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Google has lost its appeal to keep a potentially damaging email away from the jury in the company's legal fight with Oracle over Java.
The dispute between Oracle and Google won't go to trial on Oct. 31 as initially scheduled, according to the judge overseeing the case.
The U.S. International Trade Commission said on Monday that Apple did not violate four patents held by HTC, which said it intends to appeal.
Google and Sun Microsystems' discussions to co-develop Android ultimately broke down because of disagreements over control of the platform, Google wrote in a trial brief late last week related to its dispute with Oracle.
A federal judge has boosted the award to cloud-based TV provider ActiveVideo in its patent lawsuit against Verizon Communications to US$140 million.
A judge at the district court in the Hague on Friday rejected claims that Samsung had made against Apple regarding four patents.
Attorneys for Apple and Samsung Electronics gave arguments before a U.S. federal judge on Thursday in a patent infringement suit over Samsung's Galaxy tablets, and the judge is now set to issue a written order on Apple's request to have sales of thos...
T-Mobile USA unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to U.S. buyers on Monday, just days ahead of a court hearing at which Apple will seek a preliminary injunction to prevent sales of the device in the U.S.
Patent licensing company Intellectual Ventures has set its sights on Motorola with a new lawsuit charging the handset maker with infringing six patents.
The battle between Oracle and Google over Android is unlikely to go to trial later this month as initially planned.
Samsung Electronics is greeting the new iPhone with more legal action. The company plans to file preliminary injunction motions in Milan, Italy and in Paris asking the courts to block sales of the iPhone 4S, Samsung said on Wednesday.
A leading data protection expert said Tuesday that the international anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (ACTA) is "badly-drafted, breaches many fundamental rights and lawmakers should throw it out and start from scratch."
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) both applauded the signing of the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) by representatives of the U.S., Japan, and six other governments in T...
Two founders of movie download site NinjaVideo.net have pleaded guilty to charges related to copyright infringement, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
T-Mobile USA asked a court on Wednesday leave to submit a brief of amicus curiae ("friend of the court") to prevent a preliminary injunction asked by Apple against the sale in the U.S. of Samsung's Galaxy S 4G smartphone and Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet, c...
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Clearco's Data-Driven Angel Investor empowers research and development of all-natural reproductive health supplements into new sales channels and markets
TORONTO, July 15, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Clearco, the world's largest e-commerce investor and the company revolutionizing the way founders grow their businesses, today announced that its ClearAngel program is funding Élan Healthcare, a research and development company focused on fertility supplements for men and women. ClearAngel gives early-stage founders access to revenue share capital, data-driven advice, and Clearco's extensive network of apps, agencies, and investors.
Élan Healthcare is a women-owned and -led business developing solutions for common fertility and health conditions. With more than 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, founder Dr. Pari Saharkhiz noticed a lack of awareness and management options for common conditions, such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), leading her to create her own line of natural fertility supplements. Dr. Saharkhiz founded Élan Healthcare in Mississauga, Ontario, and uses local ingredients and manufacturing. ClearAngel's investment will empower Élan Healthcare to explore new sales channels and markets, expand its online presence and launch new products, including a testosterone support supplement and line of vegetable-based, soft-gel capsules.
ClearAngel is a new, equity-free, flexible capital option for early-stage founders who don't have the network or mentorship to raise an angel round or join exclusive accelerators. The program has already funded 250 companies since its February 2021 launch.
"We're excited to support Élan Healthcare in its mission to create awareness and natural solutions for common health conditions," said Andrew D'Souza, CEO and co-founder, Clearco. "This ClearAngel grant is a testament to our support for early-stage, women-founded businesses."
In addition to $10,000 of flexible capital, Élan Healthcare will also get access to a network of over 500 investors, growth teams, agencies, apps, lawyers, and buyers; and data-driven advice designed to help scale and hit new revenue milestones - which can unlock additional ClearAngel funding rounds.
"I'm honoured to have been selected by ClearAngel and am eager to leverage their support, resources, and capital," said Dr. Pari Saharkhiz, founder, Élan Healthcare. "This investment will allow Élan Healthcare to create natural solutions for global consumers seeking solutions to common health conditions."
To learn more about Élan Healthcare and purchase its natural health supplements, visit https://elanhealthcare.ca/.
ClearAngel is currently onboarding E-commerce and product companies, and has limited spots available for SaaS, Apps, marketplace and stealth companies. To learn more about applying, visit angel.clearbanc.com.
Co-founded as Clearbanc in 2015 by Michele Romanow from Canada's Shark Tank (Dragons' Den), Andrew D'Souza, Ivan Gritsiniak, Charlie Feng, and Tanay Delima, Clearco offers the most founder-friendly capital solutions for e-commerce, mobile apps, and SaaS founders as well as a full suite of products and access to a powerful global network, insights and data, and recommendations. Clearco has invested over $2 Billion in over 4,500 companies to date, including Leesa Sleep, fashion-rental service Le Tote, home goods company Public Goods, shirtmaker UNTUCKit, online speech therapy practice Expressable, and digital real estate marketplace SetSchedule. For more information visit clear.co and @getClearco.
Philip Price Fry, Clearco, 917-684-4174, email@example.com

domain: news


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Suzuki Motor Corp said it had used improper fuel economy tests for its cars in Japan, in a widening of a scandal that has engulfed Mitsubishi Motors, but it asserted that proper testing had shown the data did not need to be amended.
The news follows Mitsubishi’s admission of fuel economy manipulation last month, after which Japan’s transport ministry asked domestic automakers to re-submit fuel economy readings on all their vehicles by Wednesday.
Japan’s fourth-largest automaker said 2.1 million vehicles were affected but Chief Executive Osamu Suzuki told reporters that his workers did not intentionally use improper data.
“The company apologises for the fact that we did not follow rules set by the country,” Osamu Suzuki said.
Shares in Suzuki ended down 9.4 percent after the company said it had used improper tests but before it briefed media. At one point they fell as much as 15 percent to their lowest level since November 2013.
Suzuki specializes in minivehicles, which have engines of up to 660cc and get preferential tax treatment under Japanese law. It commands roughly one-third of the country’s minivehicle market.
The automaker said it plans to continue sales of its cars given that new readings had not deviated much from those previously submitted, adding that it did not see much impact on earnings for now.
The impact has been much greater on Mitsubishi.
It has agreed to sell a one-third controlling stake to Nissan Motor Co in the wake of the scandal and said on Wednesday that its president, Tetsuro Aikawa, will step down to take responsibility.
Emissions and fuel economy have come under increasing scrutiny from regulators globally after Germany’s Volkswagen admitted last year that it used “defeat devices” on 11 million diesel vehicles to meet emission rules.
France, which ordered tests on a random sample of about 100 diesel cars last year, said last month some vehicles made by Renault, Fiat, Mercedes, VW, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Nissan, Opel and Ford failed to comply fully with its emissions regulations.
South Korea, which has tested 20 diesel vehicles, said on Monday it would punish Nissan Motor Co with a fine and a recall of its Qashqai diesel sport utility vehicles, accusing it of manipulating emissions. Nissan denied the allegation.
In the United States, the Justice Department is investigating Daimler, the maker of Mercedes vehicles, over emissions testing.
(Feature Image Source: Reuters)


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U.S. Towable Sales Grow in May
U.S. towable sales are up 10 percent this year through May. Travel trailer registrations increased 13 percent in May and are up 12 percent year-to-date. Fifth wheel sales remained flat in May, but remain up four percent through May year-to-date.
“Dealer inventory has thinned after relatively aggressive stocking ahead of the spring season,” Barid stated. “While dealers have indicated that overall inventory levels are too low, many have noted a willingness to wait to increase orders.”
Theseasonally adjusted rate (SAAR) of retail registrations rose to 179,000 units in May, up from 177,000 units in April. Slightly more than 160,000 units were sold in the U.S. in 2011.


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ING Bank (INGA.AS) based in the Netherlands has also joined the new wave of banking services dedicated to the custody of digital assets.
According to reports, it seems that the banking giant is working on developing a technology by studying blockchain, so as to be able to offer its own custody service for tokens or digital assets in accordance with the needs of customers and thus staying in the emerging crypto sector.
Although with no projects to launch yet, ING joins the new reality of financial companies that increasingly recognise the fact that all traditional assets such as shares and bonds can be turned into tokens.
When considering that these basic tokens use blockchain technology, which can simplify and reduce costs in complex capital market processes, it seems that financial companies have no choice but to ride the wave of the crypto market.
The number of banks interested in crypto is growing
To date, an increasing number of banks have announced that they will be offering custody services for cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum or will do so in the near future.
An example is the Japanese bank Nomura Holdings Inc (8604.T) which already in 2018 announced that it had set up a new company called Komainu to offer cryptocurrency custody for institutional investors.
In a less direct way, also VISA this summer had participated in the financing of the company Anchorage which raised funds precisely to deal with the realisation of a project dedicated to crypto custody.
Moreover, just yesterday, Solaris Bank, the fintech company licensed in Germany announced its new project Solaris Digital Assets dedicated to crypto custody, using a distributed cluster of hardware security modules connected to a digital accounting system.
In this regard, Angelo Ciavarella, head of global markets at Infox Capital, explained:
“I think they’ve waited too long. Banks have taken time because they are obviously slow compared to startups and how the fintech sector evolves, but they are adjusting because they are losing businesses and customers”.
The ING project in the testing phase
The ING project seems still in the process of being tested and the report only states that: “[ING] sees increasing opportunities with regard to digital assets on both asset backed and native security tokens”.
The banks’ interest in the crypto and blockchain sector is more than evident, perhaps also due to the latest movements dictated by the central banks in wanting to issue their own digital currencies or by the Libra project of Facebook, which in some way has shaken the entire planet.
Precisely in this sense, about two months ago, the main economist of ING, Mark Cliffe, commented on the possibility that the Central Bank Digital Currency – CBDC will be a reality in the next two or three years, and that banks could get rid of physical currencies.


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It was reported that Overwatch 2 will be released at this year’s Blizzcon, and the hype around the new game is already swirling. Questions are being raised about the leaked images of the skill tree in the game, potential new heroes and much more. But, at the end of the day, none of this matters until the game itself actually goes live, or at least offers a beta for a limited number of players, right?
With that sentiment in mind, here is everything that is known thus far about Overwatch 2’s release date and when fans can expect to grab the new game.
[Initially published on October 30, 2019 but has since been updated with additional information.]
In the initial ESPN report, it was noted that fans would be able to play the new map and new game mode at Blizzcon this weekend. If this is the case and these are major components exclusive to Overwatch 2 that are already playable, the game may be near completion, at least for a beta.
With this sentiment in mind, the game should be set for release sometime in the 2020 calendar year. The exact date of release, however, is dependant on several different variables. Namely, it depends on how far along development of the skill tree and in-game items are, if the game will run on an entirely new engine vs being a downloadable next chapter for Overwatch 1 as well as when Blizzard want to release it, simply.
This is also in-line with an Overwatch player who has confirmed several leaks in the past, their tweet displayed below.
OW 2 is planned for release in 2020, it won’t be out right after Blizzcon.
— Metro (@Metro_OW) October 27, 2019
Overwatch 2 and the 2020 OWL Season
One of the biggest looming questions is centered around whether the OWL’s 2020 season will be run on Overwatch 1 or 2. Running it on the first iteration of the game when the second has been released early in the year wouldn’t make much sense for the viewer. This could either delay the release until closer to the holiday season of 2020 or, on the other end of the spectrum, speed up its release closer to January of 2020 if the OWL is to be played on Overwatch 2 in 2020.
For a game that is as centered as this one is around its esport, expect Overwatch 2 to interact with the next season of the OWL in some capacity, for better or for worse.
Official News on the Way
It’s likely that this date will be all but confirmed at Blizzcon, or at least some notice will be given about the season of the game’s release. Personally, this author believes the game will most likely come out sometime around the game’s 4th anniversary event, which would be sometime around May or June of 2020. This would make sense as a spot to celebrate the game’s history and take a step forward at a fitting time.
But, at the end of the day, fans alike will just have to wait and see when Blizzcon 2019 rolls around this weekend, November 1-3.
[11/1 Update #1: Overwatch 2 has now been officially announced. This announcement includes new maps, a new PvP game mode, new in-game items and much more. Stay tuned here at The Game Haus for more information throughout and after Blizzcon 2019]
[11/1 Update #2: Jeff Kaplan announced that he “does not know” when Overwatch 2 will come out, urging fans to allow developers to focus on making the game great. More updates were also announced for Overwatch 1, however.]
[11/2 Update #1: According to a report from ESPN, it appears Overwatch 2 will not come out before the OWL 2020 season, meaning fans can expect a release date of Fall 2020.]
Follow me on Twitter: @GoopyKnoopy I would love to dialogue with you about anything I’ve written!
You can also shoot me a line on Discord! (GoopyKnoopy#2205)
Featured Image Courtesy of ESPN
Follow The Game Haus for more sports and esports coverage.
“From Our Haus to Yours”


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Netflix has confirmed reports that it is eyeing a move into videogames with the hire of former Facebook and EA exec Mike Verdu.
The company has appointed Verdu, who most recently worked at Facebook, as its VP of game development to report into COO Greg Peters.
Reports emerged earlier this year that Netflix was “excited to do more with interactive entertainment,” with the company apparently holding talks with a number of top execs in the videogames industry about expanding beyond films and TV.
Netflix has previously made forays into interactive TV with its popular Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs The Reverend, along with the Bear Grylls-starring series You Vs Wild.
Netflix is seeking ways to remain at the top of the streaming tree at a time of rapid growth in the space from major companies like Disney and WarnerMedia. Subscriptions slowed in the first quarter of 2021 following the ‘pull ahead’ of 2020, and the inclusion of games could serve as a catalyst for further growth in the coming years.
The push into interactive entertainment also comes at a time when Microsoft is heavily pushing its game subscription service Game Pass, which offers subscribers access to a wide range of high-profile titles like Grand Theft Auto V and the Halo franchise via its recently launched Cloud Gaming offer. While currently only available on mobile and PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming is set to launch on smart TVs and streaming devices in the future, with Xbox also set to release its own first-party streaming stick device.
For Netflix’s part, it remains unclear whether this move will mean that the company will produce more of the choose-your-own-adventure style shows and movies, or if it marks a transition into fully fledged videogames.


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Apple Inc. is preparing a new lineup of thinner MacBook laptops running on more powerful chips made by Intel Corp., people with knowledge of the plans said.
The MacBook Pro machines, to be unveiled at Apple’s annual developers conference starting June 11, also will feature high-definition screens like those on the iPhone and iPad, as well as flash memory to cut startup times and extend battery life, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans haven’t been made public.
New, thinner MacBook Pro on the left. Current model on the right. (9to5mac.com)
Apple’s Mac sales are growing faster than the personal- computer market, benefiting from the popularity of its mobile devices. Since 2007, when the iPhone was introduced, Apple’s Mac sales have more than doubled, reaching $21.8 billion last year. As Apple’s share has grown, competitors such as Hewlett-Packard Co., Dell Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. have followed suit in making thinner, aluminum laptops that start up more quickly.
Apple’s new laptops will run on Intel’s new processors, code-named Ivy Bridge, and will have a slimmed-down body design from the current 0.95-inch thickness, the people said.
Bill Evans, a spokesman for Cupertino, California-based Apple, declined to comment, while Chuck Mulloy, a spokesman for Intel, referred questions to Apple.
At the developer conference, Apple also may announce the debut date of its latest Mac operating system, called Mountain Lion, one person said. The new software, which Apple previewed in February, more closely aligns Mac computers with its mobile devices -- the operating system includes many elements of the iOS mobile software that runs the iPhone and iPad. One feature lets users send a text message to an iPhone from a Mac.
Mountain Lion also expands Apple’s iCloud digital-storage service to let Mac users access and share saved documents across the Internet. It also allows users to create and access reminders and notes, and receive notifications, on all their Apple devices. Another new iCloud feature will make it easier to share photographs, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The emphasis on the Mac at next month’s conference suggests that Apple will concentrate on the iPhone later in the year. Analysts, including Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray Cos., have predicted Apple will release its next smartphone model by October. The iPhone is Apple’s top-selling product, accounting for 58 percent of its revenue in the most recent quarter.
Apple is expected to preview some of the new mobile software features that will be part of that release at the developer conference in San Francisco.
While Mac computers account for just 13 percent of Apple’s sales and are no longer the main sales engine for the company, the machines are steadily gaining market share. Apple controlled 11.6 percent of the PC market in the U.S in the fourth quarter of last year, compared to 6.1 percent in the same period of 2007, according to Gartner Inc.
Apple last redesigned the body of the MacBook Pro in 2008. The devices have more memory and stronger graphical and computing capabilities than MacBook Air laptops. The MacBook Pro now costs $1,200 to $2,500, depending on the size and components.
The new models come as Apple looks beyond Intel for chips to power its iPhone and iPad. While Intel provides the semiconductors for Apple’s new laptops, the chipmaker is facing questions from investors about why it hasn’t made better inroads into the market for components that power phones and laptops. Instead of using the Santa Clara, California-based company for chips inside its mobile devices, Apple uses competing components based on the designs from ARM Holdings Plc.
애플 6월 공개 맥북프로 얼마나 얇을까?
애플이 오는 6월 11일 세계개발자대회(WWDC)에서 '더 얇아진' 맥북 프로를 공개할 것이란 전망이 나왔다.
15일 블룸버그 통신의 보도에 따르면 애플의 최신형 맥북 프로는 기존 모델보다 두께가 훨씬 얇아져 0.95인치(약 2.4cm)에 못 미치는 얇은 형태로 나올 것이라고 전해졌다.
보도에 따르면 6월에 공개될 맥북 프로는 아이폰과 아이패드에 쓰인 것과 유사한 레티나 디스플레이에 부팅시간을 줄이고 배터리 수명을 연장해줄 플래시 메모리를 갖춘 것으로 알려졌다. 또 인텔 3세대 코어시리즈인 아이비브릿지 칩, 기존 USB보다 10배 빠른 USB 3.0도 탑재한 것으로 전해졌다.


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Digital is Transforming Payments — Here’s How it Affects You
It took COVID-19 just a few months to transform the world. And while the globe breathes a sigh of relief as a potential vaccine promises to bring some semblance of normality back into our lives, we’re still grappling with what the pandemic’s impact will ultimately be. However, if one thing is certain it’s that COVID-19 accelerated a digital transformation shift that was expected to take years.
While many countries are currently in various stages of recovery, organisations across the globe have been forced to reset their strategies and pivot their business models whilst transforming their operations to match the new digital expectations that have emerged as a result of the pandemic.
Stringent lockdown measures have forced consumers to use digital channels to communicate with the outside world and purchase goods. This change in behaviour has caused them to develop much higher digital expectations, resulting in businesses of all sizes accelerating their digital adoption.
A new report reveals that organisations across all sectors are investing in new technology as a direct result of the impact of COVID-19. From food and education to fitness and pharmaceuticals, certain industries have seen their number of users soar, with consumers likely to continue to use these digital offerings well after the crisis. However, according to GlobalData, it’s the financial services (FS) sector that will lead the way in recovering from the pandemic thanks to digital disruption.
The Acceleration of Digitisation
Digital transformation in the finance industry is about more than just technology. Positively impacting business, it comes with the assurance of faster, cost-effective operations that can help speed up regulatory requirements, offer improved customer experience and help financial institutions (FIs) remain competitive.
FIs who had already invested in digital before the crisis hit have been better prepared to navigate and respond to it. Conversely, those who had yet to kick-start their digital transformation journeys have been forced to do so in a bid to ensure their survival.
Removing the roadblocks that historically came with digital transformation by exposing an organisations’ true capacity for innovation, COVID-19 has shattered the timelines previously thought necessary for designing, building and launching new digital products.
With digital payment solutions playing a crucial role in digital transformation in the finance industry, fintech — an industry that has almost doubled its value this year to US$1 trillion — is changing the world of payments as we know it. Here’s how:
While cash is still dominating commerce, with 69% of global consumers making transactions in banknotes and coins, the rate of its circulation has fallen — suggesting that consumers are hoarding their bills rather than spending them. Conversely, the number of card payments being issued is soaring, partially due to the eCommerce boom which itself is a trend that has leapt forward by several years.
While the increase seen in mobile payments is nothing new, it has undoubtedly benefited those who have been forced to digitise their finances because of the pandemic, and who don’t have access to a computer. In fact, a recent survey found that 15% of consumers are now mobile dependent when it comes to their financial needs.
Because they pose less of a risk of contracting COVID-19 when buying products in a brick-and-mortar store or online, contactless mobile payments in 2020 have already surpassed those made in 2019, clocking a 34% growth. Contactless mobile payments are also becoming an increasingly more convenient way to pay rather than carrying cash or a credit card.
COVID-19 has likely changed payment behaviour faster than any single technology ever has. While physical shops have mainly reopened in most parts of the globe, thanks to the boom in online shopping, consumers are primarily sticking to plastic — some who only recently adopted digital methods of payment. Visa, for example, saw more than 13 million customers in Latin America make their first-ever online transaction in the first quarter of this year.
P2P Transfer Services
There’s been a massive spike in the number of consumers who are using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payment apps to send money to relatives or give donations to movements like Black Lives Matter. With a new user growth of 19% since the start of the pandemic and a monthly increase of 9% per month, more people are starting to take advantage of P2P payment methods as they’re convenient and super simple to execute.
Thanks to the sustained need for public hygiene at checkout, digital and mobile wallets are becoming commonplace, with Apple Pay and Google Pay becoming the main beneficiaries of this behavioural change. According to a recent survey, 50% of American shoppers are uncomfortable about entering their financial details in order to make an online payment, whereas 44% of them said they felt “more secure” using Apple Pay or Google Pay as an alternative.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced consumers to shift their mindsets from one of wants vs needs. As a result, many are focusing on saving and investing over splurging. Recent data reveals that millions of households who received stimulus cheques and furlough payments are hiring eBrokers to bet on stocks. In fact, according to a recent report, there has been a 40% surge in business for digital discount brokers as consumers shift to trading as a means of saving.
Digital Business Accounts
Digitisation is also racing ahead in other areas of finance, particular platforms offering an alternative to traditional banking. Whether it’s opening a business account, getting access to foreign exchange or making cross-border remittances, incumbent banks have failed to keep up with consumers’ evolving needs in the ‘new normal’. With modern interfaces, online applications and 24/7 access, digital business accounts offer a seamless solution over the opening and maintaining traditional commercial bank accounts. Find out more here.
Evolving With Digitisation in an Ever-Changing World
In response to COVID-19, FIs have shown speed and agility in re-imaging their business models and re-inventing the ways they can meet rapidly-shifting customer and marketplace needs — a move that other organisations should try to replicate if they want to thrive (not just survive) post-pandemic.
With consumer expectations shifting, COVID-19 acting as a digital accelerant, and industries evolving at a rapid rate, now is the time for companies to embrace digital disruption and new innovative technologies whilst considering the role they will play, and how they will create value in emerging ecosystems.
While the pandemic will eventually subside, the impact it will leave on the digital world will be a long-lasting one – and it’s up to us to ensure we keep up.


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The two-decade Amazon veteran will now lead a new global entertainment group that will combine oversight of music, audio entertainment, games and video for the company. The news was announced Thursday via an internal memo from Andrew Jassy and Mike Hopkins.
The new structure will see Blackburn lead a combined entertainment organization that covers Amazon Studios, Prime Video, Twitch, the company’s Games Studio, podcasts and more. He will report to Jeff Bezos until the CEO steps down from the role in the third quarter, at which point he will be one of Jassy’s direct reports. Hopkins, Steve Boom, Don Katz, Mike Frazzini and Emmett Shear will report Blackburn, who will return to Amazon on June 7.
Blackburn’s return is not expected to change much for Hopkins or Amazon Studios head Jen Salke, though his new position will eventually create an additional layer of executive between between Jassy and Amazon’s entertainment platform. The consolidation will provide Jassy — who has no experience in Hollywood — with a seasoned point person who is intimately familiar with Amazon’s Prime Video and studio as well as other entertainment assets. Jassy was a relatively unknown player to film and TV execs and creatives when he was tapped Feb. 2 to replace Bezos.
Here are memos from Hopkins and Jassy:
Please see Andy’s note below which announces great news for Amazon and in particular Prime Video and Amazon Studios: Jeff Blackburn is returning to Amazon to lead an exciting new organization that will put music, audio entertainment, games and video all inside one new global group.
As we all know, Jeff has deep roots at Amazon and a unique understanding of our business. With the creation of Jeff’s new role as Head of Global Media and Entertainment, we’re presented with tremendous opportunities for collaboration and innovation. Jeff will not only be a great ally and supporter; he will help achieve synergies across our media and entertainment businesses.
As Andy points out, the best time for change is from a position of strength — and we’re hitting on all cylinders. Last quarter marked our most successful awards season to date. We’ve recently launched three hugely successful global films with Borat, Coming 2 America and Without Remorse; Prime Video will become the first streaming service to offer an exclusive NFL package in 2022 with Thursday Night Football; over 175 million Prime members have streamed shows and movies in the past year; streaming hours are up more than 70% year over year; and our marketplace businesses — TVOD and Channels — are seeing incredible growth.
I’m so proud of all that we’ve accomplished and can’t wait for all that lies ahead. Please join me in welcoming Jeff back to the company.
I wanted to share the good news that Jeff Blackburn has decided to return to Amazon as SVP of a new Global Media & Entertainment organization that will include Prime Video and Amazon Studios, Music, Podcasts/Wondery, Audible, Games, and Twitch.
Many of you know Jblack from his previous time with the company. He joined Amazon in 1998 after helping guide the company through its IPO at Deutsche Bank. He did a lot of building over two-plus decades, including our 3P marketplace, Advertising, Amazon Studios/Prime Video, Music, A9/Search, and our Corp Dev org (M&A and BizDev teams).
Jblack’s interest in returning to Amazon presented us with a good opportunity to combine our entertainment businesses in a single org under a leader who knows them well. Often, the best time to make org changes is when things are going well. Fortunately, each of these businesses is on a very positive path—Amazon Studios was recently nominated for 12 Oscars (and won 2 of them!), Prime Video has had 175 million prime members stream shows and movies in the past year and just won the rights to be the exclusive home of NFL Thursday Night Football starting in 2022. Twitch has grown dramatically over the past 15 months and our Games Studio is launching its highly-anticipated game, “New World,” this summer. Music continues to grow quickly and has launched Podcasts now in 10 countries, and Audible Original, “The Sandman,” became the bestselling original in Audible’s history (with a second installment later this year)—these are just a few of the many successes and milestones for these businesses. We believe that bringing them together will help us innovate for creators even more quickly, coherently, and across multiple mediums.
Jblack will report to Jeff B until the transition in Q3, and then he’ll report to me. Mike Hopkins, Steve Boom, Don Katz, Mike Frazzini, and Emmett Shear will report into Jblack when he starts on June 7th.
Please feel free to share the news with your teams as you wish.
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Posted November 15, 2018 09:00:16An industry survey is being carried out by the Australian Industry Group to understand the changing needs of consumers.
Industry expert and researcher, and entrepreneur, John Patt, said the survey found earrings were a key factor in the industry.
“There’s a huge appetite for earrings.
I think we’re in a place where we can’t keep up with the demand,” he said.”
The other category is earring that are sold internationally, and that is a huge category of earrings.””
One of them is earrings that are made in Australia, like earrings made in the United States.”
The other category is earring that are sold internationally, and that is a huge category of earrings.
“Industry insiders say earrings are a big reason for Australia’s success as an earring maker.”
They’ve always been there, but they’ve been very niche,” Mr Patt said.”[They’ve been] very niche in terms of their price point, and their quality.
“I think earrings have always been something that has been quite niche in Australia.”
Now that it’s become a big industry, and it’s grown, I think there’s more demand for it.
“Mr Patt says earrings can have a range of aesthetic and function, depending on the design.”
People like to wear them as rings around the neck, they can be used as necklaces, they’re a great way to wear your necktie, and they’re very functional and they can even be a fashion accessory,” he explained.”
You can really tell from looking at an ear ring whether or not it’s going to fit you, because you can see the fit on the inside.
“Mr Pat said earrings had evolved from the early-1900s era when they were a staple in the Victorian style of dress.”
Back then, they were made by hand, but the makers were very much into making jewellery,” he noted.”
So in that sense, you’ve got a very different set of requirements.
“But Mr Patt also said the earring industry had become increasingly mainstream in the past decade.”
It’s not just earrings, but also earrings in the workplace, which is another big change in the last 10 to 15 years,” he added.”
And we’re seeing people in the community wear them to work and they see people wearing earrings around their necks as well.
“These are the kinds of things that we really want to see.”
What we’re trying to get to is what are the trends and what are people’s preferences, and how do we keep the consumer engaged in the earrings industry?
“Mr Patt said the industry needed to find ways to engage with younger consumers, especially in younger demographics.”
But we need to recognise that it isn’t just about the ear rings.
There’s a lot of other things that are going on in terms and the types of people that are looking for earring styles and earrings,” he continued.”
A lot of the younger consumers that we have are really interested in the aesthetics and the functions and the design and the looks of these earrings and they want to know what we’re up to.


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Beth Tedio of Lee's Place receives the donation of a video projector from Aegis Business Technologies' Blake Dowling. Aegis' project is designed to provide computers and other hardware for area nonprofits.
- Filed Under
Aegis Business Technologies has announced a new campaign called "Helping Those that Help Others" in which it will work to put computer hardware into the hands of local nonprofits that lack the ability to buy such equipment themselves.
The initiative is designed to empower local nonprofits to do the work they do more efficiently through technology, said Blake Dowling, the firm's chief business development officer.
"We as a company work and volunteer in Tallahassee and know first-hand that there are so many not-for-profits doing great work, and they need our help," Dowling said. ...


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Billionaire Elon Musk said his agreement to take over Twitter was “temporarily pending” due to spam and fake social media accounts.
Musk, who last week secured $ 7 billion from new investors to take over the company, a $ 44 billion acquisition, wrote on Twitter: “The Twitter deal is temporarily suspended, pending details to support the calculation that the accounts False accounts for less than 5% of users ”.
He later posted on Twitter: “I’m still engaged in purchasing.”
The richest man in the world, the CEO of Tesla Inc., said that if his acquisition went through changes, they would be related to the removal of spam and fake accounts from the platform.
Musk has repeatedly stated that he wants Twitter to be a platform for free speech. It also took into account the implementation of new features such as an edit button and the ability to post longer tweets.
The company had estimated earlier this month that the number of fake accounts accounted for less than 5% of its daily active and monetizable users in the first quarter. Musk is now waiting for confirmation of this percentage and is currently putting the purchase on hold.


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This place is a must for coffee lovers!
All Photographs: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters
“We arrive with humility and respect in the country of coffee,” Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, told Corriere della Sera, Italy’s leading daily, as the United States coffee giant made its entry into the country. Welcome to Starbucks’ first ever Italian outpost in the city of Milan.
Called the Reserve Roastery, it lives in a former post office in Milan’s Palazzo delle Poste, near some of the city’s busiest tourist destinations. And Reserve, it is nice to look at.
The Milan Roastery is 25,000 square feet with a 30-foot marble bar, a giant coffee roaster, and small-lot Arabica coffee on the menu. You can order pour over or cold brew, or espresso and cappuccino as is only fitting in Italy.
This is not like the noisy, cluttered Starbucks down the block from your office building. There are two other Reserve Roasteries in the world, one in Seattle and the other in Shanghai.
The menu was created by Rocco Princi, a Milan-based baker whose warm breads and to-die-for nibbles can also be found at the chain’s Seattle Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room.
The evening menu features craft cocktails, some made with cold brew, and small bites. At the Milan Roastery, an espresso will cost €1.80 “sitting or standing,” Corriere della Sera noted, since in Italian coffee shops, the price changes depending on whether you have table service or gulp your drink down at the bar. A cappuccino will cost as much as €4.50.
Customers at the new Starbucks in Milan can watch the beans being roasted in the huge 22 foot bronze cask while they sip their coffee.
This new Starbucks is like the Willy Wonka factory of Cafe Arabica and Italian romance. Alembics inside the new Starbucks Reserve Roastery flagship where the coffee beans are roasted.
Italy is Starbucks' 78th global market, and the Milan opening comes 20 years after Starbucks opened its first store in Europe, which was in London in Kings Road in 1998. The company has described the Milan store as ‘the crown jewel of Starbucks global retail footprint’ and it says the chain plans more cafes in Milan later this year.
The company also hopes the store’s cocktail bar will be an attraction as many who work in Milan, Italy’s fashion and financial capital, cherish the tradition of meeting friends or colleagues for an ‘aperitivo’, or pre-dinner cocktail, often in cafes.
The roastery will create nearly 300 jobs in Italy. But everyone isn't happy about the news. “Why on earth would anyone want over-roasted crap coffee when even the worst cafe in Italy has better coffee than Starburnt,” one person wrote on Twitter.
We'll see what the Italians have to say in response. But, we have to ask, how long until there's a Starbucks on every corner in Vatican City?


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ROCKVILLE, MD – Scan Int’l. Inc., which operates three stores in Maryland and two in Virginia filed for bankruptcy protection in a Baltimore court, according to The Baltimore Sun. Reportedly, the company said revenue dropped 20% during the past year and it owed money to more than 200 creditors.
Papers filed by the company indicated the drop in sales was due to “the decline in the housing market and loss of business as a result of other furniture retailers ceasing operations and liquidating inventories at deep discounts.”
Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.


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China is preparing to hit back at trade offensives from Washington with tariffs aimed at President Donald Trump’s support base, including levies targeting U.S. agricultural exports from Farm Belt states, according to people familiar with the matter.
The plans are part of a strategy that has taken shape in recent weeks as Beijing seeks to avert tariffs by warning of possible repercussions and offering incentives to the U.S., including better access to China’s markets, especially in the financial sector.
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ScatterJS is especially popular, being integrated into tons of of EOS purposes. NFTs are promoting for hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Thousands of individuals tweeted the URL, it made the entrance pages of Hacker News and Reddit, and submissions began pouring in. All of it began with a publish entitled “What’s the Deal with Bitcoins Anyway? Marco Arment started The Magazine, a fortnightly iOS periodical, that has “healthy” subscriber numbers (including me) and now has a distribution deal with, in fact, Medium. After all, you do! But I've the beaxy crypto exchange expertise of those two web sites. If you’ve been using an similar password for other on-line services, be certain to change it on different web sites as well. Individuals are there to learn your content - but you’ve hidden it, like you’re ashamed. There is no such thing as a proper or incorrect, and that i regard it as an excellent instance of social media networking. It smashed its target and revealed some thought-frightening stuff that wouldn’t have appeared wherever else (it’s since been acquired by Medium). As of May 29, after we contacted the e-commerce platform that hosted the hacker’s digital storefront, the Stalker Online databases have been removed from the platform.
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Farm of the Future
Line on Agriculture
Southeast Regional Ag News
Push for Disaster Relief Pt 1
McDonald’s Testing a Plant-Based Burger in November
Fruit Grower ReportNorthwest Cherry Growers are promoting the many health benefits in their cherries.
Fruit Grower ReportNorthwest Cherry Grower's President BJ Thurlby says their message is an easy one as consumer buying habits turn healthier.
Washington State Farm Bureau ReportOSU researchers look at the many health benefits of hops, but beer lovers should temper their enthusiasm.


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Over the moment two and a part weeks, Google has known as a batch observers to preserve itself in opposition to claims through the Justice Area and a bunch of situation legal professionals normal that it illegally maintained a look out and promoting monopoly, in a landmark antitrust case that would reshape tech energy.
Google’s legal professionals are eager to wrap up their arguments within the case — U.S. et al. v. Google — on Tuesday, which might be adopted through a central authority rebuttal. Pass judgement on Amit P. Mehta of U.S. District Court docket for the District of Columbia, who’s presiding over the nonjury trial, is predicted in order a verdict then hour nearest all sides summarize their circumstances in writing and ship ultimate arguments.
The corporate’s primary protection has focused on how its movements have been i’m right and the way it helped customers and pageant. Listed below are Google’s primary arguments.
How Google’s movements have been i’m right
It paid Apple a suitable (and invisible) sum of money
The guts of the U.S. case in opposition to Google is that the corporate paid Apple and alternative tech platforms to build itself the default look out engine at the iPhone and alternative gadgets, thereby maintaining opponents from competing and preventing Apple from doubtlessly creating its personal look out product.
However at the eyewitness rise, Sundar Pichai, Google’s eminent govt, mentioned there used to be “value” in being the default look out engine on a tool and framed the promises with alternative corporations as pitch industry selections.
Google paid $26.3 billion for its look out engine to be the default variety on cellular and desktop browsers in 2021, in step with the corporate’s inside knowledge offered all over the trial. Maximum of that, round $18 billion, going to Apple, The Fresh York Occasions has reported. Kevin Murphy, a Google financial knowledgeable, testified on Monday that Google shared 36 p.c of look out earnings from the default trade in with Apple.
Mr. Pichai testified that he again and again renewed the quest engine trade in with Apple as it labored smartly, eminent to an build up in look out utilization and earnings and reaping rewards Apple, Google and its shareholders. He mentioned Google paid Apple such a lot to offer protection to customers’ look out enjoy on iPhones, now not figuring out if Apple would disgrace that have if Google hadn’t advanced the monetary phrases of the trade in.
“There was a lot of uncertainty about what would happen if the deal didn’t exist,” he mentioned.
Google isn’t the one look out recreation on the town
To rebuff the concept that alternative engines like google have been too miniature to compete for default situation on browsers, Google’s legal professionals argued on the trial that opponents have been ready to win commitments however may now not accumulation directly to them on account of the needful component in their merchandise.
They cited an example in 2014 when Mozilla, which makes the Firefox browser, exited a default-search partnership with Google and decided on Yahoo.
The selection used to be unpopular with customers and appalling for the Firefox browser, Mitchell Baker, Mozilla’s eminent govt, mentioned in a deposition that used to be performed on the trial. Yahoo’s person enjoy deteriorated and changed into overloaded with advertisements, she mentioned, and it used to be “heartbreaking” to ship customers to Yahoo. Mozilla returned to Google in 2017.
Govt legal professionals pointed to Google’s greater than 90 p.c marketplace percentage in look out as proof that the corporate’s movements stifled significant pageant. However Google’s legal professionals mentioned its look out marketplace percentage used to be best a part of the tale, since the corporate competed widely with extra avid gamers, together with TikTok and Amazon, the place customers search for knowledge on-line.
The federal government additionally accused Google of abusing its place within the on-line advert marketplace. Google once more wanted to widen the aperture at trial, pronouncing it used to be vying for advert spending that can have another way long past to any corporate from Expedia to Meta, which owns Fb and Instagram.
How Google helped society and fostered pageant
It has invested greater than look out opponents in making its product splendid
One thrust of Google’s protection used to be that its focal point and investments in look out didn’t hurt customers and others, as the federal government has attempted to argue, however in lieu introduced advantages.
On a couple of while, Google referred to the sums of cash it spent on analysis and construction. Utmost hour, the determine totaled about $40 billion. Prabhakar Raghavan, Google’s head of look out, testified that such investments helped the corporate ship the most efficient era to customers.
“It would be foolish of us to not put our best foot forward,” he mentioned. That used to be the rationale Google hired 8,000 engineers and product managers for its look out engine, together with about 1,000 society fascinated by component, he added.
Google argued that its opponents had now not invested in the similar approach. When wondering Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s eminent govt, previous within the trial, a Google legal professional driven him on whether or not Microsoft nonetheless trustworthy fewer staff to its look out engine, Bing, than Google did to its look out product. Mr. Nadella have shyed away from the specifics of Microsoft’s group of workers and mentioned the corporate used to be making an investment basically in core fields of the quest industry.
Its inventions have helped customers world wide
Google mentioned it had eager the generation for tech developments. It mentioned it had up to date its Chrome browser each and every six weeks, extra regularly than Microsoft had historically up to date its browser, Web Explorer. It has presented Android options that compelled Apple to reply, for the purpose of extra apps and alternative smartphone options, Mr. Pichai testified within the trial.
All through cross-examinations, Justice Area legal professionals wanted to underscore that Google can have introduced extra innovation to customers however didn’t so it would assure its monopoly. They pointed to a 2019 Google proposal to develop an incognito look out engine, which do not need saved any knowledge on customers however can have misplaced the corporate billions in earnings. Google determined to not form the browser.
Justice Area legal professionals sought to spotlight Google’s prolong in bringing generative synthetic knowledge to customers, sitting at the era till OpenAI exempted ChatGPT extreme November. It used to be a part of a broader govt argument that Google had now not adequately advanced merchandise for customers till it felt aggressive drive.
The federal government has additionally accused Google of the usage of its energy in look out and advertisements to lift advert costs when it faces a earnings crunch. The corporate’s staff testified that it balanced its pursuit of earnings from each and every advert with making sure that customers in most cases noticed fine quality advertisements in its look out effects.
Its movements had been aggressive on steadiness, now not anticompetitive
The Justice Area argued within the trial that Google’s movements harmed pageant and denied advantages to customers. If the federal government proves that hurt exists, it’s upcoming as much as Google to end up that the ones harms have been outweighed through advantages to pageant created through its movements.
To that finish, Google targeted within the trial on when it presented its look out engine and alternative merchandise and the way its access into the ones markets larger pageant.
When Google rolled out its look out engine in 1998, it used to be to a look out marketplace that used to be dominated through Yahoo, AltaVista and Ask Jeeves, the corporate argued. Its Chrome browser, which debuted in 2008, disrupted a browser marketplace the place Microsoft’s Web Explorer reigned ideal, Google mentioned. And it fostered extra pageant in opposition to Apple’s iPhone with its Android working device, which it presented in 2008, the corporate mentioned.
Cecilia Kang contributed reporting.


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On April 13th, the Mannheim District Court in Germany ruled in favor of Nokia in a patent case against vivo. The lawsuit involved Nokia’s 4G standard essential patents (SEPs), which may result in vivo products being unable to be sold in Germany.
The response of vivo to this judgment result is as follows:
“vivo highly regards intellectual property rights and recognizes their significance. We have established cross-licensing agreements with various prominent companies, which were founded on mutual respect for the value of patents.”
“We regret learning of the first-instance ruling made by the Mannheim District Court in Germany, and have prepared accordingly. If necessary, we will suspend sales and marketing of relevant products through official channels in Germany. We are also appealing the first-instance ruling while evaluating further measures. Meanwhile, we will continue to adhere to the ‘FRAND’ principle and negotiate with Nokia to resolve related issues.”
“Our long-term strategy for the German market will not change, and we will continue to operate in Germany. Users can continue to enjoy our services as usual. Markets outside of Germany are not affected.”
It is worth mentioning that in July of last year, the Mannheim Regional Court in Germany ruled that OPPO had infringed on Nokia’s patents and granted Nokia an injunction against OPPO. Some devices from OPPO and OnePlus were banned from being sold in Germany.


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Calif. wine country business coalition sues Gov. Gavin Newsom
UPDATED 12:50 PM PT – Thursday, January 21, 2021
A group of wineries and restaurants launch a lawsuit against California Governor Gavin Newsom (D).
The ‘Wine Country Coalition for Safe Reopening‘ filed the lawsuit Tuesday. It alleges Newsom did not provide scientific evidence to show outdoor dining is more dangerous to public health than other permitted activities.
Napa and Sonoma restaurants and wineries are challenging what they say is Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “arbitrary, irrational, and unfair ban on outdoor dining and wine tasting.” The Wine Country Coalition for Safe Reopening’s lawsuit said the ban devastates business and workers. 1/x
— Joyce Cutler (@joycecutler) January 20, 2021
The lawsuit demands the governor open outdoor dining or prove that it is unsafe. According to business owners, the state made a false claim that their decisions are based on science.
“We’ve had devastating wildfires this year that were down the street from the hotel,” Carl Dene, owner of Brannan Cottage Inn, said. “We lost weeks of business because of that; we have lost months of business because of COVID. It’s been a really bad roller coaster.”
This is the latest in a series of litigation against the Democrat governor over his coronavirus restrictions.


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The Ajman Palace Hotel has launched new vegetarian dishes in its all-day-dining restaurant during lunch and dinner for those looking for more vegetarian options.
Until the end of April, diners will have the option of choosing from a special set of vegetables, dressings and nuts. Special meal has also been introduced for vegetarians and people who are looking for healthy food. Guests also have the option to create salad on their own, choosing components from the Salad Bar.
Ferghal Purcell, General Manager of The Ajman Palace Hotel, said that in recent years, there has been a growing trend towards vegetarianism among people due to increasing awareness of the food’s health and nutritional value. Eating habits of people are changing with more and more people seeking vegetarian options. This was definitely visible among the hotel’s guests too.
He said, “Our hotel’s culinary team has introduced these options after realising our guests’ desire to eat healthier. The chefs have taken inspiration from global and regional cuisines and made inventive use of locally produced herbs and spices. The special menu for the month of April offers diners a chance to try out a vegetarian meal that can be as tasty and satisfying as one with meat. In addition, they can also use the Salad Bar to prepare their mix of salad.


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MoviePass has been around for several years now, but it has only been over the past several months that the subscription streaming service has become a bigger deal. This can mostly be attributed to the fact that MoviePass dropped its prices by quite a lot. Basic packages for the service cost $9.95 a month per person, with specialty deals costing $7.95 or lower. So how is MoviePass planning to make any money? CEO Mitch Lowe recently explained on the Recode Podcast, noting,
Our goal is to get to breakeven with the subscription and the cost of goods. Then we have all these different ways that we make your life better as a customer. We know how to market films to you. You know, the studios are incredibly inefficient the way they market small films. Over the last three weeks, we bought one in every 19 movie tickets in the country, but when we promote a film, we're buying one in 10, so we're lifting. These are for subjective $50 million box office films. The studios are paying us to be a more efficient marketer of films.
So, the company is hoping for multiple revenue streams to get MoviePass into the black. First and foremost, the subscription service needs to have a lot of subscribers, and currently that number is growing every day. The company is projecting it will be over the three million subscriber mark by August of 2018. While some of those subscribers do see a lot of movies each month, a lot of them only see one or even occasionally, none, meaning the company hopes to break even off the money it is paying out for people to see movies. Then, per Mitch Lowe, it seems that other revenue streams include deals with studios to promote movies and make a little extra chunks of change. He noted deals have already been brokered with movies like Lady Bird and the new Maze Runner movie, among others. In addition, previously monetizing consumer data has been bandied about as a potential source of revenue for the company.
In order to break even on subscriptions, CEO Mike Lowe explained that it is all a balance of averages. He told Recode that there are customers with time on their hands who do see a lot of movies each month, but that's not the most common way that people are using MoviePass. Instead, he said,
Here's the trick: 89 percent of American moviegoers only go to four or five movies a year. When they join MoviePass, they double their consumption and go to about 10 a year. That's a little bit less than one a month. They balance out the 11 percent of the population that go 18 times before joining MoviePass and then after go three times a month. It works out. Over time, it actually works out to be about one movie per month per subscriber. Now, some people do go to 10, 15.
So, if you are wondering how the numbers have been working out so far, Lowe's comments do give you some indication of people's movie watching behaviors since joining the MoviePass service. All in all, while MoviePass is not in its infancy, the new price model is and it should be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the coming months and even years, especially considering that the company has a shaky relationship with some major theaters. If the company isn't making money, yet, it will eventually need to, and the service seems to be exploring multiple ways to do that.


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As many of you know, I’m a big advocate of farm-to-table food. There’s a million and one reasons to support your local farmers, producers and artisans. But this article is really about food inflation.
Yes, inflation. The scariest word in the news right now. It’s a crisis!
Prices at the grocery store have risen steadily in the last five years. It’s normal for prices to go up over time. However, as supermarket prices skyrocketed in the last year, the price of locally made goods has basically stayed the same. Why is that?
The answer to the grocery store inflation crisis is deep and complex. There are many layers to this conversation, layers like an onion. They all are working together to make one big smelly thing. Climate change, rising energy costs, supply chain malfunctions, labor issues, a global pandemic. It’s a lot to take in.
Inflation has also had a huge impact on food-insecure communities, forcing some people to make a decision between heating their home or buying dinner. This is nothing new in the United States. However, the COVID-19 pandemic ripped off the Band Aid that allowed many Americans to turn a blind eye.
Let’s start peeling away the layers of this onion. Let’s make something great out of this inflation ordeal. Turn a negative into a positive.
Spoiler Alert: My idea is to support local farmers, producers and artisans. I’m not saying avoid grocery stores like the plaque. That’s just not realistic. After all, you need to buy everyday basics like salt from somewhere, right? Just be mindful of where your dollar is going at the end of the day.
I live by the motto “Don’t buy food from strangers” and “Shake the hand that feeds you”. Those words ring true now more than ever. It’s important to shop locally and support our small businesses. It might even save you a little money.
How does inflation impact the food supply chain?
There are two sides to every coin. We need to address how inflation happens at the manufacturer and grocery store level as well as how it affects them and, ultimately, us. Food manufacturers have three options to weather inflation:
- They can absorb increased costs, which is not the smartest business decision long term.
- They can pass the buck, as I like to say. That means passing the cost to produce goods onto the grocery store, which in turn passes it on to consumers.
- The most clever and sneaky tactic is reducing package sizes while keeping the same price. This is known as “shrinkflation”. It’s a slight-of-hand trick that is effective. Consumers are more likely to have sticker shock when they see a price change. They are less likely to notice slightly smaller packaging. Many shoppers pay attention to dollars, not ounces. Buyers continue to buy, and food manufacturers save money in turn. It’s easy to let this one slip unnoticed.
The more hands involved in getting food to your table, the more likely cost will go up. Local farmers and producers often work on a smaller scale. Many handle the responsibility of growing, packing and retailing products themselves. This is one of the reasons prices at the farmers market haven’t risen as sharply.
Many items at the farmers market are also sold consistently by weight or volume. If the product size decreases, the price usually reflects that. Two pounds of tomatoes, costs two pounds of tomatoes. A pint a strawberries is always going to be a pint of strawberries. A bunch of parsley, it doesn’t matter how big or small, you’re going to pay by weight. Their prices in correlation to weight/size hasn’t changed much during the pandemic. They can’t trick you with shrinkflation.
Let’s talk about the weather and how it affects global food prices. It’s a great ice breaker. Rather, it’s like a perfect storm!
Disclaimer: If you’re offended by me mentioning climate change as a real thing, no problemo. You do you. Just go ahead and skip on down to the sections below to see how they affect the price of your food. Those topics will more than tickle your fancy and explain how food inflation is putting a dent in your wallet.
Much of the recent supermarket price hikes are caused by global supply chain issues. With that said, Mother Nature has also not been working in our favor. Well, if you want to get down to the nitty gritty of it, we haven’t been working in favor of Mother Nature. Adverse weather in major production zones like Argentina, Brazil and California, as well as heavy rainfall in parts of Europe and China, has slowed production and made it difficult to put food on the dinner table at an affordable price.
Climate change affects so much in the food production system. Agriculture and livestock don’t thrive in natural disasters such as floods and droughts. It’s so serious that the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change issued Code Red Warnings for Humanity in August 2021. The report lays out that if we don’t take action to stop climate change, global food production will continue to struggle.
When nations can’t produce food at their regular rate due to natural disasters, they are left to do what they need to do to survive. And that means they raise the prices of the goods they are able to produce and export.
Climate change isn’t just a problem for foreign nations. It’s happening right here in the United States. Wild fires are the hot new thing in California, unfortunately. That may sound tongue in cheek, but it’s a serious matter. The fires have destroyed farms, property and wildlife out west. In 2018, 106 people died as a result of the flames. As if that weren’t devastating enough, the blazes are only making climate change worse.
How do we get ahead of climate change? First off, it’s important to acknowledge that climate change isn’t just a future problem. It’s here now. Some places have managed to adapt to climate change. Adaptation is one thing, but reversing climate change is another. We need to be adapting and reversing at the same time. I don’t have all the answers to how to do this. I’m just a chef. Alas, I am a chef with an opinion (like many chefs) and I do have some ideas. Our actions today affect our lives tomorrow.
Here is one way to combat climate change. Start composting. And promote it. Danes are leading the way in creating a greener planet. When I lived and worked in Copenhagen, composting was the thing. It was as easy as throwing your food and yard waste into the compost bin. Composting reduces the amount of stuff in giant landfills, which produce tons of methane gas that harm the environment.
Composting also promotes regenerative agriculture. It can be turned into fertilizer that is sold to farmers who use it to grow more food. Waste not, want not.
If you care about the future of this planet, then you should know that food (and how it grows) has a huge environmental impact. It’s no secret that industrial agriculture contributes to global climate change. It degrades the soil and burns fossil fuels, causing millions of tons of carbon dioxide to be released instead of captured and stored. Carbon is not a bad thing if you store and reuse it instead of burning it. It’s when it’s burned and released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide that it becomes a problem. If we can harness carbon, it can help save the planet and keep food prices down.
This is where regenerative agriculture comes into play. Practiced by many local farmers, it has the potential to slow and even reverse climate change, preserve soil health for future farmers and protect the global environment. Regenerative agriculture has the potential to reduce natural disasters and put food on your table without your wallet being so empty all the time.
Supermarket chains are good in that they make food accessible to masses of people. It makes sense, people need to eat and they have plenty of food. They focus on industrial agriculture because, historically, it costs them less. That savings, theoretically, passes on to the consumer. This year, the rubber has met the road on that ideology.
Many small, independent farmers work off the model of regenerative agriculture. It’s the lifeblood for the sustainability and longevity of their business. They adapt and reverse climate change with everything they grow.
Transportation & the supply chain
The pandemic opened up a can (or shipping container) of worms in the global supply chain. You’ve probably experienced some sort of delay in items getting to you. Lumber, microchips, shipping containers are just a few sectors that have been impacted. But, food! The thing everyone needs to survive was hit really hard.
The global food supply chain relies on many factors. The most obvious one is transporting your food from farms to factories and grocery stores. Gas prices have risen (a juicy subject, but I digress), yet it’s more than a point A to point B problem.
The cost of feeding and keeping animals hydrated has increased. This affects profits as well as keeping the animals alive. Notice how I said profits first, before mentioning the animals’ wellbeing. In some shape or form, this affects a lot of the food sold at supermarket chains.
Commercial dairy farmers and ranchers rely on soybean, wheat and corn producers to feed their livestock. It’s cheaper and easier than feeding them grass or quality feed. Let’s stick with corn to see how transportation affects your pocketbook when you go grocery shopping.
Here is an example. The cost of Iowa corn has risen. That corn is shipped all over the country to feed hordes of livestock that becomes mass-produced meat and dairy products for grocery stores. When the cost of corn increases on one end of the scale, the other end of the scale needs to be balanced somehow. The scale is balanced out with transportation costs. Up goes the price of corn to feed livestock, up goes the cost to transport the corn.
Let’s not forget that truck drivers are human beings. They can no longer drive more than 14 hours or so without a rest due to recent rules enacted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. They get paid by the trip, not the hour. This affects trucking company profits. It’s getting expensive to transport food across the country.
That leads us to the bigger issue of food imports and exports. Many container ships were locked down and delayed during the pandemic. Some contained food that has since rotted. Prices of container ships coming from China to the United States skyrocketed during the pandemic for political and non-political reasons alike. This isn’t a political blog. So, we’ll just leave it at that. The main takeaway is that container ship prices can affect your food budget at the grocery store, no matter your political beliefs.
If you shorten the distance your food travels, and the hands it comes across, then transportation costs becomes less of an issue to you. By shopping for local goods at farmers markets, there isn’t a huge transportation cost factored into your food prices.
The idea of a few large meat-processing plants supplying a country the size of the United States is counterproductive in my opinion. We need to divide and conquer in order to feed the entire country. Local farms and farmers markets focus on supplying their respective geographic region.
Mass food manufacturers and meatpacking factories are built for speed and profit. They were not built to withstand COVID-19 or social distancing. During the pandemic, factories have struggled to keep their employees safe and their workers at work.
People want to feel safe at all times. This is especially true during a pandemic. Many food industry workers left behind long hours and low wages to seek other avenues to provide for their loved ones. Workers across the food chain are demanding better work environments, including grocery store clerks, factory workers, farm hands and restaurant staff. Some businesses are raising wages to attract workers back. Food prices have risen, in part, to offset these costs. It’s a pendulum effect.
Many independent farmers you’ll find at the farmers market run their business with little to no staff. The labor loss dilemma hasn’t affected them as much, so their prices haven’t risen as dramatically.
With grocery store prices rising, you might wonder how our fellow citizens on a limited income are supposed to pay for this food. If you were on a tight budget already, food shopping can feel pretty daunting these days.
The U.S. government has two labels for those who don’t have enough food: Food Insecurity and Food Insufficiency. Food Insecurity refers to people who don’t have consistent access to nutritionally adequate food due to limited resources. Food Insufficiency is more severe than Food Insecurity as it involves the inability to acquire food (whether on occasion or all the time) due to a lack of resources.
The U.S. closely monitors Food Insecurity and Food Insufficiency. As a chef whose job is to feed people, I agree it is important to monitor so that something can be done about it. The pandemic and food inflation have put an even greater strain on people living with Food Insecurity and Food Insufficiency. It’s disheartening to know there are more people going hungry or lacking adequate nutrition due to rising prices at grocery stores, especially when compounding factors such as medical or mental illness such as depression come into play. The human body needs proper nutrients to thrive.
One way policymakers help low-income Americans to afford rising food costs is through federal food programs. One that has been around for a while is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP increases access to adequate and healthy foods so qualifying applicants and their families can eat a sound diet.
The pandemic has brought forth an update to the USDA Thrifty Food Plan, which has been around since the 1970s. It sets the benefit amounts for families who receive SNAP. The average SNAP benefit increased for fiscal year 2022 (beginning on October 1, 2021). This is a small light at the end of the tunnel for families who rely on SNAP to get by.
The plan has not been reevaluated on this scale since the 1970s when it was founded. That’s a long time ago. Food prices have clearly risen since the 70s, yet the benefits remained stagnant. The last increase was an inflation adjustment in 2006. It has plateaued since then.
Most farmers markets accept SNAP, at least here in New York and in the Hudson Valley. That’s just another reason to support our local economy. Your dollar has value and it can be used to speak volumes.
This is a really good article; I wish everyone could read it.
Eating seasonally and locally is so important. Everyone and everything is better off, the farmer, us, the local economy, the planet, and our food is fresher, tastier, and safer.
Absolutely! I wish this was something that was broadcasted more and more! I think we’re very much caught up in the word inflation. But not really paying attention to how supporting locally made goods can drive down the costs of living during inflation times.
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Last week, it came to light that the Android 8.1 update has introduced swipe issues in Pixel and Nexus branded devices. Well, acting swiftly, Google has now confirmed that it's investigating the problem.
Orrin, a Google forums community manager and also a company employee, posted today that they are looking into swipe issues, and will be reaching out privately for bug reports.
To quickly refresh, affected users say actions like swiping up to bring lock screen, swiping to dismiss lock screen notifications, or swiping to answer/decline calls either requires extra effort or multiple tries.
Coming back to the heads-up from Google, there's, however, still no information on when the problem will be fixed, and the company hasn't offered any workarounds as well.


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Put iPad out of your mind for minute and listen to the following two statistics: According to Microsoft, SharePoint now brings in an adjusted $2 billion in a year, and, the firm claims that “two out of three enterprise workers have SharePoint.”
We could quibble about what constitutes ‘enterprise,’ but the facts are somewhat simple: SharePoint is a simply massive business for Microsoft. From a different perspective, SharePoint brings in nearly double in revenue than what Microsoft paid for social business communications firm Yammer.
The takeaways from this are as simple as you would expect: Microsoft’s massive – and presumably massively popular – SharePoint business is a key element in its larger enterprise package of software that it vends for top dollar. Therefore, disruption to its growth could limit its ability to dominate the lucrative sector as it does in some way. Therefore, Yammer had to be neutralized as a threat, as SharePoint couldn’t risk the effective competition.
And thus Yammer is now Microsoft, and SharePoint continues to grow. Capping that, Microsoft is moving to better integrate Yammer into its packages, perhaps as a way to sell Yammer to smaller firms, and keep SharePoint for those that have larger budgets. Today the firm announced “plans to make Yammer available with Office 365 Enterprise and SharePoint Online.”
Just for fun, at Microsoft’s market capitalization to revenue ratio of 3.22:1 [that is a rough figure, don’t whine about the rouding], SharePoint is worth $6.44 billion.
SharePoint, Lync, Yammer, Office 365, and now Skype are something of a new vanguard for the firm, moving enterprise software both into the social age, and the cloud. So far, it appears to be working.
Top Image Credit: Paul Downey


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Kirinyaga County Government has established home craft centers in selected youth polytechnics to assist community members acquire skills for self-employment.
The centers offer skills in areas such as beadwork, weaving, soap making, leatherwork, knitting, and tailoring and there are no prerequisite academic qualifications for anyone to join.
During an exhibition held at Kamiigua Youth Polytechnic over the weekend, different trainees displayed their handmade products such as doormats, knitwear, weaved lessos commonly referred to as kikois, beadwork products such as flower vases, pen and serviette holders as well as leather sandals, clothes, and bags.
The polytechnics that have established home craft centers are Kamiigua, Kimwea, Kibingoti, Nyangati, Kiamikuyu, Kiambatha, Ngucui, and Mutitu.
Governor Anne Waiguru has said that her government has been providing the required tools and equipment to enable the smooth running of the programme, thus trainees are not required to pay for the home craft courses.
She added that her government is committed to offering sustained quality and inclusive training that would produce appropriate skilled artisans and technicians.
“The polytechnics impart marketable skills and technical know-how that will enable graduates to fit into contemporary labor markets especially in the informal sector and also prepares them for self-employment,” she said.
Terrence Njiru, the Principal Kamiigua Polytechnic said that the advantage of enrolling in-home craft courses is that they are tailor-made to fit into the time schedules of trainees and they were not limited to any age.
He said that enrolling in a home craft course also lays a foundation for people who would like to pursue higher-grade levels.
Njiru said that the home craft center at Kamiigua was introduced to fill the skills gaps that have been hindering members of the surrounding community from engaging in productive income-generating activities.
He noted that home craft contributed towards rural poverty eradication especially nowadays when job opportunities were diminishing.
“The initiative is also a step towards the realization of the manufacturing pillar of the Big Four Agenda whereby the local people can make some of the products that are currently imported,” said Njiru.
The home craft programme in the county has so far benefitted 1,100 students while 70 instructors have also been trained on how to conduct the programme.
Most of the beneficiaries of the programme that have already graduated and been certified have opened their own businesses using the skills they gained at the centers.
Eunice Wairimu Maina is one of the beneficiary. After successfully undertaking a sewing course at Kamiigua Polytechnic and getting certification, she is now running her own business in Kerugoya town where she earns money for her family’s upkeep.
She said that besides being self-employed and employing other women in her business, she has been mentoring other apprentice tailors and imparting them with the skills she gained.
Wairimu encouraged other women to enroll in home craft courses in order to gain skills that would enable them to employ themselves. She noted that the courses were very flexible and hence it is easy to attend and still have time for other family chores.
Johnson Maina who is currently a Mechanic Trainee at Kiambwe Polytechnic is undertaking home craft training in beadwork alongside mechanics to maximally utilize his time at the polytechnic.
He said that he aimed at getting an extra coin from the bead products he makes by selling them to car owners among other customers.
“When I am repairing someone’s car, I will have an opportunity to market and sell to them some of my bead products such as serviette holders and other car accessories,” said the 20-year-old youth, advising fellow young men to join polytechnics where they could gain technical skills that would increase their employability or enable them to start their own businesses.
Other beneficiaries have been making money after selling products such as doormats, sweaters, dresses, leather shoes and bags.
Other than the home craft centers, the mainstream courses offered at the polytechnics include motor vehicle mechanics, electrical installation, masonry, garment making, hairdressing and beauty, carpentry and joinery, metalwork and fabrication. Computers and ICT short courses are also offered.
Graduates of polytechnics could be employed in the hospitality sector, the fast-growing hair and beauty industry, furniture making industry, construction industry, clothes and textile industry as well as an interior designing industry among others.
By Irungu Mwangi


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Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) announced its financial report for the first half of 2023. Accordingly, the consolidated revenues in Q2 stood at NT$ 35.05 billion (US$ 1.15 billion). The Company’s after-tax net loss and that per EPS came to NT$ 0.13 billion (US$ 4.27 million) and NT$ -0.04, respectively. The consolidated revenues for the first half of 2023 stood at NT$ 72 billion (US$ 2.36 billion). The Company’s after-tax net profit and that per EPS were NT$ 3.27 billion (US$ 107.04 million) and NT$ 0.94, respectively. The maritime industry in the first half of the year was impacted mainly by inflation and uncertainty in the global economy. Additionally, freight rates declined compared to the same period last year, leading to a decrease in revenue compared to the corresponding period last year.
According to the data released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook in July 2023, despite the 3% upward revision of the global economic growth rate for 2023, the overall inflation rate is projected to decrease from last year's 8.7% to 6.8%. However, the persistent inflationary pressures have prompted the world’s central banks to implement interest rate hike policies, thereby impacting economic activities. As a result, the overall momentum for economic recovery over the next two years still appears relatively weak.
According to the growth forecast of the analyst firm Alphaliner, the overall supply is predicted to grow by 8.5% this year, surpassing the demand growth of 1.4%. As such, oversupply still dominates the maritime market, which is caused by high inflation weakening household purchasing power and demand due to ongoing inventory liquidation within industrial chains. However, once the Russia-Ukraine conflict comes to an end, the need for reconstruction materials during the post-war recovery period is expected to boost container shipping demand.
In response to the changes in supply and demand in the shipping market, Yang Ming will continue to assess the situation with utmost care. The company will also be attentive to global economic developments, geopolitical influences, changes in supply chains, and environmental sustainability requirements, among other trends. There will be timely and necessary adjustments to route distribution and fleet planning to increase the Company’s competitiveness and operating performance.


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WASHINGTON — The White House has dispatched Labor Secretary Tom Perez to California to help mediate between unionized dockworkers and cargo carriers and terminal operators deadlocked over a new labor contract that has temporarily shut down West Coast ports over the holiday weekend and caused severe delays and slowdowns for months.
“The negotiations over the functioning of the West Coast Ports have been taking place for months with the administration urging the parties to resolve their differences,” said Eric Schultz, White House deputy press secretary. “Out of concern for the economic consequences of further delay, the President has directed his Secretary of Labor Tom Perez travel to California to meet with the parties to urge them to resolve their dispute quickly at the bargaining table.”
Schultz said Perez has already been in contact with the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents 72 multinational cargo carriers and terminal operators and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents 20,000 dockworkers, and will keep President Obama fully updated.
“We welcome the administration’s attention to this important national and international economic and supply chain issue and hope it recommits the two sides to reaching a deal,” said Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain at the National Retail Federation. “The slowdowns, congestion and suspensions at the West Coast ports need to end now.”
The PMA and ILWU have been negotiating a new contract for over nine months and the delay in reaching a new contract has already had an adverse economic impact on businesses and farmers across the country.
The impasse also drew scrutiny on Capitol Hill in recent days. Lawmakers, who have held hearings and press conferences, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives on Thursday, calling on both sides to act swiftly to resolve their differences. Many lawmakers also called on President Obama to use personal diplomacy to urge the two sides to reach an agreement.
The congestion and delays intensified at West Coast ports on Friday as the line of ships waiting for berths continued to grow amid a four-day suspension ordered by the PMA.
Juanita Duggan, president and chief executive officer of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, said sending the U.S. Labor Secretary to help broker an agreement in the West Coast port contract negotiations was a “positive step toward ending the logjam.
“By sending the Secretary of Labor to intervene, the administration is sending a strong signal that this is a serious issue with real economic consequences that needs to be resolved, and resolved quickly,” Duggan said. “The unending port dispute has caused severe disruption across the 29 West Coast ports at a very steep cost to our industry and the U.S. economy as a whole. Through these ports, over half of all clothing and shoes sold in the U.S. is imported.”


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Cyber attack on TalkTalk: what should you do?
An investigation by the Metropolitan Police has been launched into a ‘cyber attack’ on communications firm TalkTalk that could see hundreds of thousands of customers’ data stolen by hackers. There are now reports that the firm has received a ransom demand from criminals demanding payment in return for them not releasing the stolen data.
Here’s our Q&A on the incident and what you should do if you are affected”
What exactly happened?
TalkTalk says “a significant and sustained cyber attack” on its website. The firm has not explained exactly what the attack involved or the nature of the people or organisation that are responsible.
However, it has been working with “leading cybercrime specialists” and the Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit to establish exactly what happened and whether individual’s information has been accessed.
When did the incident take place?
The attack took place on Wednesday 21 October.
Who is affected?
While TalkTalk has been careful not to reveal how many customers have been affected by the attack while the investigation is ongoing, it says there is a chance that some of the following data may have been compromised:
• Dates of birth
• Email addresses
• Telephone numbers
• TalkTalk account information
• Credit card details and/or bank details
TalkTalk has something in the region of 2.7 million customers.
What is TalkTalk doing to sort this out?
It is contacting all customers by email and letter immediately to inform them what has happened and has vowed to keep them up to date as it learns more. It has also worked to secure the website in the wake of the attack and contacted the Information Commissioner's Office.
TalkTalk has also contacted the major banks, which will be monitoring for any suspicious activity on TalkTalk customers’ accounts. Moreover, the firm is offering a year’s free credit monitoring for all of its customers and will be contacting customers with the details.
What should I do to protect myself?
If you use your TalkTalk username and password anywhere else, it would make sense to immediately change your details at those other websites.
You should also keep an eye on your bank account(s) over the next few months. If you see anything unusual, contact your bank and Action Fraud as soon as possible on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk.
If you are contacted by anyone asking you for personal data or passwords (such as for your bank account), take extreme caution in checking the true identity of the organisation.
Check your credit report, preferable via the free facility being set-up by TalkTalk or by using Noddle.co.uk – a free credit checking service.
A report containing detailed information on a person’s credit history, a record of an individual’s (or company’s) past borrowing and repaying, including information about late payments and bankruptcy. It also includes all applications a person has made for financial products and whether they were rejected or accepted. Your credit report can be obtained by prospective lenders to determine your creditworthiness.
Used by the holder to buy goods and services, credit cards also have a monthly or annual spending limit, which may be raised or lowered depending on the creditworthiness of the cardholder. But unlike charge cards, borrowers aren’t forced to pay the balance off in full every month and, as long as they make a stated minimum payment, can carry a balance from one month to the next, generating compound interest. As the issuing company is effectively giving you a short-term loan, most credit cards have variable and relatively high interest rates. Allowing the interest to compound for too long may result in dire financial straits.


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Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Health, Dr. Zafar Mirza has stressed on the need of an effective National Medicine Policy (NMP) for ensuring safe medicines in the country
ISLAMABAD: Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Health, Dr. Zafar Mirza has stressed on the need of an effective National Medicine Policy (NMP) for ensuring safe medicines in the country.
He expressed these views while addressing at the closing ceremony of 4-day national consultative meeting for development of National Medicine Policy (NMP)-Pakistan, said a press release.
He said that the government plans to enhance capacity of pharmaceutical sector for availability of medicines which aims at ensuring quality procedures, effective regulations, promoting rational use and increased access strategies through integrated supply chain mechanisms.
It was the vision of the leadership to introduce well framed reforms in health system whose ultimate beneficiaries are people of Pakistan, he said.
The Advisor said that the first ever National Medicine Policy will be launched next month for addressing the issues of medicine quality, procurement, pricing and most of all accessibility.
Furthermore, pharmaceutical sector will be strengthened to provide a boost to exports of Pharmaceuticals.
This activity is the part of integrated health system strengthening and services delivery (IHSS-SD).
The consultative meeting was attended by experts from DRAP, regulatory affairs, academia, pharmaceutical manufacturers and retailers, international health partners and civil society representatives.
The policy addresses the issue of access to essential medicines, regulations for the manufacturing and quality assurance, licensing and sale of medicines and their supply chain management, rational use of medicines, and building of professional capacity of scientists, managers, and healthcare working in this sector.
Zafar Mirza, while explaining the purposes of the policy, said that experts have rightly identified essential principles for strengthening of the system which requires an equally effective implementation plan for transferring benefit of NMP to the patient.
Experts in the meeting provided their input and emphasized on the need of self-reliance in pharmaceutical sector keeping in view the already established standards of pharmaceutical sector management.