Q4 as advertiser demand returned.
According to last week’s ad-tech analysis, we anticipate a small deceleration YoY in user engagement due to tougher comps—engagement reached record levels last March, according to the Q1 2020 earnings report—with strong international growth. Despite usage trends being mixed, if we see an ad rebound revenue can still climb higher.
Pinterest fell as much as 10.8% on April 16, after a cautious report from independent research firm Cleveland Research that was summarized by Seeking Alpha.
Pinterest ended Q1 had a softer end to Q1 "than mid-quarter expectations would indicate and some agencies/partners are noting a deceleration from Q4 levels," according to Seeking Alpha’s synopsis of the report, which added that "some omni-channel retailers are seeing Pinterest spending decelerating."
Below, we look at Q1 2021 results from Snapchat for clues about the potential adtech rebound and compare this to Apptopia data, a provider of app intelligence and competitor tracking service.
What to look for in the upcoming report
Going into Covid, Pinterest had less exposure to highly impacted verticals such as travel, according to the Q1 earnings report. When asked in Q1 what is holding Pinterest back from capturing more travel-related advertising dollars, CEO Ben Silbermann said the company is optimizing for core shopping verticals such as home décor and apparel.
“I will say that when we look at our plans for increasing kind of purchasing activity on Pinterest, travel is not the first place that we’re optimizing for,” Silbermann said. “We think there’s a really big opportunity in a lot of our core shopping verticals, which is why shopping and conversion-driven events continues to be a focus.”
Ad dollars follow planning activity, which is why ad spending moved away from categories such as wedding planning and travel events, according to the Q1 earnings report. As normal events and activities return, we expect ad dollars to follow at some point this year.
For the full year, Pinterest executives are expecting positive trends due to investments in new tools like shopping and automation; international expansion; and monetization into Latin America during the first half of the year, according to the last earnings report. Latin America is forecast to see 10.2% YoY growth in digital ad spending this year, after an 18.4% drop last year, according to a report from Dentsu.
Snapchat Doubles Active Advertisers
Global digital ad spending is projected to grow 10.1% YoY, with 18% growth in social media, according to the Dentsu report, which we discussed recently in our earnings coverage of Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter, and Facebook.
To read our adtech earnings preview, click here.
Snapchat reported earnings April 22, achieving the highest year-over-year revenue and daily active user growth rates in over three years, according to the earnings report. Snapchat grew revenue to $770 million, up 66% year-over-year, and grew DAUs 22% year-over-year to 280 million. The company also approximately doubled its active advertiser base YoY, and offered strong guidance of 80% to 85% YoY revenue growth.
Traditionally strong categories for Snapchat, such as theatrical films, have started to return, and the company is seeking to increase categories where it is well positioned but has had less exposure, including travel and leisure.
The approach could pay off, according to the report from Dentsu. Sectors that restricted advertising the most due last year are set for the biggest recovery, with ad spend in travel and transport forecast to grow nearly 30%.
Despite mixed reports about Pinterest’s upcoming earnings report, we are seeing similar year-over-year growth in DAUs as Snapchat reported, which is 21.16% and 22% respectively. We are hopeful that with an ad-rebound in many sectors that Pinterest will also have a healthy earnings report, where low ad revenue last year will offset tough comps in usage.
Disclaimer: I/O Fund currently owns shares of Snap and Pinterest. In addition, the author, Jessica Ablamsky, owns shares of Pinterest, has owned options on Pinterest, and may own options on Pinterest again in the future. Jessica Ablamsky has owned options on Snapchat in the past and may purchase shares or own options again in the future. The content in this article is intended to be used for informational purposes only. The author has not received any compensation from any third party or company discussed in this article. The content is the expressed opinions of the author and is intended for educational and research purposes. Any thesis presented is not a guarantee of any particular stock’s future prices, so please factor this risk into your own analysis. It is very important that you do your own analysis before making any investments based on your personal circumstances. The author is not a licensed professional advisor. Please seek counsel form a licensed professional before acting on any analysis expressed in this article, to see if it is appropriate for your personal situation.
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“Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” Is The Met Gala Spring 2024 Exhibition Theme
The 2024 Met Gala date and theme have been announced. This is exciting news as everyone is already anticipating what will unfold at the next 2024 Gala Met.
The Met Gala’s Spring 2024 Costume Institute Exhibition, titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” will showcase approximately 250 rare fashion masterpieces from The Costume Institute’s permanent collection. The exhibition promises a cutting-edge blend of curation and technology to present these treasures in an entirely novel manner.
Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO, expressed excitement about the innovative approach of the spring 2024 exhibition. The display, spanning 400 years of history, will feature items ranging from a 17th-century English Elizabethan-era bodice to contemporary designs by notable names like Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, and Connor Ives.
Iconic pieces from designers such as Elsa Schiaparelli, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, and Hubert de Givenchy will be at the center of a curation that seeks to unravel and illuminate the intersection of the natural world with the artistry of dress and textiles.
The lead sponsor for “Sleeping Beauties” is TikTok, with additional support from Loewe and Condé Nast, the publisher of Vogue. The exhibition is scheduled to run from May 10 to September 2, 2024, and will open to the public after the May 6 Met Gala, which serves as the primary source of funding for all Costume Institute activities.


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Fans of the Netflix show "Stranger Things" swarmed the Science Museum of Minnesota's website Tuesday to snap up the museum's vintage "Thunder Lizard" hoodies, which became a sensation after appearing on a recent episode.
Online sales began at 8 a.m. for the sweatshirt and demand quickly overwhelmed the site. The store was back online at 11 a.m. By 4 p.m., 10,000 units of Thunder Lizard apparel worth about $400,000 had been sold, the museum said.
The purple hoodie, worn in the Oct. 27 episode by the character Dustin, features an image of a long-necked dinosaur and reads Brontosaurus, "Thunder Lizard." The museum said it was flooded with phone calls, emails, and social media posts from fans wanting the sweatshirt, which was first available in the museum's store in the early 1980s.
The museum said online sales are continuing and another shipment for its on-site store is on the way. It should be arriving by mid-afternoon Wednesday and on shelves Thursday morning.
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Investing.com | Editor Ambhini Aishwarya
Printed Nov 08, 2023 01:28AM ET
Crypto shares AMD (NASDAQ:AMD), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), and Shopify (NYSE:SHOP) are demonstrating vital potential amid the bullish sentiment within the crypto market. This optimistic environment has been stoked by current occasions such because the SEC’s approval of a Bitcoin ETF and a 23% rally in Bitcoin.
At the moment, Shopify, a platform that has built-in blockchain expertise to facilitate cryptocurrency transactions, reported a merchandise quantity of $56.2 billion. The corporate’s newest earnings report confirmed a revenue of 24 cents per share and revenues of $1.71 billion, surpassing market expectations. Shopify has additionally built-in Solana Pay into its platform to offer environment friendly on-chain funds for Web3-focused retailers.
Meta Platforms, previously often known as Fb, has seen a 152% rise in inventory worth resulting from its ventures into digital actuality/augmented actuality (VR/AR) and potential blockchain functions. The corporate is even contemplating launching its personal cryptocurrency. Meta’s strong monetary well being was demonstrated in its current quarterly report, which confirmed earnings per share of $4.39 and revenues of $34.15 billion, exceeding expectations by $590 million.
In the meantime, AMD is positioning itself in opposition to Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) within the AI microchip market with the strategic launch of its MI300A and MI300X GPUs. These strikes have led to an 86.7% year-over-year enhance within the firm’s inventory worth, and AMD expects its revenues to surpass $2 billion by 2024.
The crypto market’s volatility, underscored by Bitcoin’s current value fluctuation from $34,500 to $35,900, is usually influenced by key occasions akin to Federal Reserve charge bulletins and US SEC conferences. The upcoming Bitcoin spot ETF deadline on November eleventh and the discharge of CPI knowledge on November 14th are anticipated to contribute to this instability. Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Telegram proceed to play a pivotal function in shaping crypto market traits.
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Researchers jailbreak a Tesla, the FCC fines robocallers and WeWork finds itself in
Welcome, friends, to TechCrunch’s Week in Review (WiR), the newsletter where we recap the week that was in tech. For those new to WiR, think of it as a digest of stories and pieces that topped the charts over the past five days or so.
In this week’s edition of WiR, we cover researchers figuring out a way to “jailbreak” Teslas, the AI.com domain name switching hands and the FCC fining robocallers. Also featured are stories about WeWork’s perennial struggles, Google’s Messages app fully embracing RCS, and spyware maker LetMeSpy shutting down after a massive data breach.
If you haven’t already, sign up here to get WiR in your inbox every Saturday. Now, on with the recap.
Jailbreak your Tesla: A group of researchers say that they’ve found a way to hack the hardware underpinning Tesla’s infotainment system, allowing them to get what normally would be paid upgrades — such as heated rear seats — for free. Lorenzo has the story.
AI.com switches hands: A few months back, OpenAI seemingly purchased the domain AI.com in order to redirect it to the…


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- Bitsonic’s CEO and VP of technology receive prison terms for stealing $7.5 million in customer funds, highlighting the risks in the crypto sector.
- The incident prompts South Korea to introduce harsher penalties for crypto-related crimes, including potential life sentences under new laws.
- Global regulatory discussions intensify, with South Korea seeking insights from international counterparts on handling digital assets effectively.
CEO of crypto exchange Bitsonic, along with its VP of technology, recently faced the gavel in South Korea, receiving prison sentences for a significant breach of trust involving millions in customer funds. This case shines a light on the darker side of the burgeoning cryptocurrency market, prompting a closer examination of regulatory measures and the integrity of digital finance platforms.
The Arrest and Charges
In a decisive move by South Korean authorities, Jinwook Shin, the CEO of Bitsonic, has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The charge? The misappropriation of 10 billion won ($7.5 million) from customer deposits. Additionally, the company’s VP of technology, Mr. A, will serve one year behind bars. Their crimes include manipulating cryptocurrency prices and volumes, leading to the theft of user investments.
South Korea Tightens Crypto Regulations After Series of Scandals
The sentencing arrives amid a broader crackdown on cryptocurrency malfeasance in South Korea. Notably, this action follows the recent arrest of three executives from Haru Invest, implicated in a separate but equally alarming scheme defrauding customers of a staggering 1.1 trillion won ($828 million).
The Seoul Eastern District Court’s findings revealed a disturbing lack of remorse from the convicted, further complicating the recovery of the stolen assets. This case underscores the urgent need for enhanced oversight and regulatory frameworks to safeguard investors in the rapidly evolving digital currency landscape.
Moreover, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of South Korea has announced impending legislation that could impose life sentences for similar crimes, signaling a significant shift towards stricter enforcement. This development reflects a growing global consensus on the necessity of robust legal structures to combat fraud and protect consumers in the digital age.
The recent sentencing of Bitsonic’s executives is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the cryptocurrency industry. As South Korea leads the charge in tightening regulatory controls, the global community watches closely, anticipating the ripple effects on international cryptocurrency regulation and investor security.
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Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures gained for a third straight session, fuelled by sharply higher wholesale beef prices, traders said.
August live cattle finished 1.325 cents per lb higher at 152.950 cents, and October 0.925 cent higher at 155.250.
Monday morning’s wholesale price for choice beef jumped $2.02 per cwt from Friday to $250.47. Select beef climbed $1.69 to $244.34, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Unbelievable that demand stays strong,” said Oak Investment Group president Joe Ocrant. He pointed to continued tight cattle supplies at a time when numbers tend to build seasonally.
Cooler-than-usual weather is extending beef demand that usually tapers off as consumers turn to lighter meals during hot summer temperatures.
And, fewer cattle forced packers to cut back slaughter rates, making the product less available to retailers.
CME live cattle received more support from short-covering and futures’ discount to last week’s prices for market-ready or cash cattle.
Investors wait for feedlots to count the number of cattle available for clues regarding this week’s cash prices.
Last week, cash cattle in the southern Plains moved at mostly $155 per hundredweight (cwt), with sales of $156 to $157 in Nebraska.
USDA’s monthly cold storage report will be issued on Tuesday at 2 p.m. CDT (1900 GMT), which will include total June beef and pork inventories.
CME feeder cattle closed higher supported by live cattle futures gains, fund buying and lower corn prices.
August closed up 1.375 cents per lb to 213.025 cents, and September ended 1.475 cents higher at 213.775.
Mixed hog futures settlement
CME hog August and October contracts closed lower in anticipation of weaker cash prices after packers bought all the hogs they need for early this week.
The government’s morning direct hog price data was unavailable. Cash hogs earlier on Monday traded steady to down $1 per cwt from Friday, Midwest hog dealers said.
Traders sold nearby CME hogs, and at the same time bought deferred months, with the view that the deadly pig virus on U.S. hog farms will further constrict supplies beginning in late fall.
August ended 1.975 cents per lb lower at 125.100 cents, and October at 112.700, down 0.850 cent. December closed up 0.300 cent to 103.900, and February up 0.175 to 99.450.
Theopolis Waters writes for Reuters news service in Chicago


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Chuwi has reached out to let us know that they are releasing a couple of new products soon. In a big move from the low-cost laptop maker, they are moving up several steps on the performance ladder with these new models which will both feature the Core m3-6Y30 processor. Previously, Chuwi has relied on the less-expensive Intel Atom lineup, most recently with Gemini Lake, so this is a significant departure for the company, and should be exciting to see in the market. Chuwi AeroBook Chuwi’s first Core M powered laptop will be the AeroBook, featuring a 13.3-inch 1920x1080 IPS display with 5mm display bezels, offering the modern look of a thin-bezel laptop. Since shrinking the display bezels shrinks the total size of the laptop, the company...
It’s been a bit of a wait to see the latest Intel Gemini Lake SoC to find its way into laptops, but Chuwi has now released the LapBook SE...35 by Brett Howse on 8/13/2018
Although we’ve mostly covered Chuwi’s laptop and tablet ventures to date, the company has just announced the HiGame mini-PC, and it’s worth a look. Chuwi is stepping out of...25 by Brett Howse on 4/9/2018
Chuwi is announcing a new tablet in their Android lineup called the Hi 9 Air. Set for a mid-April release, Chuwi is offering some interesting capabilities on their new...15 by Brett Howse on 3/20/2018
LAS VEGAS, NV – This year at CES, Chuwi is showing off a couple of new devices that they have in the pipeline. These are not yet ready for...9 by Brett Howse on 1/11/2018
Every once in a while, we get surprised. It seems to be a rare thing in this industry these days, but it does still happen from time to time...60 by Brett Howse on 9/6/2017
Chuwi is a relatively unknown company in the PC space, but only about a month ago we took a look at the Chuwi LapBook 14.1, and came away very...35 by Brett Howse on 4/8/2017
In this industry, it is all too easy to focus only on the high end of the PC market. Manufacturers want to show off their best side, and often...75 by Brett Howse on 3/10/2017


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Jushi Holdings Inc. to Report Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results on November 14, 2023
BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jushi Holdings Inc. (“Jushi” or the “Company”) (CSE: JUSH) (OTCQX: JUSHF), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, announced that it expects to report its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, after the market closes on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
Management will host a conference call and audio webcast on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the Company’s financial results.
|Event:||Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results Conference Call|
|Date:||Tuesday, November 14, 2023|
|Time:||5:00 p.m. Eastern Time|
|Live Call:||1-844-826-3035 (U.S. & Canada Toll-Free)|
For interested individuals unable to join the conference call, a webcast of the call will be available until December 14, 2023 and can be accessed via webcast on Jushi’s Investor Relations website.
About Jushi Holdings Inc.
We are a vertically integrated cannabis company led by an industry-leading management team. Jushi is focused on building a multi-state portfolio of branded cannabis assets through opportunistic acquisitions, distressed workouts, and competitive applications. Jushi strives to maximize shareholder value while delivering high-quality products across all levels of the cannabis ecosystem. For more information, visit jushico.com or our social media channels, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
For further information, please contact:
Director of Investor Relations
Released October 31, 2023


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US mega fashion retailer Michael Kors announced on Tuesday that it will be acquiring Jimmy Choo.
Choo is been a brand synonymous with high end luxury fashion. The shoe and accessory maker has been acquired by Kors for approximately $1.35 billion US, according to a statement.
“We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Jimmy Choo, an iconic brand with a rich history as a leading global luxury house,” said John D. Idol, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Michael Kors, in the statement. “Jimmy Choo is known worldwide for its glamorous and fashion-forward footwear. The company is a leader in setting fashion trends. Its innovative designs and exceptional craftsmanship resonate with trendsetters globally.”
Idol said that Kors is committed to supporting “the strong brand equity that Jimmy Choo has built over the last 20 years.”
From its inception in 1996, Choo offered glamorous, fashion-forward products that gave the brand its DNA. It became a household name, and a dream for many women to own a pair, often showcased in episodes of HBO’s Sex and the City. Ever since, it has been a brand known to style celebrities, royalty, and musicians around the world.
With approximately 150 company-operated retail stores, 560 multi-brand doors and more than 60 franchise stores in premier locations worldwide, Jimmy Choo still has a strong presence globally. In Toronto, Jimmy Choo is located at Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
There are several Michael Kors locations in Canada, including at Vancouver’s Pacific Centre, and Calgary’s Chinook Centre.


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Southern Woods Rider is excited to announce that GasGas Motos North America will be participating in our 20th Anniversary of Fall Trail Ride. GasGas will be offering demo rides on their exciting newly redesigned EC and XC 2-stroke dirt bike models. Demos are for paid event participants on Friday and Saturday from 9:30am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm 2:30pm. Look for the GasGas truck in the campground during the event for more details.
GasGas has completely reinvented its iconic EC and XC line of dirt bikes. Using the very highest quality components, the exciting innovative bikes have a new frame, engine, suspension, geometry and a long list of other new parts. Joining all these new improvements gives GasGas unique formula for the ultimate reliability, versatility, easy riding and competitive dirt bikes on the market. For more details on their new models visit www.gasgas.com/us


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October 17, 2017 - News
Former Chrysler Fleet GM MacDonald Dies
John MacDonald, who ran Chrysler's fleet unit for several years in the 1990s, died at his home on Walloon Lake, Mich., earlier this month. He was 72.
January 20, 2017 - News
Washington Auto Show Announcements Set
Toyota, Fiat Chrysler, Hyundai, and Volkswagen have scheduled product announcements for Jan. 26 for the Washington Auto Show, according to organizers.


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The Beyond Burger was so good, it disappeared as fast as it arrived.
The plant-based burger from A&W that had even the most steadfast carnivore questioning their life choices was a hit when it popped up on the fast food chain’s menu in early July.
The Beyond Burger – made 100 per cent entirely of plant-based protein – was so popular it quickly led to a Canada-wide shortage leaving hangry vegetarians in its wake.
Last month, A&W announced the burger would return Oct. 1 and become a permanent menu item for Canadians.
The Beyond Meat brand has reportedly opened a new factory in Missouri just to keep up with the demand; Beyond is also available in a variety of grocery stores, looking and tasting a lot like beef.
With 10 locations in Greater Victoria, A&W is stocked up and ready to flip you a delicious alternative to Mama and her Teens.
In a Facebook post, the iconic fast food brand that has been in business since 1919, said, “We are thrilled Canadians love this burger as much as we do. It’s a permanent menu item at A&W, so it’s here to stay.”
Adding: “Thanks for your patience everyone.”


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If you’ve been keeping track of Sea of Thieves and its updates, 2020 was a great year for both the game and for developer Rare. The action-adventure pirate game received a slew of new content thanks to the regular stream of updates, as well as hit a milestone in terms of player count.
More specifically, Sea of Thieves reached 15 million players this year, which is definitely a cause for celebration. That being said, it seems that Rare has set its eyes on bigger things next year, and according to executive producer Joe Neate, players can expect the pirate adventure title to get even better in 2021.
The newest Sea of Thieves update is set to release very soon, bringing with it bug fixes and quality of life changes. While this upcoming update isn’t as hefty as the Fate of the Damned update from last month, Neate still took to Twitter to briefly discuss the update as well as talk about how 2021 will “definitely be the biggest year yet” for Sea of Thieves.
In Neate’s tweet, he initially mentions how “it’s been a long year,” and he’s right – it HAS been a long and difficult year, especially for video game development. Several games had to be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic stunting their development.
That being said, people and companies alike are looking forward to 2021 hoping for a fresh, new start, including Rare.
It's been a long year. Incredibly proud to be a part of the team at Rare and to witness how everyone has worked together to keep Sea of Thieves evolving. Lots to come in 2021. Will definitely be the biggest year yet. #seaoftease
Might even add the Shrouded Ghost https://t.co/7ZJarAofzg
— Joe Neate (@JoeNeate1) November 17, 2020
Sea of Thieves was released way back in 2018, and it was definitely not as fleshed out then as it is now. Thanks to the continuous updates released by Rare, the new features and content slowly turned Sea of Thieves into the beloved game that it is today.
From changes made to its PvP mode to brand-new modes in general to even the addition of dog companions, the hardworking team behind Sea of Thieves transformed the bareboned video game from 2018 to a complex and enjoyable multiplayer adventure.
At this point, it’s hard to deny that 2020 brought great things to Sea of Thieves, which is saying something given how turbulent this year is due to the pandemic. So if the executive producer says that 2021 will be even bigger, then we should all be excited.
We can’t even begin to imagine what Sea of Thieves has in store for all of us next year! For now, all we can do is guess, although Neate did tease fans that the Shrouded Ghost might be added in the future.
Whatever it is that Rare has planned for the future of Sea of Thieves will surely be exciting. Hopefully, we don’t have to wait too long.
As we all know, next-generation consoles have already been released, and this seafaring action-adventure by Rare is, let’s say, going with the flow. More specifically, Sea of Thieves received a significant update on the Xbox Series X and S which greatly improved the game’s performance.
In addition to that, it has been ensured that the pirate game will work smoothly on the brand-new consoles. This fact alone indicates that Rare is planning big things for Sea of Thieves and that the game will continue to improve and evolve as time goes on.


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Beijing has introduced a new recycling program that allows commuters to pay for a subway ride with a plastic bottle.
Beijing has placed reverse vending machines around the city where commuters can trade in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles for a commuter pass or mobile phone credit. Users receive between 5 fen and 1 yuan (about 16 cents) for each PET bottle donated, depending on the weight.
Triple Pundit reports that the system was first introduced in 2012 by Incom Recycling with 10 machines. They have expanded to 34 machines around the city and have plans to eventually install up to 3,000 reverse vending machines.
The only thing that might get in Incom Recycling's way is the fact that Beijing doesn't have a recycling problem, especially when it comes to PET bottles. In fact, the city has a 90 percent recycling rate for PET bottles, which is higher than most cities. This is largely because migrant workers sift through city waste to collect plastic bottles for recycling.
Despite this, Incom has plans to move way from informal collectors and use their machines to earn additional revenue through advertisements.
Popular Stories on Not Impossible Now


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Bayonetta 2, Platinum Games Wii U-exclusive sequel, already includes a nod to classic Nintendo heroes such as Link and Fox McCloud. But an Easter egg found within the game pays more than just a small tribute to iconic series Star Fox.
YouTube user Maximilian Dood posted a video of his discovery, which is nothing short of awesome. Watch the video above to see it — but beware of spoilers, obviously.
Earlier this month, Platinum Games revealed a Nintendo-themed wardrobe for Bayonetta, including costumes based on Princess Peach and Metroid's Samus. The original Bayonetta also included references to several old Sega titles, such as Spacer Harrier and After Burner.
Bayonetta 2 launches for Wii U Oct. 24. The game is already out in Japan.


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There are loads of hospitals on Long Island where you can get a knee or hip replacement and all sorts of cosmetic surgery. But not many offer help for the dreaded "chub rub" (an abrasive thigh affliction).
You can get help for that and more at the Denim Hospital in Port Washington, where Nancy Sinoway, the veteran alterations specialist and designer, has added a new category to her menu of nips and tucks. She's taken on denim, most particularly blue jeans.
For many years Sinoway has dabbled in fixing people's wounded jeans -- the aforementioned "chub rub," where fabric on the inner thighs gets worn away, holey knees, ripped rears -- along with her precision alterations on fancy dresses. But several months ago, she decided to focus on denim by creating a streamlined technique and website -- denimhospital.com -- where owners of battered blues can fill out an admitting form, ship the jeans to the Denim Hospital, get a diagnosis and price and have them back in less than a week.
"I am passionate about jeans," says Sinoway, who wears them every day. "When people find jeans that fit them right, they want to keep them forever," she says. Sinoway's jean repair following has gone national, with customers sending her denim from as far away as California, Massachusetts and Florida. There was even a case of the fraternity house at the University of Illinois that sent a dozen pairs to be refurbished. Blue jean health care isn't cheap -- averaging around $38-$50 a pair, but, as Sinoway points out, "It doesn't matter if the jeans themselves originally cost $250 or $50. People don't care about the price of repairing them. They just want to be able to wear them."
So how does she transform the haggard, threadbare wardrobe staples? "I don't want to give away my secrets," she says, coyly. "But we use a certain kind of thread, backing and sewing machine. It almost reweaves them. And we dye it to match where they're repaired."
Carol Hanfling, a handbag designer from Roslyn, brought in her 23-year-old son's favorite jeans, with a couple of great gashes at the bottom. Hanfling was amazed when she picked up the repaired pants. "I never thought she could fix them. It just looks like a small scar," she said. It cost $50, a bit more than the original price of the Urban Outfitters' pants, but to Hanfling's son -- priceless.
On another day, Elyse Luray of Port Washington, an appraiser, historian and the TV personality from the PBS series "History Detectives," handed over a 15-year-old pair of Gap jeans. A thready hole at the hip pocket revealed her undergarments, and the jeans had a big tear at the knee. "They used to be my going-out jeans, but after a few years, they became my I-wear-them-every-day-jeans," said Luray. The jeans probably cost $25 when she bought them, and the fix was $40. But Luray doesn't care. "I really missed them."
That's the thing about favorite jeans, says Sinoway. "People just want to get them back."


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Massachusetts Task Force to Review Alcohol Laws
The first five members of a seven-person task force charged with examining Massachusetts’ decades-old alcohol laws have been named, according to a new report from the Boston Globe.
Massachusetts Treasurer Deb Goldberg has appointed three former legal and political figures — including Kate Cook, the former chief legal counsel to former governor Deval Patrick — to conduct a sweeping review of the state’s alcohol laws and provide suggestions for modifying elements of Chapter 138 (Alcoholic Liquors) of the Massachusetts General Laws.
Goldberg also named former Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong and former Port Authority chief legal counsel Rachel Rollins to the task force. Also joining the group will be Representative John Fernandes, appointed by House Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Pete Wilson, the press secretary for Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg.
Governor Charlie Baker is also expected to name an appointee at a later date; Goldberg will also be responsible for picking the group’s chair, according to the Globe.
The news comes nearly three months after Boston-based alcohol attorney John Connell told beer industry professionals attending a Brew Talks event at the Jack’s Abby brewery, the task force would consist of “five to seven people of learned backgrounds,” and be asked to take a “top to bottom look at the liquor control laws in Massachusetts.”
According to the Globe, the task force will examine a variety of issues, including but not limited to: rules surrounding pay-to-play incentives, franchise laws that govern relationships between brewers and wholesalers, liquor licensing, and funding for the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC), the agency tasked with regulating the manufacturing, distribution and sale of alcohol beverages.
The group is expected to meet for the first time by the end of January.
The report also comes five days after it was announced that ABCC chairwoman Kim Gainsboro would depart the agency after eight years for a job in banking.
Great Divide Down 16 Percent in 2016
Very large, established craft beer companies weren’t the only breweries that struggled to grow in 2016.
A report from Denver’s Westword last Friday revealed that regional brewery Great Divide, which made more than 43,000 barrels of beer in 2015, failed to grow for the first time in 23 years.
“We were having 25 to 30 percent growth on an annual basis; we were used to that. So it was definitely a tough year, and it stings,” brewery founder Brian Dunn told the outlet.
Great Divide production dipped 16 percent in 2016, after the company discontinued three top-selling year-round brands, according to Dunn.
Had the company continued producing those offerings — Nomad Pilsner, Lasso Session IPA and Hoss Rye Lager — Dunn believes production would have actually increased.
“At some point, you need to change the lineup, you need to make decisions based on what’s best for the brewery in the long term,” he told the outlet.
As a result of the declines, Great Divide will delay construction on a new brewery that was to be built next to its packaging facility in the River North neighborhood of Denver.
Big Al Brewing Closes Its Doors
Great Divide wasn’t the only established craft brewery feeling the pressure of increasing competition last year. Washington’s Big Al Brewing announced via Facebook last week that it would shutter its business after board members elected to enter chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The brewery, which made less than 1,500 barrels of beer in 2015, according to the Brewers Association, officially closed its doors on January 14.
In a letter to employees, founder Alejandro Brown cited increasing local competition and struggles to maintain draft placements at “rotator” bars as reasons for the closure.
Boutique Beer Distributor Launches in Colorado
A new craft beer wholesaler focused on distributing products from small craft breweries has opened in Denver, according to Westword.
Launched in December and appropriately named “Colorado Craft Distributors,” the upstart aims to deliver offerings from a niche and curated list of local brands to Front Range retailers.
The wholesaler already has six clients, according to Westword, including Caution Brewing, Horse & Dragon Brewing, Lost Highway Brewing, Oasis Brewing, Jessup Farm Barrel House and De Steeg Brewing.
“We are hoping to add three to four more breweries by summer,” co-founder Tom Jasko told the outlet. “We will probably cap it at around twelve.”
Texas’ Andrews Distributing Drops Red Bull
Earlier this month, Dallas-based Andrews Distributing, a MillerCoors wholesaler, announced plans to cease the sale and delivery of Red Bull products across its North and South Texas footprints, according to an internal memo obtained by Brewbound.
In a note to employees, Andrews president Mike McGuire said the decision to drop the energy drink giant from the portfolio was “tough,” but that it would allow the company to “move forward with a 100 percent focus on our core beer business.”
“This company’s strength is beer distribution; there is a strong and sustainable growth path if we focus on organic growth of those impressive and distinctive products,” he wrote. “Importantly, we are confident Andrews will continue to add new and powerful brands, territories and customers to the company’s portfolio.”
In his note, McGuire expressed hope that all Andrews employees who were tasked with selling Red Bull products would “be able to move to Red Bull North America, join the Andrews beer business, or migrate to another opportunity.”
When asked, a company spokesperson declined to comment on how many employees would be impacted by the move.


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Are those Cyber Monday deals worth your job?
More Americans than ever plan to shop online this Cyber Monday, but your work computer might not be the best venue for your bargain hunting.
A survey by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder found that 7 percent of U.S. hiring managers have fired an employee for holiday shopping at work. The same study found that 49 percent of workers expect to spend some time in the office this holiday season shopping online.
A National Retail Federation survey found that 88 percent of this year’s Cyber Monday shoppers will make purchases from their home computers, while 12 percent will use their computers at work. In total, almost 72 million Americans are expected to shop from work some time during the holiday season.
A new survey conducted for Shop.org by BIGinsight showed that 129.2 million Americans plan to shop on Cyber Monday (today) this year, up from the 122.8 million who did so last year.
The Internet tracking firm comScore projects $1.5 billion in online sales today, which would be up from $1.25 billion on Cyber Monday in 2011.
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A CEO has many roles to play within an organization , but a top level CEO such as Schultz , has reach far beyond the boundaries of his own corporation.
“There arent many CEOs who would get such presidential calls, or who would meet a few weeks later at the presidential palace in Paris with Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss eurozone economic issues. Sarkozys wife, Carla Bruni, is a big Starbucks customer. But its been that kind of year for the 58-year-old Schultz — out in the realm of political and social activism, as well as inside the caffeinated corporate suite. His dynamic union of the public and the private has made Schultz a signal American CEO — all the more so when government seems so bereft of effective leadership. Thats why Schultz earns the No. 1 spot on Fortunes Businessperson of the Year list for 2011. His company, with 17,000 retail stores, in every state and 56 countries, is becoming a dominant player among global food empires. The ubiquitous brand has transcended mere coffee to become a lifestyle emblem. And Schultz has proved that it wasnt just Steve Jobs who could come home to a company to save it. “Its been quite a year,” Schultz told me, just before he officially announced the results of a memorable fiscal 2011 to Wall Street a couple of weeks ago.”


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After a tumultuous few months, the eventual outcome appears to be a closer-knit family as the Alliance seeks to expand platform sharing.
After the removal of Carlos Ghosn from the head of the Renault/Nissan/Mitsubishi Alliance, it has been uncertain as to how the brands would emerge going forward. Many expected Nissan to separate from the Alliance and forge its own path again. However, the brands announced that they intend to work closer than ever and improve costings for consumers as well as specifying individual brands as the ‘leader’ in strategic markets. “The Alliance is a unique strategic and operational partnership in the automotive world and gives us a strong edge in the ever-changing global automotive landscape,” said Jean-Dominique Senard, Chairman of the Alliance Operating Board and Renault. “The new business model will enable the Alliance to bring out the most of each company’s assets and performing capabilities, while building on their respective cultures and legacies. The three companies of the Alliance will cover all vehicle segments and technologies, across all geographies, for the benefit of every customer, while increasing their respective competitiveness, sustainable profitability and social and environmental responsibility.”
There was also the mention of further standardisation across the brands where upper bodies may be used widely instead of just the platform. This could be a rebadging scheme where the vehicle would merely be called something different depending on which market it is being sold in.
Nissan is to be the leader in the Chinese, North American and Japanese markets. Renault will lead in Europe, Russia, South America and North Africa. Mitsubishi will take the lead ASEAN and Oceania markets. There seems to be no mention of where South Africa will fit into this but we should expect a local announcement in the coming days.
Further to this strategy, Nissan will develop an all-new C-segment SUV with Renault developing a new B-Segment SUV. Key technology advancements will also be directed to individual brands with Nissan further developing autonomous vehicles, Renault working on connected-car tech and Mitsubishi has been assigned work on a D-segment PHEV vehicle. Both Renault and Nissan will develop electric powertrain technology to be used across all-electric platforms.
These initiatives should allow the Alliance to improve costing on each model under this scheme by up to 40%. It should also allow each brand to work in its particular area of expertise, providing more competitive products, faster, in theory.


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Solubag USA is pleased to announce its partnership with Pharmapacks (www.pharmapacks.com), a leading eCommerce enablement platform and retail seller for brands across major digital marketplaces.
Surrey to ban single use plastic, compostable and biodegradable bags by November 2021 – Surrey, BC has taken a huge step in banning not only plastic bags, but compostable and biodegradable bags as well. The bylaw is set to come in effect in the fall, to read more about it – CLICK READ MORE.
As Canada’s third-largest city, Vancouver has taken a huge step in the push for anti-plastic consumption by banning all plastic bags as of the new year. This bylaw extends to all businesses, except for charitable food services due to COVID-19 concerns. To read more about the bylaw, CLICK READ MORE.
Saint John has opted to go green this summer! After neighboring communities of Grand Bay-Westfield, Hampton and Quispamsis have already voted to ban plastic bags, Saint John is next to take the plunge.
Plastics litter our beaches, parks, streets, shorelines and other places Canadians value. They collect in our oceans and waterways, harming marine life. Canadians dispose of more than three million tonnes of plastic every year — the vast majority of which ends up in landfills and in the natural environment. To read more about the interview with Wilkinson – CLICK READ MORE
Solubag USA is pleased to announce its partnership with Pharmapacks (www.pharmapacks.com), a leading eCommerce enablement platform and retail seller for brands across major digital marketplaces. This partnership will allow Solubag USA to be introduced to Pharmapacks’ wide network of partners across the country and will support them their continued expansion.
A new report — which wrangles decades’ worth of data from fisherman accounts to scientific sampling into one comprehensive and sobering document — gives perhaps the most complete sense to date of the plastic pollution problem in Newfoundland and Labrador. Learn more in the article linked below.
Passionate about inspiring change, UNB grad student Krista Beardy hopes proof of microplastics in our clams will lead to action. Her preliminary results found “plastic contamination” in the flesh of every clam she collected, meaning microplastics are impacting us closer to home than we thought.
As of October 2020, Nova Scotia has banned all single-use plastic bags. This law applies to all businesses, not just grocery stores. Read more about the ban on the Nova Scotia website.
In September 2014 environment ministers adopted a vision for waste: for Canada to become a world leader in waste management. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment are currently working on the Canada-wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste. Learn more about the plan with the link below.


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After months of speculation, the legacy French fashion house Louis Vuitton has appointed the Ghanaian-American designer Virgil Abloh as its menswear artistic director.
The ups and downs of fashion’s revolving door of designers don’t normally resonate outside the industry itself, but Abloh’s appointment is being buzzed about in business sections, on menswear sites, and in culture magazines. Why, you ask? For starters, he’s the celebrated and au courant American designer who founded the high street brand Off-White, without a formal fashion education. More importantly, Abloh’s appointment makes him the first black artistic director at Louis Vuitton, the namesake brand of the world’s largest fashion conglomerate. This is a first among the heavy hitters in the industry, including Gucci and Chanel.
Virgil Abloh through the years
Virgil Abloh through the years
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 28: Singer Sky Ferreira and Virgil Abloh attend Givenchy Menswear Spring/Summer 2014 Show as part of the Paris Fashion Week, held at City of Fashion and Design on June 28, 2013 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 10: Theophilus London, Virgil Abloh and Mirtha Michelle attend Hood by Air during Fall 2013 MADE Fashion Week on February 10, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Wendell Teodoro/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 07: Virgil Abloh attends 'Uniform' Heron Preston For DSNY Presentation September 2016 during New York Fashion Week at DSNY Salt Shed on September 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Virgil Abloh, Daniel Arsham and Rosario Dawson speak at the 'Open Worlds: Art In The Age Of Interactivity' panel in Miami at Audemars Piguet Art Commission 'Reconstruction Of The Universe' By Sun Xun hosted by Take-Two Interactive at Oceanfront Miami Beach on November 30, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Take-Two Interactive)
PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 03: Virgil Abloh wears a blue hoodie sweater, a gray denim jacket, a black t-shirt, gray striped Loewe pants, and black sneakers with white shoe lace, after the Undercover show, during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018, on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 22: Virgil Abloh wears a Vuitton shirt, a black t-shirt, sunglasses, black shorts, and sneakers, outside the Louis Vuitton show, during Paris Fashion Week - Menswear Spring/Summer 2018, on June 22, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 01: Virgil Abloh attends the 'Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between' Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images For Entertainment Weekly)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 12: Virgil Abloh speaks onstage during Vogue's Forces of Fashion Conference at Milk Studios on October 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 26: Karla Otto and Virgil Abloh attend dinner hosted by Rimowa & Alexandre Arnault to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Rimowa's iconic aluminium suitcase at Restaurant 1728 on September 26, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images for Rimowa)
PARIS, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 28: Off White Designer Virgil Abloh and Lenny Kravitz pose backstage at the Off/White show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 28, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 05: Off-White designer Virgil Abloh attends the opening of the new Chrome Hearts Gallery & Cafe to celebrate their 3-Year Anniversary in the Miami Design District on December 5, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Chrome Hearts)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Virgil Abloh (L) and Edward Enninful attend as Tiffany & Co. partners with British Vogue, Edward Enninful, Steve McQueen, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell to celebrate fashion and film at the new Annabels on February 18, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Vogue)
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 6: (L-R) Virgil Abloh, Matthew Angelo Harrison and Herron Preston attend Art Basel Miami Beach - Private Day at Miami Beach Convention Center on December 6, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 01: Kaia Gerber and Designer Virgil Abloh backstage at the Off-White show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2018/2019 on March 1, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Getty Images)
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French fashion’s gatekeepers aren’t a racially diverse bunch, as evidenced by a state dinner in March where French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Paris-based designers. Aside from Abloh and a handful of others, the group of more than 50 designers was largely white. It’s a trend that is repeated across the globe. Abloh’s appointment brings hope for the future of diversity in the industry.
Abloh cut his teeth as an intern at Fendi alongside Kanye West in 2006. West went on to found his Yeezy fashion line, with Abloh by his side as a creative director. Even though Abloh has been around fashion for more than a decade, his ascent since qualifying as a finalist for the CFDA/VogueFashion Fund and the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers in 2015, has been astronomical. In the last three years, Abloh has launched collaborations with brands high and low—Nike, Jimmy Choo, IKEA, Kith, Moncler, Warby Parker (to name a few); DJed Tom Ford’s fashion show after-parties; designed his own Off-White collections that show in Paris, attracting a veritable mob scene outside his shows, with fans and hypebeasts clamoring to get in.
Abloh did not need the Louis Vuitton job to legitimize him in the fashion world, as some on Twitter have pointed out. In fact, Abloh brings something to the brand that they’re in desperate need of: the cachet of cool.
The fashion industry has a complicated relationship with race, with gaffes occurring far too often, and people of color in all facets of the industry not getting the credit they deserve. Having Abloh at the helm of the brand will help craft larger conversations about representation and what’s distilled through media and advertising. It will diversify the business of fashion from within.
Abloh, the streetwear savant, follows Kim Jones in the men’s artistic director role at Louis Vuitton, a fitting continuation of the work Jones put in to attract younger buyers. The youth market is the holy grail for a luxury fashion industry hellbent on catering to the Instagram generation. Jones, for his part, ran LV men’s at the time the company launched its hypersuccessful Louis Vuitton x Supreme collaboration.
Abloh is among fashion’s busiest and most beloved. It’s an added bonus that this is a win for fashion diversity too.


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UK HMV record store chain has been saved from bankruptcy by Doug Putman, who also runs the Canadian music retailer Sunrise Records. Sunrise also took over 70 HMV retail locations. Continue reading
TUESDAY 2.5.19 Music Business News From Around The Web Updated continuously under the More News tab
Ringing in the new year this week, some of Hypebot's top posts included the potential rescue of His Master's Voice by Buyvia, why Charlie Walk is, for some reason, still. Continue reading
Beleaguered music retailer HMV may be saved from bankruptcy by Buyvia, an online discount club with more than 200,000 members in the UK. The proposed plan would save a number. Continue reading
Legendary UK music and entertainment retailer HMV has fallen into administration again. Administration is the British equivalent of bankruptcy protection.
WEDNESDAY 1.2.19 Music Business News From Around The Web Updated continuously under the More News tab
While piracy is often demonized as an aspect of the industry which ruins careers before they've even really begun, the reality is that the illicit dissemination of music can in. Continue reading
Tuesday 3.14.17 Music Business News From Around The Web How could music chart keepers have been so unprepared for streaming? Updated under our More News tab
Indie music retailer Sunrise Records announced that they will take over 70 of HMV's brick and mortar retail locations across Canada.
By Eliot Van Buskirk of Evolver.fm. “If you don’t cannibalize yourself, someone else will,” said the late Steve Jobs. He meant that rather than wait for a disruptor to change. Continue reading


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Beattie Group, which has offices in Leeds and Manchester, says it’s added fees of almost £1m since the start of the year.
The income is shared across 4 of its brands, Only Marketing, 11ten, Beattie Communications and Canada-based Beattie Tartan. It comes following a promise to spend more than £500k on a marketing drive to “counteract the impact of Brexit.”
“Despite talk of a global recession and the uncertainty of Brexit in the UK, January was our best new business month in more than a year,” said CEO Laurna Woods.
“We have been spending big on our marketing and it is paying dividends in terms of new business with seven new clients coming on board in January.”
While Beattie wouldn’t name the new companies, it said they included “a global consumer brand, an online retailer, an animal health brand, a European university and a North American data company.”
“We’ve also had a boost from existing clients who are investing more in their marketing,” added Woods.