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James and Jessica Parsons opened Sapphire City Board Game Parlor last month above Main Street Grille in downtown North Canton.
NORTH CANTON The Parsonses want you to put down your phone and pick up a pair of dice.
James and Jessica Parsons opened Sapphire City Board Game Parlor last month above Main Street Grille downtown. For $5, guests can play as long as they'd like and have full reign of a selection of about 300 games. They also offer a smaller collection of games for sale.
"It's low-key. Come up, pick a game you want to try. See if you like it. If you don't, there's a lot of other games," James Parsons said. "The goal is to be relaxing. There's no pressure."
The parlor is designed for game play, with tables of varying sizes and a couch area for more casual hangouts. They've partnered with Main Street Grille for a custom menu of tabletop-friendly food such as wraps and sandwiches, as well as baked goods made by Jessica Parsons.
Sapphire City is waiting on its liquor license, but the Parsonses plan to serve beer and wine. For now, guests can indulge in pop and pour-over coffee drinks.
The business, the first of its kind in Stark County, is years in the making. The pair are gamers themselves — about one-third of the parlor's games come from their personal collection — and knew the area had plenty of others who shared their hobby.
"We just heard a lot of lamenting that you had to travel to Cleveland or Hudson or Columbus," Jessica Parsons said.
"The closest (board game parlor) is at least a half-hour. There's just nothing like it," James Parsons added.
The Parsonses have kept their opening purposefully low-key but have drawn guests through word-of-mouth and a last-minute booth at the latest 720 Market in downtown.
Board games have exploded in popularity in recent years. According to Bloomberg, U.S. sales of board games hit $1.1 billion last year, a seven percent increase from 2016.
There aren't many opportunities for friends to participate in a communal activity that isn't exclusively eating, Jessica Parsons said.
"On top of just being fun, it's the desire to have some kind of structured social activity in the age where you're just looking at your phone," James Parsons agreed.
And for those who aren't great at socializing, "I can use a board game as a crutch. ... I can go on a date with someone and not have it be super, super awkward," Jessica Parsons laughed.
That desire to unplug is why Sapphire City is largely screen free. The exception is a tablet that can be used for games that make use of an app or for players to watch tutorials and access instructions for unfamiliar games.
Open to all
Sapphire City is open to all ages and abilities and has drawn a diverse crowd, from parents looking to play a quick game with their kids to groups of more serious players launching an hours-long campaign.
The game selection is designed to appeal to a large demographic. It's organized by type — party, family, high strategy and low strategy — and some games carry a sticker marking them as a family-favorite.
"The goal wasn't to have some exclusive club with only hardcore gamers. We wanted to have a spectrum," James Parsons said. "If you wanted to try something you grew up with, like Monopoly or Life or Guess Who or Stratego, we have those. If you wanted to try something more recent or more complicated, we have that too."
On Aug. 25, in celebration of Tabletop Appreciation Day, Sapphire City will host its first big event — a fundraiser for Extra Life, a nonprofit that raises money for children's hospitals. All cover charges that day will go to Akron Children's Hospital and the business will hold several auctions.
They're planning more events and tournaments. And are welcoming suggestions from guests.
"We're still getting a pulse on the community," James Parsons said. "We built it, let's see what people actually want."
Sapphire City is open Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, see sapphirecitygames.com.
Reach Jessica at 330-580-8322 or firstname.lastname@example.org On Twitter: @jholbrookREP.


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Published in Mobiles
Samsung plays down April Galaxy S III launch
It might be, but then again
Samsung appears to be playing down claims that its new Galaxy S III smartphone will be in the shops in April.
ZDNet Korea claimed to have confirmed the April launch with Samsung's advertising agency. But when questioned further Samsung said that the successor to the Galaxy S II smartphone will be unveiled in the first half of the year, closer to commercial availability of the product.
This does not mean that Samsung is not launching the phone in April it is just it appears to be managing expectations. Samsung has a media event planned for March 22 in Paris where it was expected to be launched. Features for the Galaxy S III have not been officially released but it seems likely to feature a 1.5ghz quad-core processor, a 4.8-inch 1080p resolution display, 2GB RAM, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear camera. BGR said the handset would run Android 4.0.

domain: news


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Sony x Nintendo?
While PlayStation hit-games are likely never going to shift to other devices (at least for now), Sony Music Entertainment is planning to segue a major change in gaming. This week, Sony announced the launch of an official licensed Indie-gaming division called Unties. The company is set to release their first title, Tiny Metal, on Nintendo Switch and PC devices this November 21st.
The full-scale strategy simulation title is being developed by Area 35, which will be the first of many Sony Music titles to arrive on other platforms. Not to be confused with Sony Interactive Entertainment or the main PlayStation brand; the pending titles success on rival platforms should let them know whether to look into a bigger expansion of third party support.
If that happens, this will be a Trojan-horse to possibly persuade the main gaming entities to look into options of working with the hybrid-Nintendo device for non-indie releases; then the possibility of working with each other for cross-platform. Let us know in the comments what you think.


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During last week’s mHealth + Telehealth World 2014 conference in Boston, Massachusetts, mobileStorm CEO Jared Reitzin was among the knowledgeable industry panelists discussing the future of healthcare technology.
If health apps were more engaging and more fun, consumers would start using them in a heartbeat, Reitzin asserted during the conference. While big data is revolutionizing healthcare, strategies borrowed from the gaming industry, for example, could motivate healthy behaviors in consumers.
mHealth apps need to be personalized, engaging, and irresistible, suggested mobileStorm’s chief executive. But we’re not there yet, he cautions.
“The poor design of many apps is a really big problem,” Reitzin noted. “Healthcare needs to strive for simplicity in a way that Apple did under Steve Jobs. We need to bring healthcare closer to Silicon Valley.”
Just because the issue is healthcare and wellness doesn’t mean the apps must be arduous or boring.
“If consumers find engaging with healthcare apps is difficult or dull, they’ll opt out,” Reitzin added.
To learn more about the insightful panel discussion, check out the coverage from Clinical Innovation + Technology.


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The Central Valley is the most agriculturally productive place in the nation, producing billions of dollars in annual sales from hundreds of crops — everything from almonds and pistachios to peaches, plums, salad greens, dairy and livestock.
Yet this incredible bounty has largely bypassed many of the region's residents: Poverty rates in the Central Valley are among the highest in the state.
That paradox — of abundance and scarcity living side-by-side — was a theme that emerged repeatedly Tuesday (April 9), as University of California experts and leaders from around the globe gathered to talk about how to feed a growing and hungry world in the face of climate change and increased demands on natural resources.
Many of the speakers made the point that science and technology can drive solutions — but only if they are harnessed to the political and moral will to enact change.
“When it comes to food, we live in a shockingly unequal world,” said Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland. “One billion people are undernourished — many have barely one meal a day. In wealthy countries, we have so much food that obesity has become an epidemic.”
Glenda Humiston, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's California state director for rural development, pointed out that the inequalities are as much local as they are global — California's top three farm producing counties are also in the top when it comes to rates of poverty.
“Does farming have to have that kind of poverty?” she wondered aloud.
The economics of farming, however, are increasingly complex. Several farmers on a panel discussing California issues made the point that global markets now dictate the price they get for their crops, which in turn decides whether they are profitable enough to stay in business.
“Farmers are making rational decisions in an economy where their decisions are based on China's economy,” said Paul Muller, co-owner of Full Belly Farm, a small organic farm that has carved out a successful niche at local farmers markets and in community supported agriculture. “A lot of farms survive by producing a single crop.”
He left conventional farming after recognizing the direction things were going. Full Belly Farm evolved as an answer to the question, “How do you value rural people and a rural economy,” he said.
Today Muller's 400-acre farm is focused on regional marketing and produces 80 different crops, with sheep and chickens integrated into the farm system.
He said he is selling more than just food: His customer base is willing to “pay us for stewardship” of the land.
Other panelists said that Muller's model could go only so far in addressing global needs to produce more food, and at an affordable price.
“If the price of organic food is double or triple the cost, it's not feasible,” said Komal Ahmad, a recent UC Berkeley graduate who has launched an online nonprofit that uses cell phone geo-locating technology and social networks to connect groups and organizations with excess food to the soup kitchens and homeless shelters that need it.
The other model that seems to be thriving — and paying its workers a living wage — is on the opposite end of the Full Belly Farm spectrum.
Stuart Woolf, president and CEO of Woolf Farming & Processing, said his large family-owned farm over the last two decades has moved away from labor-intensive row crops to more water-intensive, but higher-value tree nuts.
“We wanted crops where California had a global competitive advantage,” Woolf said. That kind of business savvy has allowed him to pay his workers well and be in a position to supply large international companies like snack-maker Frito Lay.
“We all serve different markets," Woolf said. "I think there's an opportunity for all of us to do well.”


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Korean publication ET News reports that the 3D Time of Flight (ToF) sensor will not be making a comeback next year with the Galaxy S22 series. ToF sensors were featured on recent high profile releases like the Galaxy S10 5G and S20 Ultra.
However, the company swapped in a simple Laser AF system for the Galaxy Note20 Ultra launch and found that the change didn’t negatively impact user experience. So, ToF was out and Laser AF was in for the Galaxy S21 Ultra launch as well, which will carry over to next year’s S22 series.
According to insiders, Samsung thought about bringing the ToF sensor…


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The next time you buy a new iPhone, it could come out of the box with a fresh iOS software update, according to a new report. A new proprietary system called “Presto” will update it right in the packaging before you buy it at an Apple Store.
Normally, updating iOS is one of the first orders of business for new iPhone purchases. Now it won’t be necessary unless a new update comes out right after their purchase.
Presto iOS updates: Apple’s new system refreshes iPhone software in the box
The new Presto system should start rolling out in Apple Stores in the United States in April. That’s according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman’s PowerOn newsletter on Sunday. He first mentioned Presto in October 2023, noting the wireless system will update iPhones on store shelves before they’re sold.
Here’s more of what he wrote Sunday, saying Presto looks like a “metal cubby for shoes”:
Apple prepares to roll out its in-box iPhone software update feature to all US retail stores. Last October, I reported that Apple was developing a proprietary system that allows an iPhone’s software to be updated at a retail store — while still in its packaging. This can happen while the device sits in the inventory room before it’s sold. When a customer buys the iPhone, it then comes out of the box with the latest version of iOS. This is all done completely wirelessly using a new system called Presto within Apple.
The system looks a bit like a metal cubby for shoes. It can use MagSafe and other wireless technologies to power up the iPhone without ever cracking open the packaging. It downloads and installs new software and then powers the phone back down.
Apple tested the new Presto iOS updates system in late 2023, the report said. And the iPhone giant hopes to roll it out in all U.S. stores by early summer.


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By now it’s well known that Hispanic consumers overindex for most digital behaviors. An August 2012 study from Acosta Sales & Marketing found that Hispanic consumers, in particular, were more likely than the average shopper to use a smartphone, as well as text, stream music and video, and use mobile apps. But what truly sets Hispanics apart, studies suggest, is their mobile internet shopping habits.
When researchers studied mobile shopping behaviors, a sharp divide emerged between Hispanics and the average US consumer. A May study from Leo Burnett and Lapiz found that Hispanic consumers were approximately 70% more likely than non-Hispanic consumers to shop by mobile phone (56% of Hispanics reported doing so, vs. 33% of non-Hispanics) and by tablet (43% vs. 25%). In other words, not only are Hispanics more likely than non-Hispanics to use a smartphone, but they’re a lot more likely to shop with it.
Both online and off, Hispanics are considerably more likely than non-Hispanics to make shopping a social activity. While 48% of Hispanics involved social networking sites in their shopping activities, only 31% of non-Hispanics did so. Furthermore, Hispanics were found to be twice as likely to share opinions and write reviews on social sites, and more than twice as likely to reach out to friends and family while shopping.
The takeaway: It’s not just a higher rate of digital adoption that separates Hispanic from non-Hispanic consumers—it’s how that technology is put to use.
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Check out today’s other articles, “Will TV Everywhere Satisfy Streaming-Savvy Consumers?” and “Travel Leads B2C Ecommerce Sales in Australia.”
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Showing 1,191 results for: Pace Holdings Corporation
Will companies invest their cash windfall from the Republican tax plans? Also, the Murdochs are in talks with suitors interested in pieces of their empire. But will they sell?
They may keep passengers happy, but the entertainment systems are expensive and add bulk and weight to the seats. Plus, travelers are bringing their own devices.
Imagine you are applying to be the C.E.O. of Deutsche Bank now that it’s reportedly seeking a successor to John Cryan. What would you do first?
Mr. Flint, who is in charge of the lender’s retail banking and wealth management business, has been with the bank since 1989 and will succeed Stuart Gulliver.
Eric Schmidt is stepping down as executive chairman of Google-parent Alphabet.
The acquisition of most of Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment empire makes Disney a true competitor to services like Netflix and Amazon.
AT&T said it will pay a $1,000 bonus to more than 200,000 employees and would increase its capital expenditure budget for next year by $1 billion.
Macy’s and Sears have recently announced numerous closings, reflecting a climate in which online and discount retailers have outmaneuvered them.
Mutual fund managers are holding their ground, which may be a stabilizing force in the market.
What Mr. Lampert once called an “enormous undertaking” to revive Sears, once America’s biggest retailer, has become an increasingly forlorn pursuit.


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The retail chain JJB Sports has gone into administration, with the loss of 133 jobs in the North East, Cumbria and Dumfries.
More top news
White Rose flags and crowds half a dozen deep met the riders as they swept through the towns and villages of North Yorkshire.
The Black Cats boss has spoken to the media following his side's one nil defeat to Bournemouth which relegated them from the Premier League.
The Black Cats will play next season in the Championship after being relegated from the Premier League.


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Swain Group has announced the acquisition of Gravesend-based haulier Eurobulk. Swain, based in nearby Rochester, Kent, has acquired the entire shareholding of Eurobulk including its assets, vehicles and business. Eurobulk will continue to be run as a separate company, managed by its existing directors, while Swain confirmed it would ‘provide capital to finance the company’s growth, as well as the wider benefits of being part of a diverse and highly capable logistics group’. Eurobulk MD Andrew Miller said: “Our team […]
Europa Worldwide has outlined an acquisition strategy that would see it target operators, as well as air and sea interests, as MD Andrew Baxter looks to build the “biggest business” he can.
Currie Solutions has bought PS Ridgway of Dundee for an undisclosed sum.
Pallet networks buying member hauliers is a trend the sector will “definitely see more of” in the future, say the heads of Palletline and Pall-Ex.


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As South Florida’s real estate industry has been sheltered from much of the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, its retail sector is thriving as migration and continued demand for retail space from many new-to-market businesses rises. But there are challenges on the horizon as low supply meets increased demand, and inflation begins to bite.
Gregory Matus, the Managing Director of Investment Sales for Franklin Street. Courtesy Photo.
The limited amount of retail space available is also creating challenges for retailers, according to Franklin Street’s managing director of investment sales Gregory Matus.


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- Some business owners who depend on Google driving Internet users to their Web sites are angry over a change to the top search engine’s ranking system, which they say threatens to dent their revenue during the holiday shopping season.
One San Francisco retailer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters on Tuesday the change sent his company’s rank among Google search results from No. 1 to No. 250.
….Wayne Rosing, vice president of engineering at Google, said the change is part of the Silicon Valley-based company’s efforts to provide high-quality search results.
“This particular change affected more people, but our testing shows there was a significant quality improvement for our users,” said Rosing.
Andrew Goodman, principal at search advertising consulting firm Page Zero Media, said the volume of the complaints has risen in the past week and that most appear to come from people who use or teach various techniques, such as repeating certain words on their Web pages, to boost rankings.
“It’s part of an attempt to weed out sites that rank higher than they should,” said Goodman, who added that Google has long played a game of “cops and robbers” with Web site operators and consultants looking for an unfair edge on competitors.
….Talk of an initial public offering has helped fuel allegations that Google made the ranking changes to pump up its all-important advertising revenues ahead of a stock sale.
Rosing said there is no truth in such charges.
Google’s advertising and search businesses “are completely separated, there is no linkage between the two,” Rosing said.
“There are tons of ways that people have used to fool Google (to get a better ranking). I really do believe they’re trying to improve the quality of their results,” Goodman said. [Reuters]
So Google claims it made the changes to fortify the system against those who were gaming it and ranking higher than they “deserved” to. Hmm.
Let me just say that my love for all search engines is boundless and undying.


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Suzuki has confirmed that it will not compete in next year's MotoGP championship for financial reasons.
The Japanese factory saw lone rider Alvaro Bautista finish 13th this season but have now ended their 37-year stay.
A statement read: "Suzuki Motor Corporation has decided to suspend temporarily its participation in MotoGP from the 2012 season.
"Having an eye on returning to MotoGP in 2014, Suzuki will now focus on developing a competitive new machine."
Bautista had already announced that he has joined Gresini Honda for next season as a replacement for the late Marco Simoncelli.
Suzuki's withdrawal leaves just Honda, Yamaha and Ducati as manufacturers with full factory teams on the grid for 2012.
"This suspension is to cope with tough circumstances mainly caused by the prolonged recession in developed countries, a historical appreciation of Japanese Yen and repeated natural disasters," Suzuki said.
Suzuki first competed in the top class of grand prix racing in 1974, and saw British legend Barry Sheene take two world championships in the 1970s.
Kenny Roberts Jr was the last Suzuki world champion, taking the 500cc title in 2000.


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Dominican Republic: Inflation jumps in August
September 11, 2017
Consumer prices increased 0.57% in August compared to the previous month, which was above July’s 0.18% month-on-month increase. According to the Central Bank, August’s print was primarily driven by higher prices for housing and transport, and to a lesser extent higher food and non-alcoholic beverage prices.
Inflation in August came in at 3.2%, which was above the previous month’s reading of 2.5% and the highest figure since April. August’s print marked a return for inflation to the Central Bank’s target range of 3.0%–5.0%. Meanwhile, annual average inflation in August was higher than July’s 2.2%, landing at an over two-year high of 2.4%. In line with FocusEconomics panelists’ forecast, the Central Bank foresees inflation remaining within the target range for the remainder of this year.
The Bank stood pat at its 31 August meeting. Against an earlier backdrop of decelerating inflation, the Central Bank had opted to lower its main policy rate by 50 basis points at its 31 July meeting. With the decision, the Central Bank attempted to anchor inflation expectations within the 3.0%–5.0% tolerance band. Authorities were worried that weaker-than-expected oil prices, along with the current string of soft inflation readings and growing skepticism regarding the U.S. Federal Reserve’s current tightening path, could weigh on inflation expectations moving forward.
In addition to the rate hike, the Bank had adopted new measures in late July that granted close to USD 500 million in loans to the private sector. The move is expected to shore up economic activity in some sectors, as well as boost price pressures. Leading data suggest that, ever since these measures were taken, credit growth to small- and medium-sized enterprises and households has leaped. Coupled with a more accommodative stance, this is likely to bring inflation back above the Central Bank’s target range before year-end.
Author: Christopher Thomas, Economist


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With community restrictions recently lifted in the Philippines, the SM Retail business has bounced back, with the company saying it has seen a resurgence of customers in its SM Stores.
The store’s fashion category, which includes beauty, clothing, shoes, and accessories, reached 95 per cent of pre-pandemic sales during the second quarter.
The company has reported an increase of 18 per cent in revenue to US$2.86 billion (PHP163.3 billion) during the first six months of this year and a growth of 91 per cent to $122.4 million (PHP7 billion), in profit which the company credited to optimised cost efficiencies across all retail formats.
Dhinno S Tiu, SM Store executive VP for operations and sales support, said the surge was driven by “energised spending” as the economy reopened.
During the pandemic, the Philippine department store giant said the trends leaned towards comfortable lounge garments and activewear as most people stayed indoors to work or study from home.
With the return of face-to-face classes, the company reported an increase in demand for school essentials such as uniforms, shirts, shoes, and stationery.
“To meet this vibrant demand, we ensure that we provide relevant and up-to-date merchandise and constantly innovate to address the Filipino shopper’s ever-changing needs,” said Tiu.


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Another depressing day has come to the crypto world. The legal team for the defunct cryptocurrency lender Celsius asserted that customer money belonged to the company, not the client. The burden of Celsius’ downfall will fall on retail customers, according to the bankruptcy filings. Lawyers for the organization claim that registered customers from more than 100 different nations relinquished ownership of their bitcoin deposits in Earn and Borrow accounts.
The lending network submitted a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition to the Southern District of New York on Thursday. This is more than a month after it stopped accepting client withdrawals due to unusually challenging market conditions. The bitcoin company did a great job of unfairly treating its clients.
At the first bankruptcy hearing for the firm on 18 July 2022, everything went wrong for the investors. Lawyer Pat Nash of Kirkland outlined how, in accordance with Earn and Borrow’s terms of service (ToS), retail consumers having accounts gave the company the title to their cryptocurrencies. The entity may use, sell, pledge, and rehypothecate those coins as it sees fit as a result.
The legality of whether Custody account holders retain ownership of their assets, though, has come into dispute. According to the Celsius ToS, the company is not permitted to use currencies in Custody accounts without user consent. However, lawyers questioned whether this was applicable to the cryptocurrency that the company currently possessed. They posed the following questions after providing an outline of the case:
“Are the crypto assets in Celsius’ possession property of the estate? Is the answer to this question different for crypto assets held under the Custody vs. the Earn program?”
Yet another dig at Celsius situation
“Not your crypto, not your keys.” Since MtGox’s demise years ago, this tagline has been repeated many times. But it seems like the warning came at the right time once more. After legal action a few days ago, economists warned that the platform’s investors might be let down. Experts claim that Celsius is more of an unregulated bank than a lender of crypt- assets.
Jameson Lopp, the Bitcoin advocate, has also expressed his disappointment on his Twitter profile.
Furthermore, for non-accredited American investors, the Custody programme was introduced in April after some states issued cease and desist orders over Celsius’ Earn programme.
On 13 June 2022, Celsius stopped all users’ incentives and withdrawals, and they subsequently stopped margin calls, liquidations, and the issuance of new loans.
In a tweet on 19 July 2022, attorney David Silver summarised Celsius’s claim to consumers’ money. Users should “stop thinking of it as your crypto,” he advised because everything officially belongs to the company.
However, in an effort to mend fences with customers who have sent hate mail and threats to business employees, Celsius is leveraging the mining operation. As a result of the initiative, it is also taking asset sales and other third-party investment opportunities into consideration.


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According to the national epidemic prevention and control for the latest release of the prevention and control measures, taking into account all health and safety of staff, after careful consideration, we decided to bower by Shanghai international exhibition co., LTD., China packaging and food machinery co., LTD., China food and packing machinery industry association, originally scheduled for June 22 to 24, 2022 at the national convention center (Shanghai) at the 2022 Shanghai international food processing and packaging machinery exhibition exhibition postponed until November 8-10, 2022 held in Shanghai new international expo center.
For the exhibition delay the inconvenience, we apologize. Later we will keep close communication with the related departments, actively coordinate efforts, continue to elaborate preparations for the exhibition, through various channels to conduct propaganda and promotion, strive to exhibitors, visitors and partners to provide high quality exhibition experience.
Thank you very much in our understanding of the special period and trust! About the specific arrangement of the exhibition, and if you have any problems or questions, please contact us.
Hope we soon meet in Shanghai, a joyous event!
The exhibition organizer:
Bower in Shanghai international exhibition co., LTD
China packaging and food machinery co., LTD
China's food and packing machinery industry association
On May 9, 2022


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In the last two decades, Michigan has gone from being the dominant force in the U.S. blueberry industry to being just another blueberry region. Increased supplies of fresh and frozen blueberries have depressed prices, and no relief can be expected if current market pressures continue, said Mark Longstroth, a small fruit educator with Michigan State University.
In his virtual talk, “Restoring Michigan Blueberries,” during Day 2 of the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO, Longstroth said that while Michigan blueberry acreage has increased from 15,000 to 21,700 acres since 1992, overall U.S. acreage has increased from 33,000 to more than 89,000 acres. Michigan went from producing more than half of the total U.S. crop in 1993 to producing about 12 percent in 2018.
“As time goes on, (Michigan) becomes less and less important,” he said.
Most of the country’s blueberry growth has come from the Pacific Northwest, where Washington and Oregon are now the dominant producers. British Columbia has grown significantly, too. Production in these newer regions is also more efficient than in Michigan. Where Michigan produces about 4,100 pounds of blueberries per acre, Oregon produces 11,700, Longstroth said.
As blueberries have become a global crop, Michigan’s traditional advantages have disappeared. Fresh and frozen berries are now available year-round. In order to compete, Michigan growers need to improve the efficiency of their farms and their industry.
He gave an example of Michigan’s inefficiency: Of the state’s 21,700 acres of blueberries in 2018, 12,300 were more than 30 years old — and many were 50 or 60 years old. Michigan is competing with 1930s varieties and 1970s technology.
“We’re competing with a Model A pickup truck against a Ford F-150,” Longstroth said.
Combine old fields with old varieties. The three most voluminous varieties in the state are Jersey (5,800 acres), released in 1928; Bluecrop (5,600 acres), released in 1952; and Elliott (4,200 acres), released in 1973, he said.
Costs have gone up at the same time. It cost $800 to grow an acre of blueberries in 1993. In 2019 — due in part to managing spotted wing drosophila — it cost $2,700.
But cost per acre is not the best way to look at the situation.
“It is not how cheaply you can grow an acre,” Longstroth said. “It is how cheaply you can produce a pound of blueberries. Money spent that increases yields increases the cost per acre, but often reduces the cost to grow a pound of blueberries.”
Growers who lower their input costs to focus on processing berries are “penny wise and pound foolish.” Cutting back on inputs increases the cost to produce a pound of blueberries, he said.
“The goal is not to maintain high volumes of Michigan blueberries, but to restore the profits of Michigan blueberry growers,” Longstroth said. “If the profit margins of growing processing blueberries are too low, get out of that market. Focus on the fresh market or develop new markets.”
Longstroth had more advice for growers looking to modernize:
—Remove unproductive fields. If they are not making money for the farm, they are costing the farm money.
—Leave the field fallow for several years, to avoid replant issues.
—Plant test plantings of many varieties to determine which best fit your market window.
—Prime new fields. Get them ready to plant and be productive.
—by Matt Milkovich


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Welsh culture has a new stage – the innovative world of video games
Wales has a promising game industry and is currently the home of many small indie game studios.
Videogames as a whole in the UK have a large market value estimated at £7 billion in 2020.
Popular culture has recently brought us fictional languages such as Klingon, favoured by Star Trek fans, whilst TV blockbuster Game of Thrones brought another fictional language, Valyrian, to the masses. The potential to reach millions with a real living language is an exciting prospect for the videogame industry.
Literature Wales is currently developing new video game content based on Welsh myths and legends that brings The Land of Legends into the real world with research being undertaken to create a fantasy and mythology adventure game.
Owen Wyn Jones, Operations Support at Literature Wales told Nation.Cymru: “We’ve recently finished researching the interests and preferences of international video game audiences, particularly of video games with a fantasy theme or setting.
“We surveyed over 800 respondents from the UK, Japan, Germany, and the USA and identified that there was a strong interest in content matching those of Welsh myths and legends.
“We also found that there was a surprisingly high awareness of key Welsh myths and legends, although the association of these with Wales was almost non-existent.
“We’re currently exploring various avenues of how we can capitalise on the opportunities identified by this research and to build on the work already undertaken in creating the Land of Legends website.
“This will increase international engagement with Wales’ literary culture, building a distinctively Welsh brand of video game content inspired or adapted from our literary heritage. It will also allow us as an arts organisation to reach new and wider audiences.”
Maid of Sker is a recent commercial success, developed in Wales, that has received industry recognition and awards.
It is a horror game inspired by Welsh folklore that has been downloaded over a million times. It has been awarded a TIGA Heritage Award, the equivalent of a game industry “Oscar”.
The game features reinventions of songs such as Calon Lân (A Pure Heart), Suo-Gân (Welsh Lullaby) and Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night) by Welsh artist Tia Kalmaru.
The recent blockbuster game, Assassins Creed: Valhalla, a historical adventure series set during the Viking Invasion, demonstrated the variety of languages that were spoken across the British Isles at the time of the invasion, including Welsh.
The international game studio Ubisoft consulted experts from the National Library of Wales to recreate middle and old Welsh, to recreate how Welsh was most likely spoken at the time directly from real-life scholarship.
As big game studios show more interest in Welsh language and culture, they are paving the way for indie game studios within Wales to make their own mark in the creative world of Videogames.
The promotion of Welsh culture within the game industry has the potential to introduce the Welsh language and culture to new international audiences, potentially inspiring millions of learners across the way.
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Regina City Council defeated a motion brought forward that would have restricted cannabis shops to be two or more blocks away from youth-related buildings.
The buildings, whether it be schools, daycare’s, or indoor rinks, are areas Councillor Bob Hawkins believed more kids under the age of 19 would be hanging out, which would make them susceptible to the pot shops just down the street.
Hawkins says it’s about protecting Regina’s youth.
“It’s a question of them being influenced by the use of pot, the normalization of the use of pot,” Hawkins says. “There will always be people underage who access substances that they shouldn’t access, the point is you want to limit that as much as you possibly can.”
Councillor Mike O’Donnell says it’s also about making the shops accessible for those legally allowed to purchase it.
“It’s going to be legal, so I think what we have to do is put it in a situation that people can access it, and so what we have then they’re purchasing legally, not illegally, they don’t have to look for it.”
The reciprocal bylaw passed Monday night as well, meaning youth-related buildings will also not be allowed to set up within a block of an established pot shop.


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It was reported last month that Koenigsegg was one of the potential buyers of General Motor’s Saab brand. Reuters said today that Swedish television is reporting that Koenigsegg and Norwegian investors have signed a letter of intent with General Motors to buy Saab.
“The buyers have signed a letter of intent to buy Saab,” SVT said on its website. “Final negotiations about details on the deal will go on in the next months.”
Saab went up for sale earlier this year. A deal is expected to be announced at the end of June or early July.
– By: Omar Rana


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The #OnePlus3 has received multiple updates since it was released last month. The handset is now getting another update, one which brings a few new fixes and patches on board. The previous updates seemingly didn’t do much, which makes this update quite important for owners of the OnePlus 3. The update changes the OxygenOS version number to 3.2.2, which means this is the third update for the handset in about a month’s time.
Here’s the full changelog:
- Improved notification management in doze.
- Addressed alert slider/silent mode issue.
- Disabled fingerprint sensor while in pocket.
- Added NFC toggle in quick settings.
- Improved noise cancellation in video recording.
- Updated 4K video recording codec.
- Added latest security patches and various optimizations
As you can see above, not a lot of new features are on board here. However, it’s good to know that the company has patched a few bugs and improved on existing features. The update should be rolling out to the customers any minute now. Already seeing the update? Share your feedback below.
Source: OnePlus Forums


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What is the California Consumer Privacy Act?
The California Consumer Privacy Act is the newest consumer data protection law to come into effect. Here’s everything you need to know about this new privacy act.
Crypto Launchpads are an integral component of the growing crypto industry and are also vulnerable to the range of dangers facing the broader industry. By ensuring that all users have been properly vetted through robust KYC processes, Crypto Launchpads will be able to protect themselves from potential fraud, regulatory sanctions and fines further along the line.


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Northern Michigan stores scramble to greet tourists. Well, some stores.
TRAVERSE CITY—Northern Michigan’s happy to be open for business.
The jury’s still out on whether residents are happy about the tourists who will fill their stores.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Monday that restaurants and bars in the state’s northernmost counties, less impacted by COVID-19 than regions like metro Detroit, could reopen — at 50 percent capacity — giving them just days to comply with meticulous safety rules. Retailers were told they too could open, but with limits on customers and markings to ensure physical separation.
- The latest: Michigan coronavirus map, curve, chart, updated COVID-19 news
- Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends Michigan stay-at-home order through June 12
- Small gatherings, non-essential doctors' visits now allowed, Gov. Whitmer says
By the weekend, the Baker family from Marcellus was in Traverse City playing socially-distant, putt putt golf and grabbing dinner to go from a food truck. Down the street, Kirsten Boelkinn, a local resident, drank on an outdoor patio with friends she hadn’t seen in months. Groups of tourists skipped masks on the street, but most everyone donned one before entering the reduced capacity stores to weave along masking tape thoroughfares and masked employees.
In Petoskey, meanwhile, a prominent hospitality chain has decided that the governor’s executive order restricting hotel rooms to essential workers includes...ordinary tourists. And it wasn’t the only one.
But commingled with the joy of reopening for summer was a lingering worry that the coronavirus might be flowing alongside the money.
“Our economy needs it up here,” said Sean Kickbush, owner of BrewTC. “I think we jumped the gun.”
BrewTC is one of several businesses to resist the lure to reopen.
Hustle, then cross your fingers
With only a few days notice that Memorial Day weekend would start the tourism season, businesses across northern Michigan sprinted to prepare.
Crystal River Outfitters, a kayak rental store in Glen Arbor, put off plans for a permanent counter to put up a plywood one to enforce distancing at the register. Traverse City Whiskey’s delivery of spread for the distillery’s cheese platters did not arrive until after its doors opened.
Reg Smith, vice president of hotels for Stafford’s Hospitality, a collection of restaurants and hotels around Petoskey, hustled to recall and re-train employees on new room sanitization procedures. Ken Schwaiger, store manager of The Totem Shop, an outdoor clothing store in Glen Arbor, installed a plexiglass shield at the register Thursday night for a Friday opening.
Espresso Bay, a Traverse City coffee shop, upped its daily milk delivery from 10 gallons to 32 gallons under the wire. The dumpster behind The Towne Plaza, a Traverse City restaurant, was full by 10 AM on Friday, but nobody had thought to arrange for extra pick ups.
Opening northern Michigan after the Memorial Day holiday “probably would have been more sensible,” said Chris Hoffman, owner of The Towne Plaza. “We went from ‘don't leave your house’ to ‘everybody's coming in like four days.’”
Some businesses, like North Peak Brewing Company in Traverse City, decided to skip the holiday weekend to buy more time to reorient to serving customers during an ongoing pandemic. Mike Lloyd, general manager for the restaurant and regional manager for Mission Restaurant Group, said his team is spending the weekend installing UV sterilizer lights in the air ducts, adding non-touch activators on their sinks and toilets, printing single-use paper menus and deep cleaning the building.
Kickbush, of BrewTC, is intently watching what happens with businesses like North Peak over the next few weeks.
He and his co-owner have eyed reopening in late June since closing in March, and the recent reopening did not sway that decision. Incurring re-opening costs this early feels too risky, Kickbush told Bridge. And he said he fears “giving all our progress (in flattening the COVID-19 curve) back if we jump in too early.”
Kavi Raval and Radha Sampha, two physicians from metro Detroit, drank outside Taproot Cider House, comforted by the precautions they saw in town and on the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb. Kathryn Hawley, manager of a clothing store, beamed at the prospect of interacting with customers again.
Some northern residents forfeit their hometowns to the tourists for now to avoid the possibility of interacting with COVID carriers from downstate.
Michelle Nuno, who lives in Frankfort and works as a pharmacy technician in Honor, said she is shying away from public spaces. With children at home and an elderly parent she hasn’t seen in three months, she is not excited by the prospect of sitting in local restaurants with visitors from COVID-19 hotspots.
“I love to see it for our little towns, in our economy that really needs this,” she said. But “my gut tells me we're going to have another spike... because of the carelessness I've seen already,” including an unmasked man from Midland who entered the pharmacy, skipping the hand sanitizing station at the entrance.
“We've stayed at home. We haven't gone on hiking trails...We wear masks in the grocery,” she said. “Have respect for the people who have worked hard to keep this community clear.”
Open and they will come, or some will
In reopening much of northern Michigan, Whitmer urged downstate residents on Monday to “think long and hard” before visiting.
“We've been here since Wednesday,” said Rose Tome of Plymouth while shopping with her daughters in Glick's, a clothing store on Front Street in Traverse City.
“I think it should have been open two weeks ago...I'm retired and it's not fun sitting all day and all night,” she said. “I'm from the era where you quarantine people that were sick, not well people.”
Tome and other tourists told Bridge they were spending the weekend in AirBnBs, hotels and campgrounds — despite the governor’s order continuing a ban on short-term vacation rentals, which Whitmer has repeatedly said are limited to essential workers and pandemic volunteers.
“We’ve had tons and tons and tons of calls, and most people were reserving,” said Rick Thompson, front desk manager at Petoskey’s Stafford Perry Hotel.
After Whitmer’s announcement, Memorial Day Weekend reservations at Stafford jumped from six to 52.
“To the extent that we are hotel operators, we believe that everyone has an essential reason to be in our hotel and it's really up to the guests to make their own evaluation on that point,” said Stafford’s Smith.
Smith, who personally sanitized the hotel’s patio furniture Saturday morning, said the hotel is only cleaning rooms in between guests rather than daily to limit interactions with staff. It has instituted no-contact towel exchanges, given employees more time to clean used rooms and requires masked workers to constantly clean high-touch areas like elevator buttons.
Tourists say precautions like that are making them comfortable enough to spend the night.
David Sibert, up from West Bloomfield and staying with his wife Reneé at a Traverse City hotel, said over breakfast at the Omelette Shoppe they could “smell the disinfectant” walking into their room. (Reneé still cleaned the room’s hard surfaces with wipes brought from home.) And Randy St. Lauren, who said he is spending his getaway from Lapeer County at the Wild Cherry RV Resort with extended family members, said the grounds provided ample distance from other visitors.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the widespread use of vacation rentals.
Despite the last minute spike in lodging reservations and photos of bumper-to-bumper northbound traffic circulating on social media Friday afternoon, businesses say crowds are lower than a normal Memorial Day weekend.
The Stafford Perry Hotel hit 45 percent capacity compared to a historic occupancy rate over 75 percent. Schwaiger, of The Totem Shop, said the store was seeing 25 percent of normal traffic for the kickoff of Memorial Day weekend.
If this is any indication of the summer to come, the businesses that spoke to Bridge expect to scrape through a tight summer season.
“Fifty percent of summertime is still greater than 100 percent of wintertime, if you look at it that way,” said Hoffman, of the Towne Plaza.
Chilling across Lake Michigan coast
Similar scenes unfolded across much of the Lake Michigan coast this weekend, residents enjoying the outdoors but staying responsibly apart from others.
Couples and families visited summer staples such as the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the public lakefront in Traverse City and, further south — outside the northern Michigan region partially reopened by Whitmer — sandy beaches along the lakefront. Crowds were sparse to modest, with visitors appearing to keep their distance.
At Grand Haven State Park, a local couple sat at the edge of Lake Michigan Saturday as they shared a sunny day with their daughter, son-in-law and 1-year-old granddaughter.
They were among perhaps several hundred people widely scattered on this broad expanse.
“This feels almost normal,” said Grand Haven resident Christina Toppen, perched in a lawn chair next to her husband, John.
“This is good, as long as everybody is staying away from each other, which they are doing.”
As for the call by some to fully open the Michigan economy, Toppen said she stands with Whitmer’s handling of the pandemic.
“We fully support her, 100 percent,” she said.
A few yards down the beach, Spring Lake resident John Cydzik, sitting with a friend and his young daughter, had a different take.
“We are so happy to be out. It’s great to be out, to hear the waves, the sounds of kids, the boats – the sounds of life,” he said.
He added his view that it’s time for the state to return to normal.
“It’s almost like the virus paid a visit and now it’s gone. Everything should be open. We should be free to move around. This being shut down is really hurting business.”
Nearby, a suburban Grand Rapids couple, Cary and Lori Gray, proclaimed themselves regular visitors to their beloved lakeshore.
The Grays seemed unsure of how and when the entire state should resume normal activity, but they agreed on one thing.
“What you don’t want to see,” said Lori Gray, “is how the politics got involved and everything is so political.”
Sun, sand and sanitizer
Those northern businesses that reopened this weekend offer a preview of what visitors can anticipate this summer.
Expect to relearn the rules at every business. One restaurant may sanitize menus before and after use, while another will hand out single use paper menus.
The clothing store may ask you to go in one door and out another to maximize flow through the store. The next business may block the second door to maximize control over one entrance.
Go-to destinations may look a little different. North Peak expects beef shortages to intermittently knock crowd favorites off the menu while Traverse City Whiskey plans to continue producing hand sanitizer alongside their whiskey.
Speaking of sanitizer, get ready for a lot of it. Sanitizer inside store doors. Sanitizer by the hotel lobby ATM. Sanitizer at rest stops. Sanitizer on sidewalks. Sanitizing stations in the middle of restaurants. Lifejackets drying over a railing after being sprayed with sanitizer.
But don’t expect isolation. “I think generally people are going to come,” Hoffman said. “They did this weekend...with four days notice.”
Bridge Magazine reporter Ted Roelofs contributed to this article
Covering the intersection of business and policy, and informing Michigan employers and workers on the long road back from coronavirus.
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Los Angeles, Streaming giant Netflix has suspended its services in Russia to protest the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this week, the streaming service had announced that it would pause all future projects and acquisitions from Russia, joining a growing list of companies that have cut ties with the country, reports variety.com.
Netflix had four Russian originals in the works, including a crime thriller series directed by Dasha Zhuk, which was shooting and has since been put on hold. Netflix also recently refused to carry 20 Russian free-to-air propaganda channels that it was required to host under the Russian law.
Now, the company is taking an additional step in shutting down its service entirely.
"Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia," a spokesperson for Netflix said.
The economic blowback that Russia has faced in the wake of its decision to go to war with Ukraine has been intense. Not only is the country grappling with extensive sanctions, but many corporations and organisations have pulled out of Russia.
Companies like Microsoft, Apple and Dell have announced that they have suspended sales in the country, while Ikea has closed stores and Nike has said it will no longer fulfill online orders. On the entertainment front, all of the major studios have announced they will stop releasing their films in Russia.
Netflix is somewhat of a newcomer to Russia. It launched its service in 2016 and has a relatively small presence, with roughly one million subscribers.
The streamer boasts 222 million subscribers globally. It operates the service as a joint venture with Russia's National Media Group.
Netflix also recently announced that it would make its 2015 documentary "Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom," available to watch for free. The non-fiction film centers on the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine, which were sparked by former president Viktor Yanukovych's decision not to sign an agreement with the European Union and instead choose to strengthen ties to Russia.
Those protests ultimately resulted in Yanukovych's ouster. It also exacerbated tensions with Russia, with Vladimir Putin using the overthrow as a pretext for invading and annexing the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused a humanitarian and refugee crisis, along with increasing fears that it could trigger a nuclear conflict.


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Diversified gaming supplier Scientific Games Corporation announced the launch of the 2015 Shuffle Master Classic, a first-of-its-kind nationwide qualifying tournament event featuring the Shuffle Master brand’s legendary proprietary poker table games.
Qualification events began on June 1 at more than 200 casinos across the U.S. According to the company, the tournament will “celebrate 20 years of table-game excitement on casino floors” and “honor the historic success of Three Card Poker.”
The qualifying events will culminate in the Three Card Poker National Championship event in Las Vegas on Monday, September 28 at The Venetian Las Vegas, where national qualifiers will compete for a total prize purse of $250,000 in cash, including the top prize of $100,000.
The Shuffle Master Classic is open to any player who visits one of the more than 200 participating casinos in the U.S. during the month of June. To qualify for the Three Card Poker National Championship, players must hit a “Classic Hand” on one of eight Shuffle Master proprietary table games—Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Let it Ride, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, Texas Hold ‘Em Bonus and Crazy 4 Poker.
A “Classic Hand” is a six-card straight flush in Three Card Poker or a five-card royal flush in any of the other seven games.
“With a 32-year heritage of gaming industry innovation, we are thrilled to continue Shuffle Master’s rich legacy of excellence in table game products with the launch of this event,” said Roger Snow, Scientific Games senior vice president of table and utility product. “The first-ever Shuffle Master Classic is an ideal way to celebrate Shuffle Master’s legendary proprietary table games and the 20th anniversary of Three Card Poker, the most popular casino card game in play today around the world.
“The championship event, which is being held in conjunction with the gaming industry’s largest global conference and trade show, the 2015 Global Gaming Expo (G2E), will bring the best and luckiest players from around the country to a single location for a day filled with tournament action and excitement.”
Each qualifier will receive travel credits to cover expenses in Las Vegas and VIP treatment once in town, including an exclusive welcome party the night before the National Championship and a cocktail party during the final table. The top seven players will be awarded a share of the $250,000 purse, with the winner receiving $100,000 in cash and year-long bragging rights as the “luckiest Three Card Poker player in the country.”
Snow added, “This innovative proprietary table games tournament will create an entirely new experience for players and offer a unique marketing opportunity for participating casinos.”
More information about the tournament is available at www.shufflemasterclassic.com or by following the tournament on Facebook and Twitter.


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The Fed’s cash diary survey collects data on consumer shopping and payment behaviors and is conducted annually. The report said that during the pandemic cash use may have reached its lowest point. The pandemic accelerated the use of digital payments in all industries and has since remained a trend, although cash use has up ticked in the past year.
As the use of cash declines, the use of debit and credit cards increased. While the initial shift to online payments may have been driven by necessity, consumers in 2021/22 may have become accustomed to making and to enjoying the benefits of ordering online and these habits seem to be sticking.
Other forms of payments, like peer-to-peer payments mobile apps have nearly doubled and use of cash dropped below 50%. Only households with incomes less than $25K didn’t change their payments behavior and continue to use cash for most of their transactions.
There is a shift in how consumers are paying. The shift comes as more payments options are made available. The biggest percentage declines of cash use were for those consumers between 18-24 years old, where adoption of new payments technology is higher.
For merchants, this shift in payments means less cash flow, more credit card processing fees, the need to adopt new forms of payments, and invest in new technology.
As you navigate through the current economic and payment changes, you can count on us to help you achieve your goals and continue to succeed in your business.


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Just yesterday, OPPO India teased the launch of a new F series smartphone in India, the F9 Pro. A new report has surfaced on the web today, which claims to shed light on the hardware specifications of the smartphone.
OPPO F9 Pro: Leaked Specifications, Features
Going by the latest leak, OPPO F9 Pro will come with a 6.3-inch IPS LCD display featuring 1080 x 2280 Full HD+ resolution and a pixel density of 400 PPI. It will also have a notch similar to the Essential Phone, something that we haven’t seen on a smartphone launched in India yet. In terms of performance, the F9 Pro will not be very different from the F7 or even the RealMe 1. It will be running on the same MediaTek Helio P60 octa-core SoC as those devices, clocked at 2 GHz with a Mali-G72 MP3 GPU. When it comes to multitasking, the F9 Pro should be superior to the OPPO F7 4GB RAM variant and the RealMe 1, thanks to it being equipped with 6GB of RAM. However, OPPO isn’t the best Android OEM out there when it comes to memory management on its devices, so the F9 Pro may not offer best-in-class multitasking despite packing 6GB of RAM. As far as storage is concerned, the 91Mobiles report claims the F9 Pro will come with 128GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for further expansion up to 256GB.
In the camera department, OPPO F9 Pro will feature a 16MP + 16MP dual-camera setup on the back with an LED flash and AI-powered features like AI scene detection, AI Portrait Mode, and more. For selfies, the F9 Pro will have a 25MP snapper on the front, just like the F7. Connectivity-wise, expect the F9 Pro to support Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band, Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, and 4G VoLTE. Battery life is likely to be more or less identical to the F7, thanks to the F9 Pro being equipped with the same 3400mAh capacity battery. However, unlike the OPPO F7, the 91Mobiles report claims the F9 Pro will come with fast charging support. The F9 Pro is also expected to include a fingerprint sensor on the back. In terms of software, the F9 Pro will be running on the Android 8.1 Oreo-based ColorOS 5.0 out of the box.
OPPO F9 Pro: Launch Date
Since OPPO India has started teasing the F9 Pro on social media, we can expect the company to confirm the release date of the smartphone very soon. The smartphone is likely to be launched in India within the next week or two.
OPPO F9 Pro: Expected Price in India
According to the 91Mobiles report, OPPO F9 Pro could be priced at Rs.29,990 in India. Of course, we will need to wait until the formal launch event to learn the official pricing of the smartphone in the country. That said, going by the rumored specifications of the smartphone, we think there is a good chance OPPO will price the F9 Pro only slightly above the Rs.25,000 mark instead of pricing it dangerously close to devices like the Honor 10 and ASUS ZenFone 5Z.


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I’m serving leftovers today: news from 2019 that didn’t make into any of my From The News posts.
Mediterranean Diet Study Recalled
The arterycloggingsaturatedfat! crowd just looooooves to talk about the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. That’s because (according to them) it’s a diet low in saturated fat with lots of vegetables and hearthealthywholegrains!
As you know, there’s no such thing as a single Mediterranean Diet. Some folks in that region eat a lot of pork and cook with lard. Some don’t. Some eat a lot fat, others not so much. Some eat a lot of fish, others not so much. Nonetheless, if you run a search on Mediterranean Diet, you’ll probably come across something like, from the Mayo Clinic:
The foundation of the Mediterranean diet is vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, beans and whole grains. Meals are built around these plant-based foods. Moderate amounts of dairy, poultry and eggs are also central to the Mediterranean Diet, as is seafood. In contrast, red meat is eaten only occasionally.
That would be news to the healthy Mediterranean people who eat lots of pork.
Anyway, it turns out there were problems with the Big Study that put the Mediterranean Diet on the map in the first place. Here are some quotes from an NPR article:
Ask just about anybody, and you’ll probably hear that a healthy diet is one full of fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts and fish — what’s called Mediterranean diet. A lot of research has suggested people who eat this way tend to be healthier, but it’s been harder to prove whether that is because of the diet or some other factor.
So in 2013, many took notice of a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that seemed to provide some proof. The study found that people eating the Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil were 30 percent less likely to experience a heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes than people assigned to a low-fat diet.
It was an observational study and therefore close to meaningless even if the data had been sound. But the data wasn’t so sound, as a dedicated anesthesiologist named John Carlisle discovered:
He read up on statistical methods and looked over more than 160 trials by the researcher, Dr. Yoshitaka Fujii, and analyzed how likely it was that the people had been randomized to different treatments. Randomization is part of the gold standard for clinical studies because it reduces the risk of bias and allows researchers to determine cause-effect relationships.
Carlisle found the odds were infinitesimally small that Fujii had randomized people properly. Since Carlisle’s findings were published in 2012, medical journals have retracted more than 160 papers by Fujii — the most retractions for any one researcher, by a large margin, according to Retraction Watch.
More than 160 papers retracted … and these were peer-reviewed papers. That tells you how well the peer-review system functions.
To quote my own Science For Smart People speech, Scientists are freakin’ liars. We apparently have yet another case of a scientist torturing the data until it told him what he wanted to hear.
Interestingly, the NPR article includes a photo of someone eating beans and whole-grain bread, with this caption below:
Flaws in a study of the Mediterranean diet led to a softening of its conclusions about health benefits. But don’t switch to a diet of cotton candy just yet.
Yeah, that’s what I’ve always found so difficult about adopting a healthy diet: I don’t like living on beans and bread, but the only alternative is to live on cotton candy. I sincerely hope that one of these days, the food industry starts producing meats and eggs.
Anyway, the New England Journal of Medicine has since retracted the paper and replaced it with a version that uses “softer” language, although that paper still concludes that a Mediterranean Diet reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Compared to what? you might ask. The answer: compared to a low-fat diet. So how do they explain that one? Well, it’s the olive oil, ya see …
As far as I’m concerned, we’re looking at people who are healthier than average because their diets are low in processed foods, not low in saturated fats, or high in whole grains, or whatever. Living in a region with lots of vitamin-D enhancing sunshine probably helps too.
Anti-Fat Hysteria Goes Underground
My breakfast today included bacon, eggs and butter. If I were in London, a picture of my breakfast would banned from the Underground, according to BBC News:
An advert designed to run on the London Underground was rejected because it contained bacon, butter, eggs and jam, an online supermarket said. Farmdrop submitted a photograph which included images of the meat, dairy products and spread.
Transport for London (TfL) said it was up to advertisers to make sure any items featured were “high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS)-compliant”. Last month TfL issued a ban on all junk food advertising.
Foods found to be high in fat, sugar and salt are now not allowed to feature in advertisements on public transport.
I dunno … is it comforting to know government agencies overseas are just as stupid as those in the U.S.?
The ban was introduced as London mayor Sadiq Khan said he wanted to tackle the “ticking time bomb” of child obesity in the city.
That bomb exploded a long time ago, Mr. Mayor. And bacon, eggs and butter had nothing to do with it.
Weight Watchers Finding New Ways To Lose
I don’t mean “lose weight,” either. Weight Watchers hasn’t been doing so well in recent years because of competition from other diets … like, say, those that actually work. So how is the company responding? Here are some quotes from an article in USA Today:
For the first time, the preeminent weight-loss company, which rebranded as WW in 2018, is rolling out three customized plans simultaneously, officials shared exclusively with USA TODAY.
The Oprah Winfrey-backed company’s new plan includes whole wheat pasta, brown rice and potatoes – which have cost points in past WW programs – as “ZeroPoint” foods, meaning they don’t have to be measured or tracked.
Weight Watchers – er, WW now – has been on the low-fat bandwagon for years. That’s why most of their packaged meals are based on rice or pasta. Customers have been abandoning the company because the long-term success rate is abysmal. That’s what happens when you sell foods and meal plans that leave people hungry and miserable.
The solution? Well heck, let’s tell people they can now eat all the wheat pasta, brown rice and potatoes they want!
“There’s no foods off limits on any of our programs, and it’s going to be sustainable,” said Mindy Grossman, WW president and CEO, in an interview with USA TODAY. “It’s easy, it’s simple and I think that’s what people are craving for – something they can really live with.”
No, Ms. Grossman, what people are craving is a diet that works.
Sorry, No Dinner — My Printer Jammed
If there’s one thing the world needs, it’s more fake food. Check out this article in The U.K. Guardian:
After the success of the Greggs vegan sausage roll and the juicy-yet-meatless Impossible Burger, the next new food sensation is coming to a plate near you: 3D-printed steaks and chicken thighs.
Printed meat could be on European restaurant menus from next year as Israeli and Spanish firms serve up realistic beef and chicken produced from plant protein. And, within a few years, the printers are likely to be available to buy so that consumers can produce their own at home.
Layers of material are built up by 3D printers until there is a solid object conforming to very precise specifications. The meat can be produced either from vegetable matter or from animal cells grown in a lab. The printer uses these raw ingredients, which come in a Nespresso-style cartridge, to build up a steak or chicken fillet that tastes like the real thing.
Well, if it tastes like the real thing, it has to be good for you … just like those corn-oil margarines that tasted like butter.
Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, co-founder and CEO of Israeli firm Redefine Meat, said switching to printed meat would have huge ecological benefits. “The biggest reason for going to alternative meat is because of the future of our planet,” he said. “We can recycle, drive electric cars, we can shower less, but these changes can’t compete with reducing consumption by one hamburger per week.”
Stop eating real meat To Save The Planet! I’m sure Walter Willett approves.
If I ever print “realistic beef” at home, I’m going to make sure it includes a big label that reads Hey, Dumbass! Don’t eat this @#$%!
The Impossible Carrot?
Every time I see a Burger King ad for the plant-based “Impossible Burger,” I shake my head. After reading the list of ingredients, I think it’s impossible this frankfenfoood is good for you. So I chuckled when I read that Arby’s is going in the opposite direction:
Arby’s is turning the plant-based meat craze on its head by testing meat-based plants.
The company says it has produced a new meat-vegetable hybrid food category called “megetables.” It’s an obvious troll against its fast food rivals, including Burger King, McDonald’s and a dozen or so others, which are adding plant-based meat alternatives to their menus.
First from the Arby’s test kitchen is the “Marrot,” a meat-carrot made of turkey breast sliced into the shape of a carrot. It’s then sous vide for an hour and rubbed down in a “special carrot marinade” made of dried carrot juice powder. It’s then topped with a maple syrup powder, oven-roasted for an hour and topped with a parsley to “give it the full carrot effect,” Arby’s said.
I wish the Marrot had been around when my mom insisted I eat my vegetables.
Arby’s has publicly vowed in the past to not add fake meat to its menu. The Inspire Brands-owned company said it wasn’t interested in selling Impossible Foods’ products, noting the “chances we will bring plant-based menu items to our restaurants, now or in the future, are absolutely impossible.”
I’ve been to an Arby’s in years. I may have patronize them again … unless they start printing their meats.
It’s bucking the trend, as interest in plant-based protein is on the rise. Meat eaters are looking to diversify their diets to be healthier and reduce their impact on the environment.
Uh … no, I’m not.
Take Two Hikes And Call Me In The Morning
This headline from BigThink grabbed my attention: Doctors in Scotland can now prescribe nature to their patients.
Since October 5, doctors in Shetland, Scotland, have been authorized to prescribe nature to their patients. It’s thought to be the first program of its kind in the U.K., and seeks to reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and increase happiness for those with diabetes, a mental illness, stress, heart disease, and more.
They’ve been authorized since October 5 … maybe someone from across the pond can clarify, but does that mean before October 5, they were prohibited from prescribing nature? Could doctors get into some kind of trouble for telling patients to go outdoors and enjoy nature? If so, that’s nearly as ridiculous as dietitians in South Africa filing charges against a doctor for tweeting that babies should be weaned onto LCHF real foods.
Anyway, some of the specific advice is certainly interesting:
There is a whole leaflet of nature prescription suggestions that accompanies the program, filled with amusing, charming, sometimes seemingly off-kilter suggestions: in February, you can make a windsock from a hoop and material to “appreciate the speed of the wind”; in March, you can make beach art from natural materials or “borrow a dog and take it for a walk”; in April, you can “touch the sea” and “make a bug hotel”; in May, you can “bury your face in the grass”; in July, you can “pick two different kinds of grass and really look at them”; in August, you can summon a worm out of the ground without digging or using water; in September, you can help clean the beach and prepare a meal outdoors; in October, you can “appreciate a cloud”; you can “talk to a pony” in November, “feed the birds in your garden” in December, and do so much more. All on doctor’s orders.
On any day of the year when the weather allow for it, you can play golf outdoors and look for birdies. That’s the advice I’ve been giving myself — and my blood pressure is outstanding, according to my doctor.
Stand Up For Yourselves, Men
Years ago, my former comedy partner Tim Slagle and I imagined a future world in which eating meat was outlawed. But we also noticed a problem with parodying the loony left’s Grand Plans: give it enough time, and the loony left will turn parody into reality.
We’re not quite at the stage yet where meat is outlawed. But in one of our (ahem) “news” shows, we had a story that in the interest of gender equality, men had been banned from standing while urinating. Total parody, right? It’ll never happen.
Check out these quotes from an article in the Huffington Post:
Male representatives on the Sormland County Council in Sweden should sit rather than stand while urinating in office restrooms, according to a motion advanced by the local Left Party.
Known as a socialist and feminist organization, the party claims that seated urination is more hygienic for men — the practice decreases the likelihood of puddles and other unwanted residue forming in the stall — in addition to being better for a man’s health by more effectively emptying one’s bladder, The Local reported.
But not everyone agrees.
Really? Someone dares to disagree with a Grand Plan? Has he been banned from social media yet? Well, all right, let’s see what this Neanderthal’s objection is.
“Men scatter urine not so much during the actual urination as during the ‘shaking off’ that follows,” John Gamel, a professor at the University of Louisville, wrote while addressing the issue in 2009. “As a result, forcing men to sit while emptying their bladders will serve little purpose, since no man wants to shake himself off while remaining seated on the toilet.”
He wrote about the issue. Sounds like a good use of a college professor’s time.
A representative from the party said he hopes to move toward sitting only bathrooms.
With an armed guard to make sure men don’t stand in front of the “sitting only” toilet to pee in it.
You’re Such An Animal When You’ve Been Drinking
This article from an ABC station in Florida wins the prize for the ultimate “hold my beer” story of 2019.
Two men are facing charges after authorities say they caught an alligator and poured beer into its mouth in Palm City, Florida.
Police arrested Timothy Kepke and Noah Osborne last week. The arrests came in response to an August complaint to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about a video of the incident on social media.
I know their real names are Tim and Noah, but I’m invoking editorial license and referring to them as Bert and Ernie from here on.
“Hey, Bert, I’m bored. Let’s say we catch an alligator and get it to drink some beer.”
“Great idea, Ernie. And then we should post a video of ourselves doing it! We’ll be famous!”
The video obtained by WPBF appears to show Kepke attempting to get the alligator to bite his arm. When it does, Kepke pours beer down the animal’s throat.
“How we gonna get a beer into this big fella’s mouth, Ernie? We gonna stick it inside a ham or something?”
“No, that’s too derned expensive. I got an idea. I’ll just wave my arm around in front of his big, powerful jaws. Then when he opens his mouth to bite off my arm, I’ll pour in the beer!”
“Sounds like a good plan, Ernie. But we should be smart about this and ask ourselves if anything could go wrong. Can you think of anything?”
“Hmmm … well, if he’s trashing around trying to bite off my arm, I could miss his mouth. That would be a waste of a good beer.”
I’m trying to figure out why in the heck anyone would want to get an alligator drunk. How would you even know when the alligator is drunk? As far as I can tell, when alligators aren’t swimming underwater looking for things to kill and eat, they sit around slowly opening and closing their eyes and generally being inert. Toss in picking up a TV remote now and then, and that’s pretty much what I do when I’m drunk.
“What’s he doing now, Bert?”
“He’s just sitting there.”
“Boy, we really got him @#$%-faced, didn’t we?”
I can only assume one of these guys has high blood pressure and, after visiting a Scottish doctor, was told to go out and enjoy nature.
Titans Stun The Ravens
The Tennessee Titans shut down the highest-scoring offense in the NFL on Saturday night and won 28-12 to advance to the AFC Championship game. That has nothing to do with diet or health, and it’s not news from 2019. I just never get tired of saying it.
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Published on August 25th, 2016 | by admin
Clockwork: New Gameplay Trailer Reveal | Steam Store Page Now Live
Sydney, Australia – August 25, 2016 – After reaching an incredible #8 worldwide on Steam Greenlight, Gamesoft’s debut game, Clockwork, has just launched its official Steam Store page [http://store.steampowered.com/app/509210/]. From here, fans can get the latest videos and info on the upcoming release and be the first on the ground to purchase Clockwork when it goes on sale soon.
In addition to English, the Steam Store page is also available in French, Finnish, Polish, Swedish, Russian, Italian, German, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean and Spanish – so players from all over the world can enjoy the world of Clockwork in the lead up to release.
To celebrate the launch of the page, the Gamesoft team has revealed a new gameplay trailer, providing fans with a fantastic and deep look at Clockwork’s time-based puzzle mechanics. Follow Atto as he makes his way through the decrepit slums of Poisonville with his ghostly companion, Milli, using the powers of his mysterious watch to duplicate himself and traverse this treacherous landscape.
Watch the new Clockwork Gameplay trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dnj3Z23gG8


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BRITAIN'S Brexit negotiators have not ruled out giving the EU oversight of customs controls at UK borders in a bid to keep unfettered access to European markets post-Brexit.
Brexit secretary David Davis has published the first of a series of papers attempting to clarify the UK’s Brexit position, saying Britain would leave the customs union and single market but seek to stay as closely linked as possible to both.
The document suggested two possible models for the future UK-EU customs arrangement after 2019 - one with a customs border and one without.
The first model was a "highly streamlined customs arrangement" involving the re-introduction of a customs border but with electronic tracking of shipments, rather than physical border checks.
But the second option propsed "new customs partnership" which would see Britain effectively stay in the customs union in all but name.
British goods would be exported tariff-free and Britain would levy EU tariffs on goods coming into the UK for onward passage to the EU directly or as components in UK export goods.
But legal experts said there would be a need for a mechanism to oversee this new partnership to ensure Britain, as a non-EU member, was correctly monitoring goods coming into the UK and destined for Europe.
The EU’s system of movement of goods across EU borders without checks works on the basis that all members closely monitor shipments coming into the bloc from outside, to ensure the correct tariffs are paid and that goods meet EU standards.
The EU anti-fraud agency OLAF polices customs agencies across Europe to ensure they are correctly monitoring imports. OLAF has the powers to conduct on-the-spot inspections and seek information from customs bodies.


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It will be the first of its kind among the autonomous vehicle market, as Nvidia race ahead and offer passengers an on demand service to take them to their destination and giving accessibility to everyone including elderly and disabled passengers. The technology making robotaxis a possibility is Nvidia's Drive PX AI platform, dubbed Pegasus, which delivers all the capabilities of a data centre in a supercomputer the size of a license plate. The size, cost and power demands of existing AI computing solutions, Nvidia claims, makes them impractical for production vehicles. The fleet will use ZF's ProAI self-driving platform for the vehicles, based on Nvidia's Drive PX AI platform.
The GPU Technical Conference in Munich is an annual showcase of the best advancements in computer technology, but it seems like it's no place for cars. That is, until autonomous concept cars became the main attraction this year according to NVIDIA, a gaming technology company and now a competitive force in the realm of artificial intelligence. Those who set foot in the International Conference Center this week were greeted with a fleet of autonomous concept vehicles powered by NVIDIA's Artificial Intelligence systems. The theme for this event was the future of mobility, displaying a diverse range of concepts that covered everything from race cars to taxis.
For example, a company called Intelligent Flying Machines built a drone that can autonomously navigate through a warehouse and match what's on the shelves to what's in the inventory system to help the distribution center manage inventory better. We see a lot of opportunity in other areas like precision agriculture, package delivery, safety and security, and search and rescue. For the areas that I mentioned -- industrial inspection, precision agriculture, package delivery, safety and security, search and rescue -- there's going to be an opportunity for UAVs to solve these challenges in a way they haven't been able to before. Clayton: Nvidia makes Jetson, and Jetson is Nvidia's platform for artificial intelligence for edge devices like UAVs.
Like its US counterparts, Chinese internet titan Baidu has been working on autonomous vehicle research for years. After a failed partnership with BMW, Baidu opened itself up to teaming up with other companies, notably bringing on NVIDIA to power its Apollo self-driving car program. The internet giant has another partner now: Chinese automaker BAIC, which will pair its cars with Baidu's tech to start mass production of level three autonomous vehicles around 2019, followed by L4 vehicles around 2021. Baidu has outlined a roadmap for its line of self-driving cars with scheduled goals: By the end of 2018, BAIC's self-branded vehicles will carry Baidu's Apollo connectivity features along with the internet giant's DuerOS voice assistant, with plans to produce one million of those cars by the next year.
The race car features four electric motors and 15 sensors, and can reach speeds up to 300 kmh (186 mph). Visitors gleefully opened and closed the falcon wing doors in the Model X, while learning about how Tesla Motors equips all its vehicles with the DRIVE PX platform for the second generation Autopilot 2.0 and 2.5. Fully equipped models will have six NVIDIA processors to power Traffic Jam Pilot, virtual cockpit instrumentation, the infotainment system, and headrest tablets for backseat passengers. From the vehicles on display, to our announcement of NVIDIA DRIVE PX Pegasus, the world's first AI computer for Level 5 robotaxis, GTC Europe offers visitors a glimpse into the future of transportation.
A test fleet of autonomous delivery trucks scheduled for deployment next year will be outfitted with self-driving system based on Nvidia's AI processing technology for autonomous vehicles. The 2018 demonstration will use the package delivery company's (ETR: DPW) fleet of 3,400 electric delivery vehicles outfitted with cameras, radar and lidar (light detection and ranging). "The development of autonomous delivery vehicles demonstrates how AI and deep learning are also reshaping the commercial transportation industry," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang noted in a statement announcing the partnership during a company event this week in Munich, Germany. Drive PX combines deep learning, sensor fusion and machine vision with the ability to figure out location using onboard maps to plot a safe course.
NVIDIA, a company best-known for its graphics cards, is making computers for self-driving cars, the company behind Overwatch has something new in the works and the Tamagotchi is back -- for some reason. Google Home Mini bug could make it record audio 24/7 Voice-controlled appliances need to listen in so they can pick up their hotword, but Android Police received a test Google Home Mini that went a little too far. NVIDIA's first AI computer, the NVIDIA Drive PX Pegasus, is apparently capable of level five autonomy -- far beyond the level two and three vehicles we're only just starting to see. Palette's Lego-like controls can make you a faster video editor Until robots take over video editing, you'll still have to fiddle with cuts, colors and sound levels.
The Pegasus line will be available by the middle of 2018 for automakers to begin developing vehicles and testing software algorithms needed to control future driverless cars, NVIDIA executives told a developers' conference in Munich on Tuesday. The deal between Deutsche Post, ZF and NVIDIA will include future Deutsche Post StreetScooter delivery trucks. In Munich, the three partners are showcasing a prototype StreetScooter running NVIDIA Drive PX chips used to control sensors including six cameras, one radar and one lidar, or 3D laser camera. De Ambroggi said NVIDIA's Pegasus automotive platform was the first with the processing power for automakers to begin developing truly autonomous vehicles, which could be upgraded with software improvements ahead of actual roadway deployments.
On Tuesday, NVIDIA unveiled the world's first artificial intelligence (AI) computer designed to drive fully autonomous vehicles by mid-2018. The new system, named Pegasus, extends the NVIDIA Drive PX AI computing platform to operate vehicles with Level 5 autonomy--without steering wheels, pedals, or mirrors. New types of cars will be invented, resembling offices, living rooms or hotel rooms on wheels. "The company hasn't claimed to have developed all the software, hardware, and data needed for automated driving; it's merely announced that it plans to market a chip that in theory could support the hardware and software envisioned for such a system," Walker Smith said.
Nvidia wants to make it easier for automotive companies to build self-driving cars, so it's releasing a brand new supercomputer designed to drive them. The chipmaker claims its new supercomputer is the world's first artificial intelligence computer designed for "Level 5" autonomy, which means vehicles that can operate themselves without any human intervention. The new computer will be part of Nvidia's existing Drive PX platform, which the GPU-maker offers to automotive companies in order to provide the processing power for their self-driving car systems. Huang announced Nvidia will soon release a new software development kit (SDK), Drive IX, that will help developers to build new AI-partner programs to improve in-car experience.


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Zync has decided to kick on from the Zync Global tablet and have announced the launch of their latest product Zync Cloud Z401 smartphone. The USP of the smartphone is that it’s highly affordable so it can be easily bought by the masses.
Zync Cloud Z401 has a 4inch IPS screen with a resolution of 480×800 pixels. The smartphone uses a 1GHz processor which runs on Android GingerBread 2.3 OS. The camera is a standard 2MP rear camera which is sufficient to take regular shots without any special features, while the front camera is 0.3MP which is provided to teleconference and taking self shots. The RAM is just 256MB while the internal memory is 512MB which can be expanded to 32GB using the microSD card.
Speaking on the launch of the Cloud Z401, Amul Mohan Mittal, Co-Founder, Zync Global said, “After seeing the success of the low cost tablets, we have decided to extend our footprint in the low cost smartphone category as well. This category has great untapped potential and just like our tablets, we plan to offer maximum features at a very affordable price to appeal to our value conscious Indian consumers.”
The smartphone is available in two colors of black and white and the smartphone supports all standard apps like Twitter, Facebook, Skype etc.
- 4inch IPS screen (480×800 pixels)
- 1GHz processor
- Android 2.3 GingerBread OS
- 256MB RAM
- 512MB internal memory
- 2MP rear camera
- 0.3MP front camera
- 1300mAh battery
As mentioned earlier, the phone falls in the low-end category it is priced at just Rs. 4499/-.


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- The United Kingdom is working towards establishing regulatory standards for the crypto industry.
- The regulatory framework, previously proposed, will focus on two key sectors.
- The Bank of England has proposed regulatory requirements for stablecoin issues in the region.
Over the past year, the United Kingdom government has expressed aspirations to establish a functioning regulatory framework for its domestic crypto industry, targeting the supply and use of fiat-backed stablecoins and other crypto-related services.
Following months of schemings and proposals, the government is now gearing towards establishing the regulations.
UK Stablecoins and Crypto Regulations
On Tuesday, February 20, Bloomberg reported that the United Kingdom is marching towards implementing legislation focused on stablecoin and crypto staking services.
While there is no specific timeline for the implementation, the report stated that the legislation is expected to come into effect before the end of the year, citing the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Bim Afolami.
“We’re very clear that we want to get these things done as soon as possible. And I think over the next six months, those things are doable,” Afolami reportedly stated.
The implementation will target UK-based business models focused on payments-related activities and innovation within payments.
Secretary Afolami’s statements follow the proposal of stablecoin-focused regulatory standards in the past year, which outlined specific requirements for the use of stablecoins.
UK’s Stablecoin Regulatory Requirements
In November 2023, the Bank of England published a proposal outlining mandatory requirements for stablecoin issuers within the region.
These include subjecting the control over the transfer function to the bank, while the payment chain will be required to designate an entity as the payments system operator. The appointed operator will assess risks across the payment chain and implement appropriate controls.
Additionally, stablecoin issuers must fully back their coins with deposits at the Bank of England to ensure easy accessibility and supply.
The overall regulation of the United Kingdom’s crypto industry is under the purview of three financial authorities, namely the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), and Bank of England.
Find out more about industry regulations in the United Kingdom:
UK Goes After Crypto ‘Finfluencers:’ FCA Cracks Down on Promotions
Discover ongoing regulatory efforts in Japan for crypto expansion:
Japan to Greenlight Crypto for Venture Capital Investments


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Many westerners may already be familiar with names of Chinese metropolises such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou…however, probably only a few know Wuxi in eastern China’s Jiangsu province, one of China’s oldest cities, a tourist destination and strong in manufacturing.
Wuxi is rather a medium-sized city in Chinese context, smaller than one third of Beijing, or one six of Belgium, with its gross domestic product (GDP) hit over 1 trillion yuan (some 146 billion U.S. dollars) last year.
Wuxi night scene, photo: World IoT Expo 2018
As China has become the fastest growing country in the internet of things (IoT), we should learn more about Wuxi, the birthplace of China’s IoT industry.
In November 2009, China’s cabinet, the State Council, approved the Wuxi National Sensing Innovation Demonstration Park (the only one in China), marking the beginning of the city’s focus on the development of the IoT industry.
Innovation Park of Sensing Network, photo: World IoT Expo 2018
Currently over 180,000 people work in the city’s IoT sector. The 2,000-plus IoT companies generated combined income of more than 243 billion yuan ($35.5 billion) last year, half of the total income made by IoT companies in the province, and 25 percent of the national total.
Thus, Wuxi became an ideal place to exchange views on how to promote IoT industry globally and in China when it hosted the 2018 World IoT Expo from Sept 15 to 18.
World IoT Expo 2018. Photo: China Daily
Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU, was invited to deliver a keynote speech at China Big Data Innovation Development Summit, a sub-forum of the expo, with a focus on industrial AI which is essential to the increasing deployment of IoT.
IoT produces massive amounts of data from sensors and connected things, but the data would just be “background noises” without AI and machine learning which can unlock data’s value and insights.
Group photo of VIPs at summit. Photo: the summit
Industrial AI is key for China to address its aging problem and its corollary, the increasing labor cost. European startups can provide a substantial contribution given that China lacks talents and core technologies, Gambardella told the audience.
Luigi Gambardella addresses China Big Data Innovation Development Summit. Photo: the summit
“AI and, in particular, industrial AI, are definitively areas where win-win agreements can be reached. The combination of China’s giant market and Europe’s traditional vertical strength is set to unleash both great potentials and benefit their industries,” Gambardella noted.
The new scientific and technological revolution provides great chances for innovation including IoT, mobile wireless networks and big data, bringing opportunities to China and Chinese talents, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Yao Jianquan told the audience.
Tan Jianrong, a member of China Academy of Engineering, gave a keynote speech on big data thinking and big data industry. He said that with the support of big data, internet +, data economy, and digital manufacturing have become irresistible trends.
During the forum, the Chinese Institute of Electronics released the “Industry Big Data Innovation Index”.
Gambardella later gave an interview to local media and urged Wuxi to develop 5G to keep leading in IoT. “5G not only enables a mobile phone to run faster but also facilitates things to be connected,” he told the reporter.
China Big Data Innovation Development Summit was attended by some 500 people who were treated to keynote speeches as well from high-profile business executives, including Tobias Arndt, general manager of KIT China Branch; Jiang Bo, vice-president of Shandong Luhua Group Co Ltd, and Wang Lu, chairman of Merit Data Co Ltd.
The summit was organized by the secretariat of China Industry Big Data Alliance and Wuxi Association for Science and Technology, under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China.
Media reported that a total of 526 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions took part in Wuxi’s IoT expo, 35 of which were Fortune Global 500 companies. They showcased the latest cutting-edge IoT technology focusing on technological transformation and innovation.
Children learn about agricultural technology at the 2018 World Internet of Things Expo. Photo by Xiao Da/China Daily
China Economic Information Service foresees China’s IoT market will hit 1.5 trillion yuan （$218 billion）by the end of this year.


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Half of SMEs also don’t feel informed about the relevant tax reliefs available to them, according to research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
It revealed that 46% of SMEs find it challenging to determine the tax rates they are required to pay, while 40% say the exemptions are confusing.
Almost half (47%) think that business rates have made growing their businesses more difficult.
This also means that three quarters of SMEs require specialist help to get their tax bills right.
“Small firms by and large understand a tax like VAT, for example, but the sheer complexity of VAT administration means they spend 44 hours a year filing returns. It’s no wonder the majority end up shelling out for expert help,” said FSB national chairman Mike Cherry.
“The three working weeks and thousands of pounds a year that small firms lose to tax compliance is a huge drain on national productivity. That lost time and resource is the real issue, not the length of the tax code,” he added.
He believes the solution is not in simplifying the UK tax code, but in prioritising overhauling the compliance process.