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2013 Yamaha Stratoliner on 2040-motos
Yamaha Stratoliner description
This is a 2013 model I bought. Single owner. Miles on bike is only 75. Never has been dropped, always garaged. I added heavy duty engine guard. Rear bags guards. Rear seat and trunk. Have to sell as I broke my pelvis and can not ride any more. You set up transport. Call Haul Bike for price.
No scratches or any damage. Also have quality bike cover.
Yamaha Stratoliner for Sale
Moto blogMon, 30 Jan 2012
Like Kenny Roberts, Valentino Rossi has got his own ranch where he has built his own private motocross track and dirt oval. The above YouTube video shows Rossi training on the flat-track circuit that makes up his 'MotoRanch' located near his home town of Tavullia. He's shown riding a Yamaha, but that's probably because Ducati don't have themselves a scrambler.Wed, 14 Aug 2013
With the signing of B&W Trailer Hitches the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) has committed 300 exhibitors to its inaugural event this October in Orlando, Fla. “To think that just three weeks ago we were announcing our 250th exhibitor and to now be at a point where 50 more brands have committed to the expo is absolutely remarkable,” says Larry Little, VP and GM of the Marketplace Events Motorcycle Group. B&W Trailer Hitches, an American company, produces a variety of hitches and truck accessories, all aimed at making the process of loading, unloading, and transporting motorcycles as easy and safe as possible.Thu, 25 Aug 2011
Yamaha announced a slate of activities for the Aug. 26-28Indianapolis Grand Prix to mark the manufacturer’s 50th anniversary of Grand Prix racing. While Yamaha factory racers Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies wearing the special red and white 50th anniversary livery, race fans can purchase matching 50th anniversary gear and other merchandise and souvenirs.
Yamaha Stratoliner by State
Yamaha Stratoliner by City
Yamaha Stratoliner by Color


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LAST UPDATED : Aug 07, 2020, 09:43 AM IST
- Godrej aims to grow hygiene business to Rs 500 crore in 3 years
With increased demand for hygiene products amid the pandemic, Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) has expanded its hand wash brand Protekt to cover 14 products across personal, home and kitchen segments. India and SAARC CEO Sunil Kataria said the aim is to grow the brand 7-8 times to Rs 500 crore in three years.
- Godrej seeks more payout to part with land for bullet train
The city's largest private landlord, Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd, has challenged the state's action in waiving a social impact assessment provision over acquisition of a 10-hectare Vikhroli. plot for the bullet train project. The 534km Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor is slated to pass through Thane creek and proposed to open in December 2023.
- Skin in the game: Beauty tech firms drive market makeover
About 56% of urban consumers are showing a growing interest in customised products and have paid extra for such items, according to a recent survey by Boston Consulting Group. The study, ‘Ten Trends That Are Altering Consumer Behaviour In India’, also found that 50% of consumers prefer Indian brands over international ones and this trend is quite pronounced in the personal care segment.
- 63% of men not prepared to handle robberies, burglaries at home: Report
A whopping 63% of men are not prepared to handle robberies and burglaries at home, according to 'Har Ghar Surakshit' report by Godrej Lock. The report found that men change and upgrade passwords in their computers and mobiles more frequently than considering a safety upgrade for their homes.
- Gurugram: Pipes destroyed, Godrej Summit residents allege tanker mafia’s role
Residents of Godrej Summit, a residential society in Sector 104, are dependent on water tankers for their daily use. Around 350 families residing in this society since 2018 alleged that even after getting the occupation certificate, the society is yet to get water connection.
- Lack of cultural and social infrastructure affects Mumbai's liveability index
When UK prime minister Boris Johnson was Mayor of London, he had a study done of 11 cities around the world based on their cultural infrastructure. Mumbai looked terrible in this report with fewer national museums to boast than Singapore, fewer art galleries to brag about than Shanghai and fewer million people visiting its museums than those in the other cities.
- India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually: Study
India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, of which 40 per cent remains uncollected and 43 per cent is used for packaging, most of which is single-use, a new study has revealed. The study has been conducted by Un-Plastic Collective (UPC), a voluntary multi-stakeholder initiative to eliminate plastic pollution in nature and move towards a circular economy.
- It's official, in a 1st, Isro invites private firms to build 5 PSLVs
In a major push for PM Modi’s Make-in-India initiative, the Indian Space Research Organisation has finally invited Indian companies to build five Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLVs). The space agency’s new commercial arm— New Space India Limited —has been made responsible for handling the process of technology transfer to the industry.

domain: news


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October 13, 2023 / News
Ad World: MyMilkman Takes Hassle Out of Ordering With New Campaign
Home delivery service, MyMilkman.ie, has launched a new campaign highlighting the benefits of having a range of fresh products delivered to your door, including milk, cheese, juice, yogurt and eggs.
Created by Zoo Digital, part of Connelly Partners, it follows on from MyMilkman.ie’s 2022 campaign “For less Ugh and More Ahhh.” It has heightened the drama of these everyday pain points, as each video was framed as a mini TV drama with episodes focused on relatable and humorous ways people run out of the essentials, whilst showcasing the wide variety of products MyMilkman has to offer.
The campaign photography has received international creative industry acknowledgment. Three still photos were recently selected by industry-renowned publication, Lürzer’s Archive and are set to be published in its next publication.
Learn more about the campaign here.


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Want to haul your flat-pack furniture even faster?
Read This Article
There's a wiring harness under the seat of many Volvos that could disconnect if you move the seat back.
There have been rumors on the web of Swedish automaker Volvo potentially teaming up with performance and tuning group Polestar to make a tuned Volvo S60.
Volvo is issuing recalls of its 2013 S80 sedan and XC70 station wagon due to an issue with the vehicles' tire pressure monitoring system, or TPMS.


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Growth in global trade in services is rapidly outstripping trade in goods, according to new World Trade Organization (WTO) data released this month, with the organisation’s director-general Roberto Azevêdo calling for this often “overlooked” area to be given more attention. Meanwhile, banks that GTR has spoken to say they are primed to support new services trade flows.
International trade involving less tangible offerings such as computing and digital services are rising rapidly, and are likely to continue their upward trajectory as global digitalisation efforts increase, the report says.
“Thanks to digitalisation, services that once had to be delivered face-to-face, like education, can now be delivered remotely. Yet services are often overlooked in discussions on global trade, and the extent of their contributions to global trade is not always fully appreciated. This report attempts to remedy this oversight,” said Azevêdo in his opening remarks at a WTO meeting in Geneva on October 9.
Global services trade grew on average 5.4% a year from 2005 to 2017, faster than the 4.6% average annual growth in goods, according to the WTO’s 2019 World Trade Report.
Based on a revised statistical model, the report found trade in services was worth US$13.3tn in 2017, and projects that it could grow by 50% by 2040.
Global banks have been keeping a close eye on the rapid ascent of services trade, particularly developments with newer technology such as embedded services, including software-as-a-service, annual maintenance contracts and e-commerce-related transactions.
“It is a huge opportunity,” Vinay Mendonca, global head of product and proposition for HSBC’s trade and receivables finance business tells GTR, adding that the bank is already actively financing services trade.
“A lot of our structures now support the financing of services. The biggest shift is to have the ability to extend beyond relying on physical documents to digital data input streams. You wouldn’t necessarily receive a shipping document, instead you may get a data stream confirming services. That’s where you need to have the ability to adapt and finance based on these new data streams,” he explains.
Over the years, banks have been ramping up their own digitalisation efforts as they move away from traditional paper-based trade finance.
Financing services trade – particularly for newer, digitised services – leverages that trend, Mendonca says.
He cites a deal where the bank provided a client with a revenue monetisation solution based on clicks on online ads.
The transaction – which was completed a couple of years ago – involved providing working capital to a firm that buys online advertising space from large websites to sell on to third-party companies and makes its money from people clicking on the adverts.
HSBC’s role was to plug the financing gap between the company buying the space and then receiving payment from the individual advertisers. The firm presented a data stream of clicks per advert to HSBC to prove that a “trade” transaction had taken place.
The success of deals like these relies on banks having the right kind of technology to handle the data.
“In terms of banks being ready to support this growth in services trade and have the ability to consume data, it is critical to have the right interfaces and API constructs,” says Mendonca. “It is one thing to have a lot of data in the ecosystem but another for a bank to be able to consume that data and integrate it into its credit decision-making processes.”
James Binns, global head of trade and working capital at Barclays, agrees that digitisation capabilities underpin the ability to finance trade in services.
“I was particularly pleased to see the WTO note the importance of digital technology for the future of trade in services. API connectivity now offers a far greater degree of interoperability between different systems and a deeper exchange of data across the supply chain,” he tells GTR.
“At Barclays, our focus for the next 18 months is to upgrade our core trade finance platforms to be cloud-based and API-enabled. With this we intend to maximise our connectivity across supply chains and different platforms, thereby offering increased choice and value to our clients, allowing them to trade more goods and services across the globe,” he adds.
The WTO report found that trade in computer services and research and development recorded the most rapid average annual growth from 2005 to 2017, growing at above 10%.
Distribution and financial services accounted for a fifth of trade in services, with education, health and environment services currently standing at negligible levels, although rising quickly.
The report added that policy barriers to the future growth of trade in services were much more “complex” than those facing trade in goods, noting that growth is dependent on these barriers being lowered.


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NEW YORK, Nov 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Workers making shoes, Christmas lights, tools, curtains and paper boxes sold at Wal-Mart stores labor in illegal and degrading conditions. China Labor Watch's latest investigation of five Wal-Mart supplier factories reveals that not a single factory has implemented Wal-Mart's basic standards, and a total of 10,000 workers included in the report suffer serious rights abuses.
"This is not about a single factory, but about Wal-Mart's inability to implement its standards," says CLW Executive Director, Li Qiang. In the report, CLW attributes this failure to ineffective auditing and a pricing structure that forces factories to sell goods at unsustainable prices. As the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart leverages its massive product orders to purchase goods at low prices, and workers suffer the financial burden.
As Wal-Mart gears up for holiday sales, workers at all five factories work at least 3 hours of overtime/day, for 100-140 total hours of overtime/month, and one factory routinely schedules overtime through the night. Two of the factories illegally underpay overtime wages at rates as low as $0.44/hour, and two withhold wages from workers who fail to meet production quotas. Workers' low wages are further undermined by excessive fines and unpaid days off or maternity leave, and some workers cannot even purchase social security!
Worker abuse extends beyond paychecks. Workers at two factories are denied gloves on the grounds that it will slow production. Dormitory conditions are so poor that at one factory, there is no running water in the bathrooms. Canteen meals are extremely poor and workers often complain of hunger pangs, and one factory forbids workers from leaving the factory to eat. Worst of all, two of the factories have rules forcing workers to lie to Wal-Mart auditors, forcing workers into silence as Wal-Mart turns a blind eye to sweatshop conditions.
Violations at these randomly selected factories represent poor conditions across Wal-Mart's supply chain in China. Wal-Mart has already pledged to remediate these five factories. But with tens of thousands of Wal-Mart supplier factories in China, CLW does not seek a piecemeal approach to factory remediation. Rather, CLW urges Wal-Mart to address its systematic failure to purchase goods made in legal conditions, according to its own basic standards.
To read the report, visit www.chinalaborwatch.org.
SOURCE China Labor Watch


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Supermodel Adriana Lima Is Done With Victoria’s Secret
Adriana Lima is choosing to leave Victoria’s Secret after nearly 20 years with the brand. The model made the announcement on Instagram.
“Dear Victoria, Thank you for showing me the world, sharing your secrets, and most importantly not just giving me wings but teaching me to fly. And all the to the best fans in the ! Love, Adriana,” she captioned a montage on Instagram of her walking in the annual fashion show over the years.
Adriana was 18 when she made her Victoria’s Secret debut in 1999. “This has been my 18th fashion show and I am still as excited as I was from the first day. I always love to be on runways and being part of the Victoria’s Secret show. It my favorite to do,” she told People of the latest fashion show.
“I’m looking forward to support women and being connected to different projects which support women around the world,” the model later revealed. “That like my future from now on but I am still happy that I am part of Victoria’s Secret this year. You guys are going to love this year’s show. To me it is definitely going be very special.”
View this post on Instagram


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Top economic trends of 2018: Global economic landscape
As we head into the new year, the Ag Economics team wants to help you anticipate 2018 with a look at five economic trends likely to affect Canadian agri-food this year.
Given the number of impacts from far-off sources likely to be felt here at home in 2018, we’ve made The World our number one trend to watch.
The global economic environment will support agriculture and agri-food in 2018, although there’ll be some rough spots along the way.
Global GDP is forecast to grow 3.7% with the U.S. and other advanced economies leading that growth. That stability will help to withstand some of the uncertainty global markets will face this year. From the renegotiation of NAFTA to the massive market influence of China, the world plays a huge role in Canadian agriculture and food processing profits.
The Canadian dollar is expected to be higher in 2018 than it was in 2017, though still low enough to support profit margins. It should average US$0.78, assuming West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices trade in the US$55 per barrel range and interest rates in Canada and the U.S. follow similar patterns. A low CAD benefits the livestock and crops sectors.
While many developed economies’ central banks have been unable to lift inflation to-date, currencies among Canada’s major trade partners (the U.S., Japan, and Europe) are expected to strengthen in 2018.
Growth in developing nations is expected to also lift spending on imports of commodities and food. Oil-importing countries have boosted economic output as oil prices declined, but with the worst of that likely in the past, oil-exporting countries are now also expected to grow. That growth, along with additional income means consumers in emerging markets buy more food.
Specific markets will play heavily on Canadian competitiveness.
China is expected to show 6.5% growth in GDP, and India will reach 7.4% GDP growth in 2018. Each will impact Canadian production in the year to come. India’s late-2017 introduction of a 50% import duty on Canadian pea exports could shift Canadian acres, with potential price impacts cascading down to other crops. Chinese consumption of animal-based proteins continues to grow at a pace that requires them to import which, in 2018, could total 2.5 million tons—with much coming from non-U.S. sources.
Income/wage growth in the U.S. - Canada’s largest export market for agriculture and food - is expected to continue to boost consumer spending there.
The relatively low loonie should make Canadian exports competitive in 2018. But the big trade story in 2018 will come from geopolitical affairs and the agreements they produce.
A renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will have long reaching implications, well beyond trade taxes and market access rules applied to Canadian exports and imports. It could also alter existing dispute settlement procedures and has the potential to shift the value of the Canadian dollar. Changes in any of these could impact prices of ag commodities in Canada.
Elsewhere, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will give Canadian producers greater access to Europe’s massive market while a revived Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (formerly the TPP11) has the potential to give access to Japan, a mature market, and several other emerging markets.
What's the bottom line?
The world is a big place, but it might take on even greater significance to Canadian agriculture and food processors in 2018. Global market forces will shape prices producers receive, and ultimately, farm cash receipts. Those forces have the potential to create a bumpy ride this year, but the health of the Canadian sector should be strong enough to hold tight.
Martha joined the Economics team in 2013, focusing on research insights about risk and success factors for agricultural producers and agri-businesses. She has 25 years’ experience conducting and communicating quantitative and qualitative research results to industry experts. Martha holds a Master of Sociology degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and a Master of Fine Arts degree in non-fiction writing from the University of King’s College.


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“Certain issues were brought to the board’s attention regarding Mr Dunn’s personal conduct, unrelated to the company’s operations or financial controls, and an audit committee investigation was initiated,” the company said in a statement. “Prior to the completion of the investigation, Mr Dunn chose to resign.”
Mr Dunn, who had been at the helm for close to three years, had been criticised for not recognising the scale of the challenge that Best Buy faces from internet retailers such as Amazon, discount chains including Wal-Mart, and from the rise of Apple stores.
Best Buy, which built its success around the creation of huge shops, slumped to its first annual loss in more than two decades in 2011 as customers migrated online. Although Best Buy's online sales are climbing, its large stores have become an increasing financial burden to a company struggling to lift revenue. Sales climbed less than 1pc last year.
The company did not initially disclose the probe when announcing the resignation, saying: "It was time for new leadership to address the challenges that face the company," and claimed Mr Dunn's resignation had been by "mutual agreement".
Mike Mikan, a board director, will take over as an interim chief executive.
Last month Best Buy announced plans to close 50 of its "big-box" stores and open more of its smaller outlets that focus on selling smartphones. Wall Street analysts said the move would not be sufficient to revive one of America's best-known retailers.
Mr Dunn, who joined Best Buy as a VCR salesman in 1985, told Bloomberg last month: "I believe I absolutely am the right person to lead the company forward. I'm not really spending a lot of time looking in my rearview mirror."
Shares in Best Buy fell 5.9pc to $21.32 on Tuesday. They fell more than 30pc during Mr Dunn's tenure.


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Rev up for this year’s family-friendly Greater Milwaukee auto show
It’s not every day you get to ogle hundreds of shiny new cars, test-drive new vehicles, sample delicious food and top it all off with car karaoke. That’s what makes auto shows like the 2020 Greater Milwaukee Car & Truck Show such a treat for car lovers and car buyers alike.
From Feb. 22 to March 1, the Automobile Dealers Association of Mega Milwaukee-sponsored auto show will take over the Wisconsin Center for multiple show floors featuring over 500 of the latest cars, crossovers, trucks and other vehicles from more than 30 manufacturers.
But what can car enthusiasts expect from this year’s event? Read on for an overview of the best attractions you’ll find at the show.
1. Get up-close to the latest models — including luxury brands
For nine straight days you’ll find cars galore, but it’s most exciting when you get into the specifics. You’ll get a look at over 500 brand-new models from Ford, Hyundai, Lincoln, Jeep, Chevrolet and more. That’s a lot of newness that’s bound to turn some heads.
You’ll also see luxury vehicles in all their glory and quiet power. Snap photos of dazzling vehicles from Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz, just to name a few, all part of the auto show’s Luxury Zone.
2. Get your nostalgia fix of historic and restored cars
What’s something new without something old? Along with brand-new models, you’ll find restored vintage vehicles with a nostalgic glamour that’s worth daydreaming about. Check out lowriders from the ’80s and earlier, curated by Reyes Customs and PJ’s Garage, and view some of Milwaukee’s finest restored cars at the must-see Bennett Coachworks Showcase.
History buffs will also enjoy seeing nicely polished classic cars in the Eric von Schledorn Collection, featuring an original 1953 Corvette and a Trans Am owned by Burt Reynolds.
3. ‘Plug in’ to the electric vehicles!
To race from the past right into the future, visit the Electric Zone for a look at the latest plug-in electric vehicles, hosted by Wisconsin Clean Cities. The exhibit also offers an energizing education on all things electric: the benefits of electric cars, how the technology is evolving, the contribution of electric vehicles to American energy security and much more.
4. Take a test drive
If you thought the show would be all looking and no touching, that’s where you’re wrong. Licensed drivers can also test-drive more than 25 vehicles from Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, Dodge, Fiat and Volkswagen. As fantastic as these cars look from the outside, there’s no better vantage point for vehicle appreciation than from behind the wheel.
5. Family-friendly fun
Those too young to drive have plenty of options too, including an electric-powered test track for kids, making the auto show perfect for the whole family. There will also be a mini-golf course, with donations benefiting Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, and numerous vehicle simulators and activations, including a virtual reality roller-coaster simulation. You won’t want to miss the adorable pet adoption events on Saturdays and Sundays, courtesy of Subaru.
Also on Saturdays and Sundays, between noon and 3 p.m., attendees can replicate James Corden’s famous “Carpool Karaoke.” There are no age restrictions when it comes to singing your heart out!
6. Plenty of food and drink at Sip & Savor
Last but not least, this year’s auto show is excited to announce the return of the event called Sip & Savor, which will take place from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. There will be 70 beers from 27 craft brewers and delicious eats from local restaurants and positioned throughout the show.
Food, beverages, fun, song and automobiles all await at the Greater Milwaukee Car & Truck Show. For tickets and additional information, go to autoshowmilwaukee.com.


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Soon after the Samsung Galaxy S III was announced for five US carriers, we've gotten our first information about ordering the phone. Verizon has announced that the Galaxy S III will be arriving at its stores in "the coming weeks," and it's open to pre-orders starting at 7am EDT on Wednesday, June 6th. As Samsung promised, it will indeed start at $199.99 for the 16GB version, with the 32GB one available for $249.99. Both those prices require the standard two-year agreement, and customers will need to subscribe to an LTE data package, the cheapest of which provides 2GB of monthly data for $30. Beyond having a different antenna, there aren't substantial differences between this and the Galaxy S III phones that will be coming to AT&T, T-Mobile, and others, so hopefully this announcement means that we'll be seeing a similar release date for everyone else.
Update: There was some concern among Verizon customers who have been clinging to their unlimited data plans that they'd have to give them up when upgrading to the Galaxy S III — after all, Verizon's language notes that customers will need to subscribe to an LTE data package starting at $30 for 2GB of data. However, Verizon has confirmed to Droid Life that current customers with unlimited data plans will get to keep them when buying the Galaxy S III. That isn't a huge surprise — Verizon had previously said that it customers could keep unlimited data when upgrading until the carrier launches shared data plans. Still, it's a comforting reassurance for those clinging to their precious unlimited plans.
Nathan Ingraham contributed to this report.


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New Geforce 551.61 WHQL driver with RTX HDR in tow
Nvidia has finally released the new NVIDIA App, a more modern control panel, which, unlike the Geforce Experience app, does not need you to create an Nvidia account. In addition, Nvidia has released the new Geforce 551.61 WHQL driver, which brings RTX HDR and support for the new NVIDIA App control panel.
GPU company's results are on fire
Nvidia says it's on fire with its AI chips and expects even more growth.
One to have for Skull and Bones game
Nvidia has released its latest Geforce 551.52 WHQL Game Ready driver which brings optimizations for the new Skull and Bones game, as well as fixes some issues.
Around 20 percent slower than the 8GB version
Nvidia has officially launched the new Geforce RTX 3050 6GB graphics card. While it might sound the same as the RTX 3050 8GB launched back in January 2022, this is a completely different graphics card, based on a different chip, coming with 2GB less VRAM, and being around 20 percent slower, all for $179.
RX 7600 XT repeats one of Nvidia’s mistakes
AMD has launched a new graphics card that could end up making Nvidia’s offerings look good.
€1109 price tag in Europe
First Nvidia Geforce RTX 4080 SUPER graphics cards have been listed in Europe, ahead of its official launch on January 31st, and the price starts at €1,109.
Roundup: New Geforce 551.23 WHQL driver and reviews are out
Nvidia Geforce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is available as of today, priced at $799. Nvidia has also released the new Geforce 551.23 WHQL driver with support for RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, and some other updates, and reviews are out as of yesterday.
Dual-slot and with three fans
ASUS has rather silently launched yet another custom Geforce RTX 4060 graphics card, this time in the low-profile form factor, making it interesting for those SFF builds.
Geforce NOW getting G-SYNC, 24 new G-SYNC gaming monitors, displays and TVs, and more
In addition to its RTX 40 SUPER series lineup announcement at CES 2024, Nvidia also announced some other updates, including a list of games that will be getting RTX updates, including DLSS and/or ray tracing. Nvidia Geforce is also getting a few updates including G-Sync support, and Nvidia was keen to note that there are 24 new G-SYNC monitors, displays, and TVs coming soon.
Announcements at the Nvidia CES 2024 Special Address
Nvidia has officially started teasing the upcoming Geforce RTX 40 SUPER series graphics cards that are expected to be announced during the CES 2024 Special Address.


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When Apple Music launched in 100 countries on June 30, there was one very notable name missing from its list: China.
The Cupertino firm has now confirmed that Apple Music – alongside iTunes Movies and iBooks – will be launching in the region today (September 30).
Apple said in a statement that Apple Music in China would “feature music from artists including Eason Chan, Li Ronghao, JJ Lin and G.E.M., as well as a wide range of international artists including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and many more”.
“Customers in China love the App Store and have made it our largest market in the world for app downloads,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services.
“One of the top requests has been more great content and we’re thrilled to bring music, movies and books to China, curated by a local team of experts.”
“We’re thrilled to bring music, movies and books to china, curated by a local team of experts.”
Eddy Cue, Apple
Like the rest of the world, music fans in China will be able to join a three-month trial membership of Apple Music from September 30, after which a 10 RMB/month subscription fee (US $1.57) will apply.
There will also be a family plan providing service for up to six family members available for just 15 RMB/month ($2.36)
Movies on iTunes will be available starting at 5 RMB for rental in HD and 18 RMB to buy new releases in HD. Paid iBooks start at 0.5 RMB.Music Business Worldwide


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The CBI has released quarterly SME Trends Survey results, announcing that SME manufacturing output volumes have fallen at the fastest rate on record.
Scott Donnelly, CEO, CapitalBox, made the following comment :
“There are ongoing struggles in the manufactory industry – especially for SMEs. The beginning of the pandemic witnessed how China impacted SMEs in Europe before lockdowns had even commenced. Since our own lockdown, the result is an impending recession.
We are, however, optimistic. As lockdown has eased over the last few months we are certainly seeing the industry normalise and have started to see companies within our portfolio apply for funding again as they look to expand in the fourth quarter of this year and move towards restoring the manufacturing industry.”


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Authorities at the Liberia Marketing Association have warned the general public to desist transacting businesses with anyone claiming to be superintendent of the Omega Market in Paynesville City.
According to a statement issued by LMA in Monrovia on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, no one has been named as superintendent of the market.
The release quoting the 1976 act and the amended act of 2010, said LMA is the only body that has the legal authority to supervise and manage markets across the country.
Meanwhile, LMA has vowed to take corrective measure against anyone or group of individuals attempting to undermine its legality, as Omega Market remains a component of the Association.
By Alfred Kollie


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Apple vs Samsung: round 2 up to beginn
The deadline of February 19 for Apple and Samsung to mediate their patent dispute has passed without agreement. The two parties will be back in a Californian court at the end of March.
Samsung was ordered to pay Apple $ 450 million (later increased of $ 290 million in November 2013) for patent infringement related to different devices including the iPhone and iPad.
Now the second round is about to begin, with the first hearing on March 31, 2014.


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Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has launched India’s first FASTag-based metro parking facility, at the Kashmere Gate metro station in partnership with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Paytm Payments Bank will be the acquiring bank to facilitate the processing of all FASTag-based transactions for cars having a valid FASTag sticker, thus eliminating the hassle of stopping and paying cash at the counter.
About the parking facility:
- The parking facility is the first to accept payment via the UPI (unified payments interface) mode, which has been launched for two-wheeler vehicles, entering the parking site.
- PPBL will digitise parking facilities across the country with Kashmere Gate metro station being the first one to be powered by the bank’s digital payment solution.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- MD and CEO of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd: Satish Kumar Gupta.
- Paytm Payments Bank Ltd Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.


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Following the cancellation of Mobile World Congress, manufacturers have been busy rescheduling product launches left, right and centre.
Today, Oppo has announced its revised launch of the long-awaited Find X2 series of phones will take place on Friday March 6th.
Like others launches that have taken place in the last day or two, Oppo will opt for an online launch streamed around the world.
However, there will be a UK event to coincide with the launch and I’ll be there to get hands-on with the new devices. I’ll also aim to Tweet all the news as it happens (so if you’re not already following me, please do so now)
There’s not a great deal of information out there yet, but the news straight from the horse’s mouth is that the Find X2 will come with an incredible high-resolution 120Hz display, which could leave all other handsets in the shade.
We also know that the Find X2 will be a high-end 5G handset using Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 865 SoC, and we can assume the camera setup is going to be impressive too.
(Oh and there just might be a new watch also.)
As they say, watch this space….


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Next month, the company will begin selling Internet phone services that cost between $10 and $35 a month to Morpheus users, StreamCast said on Tuesday. The $10 program covers 300 minutes of calls to the traditional phone network, while the $35 plan gives unlimited calling to anyone within the United States.
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The VoIP equipment and call time for the service will be supplied by i2 Telecom International, according to a representative for the communications company.
StreamCast's jump into VoIP is part of broader trend among peer-to-peer software makers, which are trying to use their presence on broadband-enabled desktops to launch Internet phone service.
Several months ago, file-swapping software maker Kazaa unveiled Skype, a peer-to-peer VoIP service that's been downloaded six million times already, according to the company.
StreamCast's voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service is open to the 120 million people that have downloaded Morpheus, provided they also buy a Morpheus-branded adapter. The adapter is needed to allow traditional home phones to make calls over a broadband connection.
VoIP is a technology for making phones calls using the Internet Protocol, the world's most popular method for sending data from one computer to another. After years of overpromising and underdelivering, VoIP is generating significant interest among telecom carriers, corporations and consumers, thanks to significant improvements in quality of service.


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Electric vehicles (EVs) could make up 15% to 35% of total new vehicle sales globally in 2040, according to a new report from IHS Markit, a critical information, analytics and solutions provider.
As reported, these findings are part of the new research project, Reinventing the Wheel, that will be conducted over the first half of 2017. IHS Markit says this major multi-client research initiative will provide a system-wide analysis of the new reality of transportation and the potential implications for the oil, gas, automotive, electric power and chemical industries.
“The key question is whether we are approaching a transformative shift akin to the first decade of the 20th century, when the internal combustion engine, cheap gasoline, bicycle technology and mass production combined to usher in the automotive age,” says Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of IHS Markit. “Converging developments along multiple tracks are leading us to focus on this important question.”
Although EVs constitute a small percentage of the world’s vehicle sales and are just 1% of the on-road fleet today, sales in 2016 are up more than 1,000% since 2010 – a trend that IHS Markit expects to continue, with the potential to make EVs more than one-third of the new vehicle sales in 2040.
“Significant advances in battery technology, financial support from governments, regulations and values of millennials will be key factors leading to increases in electric vehicle adoption,” says Jim Burkhard, study co-director and chief of research at IHS Markit for crude oil markets and energy scenarios.
The report says EV share in individual markets will vary based on these factors. For instance, in China and Europe – regions where policies are favorable to EVs – IHS Markit estimates that EVs could comprise over half of new passenger vehicle sales in 2040.


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MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises plan to resume service at the end of this month, after a lengthy pause due to Italy's extensive travel restrictions related to the nation's Covid-19 surge.
MSC plans to resume sailings on Jan. 24, with a departure from Genoa on the MSC Grandiosa. The ship will visit the Italian ports of Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo, and Valetta in Malta, with embarkation available in each port in Italy. The MSC Magnifica will also resume its 11-day Genoa sailings, starting Feb 14, to Western and Eastern Mediterranean ports in Italy, Greece and Malta.
Costa canceled all departures until Jan. 31, when it plans to resume service with the Costa Deliziosa, which will take over the 3-, 4-, and 7-day sailings to Italian ports originally planned for the Costa Smeralda. That ship will remained paused while the line makes new plans.
MSC and Costa were the first two lines to resume big-ship cruising this summer, offering Mediterranean sailings starting August and September. They were among the few European lines sailings when a second wave of Covid-19 hit Europe in the fall, causing them to cancel sailings starting in November and through the holiday season.


text: Botswana's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry has imposed restrictions on the importation of bottled natural and mineral water through the country's Control of Goods, Prices and Other Charges Act. As of 01 August 2018, the importation of water packed in bottles of less than 10 litres in to Botswana will be prohibited. The implementation of the regulations aims at promoting the competitiveness and sustainability of Botswana's domestic water bottling sector. The Statutory Instrument No. 44 of 2018 was published in the Government Gazette dated 06 April 2018.


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Live Chat: Potluck Magic
Tired of supermarket shrimp rings and bad meatballs? A panel of food editors, writers and bloggers is here to make you the star of the next holiday potluck. Whether you're the one hosting or the one attending, these experts have great recipes to share that offer something for everyone.
Panelists: Journalist Ron Eade was the food editor of the Ottawa Citizen for more than two decades and now writes about food in his blog, Omnivore's Ottawa, Liane Faulder writes about food for the Edmonton Journal and maintains an award-winning blog, Eat My Words, Peter Hum is the food editor of the Ottawa Citizen, Susan Schwartz is a feature writer and columnist who writes about food for the Montreal Gazette, Randy Shore is a former restaurant cook and avid food gardener who writes about food issues for the Vancouver Sun, Gwendolyn Richards is the food writer for the Calgary Herald and the blogger behind PatentandthePantry.com, and Laura Brehaut writes about food for canada.com and Postmedia Network.
Be a part of the discussion, Thursday at 1 p.m. ET.


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German wages rise strongly for third year in row
German workers enjoyed a strong increase in wages for the third year in a row in 2016, official data showed Thursday, in news likely to be welcomed by the European Central Bank.
Real wage growth stood at 1.8 percent last year, the federal statistics authority Destatis said in a statement, confirming preliminary results released in February.
That was slower than the record 2.4 percent increase recorded in 2015 and the 1.9 percent rise the year before.
To give a clearer picture of the development in workers' purchasing power, the statisticians calculate the real wage growth figure by subtracting inflation - at 0.5 percent over the whole year - from the nominal increase in salaries of 2.3 percent.
Rising inflation towards the end of the year meant that real wage growth slowed in the fourth quarter to just 1.1 percent, after a peak of 2.7 percent between January and March.
"As in the previous year, employees with below-average monthly earnings received above-average nominal increases," Destatis commented.
Untrained workers, the "marginally employed" earning less than €450 per month, and employees in the hospitality sector saw their wages rise faster than other groups.
Growing wages in Europe's largest economy will be welcome news for the ECB.
Paying workers more should boost consumer spending, powering the eurozone economy and driving inflation towards the ECB's target of just below 2.0 percent, monetary policymakers believe.
Higher salaries are "the linchpin of a self-sustained increase in inflation," ECB President Mario Draghi told journalists at a press conference in early March.
Economic growth in Germany has become increasingly dependent on consumption at home, even as the country's traditionally strong export sector remains in robust health.


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“On the Hummus Route,” the food book that describes a utopian journey without borders between Cairo and Damascus via Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other cities, continues to break records.
After winning the “World’s Best Book” award and the “Best Book for Peace” award at the World Culinary Oscars, and after being presented to the Pope and Prince Charles, the book was presented in a festive ceremony in honor of the United Nation’s World Peace Day, observed on September 21, 2021.
“On the Hummus Route,” which offers a new social order and calls for equality in the Middle East, was presented in a special exhibition held as part of a ceremony held at the Alfred Nobel House in Sweden, with the participation of leaders from around the world.
The events of World Peace Day are being held this year under the themes of Ecology, Sustainability and World Peace, and the exhibition in which the book is presented is organized by the Gourmand Awards and the Albers Organization for Sustainability Research.
Editor-in-chief and book designer Dan Alexander is particularly pleased that the event organizers have explained the choice to present the book as a step that will inspire hope for a better recovery towards an egalitarian and sustainable world.


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Two years after COVID-19 hit the world, we are witnessing the various efforts geared towards recovery – from the successful rollout of vaccination programmes to the gradual return to schools and workplaces.
But while we have come further today, there is one thing to bear in mind: this is hardly a return to “business as usual” as it is easing into the new normal. This is especially true for brands with a regional presence: elsewhere in Southeast Asia, countries are dealing with varying stages of recovery from COVID.
The lessons from the disruptions of previous years will continue in 2022, and possibly further, as public relations helps brands navigate a post-COVID landscape. How? Through genuine support and authentic connections. During 2020’s region-wide lockdowns and restrictions, brands did a tremendous job rerouting their offerings to continue serving consumers forced to stay indoors.
Today calls for sustained empathy and understanding as the region recovers from COVID. Here are ways PR can help brands avoid tone-deaf messaging and create richer connections with their community.
Genuinely engage with the community
The past two years brought the realisation that consumers look to brands to care about what is happening around them. Consumers want to know that brands understand what they are going through – and with real ramifications. Studies show that brands who demonstrate “authentic purpose” will be rewarded, as Gen Z filters brands based on purpose – and will pay more premiums for a purpose-driven brand.
The isolating effects of 2020’s circuit breaker and the constantly changing restrictions throughout 2021 made audiences yearn for human connections. Humanising brands – being able to evoke sincerity and authenticity – will continue to drive strong engagement, create community connections, and build brand trust.
Check in with your community on how they are doing, foster relationships, and advocate for their causes – emotional connections can hook your audience and get them to come back for more. Engaging and building strong ties with your community is the most organic way to turn them into brand advocates – sharing the content you create.
Help win hearts and minds
These days, it’s essential to strike a balance between respecting sensitivities and upholding brand interests. Rather than hard-selling, public relations must help brands earn a place in people’s lives by providing value.
One of the best ways to communicate your client’s brand value to audiences is by building its brand reputation and credibility through organic means and earned media. Tapping micro-influencers and key opinion leaders can serve people’s desire for authentic experiences and trustworthy recommendations that answer their needs.
Help adapt to new tech
With various restrictions in place, brands and PR practitioners needed to adapt to virtual events. This year, continued social distancing measures and reallocated budgets may push the creative limits on community engagements and brand activations through next-gen technology such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), alongside other digital tools. Becoming familiar with these tools can help enrich interactions and sustain community ties.
A PR agency attuned to adapting to new and innovative platforms can help brands navigate the idea of applying these new technologies for storytelling, so you and your team can focus on the big picture for your brand.
PR can help brands show support for consumer interests instead of their own
The pandemic and lockdowns disrupted daily living as people feared for their health and economic safety. With jobs on the line and the possibility of contracting the virus on people’s minds, consumers expect brands to acknowledge and understand the events that impact the community. For brands, this means their communication efforts and messaging must address these consumer insights more precisely. By framing your key messages in a way that specifically addresses your audiences’ concerns, this demonstrates an acute understanding of consumers’ plights during these times and makes your brand more relatable and relevant to your target audience.
In the new normal, brands need to be seen as a force for good as they tell their stories and connect with their audience. PR teams can help brands wade through the post-COVID landscape by creating genuine connections, working with the right partners and thought leaders, and helping brands tell their authentic narratives.
Blue Totem Communications’ team of specialists proudly combines experience and know-how in empathetic and effective messaging that resonates with audiences. Our agency has also formed relationships with the most respected media partners across Singapore and Malaysia, helping brands foster trust and authenticity with their audiences. Get in touch with us at bluetotem.co/contact-us today.


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As movie theater sales continue to plummet across the country, Mitch Lowe and his company MoviePass may be the catalyst to bring millennials back to the box office.
MoviePass is a monthly movie theater subscription service that allows subscribers to view up to one movie a day in theaters (excluding IMAX and 3D films).
The company’s game-changing business move took place on August 15 when CEO Lowe made the decision to drop monthly subscription fees from $40 to $9.95—the cost of a single movie ticket in most states. In just weeks, the number of subscribers skyrocketed from 20,000 to 400,000.
Prior to MoviePass, Lowe was the president of Redbox and a founding executive of Netflix. As a veteran in the video rental and entertainment industry, Lowe believes the decline in box office sales is not due to competition from video streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, but the high cost of a single movie ticket.
While box office sales have steadily dropped, the cost of a single movie ticket has nearly doubles in the past twenty years. The national average cost of a movie ticket is $8.89, but in places like Los Angeles or New York City, prices can set you back $12-16 dollars or more. “People really do want to go [to the movies] more often,” says Lowe. “They just don’t like the transaction.”
One might assume that movie theater operators would welcome any increase in sales—Fortune reported that “the top four cinema operators, led by AMC Entertainment, lost $1.3 billion in market value early this month after a disappointing summer.” But as excited as moviegoers are about MoviePass, theater operators are not.
AMC released a statement claiming that the company was working with lawyers “to determine if or how AMC can prevent a subscription program offered by MoviePass from being used at AMC theaters in the U.S.”
Nevertheless, it may be difficult for AMC to block MoviePass from their theaters. This is because the subscription-based service operates using credit-like cards powered by Mastercard, where MoviePass essentially pays the bill.
Additionally, the pushback from theater operators is a bit perplexing as they do not stand to lose any money from MoviePass. MoviePass pays theaters for the full price of a ticket every time a subscriber sees a movie.
To subsidize this business model, MoviePass recently sold a majority of its stake to Helios and Matheson Analytics. The firm aims to collect big data on people’s movie viewing habits in order to better target advertisements and marketing materials to viewers.
But Lowe and MoviePass are not deterred by AMC’s threats. Lowe has seen this reaction before, with another industry disrupting company he helped start: Netflix. Lowe told Vulture:
“When we launched Netflix, Blockbuster said, ‘This is a ridiculous idea. You’re going to create confusion in the market. You’re never going to make it,’” says Lowe, pointing out that AMC and only AMC, among the major exhibition chains, has put MoviePass on blast. “The incumbent player—the largest entity in any space—spends more time protecting their business as opposed to listening to their customers. It’s the nature of the beast. They have so many assets to protect, the executives have lost complete touch with what their customer wants.”
MoviePass believes they know exactly what customers want: increased media consumption at affordable box office prices.
Over the past five years, millennial attendance has declined by 20%, according to reports from the Motion Picture Association of America, but Lowe believes MoviePass can draw out the savvy, value-conscious millennial consumer.
“Millennials live and breathe subscription media,” notes Lowe, citing the success of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Spotify, and even HBO. He may just be onto something. Already, 75% of MoviePass’s subscribers are millennials.
DISCLAIMER: This article expresses my own ideas and opinions. Any information I have shared are from sources that I believe to be reliable and accurate. I did not receive any financial compensation in writing this post, nor do I own any shares in any company I’ve mentioned. I encourage any reader to do their own diligent research first before making any investment decisions.
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Kmart Pharmacy to offer free flu shots
Kmart has found a way to encourage shoppers to get their flu shots.
Through April 30, 2019, Kmart Pharmacy is offering free flu shots, including the Fluzone High-Dose influenza vaccine. (The cash price of a flu shot starts at $35.99.) The retailer is also offering Shop Your Way (SYW) benefits to members who get vaccinated.
Members will receive $5 Cashback in SYW points when they get a flu shot at a Kmart Pharmacy in the United States or Puerto Rico. (No copayment is due unless required by the customer’s health plan). Pharmacy Rewards members also earn $5 in SYW points for every five qualifying prescriptions filled at Kmart. Immunizations and pet prescriptions count toward these rewards.
Once awarded, points are eligible for use in the next transaction. Points, which can only be used on non-pharmacy merchandise, are valid for 30 days, according to Kmart.
Target intros low-priced brand, Smartly
Target is showing off a new line of lower-priced owned-brand products.
The collection, titled Smartly, is comprised of more than 70 items, such as hand soap, paper plates, household cleaners and razors.
“Over the past few years, Target has launched more than 20 owned and exclusive brands across our multi-category assortment. The introduction of Smartly is another example of how we are listening to consumers and bringing them solutions to make their lives easier,” Mark Tritton, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Target, said. “Smartly offers incredible value, looks great and, most importantly, gets the job done. It broadens our assortment to give guests even more options to find the product that’s right for them, regardless of their budget.”
Ranging in price from 59 cents to $11.99, most items are under $2, the Minneapolis-based company said.
In addition, Target’s product design and development team focused on the design and key attributes of each product, working with master perfumers to develop various fragrances for products.
For example, the hand soaps will featured such scents as rain shower and lavender, and all-purpose cleaners in ocean and citrus grove scents, the company said.
Products in Smartly’s collection also will feature modern and joyful packaging with irreverent expressions that say “smells like well, nothing” on a bar of unscented soap and “no dishes tonight” on disposable plates.
The entire collection will arrive in stores and on Target’s website on Oct. 14, and be available year-round.
Publix’s GreenWise Market opens its doors
Shoppers in Tallahassee, Fla., just got a whole new location to shop for their groceries.
Publix announced that its GreenWise Market has officially opened its doors in the city, which is right neat the Florida State University and Florida A&M University.
“With our new-format GreenWise Market, we will offer today’s natural and specialty customer the new and interesting products they are looking for while setting the stage to provide a uniquely different shopping experience,” Kevin Murphy, Publix’s senior vice president of retail operations said. “The customers in this growing market are looking for a brand they trust, and we are confident GreenWise Market will be their specialty, natural and organic store of choice.”
Featured in the store is a beverage bar that serves kombucha, local craft beer, wine, smoothies and locally sourced coffee, and a large mezzanine area to eat in.
In addition, the market will offer consumers a variety of such prepared foods as antibiotic-free meats, organic cheeses, vegan items, handcrafted sandwiches, acai bowls, gourmet pizzas, burritos, bowls and sausage that’s made in-house, the company said.
Local and organic fruits and vegetables, body care, natural vitamins, supplements, bulk items and an expanded line of GreenWise seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council is to also be featured within the store.


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Dimitra’s CEO and founder Jon Trask is the winner of the 2023 Government Blockchain Association Annual Achievement Award in the social impact category. This award is an acknowledgment of what Dimitra is doing as a company, and what it has in store for the future.
At Dimitra, social impact is more than just an idea. It is one of the main goals that it works toward each and every day. The company is on a journey to bring widespread, life-changing results to farmers around the globe. By continuously working to improve the well-being of farmers, the Dimitra team believes that the results will spread to their communities, societies, and even the world at large.
The Dimitra team released the following message: “Thank you to those who voted, and those that continue to support the efforts we put forth at Dimitra. We also want to acknowledge Pradeep Goel from Solve.Care and Amy Westervelt from the Energy Web Foundation. Their efforts toward creating an impactful and lasting social impact on the world today are invaluable and exceptionally significant.”
“Last but not least, thank you to the Government Blockchain Association for facilitating this event. They are playing a vital role in raising awareness of social impact and creating more opportunities to bring real and lasting social impact to the world.”
To learn more about the Annual Achievement Awards, click here.


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Dec. 11, 2023
Christopher is a seasoned professional with a rich background, collaborating with major players like Kmart, Uber, and Hoyts Cinema Group.
He introduces Tapestry, a revolutionary platform that he has been instrumental in developing. Tapestry's Retail+ and Supply+ products leverage advanced analytics and AI to empower small to medium-sized businesses, enabling them to compete effectively in the market. By fostering data ownership and personalised interfaces, Tapestry enhances real-world experiences. Understand how Tapestry's innovative technology, already piloted in 26 supermarkets, is set to transform data monetisation and usher new income streams for businesses, promising significant financial growth.
You can subscribe to the newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/e7C8akgj.
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Twisted Pixel’s Ms. ‘Splosion Man may be coming to PC; a RockPaperShotgun writer noticed the game on his Steam library, igniting the speculation.
The listing didn’t allow the game to be launched though, and has since been replaced with “ValveTestApp105420.” Secretive.
Officially, Ms. ‘Splosion Man has only been announced for Xbox Live Arcade. It’s out next Wednesday, on July 13.
The developer has been Xbox 360 exclusive with three of its recent titles in fact: ‘Splosion Man, Comic Jumper, and the Kinect-enabled The Gunstringer, which is heading for retail instead of XBL Arcade like the first two.


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05 Jun Global CBD Trends 2021
CBD or cannabidiol is a naturally occurring compound found in hemp plants. The Cannabis sativa plant imparts a calm or relaxed feeling and many other benefits. CBD is both popular on the shelf of retailers and mainstream media. The CBD market has been distributed due to COVID-19, resulting in disrupted production and distribution. This has affected the 2025 30 billion euro market forecast.
How CBD in Europe has been affected by Brexit
The UK formally left the European Union on the 31st of January 2021. Companies have had to pay tariffs on goods bought and sold across EU borders. Most goods entering the UK from countries in Europe have to complete a customs declaration form which causes a lot of complications when exporting products that contain CBD and THC. Many large Cannabis cultivators in Europe no longer ship CBD oils, flowers, tea and hash. This has affected CBD consumers in the UK who are using other CBD products which are making their way into the country.
Global Customer insight
A recent poll found that out of 1000 consumers (62%) have never tried CBD products. Today’s users of ingestible and topical CBD products are largely used by women, outpacing men two to one. It has been proven that the most effective way to introduce consumers to CBD is through CBD infused gummies. Data confirms that 6 in 10 new CBD customers are more likely to try sweets than oil.
CBD Product Expansion
We can expect to see growth in the soft-gel, creams, tinctures, sprays, edibles, infused beverages, chewing gums, flowers and pet products. The challenge will be to help teach the consumer what product will suit their needs. Although CBD products are largely marketed as supplements, some users could experience side effects which they should speak with a health professional.


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NEW YORK — Eleven James Inc., which operates a luxury watch subscription service, has successfully completed debt and equity fundraising efforts providing up to $30 million of additional capital. Since its inception in 2013, Eleven James has raised over $40 million. Randy Brandoff, Founder & CEO of Eleven James, made the announcement following the company’s most successful fourth quarter to-date, during which Eleven James launched its Women’s Collection.
The company plans to use the new funds to expand its luxury timepiece collection, enhance its personalized member experience, as well as scale technology and infrastructure to support continued growth. With this capital raise, the NY company said it will be able to provide members with access to one of the largest watch collections in the world. Eleven James offers subscriptions from $149 to $999 per month and gives users access to high-end watches from Rolex, Baume & Mercier, Breitling, Cartier, Hublot and others.
Of the $30 million in committed capital for Eleven James, $20 million is in the form of a credit facility from Great American Capital Partners, LLC (GACP), a wholly owned subsidiary of B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: RILY), which provides asset-based debt opportunities for middle market companies. The remaining $10 million is in the form of a Series A-1 equity financing led by existing investors and management, for which the company has completed the initial closing of $9 million.
“Eleven James is at the forefront of the luxury consumer evolution – where luxury is no longer defined by the traditional ‘buy and hold’ model, but rather by a new paradigm of multiple ‘experiences and memories’,” said CEO Randy Brandoff. “The successful capital raise validates Eleven James’ business model, affirms its commitment to top-notch management, internal systems and controls, and firmly establishes our position as a leader in democratizing access to luxury goods and experiences. Eleven James provides personalized, technology-enabled solutions that prioritize access, service, community and financial flexibility as never before.”
Olivier Reza, Eleven James Chairman, added, “In 2016, Eleven James made great strides in expanding and strengthening its team and infrastructure, scaling its product offerings and inventory, and elevating the trajectory of its business. It continues to demonstrate its resonance with both emerging luxury consumers and mature but increasingly disillusioned consumers alike. Now that we have secured the requisite financial resources, Eleven James is empowered to realize its vision of becoming the ultimate destination for a new, modern era in luxury experience.”


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Applause, the worldwide leader in enabling digital quality, today released the results of its global survey about telehealth services. The survey, which took place in July 2021 and gathered more than 5,000 responses, found that nearly half (46%) of respondents had used telehealth services at least once – 84% of whom used telehealth as a way to avoid in-person activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We continue to see exceptional digital experiences be the key differentiator for brands across all industries, and healthcare is no exception,” said Luke Damian, Applause’s Chief Growth Officer. “Telehealth is fast moving from a nice-to-have to a must-have service. And not only will healthcare providers need to offer telehealth options, they must ensure the experience itself is easy, intuitive and enjoyable to use.”
While telehealth is not new, advances in video meeting apps, smartphone availability and broadband access are enabling more use cases. In 2020, many of those use cases included delivering expanded types of care digitally, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results from the survey show that it is quickly gaining traction and has staying power. It is a trend that analyst groups like Gartner are also seeing accelerate at a rapid pace.
In its Product Leader Insight: Guide to the 2021 Healthcare Provider CIO Survey, Gartner analysts found that, “while the pandemic delayed some technology investments, other investments like virtual care were dramatically accelerated. Indeed, telehealth remains the most common technology investment area for 2021.”
The good news for telehealth providers is that most respondents (63%) to Applause’s survey stated they plan to use telehealth more than they did prior to the pandemic. What’s more, over three-fourths (77%) of patients stated they enjoyed using telehealth, despite the fact that 48% said there were things they could not do via the telehealth service that they would like to have done. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a large population of patients to what telehealth could be and they want to see more services made available digitally.
While telehealth is on the rise globally, EMEA respondents lagged behind others in their use of such services. About half of respondents in the Americas (51%) and APAC (49%) have already used telehealth services, while only around a third (37%) of those in EMEA have done the same.
The biggest barrier to telehealth adoption across all regions, according to the survey, is access and availability. Among the 54% of respondents who had not used telehealth services, 46% reported this option was unavailable to them, 39% reported they preferred to see their doctors in person and 8% reported they had no need to consult with a doctor recently.
Banner Health, one of the country’s largest nonprofit healthcare systems, operates hospitals, urgent care clinics, long-term care facilities, family clinics and surgical centers in six states. When Banner Health launched a new telehealth platform in response to COVID-19, the organization turned to Applause to test its effectiveness.
“One of the things that has set us up for success over the past year and half is the work we’ve done with Applause around our design system. While you can’t predict every experience that you’re going to have to make, if you have a solid foundation and a solid competency around your design system and knowing that it’s tested, and that it is also accessible, it prepares you for the future of unexpected experiences, like standing up a last-minute telehealth experience,” said Mark Schumacher, Senior Director of Digital Experience at Banner Health. “Knowing that things are tested for accessibility and usability are different ways that can help you move fast.”


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Weight loss hypnotherapist and founder of the Hypno Slimming website, Adam Cox, has investigated the effects on those setting January weight loss goals. With swathes of people having opted to start a weight loss programme in the year’s most gloomy month, motivation is harder than ever. Cox says, “Resolutions are a massive cause of stress and guilt; my advice is to ditch resolutions and set goals instead. Resolutions to lose weight or go to the gym more are so meaningless it’s impossible to actually have any sense of achievement or progress. Also, most people set a weight loss goal with a weight, whereas I encourage my clients to set a target body fat percentage. When you go to the gym and start working out you can increase muscle mass, so you may be getting healthier, fitter and have less fat but not necessarily lose weight. Also, when you exercise you drink more water and a large glass of water weighs about 1lb even though it has no calories and is healthy. Lower body fat is a better sign of success than weight.”
Meanwhile, according to an article by Nick Triggle, BBC Health correspondent, the UK’s obesity crisis is being fuelled by businesses pushing unhealthy food and larger portions on shoppers, according to health experts. The Royal Society for Public Health warned consumers were being tricked by a marketing ploy known as ‘upselling’. The tactic involves shops, cafes and restaurants encouraging customers to upgrade to larger meals and drinks or adding high-calorie toppings and sides. A poll suggested eight in 10 people experienced it every week.
The most common upsells to be taken included larger coffees, bigger meals, sweets and chocolates and extra sides such as onion rings and chips. Royal Society for Public Health chief executive Shirley Cramer said the industry was pressuring the public into buying extra calories, which then added up “without us noticing”. She said businesses needed to stop training staff to upsell high-calorie food and instead focus on healthy alternatives.
The practice occurs at the point-of-sale and is not at the customer’s request. Examples include a coffee shop barista asking if you would like a large rather than a regular-sized coffee or if you want whipped cream added. Another popular one is a fast-food worker asking if you would like to make a meal larger for only a minimal cost.
Upselling is also thought to be fueling obesity with 78% of people saying that they experience upselling each week meaning that there were 106 upsells per person per year, 35% added sides like chips to a meal, 34% bought a larger coffee and 17,000 extra calories on average over a year.
Source: Royal Society of Public Health/Slimming World
It also seems that Brits are drastically underestimating the calorie content of the foods they eat. Not even agrees that calorie control is the only, or the best way to lose weight, but when researchers quizzed men and women in the UK on their calorie intake they found the majority underestimated how calorific some foods are. The study by Laughing Cow showed the average adult estimates there are around 300 calories in a large portion of cinema popcorn, when in fact it may be up to nearly 1000 calories. Those questioned were also way off the mark when asked to guess the calorie content of a bowl of granola – the average adult guessing that a 100g bowl contained 145 calories, but the reality is closer to 450. A supermarket pepperoni pizza, a staple of many UK freezers contains a staggering 1,100 calories, but respondents guessed an average of 355.
The study into the nation’s eating habits revealed that while most of those who counted them tried to consume 1,920 calories a day, but due to the number of snacks consumed throughout the day, the true intake is around 2,635, on average. Having said that, 36% weren’t sure what a calorie is, with two thirds saying they often completely lose track of the number of calories that they consume each day.
Alexandra Labaisse, Brand Manager at The Laughing Cow commented, “Too often we are reaching for snacks that, when we think about it properly, we don’t want. Whether it is a soggy sandwich left over after a meeting or a bowl of salty crisps that you devour on auto-pilot in front of the TV, it is clear we will simply graze without much thought. However, being mindful about what we are consuming and ensuring we dedicate the time to snack well means we can avoid ‘Snaccidents’ and enjoy a delicious snack without the guilt..”
The poll of 2,000 Brits also found that 17 percent of adults exceed their calorie allowance on a daily basis, with the average adult in the UK checking the calorie content on packaging just four times a week. Wine, lager and cola were among the only foods where adults OVER estimated the calorie content.
*The Laughing Cow is a portion-controlled snack, starting from just 25 calories per triangle.
Bernard Marr, a writer at Forbes magazine who specializes in management, technology and big data, in an article, ‘Is work-life balance only for losers?’ looked at what he called ‘the harm done by the hustle lifestyle’. He said, “Our organizations suffer from extraordinarily low employee engagement, high turnover and disgruntled employees. Our people are stressed out and unhealthy. The obesity epidemic is big, and growing, fueled by the fast food, energy drinks and stress eating that many default to when in survival mode to energize them for those long hours at the office. And, really, who has time to exercise in a hustle culture? Professionals are tethered to electronic devices 24/7 so even when they do escape the confines of the office, they can get pinged and called and messaged about work. It’s really hard to disconnect and many find it easier to just keep working.”
Marr reported that it needn’t be so. He used the example of Jason Fried, the CEO of a company called Basecamp, who prides himself that his company culture sticks to a strict 40-hour workweek, which goes down to 32 hours in the summer. Fried says that allows employees a well-balanced life without sacrificing the company’s success. He and David Hansson published Rework, a business book that lays out why you don’t need to be a workaholic to get success, and in a new book, The Calm Company, explain why “sustained exhaustion is not a badge of honor, it’s a mark of stupidity.”
But then, are we really being stupid? The fact is that we are being bullied into long hours and making bad food decisions all the time. Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, chair of the department of nutrition and food studies at New York University in an article for WebMD stated, “Exercise is important, but so are eating habits.” In her book Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health, Nestle argues that recommendations about healthy eating are overwhelmed by the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of advertising for junk foods that we’re subjected to at home and even in schools. “As fast food companies and chains compete with one another by increasing portion sizes, our waists are increasing proportionately.”
According to Nestle, the media also have a tendency of confusing things by reporting the results of scientific studies out of context. She argues that the relative stability of the dietary and fitness recommendations over the years – eat less fat, eat more fruits and veggies and exercise regularly – is obscured by the media, which are more interested in exciting stories about radical diets or the effects of particular “miracle” foods, vitamins or other supplements.
In the same article, William Dietz, MD, PhD, the director of the division of nutrition and physical activity in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention in America says, “I think that in the last three years, we’ve seen a dramatic shift in the attitudes of policy makers toward obesity. There is now a huge amount of attention being paid to the condition,” he says, “and that’s an important first step.” The article goes on to state that part of the problem is that the message about eating well is necessarily more complicated than the messages of other health campaigns. The recommendations for preventing tobacco-related illnesses are pretty straightforward: Don’t smoke. But given that “don’t eat” is not an option, there isn’t such a concise recommendation for eating well and staying fit. It’s more like, “Eat plenty of these, and not so much of that or those, and remember to exercise a lot.”
News items and features like this appear in the Desang Diabetes Magazine, our free-to-receive digital journal (see below, or www.desang-magazine.co.uk). We cover diabetes news, diabetes management equipment (diabetes ‘kit’ such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring equipment) and news about food suitable for a diabetic diet including a regular Making Carbs Count column. We just need your email address to subscribe you (it’s free, and you can easily unsubscribe anytime should you wish to).
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When Google co-founder Larry Page took over as CEO in April 2011, he said his goal was to streamline the fast-growing company to focus on its core product lines. He made bold moves in his first week, including firing the product chief and tying employee bonuses to the social sector.
Mere days later, investors were disappointed when Google announced quarterly earnings that missed Wall Street expectations. Critics wondered if Page's streamlining plan would work.
But the transition period smoothed out, and Google's shares are up 11% since Page took over. His 94% rating is strong, though it's two percentage points lower than former CEO Eric Schmidt enjoyed.
You don't have to work at Oracle or Apple to be among the top-paid executives in the technology industry, but it helps.
|Someone bought a $100,000 Tesla with Bitcoins|
|Economy is improving but why doesn't it feel that way?|
|Stocks pop after jobs report|
|Where should you put your money now?|
|2 million Facebook, Gmail and Twitter passwords stolen in massive hack|


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Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — African leaders are celebrating the entry into force of a continental free trade agreement that creates what they call the world's largest trading market of 1.2 billion people.
The agreement that entered into force on Thursday is meant to take advantage of a booming young population, boost intra-African trade and rely less on the volatility of commodity prices that affect raw materials that make up so much of exports.
With the agreement, countries have committed to remove tariffs on 90 percent of goods. Full implementation will take years.
African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat says the continental market has a combined GDP of $2.5 trillion.
So far, 52 of the AU's 55 member states have signed the agreement. Noticeably absent is Nigeria, Africa's largest economy and most populous country.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Nov 07. 2016
What awaits us in the field of renewable energy? Tesla has some news
The depletion of fossil fuel global reserves, increasing concentration of CO2 in the air and global warming are some of the biggest challenges that humanity must face. The biggest inovator of the last years – Tesla company, has introduced new products in its grand plan.
Solar energy is the answer to problems
The efficiency of solar energy is infinite, so to speak. From charging your smartphone to supplying your home with energy and even powering whole cities with electricity, i tis all possible thanks to solar energy. The global solar energy use reached 250 000 MW last year.Most of it was produced in China, Germany and Japan, followed by USA. Slovakia is on the 28th place with 591 MW.
The theoretical use of solar energy brings many of the advantages mentioned above. But the problem is the implementation. Solar panels are too expensive for the end user and their effectiveness could be also better. The look on many black rectangles on the fields won´t encourage people to think about using solar energy. Tesla, cooperating with SolarCity, decided to deal with these issues.
Special coverings from Tesla – how can they enchant us?
Instead of installing solar panels on customers homes, Tesla brought special coverings, that replace the standard roof tiles. There will be several colours and designsto choose from, so that will solve the aesthetic problem. By replacing the coverings, there will be a bigger surface for the collecting of solar energy, than with normal solar panels.
However, the sun doesn´t shine all day and most of the people are at home early in the morning or late at night, when the sun isn´t shining. Therefore, it is important to collect the solar energy during the day and store it for a later use. For this purpose, Tesla inventedPowerWall and now we got a redesigned version with the number 2. PowerWall 2 is designed to store up to 14 kWh of energy for the household. In case of higher energy requirements, i tis possible to use several devices. One PowerWall 2 costs 5.500$.
Nwe products from Tesla address fundamental issues, from which solar panels suffer. Price reduction, better utilization and the ability to save energy during the whole day create an ecosystem, that has the potential to be completely independent from classic electricity.
What news still lie ahead?
Tesla is also well known for its electromobiles. Model 3, which is designed for the masses, will begin to sell next year. Along with the innovations in solar energy, Tesla shows us, which direction will we take in the future.


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Breezy with sunshine splashing through an overcast sky this early Tuesday afternoon on California’s north coast — beautiful day, though.
According to the NWS, a ‘strong frontal boundary‘ is expected tomorrow night bringing some decent rain/snow into the region on Friday.
Sunshine for the weekend and supposedly for awhile.
If you drink coffee, trying to quit smoking could be harder…
(Illustration: ‘Last Cigarette,’ by Nancy Lehenbauer Marshall, found here).
Despite all the reported health benefits to caffeine lately, from cancer to energy levels, apparently the combination of coffee and cigarette smoking is not a happy combo.
They go so well together, though, ‘coffee and cigarettes’ is more than just a movie title, it’s a way of life. I’ve been doing the two every morning for decades, and will probably continue, but it’s not easy.
If you’re got the right make-up, drinking coffee while trying to stop smoking will be a bitch.
Via Meta-Science at the end of last month:
Genetic factors thus explain most of the association between smoking and caffeine consumption.
These findings suggest that quitting smoking may be more difficult for heavy caffeine consumers, given their genetic susceptibility.
Cigarettes operate as a stop on caffeine. Trying to quit smoking? Part of the problem is nicotine and caffeine cessation and there-in lies the rub:
Cigarette smokers metabolize caffeine more rapidly than nonsmokers.
This means that smokers have to drink more coffee to get the same level of caffeine in their blood.
It’s this difference that can cause problems for those who have just quit smoking.
Researchers in San Francisco found that when ex-smokers drank their usual amount of coffee, the levels of caffeine in their blood rose 250 percent over previous levels because they were metabolizing it more slowly.
These high levels could cause some ex-smokers to start smoking again.
The higher levels of caffeine can make a person jittery causing an ex-smoker to use a cigarette to calm their nerves.
Nicotine is also part stimulant, and nicotine side effects can cause insomnia and withdrawal symptoms similar to caffeine.
Smoking may also create other sleep disturbances.
Research has shown that smokers spend more time sleeping lightly and less time in deep healthy sleep than non-smokers.
There’s goodness here, too. Smoking with coffee intake, though, can seemingly aid handling cigarette-induced cancer:
When compared with smokers who drank coffee regularly, non-coffee drinkers experienced twice as many cytotoxic (or cell damaging) effects directly associated with using tobacco.
In addition, while coffee-drinking smokers were three times more liable to be diagnosed with bladder cancer as coffee-drinking nonsmokers, smokers who didn’t consume coffee at all were up to seven times more likely to be affected by the same cancer as nonsmokers.
Java and a smoke, a way to stay whatever…


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Considering the Wii U's lackluster console sales worldwide (6 million and counting), Nintendo needed a big hit to rejuvenate the system and get folks interested again. Thankfully, it looks like Mario Kart 8 has become that game, as Nintendo has announced huge sales for the game in its opening release weekend.
During the period of May 29th through June 1st, MK8 has managed to sell 1.2 million copies around the world. That makes it the sixth best selling Wii U game to date--yes, already--and could lead to bigger sales over the summer through word-of-mouth. That also makes it hit roughly 1/5 of the entire Wii U install base.
The Mario Kart series is no stranger to big sales, as Mario Kart DS has sold over 23 million copies since its release, while nearly ten million units of Mario Kart 7 sold. Leading the pack, however, is Mario Kart Wii, with nearly 36 million copies sold worldwide.
"The early response to Mario Kart 8 demonstrates that the best days for Wii U are still ahead," said Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime. "This year's E3 is just days away, and it will be all about the future games for Nintendo platforms. This milestone is a great place to start!"
If you need a reminder just how great Mario Kart 8 is, check out our review.


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We have reported that the world of tablet and phone will never work without branding. We believe that people that sell unbranded phones, though they may work, are not riding on a good business model. People do not use phones or tablets for just the usage, they associate the brands.
So after many months of growth, unbranded manufacturers or what the industry calls white-box manufacturers are taking a hit. Nomura Equity Research concludes that the market is on slow down after China Mobile cancelled 90% of 12 million TD-SCDMA 3G handsets it once put in. People as they make money want to be associated with brands and not using a phone with no identify.
This is already calling for changes in quarterly estimates with SIM Technology Group Ltd., one of the largest handset manufacturers in China, issuing a profit warning, saying it expects to make a loss in H1 of 2011.
Also another player in this sub-sector, Longcheer, have implemented significant employee layoffs recently, according to Nomura analyst Leping Huang. The company announced its first quarterly loss in eight years in the third fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2011. When the financial results were announced Deng Hua, CEO, commented: “The market for our mainstay feature phones products continue to remain challenging due to the excess capacity and adverse competition both upstream and downstream.”
At the same time China Mobile has reduced its requirement for TD-SCDMA handsets from 12 million handsets to 1.2 million, which is set to challenge handset design houses and OEMs that had been gearing up to meet orders, Nomura said.
So if you are in Lagos and you hope to get into this business, think again. It is far better to brand your product and give it an identity.


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We recently pointed out yet another telco-funded study warning about how the internet was going to be overwhelmed
by massive traffic growth if the government didn't step in and give telcos everything they wished. However, the University of Minnesota's Minnesota Internet Traffic Studies (MINTS) has responded to the report noting, yet again, that the data put forth by the telcos is totally overblown. The actual evidence suggests internet growth is not nearly as rapid as the original report stated
and, in fact, there's substantial evidence that the rate of internet usage is slowing. Just as we've seen from various earlier studies, it appears that regular upgrades to equipment, rather than wholesale gov't handouts to telcos, should be more than enough to keep the internet humming.
But don't be surprised to start seeing other fear tactics come into play. For example, an anonymous reader sent in news of a report coming out of Australia, warning that we shouldn't just be worried about bandwidth running out, but that all the energy it takes to run the internet will now be putting a strain on the electric grid
. Of course, that seems to assume the same rapid pace of growth that the original (incorrect) report claimed, so I don't think we need to worry about our electricity running out due to people downloading too many videos any time soon. But, still, you should probably expect to see such arguments show up coming out of politicians in the very near future.


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It seems that an Xbox owners who use third-party gear have come across a rather inconvenient issue.
You don't have to rely on Android apps for your game needs. Enjoy all the benefits of Xbox Cloud gaming using Xbox Game ...
Utilise the full power of your Xbox using remote play
Kept you waiting, huh?
This new development comes as a result of UK regulatory proceedings, which took place over the course of several months.
According to a recent report, it has been suggested that Microsoft is apparently thinking of creating their own mobile game store that would ...
GameSir has announced the X2 Pro Xbox mobile gaming controller designed for Xbox cloud gaming on Android.


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Boxee showed off its iPad app at a small East London gathering this week. The new app is not yet available, but those who attended the sold out event got a sneak peek of what Boxee has in store for its iPad users.
Boxee is home theater PC software that runs on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. The company also produces a set-top box that takes the place of the computer and lets you watch streaming video on your TV. The tablet app will bring Boxee to your iPad and let you watch streaming content, video shared by your friends and video files from your local network if you run the Boxee Media server. If you own a Boxee box, you can also send content from your iPad to your TV. No word on when the app will debut in the app store, but if Boxee is showing it off to people, the launch can't be too far away.


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You are here
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- This summer Gulf Oil L.P. is offering several promotional programs to show its thanks to the driving public, as well as to support its network of gasoline retail centers, the company reported. Gulf will also leverage online and social media tools such as Facebook to reach a new audience as it continues its growth as the leading downstream energy distribution company.
"We know there are many choices when buying gas. These programs are designed to bring our 100-plus years of name recognition and brand awareness to a new generation of drivers and ultimately build business for our retail outlet partners," Rick Dery, Gulf Oil's senior vice president of branded marketing and sales, and chief marketing officer, said in a statement.
The first promotion, "Making Green Miles," is a social networking program offering the public a forum to go online and share ideas about what they do to offset their carbon footprint. For every "Green Mile" entry received at www.gulfoil.com Gulf will plant three trees, with the help of American Forests to help offset the carbon footprint associated with one fill-up of gasoline for an average car.
In August, the 10 most popular posts chosen by online visitors will be entered into a random drawing, and one of these entries will be chosen as the grand prize winner of a $250 Gulf Gas Card and have 250 trees planted in his or her name, the company reported.
Another part of the program involves the "Mile Makers" team’s presence on Facebook, where visitors can learn about the team's appearance at upcoming public events, concerts and grand openings. The "Mile Makers" team is a group of summer interns that goes out across the Gulf Oil footprint and conducts outreach to the public during the summer. They encourage drivers to Make Green Miles, as they distribute promotional items such as recycled Frisbees, reusable shopping bags, water bottles and eco-friendly driving tip magnets, according to the company.
Gulf is also continuing its "Get Spotted" promotion, which began in July 2008. Drivers that place a Gulf decal on their cars, available at Gulf stations, and register at (www.gulfoil.com/getspotted) are eligible to win a $20 Gulf gas card if "spotted" by a member of the promotion staff. Drivers also are entered into a pool for a monthly drawing of a $500 Gulf gas card. Since the promotion began, 400,000 decals have made their way into the marketplace, and Gulf has given out thousands of dollars in gas cards, the company stated.
Lastly, Gulf is promoting its Commercial Fleet Card with no fees for 2009. Gulf sites participating in the program will receive signage and Fleet Card applications in July. The promotion will run from July 15, through the end of 2009.
Gulf Oil Aims to Reduce Retailer Energy Costs
Gulf Oil Improves Loyalty Program Infrastructure


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The game of leapfrog between code defenders and attackers in cyberspace will continue to be waged as long as code is written. But the majority of security holes could be eliminated.
Between the Lines
Larry Dignan and other IT industry experts, blogging at the intersection of business and technology, deliver daily news and analysis on vital enterprise trends.
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic.
Rachel King is a staff writer for ZDNet based in San Francisco.
Zack Whittaker writes for ZDNet, CNET, and CBS News. He is based in New York City.
There's a downside to software acquisitions. These newly bulked up giants will increase your software maintenance and support costs.
Intel reported fourth quarter earnings of 26 cents a share, a penny above consensus estimates, on revenue of $9.7 billion.
While Apple has dismissed Cisco's iPhone trademark suit as "silly" and many in the blogosphere have questioned whether Cisco meets all the requirements of iPhone trademark ownership, Cisco stands firm.
New Balance will launch an item-level RFID pilot at one of its corporate stores beginning in March, says Frank Cornelius, advanced manufacturing engineer at the athletic shoe maker. Under the pilot, New Balance will put RFID tags on each shoe box that makes its way through its Lawrence, Mass.
Marc Benioff is on stage talking about the latest milestones for saleforce.com.
Will social media influence your shopping habits? If IconNicholson, a digital design firm that couples technology and retail shopping, is correct sites like Facebook and MySpace will influence what you buy (see gallery).
Students need access to technology, but they need Windows and Office? Is open source software good enough for most student needs?
Symantec's fiscal third and fourth quarter results will fall short of expectations because of a combination of factors: --Weak performance in the company's data center management business, notable the company acquired when it bought Veritas;--Higher deferrals of enterprise maintenance contracts;--And higher costs from "the implementation of our new ERP system.
When AMD issued a profit warning last week due to pricing pressure, Intel watchers could take it two ways:--Intel is kicking the snot out of AMD;--Or there's a price war that'll hurt both parties.We'll get more color on whether Intel had any price war wounds when it reports its fourth quarter results later today.