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KEBS Issues Warning: KinderJoy May Harm Your Child’s Health: The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has issued a stark warning that the popular KinderJoy snacks may be detrimental to your child’s health. As parents, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with consuming KinderJoy, as they can have serious consequences for your child’s health. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why KEBS believes that KinderJoy might be harmful to child health.
What is KinderJoy?
KinderJoy is a chocolate product that is specifically marketed to children. It is a small, egg-shaped treat that contains two compartments: one side contains a sweet and creamy filling, while the other side contains a toy surprise. It is marketed as a fun and exciting treat for kids, but recent studies have shown that there may be potential health risks associated with consuming KinderJoy.
What are the dangers of consuming KinderJoy?
According to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), consuming KinderJoy may pose several health risks to children. KinderJoy is a popular chocolate candy that comes with a small toy inside. It is targeted at children, and many parents often buy it as a treat for their kids. However, there are several reasons why you should be cautious about letting your child consume KinderJoy.
Firstly, KinderJoy contains a significant amount of sugar. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children should consume no more than six teaspoons of added sugar per day. However, one KinderJoy egg contains 7g of sugar, which is equivalent to nearly two teaspoons. Overconsumption of sugar can lead to obesity, tooth decay, and other health problems.
Secondly, KinderJoy also contains a high level of fat, particularly saturated fat. One KinderJoy egg contains 3.5g of saturated fat, which is about 18% of the daily recommended intake for children. Consuming too much-saturated fat can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and other health problems.
Lastly, KEBS has raised concerns about the safety of the toy that comes with KinderJoy. There have been reports of children choking on the toys, and in some cases, the toys have contained small parts that can be dangerous if swallowed. While the manufacturer has taken steps to improve the safety of the toys, there is still a risk that they can pose a danger to children.
How can I avoid these dangers?
Firstly, it is essential to read the labels carefully before purchasing any food item for your child. Look out for any additives or preservatives that may cause harm to your child’s health. It is also recommended that parents opt for healthier snack alternatives that are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as fruits and nuts.
Secondly, parents should monitor their child’s consumption of KinderJoy. It is important to limit the intake of any unhealthy food items, especially ones that are high in sugar and fat. Parents should encourage their children to develop healthy eating habits from a young age to prevent any health problems in the future.
Lastly, parents should consult their pediatrician for advice on the appropriate food items and snacks for their child. It is always best to seek professional guidance and ensure that your child’s health is not compromised.


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Ouya sells out at Amazon, Gamestop 44654
This photo stored at: ouya
The highly-anticipated Android-based gaming console known as the Ouya has sold out at both Amazon and Gamestop, just hours after it came available. The little cube that took off as a Kickstarter campaign finally launched today after delays set it back from its originally-planned retail launch date of June 4th, 2013. - high-definition photo for free download.
ouya release date

domain: news


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WINDSOR, Conn., May 7, 2012 — According to a new LIMRA study, 35 percent of disability insurance shoppers went through their workplace, compared to only 19 percent who shopped the more “traditional” way (meeting with a sales rep or advisor outside of work). More importantly, of those who shopped at the workplace, 70 percent actually bought disability insurance compared to the 59 percent who bought coverage from an advisor outside of work.
“While 6 in 10 consumers say they would have trouble meeting their day-to-day expenses if they were to become disabled and unable to work, we also know that few people actually believe they could become disabled and often ignore the risk short-term or long-term disability can pose to their family’s financial security,” said Kimberly Landry, analyst, LIMRA Group Product Research. “The reality is three in ten people will suffer a disability that could keep them out of work for three months or more.”
A separate joint LIMRA and LIFE Foundation study1 found that only 31 percent of U.S. workers have some disability insurance coverage with half believing they need more disability insurance coverage. LIMRA’s workplace study reveals the potential to reach more of these uninsured and underinsured consumers through their workplace.
The top three things that prompt consumers to shop for disability insurance at their workplace are: concerns about personal health issues (41 percent), inadequate benefits at work (24 percent), and having a close friend or family member become disabled (19 percent). The top reasons consumers buy disability insurance at the workplace mirror the reasons in other channels: income replacement and mortgage protection.
Only four percent of consumers said they were approached about disability insurance over the last two years in their workplace. Given the greater propensity for people to buy disability insurance when they shop at the workplace, this clearly indicates a great opportunity for growth.
“May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month and there is no better time for our industry to help consumers get the protection they need to ensure their families are financially secure if they are unable to work,” noted Landry. “Our study points out that the workplace is an underutilized channel to reach more consumers where they are more likely to buy.”
1 The Insurance Barometer Study, 2012
About the Study
The findings are based on the results from LIMRA’s U.S. Disability Insurance Buyer-Nonbuyer study, which looked at the disability insurance shopping experience from the consumer’s viewpoint and how consumers’ experiences during this shopping process influence whether they will buy or not. LIMRA surveyed only those consumers who “seriously shopped” for disability insurance over the past 24 months. The results were weighted to represent the U.S. population.
Catherine Theroux, 860-285-7787, email@example.com.
LIMRA, a worldwide research, consulting and professional development organization, is the trusted source of industry knowledge, helping more than 850 insurance and financial services companies in 73 countries increase their marketing and distribution effectiveness. Visit LIMRA at www.limra.com.


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Renault’s electric Zoe has been hit with a zero-star score in the latest round of Euro NCAP safety tests.
First launched in 2013 and refreshed in 2020, the Zoe has been a popular choice in the EV segment, offering 245 miles of range and a speedy charging time. However, Euro NCAP’s safety testers noted that the facelifted version received upgrades to its battery, but no changes to its safety equipment.
The seat-mounted side airbag, for example, was replaced by a ‘less effective’ thorax-only airbag and it was this – combined with other aspects – which caused testers to state that it offers ‘poor protection in crashes overall, poor vulnerable road user protection and lacks meaningful crash avoidance technology’. As a result, it scored zero stars.
Renault’s sub-brand Dacia didn’t do much better, either. The electric Spring, which is rumoured to arrive in the UK next year, only scored a single star with its crash tests branded ‘downright problematic’, with a ‘high risk of life-threatening injuries for driver chest and rear passenger head in front crash tests’.
Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general of Euro NCAP, said: “Renault was once synonymous with safety. The Laguna was the first car to get five stars, back in 2001. But these disappointing results for the Zoe and the Dacia Spring show that safety has now become collateral damage in the group’s transition to electric cars. Only a few months ago, Dacia claimed that they were ‘preoccupied with always increasing safety for those on board’ and that their cars always have improved passenger safety.
Renault ZOE = ZERO STARS
The facelifted #Renault ZOE offers poor protection in crashes overall, poor vulnerable road user protection and lacks meaningful crash avoidance technology, disqualifying it for any stars.#forsafercars #zerostarcar pic.twitter.com/sBRpPIBWBO
— Euro NCAP (@EuroNCAP) December 8, 2021
“That’s clearly not the case: not only do these cars fail to offer any appreciable active safety as standard, but their occupant protection is also worse than any vehicle we have seen in many years. It is cynical to offer the consumer an affordable green car if it comes at the price of higher injury risk in the event of an accident.”
In a statement, Renault said: “Renault takes note of the results published by EuroNCAP following specific tests on Zoe E-Tech Electric according to its new protocol implemented in 2020.
“Renault reaffirms that Zoe E-Tech Electric is a safe vehicle, which complies with all regulatory safety standards. These standards are constantly evolving and are becoming more stringent in all domains, especially in safety. Renault therefore continually improves its offer in order to comply with the regulations applicable where its vehicles are sold.
“Zoe was launched in 2013 and received 5 stars with EuroNCAP protocol at that time. The EuroNCAP protocol has since 2013 undergone five changes. With the same equipment, a model can lose up to two stars in each protocol change.
“The evolution of the current Zoe was decided in 2017 adapting the passive safety equipment to real accidentology and updating the car with state of the art ADAS equipment such as Advanced Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection, Lane Departure Alert and Lane Keeping Assist, using a radar and a camera.”
There were some five-star scorers, however. BMW’s new iX flagship electric car scored a full five stars, while it was also top marks for Genesis’ G70 and GV70 models. The new Mercedes-EQ EQS also claimed full marks, as did the Skoda Fabia and new Volkswagen Caddy.


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Last summer, PACE released a report reviewing state solar net metering policies and discussing ideologies that influence some states to over-compensate private solar generators at the expense of every other consumer on the grid. We’ve enjoyed presenting on this topic and appreciate the many positive comments about our report’s readability and usefulness. Combine the strong response to PACE’s report with the uptick in state legislative and regulatory attention to net metering in 2018, and the result is that PACE will update our report later this year.
However, a few recent state developments merit attention before the fall.
First up is the Wolverine State, Michigan. In 2016, Michigan’s legislature enacted PA 342, establishing a new distributed generation program and directing the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to investigate and rule on costs and tariff design.
While Michigan’s private solar headcount was relatively low (2,155 customers and 2,289 installations in 2015) policymakers could see increased growth over the horizon (2,582 customers and 2,684 installations in 2016 made for 28 percent growth).
After a lengthy and open stakeholder process, MPSC emerged with refreshed policies. The upshot is a move away from retail net metering to “Inflow/Outflow billing.” Since private solar produces almost as many new terms as it does electrons, it’s worth a little ink to explain this commendable approach that attempts to deal with the confusion and inequities net metering often causes.
A MPSC staff report on DG explained “Inflow/Outflow billing”:
“The method separates power inflows from outflows, relying on two distinct and separate sets of meter data to establish consistent and appropriate cost-of-service … rather than netting the two as is done for net energy metering.”
And “®he separation of power inflows from power outflows readily allows for rate designs that incorporate traditional cost-of-service study methods, thus ensuring that DG customers are assessed for their fair and equitable use of the grid. It also provides an independent framework for equitably compensating DG customers for excess power injected into the grid.”
In accepting the staff recommendation for Inflow/Outflow billing in its April follow-on order the MPSC observed the following about private solar generators.
“[C]ost and benefit impacts associated with DG customers are not static but can vary based on a multitude of factors including location, utility infrastructure conditions, weather and the number of DG customers on the grid …”
The MPSC further decided that under Inflow/Outflow full retail rates apply to inflow (electrons purchased from the utility) and a rate will be assigned to outflow (extra electrons private solar customers send to the grid). Michigan consumers can continue to provide input as individual utilities address Outflow tariffs to rate cases beginning June 1. Notably, Michigan’s private solar pioneers are grandfathered for ten years.
The MPSC must have gotten something right, because the pro-solar press is exercised, to put it mildly. For example, PV Magazine rated Michigan’s policy shift as a top concern in 2018 and said “®his will doubtless wreck the economics of customer-sited solar and kill the state’s nascent distributed solar industry.”
Rather than killing customer-sited solar, the MPSC has provided the rest of the country a fresh approach. Inflow/outflow billing may help consumers see more clearly how a private solar system will perform for their own use and for the community. It may lead to increased AMI deployment. Finally, as more consumers understand solar economics, then more solar electrons may come to the grid from community and utility-scale projects. Add those benefits up and it looks like the MPSC has presented a smarter way forward.


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Core 2 Duo MacBooks / Pros expected in time for Christmas, according to AppleInsider.
Apple Computer plans to update both its MacBook and MacBook Pro lines of Intel notebook computers in time for the holiday shopping season, but may take some time before it does so, AppleInsider has learned.
People familiar with the matter say development of Core 2 Duo versions of all three models — the 13-inch MacBook, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro — are now complete and all that’s left is for Apple marketing to pull the trigger.
But those same people indicate that precise launch dates for the respective models remain fluid and Apple customers should expect the updates to arrive anytime between now and the time Thanksgiving rolls around in late November.
Similarly, it’s unclear whether Apple will launch the new consumer MacBooks and professional MacBook Pro models simultaneously, or if it will space the releases to assure it maintains enough of Intel Corp.’s Core 2 Duo processors to properly facilitate each launch.


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••• SPONSORED SECTION •••
‘AGRITOURISM SAVED MY FARM’
A fast-growing niche market, agritourism is credited with propping up struggling farms and connecting farmers to their communities
After a spring frost took every burgeoning peach in early 2023, Ramseur farmer Beverly Mooney is fervently hoping Mother Nature will be kinder this year.
“We had a warm spell in late January and our peaches started blooming,” she says. “But the end of February brought a hard freeze, and we lost 100% of our crop.”
The freeze also cost the 84-acre Randolph County farm other varieties of fruits and berries.
“It was truly a catastrophic year as far as food production went,” she says. “Thank goodness for agritourism.”
Mooney is a second-generation farmer whose father started Millstone Creek Orchards as a retirement job. For the past 20 years, she has invited the public to visit, pick produce and enjoy the events the farm has to offer. In addition to peaches, Mooney grows a variety of berries, grapes, apples, pumpkins, pecans and fresh flowers.
“I have a little store, a bakery and a small cannery,” she says. “I also have a cider mill and produce my own apple cider.”
Mooney’s cider mill is one of just a few operating in North Carolina. She produces 300 to 400 gallons of apple cider a week from September until Christmas, selling it fresh. In the winter, she freezes a batch to concoct cider slushies during the summer.
Admitting she is not a natural-born farmer, Mooney says her role included managing the public-facing aspects of her family’s farm business, organizing special events and working in the farm store. She enjoyed working alongside her father, but he died in 2015, leaving her at a crossroads.
“I didn’t even know how to start a tractor,” she says. “Agritourism saved my farm.”
Mooney eventually became a proficient farmer but still depends on agritourism to prop up her business.
Agritourism on the rise
When it comes to depending on agritourism, experts say Mooney is not alone.
The latest statistics date back to before the COVID-19 pandemic, but according to N.C. State Extension, in 2020, more than 1,000 farms offered agritourism activities in the state.
Further, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports farm agritourism revenue in North Carolina grew from $704 million in 2012 to almost $950 million in 2017, showing how much the public appreciates local food and enjoys outdoor experiences.
North Carolina statutes define agritourism as “any activity carried out on a farm or ranch that allows members of the general public, for recreational, entertainment, or educational purposes, to view or enjoy rural activities, including farming, ranching, historic, cultural, harvest-your-own activities, hunting, fishing, equestrian activities, or natural activities and attractions.”
In a video produced by N.C. State University for its Women in Agritourism project, Carla Barbieri, an N.C. State professor of parks, recreation, and tourism management, says there are two criteria for a commercial operation to be considered agritourism.
“It must take place on a true working farm operation,” she says. “And it must also offer educational or recreational activities.”
The N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services launched its Visit NC Farms app in 2018 as a pilot program which has expanded statewide to connect millions of residents and visitors with local farms, food and drink, farmers markets and pick-your-own produce venues and other special agriculture-related places and events.
Playing with goats
On an unseasonably warm January morning at Spring Haven Farm, Cullen Crihfield is preparing for Valentine’s Day, one of the most popular days of the year for his family’s 1
0-acre farm, located just off I-40 in Chapel Hill. The farm offers visitors an opportunity to pet and play with goats, pigs, rabbits and assorted chickens.
“For Valentine’s we are planning to decorate the farm with hearts, and create spots for people to take pictures,” he says. “And we put cute outfits on all the baby goats.”
Crihfield’s father, Andrew Crihfield, bought the farm in 2002 and started growing organic vegetables.
“We planted about two-and-a-half acres, and it was fun, but growing and selling organic vegetables wasn’t making enough money to support the farm and our animals,”
Then the Crihfields spotted an ad for goat yoga at another farm. It sparked an idea. They contacted a local yoga instructor who got on board and planned an event to see if anyone would show up.
“She posted it on her website, and it sold out in less than two hours, and that introduced us to agritourism,” Crihfield says.
Spring Haven Farm has become a popular destination for families of all ages. On its busiest days, the farm sees as many as 600 people, including students on field trips, Crihfield says.
“We’re trying to improve our field trips by creating better educational programs for school kids when they come out here,” he says.
For Crihfield, being part of the local community is the most valuable aspect of running the business.
“It’s about getting people out to see what makes us special,” he says.
Agritourism builds a sense of community in a business sector where proprietors learn to lean on each other and their neighbors for support.
Mooney, who is on the board of directors of the 300-member N.C. Agritourism Networking Association, says agritourism farms form their own tight-knit community and help each other when the going gets tough.
She turned to sunflowers when she learned the significance of her crop damage last year, even though she had never grown a single bloom.
“I ordered 7,000 sunflower seeds, and through the Agritourism Networking Association, I connected with a flower farmer in Kernersville,” she says. “She came down, mentored me and showed me how to grow sunflowers.”
Lee Rankin, president of the Agritourism Networking Association, believes inviting the public to local farms helps build valuable connections and knits her business to her community.
“Agritourism links people to farms by giving them unforgettable experiences and helping them understand where their food and products come from,” she says.
Two decades ago, as a single mom, Rankin bought a 43-acre abandoned apple orchard on a mountaintop in Watauga County and created Apple Hill Farm, a fiber farm where she raises angora goats, alpacas and llamas for knitting yarn.
“Our original intention was to breed, sell and show alpacas,” Rankin says. “However, when people began to come by and ask to see the farm, we would spend hours showing them around and sharing our story. That prompted us to venture into agritourism.”
Today, Apple Hill Farm hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including public and private tours, barn quilt painting classes, knitting alongside alpacas and more. In addition to hosting events on-site at the farm, she also travels to craft shows showcasing her fiber products and runs an agritourism consultancy.
Rankin also believes small farm ownership is perfectly suited to offering opportunities for adventurous entrepreneurs eager to create a
“I have seen farms that have started with one or two people who decide to start an agritourism business,” she says. “And then their kids start coming home to help out.”
Agritourism is also a way for non-farmers to be part of the land and introduce future generations to farming.
“Not everybody wants to farm the land, but there may be some family members that would love to manage a farm store, and others who are interested in creating educational programs,” she says.
That concept appealed to Courtney Sharp, a teacher who found her niche at Deans Farm in Wilson. Her family decided to take over when the original farm owners decided to retire. They left behind a farm market that has been operating since 1965 and fields that grow a variety of crops including strawberries, watermelon, lettuce, corn, peas, tomatoes and butterbeans.
“My husband James is from a farm family, so they asked him if he would be interested in taking over their farm, and that’s how it all began,” Sharp says. “I have a master’s degree in special education, so it took a while for me to come on board.”
She found her passion in agritourism by expanding the existing Deans Farm Market into a full-fledged business, which has been great for the Sharps’ family, the community and for local tourism in Wilson County.
Since taking over the farm, the Sharps have added hayrides, summer camps, vendor markets and Christmas activities.
A few years ago, the Sharps added a commercial kitchen and a team of chefs who create complete meals-to-go from produce grown on the farm.
Sharp has also found a way to incorporate her education and teaching skills to bring the classroom to the farm, benefiting teachers and students alike.
“Each season we have an indoor agriculture classroom where kids can learn about what we grow, and how we grow it,” she says. “We offer activities and lessons linking to their science curriculum, and we choose books to base their lessons on.”
Apple Hill Farms owner Rankin says not only does agritourism benefit children and adults alike, it supports farm operations, and brings people in.
“Now is a fascinating time to be a farmer and to be in the world of agritourism because the culture is ever changing,” she said.
Rankin, a first-generation farmer who moved to the North Carolina mountains to start an alpaca farm, has written a book about her experiences titled “Farm Family: A Solo Mom’s Memoir of Finding Home, Happiness, and Alpacas.”
“I was a single mom with a 2-year-old, and I didn’t know anybody,” she says. ”And when I look back, I always ask myself, ‘oh my gosh, what was I thinking?” ■
— Teri Saylor is a freelance writer from Raleigh.
SPIRITED GLOBAL GROWTH
North Carolina is ranked 14th in the country for agricultural exports
Statesville’s Southern Distilling made news last month as North Carolina’s 2024 Exporter of the Year. N.C., announced during the 19th Annual Agricultural Development Forum.
The distillery has plans to expand its portfolio globally, distillery co-founder Vienna Barger said in a press release after accepting the award at the event hosted by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Spirits are among North Carolina products on the rise across global markets, particularly in Europe, says Cathy Ma, assistant director of international marketing at the North Carolina agency. Southern Distillery worked closely with Ma and her team to create export opportunities. “We’ve been on trade missions to Germany, and you can see that’s paying off,” she says.
After participating in North Carolina and Tennessee Spirits Week in Berlin in 2023, Southern Distillery began exporting three Southern Star whiskeys to Germany, its first step in a global market. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, U.S. spirits exports totaled $2.06 billion in 2022, a 30% increase over the previous year.
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition has called North Carolina a “major player” in the world’s economy. The USDA estimates that the state ranks 14th nationally in agricultural exports. Its five top global commodities — pork, broiler meat, tobacco, soybeans and other
plant products — are valued at nearly $4.5 billion.
In addition to these traditional products and distilled spirits, sweet potatoes and cotton seeds are gaining traction. The N.C. Agriculture Department estimates that North Carolina exported more than $150 million in sweet potatoes in 2020. Cotton seeds demand is also increasing, both for human consumption and animal feed, says Ma.
“Cotton seeds are a rising star,” she says. “I took three local growers to South Korea and Japan on a trade mission last summer, where buyers were keenly interested in our soybeans and cotton seed.”
Minnesota-based Northwest Grains International installed a transload facility at the inland port of Dillon, South Carolina, and added cotton seeds along with soybeans to its inventory, Ma says. The cotton seeds, sourced from farms along the North Carolina-South Carolina border, travel to Asia by way of the Port of Charleston. South Korea is a top importer of the seeds.
North Carolina benefits as an ag exporter because of its favorable business climate, a long growing season, quality products, and its proximity to ports. The ever-expanding Port of Wilmington is a strong partner with North Carolina’s global trade.
“The port has grown so much and by introducing traders to our office, they help us connect the growers with the importers to get products moving,”
She points to Omaha, Nebraska-based Scoular, a global trading company that established a transloading facility at the Port of Wilmington in 2021. That helped open new Asian business for North Carolina soybean producers.
The state is also taking advantage of the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program, a $1.2 billion program that makes grants available for expanding U.S. goods into emerging markets including Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.
For small producers interested in exporting, Ma says the first stop is at the N.C. Department of Agriculture, where they can learn about potential markets and best sales strategies.
“Learning about their business and their products will help determine their ideal markets,” she says.
It’s also a good time for young professionals interested in entering the export industry. North Carolina A&T University oversees the L.C. Cooper International Trade Center, established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expose graduate students to issues related to foreign trade. Professor Osei Yeboah leads the program, which was established in 2003 and is part of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
“We expose students to global trade, international agribusiness, and marketing,” he says. “We also conduct research on international trade theory, policy, free trade agreements, and we do outreach.”
The center is working with nine agribusiness students pursuing master’s degrees in international trade and business marketing. The federal agency is constantly seeking ag school graduates to work in overseas markets, he adds.
Yeboah recently returned from Ghana, where he is working in international development, focusing on global food security. Food insecurity remains a major problem in west-central Africa.
“It puts a strain on the U.S. government if these countries are not able to produce and feed themselves, because it leads to starvation, wars and other problems,” he says.
A significant portion of United States commodities end up overseas. “Without international trade in this country, some producers would not have a market,” he says. “International trade helps rural communities increase jobs, income, and other benefits, because if they produce food and don’t have a market to sell into, they may not survive economically.”
In 2022, Yeboah received three years of funding to work with ranchers and novice farmers in North Carolina. He assembled a team of professors, animal scientists and engineers to help farmers create irrigation systems.
He also works with individual farmers, including a producer who needs help forming a cooperative to help local farmers produce in bulk.
“For any farmers needing assistance, we will be there for them.” ■
— Teri Saylor is a freelance writer from Raleigh.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, April 16, 2018
CONTACT: Sara Rabern (605) 773-3215
PIERRE, S.D. - A fight for main street retailers that began in the Legislature will see its final round Tuesday as Attorney General Marty Jackley prepares to represent South Dakota before the United States Supreme Court.
"Growing up in Sturgis, I never dreamed that one day I would be fighting for the state I love in the chambers of our nation's highest court," Jackley said. "Our case is strong, our cause is just. We're being backed by messages of support from South Dakota businesses and the American people."
Jackley, who will be the sixth South Dakota attorney general to argue before the Supreme Court, said small main street businesses have the most to gain should the physical presence requirement be overturned.
"In addition to eliminating the 6.5 cent advantage given to large out-of-state retailers, a victory for South Dakota protects those small businesses who also sell products outside the state," Jackley said. "Our statute takes the size of the business into account, and suggestions that Governor Daugaard and the Legislature are trying to subject small businesses in South Dakota to new taxes are simply not accurate or helpful."
Joined by the Trump administration and 44 other attorneys general, Jackley is making the case that the physical presence rule needs to be replaced with a more transparent system that doesn't discriminate against brick-and-mortar retail.
Oral arguments are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. EST.


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A newly created award at Graduate Fashion Week will be introduced this year. The British Fashion Council shall sponsor the ‘Creative Cutting Award’, which will focus on awarding those students with outstanding technical prowess in the art of cutting.
Hilary Riva, Chief Executive of the BFC said: “The British Fashion Council is delighted to sponsor a new Graduate Fashion Week award for Creative Cutting. Many designers, including Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan, established their reputations as leading British designers through combining creativity with technical expertise. In sponsoring this award, we recognise the technical role as an integral part of design and applaud our design colleges for continuing to produce the most creative and technically talented designers and pattern cutters – the future stars of London Fashion Week.”
Graduate Fashion Week celebrates the work of more than 1,000 BA Degree fashion students from 49 member universities across the UK. The event is sponsored for the fourth year by high street fashion brand River Island. Graduate Fashion Week takes place at Earl Court from June 8th-12th.


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Research In Motion said it won't start selling phones with its new software platform until the "later part" of 2012 and had to take a US$485 million inventory-related charge on its PlayBook tablet as part of another poor earnings report for the strug...
Intel warned on Monday that fourth-quarter revenue will be lower than anticipated due to a hard-drive shortage. The chip maker now anticipates quarterly revenue of US$13.7 billion, down from a previous n estimate of $14.7 billion.
After several days of gains, tech stocks dropped Thursday as markets declined on disappointing news from Europe, where government officials are meeting to try to solve the sovereign debt crisis afflicting several countries in the euro area.
Tech stocks looked strong Friday morning on the back of a week of upbeat surveys on small business and online spending, positive news about enterprise hardware and hopeful reports on U.S. employment and the European debt crisis.
Hewlett-Packard continues to struggle with leadership and business changes, reporting on Monday that fourth quarter net earnings dropped 91 percent over last year.
Computer stocks sagged Friday morning in the wake of continuing economic worries and mixed financial news from hardware and software vendors this week.
Wi-Fi infrastructure vendor Aruba Networks will buy Avenda Systems to expand its network security offerings and help enable BYOD (bring-your-own-device) strategies in enterprises.
Dell has reported a small dip in revenue for the third quarter, owing to weaker consumer demand for PCs, but recorded an increase in earnings.
With Nvidia and Cisco reporting results, there was some good news on the chip and networking front this week that, with the help of a successful debt offering by Italy that eased economic concerns, helped fuel a rise in IT vendors' shares Friday morn...
Cisco Systems has completed most of a major restructuring that began early this year, and on Wednesday posted revenue and profit for its fiscal first quarter that exceeded analysts' expectations.
An investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission has been expanded to include Computer Sciences Corp.'s business in Australia, the company said on Wednesday.
One of China's most popular Twitter-like services, Sina Weibo, said it needs better systems to stop harmful rumors on the site, but doesn't intend to force its users to register with their real names.
Adobe will cut 750 jobs and reduce its investment in enterprise software as part of a broader plan to target the fast-growing markets for digital media and digital marketing products, the company said Tuesday.
There was mixed news on PC and microprocessor market growth this week, while the Groupon initial public offering Friday showed that there are plenty of people betting that social media will continue to drive technology trends.
Bharti Airtel's third-quarter profit was hit by high interest and amortization costs related to the mobile network operator's 3G rollout in India and its acquisition in Africa.
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GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
- FTDatabase Marketing ManagerNSW
- FTSales SpecialistNSW
- FTManual Test Engineer | Financial Institution | Web testingNSW
- FTSystems Administrator | National commercial law firm | MS, AWS & eDiscoveryNSW
- FTAccount Manager | Client Side - Previous Agency Experience Welcome!!NSW
- FTLevel 2 IT Support TechnicianVIC
- FTMid level IT consultant | Systems Integration & Managed ServicesNSW
- FTSystems Administrator - Managed ServicesNSW
- FT1st & 2nd level IT support all-rounder in beautiful rural BathurstNSW
- FTBusiness Development & Account ManagementNSW
- FTField EngineerNSW
- CCMilitary simulation programmer with C# and Unity - 3 monthsNSW
- FTAndroid DeveloperNSW
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- CCE-Commerce - Senior Web Application DeveloperNSW
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- FTProduct Marketing ManagerNSW
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Apple might be good at many things, but producing high-quality streaming content isn't been one of them.
However this could change over 2018, with the addition of a new documentary show boosting Apple's content cred.
Home is where the heart is?
The show, called Home, will give viewers a peek behind the curtain into some of the jazziest homes around the globe. The show will also profile the architects and owners who created these modern marvels.
Home will run for one hour and start with a 10 episode season.
Watch this space
Apple is getting serious about original content this year. The company is working on a thriller with Reese Witherspoon, another drama with Jennifer Anniston, and a reboot of Steven Spielberg's 80s cult hit Amazing Stories.
Still, Apple has a way to go before competing against the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon.
Sadly no word yet on whether Apple will feature a doco on its recent BatteryGate controversy.


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Earlier this month, wireless ear buds that are reportedly going to be unveiled alongside the Galaxy S21 series next month. Blass’ leak showed that the Galaxy Buds Pro will replace the bean-shaped design employed with the Galaxy Buds Live and switch to an in-ear design previously employed on the Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Plus.
Today, a Reddit member with the handle “u/gamer0mega” . It will feature passive noise isolation that will help it deliver enhanced active noise cancellation (ANC). Speaking of ANC (no, not AOC!) there are two levels available, one for high …


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Kazuki Kuraishi X Qubic "mix" Sweat
Fragment designer Kazuki Kuraishi will be jetting to New Zealand for this Friday’s monster adi-mash that’s going down at Qubic to mark the Pacific regional launch of the FW09 Originals By Originals KZK collection. Qubic owner Frank Liew has given a sneak peek at the special ‘Mix’ crewneck sweat designed by Kuraishi as part of the Q123 capsule collection celebrating Qubic’s birthday. Featuring patches inspired by Qubic’s mission to mix up cultures from all over the globe, the piece will will be available in limited quantities exclusively at this Friday’s bash. Check the Qubic website for more details. Via Frank’s Hypebeast blog.


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Retails sales in the US have been on a rise in the fourth consecutive month. Rising retail sales in July have again reinforced that people in America are getting back on their lifestyle after a recession hit period.
According to the figures presented by the Commerce Department, retail sales increased by 0.2% in July, after a gain of 0.6% in the previous month June. This will definitely be a boost for the economy as a whole. The Money spent by the consumers contributes about 70% in the economy.
In the US, increasing number of jobs along with the better wealth with each household are few positive points indicating that the slowdown period is fading.
"We've seen wage and salary growth continue to expand with the pace of employment. That's helped support some additional consumer activity," said Michael Brown, an Economist with Wells Fargo Securities LLC, North Carolina.
With the better sales in July, there were very little changes made in the inventories at the U. S. companies. This will also be a sign of growing business for the manufacturers. Reports have shown that clothing retails and general merchandise stores showed the maximum gains among the total 13 retail categories that have gained more business during last month.
- Finnish startup Jolla Oy launches its self-titled Jolla headset in Europe
- HTC to launch dual-SIM variant of flagship HTC One handset in UK
- Nokia quietly unveils Lumia 525 Windows Phone 8 smartphone
- Acer unveils its first touchscreen Chromebook – the $300-priced C720P
- Microsoft’s launch-day sales of Xbox One surpass 1 million units


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Supplement Company Dr. Kruger's Revamps its Formulas and Offerings
Under new ownership, Dr. Kruger’s Supplements, Inc. has re-launched the company and is bringing Dr. Kruger’s original, patented all-natural formulas back to the market. The company has worked hard to ensure the products are the exact same products that Dr. Charles Kruger developed, manufactured and sold. The company is committed to producing these formulas with fresh ingredients sourced in the USA.
New programs are being developed for wholesale and breeder partners, and the company now has an online presence on social media sites. Dr. Kruger’s will travel to dog shows throughout the country to better interface with customers, breeders and breeder partners.
“This is an exciting time for Dr. Kruger’s, as we have the energy, drive and focus to bring these amazing original formulas back to the market and benefit more dogs and cats than ever before,” says Cindy Dunn, vice president of marketing for Dr. Kruger’s.


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While channel marketing is having a positive impact, it’s not living up to other investments, according to new research from channel success platform originator 360insights, conducted by IDG Research.
The firms’ new study, The State of Channel Marketing, reveals an industry clearly in transition. The findings show that despite not meeting investment expectations, budgets are not under threat—40 percent are expecting to increase spending over the next 12 months.
“The results of the survey are exciting to us as it demonstrates that there is an opportunity—and desire—to improve,” said Jason Atkins, founder and CEO of 360insights, in a news release. “Channel marketing has matured beyond demand generation and the focus is shifting to data driven decision-making. The ability to identify not just what was purchased and when, but why is transforming the industry and will give program managers the ROI they are seeking.”
The study also identified the challenges faced by modern channel marketers, which are typically tool and system related. Limited analytics, such as gaining access to third-party data, topped the list, with 59 percent of respondents identifying insufficient visibility into sales activity as their top challenge. Also of concern are processes that require a lot of heaving lifting and difficulty optimizing resources.
“Every industry in the next 10 years is going to be significantly changed by technology and analytics,” said Brian Ross, president of customer analytics firm Precima, in the release. “Consumer purchasing behavior opens up boundless possibility for insight, giving channel marketers the opportunity to be at the forefront of this change.”
The good news is the industry is already changing, with 57 percent of survey respondents having made “fundamental changes” in the past 12 months. End-to-end solutions that provide a holistic view into real-time data and analytics seem set to benefit significantly from the shift.


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Wu Jing, who has always been seen as one of the most patriotic Chinese stars alive, has recently irked his countrymen.
For supposedly owning an Apple iPhone.
As reported on Sohu, netizens recently noticed a peculiarity in the recent broadcast of the Golden Rooster Awards, when Wu can be seen taking a photo of his “The Wandering Earth 2” co-star Andy Lau, who appeared on stage to present an award.
Wu, who seemed excited to take the photos and receiving laughs from the audiences, seemed to forget about his phone, and netizens noticed that based on the placement of the phone’s camera lenses, the actor was using Apple’s latest iPhone 14 PRO MAX.
To make things worse, Wu himself is a brand ambassador of the partially state-owned ZTE mobile phone, and has always updated his social media accounts using ZTE models.
Despite the blunder, many of his fans still defended the actor, saying that endorsing one brand does not mean that the actor cannot use a different brand personally.
ZTE has yet to respond to the controversy.


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Lancom Systems has just launched a portfolio of Wireless LAN (WLAN) industrial Ethernet networking products.
The range has been specifically developed for production, manufacturing, utility, transportation and logistics companies. Designed with a hardened metal casing for industrial environments, the products offer ‘off-the-shelf’ wireless Ethernet connectivity for specialist real-time applications such as remote controlled vehicles and robotic plants, measurement and control systems, production line data capture and remote monitoring.
All wireless access points in the portfolio have built-in three-factor security and IP router functionality, enabling fast, easy networking of production floor and office systems to support enhanced quality assurance, just-in-time processes and real-time fault monitoring.
Lancom’s products provide a highly cost-effective alternative to installing proprietary bus systems and offer significant benefits over wired Ethernet including lower installation costs, easier expandability and improved redundancy.
“There is massive demand for wireless Ethernet products in the industrial sector, but it’s been a relatively under served market to-date,” said Ian Holt, UK country manager at Lancom Systems. “Previously, firms have had to either go wired, which has obvious limitations in an industrial setting, or use proprietary wireless communication systems which creates major headaches in terms of compatibility, integration and scalability. Our new wireless Ethernet products offer the optimum solution and have built from the ground up to be industrial strength – in every sense. ”


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Sat, 08 Sep 2018 01:00
Resilient muay thai icon Tukkatatong has One goal
WITH OVER 250 professional bouts under his belt, muay thai icon Tukkatatong Petpayathai is undoubtedly one of the best in the world in his chosen craft, and he has his father to thank for introducing him to that world.
Sat, 02 Dec 2017 16:57
Over 250,000 families affected by floods in South
Massive floods from Monday to Saturday have affected more than 256,000 families in 10 Southern provinces, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced.
Fri, 24 Mar 2017 07:52
Around 250 feared dead on 'Black Day' in Mediterranean
ROME - Over 250 African migrants were feared drowned in the Mediterranean Thursday after a charity's rescue boat found five corpses close to two sinking rubber dinghies off Libya.
Fri, 10 Feb 2017 01:00
Free flow of ideas brings innovation, prosperity and stability
Just over 250 years ago, the world’s first Freedom of the Press Act was adopted through a decision by the Parliament in Stockholm.
Sun, 13 Nov 2016 09:46
China's Alibaba discusses challenges in penetrating Indonesia
Indonesia is a huge market with over 250 million people, but its wide variety of consumer characteristics and its thousands of islands make it "difficult" to operate in, says Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.
Wed, 04 Feb 2015 14:11
Air pollution in China could cause over 250,000 premature deaths
Beijing (dpa) - More than a quarter million people in China's biggest cities could have their lives cut short from high levels of air pollution, according to a new study.
Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00
Over 250 Je menus at 7-Eleven
CP All Plc, the operator of 7-Eleven convenience store chain, is luring vegetarians nationwide to its store chain with the offering of 250 menus.


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By Blair Thomas
The anywhere/anytime ethic that has grown around online and mobile technology has made consumers and merchants increasingly demanding of near real-time payments. They are no longer content to accept the “funds make take three-to-five business days” disclaimer that accompanies many transactions. In the years since I co-founded my credit card processing company, pressure to increase the speed of payment processing has led to a number of initiatives that are beginning to make a significant difference — programs that will bring benefits to all areas of the payments ecosystem.
Why are payments processed so slowly?
The short answer is that payments are still be being processed following regulations and using systems that are many years old. These legacy technologies and processes no longer reflect the needs of merchants, businesses and their customers.
In the United States, payment processing between financial institutions has relied on something called the Automated Clearing House (ACH). The ACH is a centralized electronic system that collects all of the credit and debit transactions from all financial institutions once a day. The transactions are checked, processed and then settled the following day. The system works, but slowly. There are a couple of issues with it. First, each bank has a set time each day when their batch of transactions is uploaded to ACH. If you submit a payment after the batch has gone, your payment has to wait until the following day to be processed. Further, if there are any accidental errors in your data (big-thumb, small-button type things) then processing can be further held up, with the result that your payment could take anywhere from two-to-five days to process.
So, what are financial institutions, payments companies and fintech doing to speed up the rate of payments?
In recent years, the Federal Reserve has set out to improve the ACH system and provide “same day ACH.” Under this new implementation, banks will be able to designate certain transactions as same day. And ACH will provide financial institutions two or three windows each day in which to process batches. The new setup is being rolled out in three phases: credit settlement in 2016, debit in 2017 and 5 p.m. same-day settlements for all ACH Payment Processing transactions in 2018.
It’s a good start. And, in addition to same-day ACH, the Federal Reserve is also leading the Faster Payments Initiative (FPI).
The Faster Payments Task Force was launched two years ago. 300 organizations from all across the payments ecosystem are involved. The focus of the task force is to develop secure, faster, ubiquitous payments in the U.S. To do this, they are looking at new technology to be the backbone of a faster payments system. Proposals for that new technology are being evaluated this summer. And, following the analysis, the Federal Reserve will release a report outlining the way forward when it comes to speeding up payments. Even as this is happening, new, faster payment technology and solutions are already being brought to market. And the task force is trying to ensure these solutions can work together and provide all types of payment processing capability within the U.S. The idea is to make ACH, debit and credit faster, with real-time payment processing being the ultimate goal.
What benefits can FPI bring, and to whom?
Faster payments will benefit different aspects of the payments industry:
- The vendors businesses use to complete important work will get paid faster. This creates a better experience and stronger working relationships between those partnering businesses. More work gets done more quickly, and overall satisfaction increases. In the aggregate, faster settlement and release of services should bring real improvements to supply chains and distribution in general.
- Much of the pressure on the financial industry to speed up payments is driven by customer demand. Millennials especially are used to being able to make purchases and pay for them in an instant. Their expectation is that the same standard should apply to all transactions. Overall, faster payments allow the industry to deliver better consumer experiences.
- Faster payments should lead to greater adoption of easy-to-use fund transfers between individuals. For instance, there should be a greater uptake in apps that make it possible to instantly transfer funds from your bank account to a friend’s account to pay your half of the dinner check.
- Customers will not have to wait as long for payments from businesses. Faster settlement times will increase client satisfaction and decrease the likelihood customers will look elsewhere for the services a business offers. Overall, client retention will rise.
Security Issues Related to Faster Payments
Clearly, the benefits of the move towards faster payment processing are real, but the transition is not without its risks.
If payments are made in real time, the transaction becomes final almost instantaneously. So how can financial institutions build in the proper checks without slowing down the process? The Federal Reserve’s Secure Payments Task Force is looking at making recommendations for the framework within which new solutions should be created to mitigate risk. They are looking at areas like identity management, fraud mitigation and information-sharing protection. Solutions may include the creation of a fraud database and new standards for authentication, tokenization, dynamic credentialing and encryption.
The Future of Payments
As the payments industry evolves over the next few years, we can expect to see a number of substantial changes. It is likely that new technical developments and increased automation will result in the optimization of the payments chain. The speed and ease with which business is transacted will increase. Customers will have more security and greater satisfaction. Whatever form it takes, the updated, more efficient payments system will benefit all stakeholders. Nobody, in any area of the payments ecosystem, is going to mourn the death of the three-to-five business day disclaimer.
Electronic payments expert Blair Thomas co-founded eMerchantBroker in 2010, America’s Top Rated high-risk credit card processing company, serving both traditional and high-risk merchants.


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- Consol Energy Sells W.Va. Coal Mines For $3.5B
October 29 2013 2:19 AM
The sale of the mines comes amid the U.S. government’s attempts to impose limits on carbon emissions on power plants.
- Technical Glitch Hits Air India’s Dreamliner Flight
October 28 2013 8:06 AM
The plane returned to Melbourne, from where it originated, and resumed the flight to New Delhi after the issue was fixed.
- Wal-Mart Sticks To Lobbying Despite Indian Probe
October 28 2013 7:20 AM
The retail giant’s efforts to influence lawmakers have sparked uproar in the past in India, where lobbying is considered bribery.
- Italy’s Business Confidence Drops In October
October 28 2013 5:49 AM
Business confidence climate saw a decline in the service and retail trade sectors, causing the overall index to fall.
- India Overhauling Border Transport Infrastructure
October 28 2013 3:58 AM
India acknowledged in September that China had an upper hand in terms of infrastructure near the border.
- Tehran Takes Down Anti-American Posters
October 28 2013 2:05 AM
One poster shows a U.S. official negotiating in a formal jacket, paired with military trousers and boots, and reads: “American honesty.”
- Southeast Asia Wastes Up To 80% Of Rice Harvest
October 26 2013 12:27 PM
The loss of about 180 million tons a year of rice also represents poor use of land, energy and water resources, a U.K.-based group warned.
- Kraft Recalls String Cheese Products
October 26 2013 11:23 AM
About 735,000 cases of the affected products were shipped across the U.S.
- Will Bags No Longer Fly Free On Southwest Airlines?
October 25 2013 8:07 AM
U.S. airlines earned nearly $3.5 billion in fees from checked-in bags in 2012, up from $464 million in 2007.
- UK Q3 GDP Growth Highest Since 2010
October 25 2013 7:12 AM
The UK may have grown the fastest among the world's top seven economies in the September quarter, according to analysts.
- German IFO Index Drops Unexpectedly In October
October 25 2013 5:14 AM
The decline highlights the fragile recovery in the euro zone's biggest economy.
- Emerging Market Slowdown Weighs On Caucasus And Central Asia
October 25 2013 4:44 AM
The energy sector-driven Central Asian nations are growing but it could be a while before they move closer to pre-2008 growth rates.
- India's Biocon Beats Profit Expectations
October 25 2013 2:00 AM
The Bangalore-based company’s revenue growth was driven by an expansion in emerging markets and contract research business.
- Global Retail Brands Turn A Blind Eye To Bangladesh Disaster Survivors
October 24 2013 8:13 AM
The world’s worst garment-industry tragedy has left survivors dealing with physical and mental trauma, without adequate compensation.
- Euro Zone Service Sector Disappoints In October
October 24 2013 6:25 AM
However, the poor performance may be a blip and should not raise doubts about the euro zone's overall recovery.
- Pakistan Secretly Approved Of US Drone Strikes: Report
October 24 2013 5:00 AM
CIA documents reveal that U.S. drone attacks, which are unpopular among Pakistani citizens, have covert support of the Pakistani government.
- Local Indian Airlines Struggle As Industry Stalls
October 24 2013 2:43 AM
The pricing strategy of domestic carriers, which is heavily partial to undercutting competitors is hurting their business, analysts say.
- Chinese Factory Activity Jumps To 7-Month High
October 23 2013 10:37 PM
The uptick in manufacturing suggests the possibility of a strong pick-up in growth in the fourth quarter.
- China, India Agree Not To Initiate Border Hostility
October 23 2013 8:04 AM
The two nuclear-armed neighbors signed nine agreements during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Beijing.
- UK H2 Growth Could Beat Previous Estimates
October 23 2013 6:20 AM
The bank's policy meeting also showed concern about the short-term future of the euro zone and the impact of the U.S. government shutdown.


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The beloved children’s show is getting into the crypto craze fairly late in the game.
Premier League backs Sorare’s NFT fantasy football game despite crypto crash Financial Times says The English Premier League has struck…
Rishi Sunak’s NFT – ‘national embarrassment’ – a look into the strange NFT announcemnt from the UK government.
The Metro says Kanye West is not a fan of NFTs it seems. The American rapper took to Instagram to clarify he had no interest in getting involved.


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Leveraging the power of AI in sales can help with elements like customer preferences, product insights and reflections on the effectiveness of a sales call that leaders cannot micromanage at all times!
Shilpa, fourth on the list of 35, is a firecracker in the sales world!
Chhavi Singh received IBM Canada's Tech Titan Award at WeaveSphere Conference in Toronto
Shilpa Sharma shared her perspective on how conversational AI is helping sales leaders win more deals
Sales jobs in the tech industry are in high demand. Make sure you learn about the latest sales tech before applying for one!
Startup is not built in a vacuum, it takes a village to start a company! SaaStr is providing a solid foundation for SaaS founders!
Tune-in to learn more about how conversational AI is helping sales teams build a robust deal pipeline!
Launching a new product requires a lot of planning and team work! But commercializing a product requires a whole new approach.
You’ll receive an email from us shortly with next steps to create your account.
Drop us your info, and we'll be in touch.
You’ll receive an email from us shortly with next steps to book a demo.


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Super Smash Bros to utilise NFC on the Wii U and 3DS
Super Smash Bros is to make use of the new NFC adapter for the 3DS and the NFC capabilities of the Wii U in conjunction with their newly announced NFC toy range.
Nintendo France boss Stephan Bole revealed their plans for NFC to the French newspaper Le Figaro saying, "E3 is also an opportunity to show the use of NFC technology in Nintendo consoles. The NFC will be used in the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros."
Satoru Iwata explained their NFC plans earlier this year, "What is especially unique about NFP is that it is not classed as an accessory product of a certain software title but as a platform itself. In other words, the figurines, which consumers can buy and collect, are going to work with multiple software titles to be released in the future, and we are aiming to develop more software titles compatible with the figurines."
Super Smash Bros will be playable on the show floor at E3 and Nintendo will be hosting a tournament at the show. It is due for release on Wii U and 3DS later this year.
- Borderlands 2 writer leaving Gearbox to join Freddie Wong's RocketJump production company
- Bloodborne will be harder than Demon's Souls and features procedurally generated dungeons
- Hearthstone users pass the 75 million mark, new expansion on the way says new report
- Square Enix unveils the Final Fantasy Type-0 Collector's Edition
- Life Is Strange arrives today
- SEGA cuts jobs in the biggest strategic shift since they binned the Dreamcast
- Big new update arrives for Frozen Cortex
- Introversion's Prison Architect will see its full launch this year, mobile version announced
- Ken Levine's next game is a first-person sci-fi title


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Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) reported a 45% dip in earnings for the first quarter of 2020 due to the inclusion of higher provision expense for COVID-19 related reserve build. During the quarter, the company suspended its buyback program to provide additional support to the economy.
The increase in loan loss reserves and the impact of lower interest rates hurt income in Consumer Banking while higher provision expense impacted income in Global Wealth and Investment Management as well as in Global Banking. The higher sales and trading revenue drove income in the Global Markets higher.
Broadcom Limited (NASDAQ: AVGO) reported first quarter 2021 earnings results today. Total revenue increased 14% year-over-year to $6.65 billion. GAAP net income was $1.3 billion, or $3.05 per share, compared
Retail giant Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) reported higher earnings and revenues for the second quarter of 2021. Earnings missed analysts’ expectations, while sales beat. Net profit was $951 million
With the corporate world rapidly shifting to cloud-native computing after the virus outbreak changed work culture and the way businesses operate, technology providers are aggressively innovating their offerings. Hewlett Packard


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HONOLULU (KHON2) — It was another busy day at Costco. This is what it looked like at the Iwilei location on Thursday morning, March 26. The line to get in the store looped throughout the parking lot.
Shippers continue to reassure everyone that the ports are not closing and supplies are not being impacted and that there is no reason to panic shop.
The Hawaii Harbors Users Group sent us their daily shipping schedule. It shows all the ports are open.


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What you need to know
- Tim Cook has announced that Apple will donate to groups fighting Coronavirus.
- In a tweet, he said that it would donate to groups on the ground, helping support those affected.
- Coronavirus has already killed 41 people, and 1300 more are thought to be infected, mostly in China.
Tim Cook has announced that Apple will be donating money to efforts to fight Coronavirus.
In a tweet Saturday he said:
As people in China and around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year, we send our love and support to the many impacted by the Coronavirus. Apple will be donating to groups on the ground helping support all of those affected.
The virus, which was previously unknown to scientists, causes severe lung disease and acute respiratory infection. It was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, and the majority of recorded cases (more than 700) are concentrated in the surrounding Hubei Province.
The disease appears to be one of only a few viruses known to infect people, similar to Sars, which killed several hundred people in China in 2002. There is no specific cure or vaccine currently available.
Reports confirm that there are also cases recorded outside of China, in Australia and France. China's closest neighbors are also on high alert. The World Health Organization has not declared an international emergency, in part because overseas cases, for the time being, remain limited.
From Cook's tweet, it seems that money donated will go to organizations and groups who are working on the ground with all those affected. Apple, of course, is no stranger to philanthropy and fighting disease. Notably, its Product(RED) line sends a portion of all of its profits to charities fighting AIDS.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Apple Music TV is all music, all the time, and free for all
Apple today announced a new MTV-like music streaming channel – but you'll need to be in the United States to enjoy it.
Potential iPhone 12 Pro unboxing video shows super shiny, super boxy sides
Is this the first video of an unboxed iPhone to reach the internet? If it is, you're going to need sunglasses when you get yours.
Apple is extending its free year of Apple TV+ for another three months
Apple has begun emailing some Apple TV+ subscribers, informing them that they are extending their free year trial by another three months.
Show off your sophisticated side with these leather Apple Watch bands
You can get a stylish leather band for your Apple Watch no matter your price point. Here are some options.


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Using images from more sexist eras in modern ads can be tricky business. If people trust your motives, it can be sassy and ironic. But if your motives are questionable, it can just make you look out-of-touch.
I will guess that the ad above, created for the Canadian Wheat Board, was intended to be sassy and ironic. But it was not taken that way. According to Adfreak's David Kiefaber, "The ad has drawn criticism from the National Farmer's Union for using what critics say is an irrelevant and sexist image to hype the Wheat Board's services."
The CBC has more:
"What an image of a long-legged woman straddling a fence has to do with selling grain is beyond me," Joan Brady, NFU women’s president said in a news release.
Brady said the CWB apparently doesn't realize that women are farmers and make decisions about who they want to do business with.
"Whether in our own right or in partnership, we are deeply involved in all aspects of farming," she said.
I think the problem here is that the Wheat Board is in an industry that is perceived as conservative and old-school. So even if they approved the image as a way to seem more hip, because of the context they were taken at face value. You could advertise a bar or a rock concert with this. But perhaps it's too soon for a big agriculture to be postmodern.
The image is a 1969 Gil Elvgren pin-up titled "Hi-Ho, Silver".


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Sources have confirmed that the ever-popular Colin the Caterpillar cake is officially dating Connie the Caterpillar, after being introduced to each other by friends at a recent birthday party.
The pair have since been seen side by side on the shelves at M&S, looking super adorable.
Friends of the couple have said that Colin and Connie are very much together, and spend every opportunity together when they’re not attending their regular engagements at birthday parties.
"Colin has been looking for love for some time and Connie is definitely the one – he’s smitten! They make a perfect pair and seem really happy together," the source said:
Connie is set to become a style guru amongst cake fashionistas, sporting several pairs of flowery high tops and a milk chocolate coat covered in pink sweets and white and pink sugar paste hearts.
As an all-butter chocolate sponge roll filled with delicious strawberry flavoured buttercream, Connie is set to be a big hit at parties!
Colin recently attended David Beckham’s birthday party, who is said to be a loyal fan of Colin the Caterpillar cake.
Both Colin and Connie can be found in M&S stores now for €11.29.


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Good news, Jak and Daxter fans: The first three games in the Jak and Daxter series, plus Jak X: Combat Racing, are coming to PlayStation 4 later in 2017 through the "PS2 classics" label.
It doesn't look like any of the games are getting any kind of remaster aside from an upgrade to 1080p resolution — but for anyone missing this classic franchise, any kind of access to the series on current-gen systems is good news. Notably, Jak X: Combat Racing won't have any online support and will only support local split-screen co-op, according to PlayStation.
PlayStation hasn't announced a release date or price yet, but we've embedded the announcement trailer below.
Jak and Daxter PS4 release
Here's the announcement trailer PlayStation released to spread the news.
It's not clear whether each game will be sold individually or as a bundle. Mic has reached out to PlayStation for clarification and will update with any response.
Check out the latest from Mic, including our deep dive into how female Overwatch players are dealing with online harassment, an article about a fan movement advocating for more same-sex romance options in Mass Effect, a cool making-of video for Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and an article about what a Bechdel test for gaming might look like.


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New report on the purchase of food in U. K. shows that one of the eight Britons is now a vegetarian or a vegan, and another 21 percent is identified as a flea market. This means that about a third of consumers U.K. deliberately reduced or eliminated meat from his child, and highlights the revolution in eating habits of citizens of U.K.
Vegetarians have a diet that eliminates meat, livestock and fish, while vegans eat vegetarian nutrition and completely avoid all animal products. Flekitarians eat largely nutrition based on vegetables and only occasionally supplement with meat.
Related: Watch out, meat industry – flexibility is on the rise
The report comes from the supermarket chain Vaitrose, who studied the selection of British food in all UK supermarket chains. The study shows that people are thinking about how they can individually confront climate change, and avoiding meat and dairy products is one of the greatest ways in which you can reduce the environmental impact of the planet.
The Vaitrose report comes from a survey of 2,000 adults who are buying various vendors, plus researching millions of transactions in stores and online. The report found that the most likely age range is that the transition to veganism would be between 18 and 34 years old.
"It is extremely encouraging to find out how many Britons decide to reduce the consumption of animal products," The Guardian Nick Calmer, head of the Compassion and Vorld Farming U.K. Palmer added that science shows that the healthiest diet is strong from the plant, and when you eat less meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, you can help animals, people and planets.
The Vegetarian Society claimed that the number of vegans in the U.K. increased by 400 percent in the last four years, from 150,000 to 600,000. In May last year, Vaitrose became the first U.K. who put dedicated vegan parts in his stores, and also launched a line of vegan and vegetarian dishes that are ready to eat.
Vegetarian cuisine has also entered the mainstream of the U.K., and many chains increase their non-meat and non-milk options. Some restaurants have also created vegan menus, as more and more people find out how tasty vegan foods are.
Via The Guardian
Picture via Mittmac


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Researchers develop human skin-like phone case which can be tickled, pinched
Called “Skin-On” interface, the material mimics human skin in appearance as well as in sensing resolution.
Researchers have developed a new interface that allows phones, wearables or computers to "feel" sensations such as tickling, caressing, twisting and even pinching just as the human skin does.
The "Skin-On" interface, mimics human skin in appearance but also in sensing resolution.
In the study, the researchers created a phone case, computer touch pad and smart watch to demonstrate how touch gestures on the Skin-On interface can convey expressive messages for computer mediated communication with humans or virtual characters.
The researchers demonstrated that tickling the skin can generate a laughing emoji on a phone, while tapping it can create a surprised emoji.
"One of the main use of smartphones is mediated communication, using text, voice, video, or a combination," said lead author of the study Marc Teyssier from Telecomm ParisTech in France.
"We implemented a messaging application where users can express rich tactile emotions on the artificial skin. The intensity of the touch controls the size of the emojis. A strong grip conveys anger while tickling the skin displays a laughing emoji and tapping creates a surprised emoji" Teyssier said.
The study scheduled to be presented at the 32nd ACM User Interface Software and Technology Symposium to be held in New Orleans in the US from October 20-23 takes touch technology to the next level.
The researchers adopted a bio-driven approach to developing the multi-layer, silicone membrane. This is made up of a surface textured layer, an electrode layer of conductive threads and a hypodermis layer.
ALSO READ: 96% of deepfake videos online contain porn: Study
Not only is the interface more natural than a rigid casing, it can also detect a plethora of gestures made by the end-users.
As a result, the artificial skin allows devices to 'feel' the user's grasp -- its pressure and location, and can detect interactions such as tickling, caressing, even twisting and pinching.
ALSO READ: Mark Zuckerberg is serious about brain-reading tech, plans to use it for AR, VR
"This is the first time we have the opportunity to add skin to our interactive devices. The idea is perhaps a bit surprising, but skin is an interface we are highly familiar with so why not use it and its richness with the devices we use every day?" said University of Bristol Professor Anne Roudaut who supervised the research.
"Artificial skin has been widely studied in the field of robotics but with a focus on safety, sensing or cosmetic aims. This is the first research we are aware of that looks at exploiting realistic artificial skin as a new input method for augmenting devices," Teyssier said.
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The last six months have been hard on Toyota. The car maker has struggled with recalls, federal inquiries, fines and numerous complaints about its safety and quality. But is it so bad that Toyota should consider changing the name of its bread-and-butter sedan, the Camry?
At least one industry watcher thinks so. Jeff Bennett, an automotive marketing professor at Northwood University in Midland, Mich., says that as the company plans the introduction of the next-generation Camry in a couple of years it might look into other names for the sedan that has become a symbol of its success for 25 years.
Driver’s Seat is a blog featuring news, views, and advice about cars, auto safety, driving, and transportation. Driver’s Seat is written by Jonathan Welsh with contributions from auto critic Dan Neil, columnist Joe White and Wall Street Journal staffers and others.


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Did You Know?
Karuna Therapeutics 'cautiously optimistic' about schizophrenia drug results in next trial: CEO
on November 22, 2019 at 10:44 pm
"We're cautiously optimistic given the robustness of the clinical data that we reported this week," Karuna Therapeutics CEO Dr. Steve Paul says.
Boeing unveils largest version of its embattled 737 Max plane, despite crisis
on November 22, 2019 at 10:26 pm
The 737 Max 10 is the largest version in the Max line, which has been grounded worldwide after two fatal crashes.
Trump questions the downsides of banning flavored e-cigarettes in heated meeting
on November 22, 2019 at 10:18 pm
President Donald Trump raised his concern about the possible negative consequences of banning flavored e-cigarettes during an at-times hostile meeting on Friday about finding ways to reverse an epidemic of teen vaping.
What's on kids' wish lists? Here are 12 of the hottest toys for the holidays
on November 22, 2019 at 9:52 pm
Here's a look at some of the toys that are flying off the shelves for the 2019 holiday season.
Tesla Cybertruck: 5 important questions about the polarizing EV
on November 22, 2019 at 8:21 pm
Tesla's Cybertruck pickup made its debut Thursday night to roaring cheers, some criticism and sighs of relief from Detroit automakers. But questions remain.
Trump says he will soon release plan allowing states to import drugs from Canada
on November 22, 2019 at 7:53 pm
Canadian health officials and the pharmaceutical industry are against the proposal.
Holiday shopping started in July this year, thanks to Amazon
on November 22, 2019 at 6:22 pm
Amazon's annual Prime Day extravaganza has "become a real part of the changing holiday dynamic," according to NPD Group.
Walmart's Jet.com will no longer deliver fresh groceries
on November 22, 2019 at 5:45 pm
Walmart's Jet.com arm will no longer deliver fresh groceries, roughly one year after it started offering this option in New York, the retailer confirmed to CNBC.
Old Navy will shift back to brand-building in a growing trend among advertisers
on November 22, 2019 at 5:19 pm
Short tenure times for chief marketing officers can lead to an overindulgence on short-term marketing objectives.
Black Friday hours: Here's a list of when retailers will be open
on November 22, 2019 at 5:00 pm
As retailers prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, shoppers get ready to spend. Here's a list of retailers' Thanksgiving and Black Friday hours.
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Your next iPad keyboard might come from… Microsoft! That’s right: this minimal, great-looking, tablet-specific keyboard comes from Microsoft. And while is is designed to be used with Windows 8, it "also works with iPad and most Android devices.
All items tagged with "tablets"
Although it’s been less than a year since it’s debut, and though it was widely criticized at its debut for a beefy $329 price tag and a low-resolution display, the iPad mini has quickly become the one 7-inch tablet to rule them all.
A new supplier report out of Asia puts the iPad mini’s triumph into sharp relief. Not only is the iPad mini pretty much the only 7-inch tablet that isn’t running headfirst down a profitability cliff in a race to crater at the bottom, it’s actually putting iPad sales to the knife.
PlaneQuest Will Combine TableTop Miniatures And Tablets For Something Even Better Than Skylanders [Kickstarter]
When I hear about a game that uses miniature figurines with a videogame, I automatically think of Skylanders, Activision’s hit toy/video game that uses plastic creature figures placed on a special “portal of power” to use the creature’s special abilities in the videogame, on consoles and on iPad.
Sydney, Australia-based TableTop Interactive is going one step further to a fuller interactive experience, with mini-figurines reminiscent of tabletop games like Hero Clix or Warmachine, and gameplay that looks more like an action RPG like Diablo. The Kickstarter project is just getting started, with a £150,000 goal and 42 days left to get to it.
Piper Jaffray has once again asked the teenage blight upon our fair nation to stop popping pimples and sexting for a second to tell them what gadgets they want to buy next year. And, duh, it’s the iPhone.
Last year it seemed as though everyone was certain Amazon would follow up the success of the Kindle Fire with an Amazon branded smartphone to take on the iPhone. Instead, Jeff Bezos unleashed the Kindle Fire HD on the world.
The rumor mill is back with more Amazon smartphone rumors, as a new report claims Amazon is getting close to finishing its smartphone that will launch later this year.
Wacom has announced a new baby Cintiq graphics tablet. The new 13-inch model joins the plus-sized 22 and 24-inchers in the lineup, and will let travelling designers and artists work on the go.
There’s good news and bad news for both iOS and Android fans in the latest report from research firm IDC.
The good news (for Android) is that by the end of this year, Android will account for most of the tablets in the world, with a 48.8% marketshare to Apple’s 46 percent.
Wacom is readying a pressure-sensitive tablet of its own. The source of this “rumor”? Wacom itself, via its Facebook page. And being from Wacom, it’ll have a pressure-sensitive pen, plus multi touch and some more mystery features.
And yet despite this relatively big difference, the Tab doesn’t really feel much lighter.
Even though Android has been dominating the smartphone marketshare, the tablet wars are a completely different story as the iPad is clearly the most popular device while all Android tablets are struggling to gain significant usage.
In a new report from the Chitika Ad Network, Apple’s iPad now accounts for 81% of U.S. tablet web traffic. The iPad is so far ahead of the Android tablets, that even if you combined the top 3 performing Android tablets marketshare, they still would look insignificant next to the iPad’s numbers.


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Disney Buys Maker Studios, Video Supplier for YouTube - NYTimes.com: " . . . the deal validates venture-style investments in the content business. Maker, founded in 2009, has received more than $70 million in funding from a large number of investors, including Time Warner Investments, Elizabeth Murdoch, Greycroft Partners and Ynon Kreiz, who is Maker’s chief executive. Mr. Kreiz will continue to run Maker, which will notably not become part of Disney’s struggling web and video game division. Instead, the online video company, based in Culver City, Calif., will answer to James A. Rasulo, Disney’s chief financial officer. “We’re doing that because the best value for Maker is to serve all of our business units,” Mr. Mayer said .... Disney is not the only Hollywood company that sees promise in YouTube-based channel operators. DreamWorks Animation, for instance, recently bought AwesomenessTV, which focuses on teenagers, in a deal worth up to $117 million. A year ago, AwesomenessTV had about 400,000 subscribers and 80.6 million video views. Now it has more than 1.2 million subscribers and 283 million video views." (read more at link above)
Popular streaming channels:Netflix: The king of movie and TV show streaming. $7.99/mo.
YouTube: User-submitted videos and some original programming. Free.
Hulu Plus: TV shows days after they air and some movies. $7.99/mo.
Amazon Prime: A strong Netflix competitor with other Amazon benefits. $79/year.
Crackle: Movies and TV mostly from Sony's library. Free.
Vudu: Movie rental site owned by Walmart. Fees per movie


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Tim Yeo urges Energy Minister to tweak Capacity Market in order to drive greater investments in energy savings
Energy Minister Matthew Hancock has come under pressure from MPs this week to reform the new capacity market, in a move they claim could help save consumers nearly £360m in the first year of the scheme...
EXCLUSIVE: Tea company promises to become carbon neutral in its own operations by 2030 and halve Scope 3 value chain emissions
EXCLUSIVE: How the organic tea company plans to cut emissions 'from crop to cup' and become an 'A* green business'
Car-sharing firm teams up with Innovate UK and US-based FreeWire Technologies to test benefits of recharging on the go
UK climate watchdog sets out blueprint to drive decarbonisation, protect habitats, boost food production and build more housing after Brexit


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OTTAWA Men's Brown ECCO Leather Shoes UK Outlet , July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Bank of Canada said Wednesday it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 percent, citing recent higher inflation and slower than expected global economic growth.
The bank rate is correspondingly 1.25 percent and the deposit rate is 0.25 percent, said the central bank in a press release.
The bank attributed recent higher inflation to the temporary effects of higher energy prices, exchange rate pass-through and other sector-specific shocks, rather than to any change in domestic economic fundamentals.
Over the next two years, inflation is projected to fluctuate around 2 percent as these temporary effects ease and the downward pressure on inflation from economic slack and heightened retail competition gradually dissipates, it added.
"The global economy is on a lower growth track than was foreseen at the time of the April Monetary Policy Report issued by the bank ... Nevertheless Men's ECCO Intrinsic 2 Slip On Black UK Outlet , the bank continues to project that global growth will gather momentum as these headwinds abate," the bank said.
"Given the downgrade to the global outlook, economic activity in Canada is now projected to be a little weaker than previously forecast. However, the bank still expects that the lower Canadian dollar and a projected strengthening in global demand will lead to a pickup in Canadian exports and business investment and, eventually Men's ECCO Jack Slip On BLACK UK Outlet , a more sustainable growth track," it noted.
Consequently, the bank said the country's economy is expected to reach full capacity around mid-2016, a little later than anticipated in April.


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In a Google Groups thread, a number of small businesses are noticing that their location marker isn't quite on target; they would like to edit it out. In the past (and unfortunately I don't have a screenshot), there was a feature that would enable users to "edit incorrect marker location." (A similar feature is discussed in our screenshot tour of the "move the map marker".) Google has acknowledged that they removed this, thinking that it wasn't important.
However, a few business owners admit that the location marker is not pointing to their business location as accurately as they'd like, and they want to change it. The only way around doing this, at the moment, is to delete the entire business and start again from scratch. Naturally, since there's a lot of information that goes into entering a business on Google, it's not the ideal solution.
With the few people who are impacted, it's probably true that a lot of other individuals are affected but haven't used Google Groups to voice their concern. Maps Guide Jen, however, says that there is "clear evidence" that this feature is needed and Google will be adding it back in soon.
Forum discussion continues at Google Groups.


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Seattle Times online traffic grows, PI.com’s questioned
- Greg Lamm
The Seattle Times got a big boost in online readers in March, while Seattlepi.com, in its first month as an online-only news source, saw its web traffic drop significantly, according to Nielsen Online.
But a spokesman for the company that owns Seattlepi.com said the Nielsen numbers are flawed and said that internal company data from another tracking service show that Seattlepi.com traffic jumped nearly 10 percent in March compared with the same month the previous year.
The March Nielsen data offer one early glimpse of how readers online are reacting to a new newspaper landscape in Seattle. New York-based Hearst Corp. closed the print edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer March 17 and is operating Seattlepi.com as an online news venture with a much smaller staff.
The Seattle Times website in March had 2.2 million unique visitors (“uniques”), a 70 percent jump from March 2008, according to the Nielsen Online survey, as reported on trade journal Editor and Publisher’s website Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Seattlepi.com had 1.4 million unique visitors in March, down 23 percent from the previous March, Nielsen Online said.
The Seattle Times, until the end of the P-I’s run as a print newspaper, was locked in a money-losing joint-operating venture with Hearst and the P-I.
In February, when the P-I and Times were still working under the joint venture, The Seattle Times had 1.5 million uniques, compared with 1.8 million uniques for the P-I. “Unique visitors” is a measure that counts each visitor only once, no matter how often that visitor clicks back to the same website.
But according to Hearst’s data, Seattlepi.com saw about 4.5 million unique visitors in March, a 9.6 percent increase over March 2008, said Paul Luthringer, spokesman for the Hearst Corp., the Seattlepi.com’s parent company.
- Most popular
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- Construction starts next year on huge project in downtown Seattle
- Report: Sounders may seek soccer-specific stadium
- Curtain rises on new apartment skyscraper in Seattle (slideshow)
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Today, the Federal Trade Commission announced it is seeking public comments on proposed updates to the Energy Labeling Rule which will allow consumers to more accurately compare the estimated annual energy consumption appliances before they buy them.
The FTC’s Energy Labeling Rule, issued in 1979 under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, requires that manufacturers attach labels to major home appliances and other consumer products that help consumers compare the energy usage and costs of competing models. The rule also prohibits retailers from removing or altering these labels.
It also requires Lighting Facts labels or other disclosures for many household appliances. These labels help consumers anticipate their energy costs and avoid costly surprises after a product has already been purchased.
The rule requires the Commission to revise the comparability ranges and associated energy costs every five years for certain EnergyGuide labels. The FTC’s notice of proposed rulemaking seeks comments on scheduled updates to the comparability ranges that were last revised in 2017. These updates focus on three disclosures for most covered products: 1) estimated annual operating cost, 2) a “comparability range” showing the highest and lowest energy consumption or efficiencies for all similar models, and 3) the product’s energy consumption or energy efficiency rating. Details on the specific EnergyGuide label changes can be found in the Federal Register notice.
The Commission vote approving publication of the notice in the Federal Register was 3-1, with Commissioner Christine S. Wilson voting no and issuing a separate dissenting statement.
Once it has been published in the Federal Register, consumers can submit comments electronically. Consumers also may submit comments in writing by following the instructions in the “Supplementary Information” section of the notice.
The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.


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Bespoke Media Group announces plans to expand in 2023 with a complete rebrand and a new model where marketers & entrepreneurs can license the Bespoke brand, in a similar way to the major real estate networks.
We've been asked about this for a few years, the timing just feels right - nic fren.
Just two months shy of their 5th birthday, chief executive Nic Fren says “I feel it’s the right time to do this”.
“We’ve been approached over the years by some talented and upcoming entrepreneurs in this space, some in different industries, but I didn’t feel the timing was right.”
“I haven’t seen this done in the marketing space” he claims, saying the marketing world isn’t that different from real estate.
“Everyone is trying to make their mark in business and quite often it can be extremely difficult for someone starting out to do that without the experience, backing or support of a larger company. So, we wanted to make sure we got it right.”
While the planning has been in the works for over a year, the announcement comes hot off the heels of the network's recent win for Best Social Media App or Tool & Best Use of YouTube at the Social Media Marketing Institute of Australia’s Gala Awards.
The accolades have certainly attracted some of the finest talent in the marketing industry over the past few months who are looking to create their own, individual businesses under the bespoke media banner.
“It’s the best of both worlds”, says Mr Fren who explains Bespoke business owners will be able to take advantage of our international brand, while personalising it, along with their own, to help them win more clients and scale their business..
“Entrepreneurs & business owners will have complete autonomy to run their businesses, their way without the interference from head office,” says Mr Fren.
A low set monthly fee, regardless of how much revenue their business makes, will provide members with all the tools they need to get started & build a successful business, utilising the strength and visibility of the Bespoke Media brand.
“It’s a really exciting time for us,” says Mr Fren who has announced the company is undergoing a complete rebrand over the coming months to make way for the new additions in the new year. The look and feel is something we've been working on for quite a while now and I can't wait to bring it to market.
Written by Bespoke Media Group
To discuss becoming a bespoke business owner, please contact Paul at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Last week, Hyundai teased a concept of a new electric SUV called "Seven." On Thursday, it was Kia's turn to tease its version, a concept it is calling "EV9."
Details are scant for EV9, as they are for the Hyundai Seven, although we know it will employ Hyundai Motor Group's new E-GMP electric vehicle platform, which uses an 800 V electrical architecture. The platform enables rapid fast charging to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes and either rear- or all-wheel drive layouts for larger-battery electric vehicles.
Like the Seven, the EV9 has a flexible and adaptive interior, although I'm slightly worried about Kia's "radical new take on the traditional steering wheel." There are, after all, perfectly good reasons that most cars use round steering wheels.
Kia's teaser images give away a little more of the look of the EV9 than Hyundai did last week with the Seven. Kia describes the shape as "ultramodern," but the silhouette looks reminiscent of the brand's best-selling Telluride.
Kia will formally reveal the EV9 concept at next week's Los Angeles Auto Show.
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Nvidia's market value surged by £232.6bn in January - the biggest monthly increase in history.
The world's largest chipmaker has become a darling of the stock market because its processors are widely used for artificial intelligence.
Nvidia's stock has risen by 31% since the year began, and 190% over the past 12 months - breaching all-time highs on a regular basis.
Last month's unprecedented surge leaves Nvidia with a market cap of £1.22trn as investor enthusiasm surrounding AI shows no sign of diminishing.
It's now the sixth most valuable company on the planet - comfortably ahead of Facebook owner Meta, and creeping up on Amazon.
Microsoft - which has now overtaken Apple as the company with the biggest market cap - also saw its valuation appreciate by £125bn in January.
The company surpassed expectations on revenue and earnings per share when it released its latest results earlier this week - buoyed by strong demand for its cloud services.
Other businesses saw sharp retracements in their valuations.
Tesla's market cap shrank by £151.6bn - 24% - after Elon Musk warned growth in 2024 will be "notably lower" than previous years.
This is against a backdrop of aggressive price cutting that has eaten into the electric vehicle manufacturer's profit margins.
Saudi Arabian Oil Co has also shed 7.3% of its valuation, the equivalent of £121.5bn.