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EXO To Host Special Online VR Exhibition For Their Upcoming Album
EXO will be hosting a special online virtual reality (VR) exhibition to celebrate the release of their upcoming album!
Their upcoming album, Don’t Fight The Feeling, is set to be released on June 7, with the exhibition hall opening on June 15.
The exhibition, simply titled the EXO Online Exhibition Hall, is a collaboration between SM Entertainment and telecommunications company LGU+. It will be an online VR experience for fans to enjoy content related to the new album from the comfort of their own homes! It will embody the six themes that are present within the concept of the album, incorporating unreleased photos and behind-the-scenes videos amongst other exclusive content.
Prior to the opening of the exhibition halls, fans will have to pre-book their visit using a Korean phone number. Reservations are open and can be found on the exhibition’s official website as well as LGU+’s app, U+VR.
EXO 엑소 Special Album [DON'T FIGHT THE FEELING]
🎧 2021.06.07. 6PM KST#엑소 #EXO #weareoneEXO#DONT_FIGHT_THE_FEELING pic.twitter.com/32kzgX0aVK
— EXO (@weareoneEXO) May 22, 2021
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Workers and residents in downtown and south Colorado Springs now have another option for dry cleaning their clothes – Pressed4Time, a franchise owned and operated by former Sky Sox pitcher Scott Randall.
Randall bought the franchise in October, and said business has been successful, but there is room for growth.
“I have plenty of routes still available,” he said. “I hope to really grow the business. Everyone who uses it loves it – it really saves time.”
Pressed4Time picks up clothes that need to be dry cleaned and drops them off at a designated location. Clients don’t have to worry about getting to the cleaner at a certain time.
Randall bought the franchise after retiring from baseball. He pitched for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and the Cincinnati Reds.
“I needed something I could step right into,” he said. “And this is a perfect fit. I wanted to be out, doing things. I wanted to meet people, and I’ve met some really great people. It’s been very successful so far.”
Pressed4Time was established in 1987 and is the nation’s largest dry cleaning pick up and delivery service franchise. The company has more than 160 operations in 34 states and four countries.
The nation’s largest distributor of office supplies has agreed to provide special pricing and services to Goodwill Industries’ 205 independent agencies and 1,900 retail stores.
Goodwill, which provides job training and career programs, will be allowed to use OfficeMax Print and Document Services’ range of high-tech digital print and copy service. The deal also allows Goodwill to manage and distribute documents using OfficeMax’s Document Express.
“We are proud to continue providing Goodwill with an exceptional level of service,” said Michael Rowsey, OfficeMax president, contract division. “Our growing relationship is a positive reflection of the track record we’ve built by supplying quality products and services, strong customer service, next-day delivery and competitive pricing.”
OfficeMax began providing office products and services to Goodwill agencies in April. The expanded program adds OfficeMax’s Print and Document Services to the list.
“Working with OfficeMax helps us save valuable time and money,” said Rick Nelson, manager of member purchasing for Goodwill. “Having all our printing and copying services done with OfficeMax boosts our efficiency and enhances our ability to provide quality career services that help people find good jobs, earn a paycheck and support their families.”
Goodwill Industries International, through a network of 205 independent, community-based organizations, provides job training and career programs to people with disabilities, welfare recipients and others seeking work.
My Wireless has opened a fourth location in Colorado Springs at 6558 S. Academy Blvd. in the Cheyenne Montana Shopping Center, bringing the number of franchises in the city to four.
My Wireless Inc. owns and operates Verizon Wireless retail stores in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. The company has opened eight stores in the past year, according to its Web site.
The holiday season extended into January for many retailers, as consumers flooded the stores with gift cards in-hand to take advantage of clearance sales. According to the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales for January increased 7.6 percent compared to last year and rose 2 percent seasonally adjusted compared to December.
“The spectacular growth we saw in January was an unexpected surprise for the industry,” said NRF Chief Economist Rosalind Wells. “While our 2006 outlook for the retail industry remains cautious, consumers responded well to the popularity of gift cards, mild winter weather and aggressive clearance sales. We expect to see a continuation of the heavily promotional environment.”
January figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department show that retail sales rose 2.3 percent seasonally adjusted from December and increased 8.9 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
There was strong year-over-year sales growth across most retail categories in January. The impressive showing came from building material and garden equipment and supply dealers. Consumers are not quite finished investing in their homes, as sales in this category increased 17.6 percent year-over-year. Furniture and home furnishing stores also showed strong gains. Sales were up 9.5 percent from January 2005.
Additionally, strong year-over-year gains were seen at clothing and clothing accessories’ stores (9.7 percent), health and personal care stores (8.1 percent) and sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (6.5 percent).
The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution, including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet and independent stores; chain restaurants, drug stores and grocery stores, as well as the industry’s key trading partners of retail goods and services. NRF represents an industry with more than 1.4 million U.S. retail establishments.
Amy Gillentine covers the retail industry for the Colorado Springs Business Journal.

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Latest match.com campaign to feature real customers on filmed first dates
Dating website Match.com’s latest advertising campaign will feature unscripted filmed stories of real members on a first date.
The ‘Real Stories’ campaign, by Mother, will begin to air across UK terrestrial, digital and satellite TV from tomorrow (14 April).
The campaign features unscripted films that follow real members of the website as they prepare for their first dates with 10” and 30” executions.
Katie Sheppard, director of marketing and relationships at match UK said: “The new creative underlines our ambition to grow the category this year by appealing to those last remaining groups of people who’ve not yet tried it. One in five relationships now start online in the UK* and for those yet to be convinced, we believe sharing the enjoyment that our existing members get from dating is the way to go – in this case seeing is believing.”
Media planning and buying has been handled by Initiative.
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Xiaomi is all set to launch the top end variant of its Redmi 6 series of smartphones called the Redmi 6 Pro. Xiaomi will launch the smartphone on 25th June 2018 along with the Mi Pad 4. While the smartphone has been leaked a lot in the past, now Xiaomi has released the official renders of the smartphone revealing all the color variants and the design.
Xiaomi shared the renders via a post on Chinese social-media network called Weibo. The render shows that the Redmi 6 Pro will be available in Sand Gold, Rose Gold, Lake Blue, Flame Red and the Black color variants. The smartphone will comes with a metal-uni body design with all the 2018 features.
First of all there is a Display notch at the front with huge bezels all around. At the back there is a vertical dual camera setup with a LED flash in the middle. Just like other Xiaomi smartphones there is a rear placed circular fingerprint scanner and Mi branding at the back.
Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro will sport a 5.84-inch full-HD+ 19:9 aspect ratio display with a small display notch at the top. It will be powered by a 2Ghz unnamed octa-core processor. We can expect to be powered by a Snapdragon 600 series processor coupled with 2GB/3GB/4GB RAM and 16GB/32GB/64GB of internal storage.
It will come with a dual-rear camera setup with a 12-megapixel primary sensor and the secondary sensor is unknown. The front-facing camera is of 5-megapixel for taking selfies and video calling. The front-facing camera is of 5-megapixel for taking selfies and video calling. It will run on Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box with upcoming MIUI 10 on top.
The smartphone houses a 4,000mAh battery and will use micro-USB port for charging and data syncing. While specifications wise the smartphone looks solid, putting a notch just for the sake of having it is not good. We hope Xiaomi will price it well and will bring it to India soon. Stay tuned to Sid Tech for latest tech news, deals, reviews and more.
For latest tech news join our WhatsApp Broadcast List, Download our App to get all tech content in one App. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more tech content. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for crisp tech videos.


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Metta Sport handling commercial duties for all-female eSports event
By Florence Lloyd-Hughes
Metta Sport, the New York-based sports marketing agency, has been appointed to manage the commercial remit of Girl Gamer, the all-female eSports event in Lisbon, Portugal.
The agency will handle all aspects of content distribution for Girl Gamer, including the live rights and highlights for the event as part of a deal with event organiser Grow uP eSports.
Documentary content and an event recap show will also be available for distribution.
Metta Sport’s role also comprises managing sponsorship and brand partnerships for Girl Gamer.
Sephora, the France-based cosmetics company, has already signed up as sponsor, marking its first venture into eSports.
The brand will receive multiple activation opportunities during the event, with product giveaways, backstage branding and social media content all expected to feature.
In a statement, Dave Smith, managing director of Metta Sport, said: “Metta Sport works with major esports teams, events and rights owners around the world including ESL, DreamHack, Beyond the Summit and more. We believe Girl Gamer is on a similar professional level in terms of intense competition, production value and importance to the esports community. We are thrilled to be partnered with Girl Gamer 2018 to help drive media rights distribution and brand partnerships."
The Girl Gamer Esports Festival will feature an eSports business conference and competitions for the video games Counter Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends.
It is taking place at Casino Estoril in Lisbon, Portugal from 20 to 22 July.
Metta Sport was one of the original eSports media rights agencies, as it started distributing events in 2014, and will have around 50 professional tournaments on its books this year.
Last September, the agency exclusively distributed media rights to Girl Gamer, one of the largest female-focused eSports tournaments featuring international teams squaring off in both League of Legends and CS:GO, which took place in Macau.
In 2017, Metta Sport also distributed rights to Beyond the Summit from Los Angeles, the Epicenter in Moscow and the World Cyber Arena Grand Final in Yinchuan.
Away from eSports, Metta Sport is particularly well-known in US college sport, where it distributes global rights, outside USA and China, to the Pac-12 and last year struck a deal with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and US rights-holders CBS and Turner Digital to distribute digital highlights of college basketball's popular March Madness tournament.


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Megabrew will sail past ACCC: Lawyer
Despite media reports to the contrary, Anheuser-Busch InBev’s takeover of SABMiller faces no major regulatory hurdles in the Australian market, according to a leading competition lawyer.
McCullough Robertson partner John Kettle was responding to recent comments by former ACCC chairman Professor Allan Fels, that the transaction dubbed ‘Megabrew’ would not get an easy ride past the competition watchdog.
“I actually think he’s the best competition economist in Australia, but I think he was probably caught on the hop on this,” Kettle told Australian Brews News.
“He may not be fully on top of the brewing game. He’s treating it as a very homogenous, almost single issue market. It’s full of regional submarkets, it’s got different components.”
Kettle is a competition law and merger control expert who has worked on previous beer industry consolidation events, such as Carlsberg and Heineken’s 2008 takeover of Scottish & Newcastle in the UK, a transaction he said covered a lot of the same issues.
In assessing whether AB InBev’s takeover of SABMiller and therefore Carlton & United Breweries would substantially lessen competition in the Australian beer market, Kettle said the ACCC would ultimately review the implications for several different beer industry segments: Brewing capacity, distribution networks, tap beer, bottled beer and craft beer.
“AB InBev doesn’t have any brewing capacity in Australia, so there’s no change there,” he said.
“You still have the Lion distribution network, that’s not disappearing. You still have competing distributors in terms of SABMiller [CUB] and Lion. Where your concern would be is if you had Lion merging with SABMiller, but that’s not happening,” said Kettle.
AB InBev’s tap presence minor
He said the deal would not have any bearing on the issue of access to taps, which has already drawn the attention of the ACCC in the last 12 months.
“That’s a general issue and there’s no change there because you still have two powerful companies,” he said.
He pointed out that most of AB InBev’s brands – which include Corona, Beck’s and Budweiser – are heavily geared to packaged rather than draught beer in Australia.
“Compared to other markets, tap beer isn’t so important in Australia as it would be in a British market or an Irish market,” he said.
“That means it’s actually easier to get access into pubs, because you get access to shelf space rather than taps.”
Retailers will keep CUB in check
Where the off-premise sector is concerned, Kettle said Woolworths and Coles have “countervailing buyer power” that would prevent an AB InBev-owned CUB from raising the prices on any of the new brands that are likely to join its portfolio as a result of the merger.
And the transaction would be unlikely to curtail the craft beer sector’s rapid emergence as a competitive force, Kettle added, nor would the new-look CUB even dominate every Australian submarket.
“In each of the states there’s regional market preferences. Who’s got the market power in Brisbane? It’s [Lion’s] Castlemaine Perkins.”
Megabrew may increase competition
Kettle said it could certainly be argued that Lion’s loss of key brands may actually increase competition in the Australian beer market.
“If I was working on this deal, that’s what I’d be saying. It’s going to drive them to be more aggressive, in sourcing fresh brands to bring new competition and it’ll be more vigorous, there’ll be more vigorous price competition,” he said.
How it will play out
Kettle said the ACCC would nevertheless review the transaction based on the headline market share that would be transferred from Lion to AB InBev-owned CUB.
“But then once you get into the detail of it, all those submarkets will be dealt with or subcategories,” he said.
The watchdog may publish a statement of issueson the deal, Kettle suggested, similar to the process it followed in relation to Foxtel’s recent acquisition of a 15 per cent stake in Network Ten Holdings.
“Competition authorities like these sorts of transactions because they get to see the workings of the market,” he said.
“It’s a bit like Ten and Foxtel – they issued a statement of issues on that and then they waved it through the other week.”
The McCullough Robertson partner was in no doubt about what the final outcome will be for Megabrew.
“They’ll look at it, they may publisha statement of issues, but it will go through no problem,” he predicted.


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CTC boosts sales by 2.3% and contribution to state revenue by 7%
The Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC) boosted total sales by 2.3% in the second quarter ended 30th June 2018, including a 6% gain in domestic sales year on year, while net turnover rose by 5.2%.
CTC’s contribution to government revenue through excise and other levies rose by 7.4%, or Rs. 2 billion and the company’s profit after tax was 4.35 billion.
The company said that the Government suffered a revenue loss of Rs 20 billion as a result of smuggled illicit cigarettes, with the illegal market estimated to be more than 500 million cigarettes per annum. CTC said that it expects this number to increase due to the latest price hike, as well as the growing availability of illicit cigarettes in the local market and macroeconomic factors that stimulate consumer spending power. It added that there were 909 raids conducted by law enforcement agencies in the first 6 months of this year.


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Nominations will be accepted through Jan. 7 for annual awards presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration to small businesses and small business owners.
“We are proud to recognize the small business owners that have made it their mission to support their communities and drive the entrepreneurial spirit forward,” said Chris Pilkerton, acting administrator of the SBA. “A National Small Business Week award is one of the nation’s highest honors for small business achievement. I wish all our nation’s small businesses the best of luck and look forward to their nomination.”
The 2020 National Small Business Week program will include the Small Business Person of the Year Award presented in each of the 50 states and U.S. territories as well as awards for exporting, federal contracting and SBA resource partners.
Nomination packages must be mailed or delivered to SBA offices by 1 p.m. Jan. 7. The Colorado District SBA office is located at 921 19th St., Suite 426, Denver, CO 80202 For more information about the awards program and nominations, visit the website at www.sba.gov/nsbw.


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In this Placer Bytes, we dive into Kohl’s amidst wider concerns over the future of the department store and the impressive performances across the TJX portfolio.
Kohl’s has experienced a strong recovery in recent months with June and July down just 26.7% and 26.1% year over year. And while this still marks significant declines, the brand has been hit hard by COVID resurgences in key states like California and Texas where they have a greater number of stores.
And this becomes clearer when looking at weekly visits data, where a strong rebound by late June was halted by the resurgence in cases.
Yet, even with these challenges, Kohl’s is still managing to outperform its direct competitors. Taking context from other department stores, while Kohl’s saw a year-over-year decline of 26.1% the week of July 20th, Nordstrom was down 65.4% and Macy’s was down 44.7%. Clearly Kohl’s has a unique take on the department store, but it was even outperforming a wider apparel sector that was down 32.2% that same week. So, while Kohl’s is clearly hoping for a reduction of COVID cases in California and Texas, they may be one of the best-positioned brands within the apparel sector for the coming months.
TJX - Recovery Across the Board
Another company with a significant apparel presence is TJX with its T.J. Maxx and Marshalls brands leading the way. And both are on a clear recovery with visits down just 20.0% and 21.3% respectively year over year in July. Yet, the unique element in this portfolio could be the home goods presence, led by the aptly named HomeGoods. And like much of the wider space, the brand is showing strength with 2.4% year-over-year visit growth in July.
And weekly visits reinforce the strength of all three. While both apparel brands remained in the range of 20% year-over-year declines, this was well ahead of the pace for the wider apparel sector. For the week of July 20th, visits for apparel were down 32.2% nationwide, while T.J. Maxx and Marshalls were down just 20.7% and 21.6% respectively that week. And here too, the resurgence of cases hit regions with larger numbers of stores creating a significant impediment to more growth. The ability to show consistency in the face of such significant obstacles is a powerful indicator that as more states succeed in bringing the pandemic under control, visits could quickly return to 2019 levels, if not year-over-year growth, for both brands.
HomeGoods also showed consistency in July with the weeks of July 6th, 13th, and 20th all showing year-over-year growth. And the brand could be in for even bigger numbers as it enjoys the benefits from competitors closing, and a strong value orientation in a period of economic uncertainty all during a wider home goods sector surge.
Can Kohl’s lead the department store sector forward? Will TJX brands continue to show strength as the recovery period continues?
Visit Placer.ai to find out.


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Gerry’s still happily grilling after 20 years
A dining concept executed well, backed by a virtually fail-proof menu of well-loved Filipino fare.
Such is the simple business formula that has kept Gerry’s Restaurant and Bar alive and kickin’ these past 20 years, despite being in an industry that is becoming increasingly competitive, both locally and abroad.
“It feels like such an accomplishment for us to still be here,” says Gerry’s senior marketing manager Francis Villaluz, who has been with the company since 2002.
Not that Gerry’s isn’t used to competition; in fact, when it was first opened as Gerry’s Grill by owners Gerry Apolinario and Jerome Ngo in 1997 on Tomas Morato in Quezon City, the restaurant already had to contend with similar diners in the area.
“Almost any concept back then had a grill. [Competition] was really cutthroat because they were opening left and right, and their menus were also pretty good. There was an identity struggle then because people would go [and ask]: What was the name of that grill again?” Villaluz recalls.
When the grill trend died, Gerry’s then had to contend with the next wave of restaurant concepts, which were mostly American-style casual diners.
Still, such situation didn’t hamper Gerry’s growth, because they stuck with their “game plan,” which was to consistently offer a wide variety of good Filipino food to their customers. Today, their branches are situated mostly in malls, since they found their strength in serving meals meant for sharing among big groups: families, friends, coworkers.
Villaluz admits, though, that “that wasn’t really the intention.”
“The owners were young back then. They were 29-year- olds who wanted a place to hang out on a Friday night,” he says. “That was the original concept, but they went with the flow, so to speak, and when people wanted food and variety, they [gave them] that.”
The restaurant now has 89 local branches and six abroad—three in the US, a couple in Singapore, and one in Qatar. Given Gerry’s fare, they usually open where there is a sizeable Filipino community, says Villaluz.
“But then [the Filipinos] also introduce our food to their friends abroad, so we also get some of the locals there,” he adds.
By yearend, the company aims to open its 100th branch, he adds.
And as they embark on growing the business for another 20 years or so, Villaluz says they are also fully prepared to embrace the challenges that come with managing a restaurant chain, especially with everybody “going digital.”
“There’s a challenge on how to stand out, how to be unique. I’d say we’re fairly new to digital marketing, but we’re there, and we’re definitely going to boost it more,” he says.
Still, some things will never change, Villaluz adds, like the company’s attention to detail when it comes to updating their stores’ look and menu.
“Whenever we renovated, we felt an increase [in customers]. You have to update the look to stay competitive,” he says. “And the menu is like your business card, really, [so you have to study] the way it’s laid out, the printing, the price. Even the arrangement, you study that.”
The most important detail in their business, of course, also remains the same as it was 20 years ago: that of always providing customers with the best and most “festive” Filipino dining experience.
“We offer a wide variety, and the combinations of our items are a little bit more festive. And since the Filipino culture involves sharing [food], you get to sample more, which makes our dining experience a little bit more exciting,” Villaluz says.
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By avoiding gimmicky riders, benefit reductions and higher prices, Jackson National Life Insurance Co. reported its best year for annuity sales through banks in 2009.
"We heard a lot of skepticism," said Jack Mirshler, the western divisional vice president for the Lansing, Mich., unit of Prudential PLC of London. "We remained committed to our long-term approach. We weren't going to go out and create some hot product that would last for three months or do some fire sale on products. None of that made sense for our customers. We never wanted to be a company that chased market share with frivolous riders."


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More than four of every five consumers say the experience they get from businesses over digital channels aren’t good enough according to recent research by Gartner. Looking at number of different uses cases such as placing a retail order, submitting a service request or paying a government bill, the study evaluated perceived ease of use and benefits received such as saving time or money. While many companies think they’re doing OK on digital service delivery, that’s not what their customers are saying.
Gartner found banks were the best ranked industry. But the “best” might really be better described as the “least worst” just 16% of respondents rating their digital perceptions in the top quartile of the index.
Millennials are more engaged digitally than their older peers but at least two-thirds of millennials that use retail, manufacturer and utilities digital services rank those services lowly.
“While millennials are the most frequent users of digital services, they are also the least happy. Out of all generations, they have the lowest opinion of most industries’ digital services,” said Brad Holmes, managing vice president at Gartner. “This may be because baby boomers and other older generations use over time has made them more immune to poor ease of use, or that they have become resigned to doing what it takes to get value one way or another”.
When it comes to ease of use, retail led the way with government services bringing up the rear. Over the last decade or so, online retail has focussed heavily on online services in order to make it easier for customers to complete transactions by employing design thinking and technology to streamline the process from searching to delivery as much as possible. But governments have a captive audience, no competition and different budget constraints.
Trust is a key component of a consumer’s satisfaction with a digital experience. The research found banks enjoy the highest level of trust among consumers although almost one in five of the 4060 respondents from the UK and US choose not to use online banking services because they “don’t fully trust them.” Similarly, for governments and retailers, 20% of non-users point to lack of trust as their reason.
Great online experiences for consumers are important but it seems the expectations of customers are moving ahead faster that the ability of many industries to keep up. And while Gartner’s report is titled “CIOs Must Help Close the Gap Between CEOs’ Digital Ambitions and Consumers’ Digital Perceptions”, the reality is great customer experience is a whole of business issue where everything from how a user finds a system to how they are fully serviced needs to be addressed. And that needs businesses to make sure all their back office operations are properly integrated.


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Seafish, the industry authority on seafood, has launched a new tool to assist seafood buyers make informed purchasing decisions for their businesses.
The free online platform, Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood, will give the entire UK supply chain of seafood buyers – in the wholesale, foodservice and retail sectors – greater clarity over the status of the seafood they are purchasing both at stock and fisheries levels. RASS can be accessed at www.seafish.org/rass.
The introduction of RASS comes as the industry has continued to call for consistency of seafood sourcing standards, and reinforces the need for robust and up-to-date information in order to make informed decisions. RASS fishery profiles will contain information on stock status, the efficacy of management, as well as seafloor habitat and bycatch impacts. The first tranche of around 100 profiles based on the most common species bought in the UK including haddock, cod and tuna are available now and profiles will continue to be added over the coming months. Crucially the tool will also eventually address ethical and welfare issues around sourcing seafood that remains an area of great concern for the industry.
While information on what fish to eat already exists from a number of sources, Seafish believes that RASS will enable commercial buyers to make informed choices that comply with their own internal policies or procedures for purchasing seafood, rather than having to adopt those of advisory organisations.
Tom Pickerell, Seafish Technical Director, says, “As the industry authority on seafood, Seafish is committed to promoting best practice throughout the supply chain, from UK commercial fishermen to producers and ultimately retailers. With RASS, we have for the first time created a single, powerful reference resource for commercial seafood buyers to consult in order to make sound sourcing decisions based on their own corporate philosophies rather than being told what seafood they should and should not buy.”
Katie Miller, Sustainable Seafood Coalition coordinator, says, “It’s encouraging to see much of the seafood industry focus on improving the sustainability of their fish and on ensuring they source responsibly. Reliable information is crucial to addressing such a complex challenge. We expect the RASS tool to be very useful to suppliers, retailers and others evaluating the risk related to sourcing a particular fish. We look forward to seeing RASS develop to cover more fish stocks.”


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As the kwacha crashed against major trading currencies in 2013, water tariffs and fuel prices jumped by at least 25 percent pushing up inflation and the cost of living.
Nico Asset Managers Limited Annual Economic Report released last week indicates that in 2013 the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) effected six fuel price adjustments.
As a result of the fuel price adjustments, petrol rose by about 25 percent from K606.30 to K760 per litre, diesel, used mostly in industries and heavy goods vehicles, jumped by 29 percent from K597.40 to K770.70 per litre, apparently due to the weakening local unit.
During the year, water prices rose by about 33 percent from K0.43 per litre to 0.57 per litre.
According to the investment advisory firm, in the year, the kwacha weakened against all the major currencies—the dollar, sterling pound, euro and rand.
The kwacha fell by about 30 percent against the dollar, tumbled 33 percent against the pound sterling, slipped 5.7 percent against the rand and crashed by 35.6 percent against the euro.
The firm has warned that the depreciating kwacha will result in imported inflation through higher fuel and fertiliser prices and increased cost of living.
As a result of the falling kwacha and rising food costs, inflation rate has been rising. The November 2013 inflation rose to 22.9 percent.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) expects average inflation to rise to an average 28.6 percent in 2014 from 21.4 percent in 2013.
The EIU projects that in 2014 inflation will drop to 18.7 percent as a result of falling global food prices and aid-funded subsidies for poor households.
This runs counter to the single-digit inflation projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this year, according to a statement after the third and fourth reviews of the three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
EIU further expects inflation to moderate to an average 8.6 percent in the period 2014 to 2017 as productivity increases and as rising oil prices are offset by easing food prices.
The Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) the basic needs basket (BNB)—a monthly review of prices of food and non-food basket—released recently indicated that an average household living in Malawi’s four cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Zomba and Mzuzu, required about K110 000 in December 2013, a 30 percent jump compared to same month the year before.
The BNB food basket rose by 40 percent in 2013 to about K70 000. Specifically, to meet basic food needs; a household of six in December 2013 required an average K68 000 in Lilongwe, K72 000 in Zomba, K70 000 in Blantyre and K66 000 in Mzuzu.


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What will the shipping market look like in 2024? Industry Reports and Expert Opinions
The last few years have been fast paced for the shipping industry. From the rise in interest rates in early 2022 to the lowest level this year. Will parking be reactivated by 2024? Common sense is not entirely absent, but common sense is not. Meanwhile, there are many other influential factors that will play out before 2024, including interest rates, environmental regulations and geopolitical uncertainty.
Here we take a brief look at what will happen in the shipping market in 2024 based on a series of industry reports and expert opinions. We believe a major rise in interest rates is imminent.
The main reason for this is simply the balance between supply and demand.


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7 August 2017
- Proactis, a global Spend Control and eProcurement solution provider, today announced the completion of the Perfect Commerce acquisition.
Hamp Wall, Chief Executive Officer of Proactis, commented:
"I am delighted that the combination of Proactis and Perfect Commerce is now complete. The Enlarged Group has a great opportunity to enhance its offer to its customers during what is an exciting and innovative period in the industry. I look forward to the challenge of delivering value to shareholders over the coming years."
Read RNS announcement


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Tuesday, March 03, 2020
Our 100th year means we have a lot to be thankful for over the years. One thing is for certain, we wouldn’t be where we are today, without the loyal, local support from so many customers. One way we are saying thanks during this year of festivities is through our recent donation to the Marcus Food Pantry. Shown here are Greg and Donna from the Marcus Food pantry alongside Marcus lumber team members Tonya, Bobbi, and Lori who brought in 100 food items to donate. Thanks to the Marcus Food Pantry and all they do to help serve our community!


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Here’s a nice little nugget about Jeff Bezos’ compensation from Amazon, via Footnoted’s Michelle Leder.
Amazon’s proxy statement reveals Amazon paid Bezos a paltry salary of $81,840, but his security detail came to $1.6 million for the year. (That’s actually a $100,000 drop from the year before, but it’s still pretty high.)
In a filing Amazon explains the cost, saying, “We believe that the amount of the reported security expenses is especially reasonable in light of Mr. Bezos’ low salary and the fact that he has never received any stock-based compensation.”
He owns 20% of Amazon, so he doesn’t need small sums of stock, and he doesn’t really need a big salary.


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Conventional wisdom says small businesses are the backbone of the economy, but a new study counters that mom-and-pop businesses are an economic cancer instead.
Newsweek reports the National Bureau of Economic Research found in a study that businesses with fewer than 500 employees that have been around for more than a decade stifle job growth, reducing salaries and shedding jobs between 1992 and 2005. Nearly all the growth came from startups that grew into giant firms.
It makes sense. Small businesses generally stay small because they don’t make enough money to grow larger, while the Googles and Facebooks of the world come along to change the paradigm and create competitive, high-paying careers.
The Capital Gets a Lesson In Job Growth [Newsweek]


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Highland trading standards staff offer guidance on face masks
50% off a six-month digital e-edition subscription with promo code '50OFF'
Trading standards staff at Highland Council have highlighted the important difference between types of face masks being used during the coronavirus crisis.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical devices such as respirator or surgical masks which protect the wearer (and, for medical devices, the patient) against the virus and must be made to a high specification.
- Face coverings which are not anti-Covid PPE or medical devices, including scarves and home-made versions made from items such as T-shirts or handkerchiefs. "These do not protect the wearer but can to some extent reduce the amount of virus that an infected person emits, thus providing some protection to others in proximity," according to the trading standards team.
David MacKenzie, the council's trading standards manager, said: “All PPE that is intended to protect against Covid-19, including that sold to the public, must meet very high safety standards. At the current time, it is recommended that proper face masks that provide such protection for the wearer should be reserved for NHS and care staff.
"The recommendation from both the Scottish and UK governments for the public to wear face coverings in some enclosed public places does NOT mean wearing proper anti-Covid PPE. Instead it refers to any low-specification face covering that can help reduce spread of the virus but does NOT protect the person wearing it.”
Mr MacKenzie said businesses must not sell low-tech face coverings as PPE or make any claims that such items provide protection for the wearer against coronavirus. According to trading standards, best practice at the present time is for businesses to explicitly state the limitations of such products when selling so that the buyer is in no doubt.
Trading standards' role in his regard is to enforce the laws on consumer sales, with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulating sales of items to be used in workplaces, including the NHS.Detailed information about the production and sale of PPE to consumers can be found on the trading standards Covid-19 pages on the council website.
Mr MacKenzie added: “Scottish Government advice about staying at home, social distancing and washing your hands remain the same. It is important to understand that basic face masks will not protect wearers from biological hazards like Covid-19.
"If consumers really feel the need to buy proper PPE equipment to protect them from Covid, they should check carefully that it meets safety standards. Basic face masks can continue to be useful in other situations, such as protection against dust when doing some DIY work, and can also be used as a face covering in enclosed public spaces.”
Government advice on how to make a cloth face covering for your own use can be found here.


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Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc.’s largest shareholder continued his quest to gain a foothold on ownership of the company Thursday in sending a statement to shareholders asking for a vote on whether the company should be sold.
Sardar Biglari, whose company, Biglari Holdings, owns Steak ‘N Shake, filed a solicitation statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that went out to Cracker Barrel shareholders.
The statement asks the shareholders to fill out and return a request card calling for a special shareholders meeting so a vote could be taken on whether to sell the Lebanon-based company.
“Section 6.2 of Cracker Barrel’s amended and restated bylaws provides that a special meeting of the company’s shareholders shall be called by the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary of the company at the written request of any person or persons holding of record not less than 20 percent of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue contemplated to be considered at such proposed special meeting,” Biglari’s statement said. “As of the close of business on Jan. 16, Biglari collectively beneficially owned, and had the right to vote, 4,737,794 shares of the common stock, representing approximately 19.9 percent of the outstanding common stock of the company.”
In the statement, Biglari asks shareholders to support the sale of Cracker Barrel and take any necessary action to amend the Tennessee Business Corporation Act to permit Biglari to buy it.
About three weeks ago, Cracker Barrel board chairman James Bradford responded to Biglari’s recent demands the company be put up for sale.
Bradford said in a statement the board determined the continued execution of the Lebanon-based company’s existing business strategy is “currently the proper course of action for the long-term best interests of the company and its shareholders.”
“We are disappointed that Mr. Biglari is seeking to call a special meeting to vote on a proposal requesting that the company commence a sale process, particularly in light of his defeat by substantial margins in three consecutive proxy contests,” Bradford said in a statement. “Cracker Barrel’s board of directors continues to believe that the execution of management’s existing business strategy will create the most value for all shareholders. The board regularly evaluates all options to serve the best interests of the company and its shareholders and will continue to do so.”
Biglari, a week prior, upped the ante in his latest quest to persuade the company’s board of directors to sell the company.
In a letter to Bradford, Biglari said Cracker Barrel’s board should undertake a value maximization process by reviewing all potential extraordinary transactions, including the company’s sale.
“The board’s primary aim should be to sell to the highest bidder in order to create a realization of Cracker Barrel’s value,” Biglari said in the letter. “As the company’s lead investor, owning nearly 20 percent of the outstanding shares, we are willing to lead the process by submitting a bid. But, as you are well aware, Tennessee law currently restricts our ability to engage in such a transaction. Thus, we request that the board support our efforts to seek an amendment to the state law that would give all shareholders the ability to decide the future of their company.”
Biglari, three times rejected to be on Cracker Barrel’s board of directors, previously filed a letter with the SEC that called for a special shareholders’ meeting to vote on a non-binding resolution to recommend the board “pursue an extraordinary transaction” or Cracker Barrel’s sale.
“The value of the business, or any business, depends on who is in control of the assets,” Biglari said the letter. “We believe Cracker Barrel’s assets would be far more productive under our leadership than in the hands of present leadership. Thus, we are willing to purchase the business because we perceive a significant upside under our management. But other sophisticated buyers also should have the opportunity to bid for the company.
“We think Cracker Barrel’s earning power is far too low in your hands. Current management appears relatively successful because of the dismal performance under the former CEO. We firmly believe that neither you nor your management has a deep understanding of how substantial value can be created.”
Biglari controls more than 4.7 million shares of Cracker Barrel stock.
At its annual shareholders’ meeting in November, Cracker Barrel shareholders voted overwhelmingly to reject Biglari and Philip L. Cooley’s bids to be placed on the company’s board of directors. Shareholders also rejected Biglari’s proposal that Cracker Barrel declare a special cash dividend of $20 per share, at a cost of about $476 million. Biglari suggested Cracker Barrel pay for the dividend by nearly doubling its current debt.
Cracker Barrel offered to buy Biglari’s stake for $300 million in February, but he refused.
Cracker Barrel stock opened Monday trading at $111, but fell to $109.17 in mid-morning trading. Its stock price remains significantly higher than the 52-week low of $60.07.
Cracker Barrel was established in 1969 in Lebanon and operates 625 company-owned locations in 42 states.


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Focused On Original Content
In a short span of six years, the streaming service has caught on with more than 113 million registered users and over 10 million paying subscribers
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When Eros started its OTT platform, Eros Now, Rishika Lulla had just one thing in mind: to make the platform one of the largest for Indian language content. Judging by the way things are going, it seems she’s well on her way to achieve what she wanted.
In 2012, India’s streaming services were only beginning to take off. Eros had to build its digital team from the ground up. Lulla played a huge role in building a team of engineers and product designers who worked out of Bengaluru, India, and San Francisco, US, to create its massive over-the-top (OTT) service from scratch.
“It was definitely a steep learning curve. We built the team from the ground up, which has been fun. When you are so invested in it, it literally becomes an extension of yourself,” says Lulla, who heads the digital platform Eros Digital, the digital arm of Eros International, the NYSE-listed leading global company in the Indian film and entertainment sector.
In a short span of six years, the streaming service has caught on with more than 113 million registered users and over 10 million paying subscribers. The platform has more than 11,000 titles for viewers to choose from across all Indian languages and even across genres.
Original and different is what Rishika, daughter of Kishore Lulla, Chairman of Eros International, is putting her energies into and focused on getting the right product out to cater to a wide variety of audiences. It helped getting Eros Now off the ground quickly and develop its own niche in a highly competitive streaming industry.
Says Lulla: “The months went pretty well and we met the targets that we had projected. We had great clarity as to where we wanted to go, and it is finally seeing fruition.”
From the beginning Eros Now focused on building the regional language content where, due to its parent, Eros International, the company has an edge in producing and releasing regional content. Says Lulla: “In the past couple of years, OTT has definitely been the golden child and where the focus is. At Eros Now, we have our niche. We have our own content due to the studio content we can obtain, and the theatrical studio output as well as our library. From the beginning we have been quite focused on regional language, and we want to reach across the country rather than just the top one percent on which many of our competitors are focusing. So we have consciously taken a low-pricing strategy to ensure distribution. We want to be the No. 1 OTT operator in the country and we want to keep that position.”
Under Rishika’s leadership, Eros Now is launching an original series, Side Hero, in October this year. It also has a few original series under its belt to be released soon. In the coming eighteen months, the Eros group is planning to launch more than 70 originals.
For Rishika, the heartening thing is that through Eros Now she can reach out to hundreds of users across the world. A large number of Eros Now users are from across the borders. “Our Indian story is actually travelling the world today. We have a lot of viewers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Brazil for our trailer of Side Hero. Our content does cross borders,” she notes.
If you want to know Rishika’s favourite serial, “Watch Side Hero on Eros Now,” she says promptly. When you prod further, “It’s like asking you to pick who is your favourite child,” she beams.


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06 Aug 2019 Rutland Partners Invests in Hereford Contract Canning
Rutland Partners is pleased to announce that on 5 August 2019 it completed the acquisition of a majority share of Hereford Contract Canning (HCC) Limited (“HCC”).
HCC is the second largest contract canning provider in the UK and is differentiated by its focus on low to medium sized batch runs of drinks with complexities in mixing, blending and canning for a wide range of domestic and international customers targeting the UK consumer market. The market for HCC’s services has grown significantly with rising consumer demand for flavoured beverages of all types and ready to drink products. This rapid expansion is being further driven of late by the move away from plastic products in favour of canning options. As a result, demand for contract canning far outstrips supply in the UK market.
HCC is known for its quality control, production flexibility and strong operational capabilities and has been granted grade ‘A’ accredited status by the British Retail Consortium, which has delivered loyal and reliable customer relationships. HCC’s well invested infrastructure has led to strong growth through phased capital expenditure in the company’s manufacturing and packaging facilities, which have an increased capacity.
Rutland will be adding to the management team through the introduction of Julian Aitken as CEO and Robert Leechman as Non-Executive Chairman who will work alongside the existing team and the founders of HCC, John Hibberd and Paul Burton, who remain shareholders in the business. They bring a wealth of drinks industry experience, which will complement the strong operational management of HCC led by Richard Leach. Helen Flear will act as interim Finance Director and oversee a transition programme whilst a new long-term Finance Director is recruited.
In response to strong customer demand, further investment is also planned to significantly increase HCC’s canning capacity through investment in the existing production facilities as well as further expansion. Rutland’s investment in HCC represents an exciting opportunity to support a capex-led expansion and organisational transformation of a strategically important business to deliver high growth in a growing UK market.
HCC represents the eighth investment from Rutland Fund III. The team leading the transaction for Rutland was Nick Morrill, David Wardrop and Gessica Howarth.
David Wardrop, Partner at Rutland said: “We are very pleased to have completed our investment in HCC. HCC has a strong position in an attractive market and is well placed for future growth which we are looking to accelerate with significant further investment in the business. We look forward to working with HCC to develop the business over the coming years.”
Julian Aitken, newly appointed CEO at HCC, said “I am delighted to be joining Hereford Contract Canning as CEO. The business has developed over the last 8 years to meet the needs of a growing and innovative UK drinks market and I am looking forward to working with the highly skilled team whose ethos is one of exceptional quality and meeting customers’ aspirations. HCC are now in a fantastic position to move the business to the next level with Rutland’s support.”


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DMT is popularly known as the hallucinogenic tryptamine drug, which earned a fair amount of popularity in the USA’s regions in recent years. And even in Canada. An LSD kind of highness gets achieved through this Drug, which does generate an over-the-top feeling, among others.
Similarities have been drawn between this product and Magic mushroom too. Both have become successful in catering to the harmful effects, and it’s why a few states of America have banned it. Here prohibit the production of other components which are there have been indicated. A lot of people have enjoyed the trip. This is why it has also got another address known as Spiritual molecule. Business people have liked this because they have inner peace after a lot of stress through this.
Many times, many videos, interviews of businessmen and women tried encouraging people to take this Drug, which is still available over the internet. This item is naturally processing 45 minutes of highness. No other article gives that much of highness here. In that regard, recently, a lot of states have started decriminalizing the Drug. But again, under the state and the federal law of America, this is still not permissible.
Previously it has also been seen that these types of medicines, specifically DMT, can be produced through trees also, which is why so many South American Maasai people used to have the presence of this plant element in their auspicious ceremonies. But lately, when production needed to get multiple, people started incorporating so many ideas to produce it inside the Laboratory. But Canadians these days loved this item and called for more significant risk factors.
There goes the series of similarities that these two products hold between each other. And the rate of sustainability increases with time. DMT happens to one of the main ingredients of Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is being made with the help of two American plants. And at times, it stops some enzymes from working properly inside the body. It creates some internal hemorrhage, which is why a lot of people suggest staying away from this Drug as reasonably as possible.
The Traditional and age-old usage of Ayahuasca is nothing but using it for traditional practices. After consuming this, so many people have tried leaving the body, and people attain the state of rebirth, which is an ambiguous concept. But still, over the years, this practice has made people stick to the Drug—no matter what kind of effects they have had. Often, it was said that this Drug’s impact does come up as a potential threat to human health. People reach the utmost level of cosmology and philosophy, which is why they delve into this, and a lot of other consequences happen after that.
Recently among younger generations over the Netherlands and other parts, the Ayahuasca tea has become very popular. They are buying it so much, and once they sip the tea, a very soothing feeling is coming up. A few parts of the Dutch nation have lately decriminalized the Ayahuasca tea. Buying these over amazon and other platforms can help since many discounts can get available here.
Often, this plant is considered a sacred plant. What happens is that the South Americans do not even want to talk about this. And as a traditional ritual, they consume this on every nocturnal occasion. The effects stay in the body for more than six hours. And a lot of health hazards come along with it. Like-
This point mainly occurs for the rebirth concept. Yes, the idea of rebirth seems to be very strong here. People try to feel the divine entity through this. And that is why the ones who have never gone through direct consumption of this medicine kind of Drug tag it to be the real or preferably lifetime experience for life. Nothing can bit the internal sensations which are being caused due to this.
DMT happens to be one of the most potent drugs or medicines that are currently available online. But its power of destroying someone’s health is very nominal.
The process of consumption can never be done individually. Here in those cases, a bit of good dependence on the Shaman is necessary. Whatever the Shaman says, the consumer has to do that. Before consuming that, whether or not the Shaman is perfect for it not that too to get judged. Since the level of consciousness completely vanishes off with this. A bit of guidance is always needed.
There are a few pros and cons that this type of Drug has to face, especially when somebody decides to buy it online. First of all, after a limited portion of the material, the thing can not get ordered. So whatever relaxations are there that only gets applied to the minimum amount of part which can be bought by maintaining the norms? Kaleidoscopic sounds and images can be perceived after consuming these kinds of drugs.
In this modern age, those who are keen to know since when the indigenous people have started drinking this Drug, then the scriptures or writings of the era that stretches between 2130 BC come out to be known. When selling this product comes into the scene, it becomes vital that there is barely any difference between this Drug and LSD, at least from physical appearance.
Both are sold in powdered forms. Some typical consumption methods have catered the attention to various countries’ law departments that there are generally four to five ways depending upon which the entire process is being done—smoking it through a pipe, vaporizing it, or probably oral consumption. All of these are equally helpful for the customers when we talk about the ways of inhaling it.
In these situations, one thing that comes out to be vital is online orders and their positive and negative sides. Online orders do come up with a mixture of rare good possibilities and other things too. But what happens is that in most cases, when the order is being placed, all of the pieces of information about the person who is playing the order get notified.
And if the state does not allow the consumption of such products, then the attempt to buy can cause serious consequences. Surprisingly, the people who buy these products online do not care about the pros and cons. Crossing the barriers to buy dimethyltryptamine will not resolve the problems.
Many people, only to complete the craving of taking all these Drugs, take the illegal help. In most cases, they do get trapped. And one wrong decision for momentary pleasure destroyed their life. The dark web is such a place where all the illegal activities are being done with unlawful means. Here one thing that needs a bit of clarification is that if somebody is underaged and buying all this stuff, it may so happen the rest of their life has to stay inside a juvenile court.
Which is not only painful but also creates the possibility of life risk. People need to remain calm; whatever gets attention here due to the DMT can get reduced automatically if someone enjoys inner peace. Inner peace does not require any help from external influence.
If we stretch back the time and go back to the Hippie Movement in America, then one thing that comes out to be vital is the immense usage of DMT. Because of the instability that has roused in the users’ minds, it is very significant to understand how one thing can grab all the attention. Some providers sell this product at around 1-2 grams.
But often, the satisfaction level does not match up to that. And the widespread rumors that come up here with the searches like ayahuasca buy online USA or ayahuasca online Uk or buy ayahuasca Canada are not always true. Dmt drug buying online is a severe crime in most cases, such as in India, which leaves no scope to escape.
People demand more. And this demand raises the demand for production. The ones available in the marketplace and the ones available in the laboratories are not the same because quantity wise it makes a huge difference. Smoking something as powder and then encouraging people to do the same is morally wrong and very risky for the people who have not crossed their adulthood.
But in most cases, purchasing DMT and other categories of drugs online can increase the possibilities of every kind of threat. It is high time people should stop making plans to opt for ayahuasca bark for sale.
Suppose somebody has bought it for good faith that to keep the traditional ritual intact, that too is harmful as long as the purchase is solely based on online mediums. For better understanding, one piece of advice that needs to be circulated is that no genuine online portal will sell all these.
One thing needs to be clear, too, that ayahuasca for sale can never be available in reality. So, it is always better to think about the worst. So customers need to consider before they purchase ayahuasca.


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Mr Duckworth built the three-bedroom home in the 1930s. It had a big carpentry workshop where he started his business before it relocated to Hyde Street, Yarraville. The workshop was later used as a bridal dressmaking factory employing more than 20 people at its peak in the 1950s.
Most recently, it has been the studio of artist Gabrielle Bates. Her recent show Guns n’ Brownies, which exhibited in Smith Street, sold out. This year, she heads to Malaysia’s contemporary art cultural centre Rimbun Dahan.
Jas H Stephen’s Yarraville sales executive Greg Carruthers expects a price of more than $530,000 when the house goes to auction at noon on Saturday, April 21.


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For customers shopping at New World New Lynn, it may be hard to imagine the very shopping trolley they’re pushing was once an item sitting inside the cart, but that’s the case for the store’s brand-new fleet which started life as humble milk bottles.
Available in two sizes, the baskets of the sleek new trolleys at New World New Lynn are made from 100% recycled plastic. Each small cart was made using 74 recycled milk bottles and 152 bottles form the large trolleys. With a fleet of 300 new trolleys, that’s an amazing 30,000 former milk bottles living their best new life and help New World work towards its ambitious sustainability goals.
The lightweight trolleys are a hybrid of recycled plastic that is attached to a steel frame, using half the amount of steel as a standard trolley – helping ensure both lighter and easier steering for customers but also lighter freight emissions.
New World New Lynn Store Owner David Cullen says it’s a great example of New World’s commitment to find innovative and sustainable solutions that work for both its customers and the planet.
“From supply chains to the experience our shoppers have in store, we’re always looking at ways to reduce our impact.
“Sustainability is a journey that influences every decision we make as a business – and it’s great to think these cool little trolleys, don’t just look great and steer brilliantly, they are also thousands of milk bottles that started life in a supermarket fridge and could have so easily ended up in landfill.
“We’re getting rave reviews about the trolleys from customers saying they love the concept behind them and how easy they are to manoeuvre. I think our trolley teams are also enjoying how lightweight they are.”
The recycled milk bottle trolleys were first introduced to New World customers at New World Albany and have made their way south to spread sustainable shopping to more New World customers.
Mike Sammons, Head of Sustainability, Foodstuffs New Zealand says it’s exciting to see more sustainability initiatives being taken up across stores. “We’re always looking for creative ways to incorporate more sustainable practices across all aspects of our business and its especially great when our customers can experience it first-hand.”
Supercart, the Australian manufacturers, say the new hybrid trolleys have half the carbon footprint associated with their production and are 30% lighter.
“By shortening our supply line and sourcing from our neighbours in Australia, we are also able to reduce all the costs associated with transport in terms of carbon, dollars and time,” says Sammons.


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Beer sales contribute to spike in city revenue
While several New Albany vendors and restaurants have only been selling beer and light wine for three months now, early signs in terms of sales tax revenue and in crime-related activities are looking promising.
According to sales tax revenue data for the month of May, the first full month in which beer and light wine could be sold in the city limits, indications show a 10.5 percent increase over the same month in 2009.
July’s sales tax revenue report, which reports the numbers two months behind, showed that the city had collected $218,749 for May of this year, compared to $198,030 for May 2009.
The first five months of 2010, in fact, have all shown increases over last year’s figures
“Our revenue was up quite a bit in May,” New Albany Mayor Tim Kent said. “Beer definitely contributed to that increase.”
Some local vendors attested to the impact of beer and light wine sales, such as Eagle gas station representative, Ralph Issi and Regal Truck Stop representative, Ali Sharaf.
“Sales are going perfect, we have a continuous increase in sales,” Issi said. “On Tuesday the trucks come and by Sunday we are sold out of beer. We get unbelievable sales around the first of every month and on holidays.”
“We have seen a sales increase, month by month,” he said.
Kent also said that the police department has not seen any significant increase in criminal activity related to beer and light wine sales, as some opponents had feared.
“I asked Chief [David] Grisham if there had been any problems and he said there hasn’t been any increases in DUI’s that he can tell,” Kent said. “In fact, I had someone who was opposed to the issue when it was up for vote tell me recently that he’s seen less beer cans thrown in his yard since the ordinance went into effect.”
Kent was careful, however, to point out that beer is not the only factor in the sales tax revenue increase.
“A lot of it also has to do with the local economy getting better, in light of Toyota,” Kent said.
Other factors that played a part in the revenue increase include the opening of three major national chains in New Albany within the past year – Lowe’s, Walgreens and Hampton Inn.
“Things are definitely looking positive,” Kent said.
About Chris Elkins
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Nicki Minaj, Diddy + More Included Among 20th Anniversary XXL Covers
To celebrate the iconic magazine's 20th anniversary, XXL’s Fall 2017 issue will offer 20 new iconic covers that feature a total of 26 hip hop mavens — veterans and newbies alike — who've made huge contributions to the industry. Nicki Minaj, Diddy, 50 Cent, Migos and Rae Sremmurd are just some of the acts that will be featured (you can get a full lineup in the video below). Plus, the collectors editions will include interviews with the stars featured.
"From the start of these artists’ careers, to the bumps in the road, to the chart-topping wins, to the genre-defining albums and much more, XXL has been there to capture the biggest moments of their careers, whether in the magazine or on XXLMag.com," Georgette Cline wrote in celebration of the celebration.
Print editions hit newsstands everywhere on Oct. 17, but you can get early access on XXL.com. Plus, the site will devote each day of October to one of the stars included, and roll out special video interviews and photos.
Celebrate XXL's 20th Anniversary With Iconic Magazine Covers:


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ArabFinance: Egyptian exports of the building materials, refractory, and metallurgy industries sector have jumped by 29% during the first two months of 2021, Al Borsa News reported, citing data by the Export Council for Building Materials, Refractory, and Metallurgy Industries (ECBM).
The UAE has acquired the lion’s share of the sector’s exports at a value of $221 million, up by 93% as compared to January and February 2021, followed by Canada which came in the second spot, with imports from Egypt soaring by 153% year-on-year (YoY) to $120 million, data showed.
Meanwhile, the sector’s exports to Italy dropped by 13% YoY to $113 million in the two months ended February 28th, making it come in third place.
Egypt’s exports of cast steel increased by 4% YoY last January and February to $200 million from $192 million.
Cement exports surged by 142% to $104 million during the two months, versus $43 million in the same period of 2021.
The country’s exports of aluminum recorded $138 million in the first two months this year, rising by 9% YoY from $126 million.
On the other hand, Ceramic exports dropped by 16% to $26 million, as compared to January and February 2021.


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We thank Ms Lee Siew Yeen for her feedback (More needs to be done for recycling to take off in S'pore; Feb 8).
When Ms Lee visited the Singapore Post branch at Clementi Mall, the post office staff offered her more than one ReCycle envelope for her phones and chargers.
The staff explained that her various devices had to be placed in different envelopes so the items would fit through the opening of a post box because the ReCycle programme taps the postal network.
At this point, ReCycle bins are available at selected post offices and Singtel outlets across Singapore, and the outlets in the mall are not among them.
We acknowledge that more can be done to better educate our front-line staff and partners about the ReCycle programme, and we would like to assure Ms Lee that we are committed to improving the programme.
Since its launch in June last year, we have seen an increase in the volume of e-waste being collected and we are exploring ways to expand our reach with more collection points and larger bins to accommodate bulkier items.
Selena Chong (Ms)
Vice-President Corporate Sustainability
Vice-President Group Sustainability


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By Claire West
In a study carried out by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), it was revealed that as many as 23 million Britons are using their mobile to shop online.
The report concluded that over half of all UK mobile owners engaged in product research and purchasing via their handsets. At a time when it is believed that some 28.5 million British citizens are making online purchases, the level of m-commerce represents quite a hefty chunk of those
actively participating in online shopping.
The study found that 43% of the 1,000 users questioned utilised internet access via their mobile phones to check product information, while 40% checked the opening times and contact details of high street stores on their mobile devices.
Mobile manager at the IAB, Alex Kozloff, emphasized the significance of the data:
“The study shows just how significant the mobile phone now is within the path to purchase, as well as how increasingly sophisticated mobile consumer behaviour has become.”
All the statistics from various sources point towards an over-arching rise in both the number of people shopping online, as well as the overall online sales expenditure.
A survey completed by the Office for National Statistics
revealed that 62: of Brits shop online, up almost 10% on 2008 figures.
A spokesperson for parcel delivery company Parcelsplease.co.uk [www.parcelsplease.co.uk] explained the positive ramifications for the parcel delivery industry:
“With such a positive growth in online retail, it is inevitable that the demand on companies like ourselves to distribute products purchased over the internet will rise. The increase in mobile phone usage also demonstrates
the need for companies to develop their mobile compatibility, and cater for the ever-growing market for online shopping via mobile.”
The latter insight holds true for both the retailer as well as the courier service delivering the purchased items.
While it is evidently in the best interests of online retailers to make the buying path as clear and efficient
as possible, it is also beneficial for parcel delivery companies to ensure their sites are optimised for mobile use, allowing customers to easily track their parcels from despatch to arrival.


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Silicon Valley investors and customers alike are eating up the "recipe box," a dinner-kit service that delivers a box of recipes and all the pre-packaged ingredients needed to whip them up.
The idea is that even the most hapless non-chef can put together a hashtag-worthy ricotta and kale calzone in the time it takes to have pizza delivered. Recipe boxes have become a fast-growing and well-funded market, with scores of startups hoping to grab a piece of the homemade pie.
The American market leader Blue Apron closed $50 million in venture capital in April, and reports set the company's valuation at about $500 million. For venture capitalists like Stripes Group, which led the funding round, the appeal is clear: Everyone needs to eat.
"Food is a very large addressable market, and when done well it’s a huge value proposition," said Stripes Group managing partner Ken Fox.
For customers, experts say the recipe-box space is white-hot thanks to a combination of busy schedules, the rise of myriad on-demand services, and even a bit of "Top Chef" and Instagram influence.
"We're at this strange point where people want to be healthy, want to cook at home, and they feel guilty if they don't do it. Yet we just have less time," said Brita Rosenheim, principal of Rosenheim Advisors, a consulting firm for the food-tech industry.
Convenience and the on-demand economy
Blue Apron and its competitors generally offer rotating recipes weekly, and customers can order or skip that week's menu. Need three bay leaves for that mahogany beef stew? Exactly three leaves come plucked and ready to cook in an individually wrapped bag, tucked next to a tiny squirt bottle of hoisin sauce and three shrink-wrapped beef chuck roasts.
Food analysts say the market is fairly new, but the number of companies in the space is rising rapidly. They're in a unique space at the intersection of several trends in both food and tech startups, Rosenheim said.
"You look at car services like Uber and subscription boxes from beauty to food –- they're all different shades of this on-demand economy," Rosenheim said. "The root cause of this is the always-connected mobile consumer who is short on time, and willing to pay for convenience."
But while time-saving is a huge part of the appeal of these recipe boxes, Rosenheim notes they appeal to a very particular brand of user: folks who want to cook but perhaps don't have the time to stand on line at the market -- yet aren't so crunched that they'd opt for similarly-priced, restaurant-made takeout meals over spending 30 minutes in the kitchen. The meals tend to cost at least $10-$15 a plate.
"If you think about what goes into it, from the farmers to the assembly to the delivery, to get this box to you, it's actually quite cheap," Rosenheim said. "But not everyone will pay that much for a single plate, period."
Still, services like Blue Apron, HelloFresh and Plated have drawn enough interest to support a fast-growing industry. The early pioneer Middagsfrid kicked off the trend in 2007, and since then the market has expanded to all kinds of eaters: omnivores, pescetarians, children, gluten-free, paleo. Some cater to particular cuisines or calorie-counters, while others pride themselves on local or organic ingredients.
'Top Chef' effect
Though the recipe box contents may vary, the sense of excitement they create is part of "this slowly building, long-term trend of cooking as entertainment," said Elizabeth Friend, senior consumer food service analyst at Euromonitor International.
"People talk about 'plating' their food, which was never a part of non-chefs' lexicons until recently," Friend added. "We watch 'Top Chef' and read food blogs with beautiful photography -- but compare those expectations with the reality of home kitchens and busy schedules."
Social media also play a role, demanding that meals be not only delicious and nutritious, but beautiful too. A recent Blue Apron contest called on customers to submit their most "Instagram-worthy meals."
Will recipe boxes go the way of the cupcake?
Recipe boxes play into a current foodservice trend of "the constant need for new experiences and variety," Friend said. But Rosenheim, the food tech analyst, thinks that's what will bring down the market eventually. She estimates that companies have to spend approximately $40 to $80 in marketing to acquire each new user, a steep price.
"I don't think it will be around at a large scale in 10 to 20 years. It's a novelty," Rosenheim said. "The reality of the food industry is that there are a lot of passing trends –- think the cupcake craze –- and this trend cycle may be shorter than most."
Some recipe-box companies may evolve into marketing and product partnerships, Rosenheim said. They could sell, say, a Le Creuset pan that would be perfect for this week's poached fish recipe, or sign a deal with Jim Beam for the bread pudding's bourbon sauce.
"I do think this is a legitimate industry, but I think there will be consolidation. Just like daily deals or any area where there's a flurry, there will eventually be people who fall out," Rosenheim said. "It’s a landgrab situation at this point and companies need to stand out."
The super-niche approach: quinoa in Brooklyn
For some recipe box startups, the way to stand out is to think small.
Marisa Claire Smith founded Sweet Roots NYC in 2012 with a focus on organic and local healthy ingredients. The company delivers pre-cut ingredients for meals that cost $25 per plate to New York City's Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs.
"I intentionally picked a very niche market, farm-to-table," Smith said. "I wanted to make it more joyful and less challenging to cook healthfully."
Sweet Roots also offers menu customization at a level that some bigger companies can't offer. "Whether you are gluten-free, vegan, want to go paleo, or just not a fan of cilantro, we'll take care of you," Sweet Roots' site reads.
Smith started the business a week after she graduated from New York University with only $3,000 of her own money. Sweet Roots has since raised a seed round of funding from investors including High Line Venture Partners and expanded to 18 employees.
"Thank God for the new terms like meal kits and recipe subscriptions, because I used to have to tell people, 'Um, we wash and cut your vegetables and it comes with a recipe and we deliver it...' The elevator pitch has gotten a lot shorter," Smith said.
Smith, who works with her team in an industrial kitchen in Brooklyn at a former Heinz Ketchup factory, said the success of Blue Apron helps sell customers on the idea of the recipe box.
"I'm not trying to feed the whole world," Smith said. "I just want to help my corner of the world eat better."


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Excitement and anticipation were in the air at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show, and with good reason. Japanese auto makers are profitable again, after years of struggling with economic woes and natural disasters.
Since the first show here was held almost 60 years ago in 1954, Tokyo has become famous for wild and fanciful concept cars that look into a possible future with wit and an almost child-like amusement at the possible, even if it might be ultimately unattainable.
This year we didn't find as many crazy concepts, but the Japanese car industry has plenty to be happy about in 2013.
2. Carlos Ghosn is a rock star
3. Yamaha TRICITY concept
4. The Official Tokyo Motor Show Guidebook 2013
5. Akio Toyoda has earned his stripes
6. Concept cars
7. The weather
8. Car companies who have said so long to Canada
9. Brave foreigners
10. Shibuya Crossing
Story continues below advertisement


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Beef Profit Alliance challenged producers to add value throughout supply chain
Just as crossbreeding adds growth, fertility and longevity to hybrid cattle, the joint collaboration of two beef cattle breed associations yielded information, ideas and networking opportunities surpassing what either could have accomplished alone.
Profitability was the common theme at the first-ever, dual-breed Beef Profit Alliance seminar, and more specifically, profitability for the commercial rancher. The seminar – held at Kansas State University (KSU) in Manhattan, Kan., July 22-24 – was a joint effort of the Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) and American Simmental Association (ASA).
Heterosis = Efficiency, Fertility and Profitability
Patsy Houghton, Heartland Cattle Co., of McCook, Neb., has expansive research and experience rooted in developing over 80,000 beef heifers in the past two decades.
“Crossbred cows’ first-service conception rates and pregnancy retention rates are 7 percent higher than straight-bred cows,” said Houghton, “and they will remain productive an average of one year longer.”
She continued by saying, however, there is a compromise. “Heterosis will increase birth weight by 4 percent, but the upside is that weaning weight also increases by a considerable average of 15 percent.”
Dr. Bob Weaber, KSU cow-calf extension specialist, simplified the cow-calf production objective – grow grass for the cows to harvest, converting that grass into pounds of weaned calf. The result is not only profitability for the producer, but a desirable lifestyle and an improved environment.
He stressed that for maximum profitability each operation must adapt its cow type and size to best fit the range and forage conditions. “The key is to optimize the cow’s size and her lactation ability to fit the environment, producing the most pounds – and number of calves – delivered, at the lowest possible production cost,” said Weaber. “Low-cost producers are generally more profitable.”
Profit Drivers in Feeding
It’s important for both seedstock and cow-calf producers to have a solid understanding of the feeding industry. Tom Brink, JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC, the nation’s largest feeder with a 960,000-head capacity at 12 yards in seven states, markets 1.7 million cattle a year, most on a pricing grid. “You are in the beef business,” said Brink. “Feedyards buy your customers’ cattle making us your customers’ customer.”
He challenged seedstock producers to be diligent in selecting genetics that will leave a good fingerprint on the industry. “Genetically speaking, we need cattle that will grow and grade. Your genetics are going out there in the industry and having an impact in my world. Make sure it’s a good one.”
Brink also stressed the importance of receiving healthy cattle that grow and grade. “Health is an old problem but we still identify it as the No. 1 production problem. Many cattle still need stronger immunity when they leave home. If not, they de-value their penmates.”
Branded Beef Programs Add Value
Branded beef programs are designed to add value to cattle that fill a specific niche in the market. Top genetics enable producers to garner those extra dollars, according to Blake Angell of Meyer Natural Angus, Brian Bertelson of U.S. Premium Beef and John Butler of Beef Marketing Group. The panel of speakers also stressed better communication from their producers. “If we have previous feedlot and grid data, we have a better idea of how these cattle will perform and how we can maximize added value,” said Butler.
The panel emphasized ranchers can implement strong health and nutritional programs on the ranch that will create more profit margin at harvest time, as well as utilize added-value tag programs. The Red Angus Feeder Calf Certification Program (FCCP) verifies genetics, source and age, and the newly released Allied Access program verifies source and age without genetic restrictions.
To understand the importance of carcass merit, attendees were able to evaluate three live Simmental and three live Red Angus steers at the beginning of the conference, then view the six carcasses on the last day. Dr. Michael Dikeman, KSU professor of meat science, presented the official quality and yield grades, carcass weights, ribeye areas, dressing percentages and carcass dollar values, and explained what characteristics contributed to profitability.
“It is important for each beef producer to understand what they deliver to the consumer,” said Kevin Miller, Croissant Red Angus, Briggsdale, Colo. “The genetics that each one of us provides makes an impact on value and quality all the way through the system. We all need to understand that value does not stop at the point where we market our cattle.”
We Are All Beef Advocates
Seventy-five percent of Americans have a favorable view of farmers and ranchers, but only 42 percent have a positive attitude toward the way food is grown. This disconnect, according to Daren Williams, executive director of communications for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), is a challenge to all beef producers to share their story with consumers.
“We are continually improving our methods and practices,” said Williams, “and we need to tell consumers. In the end, they just want to know that their food is safe and healthy.”
Williams stated that the world population will double in the next 40 years. Currently 7 percent of the world’s cattle are producing 20 percent of the beef – a testament to good management and production practices.
“Ranchers are the most trusted source to tell beef’s good story,” he said. “You are the original stewards of the land and the best caretakers of your animals. Tell your story – talk the walk!”
Sarah Jones, Red Hill Farm, Scottsville, Ky., agreed with Williams. “We are truly in the business of producing beef for consumers – not just live cattle on the hoof. Whether Red Angus or Simmental breeders, we must all be advocates for the beef industry – the industry that puts money in our pockets and food on our tables.”
Kevin Unger, manager, Decatur Co. Feed Yard, Oberlin, Kan., said, “The ability to take the information available and move quickly and decisively will become more and more important in this industry. Those that know their product will be better equipped to take these new advances and implement them into their operations to affect their bottom line.”
To view video coverage and slide presentations of each of the speakers, visit http://www.dvauction.com/events/index/29762.


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The company’s production facilities will be modernized and new machinery will be invested in
LB Bulgaricum is now operating at maximum capacity and with 100 percent Bulgarian milk. This was announced by the Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov, who visited the production base of the state-owned dairy enterprise in Vidin and got acquainted in detail with the production process of the company. ‘LB Bulgaricum will not be privatized,’ Bogdan Bogdanov assured the workers and managers of the base.
He announced that the state’s priority would be to renovate the entire factory and that it would work to attract young people to the company.
At the meeting with the management of the production base it became clear that currently in Vidin 25 000 buckets of yoghurt and more than 6 tons of fresh milk are produced daily. The production of BDS products, which was discontinued under the previous management, has also been resumed. Milk supplies for the products of the LB Bulgaricum have already doubled, the minister said. According to the decision of the new management of the company, transparent competitions for the selection of suppliers of fully Bulgarian raw material are held every month. The minister pointed out that this month 900 tons of raw milk was purchased from Bulgarian producers alone, which is almost a two-fold increase compared to last summer, when the raw material purchased was only 430 tons.
The quality of the products must be restored, Bogdanov was adamant. He said that the distribution network in the region is planned to increase in order to shorten the supply chain and make LB Bulgaricum products reach more customers. Minister Bogdanov: LB Bulgaricum is now working at maximum capacity and with 100% Bulgarian milk. In recent months there has been a lack of them in the store network.
Bogdanov recalled that under the previous management of the company inefficient decisions were made to sell products below their cost price, which led to large losses for the company. Because of unfavourable contracts with retail chains the company was losing BGN 50 000 per month. In recent months, the production has not been working at full capacity, but only at 60 percent of it, the minister further recalled.
Bogdanov inspected the production workshops at the plant and found that the base was in need of urgent repair. ‘The state will renovate it and invest in new products and production machinery. Modernisation of production is a priority for us,’ the minister said. He said that plans are underway to attract young people and cadres to the LB Bulgaricum by reinstating dual programmes. The LB Bulgaricum Science Centre will continue to receive support from the state and will enter a new stage of development thanks to its cooperation with the Japanese company Meiji, the minister added.


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The year so far has come with mixed blessings. While the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the packaging sector in many ways, new trends are ensuring that it remains robust despite the numerous obstacles it is faced with. Packaging has changed significantly in recent years, which has triggered a noteworthy evolution in both packaging processes and the equipment used in it. Although we are approaching the half-way mark of the year, now is as good a time as any to have a closer look at some of the top packaging equipment trends that are shaping the industry in 2020.
Improved efficacy and higher throughput
Packaging lines have a reputation for being the first zone in a plant to profit from evolving technologies, including digitalization and automation. Due to this, the rate of production (throughput) is significantly increased. While companies with stable product lines can typically enjoy a steady throughput, those that change over their lines at regular intervals need to counter the additional downtime as best as possible. One way this will be achieved is to ensure that uptime is utilized to the max by improving the proficiency of the slowest pieces of machinery on the packaging line. Greater emphasis will also be placed on the upkeep of machinery, with many companies opting to employ in-house technicians and invest in diagnostic and repair tools to limit downtime further. The use of borescopes, for instance, saves time by allowing inaccessible areas to be inspected without having to disassemble the machine.
Robotics is growing in popularity
Robotic use by packaging concerns has increased exponentially over the last decade and continues to do so this year. According to the 2019 Robotics Innovation 2 Implementation report, the use of robotics in primary packaging has increased by 9% compared to 2014, while secondary packaging displayed an increase of 22% (from 48% to 70%). Some of the driving forces behind this trend are the higher speed and greater degree of accuracy at which robots work, a reduction in safety and labor costs, and a decrease in damage to products. Collaborative robots (cobots) are becoming particularly popular as they are not only considerably more versatile than standard robots but more compact as well.
Digital printers are the future
Although digital printing is by no means a new concept within the packaging industry, 2020 will be remembered as the start of a decade that will be unequivocally dominated by digital technology. Although most packaging concerns have made the change from analog to digital within the past decade, it does take a significant amount of time to completely retool a factory. Design and packaging concerns will invest heavily in state-of-the-art digital printers that not only improve the workflow but allow for innovative marketing as well. According to recent studies, digital printing on packaging will continue to skyrocket in popularity until 2024, when the market will be worth in excess of $28 billion.
The packaging industry has evolved substantially in the last decade. Thanks to constant technological innovation, the equipment used is not only allowing for time and money to be saved but for packaging as we know it to become increasingly more appealing and functional.


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Published December 28, 2011
If you can remember my post during October about the free round-trip tickets to Japan (If not, here it is), well that is now trashed according to the Japanese Tourism Agency (JTA).
…was not approved as a governmental draft budget of FY 2012.
I was very disappointed when I heard this news in Japanprobe. As disappointing as it may sound lets just pass this misfortune and continue the support to the Japanese agency and most definitely the support for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.
Published December 24, 2011
Yet, another year is ending. I just want to greet everyone a Happy Merry Christmas! And I hope you will continue to read my blog (｀・ω・´)” . MAY YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!!!
Published December 21, 2011
Cosplay , Random
I stumbled upon a pretty lengthy but interesting article in Yahoo! Philippines. It talks about the very popular Lolita fashion in Japan. Here are parts of the article and of course if you want to read more about it, just click here.
Outlandish pannier skirts with layers of frilly lace; teenage girls with larger-than-life make-up; a dash of sexuality and lashings of Victoriana are the order of the day for Japan’s Lolita girls.
What began as a street fashion two decades ago as youngsters aped the doll-like European styles of baroque and rococo has morphed into a near mainstream movement, with dozens of offshoots.
I’m no fashion guru heck I’m not even entirely sure of what I’m wearing now matches but coming from a guy, I think the Lolita type clothes are attractive (^・ω・^ )
“This is definitely one of the latest trends in Japan’s fashion world,” said Akiko Shinoda, a director for the Japan Fashion Week Organisation, adding Lolitas appeared for the first time last year at the twice-a-year show.
“I think it will survive as one distinct category in Japan.”
The article had some pretty criticizing comments from readers but this part of the article is what I like the best.
But Imari Sato, 18, was more forgiving. “I think it’s fine to wear it as long as it makes you happy,” she said.
Published December 19, 2011
News , Timeline
So the N.Korean leader died of a stroke Sunday on his way to visiting areas in his beloved state. The next heir is to be his son Kim Jong-un which is only in his late 20’s. Now, Japan is preparing or lets say the other Asian nation are preparing for the worst and hopeful that the death of Kim Jong-il’s death will not affect the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula. If you ask me, I don’t think his son (Kim Jong-un) will be capable of running a country and if that is true then the people who will be running are the Generals or the Commanders of their large military which can result into a coup. We will just have to wait and see. There was a game not so long ago that foretold that Kim Jong-il’s death will lead into a state of pretty much chaos everywhere. I’ll post this ‘Homefront’ trailer here. Though it seems farfetched, anything is possible.
If you want to read more articles click here and here. Both are Yahoo! news articles.
(picture is from Jprobe)
Published December 16, 2011
Anime/Reviews , Shows
An news update for the Rurouni Kenshin fans out there. A trailer was just released and here it is. Releasing in August 25, 2012. I can’t wait
Published December 14, 2011
Having a bad day? Maybe this will brighten you up.. It did to me :]
Published December 9, 2011
Anime/Reviews , Shows
I got great new for the Samurai X fans!! Releasing in August 25th, 2012 is the Live Action of Rurouni Kenshin. If you don’t know what that is, I suggest watching the anime plus the OVA. That’s it about this for now. Maybe more updates on this soon to come. For now, enjoy some pictures from eiga.com. :]


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Liz Seyi added new article
Joint-Record Low Business Confidence In The UK – Yet It’s Still The Highest In Europe
In a sign, perhaps, of just how perilous the economic situation remains for the whole of Europe in 2022, it has been reported that UK business confidence declined to a record low in June but still managed to be the highest on the continent in addition to being above the global trend. That apparently somewhat contradictory state of affairs was set out by a business outlook survey reported...
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