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The chip shortage impacted every major industry during the pandemic-caused recession. But now that business growth is coming back, many businesses need more IT now. Read to find out how to adapt to the new normal.
“I have never seen delays like this in our industry.”
— Kelsey Kingsbury, Procurement Manager
IT hardware manufacturers around the globe are having trouble securing supplies of semiconductor computer chips, delaying the production and delivery of goods and threatening to push up the prices paid.
Foundries have increased wafer prices for chip manufacturers, which increases the costs passed downstream to consumers and businesses.
A shortage of all sorts of processors and other components could affect the availability and price of IT hardware for the next 12 to 18 months, according to CEOs of major tech companies including Intel, IBM, Extreme, Cisco and Juniper.
Gartner, a leading research and advisory company, projects the shortage to extend until Q2 2022 with lessening impact until then.
Why Will the Chip Shortage Last So Long?
Several factors are driving the shortages, including the coronavirus pandemic, which plunged the global economy into recession last year, upending supply chains and changing consumer shopping patterns. During the pandemic, tech companies, whose products were boosted by lockdown living, snapped up as many as they could. Other shocks, such as US government sanctions on Chinese technology companies and extreme weather, have also contributed to the shortage of supply.
But ultimately, the bottleneck occurs at the chip supplier level. Manufacturers of substrates, wire bonding, materials and passives were operating at full capacity prior to the spike in demand. They cannot and in many business cases should not build more capability when the demand will return to normal levels in a relatively short period of time.
When to Order IT Hardware?
According to Goldman Sachs, 169 US industries embed semiconductors in their products. The bank is forecasting a 20% average shortfall of computer chips among affected industries, with some of the components used to make chips in short supply until at least this fall and possibly into 2022. While the shortage will reduce in severity over this period of time, we should still plan for significant delays in the purchase process.
If you are planning on ordering any new computers or other IT hardware by the end of this year or at the beginning of 2022, you should order now.
“We are seeing delays right now of weeks and even months on laptops, desktops, servers, docking stations, switches, i7 processors, LCD monitors and wireless access points,” said Platte River Networks’ Procurement Manager Kelsey Kingsbury. “Clients should think about ordering sooner rather than later. When stock becomes available, back-orders are filled first and inventory is gone within days. I have never seen delays like this in our industry.”
Since many businesses end their fiscal year in Q4, IT leaders need to walk back their anticipated hardware requirements and order as soon as possible. There has been a recent price drop for many chip types; however, this does not mean we should expect delivery windows to return to normal. Instead, we should take advantage of what might be a temporary drop to consolidate orders through the end of year.
About Platte River Networks
At Platte River Networks, we try to proactively set expectations, especially when there might be a temporary decrease in service level. Our clients rely on IT, and we want to make sure they stay on top of trends to achieve optimal business results.
Questions about the Chip Shortage?
Please email email@example.com for more information.


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The WeWork model is not atypical when it comes to ownership of property.
In 2010, the government pledged to deliver broadband to “every community in the UK” by 2015, but nine years later this target has still not been achieved.
According to the latest Deloitte crane survey, activity in the office sector continues apace, with 3.5m sq ft started in London alone over the six months to May – a 38% increase on the previous survey last autumn.
The fragility of the retail sector poses a real difficulty for landlords in protecting the value of their assets. Many retail leases include keep-open covenants but enforcement can be problematic with only limited options available: seeking an injunction, claiming damages or forfeiting the lease.
Earlier this month, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) withdrew its appeal against the High Court ruling that its lease was still valid and Brexit did not operate to frustrate it.
When William Hill announced that it was consulting with landlords over plans to close 700 betting shops, other big retail bookmakers such as GVC Holdings (parent company of Ladbrooks Coral) and Betfred made similar noises. This follows the government’s decision to cut the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).
Since the Regulation of Property Agents Working Group first convened last year, details of its deliberations have been scant. However, the group is now preparing to share its report – an important development in the government’s leasehold and sector reform agenda.
The government’s reported plans to merge high street use classes raises questions about the use class system as a whole.

domain: news


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By Thomas Smith on The Disney Parks Blog:
There’s nothing like ringing in the New Year at Disney Parks, but if you can’t join us, we’re keeping the excitement going to begin January with some special “Limited Time Magic” at the Walt Disney World Resort andDisneyland Resort.
We’re also excited to announce that 2013 will be the “Year of the Ear” at Disney Parks. Every month, Disney Parks will release new ear hats to add to your collection as part of “Limited Time Magic.” January will start with the limited release of Disney Couture Ear Hats. And each month, there will be fun designs to discover.
And we’re not done yet. We’ll have more “Limited Time Magic” information to share today on the Disney Parks Blog, including an exciting announcement to kick off the New Year at the Disneyland Resort. Be sure and check the blog later and remember that you can also find updates on Twitter using hashtag #LimitedTimeMagic and on our LimitedTimeMagic.com web page.


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The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has been making strides in the digital currency sector, and their latest innovation has brought the use of digital yuan payments to a whole new level. With the ability to spend crypto without an internet connection, China’s digital currency is now making waves in the world of financial technology.
The Advancement of Digital Currency in China
The world of digital currency has been evolving rapidly in recent years, and China has been at the forefront of this technological revolution. The PBoC has been working tirelessly to make digital currency accessible to the masses, and their latest innovation is the ability to make payments using the digital yuan without an internet connection. With the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, users can now make transactions using their smartphones even when their devices are offline.
In this blog, we will explore the latest developments in the digital yuan payments, and what it means for merchants, businesses, and the general public.
The Physical Wallet and Its Integration with the Digital Yuan
The PBoC and its partner banks have been working on developing physical wallets for the digital yuan for over two years. The first pilot project was conducted by the Postal Savings Bank of China, where staff at the Tongren Hospital Medical School of Jiao Tong University were able to make purchases using the digital yuan. These physical wallets were showcased at the Beijing Winter Olympics last year, and a wider range of these wallets is being prepared for the Asian Games, which will take place in September 2023.
The integration of the digital yuan with physical wallets is a huge step forward for digital currency, as it makes it accessible to those who may not have access to the internet. This is particularly important for those who live in rural areas or for those who travel frequently.
The Introduction of the E-Wallet and Its Benefits
The e-wallet, which uses NFC technology, is a more recent innovation in the digital yuan payment sector. This technology allows users to make transactions using their smartphones, even when their devices are offline. With most modern smartphones, and some SIM cards, having NFC functionality, the e-wallet has become a popular option for those who want to make payments without an internet connection.
In addition, most payment terminals also have NFC functionality, which means that temporary network or power outages will not pose major problems for transacting the digital yuan. The balances contained in users’ physical wallets are updated when they turn on their devices and re-establish network connections.
The Growing Adoption of Offline Digital Yuan Payments
According to an official from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s digital yuan team, a growing number of supermarkets, bookstores, self-service vending machines, and other outlets are already accepting offline payments. The banker also stated that “more options” will soon be available for digital yuan payments without network and without electricity.
This is a huge step forward for digital currency in China, as it makes it accessible to those who may not have access to the internet. The PBoC has also stated that “various physical wallets” will be “launched” to “explore software and hardware integration possibilities.”
The Future of Digital Yuan Payments in Suzhou, China
The city of Suzhou in China is leading the way in the adoption of digital yuan payments, with the hope that its inhabitants and local businesses will carry out transactions using the digital yuan in 2023 for a cumulative total value of approximately 297 billion. This is a clear indication of the growing popularity of digital currency in China and the PBoC’s efforts to make it accessible to the masses.
In conclusion, the growth of digital yuan payments in China, even without electricity or network connections, highlights the country’s commitment to digitizing its economy and improving financial inclusion. The PBoC’s efforts to make the digital yuan more accessible to users and merchants through the introduction of physical wallets and offline smartphone payments have been instrumental in driving its adoption. With more options for digital yuan payments without network and electricity set to become available, it’s clear that the digital yuan is becoming an increasingly popular choice among Chinese consumers and businesses. As such, it’s exciting to see how China’s efforts to digitize its economy will continue to evolve in the coming years.


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Ryanair fine of €736,000 annulled by Metropolitan Court of Budapest
June 02. 2023. – 09:57 AM
The fine of about 300 million forints – which followed the bickering with the Hungarian government – was imposed on Ryanair by the Consumer Protection Authority after the company indicated that from July 2022, the extra tax of 10 euros per passenger was added in full to the price of their tickets.
The company has now noted that they were fined at a time when the company was still massively loss-making due to Covid. They have since reported record profits. Ryanair said in the statement that the annulment of the "absurd and politically motivated fine" confirms that the company has the right to freely set the price of its tickets.
According to the court ruling, the competent government agency justified the imposition of the fine on the grounds that Ryanair was not entitled to pass on the tax on air travel because it is not the airline but the ground handling company that is subject to it under the regulation. However, the Court found that it was the airline that was subject to the tax and that it was therefore entitled to communicate this to its passengers, i.e. that it had not misled them, contrary to the decision of the consumer protection authority. The ruling means that Ryanair will not have to pay the 300 million forint fine.
The CEO of the Irish airline and the Hungarian government have been up in arms since the introduction of the extra profit tax last year. Although the government has threatened airlines not to dare to pass the tax on to their passengers, Ryanair, known for its cheap tickets, has done so, and a communications war broke out between O'Leary and members of the government.
Ryanair also lodged a constitutional complaint last July, claiming that the government's passenger tax, known as an "extra profit tax", violates the right to a proportionate sharing of the public burden. The complaint was rejected by the Constitutional Court at the end of April this year. Although the "extra profit tax" has since been converted by the government into an "environmental tax", Ryanair has retained the price of the passenger tax in the price of its tickets.
For more quick, accurate and impartial news from and about Hungary, subscribe to the Telex English newsletter!


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Naiise Archives - Inside Retail Singapore
A Naiise Iconic store has opened at Jewel Changi Airport.
Visitors to Jewel Changi can expect a raft of brands making their airport debut – and several landing in Singapore for the first time.
A “design incubator” to showcase home-grown brands and designers will open in the heart of Orchard Road by the end of next year.
The GoSpree mobile phone app will be launched to support The Great Singapore Sale.
Naiise Malaysia will feature 300 brands, half of them from local artists and designers.
Nearly two years after launching, ShopBack Singapore has introduced a mobile app.
New Singapore homewares concept Naiise has gone from an online store to a three-strong physical chain in less than four months.


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Retail sales in Mexico rose 1 percent year-on-year in June 2019, easing from a 2.8 percent gain in the previous month and below market expectations of a 2 percent increase. On a monthly basis, retail trade dropped 0.5 percent, after increasing 0.7 percent in May. Retail Sales YoY in Mexico averaged 2.19 percent from 2002 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 9.10 percent in February of 2012 and a record low of -6.60 percent in February of 2009.
Retail Sales YoY in Mexico is expected to be 3.70 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Retail Sales YoY in Mexico to stand at 3.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Mexico Retail Sales YoY is projected to trend around 3.40 percent in 2020, according to our econometric models.


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CR People: Tributaries, Cobra Electronics
Dowd Named National Sales Manager for Tributaries
Tributaries Cables announced this week that it has named Keith Dowd has been named national sales manager. A 27-year industry veteran, Dowd was previously eastern regional manager for AudioQuest, and before that founded the business that became AudioPort. He has also spent time at Beatty Electronics and Madrigal Audio Labs.
Cobra’s Bazet Adds Chairman Title
Cobra Electronics has announced that its chairman of the board, Carl Korn, will retire and become Chairman Emeritus. In conjunction with that move, the company’s president and CEO, James Bazet, will add the additional title of chairman. The changes are effective now.


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Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond (2020) was set to be the storied franchise's first big push into virtual reality when it launched in late 2020. Developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, the game aimed to bring the classic World War II shooter series into the modern era with immersive VR gameplay.
The game received mixed reviews upon release, with critics praising its attention to detail and historical accuracy while criticizing its repetitive gameplay and lackluster multiplayer mode. Despite these flaws, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond was still seen as a significant step forward for the franchise.
Medal of Honor: Above And Beyond is the latest VR game to see multiplayer support ending, signaling a shift in focus for the franchise. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, developers are constantly looking for new ways to engage players and keep their games relevant.


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With the release Thursday of Hyper-V as a free download to Windows Server 2008 users, Microsoft is drastically undercutting the prices of x86 server virtualization pioneer VMware. But while Microsoft provides good enough capabilities for many use cas...
Microsoft Thursday released its Hyper-V virtualization server, which has been nearly five year in the making and is a major play in the company's march toward services-based computing.
Lured by the sweet taste of chocolate, IBM hopes to use the cocoa plant as an avenue to improve its business prospects in the emerging economies of Africa.
Cisco offered its vision of where the industry is going and how it will get there to 11,000 customers and other attendees at the CiscoLive! conference this week.
Nearly 80 per cent of businesses have Macs in-house, nearly double the number that said they had users running Mac OS X two years ago, a research firm said Thursday.
MySpace will open up its data portability project broadly on Thursday, after launching it with a handpicked set of partners last month.
As expected ICANN, the nonprofit group that manages the Internet domain name system, unanimously voted to begin the process of relaxing the rules for generic top-level domain names (gTLDs).
Fujitsu Microelectronics has announced a new mobile WiMAX chipset optimized for mobile WiMAX devices such as smart phones and PDAs. The chipset includes a baseband LSI, MB86K22; an RF LSI, MB86K52; and a power management LSI, MB39C316. These three de...
Telstra opened what it is billing as the largest interactive telecommunications store in Australia in Melbourne today.
Preempting Intel's official launch of its latest Centrino 2 mobile processors, PC makers and chip resellers are leaking processor details by letting customers preorder the chip through channels and in laptops.
Mobile carrier Vodafone has launched an aggressive push into the unified communications space with the launch of Vodafone Business One, a partnership with Cisco and BlackBerry to offer unified communications to small and medium businesses.
After an on-air stoush with underworld identity Mick Gatto on his 3AW radio station, famed keeper of the 'Shame' file Derryn Hinch has become the subject of a Facebook group titled "DERRYN HINCH IS A SCUMBAG".
The Ruby programming language, which has become popular as the basis for web 2.0 sites such as Twitter, contains serious security flaws that could allow attackers to take over an organization's web server, according to the Ruby development team.
Telstra (ASX: TLS) and Lonely Planet Publications have teamed up to offer Telstra's 3G and Next G customers access to the Lonely Planet mobile-optimised Web site.
The entire island nation of the Marshall Islands has been left without email access to the outside world following a severe DDoS attack.
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GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.


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Wyomissing police arrested a man and a woman from Fleetwood after finding a hypodermic needle in a car in which they were passengers on the West Shore Bypass, police said Wednesday.
Police said they later found heroin in the woman's bra after her arrest.
Michael K. Bredbenner, 21, of the 100 block of West Arch Street, and Nichole A. Bausher, 26, of the first block of Brookfield Drive were charged with possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing heroin, respectively, after police searched the car near the Route 222/422 split about 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Bredbenner also was charged with receiving stolen property and giving a false name to police.
Investigators said they found a laptop computer in the trunk of the car that they determined he had stolen from Best Buy near Lancaster earlier Tuesday.
Police provided this further account:
Officer Kevin M. Quinter stopped the car driven by a Blandon man for driving 81 mph in a 55-mph zone. Quinter noticed Bredbenner, who was in the back seat, appeared to be trying to hide something on the floor and under his seat.
Quinter saw two caps from hypodermic needles on the floor in front of Bredbenner.
The driver, whose name is being withheld by the Reading Eagle because he hasn't been charged, allowed Quinter to search his car. Quinter found a hypodermic needle and spoon tucked in the back seat where Bredbenner had been sitting.
Bausher initially was arrested on an outstanding warrant on a retail theft charge in Lehigh County.
She and Bredbenner were taken to the Berks County Central Processing Center, and a female deputy sheriff found two packets of heroin inside her bra.
Senior District Judge Richard A. Gatti committed Bausher and Bredbenner to the county prison in lieu of $20,000 bail each after video arraignment in Reading Central Court.
State police last month charged Bausher with retail theft and conspiracy in a Sept. 12 incident at the Wal-Mart store in Lower Macungie.
According to troopers:
An employee saw a man later identified as Joseph T. Curry, 28, pick up several receipts in the parking lot. He went into the store and put items matching the receipts' UPC codes into a cart. Curry gave the cart to Bausher, who took the items and receipts to the customer service desk and returned them for $130.
A store employee confronted Bausher, who made a cellphone call, then left the store and got into a car driven by another man and left.
Curry of the 300 block of Longsdale Drive, Longswamp Township, has been charged with retail theft and conspiracy and remains at large.
Contact Steven Henshaw: 610-371-5028 or email@example.com.


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On September 29th, Rovio Entertainment, the company behind Angry Birds, listed its stock on the Nasdaq Nordic exchange. The company’s public offering had been halted prior to trading due to oversubscription; the company’s stock was priced at €11.50 for debut (the very high end of its suggested range) and opened at €12, giving it an enterprise value of more than $1BN.
Rovio had all but been given up for dead as recently as 2015; a round of layoffs, a management shuffle, a hit movie, and a trajectory shift on Angry Birds 2, the company’s highest grossing mobile game, changed its fortunes in just two years to the point that it could IPO (albeit, on a relatively small exchange) with a valuation of more than $1BN. Such a dramatic turnaround is a testament to how quickly prevailing wisdom about the fate of a company in the mobile space can become stale.
The prevailing wisdom around mobile gaming companies going public at one point felt irrefutable. A debate simmered in the summer of 2013 — as Zynga’s stock price stood at about 1/3rd of where it debuted and just a few months before Candy Crush developer King’s IPO — over whether VC financing was a good fit for mobile gaming companies. The accepted truth at that time was that the public markets were structurally hostile to mobile gaming companies, rejecting them like transplanted organs, because mobile gaming was a hit driven business. If mobile gaming companies couldn’t go public, their paths to billion dollar exits were limited, and so the general sentiment from some was that they weren’t suited for VC investment.
Only a few months after listing, King’s stock price had been cut in half, ostensibly validating the mobile-games-can’t-go-public thesis. In early November 2015, Activision acquired King for $5.9BN, or about $18 per share, which was a 20% premium over its share price at the time but a far cry from its debut price of $22.50. And in February 2017, South Korea’s Netmarble acquired some of Kabam’s assets for between $700 and $800MM, unequivocally extinguishing speculation that the company would go public.
But the prevailing wisdom of the Zynga-King IPO era now seems outdated. Rovio, which languished for years, is a public company with a more than $1BN enterprise value. Kabam’s acquirer, Netmarble, raised $2.3BN in South Korea’s second-largest ever IPO this past summer at a valuation of more than $12BN. In its last earnings report, Tencent — which operates Honour of Kings, the world’s top grossing mobile game, and owns a majority stake in Supercell — posted quarterly profits of $2.7BN (a 70% year-over-year increase) as its mobile gaming revenues surpassed PC gaming revenues for the first time. Next Games, the Finnish developer behind The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land, listed its stock on the Nasdaq First North Finland exchange in March 2017 and has seen its stock price increase from less than €8 to over €12 since then:
Even perennially-troubled Zynga is finding common cause with public markets investors, having seen its stock price rise from under $3 one year ago to over $3.50 today. In March, Zynga appointed former EA executive Frank Gibeau as CEO; Gibeau, in turn, introduced a number of former EA executives to the Zynga management team and began focusing the company’s attention on live operations and growing the revenues of its existing properties rather than taking big bets on costly new launches.
Glu Mobile, the developer behind the Kim Kardashian mobile game, has also experienced an upswing in its stock price over the past year on the back of the success of its hit game, Design Home. In late September, Jon Jordan published a masterfully articulated analysis of both companies’ recent public markets prosperity in Race To $4: Zynga Vs. Glu Mobile.
Why has this happened — how did the public markets transform from a barren and inhospitable no-man’s land for mobile gaming companies into the Garden of Eden? I believe there are a few reasons that public marketers investors have warmed to mobile gaming companies over the past few years relative to their reticence in the period of the Zynga and King IPOs:
- Mobile gaming companies have figured out sustainable user acquisition. Mobile gaming companies can now demonstrably grow their user bases without the need for the kind of unsustainable virality (Candy Crush Saga) or platform preferential treatment (FarmVille) that defined the biggest hits in the “first wave” of Western free-to-play social games;
- Mobile gaming companies have figured out monetization. Companies like MZ, Supercell, Rovio, Platrix, Peak Games, and bigger public companies like EA and Zynga have discovered and perfected monetization mechanics that aren’t seen as abrasive and absusive by players;
- Mobile gaming companies have figured out brand utility. Mobile gaming companies like King with Candy Crush but even Playrix with the Gardenscapes / Homescapes universe, Peak Games with the Toy Blast / Toon Blast brand consistency, Niantic with the Pokemon Go IP license, etc. have found ways to integrate brands into their games that actually serve all three of monetization, retention, and acquisition;
- Mobile gaming companies have figured out how to make money from advertising. Companies like Gram Games, Voodoo Games, Miniclip, and Ketchapp are generating impressive levels of revenue through in-game ads that don’t detract or distract players from game content. The ascendance of the “hyper casual” segment is one of the most exciting developments in mobile gaming at the moment;
- Mobile gaming companies have figured out live ops and are building eSports. Live operations management and eSports — which are two fundamentally different things but represent two sides of the same coin via generating increased levels of monetization and engagement through competition / cooperation — have allowed mobile games developers to keep players engaged and intellectually invested in play for far longer than was achievable with most games of the 2012-2014 era.
These developments and points of maturation have seemingly changed the receptiveness of public markets to mobile gaming companies. The levels of antipathy toward mobile gaming companies that were present from 2012 until just recently — which were probably deserved — appear to have dissipated, at least momentarily, on the back of real, important, and convincing changes in the way mobile games are marketed, monetized, and operated.


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Queensland Cotton has recommended its shareholders accept a takeover offer.
Olam Australia announced a takeover offer last month, to pay $4.75 per share.
That would increase by another $0.30 if Olam secures at least 90 per cent of Queensland Cotton shares.
In a letter to shareholders, Queensland Cotton chairman John Reynolds recommends acceptance of the offer, saying an independent expert has concluded it is fair and reasonable.
Mr Reynolds says Olam's offer removes uncertainty about share prices, which are exposed to the world cotton market.
He says there is a risk that if shareholders do not accept the offer, share prices could fall as the full impact of the drought flows through.


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Techopia takes a look at a month to remember for the city's venture capital scene.
Co-founder of Ottawa-based meeting management software startup says his goal is to make platform an indispensable tool for businesses around the world.
Startup that helps managers at Shopify and other companies host more productive employee meetings has seen its customer count triple during the pandemic.
Erin Blaskie, the director of marketing at L-Spark and a staple of the Kanata North tech community, is heading downtown for her next post with up-and-coming startup
Techopia Live covered emerging sectors, re-emerging entrepreneurs and even a surprise or two over the first half of 2019
Ottawa entrepreneur Aydin Mirzaee says having Shopify as a lead customer has been a big boost for his latest venture
Techopia Live went on tour this past week to OneEleven Ottawa, the latest accelerator in the capital’s ever-changing ecosystem.
Phase two LRT talk
Last week, I had the pleasure of MCing the third edition of SaaS North, Canada’s largest SaaS conference for companies scaling up.
Three years ago, Silicon Valley came knocking at Ottawa’s doorstep.


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Home ties are strong for people from Limpopo
While smaller Western Cape towns dominate the coastal holiday traffic, it is the lush province of Limpopo that sees the biggest trek of people going home over the December festive season.
This is according to data sourced from vehicles fitted with Tracker devices from across the country on an aggregated and anonymised level to determine which areas showed the highest increase in traffic in December 2019.
Compiled by data collection company Lightstone, it found that areas in the Limpopo region made up nine of the top 10 towns that experienced the largest inflow of “going home” traffic – people travelling to reconnect with family over Christmas – with Polokwane taking the top spot, followed by Collins Chabane, then Makhado.
Smaller Western Cape towns dominate the coastal holiday traffic.
The towns with the highest increase in activity compared to their November averages are Struisbaai at a 358% increase, Stilbaai at a 331% increase and Southbroom on the KZN south coast at a 310%.
Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay recorded the highest inflow of visitors, taking the number one and two spots respectively, with activity in the areas doubling compared with their November positions.
“Though the smaller towns show a smaller inflow, the volume of activity compared to their November averages are trebled,” said Michael du Preez, Tracker’s product and marketing executive. “It’s quite clear that areas in the Western Cape seem to be a holiday destination favourite.”
Lightstone said using analytical insights into the mass movement of SA's population over the festive period means towns across the country, as well as the businesses and retailers that were operational there, can forecast and better prepare for their December seasons.
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|By Marketwired .||
|January 27, 2014 02:12 PM EST||
NORTH OLMSTED, OH -- (Marketwired) -- 01/27/14 -- Most of us (87 percent, in fact) don't enjoy it, but it's something that has to be done... cleaning the house. So, how do today's homeowners deal with this dirty deed? The Consumer & Market Insights Group at Moen, the #1 faucet brand in North America, recently surveyed hundreds of consumers to determine who, how and how often the household chore of cleaning gets accomplished, as well as explore the many different goals for achieving a clean home. While it was surprising how the definition of "clean" can vary -- it was no shock to hear that the chore of cleaning is on a long to-do list... and homeowners are all looking for easier ways to conquer this often-dreaded task.
Battle of the Sexes
Think housekeeping is only woman's work? Well, that might be a matter of perception. According to those surveyed, 46 percent (mostly women) claimed, "I clean my home entirely myself," while 42 percent (mostly men) reported that "I share cleaning responsibilities with a spouse or significant other." The age-old battle of Mars vs. Venus...are the ladies taking all the credit... or do they feel perhaps that they do a better job than the guys?
While it may be a game of "he said, she said" on who's doing the brunt of the cleaning -- we do know the majority of the time it's someone within the household. Only 12 percent of consumers use an outside service to clean their homes. Why? Most (68 percent) say it's too expensive; while many (36 percent) don't want strangers entering their home. And, 16 percent say, "Why hire someone when you can do it better yourself?"
Goodbye Happy Housewife... Hello Hectic Housework
With hectic schedules, we often wonder where our time goes. According to Moen's survey, almost six hours of our week is spent cleaning -- but that doesn't necessarily mean all at once. With a 256 percent increase of women in the workforce from 1950 to 2000,* gone are the days of the stay-at-home housewife, spot-cleaning the home every day. Now, household cleaning jobs are often fit in before and after a full work day. On average, 30 minutes of each weekday are spent cleaning -- usually in the morning or evening; while on weekends, we spend between one to two hours each day on these chores.
So, how do we pass the time cleaning? Many of us might be caught dancing with a broom or vacuum, since the number one pastime while cleaning is listening to music (84 percent). Rounding out the top activities include catching up on TV (54 percent), talking with someone else who is home (36 percent), or singing (30 percent).
Definition of Clean
Not surprisingly, 58 percent of homeowners learned how to clean from their mothers, while 35 percent taught themselves. And the definition of "clean" varies quite a bit -- from those who simply clear the clutter... to those who battle bacteria.
Clear the Clutter
For many consumers, cleaning doesn't have to involve mops, brooms and rags. In fact, the goal for 46 percent of those surveyed was to simply "free the area of clutter."
In the bath, one of the smallest rooms in the home, Moen offers a variety of bathroom accessories to help conquer clutter with style. From traditional accessories, such as towel bars, shelves and robe hooks... to innovative products like hair dryer holders, double curved shower rods and towel bar hooks, consumers can find the perfect solution to add a bit of organization with sophistication.
Make it Shine
While organization is often the first step in the cleaning process, nearly 1/3 of consumers take it the next step further, with the end goal of making everything sparkle and shine. And, what are they using to make their homes look shiny and new? For kitchens and baths, paper towels and store-bought cleaners and detergents topped the list. Eco-friendly products are used at least sometimes (68 percent) -- but the expense (41 percent) or perception that they don't work as well (28 percent) has deterred buyers.
Wouldn't it be even better if kitchen and bath fixtures could stay looking clean? Moen has the answer with its exclusive Spot Resist Stainless and Brushed Nickel finishes, which actually resist fingerprints and water spots, helping homeowners maintain a fresh, brilliant faucet finish.
Finally, while only 11 percent of consumers state their main cleaning goal is to kill as many germs as possible, anti-bacterial wipes and sprays ranked high with 62 percent of consumers using them in the kitchen and 54 percent using them in the bathroom.
"It's no wonder that people are worried about disinfecting surfaces," said Maribeth Kwasniewski, director of retail marketing, Moen. "High moisture areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms, are hot spots for the growth of microbes. For example, on an unprotected surface, bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes."
To help inhibit the growth of stain- and odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew, Moen offers several bath and kitchen faucets that feature Microban®** antimicrobial protection added into the faucet finishes to keep the faucet finish cleaner, longer. Additionally, Moen offers kitchen faucets with MotionSense® hands-free technology, which virtually eliminates the need to touch the faucet, helping to reduce the spread of germs.
Spring cleaning. We all hear about it each year -- but only 14 percent of respondents actually do a big spring cleaning each year. So, if not spring, then when? Sixteen percent of those surveyed are overachievers, doing a whole-house cleaning every season, while one quarter (24 percent) reported doing a thorough cleaning before the holidays when they are expecting family and friends. Still, nearly half (46 percent) don't do any seasonal cleaning.
The Dirt on Cleaning
"In the end, there aren't any rules when it comes to cleaning. So, no matter who, when or how it gets done -- it's a dirty deed that every homeowner faces," said Kwasniewski. "Luckily with a bit of organization and the right products, homeowners can help create an environment that is easier to keep to their individual standards of clean."
For more information about Moen and its products, call 1-800-BUY-MOEN or visit moen.com.
*According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
**Microban® is a registered trademark of Microban International, Ltd. Used with permission.
As the #1 faucet brand in North America, Moen offers a diverse selection of thoughtfully designed kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads, accessories, bath safety products and kitchen sinks for residential applications -- each delivering the best possible combination of meaningful innovation, useful features, on-trend styling and lasting value. In addition, Moen® Commercial offers superior performing products that deliver lower lifetime costs for today's facilities.
Moen's legacy of thoughtful design stemmed from an invention by Al Moen. In 1937, after burning himself at a sink with traditional single taps for hot and cold water, a young, determined Al Moen set about inventing a single-handle faucet designed to mix hot and cold. The invention, finalized in 1939, revolutionized the plumbing industry and set the stage for 75 years of innovation.
Moen is part of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), which creates products and services that help fulfill the dreams of homeowners and help people feel more secure. The company's trusted brands include Moen® faucets, Master Lock® security products, MasterBrand Cabinets®, Therma-Tru® entry door systems and Simonton Windows®. FBHS holds market leadership positions in all of its segments. FBHS is part of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. For more information, please visit www.FBHS.com.
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SYS-CON Events announced today that Cemware will exhibit at the 19th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Use MATLAB functions by just visiting website mathfreeon.com. MATLAB compatible, freely usable, online platform services. As of October 2016, 80,000 users from 180 countries are enjoying our platform service.
Oct. 28, 2016 02:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,007
Data is the fuel that drives the machine learning algorithmic engines and ultimately provides the business value. In his session at Cloud Expo, Ed Featherston, a director and senior enterprise architect at Collaborative Consulting, will discuss the key considerations around quality, volume, timeliness, and pedigree that must be dealt with in order to properly fuel that engine.
Oct. 28, 2016 02:15 PM EDT Reads: 4,015
Digitization is driving a fundamental change in society that is transforming the way businesses work with their customers, their supply chains and their people. Digital transformation leverages DevOps best practices, such as Agile Parallel Development, Continuous Delivery and Agile Operations to capitalize on opportunities and create competitive differentiation in the application economy. However, information security has been notably absent from the DevOps movement. Speed doesn’t have to negat...
Oct. 28, 2016 02:00 PM EDT Reads: 2,945
SYS-CON Events announced today that eCube Systems, the leading provider of modern development tools and best practices for Continuous Integration on OpenVMS, will exhibit at SYS-CON's @DevOpsSummit at Cloud Expo New York, which will take place on June 7-9, 2016, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. eCube Systems offers a family of middleware products and development tools that maximize return on technology investment by leveraging existing technical equity to meet evolving business needs. ...
Oct. 28, 2016 02:00 PM EDT Reads: 4,694
SYS-CON Events announced today that MathFreeOn will exhibit at the 19th International Cloud Expo, which will take place on November 1–3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. MathFreeOn is Software as a Service (SaaS) used in Engineering and Math education. Write scripts and solve math problems online. MathFreeOn provides online courses for beginners or amateurs who have difficulties in writing scripts. In accordance with various mathematical topics, there are more tha...
Oct. 28, 2016 02:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,216
In an era of historic innovation fueled by unprecedented access to data and technology, the low cost and risk of entering new markets has leveled the playing field for business. Today, any ambitious innovator can easily introduce a new application or product that can reinvent business models and transform the client experience. In their Day 2 Keynote at 19th Cloud Expo, Mercer Rowe, IBM Vice President of Strategic Alliances, and Raejeanne Skillern, Intel Vice President of Data Center Group and ...
Oct. 28, 2016 01:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,715
The best way to leverage your Cloud Expo presence as a sponsor and exhibitor is to plan your news announcements around our events. The press covering Cloud Expo and @ThingsExpo will have access to these releases and will amplify your news announcements. More than two dozen Cloud companies either set deals at our shows or have announced their mergers and acquisitions at Cloud Expo. Product announcements during our show provide your company with the most reach through our targeted audiences.
Oct. 28, 2016 01:30 PM EDT Reads: 5,164
In the 21st century, security on the Internet has become one of the most important issues. We hear more and more about cyber-attacks on the websites of large corporations, banks and even small businesses. When online we’re concerned not only for our own safety but also our privacy. We have to know that hackers usually start their preparation by investigating the private information of admins – the habits, interests, visited websites and so on. On the other hand, our own security is in danger bec...
Oct. 28, 2016 01:15 PM EDT Reads: 741
@ThingsExpo has been named the Top 5 Most Influential Internet of Things Brand by Onalytica in the ‘The Internet of Things Landscape 2015: Top 100 Individuals and Brands.' Onalytica analyzed Twitter conversations around the #IoT debate to uncover the most influential brands and individuals driving the conversation. Onalytica captured data from 56,224 users. The PageRank based methodology they use to extract influencers on a particular topic (tweets mentioning #InternetofThings or #IoT in this ...
Oct. 28, 2016 01:15 PM EDT Reads: 8,651
Join Impiger for their featured webinar: ‘Cloud Computing: A Roadmap to Modern Software Delivery’ on November 10, 2016, at 12:00 pm CST. Very few companies have not experienced some impact to their IT delivery due to the evolution of cloud computing. This webinar is not about deciding whether you should entertain moving some or all of your IT to the cloud, but rather, a detailed look under the hood to help IT professionals understand how cloud adoption has evolved and what trends will impact th...
Oct. 28, 2016 01:00 PM EDT Reads: 782
"We've discovered that after shows 80% if leads that people get, 80% of the conversations end up on the show floor, meaning people forget about it, people forget who they talk to, people forget that there are actual business opportunities to be had here so we try to help out and keep the conversations going," explained Jeff Mesnik, Founder and President of ContentMX, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at 18th Cloud Expo, held June 7-9, 2016, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY.
Oct. 28, 2016 01:00 PM EDT Reads: 3,721
There is growing need for data-driven applications and the need for digital platforms to build these apps. In his session at 19th Cloud Expo, Muddu Sudhakar, VP and GM of Security & IoT at Splunk, will cover different PaaS solutions and Big Data platforms that are available to build applications. In addition, AI and machine learning are creating new requirements that developers need in the building of next-gen apps. The next-generation digital platforms have some of the past platform needs a...
Oct. 28, 2016 01:00 PM EDT Reads: 2,410
The Internet of Things (IoT) promises to simplify and streamline our lives by automating routine tasks that distract us from our goals. This promise is based on the ubiquitous deployment of smart, connected devices that link everything from industrial control systems to automobiles to refrigerators. Unfortunately, comparatively few of the devices currently deployed have been developed with an eye toward security, and as the DDoS attacks of late October 2016 have demonstrated, this oversight can ...
Oct. 28, 2016 12:52 PM EDT Reads: 217
Enterprises have been using both Big Data and virtualization for years. Until recently, however, most enterprises have not combined the two. Big Data's demands for higher levels of performance, the ability to control quality-of-service (QoS), and the ability to adhere to SLAs have kept it on bare metal, apart from the modern data center cloud. With recent technology innovations, we've seen the advantages of bare metal erode to such a degree that the enhanced flexibility and reduced costs that cl...
Oct. 28, 2016 12:45 PM EDT Reads: 740
Intelligent machines are here. Robots, self-driving cars, drones, bots and many IoT devices are becoming smarter with Machine Learning. In her session at @ThingsExpo, Sudha Jamthe, CEO of IoTDisruptions.com, will discuss the next wave of business disruption at the junction of IoT and AI, impacting many industries and set to change our lives, work and world as we know it.
Oct. 28, 2016 12:30 PM EDT Reads: 634


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Second Graders Host Annual African Market
Collegiate School's "African Market" opened for 2nd Graders today and also will offer exclusive shopping to that grade level tomorrow. Next week the market will be open to the entire school.
As part of their Studio Two class, 2nd Grade students have connected with children enrolled in Jam's Academy in Bertoua, Cameroon, learning about the geography, culture, family life, holidays, religion and rituals of that country.
Using bright and bold textiles (pagne) from Cameroon, students have created products to sell, this year adding key chains and bracelets to their inventory. All proceeds go toward adding to a simple school library at Jam's Academy, which Collegiate's class of 2024 (then 2nd Graders) seeded with books in May 2014, after learning that the Cameroonian school had no books at all.
Subsequent 2nd Grade classes have added to the library, and just last week the U.S. ambassador to Cameroon visited Jam's Academy. Jam's Academy recently posted photos that show him and his wife reading to the students.
"I just wonder if those were the books we sent!" said Holly Smith, Collegiate's Lower School art teacher who oversees the African Market and helped foster the partnership with Jam's Academy. "Our Collegiate students are so proud of their work and equally excited to shop and support efforts to partner with Jam's Academy to increase literacy in Cameroon."
The African Market opens to the whole school next Monday through Thursday (Feb. 26-March 1), before and after school in the Lower School.


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June 28, 2011
Brandery company makes permanent move to Cincinnati
CincyTech’s $250,000 investment draws turboBOTZ from Chicago
CincyTech has invested $250,000 in turboBOTZ, a startup company developing an e-retailing platform to serve video game buyers and sellers who would like to get better prices. The investment means the company will relocate to Cincinnati from Chicago this spring.
The two founders of turboBOTZ, Vincent Chou and Pratap Shergill, also participated in The Brandery Class 1 last fall. They were referred to Cincinnati’s consumer marketing startup accelerator from Chicago’s startup incubator program, Excelerate Labs.
Chou said the mentors at the Brandery helped them develop their retailing strategy and also to think bigger about working in strategic partnerships with companies that already have relationships with gamers. He said he sees a strong need for a place where video game lovers can get good prices to buy and sell used games.
“I’ve been gaming since I was a little kid,” said Chou. “As you get older, the technology evolves, but the games don’t get any cheaper. In fact, they can become even more expensive, and buying 10 to 15 new games a year at $60 per game can really put a dent in an avid gamer’s wallet.”
Chou and Shergill, who are getting their MBAs at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, conducted a competitive analysis of the used video game market. “There was nothing out there that gave gamers a reasonable price for their games in a convenient way,” Chou said.
“Our long-term vision is that turboBOTZ develop a strong community of video game buyers and sellers,” he said.
Brandery co-founder David Knox said CincyTech’s investment validates the accelerator program’s work growing startup companies in this region.
“We package mentoring, expertise and $20,000 in grant money from CincyTech around these companies in order to prepare them for investors, so they can expand and grow jobs,” he said. (The application period for Brandery Class II begin April 1 at www.brandery.org.)
turboBOTZ is the 20th portfolio company of CincyTech Fund I LLC. CincyTech President Bob Coy said the new and used video game market is estimated at more than $11.8 billion a year, representing about 250 million new and 100 million used games.
“We liked their addressable market as well as the experience and enthusiasm of Vinny and Pratap as a management team,” said Coy.
CincyTech is a public-private venture development organization that invests in startup businesses in high-tech industries in Southwest Ohio. With substantial support from Ohio Third Frontier and corporations, foundations, civic organizations and individuals here, it is stimulating the growth of venture-worthy companies in information technology, bioscience and advanced manufacturing.


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Michelham Priory’s Café has recently re-opened with a new Manager, new décor and a new philosophy on supporting local businesses throughout Sussex.
Catering Manager James Cocklin, previously of Ridgeway’s in Eastbourne, has re-vamped the café menu with a focus on high quality local produce. “Our milk and ice cream comes from Downsview Farm near Uckfield, the bread from Albion House bakery in Cross-in-Hand, Quiches and Scones from Chef’s Pantry in East Hoathly and the pies and cakes from other local producers. It is so important at a heritage site like ours to maintain the traditional values of sourcing food, and the feedback so far is that the quality is outstanding.”
As the menu progresses, James is expecting to increase the number of suppliers to include local juice, beer and meat producers. “It’s really good to be working with a local business and supporting each other. We’re really looking forward to working together in the future” said Sarah Farnes of Downsview Farm.
All the suppliers of the café have been invited to attend the upcoming Food & Garden Fair, to be held on the 19th and 20th May at Michelham Priory where visitors will be able to sample and buy produce from businesses throughout the region. There will also be garden stalls, demonstrations and activities in the house for children.
Published 23rd April 2012
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Have you ever imagined playing your favorite PC games with an XBOX controller? If so, your dream might come true with the release of some updates from XBOX. As confirmed by XBOX official website, now it is possible to use an XBOX controller on our PC [...]
Moscow – Thousands of Russian citizens were mobilized to clean up the damage caused by the meteor hit near the Ural mountains failed to find the space rock fragments. Failing that later sparked a conversation about the conspiracy theories about [...]
Apacer has been officially recognized as “Famous Trademark”, again awarded the Taiwan Excellence Awards 21.
Taiwan Excellence Awards event-21 which was attended by more than 483 manufacturers with 1221 products give awards to Apacer for 2 [...]
The key features? iPhone
Every day the number and types of smartphones is increasing. Choose the one that suits the needs of each person, require adequate information about the technology, features, and operating system. Especially considering the price [...]
Although there are many audio applications and media that can be used to play music on your Mac, iTunes is still the most popular choice in the management of musical content.
iTunes offers the ease of controlling the sequence of music, create playlists, [...]
This week, modifier application to be like a cartoon face or an application iMadeFace in the 4th position popular iPhone apps in iTunes. IPhone users is being fond iMadeFace. So what’s so special?
On the iTunes page, iMadeFace claimed as the number [...]
Cooler Master Thursday (09/04) launches headphones aimed at people who love to travel, namely HC-300 and HS-500.
Both headphones are using HDSS technology, a breakthrough technology that eliminates the distortion that can move more freely.
Model HC-300 [...]
BlackBerry, formerly known as RIM, decided not to sell latest BlackBerry 10 smartphone in Japan.
“Japan is not a major market for the BlackBerry,” said the company recently announced that BlackBerry Q10 and Z10.
Quoted from Cnet, Friday [...]
Laptop and computer hardware manufacturers, Gigabyte, has just launched its newest product U2442 Extreme Ultrabook.
In an event held in Taiwan, Gigabyte explained that U2442 Extreme Ultrabook features graphics Nvidia GeForce GT 650M or GT 730M.
In addition, [...]
With a price of $159 U.S. dollars.
If you are lovers of the underwater world and the music, then you need to have a digital music player Finis SwiMP3.
Finis SwiMP3 is a digital music player or MP3 player waterproof which has 2GB of memory capacity or [...]
Not only are the latter PS4 started leaking in the virtual world. Candidate key rival, the Xbox 720, recently much talked specifically about the specification.
Quoted from Ubergizmo, Thursday (2/7), the successor to the triumph of the Xbox 360 is reportedly [...]


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We are thrilled to announce that IgnitionOne’s Digital Marketing Suite has been shortlisted in the UK IPA Media Owner Awards for Best Technology.
This award in particular recognises the most innovative and effective new or significant development of online technology from media owners.
Launched in April 2011, the IPA online Media Owner Awards (MOA) are designed to showcase best practice in levels of service that online media owners provide to agencies and brands, with the aim of raising digital standards.
Stay tuned to our social media accounts on November 17th for a glimpse of the UK team in their party wear. Fingers crossed we’ll have some silverware to take home too!


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Moet to drop dosage in Brut Imperial
Moët & Chandon is to lower the dosage of its market-leading Brut Impérial from 12 grams per litre to 9 g/l according to its chef de cave Benoît Gouez.
This follows the decision by Dom Pérignon’s chef de cave Richard Geoffroy to gradually lower the sugar levels on the prestige cuvée, having dropped the dosage for its late-disgorged Oenothèque Champagnes.
As previously reported by the drinks business, Geoffroy said, “There has been a strategy of lowering the dosage in the last 10 years and we are now between 6 and 7 g/l.”
As noted in the drinks business 2011 Champagne Report, this decision by the biggest brand in the region follows a global trend towards adding less sugar to the world-famous fizz.
Partly explaining this development is kinder weather in Champagne, giving riper and more complex fruit with less reliance on a conventional dosage of between 10-12 g/l.
Michael Edwards writes in the Report, released with March’s db: “Even climate change sceptics cannot deny that, since 1990, harvests have progressively begun two to three weeks earlier than in the ’70s and ‘80s – in better-tended, eco-friendly vineyards, under warmer autumnal skies.”
As for the right level of sugar, opinions vary, but a balance appears to have been struck between 6-8 g/l, ensuring there is enough sugar to enhance the Champagne’s aromas but also protect the wine from premature oxidation.
Philippe Thieffry, senior winemaker at Veuve Clicquot, said: “If the Champagne has a moderate dosage – 6-8 g/l – and is well protected by SO2, it will release the same bouquet as one traditionally dosed at 10-12 g/l; it will not suffer oxidation.”
Below 6-8 g/l however, and Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, vice-president at Louis Roederer, said that “you reach an oxidative stage that quickly changes the fruit and aromas of the wine.”
For the full analysis of falling sugar levels in Champagne, and the role of good dosage and disgorgement, see the Champagne Report 2011, pages 30-34.
Patrick Schmitt, 24.03.2011


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UK Online Gambling experiences Big Increase – Hits £2b
The United Kingdom has always had a pretty big gambling presence in their country. And much of this presence is now shifting to the online sector, which has experienced a massive 80% boost over the past five years.
In 2008, the UK online gambling sector was at £1.27 billion annually. But recent figures have shown that the internet gaming market has risen to £2 billion. The biggest reason for the boost is sports betting, which makes up 44% of all online gambling in the country.
Online casino games also make up a fair percentage of the market since 29% of internet betting occurs here. Bingo is also another huge game in the United Kingdom because it draws 17% of gaming action. Finally, online poker makes up the remaining 10% of the market.
What’s interesting is that, despite the success, the UK government estimates that they’ve lost over £2 billion in online gaming revenue. The reason why is because they imposed a big 15% tax on UK-based operators. This move pushed lots of gambling companies into offshore markets like Gibraltar and Malta.
Because of the estimated lost revenue, the UK is strongly considering lowering the tax rate. Hugh Robertson, who’s the Minister for Sports & Tourism, discussed this by saying, “These proposals will ensure that British consumers enjoy consistent standards of protection, regardless of where a gambling business is based.”
Even at the current 15% tax rate, the United Kingdom gaming market is definitely booming. However, many anti-gambling activists are getting worried about the large influx of online bettors. One study claims that 450,000 UK residents have a gambling “problem.” Going further, each of these problem bettors is believed to have over £17,500 in debt. Of course, with a population of over 63 million, there are bound to be a fair amount of people who have a gambling problem.


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Consumer Public Relations Activities Build Awareness of California Avocado Season
To drive awareness and excitement for the California avocado season, the California Avocado Commission conducted consumer public relations outreach in early April. The season kick-off PR included the distribution of a press release on April 12, plus a mat release that went live on May 11, which is a short feature story designed to read like a newspaper article, making it easy for publications to pick up and run as is.
The press release and mat release both focused on “top five things to know” about in-season California avocados and shared ideas concerning how consumers can maximize their enjoyment of the fruit throughout the season with versatile California avocado recipes and how-to preparation tricks such as CAC’s nick-and-peel method. The press release, which included a quote from CAC’s new Vice president of Marketing Terry Splane, also leveraged the competitive advantage of California avocados as the only locally grown avocado and encouraged consumers to look for California on the label when purchasing the fruit during its exclusive season. To optimize distribution, the press release and mat release were distributed “over the wire” to relevant subscribing journalists and media outlets and was shared in email pitches to targeted local and national consumer media outlets with a focus on food and lifestyle. The Commission also conducted targeted media outreach designed to raise awareness of the premium quality of California avocados as well as their seasonal availability.
Beyond building awareness concerning the start of the California avocado season, both of the releases also served as an impactful tool to help cultivate media relationships and encourage reporters to keep the fruit top of mind when developing upcoming stories. To date the press release has garnered more than 117 million impressions across more than 120 national and regional outlets including the Associated Press, Bakerfield.com and the Santa Maria Times. The broad distribution of the seasonal kick-off PR helped generate demand for California avocados and built excitement for the locally-grown premium fruit as the industry transitioned into peak season.


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Quick Bites: New eatery in Chinatown offers hearty bowls of ramen and more
Lucky Belly: One of Chinatown’s newest eateries — Lucky Belly — is now open for lunch.
The “casual Asian” eatery opened June 1 in the former Mini Garden space on the corner of North Hotel and Smith streets, offering a simple menu of pork belly bao, shrimp gyoza, karaage chicken, tempura shrimp mushu and ramen.
The ramen is served in large, white bowls and a pork broth with sesame seeds, green onions and ginger.
Choose from the Lucky Bowl (noodles with bean sprouts, wakame and a soft steamed egg), the Belly Bowl (noodles with belly, smoked bacon and sausage) or Shrimp Kim Chee Bowl (noodles with shrimp kim chee). Prices range from $7 to $12.
Lucky Belly, 50 N. Hotel St., is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday, while take-out orders are available from “The Window” from 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Dinner hours will be available in the near future. Find them at www.facebook.com/LuckyBelly or on Twitter @Lucky_Belly.
Miso & Ale: Check out Miso & Ale’s next pop-up dinner at 6 p.m. on July 22 at Moke’s Bread & Breakfast, 27 Hoolai St. in Kailua. Christopher Okuhara and Christopher Gee are the team behind the gastropub pop-up, which serves unique food and beverage concoctions across Oahu.
The five-course, BYOB dinner will be created with local ingredients that include a surf-and-turf charcuterie (including cured kampachi and smoked Thai chicken sausage with a butterscotch miso mustard), farm-fresh summertime salad, hot-and-sour ramen and Miso & Ale all-day-braised short rib.
Dessert is a deconstructed PB&J made of liquid nitrogen peanut butter ice cream with toasted vanilla lime cake, red grape tapioca and roasted curried peanuts.
Miso & Ale pops up at a variety of locations. Seating at the July 22 dinner is limited to 30 guests. Tickets ($55 per person) are available at misoandale.com
Mangoes: For the fourth year in a row, the Moana Surfrider partners with Makaha Mangoes for the “Mangoes at the Moana” event on July 21.
Watch the Mango Throwdown from noon to 4 p.m. featuring more than a dozen top local chefs, from Hardy Kirschner of Michel’s at Colony Surf to Russell Siu of 3660 on the Rise.
This year, there will also be a Mango Cocktail Mixdown from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Banyan Courtyard, which will be open to public participation with professional mixologists on hand.
Sample mango-inspired products from Naked Cow Dairy, Ono Pops and Waialua Soda, as well as different varieties of mangoes grown on local farms at the Mango Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Banyan Courtyard.
Festivities take place at the Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa, 2365 Kalakaua Ave. Call 237-4749 for more information.
Joy of Sake: The Joy of Sake this year takes place at the Pier 2 Terminal Hall at Honolulu’s Foreign Trade Zone from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on July 20.
More than 300 premium sakes will be available for tasting, along with a tantalizing array of sake appetizers from 15 of Hawaii’s top chefs.
Cost is $80 in advance, $90 at the door. Tickets are available at www.joyofsake.com, the Sake Hotline at 222-0195 or at The Sake Shop, Marukai Markets, Fujioka’s Wine Times and The Wine Stop.
– Compiled by Nina Wu. Email “quickbites” news to email@example.com.


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Poultry, Livestock Import Policy to be Enforced in Ghana03 April 2014
GHANA - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) will begin the strict enforcement of a poultry and livestock import policy to boost local production and cut down the country’s importation bill by the end of the year.
According to GhanaWeb, the policy allows an importer to bring into the country only 100 tonnes each of livestock and poultry products every three months.
Speaking at a conference and an exhibition on agriculture and trade in Ghana and the United States, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture in charge of Livestock, Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw, said importers who flouted the regulations would have to return the products to the country of origin.
Organised by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US commodity groups, the event was a platform for participants from the two countries to deliberate on issues of mutual interest and create business linkages.
Topics discussed included an overview of Ghana’s feed and poultry industry, food in the institutional and retail sector development, livestock feed sector—current status of industry and market opportunities and trade considerations and the regulatory landscape.
Currently, Ghana’s poultry sector is facing challenges following unbridled trade liberalisation that allows the importation of poultry products to complement those from the ailing poultry industry in Ghana.
For a country that could produce 80 per cent of its poultry needs as of 1993, according to MoFA figures, Ghana can now produce a paltry 10 per cent of its poultry needs.
Last year, the country spent $270 million on the importation of poultry products.
To meet the growing demand for poultry products in the country, the deputy minister said the ministry would soon collaborate with the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers to implement a programme to revitalise the broiler industry.
The programme is to be based on a value chain system involving producers, financiers, marketers and processors.
Apart from Nigeria that has placed a ban on the importation of poultry products, restriction on poultry products across the continent is mainly to curtail the spread of diseases rather than to protect local industries.
She said it was regrettable that some companies that were importing poultry products into the country were at the same time investing in the industry in Nigeria.
Free market advocates argue that market forces must be allowed to dictate the direction of the poultry industry in Ghana.
The Executive Secretary of the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers and Feedmillers, Mr Francis Hammond, while applauding the move, urged the ministry to ensure that raw materials and drugs imported for the poultry and livestock industry met standards.
In a presentation, Dr Connie Bacon, the West Africa Sanitation and Performance Standards Advisor for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), said while it was difficult for poultry and livestock players in West Africa to penetrate the US market because of issues of quality, it was not the same for those who traded in food crops, including yam, cassava, banana and also hibiscus.
She singled out Ghana for producing some of the best pineapples in the world and urged Ghanaian farmers to take advantage of the opportunities existing in the US.
Dr Bacon, however, said while the US was interested in opening its market for such products, they would have to meet a benchmark.
She also stated that the APHIS did not deal with individual permits to export to the US market but rather dealt with requests from governments.ThePoultrySite News Desk


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Indian Stock market closed positive on Friday with BSE Sensex gaining 126 points at 17,783 and NSE Nifty closing at 5366. During the week, the stock markets have been positive and technical experts are seeing 5400 as major resistance for NSE Nifty. Among various sectors, BSE Auto, Consumer Durables, BSE FMCG and BSE IT indices closed positive.
FMCG major HUL touched 52-week high today. The stock touched high of Rs 505.45 and close at Rs 503, registering gain of Rs 9. Among technology stocks, Infosys, TCS, Mahindra Satyam and Tech Mahindra were among major gainers.
Indian Stock Markets opened positive on Friday but lost ground in afternoon session. The NSE Nifty was in negative zone at 13.52 IST. Asian markets closed positive with Nikkei 225 and Hang Seng closing the session with gain of 0.75 per cent.
The US markets closed positive, on Thursday. Dow Jones touched intraday high of 13269, less than 100 points from 52-week high. European markets have opened positive with DAX, FTSE and CAC showing marginal gains during the early session.
Investment Bank Credit Suisse has downgraded Indian auto major Tata Motors after the company announced disappointing results for Q1. Tata Motors announced 12% increase in net profit for Q1 at Rs 2245 crore.
Credit Suisse has cut the target price for Tata Motors to Rs 218. The rating has been downgraded from "neutral" to "underperform". The vehicle sales estimates for JLR for year 2013 have been decreased from 374k units to 365k units.
Indian Stock Markets ended the recent rally as the depressing June IIP numbers deteriorated investors sentiment. Also, rating agency Moody's has reduced India's GDP growth forecast to 5.5 per cent for 2012-2012. BSE Sensex closed 40 points lower at 17560. NSE Nifty closed 15 points down at 5322.
Indian stock market closed flat after benchmark BSE Sensex touched an intraday high of 17,726. NSE Nifty closed at 5338. European Markets opened negative and this led to decline in Indian stocks during the end of the trading session.
FTSE was down by 0.5%, CAC 40 was down by 0.62 per cent at 3431 while DAX was down by 46 points at 6921. Asian Markets were mixed with Nikkei 225 gained 0.88% while Straits Times down by 0.51%. Hang Seng ended the day flat.
M&M's automotive segment volumes grew by 31.8% to 95k units. The growth is mainly attributed to the robust demand in SCV and three wheeler segments. Pick-ups and SCVs witnessed a volume growth of 46.8% to 27k units. New launches Maximmo and Gio contributed to this growth in volumes. Three wheelers dispatches also continued its surge, growing by 41.7% during the quarter to 16k units. Passenger utility vehicles grew by 17.7% to 42k units. We expect average realisation for automotive division to remain flat on sequential basis at Rs363k.
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) reported impressive dispatches for the month of December '10 across various categories. In the automotive segment, the passenger UVs segment grew by 24%. Pick-up & SCVs had a growth of 46% due to success of `Maximmo'. Logan clocked volumes of 896 units. 3-wheeler dispatches doubled to 5.9K units. Overall domestic automotive dispatches increased by 43% to 32.5K units as against our expectation of 26K units.
M&M, with a major rural presence, is expected to benefit from strong monsoons this year. New product launches in the automobile segment would help it record 20.8% and 13.2% growth in FY11 and FY12 respectively. The tractor segment too is expected to grow 10.3% in FY11 on increased demand from the construction and infrastructure sectors.
What will move the stock?
While the government has recently confirmed that it is scouting for a joint venture partner for ailing Scooters India, M&M has also said that t is very much in the race to bag the ailing PSU.
It is to be mentioned here that the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh recently said that the government is looking for a stake sale deal in Scooters India and there are many companies that have shown an interest in buying the same.
Perhaps the M&A strategy of M&M has not stopping for the short-run. After bagging companies like Reva and Ssangyong, the company has set its sight on the loss-making Scooters India.
While the company has recently confirmed that it is in the race for buying the government owned company but it has mentioned that its final decision will largely depend on the valuations of the company.
The utility vehicles and tractor maker Mahindra & Mahindra recently said that the company believes it will be able to complete the Ssangyong buy within a period of four months.
Moreover, the president for automotive sector and Member of the board, Pawan Goenka recently said that the company will have a South Korean executive for managing the company and the brand will remain intact.
One of the most-professional conglomerates in the country, M&M has recently said that its automotive division will launch its first motorcycle in the Indian market before the end of FY2011 in the Indian market.
The president for automotive sector and Member of the board, Pawan Goenka recently said that the company will make its foray into the motorcycle segment before the end of 2011 fiscal year.
It is to be mentioned here that M&M, a company which makes utility vehicles and tractors, ventured into two-wheelers two years ago and has already launched scooters.
A majority stake in the government operated Scooters India Ltd. has generated interest in the two major vehicle manufacturers in the Indian market namely Mahindra and Mahindra which produces utility vehicles and Atul Auto Ltd, which manufacture three-wheelers.
The government which owns about 95 5 percent of the shares in the company is planning to sell of about 74% of the stake. Scooters India is stated to have stopped its manufacture of two wheelers which it used to produce until 1997 under the trademark names of Lambretta and Vijai Super.
Under a major event in the Indian automobile circuit, the Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra recently said it has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in beleaguered South Korean vehicle maker SsangYong Motor Company.
While on the one end, the government is planning to sell a majority stake in the ailing Scooters India, players like Indian utility vehicles maker Mahindra & Mahindra and three-wheeler maker Atul Auto Ltd are reportedly interested in the race to bag the company.
It may be noted here that government plans to offer upto 74 percent stake in Scooters India. For the uninitiated, Scooters India, in which the government owns about 95 percent stake, reported an Rs 220 million loss in the fiscal year ending March 2010, according to data on the BSE.
Ever since Mahindra &Mahindra has attempted to buy Ssangyong Motors, it has seen a decline in its value.
For the last five days, one of the leading makers of passenger and utility cars has witnessed a consistent and large fall in its share valuations for five trading sessions.
On Wednesday, August 11, the share went down by 4.3 per cent.
M&M has been named as the preferred bidder by Ssnagyong for its acquisition. The Korean automakers are under huge burden of debt and has got only 2 per cent market share of the whole Korean automotive sector.
There is no denying to the fact that Ssangyong Motors will provide the desired boost to the portfolio of the conglomerate M&M. The fact that the company is eying to bag close to 70% stake in the South Korean auto major testifies the importance of the ailing auto major to Mahindra.
It has been learned from the sources that the $450 million bid made by Ssangyong Motors is for more than a 51% stake in Ssangyong but the company may bid for over a 70% stake.
Since the point of time M&M has purchased Renault's share in the M&M-Renault JV, the company has done everything possible in order to ensure that the sales numbers achieve the desired growth in the Indian market.
It may easily be recalled that when the three-year-old joint venture between Indian auto major Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M ) and French carmaker Renault came to a dead-end, the future for the Logan was surely uncertain. However, with its aggressive sales push, M&M has been able to keep the product afloat in the domestic circuit.
Things are getting for the bankrupt South Korean automaker, Ssangyong Motors. After one of India's biggest business group, Mahindra &Mahindra, it is now turns of the Ruias to bid for buying the car maker.
Ruias are Kolkata-based and are one of India's most big business family; having interest in various sectors. The deadline for the bidding process for Ssangyong Motors is to end on Tuesday.
The group in a press statement said, "(The) Ruia group is indeed bidding for SsangYong. This has been decided in a meeting, presided by Pawan K Ruia, chairman."
The automotive arm of the conglomerate, M&M Group has recently said that the company will take a decision on whether to bid for the cash strapped Korean auto major, Ssangyong Motors or now at a later stage of time until it gets more close to the deadline of submitting the final bid.
The company said in a statement that it is still awaiting some additional information that may influence its decision of whether to bid or not for Ssangyong.


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Under the deal, Amazon will own 16% of Deliveroo as the lead investor in a $575m funding round that was first announced in May 2019.
The CMA had previously halted the deal, saying that it believed consumers would have less choice as a result of the tie up and that it would discourage Amazon from re-entering the online restaurant food market and further developing its presence within the online convenience grocery delivery market in the UK.
However, following a two-phase and 15-month examination of whether or not the deal would create competition concerns, which included a culmination of extensive analyses of internal documents from both businesses, a survey of more than 3,000 consumers and extensive submissions from interested third parties, the watchdog has now given it the green light.
The CMA’s assessment focussed primarily on how a 16% shareholding held by Amazon would affect its incentives to compete independently with Deliveroo in both restaurant delivery and online convenience grocery delivery in the coming years.
Despite various operators in the sector expressing a strong opposition to the deal, the watchdog ultimately concluded that this level of investment will not substantially lessen competition in either market, but has said that should Amazon look to acquire a greater level of control in the Delivery company, a further investigation could go ahead.
“Today’s final decision is the result of a thorough examination of this deal and the markets in which Amazon and Deliveroo operate,” said Stuart McIntosh, inquiry chair.
“When looking at any merger, the CMA’s role is to assess whether consumers will lose out from a substantial lessening of competition. We have not found this to be the case given the scale of Amazon’s current investment, but if it were to increase its shareholding in Deliveroo, that could trigger a further investigation by the CMA.”


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Welcome to Women Love Tech – an award-winning lifestyle technology site. Women Love Tech is passionate about supporting women in STEM. Making technology accessible for everyone by providing great tips, news, reviews, amazing apps & cool gadgets!
It was both a colourful and eventful year for Instagram with incredible moments captured and amazing communities gaining attention locally and globally. Some would say the defining moment came when Instagram started to hide instagram posters’ likes.
Hidden likes on Instagram was first announced the “test” that would hide public like counts on all Instagram posts.
Instagram likes first disappeared in Canada last May, and then expanded to other countries, including us here in Australia, as well as Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand and more recently the United States. There was a mixed reaction all round with many questioning how it would impact both influencers and businesses.
Basically, like counts are private. For some this was received well because it takes the competitiveness out of sharing posts and for others, they prefer everyone seeing how much attention their posts got.
Special Moments were far and wide, just take a look at these below:
Aussie Geotags That Are Trending for 2020
Following the release of the first A-Z of Instagram in 2019 where Lake Tyrell in Victoria was highlighted as an emerging geotag. Plenty of scenic destinations have now become tourist attractions after they’ve started trending.
Travel is the #1 interest for Australians on Instagram, and with the below list it’s evident that regional Australia is a top priority for adventurers and travellers from across the country.
Here are some of the destinations that grabbed our attention over the recent months.
“The instagrammability of a location is playing an increasingly important role in the decision making process of many tourists and growing numbers of places across Australia are reaping the rewards,” said Tourism Australia Chief Marketing Officer Susan Coghill.
“Importantly, many of these lesser known locations are based in regional locations where increased tourism can have a big impact on the local economy.”
Inspiring Aussie Creators
Instagram recognised ten Australian creators for their exceptional creativity and inspiration on the platform over the past year.
From beauty to music to activism, these ten creators use Instagram for vastly different reasons, but were all celebrated for their impact on the Australian Instagram community across 2019.
The creators recognised include:


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Blog: Throw a (Divine) egg at a world leader!
Dean Best | 1 April 2009
The world's leading politicians are this week facing the ire of protesters in London as they convene for the G20 summit.
If you have an axe to grind or a message for the likes of Obama, Brown and Sarkozy but either can't make it London or don't fancy joining the masses of anarchists (and legitimate protesters! - ed), Fairtrade chocolate maker Divine Chocolate is giving you the chance to have a pop at the politicians.
At www.eggapolitician.com, you can throw a chocolate egg at five leaders attending the G20 summit – US President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
The aim of the site, created by social enterprise St Lukes, aside from promoting Divine's Easter egg range, is to “keep fair trade on the G20 agenda”, Divine says.
“If Africa is to escape poverty, African producers and farmers need a fair opportunity to trade on world markets at a fair price,” says Divine's Charlotte Borger. “Just a 1% increase in trade from Africa would be equivalent of five times the amount of aid the continent currently receives.”
Upon throwing the egg, you get to send an email to the summit to urge them to keep fair trade on the agenda at the G20 summit.
On screen, Obama and co. will also get a chance to eat the Divine egg “with relish”, the chocolate maker says.
Just what Jamie Oliver, the UK healthy-eating campaigner and celebrity chef cooking tonight's G20 dinner would say about all that chocolate is anyone's guess.
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