text:
They grow up so fast, don’t they? This weekend, River Dog is celebrating its first anniversary with a day-long celebration including a new and special beer release and other festivities.
Beginning at 2 PM and running every half hour until 7 PM, a different beer will be tapped or a different door prize will be given away to attendees. The event will be the release of Doovalacky – an 8.2% DIPA with New Zealand hops – and throughout the afternoon beers including their Nitro Quad, Bourbon Toffee Ale and Citrus Sour will be tapped, along with some surprises.
Door prizes include a laptop computer, 14K gold diamond stud earrings and an iPad Mini. Food and live music will also be on hand.
Visit River Dog’s Facebook page for more information on the anniversary.


text:
Pharmacy closing after 118 years in business
AMORY — Peoples Drug Company will close the doors Dec. 31, ending its run as Amory’s oldest pharmacy in Amory.
A pharmacy has existed in the same location on Main Street since 1892.
The pharmacy burned in 1893 and was rebuilt in 1894. The only thing saved from the fire were blue apothecary jars that have been on display at Peoples Drug Company since they were given to Dick Millender, owner of Peoples Drug, by Mae Owens, who had built and owned the pharmacy.
Another attraction at the store was the set of swinging saloon doors, which Millender thinks were once in a downtown saloon.
Evelyn Gregory Reedy and her aunt, Bessie Johnson, bought the pharmacy in 1944, and her uncle served as the pharmacist.
Millender started working as a pharmacist at Peoples Drug Company Feb. 16, 1959. He bought the building in 1967 and remodeled it and made the pharmacy larger.
“Things have changed 200 percent since I began as a pharmacist in 1959,” Millender told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. “Everybody wants to do things by computer now. There is not a place for a mom and pop business anymore. Big pharmacies can sell merchandise cheaper than we can buy it.”
To sign up for Mississippi Business Daily Updates, click here.
2 Responses to “Pharmacy closing after 118 years in business”
Top Posts & Pages
- JOSH MABUS: Bill Murray and business misfits
- The Dan Jones-IHL saga: Is this the story that started it all?
- DAVID DALLAS — From Dan and Dixie with love
- BILL CRAWFORD: Dan Jones not the angel he is portrayed to be
- Email from Nash to Delta Council’s Morgan included in DHA court file
- Suit against Kemper employee Brett Wingo is dismissed
- Dan Jones rejects IHL offer, won't publicly apologize
- Law to bolster utilities’ economic development efforts gets mixed reactions
- Delta Health Alliance CEO Karen Fox under investigation for possible misuse of funds

domain: news


text:
That HP's consumer-facing PC and printing industries, which both saw growth spikes during the pandemic as more people worked from home, are currently experiencing supply chain issues and cyclical slowdowns in a post-lockdown market, were not a surprise given the lackluster growth rates.
Even as its near-term revenue growth slows, $HPQ steady growth rates, low valuation, and high yield should limit its downside risk. As a result, over the next 12 months, it probably won't provide significant gains. Still, it should hold steady or gradually rise as investors turn to cheaper dividend companies due to rising interest rates and other economic challenges.
It will certainly still see a severe decline throughout fiscal 2023, though. Revenue at HP has already decreased year over year for two straight quarters, and growth won't pick up soon. Moreover, Lores anticipated on the call that global PC sales would drop 10% the following year and level off before the pandemic.
That's a little more pessimistic than other sector predictions. For instance, according to IDC, sales of PCs and tablets would drop 2.6% in calendar 2023 before increasing again in 2024. The research company predicts that when the sector recovers from the pandemic between 2022 and 2026, the market will develop at a meager CAGR of 0.8%.
A weak PC market, though, isn't HP's only issue. Long upgrade cycles, paperless offices, and competition from generic ink and toner vendors will likely continue to constrain its printing industry. Expanding its more recent 3D and metal printing businesses may help HP reduce some of that pressure. Still, the consumer and commercial sectors account for most of their printing sales.
Over the previous two years, HP has thrown money at shareholders in dividends and share buybacks. Dividend payments totaled $2 billion in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, while share repurchases increased by almost $10 billion. HP borrowed money to pay for a portion of this expenditure, and HP had $11.2 billion in debt and $3.2 billion in cash at the end of the fiscal year 2022.
The temporary headwinds won't last forever, and the stock has much pessimism. However, with a P/E of just 9.3 and a 3.7% dividend yield, $HPQ remains undervalued.
Source: Yahoo Finance


text:
November 14, 2022 – Ramallah, Palestine: Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC) Chairman and CEO Tarek Aggad announced that APIC achieved net profits from continuing operations of USD 27.44 million by the third quarter of 2022, versus USD 27.02 million for the same period of 2021, a growth of 1.6% year on year. Net profits by the third quarter of 2022 amounted to USD 27.44 million, versus USD 31.37 million for the same period of last year, a decline of 12.5% year on year, with the results of last year including one-time non-operational profits of USD 4.67 million resulting from the sale of APIC’s entire stake in Arab Palestinian Shopping Centers Company (Bravo).
By the third quarter of 2022, net profits attributed to APIC shareholders reached USD 25.1 million. Total revenues grew by 5% year on year and amounted to around USD 863 million by the third quarter of 2022. Operational profits grew by 1.8%, reaching USD 45.4 million. Total assets increased by 12.33% compared to 2021’s closing and reached USD 694.3 million by the third quarter of 2022, while net equity attributed to APIC shareholders increased by 10.83% and amounted to around USD 181 million.
Aggad said that these favorable results were achieved despite the regional and global economic challenges and their effects on the group’s bottom line. The group has seen a significant increase in supply chain costs including the price of raw materials, production, shipping, transportation and storage, as well as an inflation in expenses and a rise in financing costs brought about by the hike in global interest rates. Additionally, the company has been impacted by the presentation of the results of Siniora’s Turkish subsidiary Polonez due to the application of the International Accounting Standard No. 29 because of Turkey’s classification as a hyperinflation country.
APIC is a foreign public shareholding investment holding company listed on the Palestine Exchange (PEX: APIC). It holds diversified investments across the manufacturing, trade, distribution and service sectors in Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Turkey through its subsidiaries: Siniora Food Industries Company; Unipal General Trading Company; Palestine Automobile Company; Medical Supplies and Services Company; National Aluminum and Profiles Company (NAPCO); Sky Advertising and Public Relations and Event Management Company; Arab Leasing Company and Arab Palestinian Storage and Cooling Company, employing around 3000 people through its group of subsidiaries. More information: www.apic.ps


text:
VW is reportedly struggling with the ID.3's software
It might delay the EV by months if the claims are true.
Nearly every top-selling smartphone in 2019 was an i广东福彩app官方下载Phone or Galaxy
Few other phone makers got much traction outside of China广东福彩app官方下载.
Now available on your smart speaker and wherever you get your podcasts: | | |
Byte's first batch of creator partners will split $250,000
Its Partner Program will kick off on April 15th.
FDA allows new coronavirus testing tech before it gets emergency approval
The agency is determined to get as much COVID-19 testing done as possible.
Google survey hints at big plans for Wear OS health tracking
It might catch up to Apple, Samsung and Fitbit.
LG Display halts work at phone screen factory after coronavirus infection
The shutdown might do harm beyond LG.
Moment stops work on its Android camera app due to complexity
It says there are too many Android variants to support them all properly.
Boeing didn't conduct end-to-end tests on Starliner before its failed flight
The company divided testing into small chunks and failed to spot issues that led to the flight's failure.
Audi's tri-motor E-Tron S electric cars will be ready to drift
You won't have to give up sporty handling to go green.
Hitting the Books: These brain cells could hold clues to the CTBI crisis
When microglial cells go bad, there's no telling what could go wrong.
The Morning After: The Galaxy S20 Ultra comes up short
And GDC is canceled.
FCC votes to auction C-band satellite spectrum for 5G use
And potentially pay satellite operators billions for the trouble.
YouTube TV, Sinclair keep Fox sports channels on as they negotiate
No one's missing any games, yet.
Microsoft will remove Cortana from its Android launcher in April
The company is making changes to the digital assistant on Windows 10 as well.
NASA's Psyche asteroid mission will use a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket
The spacecraft is expected to make its way to its target asteroid in July 2022.
'Quiplash 3' is coming to Jackbox's Party Pack 7 this fall
Get ready your phones and your best (or worst) jokes.
GDC 广东福彩app官方下载 is officially canceled due to coronavirus
Organizers hope to host another event in the summer.
British Airways is testing autonomous electric wheelchairs at JFK
The wheelchair was designed by frequent CES favorite Whill.
Galaxy S20 Ultra review: Impressive but impractical
A phone for those with literally and figuratively deep pockets.


text:
The French economy will return to pre-COVID 19 levels by the first quarter of 2022, said Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire in an interview to JDD, a weekly. A return in investments and spending is laying the groundwork for the much needed economic recovery.
Reaffirming his 5% target of economic growth for France this year, Le Maire said, the “recent surge in credit card payments, along with rising holiday season bookings and soaring clothing purchases showed that France was quickly returning to growth”.
France’s debt, which had ballooned during the pandemic with the government propping up the economy with support measures, will begin to stabilize in 2025 and then tread downwards. He expects public deficit to be below 3% of gross domestic product in 2027.


text:
WASHINGTON -- Slotting fees may have taken root in the fresh-cut produce category, but there is no evidence to date that they've spread to many commodity items, concludes the second report in a three-part series examining retail trade practices in the fresh produce industry.
The report, "U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Marketing: Emerging Trade Practices, Trends, and Issues," was compiled by the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It tracks the activities surrounding seven stockkeeping units over the past five years: California grapes, oranges and tomatoes; Florida grapefruit and tomatoes; and California/Arizona lettuce and fresh-cut salads.
"The emergence of slotting fees in fresh-cut produce has led to shipper concern that they will soon become standard for commodities as well," the authors wrote. "A key finding of this study is that this does not appear to be the case, as least so far."
However, officials noted that the study should be interpreted "with caution" due to the small sample: A total of 74 grower/shippers, retailers and wholesalers were interviewed, and "we did not directly review firms' records to confirm the information provided."
What's more, slotting fees -- along with volume incentives, promotional allowances, free product discounts and failure fees -- are only one of many factors redefining the supplier-retailer relationship. Consolidation, consumer demand, technology and procurement strategies are also playing a role in the way the industry operates, the study said.
Indeed, slotting fees (including pay-to-stay fees) have become common for bagged salads and related fresh-cut SKUs. The study noted that "most" lettuce/bagged salad shippers said it was suppliers themselves who initiated the stipend in the mid-1990s to drum up retail business.
When asked the same question, though, only half of the retailer respondents attributed fee arrangements to suppliers.
As for actual figures, fresh-cut grower/shippers declined to reveal the exact amount paid to retailers, but said they ranged from 1% to 8% of sales; or $10,000 to $20,000 for small retail accounts to $2 million for complete penetration of a large national chain.
What their money actually bought was something of a mystery to the grower/shippers interviewed by ERS researchers. The authors stated that "firms were not clear [as to] what rights they obtained from paying fees." No suppliers stated the fees were considered a guarantee of reserved display space.
The costs themselves were typically built into annual retail contracts as a package of fees and services that included slotting fees, volume incentives and promotional allowances, according to the study.
An average of 58% of shippers surveyed agreed to honor fee requests. The report noted, however, that in 41% of the requests, shippers did not comply and lost business for at least one account, depending on the item. Or, if they didn't lose a retail customer, suppliers "often noted a decline in purchases from the firm in question."
Other fees were discussed in turn by ERS researchers:
Volume incentives were found to be most common, as well as the oldest of the fees, with 73% of suppliers reporting a request. ERS noted a number of grower/shipper respondents reported that retailers take discounts regardless of agreed-upon volume goals, and in general, "more shippers consider volume discounts as harmful or neutral rather than beneficial." Some suppliers considered the discounts beneficial to their business, in part because it helped promote longer-term, more stable relations with the retailer customer.
Promotional fees/cooperative advertisements were the second-most requested fee, with 62% of suppliers interviewed stating they'd received a request, or made offers. Here, ERS researchers found suppliers questioned whether the money allocated to retailers was indeed being spent on the product.
"Other" rebates were translated as simple price reductions, with no connection to performance or volume. Researchers pointed out a possible correlation between a relatively high compliance rate of 61%, and the rate of lost accounts reported for non-compliance, 64% -- the highest in the entire survey.
Free-product discounts were generally viewed as "reasonable," according to researchers, since most shippers polled said they were long-familiar with the incentive. As a result, this fee had the highest compliance rate of all, 78%.
E-commerce fees were one of the newest costs reported incurred by grower/shippers (92%), and most complied (62%). ERS stated, however, that "many shippers are concerned about paying any new fee connected with marketing to existing customers." Similarly, the authors noted that in response to this, e-commerce providers seem to be moving away from fees based on percentage-of-invoice, and toward a flat monthly fee.
Capital Improvement fees were described as "most onerous by shippers," relating to a retailer's request for contributions to construction of new distribution centers or installation of new store equipment. Some 40% of grower/shippers said they had been solicited for such an incentive, although compliance was the lowest recorded in the survey (27%). Some suppliers told ERS that, though they declined to contribute, deductions were still made by the retailer involved.
The entire 44-page report includes graphics, and is available on the USDA's Web site, at www.ers.usda.gov, under the section headlined "Latest ERS Products."


text:
Bitcoin price just secured a brand new 2020 increased and traders count on the retail price to climb higher for three important reasons.
On Oct. 21 Bitcoin (BTC) price overtook the $13K mark to reach $13,217 after traders took out key resistance levels at $11,900, $12,000, as well as $12,500 during the last 48 hours. While at this time there are many specialized causes behind the abrupt upsurge, you will find 3 key factors buoying the rally.
Earlier nowadays, PayPal officially announced it is allowing users to purchase as well as sell cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
Over the older season, speculations on PayPal’s possible cryptocurrency integration constantly intensified after a variety of reports claimed the company was working hard on it.
In an official declaration, CEO, the president, and Dan Schulman of PayPal, established the cryptocurrency integration. He wrote:
“We are wanting to work with central banks and regulators around the world to give our support, and also to meaningfully add to shaping the job that digital currencies will play in the future of global finance as well as commerce.”
Sui Chung, the CEO of CF Benchmarks, a subsidiary of Kraken exchange, told Cointelegraph that bullish sentiment is actually likely returning to the crypto sector. Based on Chung:
“Bitcoin passing $13,000 today, a 16 month high, demonstrates that this trend is just picking up speed. That PayPal, a home name, has received a conditional BitLicense is very likely propelling bullish sentiment. Today is actually significant as a signpost for further cost appreciation in the future… the stage by that mainstream mass media and’ mom & pop’ retail investors might eventually start to show interest in the asset, as they did in late 2017.”
Bitcoin dominance is actually rising In the past week, Bitcoin has outperformed alternative cryptocurrencies, decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens, and also Ethereum.
The dominance of Bitcoin. Source: Josh Olszewicz
Josh Olszewicz, a cryptocurrency specialized analyst, mentioned the dominance of BTC is actually above a key moving average. Technically, this implies that Bitcoin might continue to outperform altcoins in the near term. Olszewicz said:
“BTC dominance back higher than the 200 day moving average for the first time since May, king corn is actually back.”
BTC shows a bullish higher time frame system Throughout October, traders have pinpointed the favorable specialized framework of Bitcoin on the more expensive time frames.
Bitcoin’s weekly chart, in particular, has proven a breakout and surpassed the earlier local top achieved in August.
BTC/USD weekly chart. BTC topped out from $12,468 on Binance and then proceeded to fall below $10,000. As stated previously, today’s higher volume surge got the cost to a brand new 2020 high at $13,217, which is well above the prior neighborhood top.
In the short-term, traders anticipate that the market will cool down soon after such a strong rally. Flood, a pseudonymous crypto futures trader, said:
“I feel we are very overextended on $BTC for now. I would imagine seeing a bit of a retrace in which we attempt to find assistance in the 12.2 12k range. Not saying we cannot run further, but hedged a tad here.”


text:
FDA proposes new definitions for "healthy" food labeling: Internet Scambusters #1,051
The US Food and Drugs Administration is planning to redefine what "healthy" means on a food label.
But until new rules come into play, claims about nutritional benefits can still make it appear that foods loaded with bad stuff - added sugar for example - are healthy.
Add to that, scams and marketing tricks that can mislead about whether a product is really healthy or not, as we report in this week's issue.
Let's get started…
When "Healthy" Food Can Be Unhealthy
What do you think when someone tells you a certain type of food, diet, smoothie, or weight loss program is "healthy" for you?
We probably all have different ideas about what that means, but the general feeling is that it must be a good thing.
It's another of those words that gets bandied about by marketing people, and, like many other terms, such as "natural," "wholesome," and so on, sometimes it can be downright misleading - into that gray area we think of as scams.
Some meals come with a "healthy" tag when they're nothing of the sort. For example, you may think of a Caesar salad as being healthy but add a few croutons and your favorite dressing and you'll consume hundreds of calories and a lot of fat.
Or, that fruit smoothie you got at a local health drinks bar could have up to 100 grams of sugar in it! Plus, they may also use low-nutrient concentrates, which remove what good you might have otherwise gained.
And so-called energy bars, which are touted as healthy, are often not only small and expensive, but can also contain up to 500 calories.
Claims of some supposedly "healthy" diet programs are the number one source of health-related complaints to consumer agencies.
A recent report by the AARP seniors organization declared: "On-the-make marketers deploy a variety of tricks to get people to purchase their wares. Some create websites that look like those of legitimate magazines and news organizations and fill them with phony articles claiming celebrities have achieved amazing results from various diet pills or herbal supplements."
And a report last month on fitness website The Thirty notes "(U)nfortunately, some 'healthy' foods out there aren't actually healthy at all. You could think you're filling your grocery cart with nutritious items, but you might be buying into some scams and filling your body with extra sugar and chemicals."
Author Sarah Yang identifies several foods that can fall short of a "healthy" tag. For example: certain granolas, fruit juices, protein bars (which we reported on two weeks ago), some gluten-free products, certain yogurts, and diet sodas.
Rules about what constitutes "healthy" food have been in force since 1994, but they are out-of-date, for example, paying scant attention to added sugar. A product that is overloaded with added sugar can still legally be described and labeled as "healthy."
Change of View
Nutritional science has changed its view in recent years on what a healthy diet looks like. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this means that some products currently labeled as "healthy" no longer meet requirements.
The agency is changing these requirements that, in the future, should stop manufacturers using the term when it's no longer considered true. About 5 percent of manufactured products currently are labeled as "healthy."
"The framework underlying the existing 'healthy' claim is, in some respects, inconsistent with current nutrition science and federal dietary guidance," it says.
Notably, the new rules will now set limits for the amount of added sugar in products. And the agency plans to introduce a new symbol that can be used on packaging so that consumers will be able to tell at a glance if a product is genuinely considered healthy.
The FDA will also require manufacturers to keep records "designed to ensure that the use of the 'healthy' claim is accurate, truthful, and not misleading, based on information known only to the manufacturer, and to facilitate efficient and effective action to enforce the requirements when necessary."
Despite all of this, some of the requirements on nutrition labeling are still voluntary and that is unlikely to change with the new actions. Plus, of course, it won't stop marketers from using the term in promotions. And it won't stop scams, like phony diet programs, from using the term.
A new logo, along the lines of that now used for "organic" products, will go some way toward limiting scam claims, but as always, it's down to the consumer to be skeptical. Always check the nutrition labeling for a clearer picture of whether or not what you're buying and eating is truly "healthy."
This Week's Scam Alerts
Don't Answer: The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a new warning to people who enjoy answering quizzes and surveys on social media. Certain questions in some of them, such as asking the make and model of your first car, are being used to gather and compile information about individual consumers, which could later be used for marketing purposes and identity theft. It may seem like fun, but you could end up in trouble.
Don't Let Them In: The ability to track a missing mobile device has been hijacked by cheeky scammers who knock on people's doors and claim they've tracked their device to your home. In reported cases, they've either asked for the individual's Wi-Fi password to supposedly check further or just used the incident as a way of getting inside homes. Never tell anyone you don't know or trust your network password - and certainly don't let them into your home.
More Knockoffs: Scammers have launched a new and major online campaign promoting cheap copies of top-brand products, passing them off as the real thing. A report this month in the New York Times says some leading names are dealing with hundreds of scam sites every month. One chief executive told the publication: "The second that we report a site and it gets blocked on one of the social media channels or blacklisted, they just spin up another instance and then there's ads running almost kind of instantly." The usual rule applies: If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Crypto Fraud: More than 350 fake crypto tokens - digital currencies supposedly backed by real-world assets - were created every day in 2022, according to new figures from monitoring company Solidus Labs. Crooks launch the tokens, pump up their prices, then sell up and disappear. An estimated two million Americans have lost money in crypto scams during the past couple of years.
Time to conclude for today -- have a great week!


text:
(USA) – After seeing sales drop during the holidays, Macy’s said Wednesday it has either closed or will shutter 68 stores and cut an additional 6,200 positions.
Of the 68 stores out of 730 in total, nine closings had been previously announced and three locations have already shut down.
But the retail giant revealed the locations of the remaining 59 stores, which will be shuttered by the middle of this year and affect 3,900 employees, some of whom may be offered jobs at other locations.
The locations span the country, from Florida to Oregon.
Additionally the retail giant says that it will be cutting “layers of management” at its central operations, and paring the number of managers supporting stores, making up the bulk of 6,200 jobs that will be lost.
“We continue to experience declining traffic in our stores where the majority of our business is still transacted,” Terry Lundgren, Macy’s CEO said in a statement. In regard to the store closings he added, “we are closing locations that are unproductive or are no longer robust shopping destinations due to changes in the local retail shopping landscape. . . .These are never easy decisions.”
The news did not seem to sooth investors, with Macy’s shares plunging 8.7%, to $32.70, in after hours trading.
See the entire list of store closures HERE


text:
Although Google has already created a fix to the Heartbleed security flaw, millions of older Android smartphones remain vulnerable to hacking. Many devices running Google’s 4.1.1 Jelly Bean version of the mobile OS have yet to receive an update that protects them from data theft.
Users in Germany are nearly five times at risk than US users, according to Lookout Inc. Security researcher Marc Rogers. The mobile security expert told Bloomberg that this is because a particular device running Android 4.1.1 is far more popular in Germany.
Last Wednesday, the Google Online Security Blog posted a security update, claiming that Android users were safe “with the limited exception of Android 4.1.1”. However, the ‘limit’ of this exception could impact up to ten million users worldwide.
Google has yet to officially announce how many of its users remain at risk from the Heartbleed security flaw. According to official Google statistics released earlier this month, 34.4% of Android’s 900 million worldwide users still use Android 4.1.x.
Beyond Android, security firms claim that dozens of Android and iOS apps, such as BlackBerry’s messaging app, remain vulnerable to Heartbleed.


text:
The Lordstown, Ohio, automobile manufacturing plant that saw hundreds of workers laid off this year will reopen, but under a different owner. General Motors sold the plant to a startup company that plans to use the facility to build electric pickup trucks.
The startup, Lordstown Motors, will begin producing its Endurance pickup truck in late 2020.
"We are committed to the people of Lordstown, we will locate our headquarters in the Lordstown plant, and we plan to build the Endurance pickup truck utilizing experienced workers who helped produce millions of vehicles in this very same plant," Steve Burns, the CEO of Lordstown Motors, said in a news release.
The pickup truck will be the first vehicle to use a four-wheel-drive hub-motor system, which would lead to fewer breakdowns, less maintenance and less cost, according to the news release. The Endurance truck will also have an onboard power export, which would allow workers to run power tools from the truck without bringing a portable generator or running the truck.
The plant is 6.2 million square feet and produced more than 16 million vehicles under the previous owner.
"We're honored to have the opportunity to build electric vehicles in Lordstown because the people of Lordstown and the plant are and will be the history and future of the auto industry,” Burns said. “When the first Endurance electric pickup rolls off that line, it will be a great day for Lordstown, Ohio and America."
GM’s handling of the Lordstown plant became a subject of controversy this year when President Donald Trump urged the company to keep it running and shut down a plant overseas, instead. Gov. Mike DeWine also vowed to do everything in his power to keep the plant running.


text:
Larsen said blockchain technology is poised to play an integral role in the world’s “next-gen” global financial system. However, he added, much of the U.S. discussion around cryptocurrencies centers around Bitcoin and Ethereum, which Larsen defines as “dominated by miners based in China.”
Saying “China is so far ahead of us,” Larsen notes China has readied a $1.4 trillion warchest for emerging technology, with part of it earmarked exclusively for increasing payments technology and blockchain.
China is already modeling the island of Hainan as a “blockchain hub.” Local observers state President Xi Jinping aims to make the island fully-blockchain and AI-compliant; a glimpse into how the city of the future could look.
Earlier this month, as CryptoSlate reported, the China government even called for the “speed up” of development in Hainan’s “Blockchain Pilot Zone.”
Ahead of ICO days
Larsen believes the cryptocurrency industry has come far ahead of its ICO days, a time when scams and obscure tokens swindled billions of dollars from the open market. That war has been “won,” he said, adding:
“Regulators must address the industry so that they can compete with China’s blockchain and cryptocurrency progress.”
Larsen said China’s recent move to try to control Hong Kong gives them two major financial centers — the other being Shanghai — while the U.S. continues to field a majority of its financial efforts only in New York.
The Ripple executive, with an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion on Forbes, thinks Chinese control over the global financial system could prove “devastating” for global prowess that U.S. markets currently exhibit.
Countries around the world are pushing for development in and around blockchain and digital currencies, with some like China even including blockchain as a significant part of its ambitious Five-Year-Plan.
But the U.S., long holding the beacon for advancements in technology — especially the role the country played in the development of the internet industry — is markedly slow in adopting blockchain, in terms of both regulations and infrastructure.
The lack of action is a problem for the country’s long-term growth and attractiveness as a technological hub, with some saying China might eventually emerge on top given its proactive steps.


text:
Rebellion's Alien Vs Predator will be invading your local retailers soon, but gamers also have an early opportunity to partake in the interspecies bloodbath by way of a demo that released this week on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Regrettably, there have been match-making issues plaguing the multiplayer demo.
"Unprecedented demand for Aliens vs. Predator following the release of the cross-platform demo yesterday morning brought to light matchmaking issues on the PC platform resulting in players having to wait to join games, or even not find games at all."
Rebellion issued a statement apologizing for the problems experienced on the PC version. While the Xbox 360 version remained unaffected, PC gamers had problems connecting online. Fortunately, the issue was fixed soon after. However, the same can't be said for the PlayStation 3 version. Also suffering from match-making issues, players experienced unreasonably long waiting periods just to join a game. Rebellion is currently hard at work on a solution to fix these connection issues.
"Tests so far have shown a significant improvement, but we're not yet finished with the fixes. The team will be working over the weekend to make it even better for players."
Hopefully these issues will be fixed soon, it'll be unfortunate should they persist into the retail release. Aliens Vs Predator is designed to be an online affair after all and it'll be ironic if gamers can't even find a game, let alone join one.
The game hits store shelves on February 19.


text:
SINGAPORE — Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFTs for short, are digital assets that everyone seems to want to own these days. But are they really a good thing, or is it just going to be a passing trend?
This is part of a series where Yahoo Finance Singapore will focus on different aspects of millennials and their finances. In this second part, we discover whether it’s good for millennials to invest in NFTs.
What are NFTs?
For the uninitiated, NFTs are basically certificates of digital ownership which have gained huge traction in recent years. The certificates have a unique record that is written into the fixed code (that cannot be changed) of a blockchain at time of creation or minting, which makes it a cryptographic asset. This can take the form of anything from digital art pieces, in-game items, music, fashion items and even virtual land.
To put it simply, NFTs are crypto assets that record the ownership of a digital file such as an image, video or text. Anyone can create, or "mint", an NFT, and ownership of the token does not usually confer ownership of the underlying item.
Profits are generated when one sell’s the NFT to someone else who wants it more and is willing to pay a higher price, usually paid with cryptocurrency. Since it lies in the hope of selling it at a higher price to a willing buyer, the value of NFTs is heavily driven by sentiment and hype. This exposes sellers to the risk of price manipulation.
For instance, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey created an NFT out of his first tweet and sold it for US$2.9 million in early 2021. Digital artist Beeple sold an NFT of his work for US$69 million, making him one of the most valuable living artists.
The utility of NFTs varies massively across the globe too. For example, there can be security tokens (to prove your identity) and even governance tokens (to indicate the right to vote). One can buy a NFT with crypto coins and NFTs can also represent a store of value, with some tokens worth more than others.
In fact, NFT sales volume totalled US$24.9 billion in 2021, compared to just US$94.9 million the year before, according to market tracker DappRadar.
Speculative and volatile
Despite the huge number of people turning to NFTs, financial experts warn that unlike traditional financial assets, there is little or no basis for the valuation of NFTs.
This is because the asset prices of NFTs are determined by demand and supply. Meanwhile, traditional financial assets have some kind of yield or value being created. For example, if you invest into stocks of a company, and it has a business model that is growing, the value of your investment will grow along with it as well.
“NFTs do not have an underlying economic return based on economic activity of companies or countries. Their payoff structure is speculative and volatile: You can win astronomically but you can also lose everything”, said Chuin Ting Weber, CEO of MoneyOwl, a bionic financial advisor.
As such, Weber recommends that millennials look into buying NFTs mainly as a bet or venture. This means keeping the invested amount small and only putting in only what you are prepared to lose.
Providing a similar analogy, Gavin Chia, Head of Managed Investments and Investment Advisory of Standard Chartered Bank Singapore, said: “NFTs are a little bit more like buying a luxury car or watch, which is something that is sought after but doesn’t actually create value or yield a return.”
Financial experts warn that because NFTs are speculative in nature, the hope of attaining financial freedom through investing in NFTs is not a plan for financial success.
“Regardless of one’s age, speculative investing products should not dominate your investment portfolio,” said Gregory Van, CEO of Endowus, a Singapore-based financial technology company.
“It is crucial to build your core wealth through an investing strategy that is strategic to your goals and passive in asset allocation while being globally diversified and low in cost,” he added.
Van also advised that millennials do their research and verify the information they find online before taking action, especially when it comes to riskier investments like NFTs.
Lack of regulation
While the Monetary Authority of Singapore currently doesn't regulate activities related to NFTs, it has reminded consumers that investments in digital tokens, including NFTs, are not suitable for retail investors, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in a written reply to a parliamentary question on 15 February.
"For NFTs in particular, their perceived uniqueness, combined with speculative demand, has served to inflate prices. This potentially puts investors at risk of outsized losses should speculative fervour abate," said Tharman, who is also chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He noted there are significant legal complexities and risks involved in NFTs.
Despite the lack of regulation, some Singapore companies are quick to jump on the bandwagon.
Singaporean ride-hailing app, Ryde, launched its first NFT project in April this year. Called “RydePals”, the NFTs will give owners exclusive in-app rewards and benefits like discounted rides and cashbacks. The RydePals NFTs can also be traded on secondary NFT exchanges like OpenSea.
“We want to deploy NFTs in a way that generates more real world value, especially for the rapidly growing market segment of Singaporeans who hold crypto”, says Terence Zou, founder and chief executive of Ryde.
Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore


text:
November 15, 2023
Optimism is an ecosystem of layer-2 chains that offer faster and cheaper transactions compared to the main Ethereum blockchain. It includes the original OP Mainnet, which is currently the world's second-largest layer-2 network in terms of value deposited.
Optimism relies on a technology called "optimistic rollup" to settle transactions to the main Ethereum blockchain, also known as the layer-1 or L1 blockchain. This technology allows for efficient and secure transaction processing.
In October 2022, developers at OP Labs, the creators of OP Mainnet, introduced the OP Stack. This new development enables developers to build their own blockchains within the Optimism ecosystem.
Optimism provides a solution for faster and cheaper transactions on the Ethereum network. With its layer-2 chains and optimistic rollup technology, it offers an efficient and secure way to process transactions. Developers can also take advantage of the OP Stack to create their own blockchains. Embrace the power of Optimism and unlock the full potential of Ethereum!
Natasha "CryptoQueen" Fernandez bridges the gap between blockchain buzz and casino charisma. From New Zealand's serene landscapes to the volatile world of crypto, she's making waves in the online gaming sphere. With CryptoCasinoRank, she paints a future where chips meet chains seamlessly.


text:
Mazda Reports Record Profits for Fiscal Year 2005
Please find attached a release from Mazda Inc. Attached in this covering note is a quote from Mazda New Zealand MD – Peter Aitken.
Peter Aitken – Managing Director Mazda New Zealand
“The Mazda Inc result is reflected in Mazda New Zealand’s performance. YTD Mazda NZ sales are up 3.8 % and continue the positive trend from last year which saw Mazda sales in New Zealand increase by 12.2%.”
28th April 2006
Mazda Reports Record Profits for
Fiscal Year 2005
- Mazda forecasts sixth consecutive year of profit increases for 2006 -
FY2005 Consolidated Full
- Operating profit up 49 percent to record 123.4 billion yen
- Net income increases 46 percent to a best ever 66.7 billion yen
- Annual dividend up 2 yen to 5 yen per share
- Operating profit forecast to increase by nine percent to 135 billion yen
- Net income expected to increase by 12 percent to 75 billion yen
HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation today reported its best ever financial results for fiscal year (FY) 2005. Consolidated operating profit in FY2005 exceeded last year’s record results by 49 percent, reaching 123.4 billion yen. Consolidated wholesales increased by four percent and consolidated revenue increased by eight percent to 2,919.8 billion yen. Net income rose 46 percent to a best ever 66.7 billion yen.
The record operating profits in FY2005 were attributed to further global sales growth, assisted by new model introductions, Mazda’s continued efforts to reduce costs and more favorable exchange rates. Mazda achieved two Mazda Momentum mid-term plan goals, namely over 100 billion yen in operating profit and a net-debt-to-equity ratio of less than one hundred percent, one year earlier than projected.
Mazda forecasts further growth in FY2006, notably in North America, Europe and China. Operating profit is forecast to increase by nine percent to 135 billion yen and net income is expected to increase by 12 percent to 75 billion yen.
“In FY2006, we intend to stay on course, further improving our operating results and continuing to build the Mazda brand globally with new, market-focused products,” said Mazda Representative Director and Chief Financial Officer Gideon Wolthers.
Financial Results for FY2005
Consolidated revenue for FY2005 was 2,919.8 billion yen, a year-over-year increase of 224.2 billion yen. Operating profit was 123.4 billion yen, a rise of 40.5 billion yen and ordinary profit was 101.5 billion yen, up 28.4 billion yen from year-ago levels. Net income was 66.7 billion yen, an increase of 20.9 billion over last year.
Consolidated Cash Flow in FY2005 was 33.6 billion yen, consisting of Operating Cash Flow of 114.6 billion yen less investments of 81 billion yen. Mazda’s net debt was reduced by 66.7 billion yen during FY2005 and now stands at 246.8 billion yen. The company’s net debt-to-equity ratio is now 62 percent, down 55 points from the previous year.
Mazda plans to increase its annual dividend to 5 yen per share, up 2 yen from FY2004.
Financial Projections for FY2006
For fiscal 2006, Mazda forecasts sales revenue to reach 3,100 billion yen, an increase of 180.2 billion yen over FY2005. Operating profit is projected to climb 11.6 billion yen to 135 billion yen and net income is forecast to grow by 12 percent to 75 billion yen.
Global vehicle wholesales are projected to grow five percent to 1,210,000 units in FY 2006. Mazda’s product-led growth is anticipated to continue with the recent launch of the all-new MPV in Japan, the Mazda CX-7 and CX-9 in North America and full availability of new diesel models in Europe.
1,210,000 units, up 5 percent
Sales revenue: 3,100 billion yen, up 6 percent
Operating profit: 135 billion yen, up 9 percent
Ordinary profit: 130 billion yen, up 28 percent
Net income: 75 billion yen, up 12 percent.
“Although we are pleased with our Fiscal Year 2005 results, Mazda remains focused on developing a foundation for consistent growth as we enter 2006, the final year of our Mazda Momentum mid-term plan,” said Mazda President and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki.
“Many challenges lie ahead of us as we confront an extremely competitive global automotive industry. However, we will face these with a robust investment strategy to ensure we continue to provide our customers with desirable products.”
FY2005 Financial Results Unit: millions
Yen US$ Euro
Revenue 2,919,800 24,853.6 20,446.8
Operating profit 123,400 1,050.4 864.1
Ordinary profit 101,500 864.0 710.8
Net income 66,700 567.8 467.1
Cash flow 33,600 286.0 235.3
Net debt 246,800 2,100.8 1728.3
-Dollar equivalents compiled at 117.48 yen to the dollar (Exchange rate prevailing on March 31, 2005).
-Euro equivalents compiled at 142.80 yen to the Euro (Exchange rate prevailing on March 31, 2005).
Financial Projections Unit:
Yen US$ Euro
Revenue 3,100,000 28,181.8 22,963.0
Operating profit 135,000 1,227.3 1,000
Ordinary profit 130,000 1,181.8 963.0
Net income 75,000 681.8 555.6
-Dollar equivalents compiled at 110 yen to the dollar
-Euro equivalents compiled at 135 yen to the Euro


text:
Activision’s inadvertently dated Prototype this afternoon, confirming the Radical actioner for a June release.
The info came in an email detailing the game as playable at the New York Comic Con this weekend.
“Hands-on – fans get their first chance to play the highly anticipated open-world/action thriller, PROTOTYPE, planned for release in June,” said the note, as reported by Joystiq.
Prototype was one of the few games to make the transition to Activision from Sierra, and has been heavily delayed from an originally intended summer 2008 release.
Just checking as to whether this is US-only.


text:
Despite ongoing restrictions on retail activity due to the pandemic, French gaming giant La Française des Jeux (FDJ) reported a year-on-year increase in revenue and stakes in the first quarter.
Total revenue for the three months ended March 31 was €537.6 million (£466.7 million/$644.3 million). It was up 5.2% from €511.2 million in the same period last year.
Gross gaming revenue increased by 5.1% to €525.9 million. And, the revenue from other activities increased by 10.7%, from €10.6 million to €11.8 million.
FDJ said the increase in revenue was due to a rise in stakes, with players spending a total of €4.6 billion, up 11.8 percent from €4.11 billion from €4.11bn in Q1 last year. It was although the operator faced more restrictions related to the pandemic than the same period in 2020.


text:
A caller study states that 15 antithetic women person accused Apple HR of mishandling superior intersexual misconduct allegations and much than fractional assertion that the steadfast retaliated against them for filing the complaints.
The Financial Times reports that 15 antithetic women are accusing Apple HR of mishandling superior misconduct allegations, and much than fractional assertion that the institution retaliated against them for bringing the complaints.
One individual’s allegations related to a intersexual battle committed extracurricular of enactment hours and premises, but the quality resources manager responding was allegedly dismissive, comparing the onslaught to a “minor postulation accident.”
The allegation pertained to a pistillate being partially undressed by a workfellow portion asleep.
The FT reports:
Megan Mohr was 5 years into her Apple vocation when, successful 2013, a antheral workfellow took vantage of her aft a platonic nighttime retired drinking together.
After the workfellow drove her location and helped her inside, she concisely fell dormant earlier waking to the dependable of clicking. The workfellow had removed her garment and bra. He was snapping photos, and grinning.
Mohr claims that a erstwhile mediocre acquisition with Apple HR resulted successful her not reporting the incidental astatine the time, but pursuing the #MeToo movement, she came guardant with the allegations. However, she was told that Apple wouldn’t person taken immoderate enactment against the colleague, adjacent if they admitted to the offense.
The FT reports:
Mohr thought this was a humble ask, but the email speech seen by the Financial Times soon turned rigid and defensive. The HR typical displayed small empathy oregon acquisition dealing with intersexual misconduct. He analogised her acquisition to “a insignificant postulation accident” to explicate however Apple couldn’t truly get involved.
Mohr alleges that Apple HR responded by saying, “Although what helium did was reprehensible arsenic a idiosyncratic and perchance criminal, arsenic an Apple worker helium hasn’t violated immoderate argumentation successful the discourse of his Apple work.”
Mohr near the company, stating that she wants Apple to align its policies with its claimed values: “I conscionable privation Apple to beryllium the institution it pretends to beryllium for its customers,” she said.
Read much astatine the Financial Times here.
Lucas Nolan is simply a newsman for Breitbart News covering issues of escaped code and online censorship. Follow him connected Twitter @LucasNolan


text:
Shanghai - November 11 - At the Asian Electronics Expo Shanghai 2009 (AEES 2009) Jin Park of Sung Mun Electronics Co., Ltd. was enthusiastic. "KEA did an excellent job to promote Korean companies by setting this stage. It really did help us," he said. He was referring to the whole Korea pavilion experience, which had given his booth a steady stream of visitors the entire day. This reporter was only able to visit the booth in the late afternoon.
The company is making rotary DIP switches. Normal DIP switches are simple on and off switches used to set essential options in electronic hardware. They are adequate for what they do, but a problem pops up when you need to add too many options. "If a company wants ten different positions, they need 10 normal DIP switches lined up in a row," said Mr. Park. "But our rotary switches are good for a compact space." One switch can give 4, 6, 8, 10, or 16 positions, which can save a large amount of space.
The company already does business with Samsung Air Conditioners, and is looking for a similar type of company in the Chinese market. "There are many manufacturers in China, and no switches like this," said Mr. Park. He is convinced that automation, security system, and telecom manufacturing companies need his products.
The company says about eighty percent of the booth visitors have been serious businessmen interested in the product. There have been no formal offers yet, on the first day, but many inquiries, according to Mr. Park. He is confident that the company will go away from the expo with a significant benefit.


text:
Microsoft fans are remembering a significant moment during Windows’ history as today marks the 20-year anniversary for Windows 95, the company’s most popular operating system to date. The Windows 95 launch was most-noted for enticing people and businesses to use personal computers. Overall computer use became widespread, and Microsoft helped the market grow thanks to easy-to-use software that made the entire computing experience more enjoyable.
Windows 95 launch was a defining moment for Microsoft
Although Windows 95 was not Microsoft’s first OS release, it was a catalyst for modern computing. The system brought a redesigned shell based on a desktop design. Unlike the old Windows 3.1 operating system which displayed running applications, Windows 95 used the desktop to show application shortcuts and folders. It also brought along many features that would later become key components for future products in the Windows series, including the Start menu and taskbar.
For much of the past decade, Crispin Odey has been waiting for inflation to rear its ugly head. The fund manager has been positioned to take advantage of rising prices in his flagship hedge fund, the Odey European Fund, and has been trying to warn his investors about the risks of inflation through his annual Read More
The history of Windows 10
Microsoft started thinking about the next great operating system (dubbed Chicago) shortly after the Windows 3.1 release. Development for the operating system started in March 1992, and the initial plan was to usher in the era of 32-bit system and replace MS-DOS. However, the final version of Windows 95 still retained some of the 16-bit features for certain elements.
One of the most important milestones happened when Microsoft confirmed the name Windows 95 less than a year before the official release. Prior to the August debut, Microsoft also offered eager customers a chance to try the new system with the Windows 95 Preview Program. For $19.95, customers could purchase a 3.5-inch floppy disk that would install the new OS on computers that already ran on Windows 3.1. The original version of Windows 95 did not include Internet Explorer. IE 1.0 became available with the Plus! add-on pack, which was sold separately.


text:
North Carolina farmers are harvesting plenty of items now and we’re looking forward to a great season!
Asparagus – is VERY short right now. Demand exceeds supply in all markets. Limited production and heavy demand is driving pricing skywards.
Berries – Blueberries are still going here in North Carolina and getting cranked up in our northern neighbors. It’s a perfect time to feature them as quality and pricing are at peak levels.
Beans – We were just getting started in North Carolina with our bean season until the rains last week washed them out. Supplies dried up overnight and prices more than doubled on the small amount of beans available. Our season is basically done for the year, but more northern states are just getting going.
Cabbage – Our local growers are harvesting good supplies of cabbage right now and prices are staying low as they try to move what they have to sell.
Corn – We’re seeing local corn come to the market every day now. Strong harvests are keeping pricing low and the corn has been big, sweet and juicy.
Lemons – Are doing their normal summertime thing, with soaring prices showing the short supplies in the lemon groves. High heat in growing areas is also limiting picking hours in the field and further shortening supplies.
Limes – Prices are saying low as Mexican growers have lots of volume harvesting right now. Quality is better also. If you can substitute limes for lemons right now you can save some big $$.
Potatoes – Are coming in from Eastern North Carolina now. Red and white New Crop potatoes are being dug and shipped this week. Bright and clean skins on new crop potatoes don’t even need peeling.
Peppers – It seems that everyone is harvesting peppers right now, especially our local farmers. Markets are low on the heavy volumes as farmers try to move the large harvests. Quality has been excellent.
Tomatoes – Are in full swing in NC and supplies are very strong. Quality has been gorgeous. Caprese Salad anyone?
Squash – Took a week off in NC after our rains last week wiped out many fields. They’re back in the fields again this week and supplies are very good.
Q: What’s another name for an owl’s beak?
A: Who knows?


text:
In a report issued on July 13, T J Schultz from RBC Capital reiterated a Hold rating on Compressco Partners
Guyana Goldfields (TSX: GUY), the Materials sector company was revisited today, and remains undervalued for at least one analyst on
Fortuna Silver Mines (TSX: FVI), the Materials sector company, has received a rating update from a Wall Street analyst yesterday.
In a report released today, Heiko Ihle from H.C. Wainwright maintained a Buy rating on First Majestic Silver (NYSE: AG),
Wall Street analyst has provided a review for the Materials company today, but retained the same rating on the stock.
Pan American Silver (NASDAQ: PAAS) received a Hold rating and a $17.50 price target from Scotiabank analyst Trevor Turnbull yesterday.
Wall Street analyst has provided a review for the Materials company yesterday, but retained the same rating on the stock.


text:
Just a few weeks after the new Kia Sorento scooped the highly coveted ‘Large SUV of the Year’ title at the 2021 What Car? Car of the Year Awards, the popular SUV brought home two more prestigious awards from Poland.
The all-new Kia Sorento’s first Polish triumph came in the form of the highly coveted 2021 Polish ‘Car of the Year’ awards. The high-tech, new-generation SUV beat fierce competition to take victory, becoming Kia’s second successive victor following the Kia XCeed’s triumph at the first edition of the Polish ‘Car of the Year’ competition in 2020.
The Polish jury, which includes 21 of Poland’s leading automotive journalists, was particularly impressed with the SUV’s combination of functionality, safety, driving dynamics, ergonomics, advanced technology and value for money. The judges also recognised that the new Sorento, which is the first vehicle based on Kia’s new mid-size SUV architecture, accommodates state-of-the-art electrified powertrains, resulting in greater fuel efficiency, lower emissions and better performance than its predecessors and rivals. The new platform also allows for a larger vehicle body to maximise cargo and luggage space and makes the Sorento one of the most versatile and spacious three-row SUVs on the road.
“This award represents another proud moment in our European journey,” said Jason Jeong, President at Kia Motors Europe. “The new Sorento is an important car for us; one which our design, engineering and product teams have worked hard to ensure was a leader in the SUV segment. A second win in the Polish Car of the Year is a real testament to those that have worked on the Sorento, further establishing its position in the European market.”
The Polish Car of the Year Award was shortly followed by the top award in the Moto Awards Plebiscite, as voted for by the readers of Auto Świat, the weekly Polish edition of the popular German Auto Bild magazine. Auto Świat readers recognised the Sorento’s winning SUV package, which combines a modern, clean and practical interior featuring state-of-the-art tech, a stylish exterior design, and next-generation electrified powertrains.
Being the first vehicle to be designed and developed on Kia’s new mid-size SUV architecture, the fourth-generation Sorento benefits from a larger body to maximize cargo and luggage space. This makes Kia’s flagship SUV one of the most versatile and spacious SUVs on the market. The available powertrains include advanced hybrid and plug-in hybrid options that offer greater fuel efficiency, lower emissions and better performance than the car’s predecessors and rivals.
“We are honoured and delighted that the readers of Auto Świat judged the new Kia Sorento to be the best ‘Large SUV’ in Poland,” said Jeong. “The Polish market is hugely important to Kia and to gain this recognition from people that are passionate about cars and automotive technology is testament to where the new Sorento sits in the SUV space. Winning the 2020 Moto Awards Plebiscite is another important milestone for our flagship SUV.”
The all-new Kia Sorento is expected to make its South African debut in the second quarter of 2021.


text:
As expected, Sony has unveiled its first flagship and premium mid-range smartphones of 2020, at an online event held yesterday. These include the Sony Xperia 1 II and Xperia 10 II. The devices were initially scheduled to get launch at a press conference in MWC 2020, Barcelona. However, the company also decided to drop out of the event due to the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP) outbreak. Also Read - Sony Xperia 10, Xperia 10 Plus update rolls out with January 2020 security update
Sony Xperia 1 II, Xperia 10 II price
Sony, at its launch event, didn’t reveal the prices of the new Xperia smartphone. However, as per the rumors, the Sony Xperia 1 II will be available for €1,199 (approximately Rs 93,500) in Europe. The device will be available in two color options, including Black and Purple. It will ship from late Spring 2020. Meanwhile, the pricing details of the Sony Xperia 10 II are also scarce at the moment, but the device will be available in Black and White colors. It will also ship from Spring 2020 and go on sale in several countries. Also Read - Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 updates rolling out with January 2020 security patch
Watch: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite vs Galaxy S10 Lite
Sony Xperia 1 II specifications, features
The new Sony Xperia 1 II (also known as Sony Xperia 1 ‘Mark 2’) is the company’s latest flagship smartphone that will compete against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S20-series and upcoming Snapdragon 865 SoC-powered devices. The device sports a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display and ships with the latest Android 10 OS. The smartphone draws its power from Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC, paired with an X55 5G modem for dual Sub-6GHz Bands support. It also has 8GB of RAM and 256GB internal storage. Also Read - Sony Xperia XZ3, Xperia XZ2 Android 10 update starts rolling out
As for photography, this is where the Xperia 1 II shines the most. As the company claims that is has improved on its previous lack of image processing capabilities and has teamed up with Zeiss. The device now features a quad-camera setup at the back. That includes a 12-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor, and a 0.3-megapixel TOF 3D depth sensor. The phone also has 4K HDR video recording support with Optical SteadyShot (hybrid EIS and OIS). On the front, the device bears an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens for selfies and video calling.
The Sony Xperia 1 II smartphone packs a 4,000-mAh battery and 18W USB-C PD fast charging support. It also comes with a handful of sensors onboard including, the side-mounted fingerprint, barometer, compass, color spectrum, and several other. Some other features worth noting of the smartphone is the addition of a 90Hz screen refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection, 3.5mm audio jack, WiFi-6, and Bluetooth 5.1 support.
Sony Xperia 10 II specifications, features
The Sony Xperia 10 II (aka. Sony Xperia 10 ‘Mark 2’) is the successor to the last year’s Xperia 10 and 10 Plus smartphone, like how Sony Xperia 1 II is also a successor to the Xperia 1 flagship device from last year. The device flaunts a 6.0-inch OLED display with Full-HD+ resolution and has a 21:9 aspect ratio screen. Additionally, the phone has a similar design, like its flagship variant. It also comes with IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant support and comes equipped with a Hybrid Dual SIM card slot.
The smartphone features a triple-camera setup at the back. That includes a 12-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor. At the front, the Xperia 10 II has an 8-megapixel selfie snapper. The handset sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC with an Adreno 610 GPU. It packs a 3600-mAh battery with 4GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage. The device also comes pre-installed with the latest Android 10 OS and has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.


text:
Salmonella outbreak in 26 states linked to raw turkey
Public health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak in 26 states linked to raw turkey.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 90 people have been infected with the outbreak strain.
No deaths have been reported, but 40 people have been sent to the hospital.
The 26 states where cases were reported are Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
The CDC said the strain is linked to raw turkey products from multiple sources, including dog food containing raw turkey. Officials said they haven't identified a single, common supplier tied to the turkey products.
However, the agency is not advising stores to stop selling raw turkey products. Also, consumers can continue to eat properly cooked turkey products.
The CDC said consumers should wash their hands, make sure any raw turkey is cooked thoroughly, and to carefully wash areas where raw turkey is handled. They're also telling dog owners to avoid raw food diets.
The most common symptoms of salmonella — appearing 12 to 72 hours after exposure — include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. The illness usually lasts between four and seven days, said the CDC.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.


text:
One letter comes in a business sized envelope from a company called Westat. The logo on the letter inside says it's from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control.
The letter reads, in part: "We are gathering information from adults about health. Your phone number was chosen randomly from phone numbers across the U.S. Westat, a health research company, will call you and identify themselves as calling for the CDC."
Turns out this one is legitimate. A spokesman at the CDC says the letters are advance notice for the annual National Adult Tobacco Survey. Letters are going out to roughly 125,000 people across the country to notify them of an upcoming 15- to 25-minute telephone interview. CDC stresses participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous.
The letter includes phone number and instructions for any questions or concerns.
The second mailing is from a company that offering cash you for your old gold, silver or platinum jewelry. The packet from Express Cash Gold includes a paid overnight FedEx envelope so you can send your jewelry with insurance protection. Your cash is promised within 24 hours.
Given the numerous warnings about unscrupulous gold buying schemes, the unsolicited aroused the suspicion of the Kent consumer who received it. However, an extensive check for complaints and investigations found no problems reported. The Better Business Bureau gives the company a rating of A+.
I called Express Cash Gold and asked why they're sending these mailings unsolicited. Operations manager Dimitri Kolokouris, the owner's son, told me the company only send packets to customers who request them online.
But Kolokouris said outsiders -- possibly competitors -- use malicious computer programs, also known as "bots" to complete applications on the Express Cash Gold website using the names and addresses of random consumers without their knowledge. This could be one way you can end up getting all sorts of mail from people you've never heard of.


text:
HTC has teased the Ice Cream Sandwich update again which was quite for certain days. It’s really hard to see many of the smartphones capable of running Ice Cream Sandwich with powerful hardware and the processor, the Android 4.0 update still awaits for them. It’s now more than two months since Ice Cream Sandwich has been launched along with the launch of Galaxy Nexus. So the question of does it takes so much time for the manufacturers to release Ice Cream Sandwich update on the phone officially. Unofficially you can find out many updates to ICS available but just like the usual Android update that we have seen in earlier official updates are released to the users after rigorous testing and fixes so that users doesn’t get bugs or issues.
Any how coming here is the news from HTC that they are ready deliver Ice Cream Sandwich update to HTC Sensation mobile phone and it will arrived by the end of the March approximately with no confirmed date. Among the devices ready for the updates includes Sensation XE, Sensation XL, Sensation 4G and original Sensation. This will bring a joy to the HTC Sensation phone owners and still its more than a month for this update to arrive. Don’t think that this will be the first phone to receive ICS update as all the manufacturers are working hard to released ICS update to be made available soon. Samsung is working with testing of ICS on Galaxy S2 and Galaxy to provide a smoother operating and we might see update for Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note soon which may coincide with HTC Sensation update release.
In addition to that HTC have also confirmed that Ice Cream Sandwich update will be soon available later this year to many of their current running smartphones which includes HTC Rezound, HTC Vivid, HTC Amaze 4G, HTC Evo 3D, EVO Design 4G, Incredible S, Desire S and Desire HD.
More happy news for HTC Sensation users as Sensation XE White variant is now available for pre order for the United Kingdom users at £ 340 via Clove online store and delivery of this will start by 20th February 2012.
Stay updated with the Ice Cream Sandwich update releasing in the few weeks.


text:
In a new regulatory filing in China, Tesla revealed that it will build its upcoming Model Y along with Model 3 at its new Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai.
Things are moving fast for Tesla’s Gigafactory 3 project.
Earlier this summer, the company announced a deal with the Shanghai government to build a wholly owned local factory.
They have now accelerated their plans in response to the trade war between the US and China.
Last week, Tesla announced that it secured 210-acres of land for Gigafactory 3 in China and said that it is ‘on track’ with the accelerated construction plan.
Earlier this year, we reported that work started at the site of the factory.
Now according to Reuters, Tesla revealed in a new filing by the environmental assessment firm conducting a feasibility study for the project that they plan to produce both Model 3 and Model Y at the location.
Model 3 was already confirmed and Model Y was suspected but unconfirmed at this point.
The report also says that an annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles is planned.
That’s expected to be the initial production capacity as Tesla plans to ramp up to 500,000 units per year.
When first announcing the plant, Tesla said that it expects “construction to begin in the near future” and that it “will take roughly two years” until they start producing vehicles and “then another two to three years before the factory is fully ramped up to produce around 500,000 vehicles per year for Chinese customers.”
But this timeline hasn’t been updated since Tesla “accelerated” its plans for Gigafactory 3 and has now already started construction.
It’s now the first confirmed manufacturing location for Model Y. We recently published a report on everything we know about Tesla’s upcoming electric crossover.
It could likely end up being the first place where the Model Y is manufactured, but it’s unlikely going to be the only one.
Tesla previously said that Gigafactory 3 is going to supply cars for local demand and not exportation.
Unless plans have changed, the Model 3 and Model Y vehicles build at Gigafactory 3 will all stay in China. It’s not hard to imagine the Chinese market consuming 250,000 to 500,000 Tesla vehicles per year considering how fast the market is growing there.
They are likely making other plans for manufacturing in the US.
Earlier this week, we asked our readers where they think it will be built and the leading theory, for now, is Gigafactory 1 in Nevada:
Tesla is expected to soon release manufacturing plans for Model Y.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


text:
By TIM ALEXANDER
WILMINGTON, DEL. — The global agricultural tractor market is expected to reach $97.8 billion in value by 2031. The market garnered a revenue of $59.1 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6 percent during the 2022-2031 period.
“The growth of the global agricultural tractors market can be attributed to the rise in adoption of precision farming due to increasing governmental support for the agriculture sector,” according to Allied Market Research, which issued its sales forecast on Nov. 15. “Moreover, the extensive demand for fuel-efficient tractors is projected to push the market ahead. Additionally, technological innovations in tractor technology are expected to open up new avenues in the market.”
Other analysts agree that the global agricultural tractors market is in line for huge growth primarily due to rising adoption of precision farming and increasing introduction of mechanization in agriculture activities, as Allied’s study concluded. According to Mordor Intelligence, the increasing cost — and scarcity — of farm labor is pushing the agricultural tractor market forward.
“In recent years, farmers, growers and ranchers throughout the United States have expressed concerns about hiring an adequate number of qualified farmworkers at an economically viable wage. These challenges are particularly acute for labor-intensive sectors of U.S. agriculture,” Mordor’s study found, in part. “Farmers are increasingly adopting agricultural mechanization as a substitute for manual labor. Hence, the demand for agricultural tractors in the country is expected to increase.”
Tractors of more than 100 horsepower (HP) are expected to see the greatest growth rate through 2031, Allied’s research revealed, with a CAGR of 6.6 percent. The 30 to 50 HP segment, which accounted for the largest market share in 2021 with around one-third of the total share, is also expected to grow.
According to Farm Equipment Manufacturer’s Association chairman emeritus Charlie Glass, the 40 HP and under market was expected to eclipse sales of all other tractors in the U.S during 2023, accounting for 63 percent of all sales. “The principal purchasers of these units are lifestyle farmers, who are actually not farmers but derive the majority, if not all, of their income from sources other than farm income,” Glass noted in his 2023 Annual Tractor and Combine Retail Sales Forecast.
Sales of all agricultural tractors are projected to rise substantially in the U.S., which accounts for almost 11 percent of the global agricultural tractor market in terms of volume, in the coming years. This will occur primarily due to the massive increase in farm mechanization, according to ResearchandMarkets.com’s “U.S. Tractors Market -- Industry Analysis and Forecast” for 2022-2028.
“The government is also creating strategies to enhance the welfare of farmers by converting agriculture into a viable activity by paving the way for new machinery purchases. The awareness about advanced agriculture equipment to improve per hectare yield, reduce the overall cost of crop production, and increase the income-centric inclination of farmers is boosting the sale of new machinery in the country,” the ResearchandMarkets.com report stated, in part.
Sales of both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive tractors are expected to climb in the coming years, though the 4-wheel segment is expected to return the greatest CAGR of 7.4 percent during the timeframe, according to Allied Market Research. “The advantages of 4-wheel drive such as versatility and high productivity might help widen the scope of the segment,” their study found.
In addition, sales of electric agricultural tractors are expected to make an impression on the marketplace. In 2021, U.S.-based Soletec introduced its new 70 HP, 60 kWh electric tractor specifically designed for heavy-duty farm and vineyard operations. As battery storage capacity technology increases, sales of electric tractors by Soletec and other manufacturers are expected to increase.
“Electric tractors are widely used in the industry for various indoor and outdoor applications. The rising trend of automation and increasing environmental concerns will accelerate growth. Farmers in developed countries are looking for these machines to reduce the cost of fuel and replace them with their standard machines,” reported ResearchandMarkets.com.
The rosy forecast for the international agricultural tractor market was not enough, however, to stop CNH Industrial from implementing job cuts in November after a “disappointing quarter” for tractor sales, according to its CEO. In South America, tractor sales have declined as farmers slow investments due to lower commodity prices. This resulted in the U.K.-based company’s announcement of an immediate restructuring that will cut 5 percent of its salaried workforce costs and eventually reduce total labor and overhead expenses by as much as 15 percent.
As a result of the unexpectedly weak South American tractor market in 2023, CNH lowered its outlook for the year to between 3 percent and 6 percent net sales growth. Original CNH projections called for as much as 11 percent net sales growth over 2022.


text:
Maury understood her frustration. He, too, was losing his vision and could foresee a struggle to remain productive using the visual interfaces common on all computing devices.
The woman’s wish serves as a kind of voice command for Maury, whose company, Conversant Labs, is trying to lead other developers in the direction of computing by voice. His company’s latest creation, an app called Yes Chef, is a recipe app for iOS that can talk blind people through a recipe step-by-step.
While Yes Chef was made with the blind in mind, it’s for anyone who cooks. Rather than stopping to wash dirty hands to scroll down a device screen, a person can just ask the app for the next step — or even repeat previous steps — in the recipe.
Confused about whether to use baking soda or baking powder? Yes Chef will answer the question. It won’t chop your vegetables, but it could tell you how finely to chop them if it’s important to the recipe.
“Our mission is to make voice a meaningful alternative to visual computing,” said Maury, founder of the Pittsburgh-based company. “When we got started, we wanted to solve problems for the blind, but we wanted to make things useful for the general public. The best scenarios for accessibility is an experience that is the same for everybody and it’s just accessible by default.”
Yes Chef hits the App Store (it debuted on Aug. 14) at a time when developers and computer companies are creating more software with conversational user interfaces and pushing voice-enabled computing as a mainstream platform.
There are several big players in the field of voice-enabled technology. In addition to Apple’s Siri, there is Amazon’s Alexa paired with Echo smart speakers. Microsoft has Cortana and Google recently announced Google Home.
Amazon invites developers to write software to give Alexa and the Echo greater range. Apple is also said to be working on a device to rival the Echo and recently announced it would release an SDK (software developers kit) for creating apps that work with Siri.
Knowing what you mean
Yes Chef showcases Conversant Labs’ work on advanced algorithms that offer a more intelligent understanding of the meaning of words.
Maury gives this example: You can tell Siri you are hungry for nachos and it will understand and might respond with a website that lists recipes or offer the names of restaurants in your area. If you say to Siri, “I have the munchies for nachos,” it will understand the words but not recognize the sentence as a request for help in finding nachos.
Yes Chef handles more-complex interactions and even understands subtle and casual language with only a slight learning curve, Maury said.
“Two or three years ago, this might have seemed gimmicky,” Maury said. “On the technology side of things, there were no tools or libraries for building voice-enabled applications. We have a very firm grasp on what it takes to build a responsive conversational application. We’re trying to make that expertise available.”
Developers can download an SDK from Conversant Labs.
Using the voice for everything
Maury was a product manager for tech startups in 2011, when he was diagnosed with Stargardt macular degeneration and told he would be blind within 10 years.
As he prepared, he discovered there were limited tools for him to remain productive once his sight was gone. In 2014, he started Conversant Labs. Its first product was a shopping app that gave the visually impaired the ability to order items through voice commands.
Maury volunteered at a senior center in Pittsburgh to teach visually impaired people how to use their devices and gauge how to simplify the computing experience through voice.
“You want to be able to tell the computer to do something, understand you, and fulfill your wish,” Maury said. “The Echo and Siri are great but they have limitations. With Siri, you can identify a song or order an Uber, but it can’t read you the news. We want to create something that supports everything.”
Maury is confident consumer-driven devices will be available and understand complex requests within the next couple of years.
The next frontier for voice computing will be the workplace and finding ways to easily manage email by voice.


text:
Are you still finishing up fruit cake leftovers? December certainly gave us much to celebrate — the ultimate month of gifting meant new records for the Etsy community in GMS, items sold, and new members!
- $117.8 million of goods (after refunds and cancellations) were sold by our community in December, 11.6% higher than November’s $105.6 million
- That represents 6,001,420 items sold for the month, 9.3% higher than November’s 5,489,407
- 2,363,780 items were listed in the month, 21.2% lower than November’s 2,997,877
- 1,441,833 new members joined the Etsy community in the month, up 314,922 or 27.9%, from November
- 1.53 billion page views were recorded on the site in December
The $117.8 million of goods sold (after refunds and cancellations) represents a 72.9% increase from December 2011’s total. At the same time, items sold were up 78.8%. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Etsy community in December 2012!
Curious about how other months compare? Check out our past Weather Reports for more statistics.


text:
Lewis Geyer / Staff Photographer
Lewis Geyer / Staff Photographer
While many news headlines are highlighting a reported Christmas tree shortage, the executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association said that isn’t really accurate.
“It’s a tight supply,” said Tim O’Connor, who is based in Denver. “But it’s not a shortage.”
For the past few years, O’Connor has seen many stories about a tree deficit, even though the industry didn’t run out of trees in 2016 or 2017. It actually sold 27.4 million trees each year.
O’Connor worries the inaccurate stories will make consumers give up on finding a Christmas tree without even trying. Then, if a customer buys an artificial tree, “you’ve probably lost the customer for quite a while.”
The “tight supply” tree farms and sellers now face goes back a decade to the recession, according to O’Connor.
There was an oversupply at that time for a few reasons, he said. Many in the baby boomer generation, after sending kids off on their own, switched to artificial trees for convenience.
Then, the recession hit in 2008. People cut back discretionary spending, O’Connor said, and Christmas tree farms were one of the industries that took a hit.
Trees, especially larger ones, take a while to grow. Farmers plant a tree one year, then take care of it for many more years, and don’t get a return on it for about a decade.
In 2008, farmers had to weigh the costs of planting and maintaining against the distant idea of getting a profit, O’Connor said, “so it was a challenging time.”
Some farms closed down, and others chose not to plant as many trees.
Still, O’Connor said that last year, “there wasn’t a single community that we know of in the country that ran out of trees.
“There are certain locations where they might go to buy a tree where they might not have as many options,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place down the road.”
Bob and Amy Condon have been selling pre-cut Christmas trees for 16 years (and pumpkins for 22) at their business, Cottonwood Farm, which is now in Lafayette.
Bob Condon has seen a change in supply since 2008.
“It’s harder to get exactly the trees you want when you want them,” he said. “It is very tight.”
Condon said they still get a “pretty good supply of trees.” What has changed in recent years are costs.
The more popular wholesalers have increased their prices, which in turn has increased Condon’s costs by 50 to 60 percent since 2016, Condon said. In response, he’s let profit margins get thinner so the consumer doesn’t see a 60 percent price increase as well.
“But it makes it tight all around because it’s a very short and tricky season,” he said. “You’ve only got a few weeks of really serious selling, so you don’t want to over-buy or under-buy.”
Condon thinks prices are going up because supplies are shrinking 10 years out from the recessions — but the demand for nice trees has stayed the same.
The new buyer
Demand is now starting to grow again, according to O’Connor. It’s coming from the same consumers “who are driving the growth in organic foods” — young people.
Such customers want to know the story behind the products they buy, and they want a connection to it, O’Connor said.
“There’s nothing about a plastic tree made in China and shipped over on a boat that” connects with a young person’s life, he said.
But, he said that ethos “matches up perfectly with Christmas trees,” which are grown on local farms in the United States and Canada and sold at many family-owned businesses.
“It’s a logical thing that we’re seeing,” O’Connor said. “They’re going to farms, they’re posting themselves on social media with their families having this experience of getting this tree.”
Farmers are responding to the trend, he said, by providing opportunities for photos or ways for people to connect with the business on social media.
Real trees can also be mulched at the end of the season, making them a more environmentally-friendly option than an artificial tree.
Madeline St. Amour: 303-684-5212, email@example.com


text:
Music Gear News
Paul McCartney to pick up Kennedy Center award at the White House
Electric guitar player Paul McCartney is to receive a special accolade at the White House later this year.
McCartney is to be presented with a Kennedy Center medallion at a state dinner hosted by Hillary Clinton on December 4th, alongside fellow winners chat show host Oprah Winfrey, country music star Merle Haggard and composer Jerry Herman.
The awards are given each year to people who are judged to have made a significant contribution to American culture.
McCartney said he was delighted to be picking a prize named after President Kennedy.
"His presidency was so inspiring for so many people that it is a great pleasure for this kid from Liverpool to receive this honour," said the electric guitar player.
Earlier this year, the former Beatles star played a number of gigs around the UK as part of his Up and Coming tour, performing in London, Cardiff and Glasgow, as well as headlining the Isle of Wight Festival.
Posted on 9 Sep 2010 18:59 to category : Band / Celebrity News
Related Music News
Through a collaboration with Martin, Sheeran's latest signature model features artwork from his latest album '÷' and has been built to his exact specifications.
An icon who helped propel the rock 'n' roll movement to new and unprecedented heights. Chucky Berry is praised by many as a founding father of modern music.
Founding guitarist of legendary LA band Y and T Joey Alves passes away due to complications relating to Ulcerative Colitis. Documentary on soon to follow.
Destroyer Cola is to be the latest release in rock veterans Kiss' long line of merchandise currently available to the general public for purchase
In a recent unconfirmed report, frontman of famous rock and roll outfit Guns N' Roses is said to be heading into the studio with Australian rock veterans AC/DC
Never before has music been so accessible. With social media, tab sites and forums at your immediate disposal, learning your favourite song couldn't be easier.
Recent Music News
The latest entry into the acclaimed microphone brands line-up, the sE8 Small Condenser Microphone packs a big punch despite its diminutive and compact frame.
A familiar face in an all new format, the Waza Amplifier Head lets you experience the full power of an established classic in the comfort of your own bedroom.
A visual percussion instrument that promises a completely immersive rhythmic experience, the DR-01S is the first of many in the latest percussive generation.
In celebration of BOSS' 40th anniversary, the company releases a triumvirate of their most famous and sought-after pedals in a limited-edition box-set format.
In celebration of their rich history, VOX launches the AC30HW60 and AC15HW60. Designed to emulate the classics, VOX add impetus to the saying 'old is gold'
Continuing the legacy of Elektron's previous entries, the Analog Four MKII/Analog Rytm MKII marks the beginning of a new era graced with bountiful enhancements


text:
Securing trademarks is the most effective way of maintaining the reputational value of your business, whether you’re a small startup or a huge, world-renowned brand.
The space sector will soon take flight, with the government unveiling £10m worth of grants to UK companies hoping to capitalise on commercial spaceflight.
Central to most media attention is the assumption that somehow bad corporate governance is to blame for the scandal of the moment – that is, that the systems of checks and balances meant to prevent abuse by executives have failed.
The government has listed the ten most outrageous excuses that “unscrupulous bosses” use to avoid paying their staff the National Minimum Wage.
Job hopping is the new normal. Talk to anyone in their early 30s and the chances are they will have changed jobs at least four times since leaving full-time education.
Christina Wojcik, vice president of legal services at Seal Software, breaks down the steps to consider throughout M&A deals.
If you’re having trouble sleeping, turn back now – when it comes to nightmare colleagues, we’ve got commentary on employees from hell who will give you sleepless nights.
The mass hack crisis that befell Tesco Bank is a text book case of a modern data breach storm.
Simon Whitehead, partner at HRC Law, recently hit the £1m turnover mark and has joined our Founders Diaries section to share his growth stories.
A Trading Standards investigation has found that ordering dinner from a local takeaway should be treated with caution, at least where pizza is concerned, as businesses have been found guilty of adding fake ingredients to their goods.
Aberdeen Football Club has gone where no club has ever gone before; it’s decided to slap a trademark on what has been deemed a famous half-time snack.
It is commonplace for shareholders holding the same shares to enter into side letters and informal arrangements that can alter their rights. The same effect occurs between debtor firms and creditors, whose relative rights also change with time.


text:
What you need to know
- Apple TV+ has released a new teaser for They Call Me Magic.
- They Call Me Magic is a new four-part docu-series about Magic Johnson.
- A new teaser explains why Magic Johnson got his name.
Former basketball star Magic Johnson is the subject of a new Apple TV+ docuseries, but where did that name come from? The man explains everything in a new teaser for the latest Apple TV+ hit.
In this new Apple TV+ teaser, Earvin "Magic" Johnson explains that the whole "Magic" name came about after a reporter saw him play. Needing a nickname for the up and coming star, that reporter went with the now-famous "Magic" and the rest is history.
Hear it in the words of Johnson himself — and the reporter who came up with the name all those years ago!
The new four-part documentary is available to stream on Apple TV+ now and is a must-watch for basketball fans of all ages. It isn't only about basketball, of course, and also tells the story of "his transcendence from sports superstar to business titan, blazing new trails for former athletes and revolutionizing the way corporate America does business in Black communities" as well.
They Call Me Magic is available to watch now for everyone who has an Apple TV+ subscription. Priced at just $4.99 per month, Apple TV+ is now among some of the best value in streaming — especially at a time where Netflix and Disney+ continue to hike prices.
If you want to enjoy They Call Me Magic in style, be sure to check out our list of the best Apple TV deals on the market today.
100% exclusive content for the price of a cup of coffee.
With TV+, you can watch well-produced, big-budget TV shows from famed directors, and starring award-winning actors and actresses across all your Apple devices and with up to six members of your Family Sharing group.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.
Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.


text:
CLEARWATER – Three employees of Lokey Automotive were arrested March 6 in connection with a scheme to defraud case after they reportedly embezzled approximately $400,000 from the Clearwater dealership.
Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Economic Crimes Unit said the three were associated with an off-site marketing business and funneled money to that company by signing and issuing checks from the car dealership business accounts.
The suspects were employed through Lokey Automotive, which includes Lokey Nissan and Lokey VW located at 27758 U.S. 19 N. in Clearwater. The investigation began Jan. 14, 2013.
According to detectives, between June 1 and Sept. 30, 2012, James Surrett, 45, of Orlando, Larry Dubose, 39, of Tarpon Springs and Patricia Lipka, 51, of Ft. Myers were employed with Lokey Automotive and also associated with the off-site marketing company.
Surrett was general manager at Lokey Automotive. Dubose was a sales manager, and Lipka was a controller within the accounting department.
The three used their positions to complete invoices for the third party marketing company, detectives said. They approved the invoices and signed checks payable to the company for their own financial gain. Invoices for nonexistent marketing and mailing services were created and billed to Lokey Automotive.
PCSO issued arrest warrants for the three suspects on March 5. Surrett turned himself in at the Pinellas County Jail the next day. Dubose was arrested on the warrant in Pasco County. Patricia Lipka was arrested on the warrant in Lee County. All three were charged with scheme to defraud.


text:
La CROSSE, Wis. — "Wisconsin, hold my beer. "
That's how Kwik Trip led its announcement on Facebook about its new partnership with Karben4 Brewing.
After days of hinting at the collaboration on social media, the La Crosse, Wis.-based convenience-store chain announced Nov. 12 that it would deliver a limited-time Glazer Bean beer to its Wisconsin stores.
Since then, the post has been shared and commented on more than 2,000 times, and a total of 1,900 cases of the chocolate coffee stout are being shipped to Kwik Trips throughout the state.
The beer plays off two of Kwik Trip’s signature items, Cafe Karuba dark roast coffee and Glazer doughnuts, said Kim Jenks, category manager of alcohol beverages and tobacco for Kwik Trip. The glazed doughnuts were not actually used in the brew, contrary to a playful video on the chain’s Facebook page that showed someone dumping a box of Glazers in a kettle, but the coffee was, she said.
The beer has 5% alcohol by volume and comes in single 16-ounce cans for $2.49 and four-packs of 16-ounce cans for $9.89, said Zak Koga, who co-owns the Madison, Wis.-based brewery with his brother, Ryan Koga.
Kwik Trip had been one of Karben4’s customers for years, Zak Koga said, and this past summer Jenks approached the brewery to see if they wanted to collaborate.
“In a flooded craft market, they were one of the established craft breweries that was still showing growth in our stores, the artwork on their packaging is extremely eye-catching and they brew great beer,” Jenks said of why Kwik Trip wanted to work with the brewery.
Zak Koga said Kwik Trip wanted Karben4 to be authentic to its brand. The beer’s label features a personification of a Glazer doughnut wearing laser-beam glasses. The only mention of Kwik Trip is the term Kwik Series in red letters at the top of the can’s label.
The name leaves the door open for future collaborations, Zak Koga said.
And the response so far to the beer, which Jenks said she anticipates will be available for two to three weeks, has been blowing Zak Koga’s mind, he said.
“We had no idea that people would get this excited about it, so it’s really cool to see people react like that,” Zak Koga said. “I think it speaks a lot to how awesome of a store Kwik Trip is, and their brand strength and their digital team.”
What advice would Jenks give to a c-store looking to do something similar?
“Have fun with the creative part and be prepared for the launch,” she said.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.