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Updated on 13 May 2015
Hyperion will take on Santen's expertize in rheumatism as well as the activities carried out by Showa in the field of analgesics as Hyperion's two-core businesses
Singapore: Japanese pharmaceutical major Santen Pharmaceutical has decided to sign an agreement with Showa Yakuhin Kakou and Hyperion Pharma to assign its anti-rheumatic pharmaceuticals business to Hyperion, under a simplified company-split method, under the Company Act of Japan (Assignment). This decision was taken at the company's board of directors meeting held on May 12, 2015.
Showa Yakuhin is a pharmaceutical company, which is under an investment fund, being advised by the Unison Capital Incorporation. After the completion of the Assignment, Showa Yakuhin intends to merge its pharmaceutical business with the anti-rheumatic pharmaceuticals business succeeded by Hyperion.
Hyperion is a wholly-owned special purpose company of an investment fund which Unison advises that was established to succeed the anti-rheumatic pharmaceuticals business from Santen.
On completion of the transaction, Showa plans to integrate its pharmaceutical business with Hyperion. Hyperion, the newly integrated company, will start operation as a company specialized in orthopaedics and rheumatism.
Hyperion will take on Santen's expertize in rheumatism as well as the activities carried out by Showa in the field of analgesics as Hyperion's two-core businesses and work toward further growth.
In the future, Hyperion will expand its business into osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and establish an ‘open platform in orthopaedics and rheumatism', while keeping in mind the development of its biological products business.


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Grim Caterpillar outlook tugs stocks mostly lower
NEW YORK (AP) -- A gloomy outlook from Caterpillar, the world's largest construction equipment company, tugged the stock market lower Wednesday.
The meager drop gave the stock market two consecutive days of losses, the first time that's happened all month.
Caterpillar's earnings fell 43 percent in the second quarter as China's economy slowed and commodity prices sank. The company also warned of slowing revenue and profit, and its stock dropped $2.08, or 2 percent, to $83.44.
Slight losses spread across a wide variety of companies, with nine of 10 industry groups in the Standard & Poor's 500 index ending lower.
The holdouts were technology companies, which got a lift from Apple's surging stock. Despite reporting lower quarterly earnings Tuesday, the maker of tablets, smartphones and computers still managed to beat analysts' estimates, thanks to rising shipments of iPhones. Apple jumped $21.52, or 5 percent, to $440.51.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 25.50 points, or 0.2 percent, at 15,542.24.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 6.45 points, or 0.4 percent, to 1,685.94. The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index edged up 0.33 of a point, or less than 0.1 percent, to 3,579.60.
Although far from a blockbuster earnings season, the larger trend for corporate profits looks good. Analysts forecast that second-quarter earnings for companies in the S&P 500 increased 4.2 percent over the same period last year, according to S&P Capital IQ. At the start of the month, they were looking for earnings to rise 2.8 percent. More than six out of every 10 companies have surpassed Wall Street's profit targets.
"Yes, they're beating expectations, but expectations are so low," said Brad McMillan, chief investment officer at Commonwealth Financial. The overall number masks some worrisome trends, he said.
Financial firms, such as Goldman Sachs and Capital One, have posted the highest rate of earnings growth of any industry. Pull their results out of the total, however, and earnings are on track to slump 3.5 percent, according to FactSet.
"You can't call this a blowout quarter so far," McMillan said.
Another 25 big companies, including Visa and Qualcomm, are releasing reports after the closing bell. Among them, Facebook surged 14 percent to $30.31 in after-hours trading after reporting income and revenue that easily beat analysts' estimates.
Surging demand for pickup trucks in the U.S. helped Ford Motor post higher quarterly profits. Sales in China also jumped 47 percent in the first six months of the year. The second-largest car company in the U.S. raised its profit forecast and its stock climbed 43 cents, or 3 percent, to $17.37.
AT&T dropped 41 cents, or 1 percent, to $35.40. Higher costs hit AT&T's profits in the latest quarter. The company's coffers were drained by smartphone sales, which it subsidizes in the hope of making money back over the life of two-year contracts.
In Europe, a broad gauge of economic activity reached the highest level since January 2012, sending stock markets in Germany and France higher. Financial information company Markit said Wednesday that its monthly purchasing managers' index for the countries that use the euro currency increased for the fourth month running.
France's CAC 40 rose 1 percent and Germany's DAX gained 0.8 percent.
The report out of Europe pushed prices for U.S. government bonds down and their yields up. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.58 percent from 2.51 percent late Tuesday.
Signs of economic strength usually lead traders to sell Treasurys, considered one of the safest places in the world to park cash.

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Boston Scientific will pay $30M in heart device case
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Med-tech giant Boston Scientific Corp. will pay $30 million to settle charges it sold faulty cardiac devices to hospitals, the Justice Department announced Thursday.
The federal government alleged that Guidant Corp. — which Boston Scientific acquired in 2006 — learned its Prizm and Renewal lines of implantable defibrillators were defective but continued to sell the products anyway. The devices were implanted in several Medicare patients, one of whom filed a whistleblower lawsuit that the federal government joined.
Guidant Corp. misled patients and the Food and Drug Administration about risks associated with the faulty devices, the government said.
Boston Scientific disputes the government's claims.
"While the company continues to deny the allegations made in the complaint, it felt it was in the best interests of all parties to settle this matter and avoid further protracted litigation," a company spokesman said.
Natick, Mass.-based Boston Scientific has major operations and 5,000 employees in Minnesota.
Katharine Grayson covers med tech, clean tech, technology, health care and venture capital.
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CFS survey: financial centre Frankfurt should play a greater role in business with fintechs
A large majority of the German financial industry (80%) believe the financial centre Frankfurt should play a greater role in business with fintech companies, even if this means utilizing public funding. This was revealed in a recent study by the Center for Financial Studies of financial institutes and service providers in Germany. For two thirds of the decision-makers from the German financial industry (67%), digitalization is among the top issues with regard to new investment.
“A significant portion of the respondents are in favor of funding fintech firms. It will be interesting to observe whether the financial centre Frankfurt can keep pace with Berlin in this respect,” notes Professor Jan Pieter Krahnen, Director of the Center for Financial Studies and Academic Head of the survey.
Almost half the respondents (47%) advocate a stronger commitment in every case, a further 28% specifically in cultivating networks with the classic financial industry, and 5% in strengthening international networks. 12% of the survey respondents said the financial centre Frankfurt should not play a greater role.
Companies specializing in financial technology, or fintechs for short, are attracting more and more attention in the financial industry. Some of them are working in partnership with established financial institutions in order to offer their services efficiently while minimizing costs. On the other hand, fintechs are in competition with the banks and putting them under pressure in their traditional markets by offering low-cost, alternative solutions. Established companies such as Facebook or Google can change the financial industry, especially if they become active in areas that have largely been the preserve of the banks up to now, such as payment processing and lending. Many fintechs are currently in the start-up phase and it remains to be seen how successfully their business models will develop in the future.
On the question of whether regulations in Germany represent a barrier to innovation in financial technologies, opinions of the financial institutions and service providers are evenly split. For 46% of the respondents, Germany’s regulations do not represent a barrier; for 43%, they do.
Cooperation creates a win-win situation
On the question of how to deal with fintech companies, a majority of those who responded to the question are in favor of cooperating (39%). Almost half the service providers (46%) and a third of the financial institutions (31%) prefer this approach. In addition, a quarter of the surveyed financial institutions (26%) are developing corresponding products themselves. This plays more of a minor role for the service providers (8%).
In terms of goals, half the respondents said they hope digitalization will enable them to achieve cost benefits (50%) and develop new products and services (51%). Additional goals include protecting market share from new competitors (44%) and appealing to young, tech-savvy customers, although the last point is more important to financial institutions (40%) than service providers (20%).


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The USPS delivered letters today to postal customers who will have a new ZIP Code as of 7/1/2013. The Postal Service stated that the new code, 86005, “is necessary due to the large increase in population and the number of companies doing business in our area.” The new code is intended to make delivery more efficient and provide room for growth. The Ponderosa Trails neighborhood and surrounding area will use the new ZIP Code.
New ZIP Code: 86001
To ease the transition, the USPS will ensure delivery of mail sent to the old code for one year.


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Tesla Chief Elon Musk Says 'Red Tape' is Causing Delays in Completing its Berlin Gigafactory
【Summary】Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is blaming bureaucracy and red tape for delays in completing its new Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Germany. The factory was scheduled to begin building cars by July 1, but that timeline has been pushed back to later this year after Tesla added plans to add battery cell production at the site, which requires an additional approval process.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is blaming bureaucracy and red tape for delays in completing its new Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Germany. The factory was scheduled to begin building cars by July 1, but now that timeline has been pushed back to later this year after Tesla added plans to add battery cell production at the site, which requires an additional approval process.
Tesla's Factory in Germany is its first European production facility and will build electric vehicles for the European market. Once fully operational, the factory will produce up to 500,000 Model Y SUVs each year, according to Tesla.
As reported by Reuters, German newspaper Tagesspiegel said that the Tesla CEO arrived in Berlin on Sunday. Brandenburg's Economy Minister Joerg Steinbach confirmed that Musk would be visiting, but no meetings were planned since the visit was mainly "technical in character".
Last month Tesla pushed ahead its timeline for opening the new European gigafactory to late 2021 after adding plans to establish battery cell manufacturing at the site.
In April, the Ministry of Agriculture in the German state of Brandenburg said the amended application will require an additional review process leading to a delayed opening.
"Since there are no further details about the nature and scope of the planned changes, statements on the process and the time it will take to take a final decision can only be made at a later stage," the ministry said in a statement.
As a result, Musk called for cuts to German red tape on Monday as he said it was unclear when exactly the first electric car would roll off the production line at the plant near Berlin.
During a visit to the Gruenheide site in the German state of Brandenburg, Musk said, "It's hard to predict with precision cause you can only make the cars when all of the pieces are here." "It looks like we're able to start production at the end of this year," Musk added.
Germany is known for its cultural adherence to rules and regulations. However, the country's complex regulations and stringent approval processes apparently don't sit too well with Musk, who is under pressure to keep Tesla profitable and ramp up production.
"I think there could be less bureaucracy, that would be better," Musk told reporters at the Gruenheide site. Musk called the rules "immortal".
"There should be some kind of active process for removal of rules. Otherwise, over time, the rules will just accumulate and you get more and more rules until eventually you can't do anything," Musk said.
In addition to the German gigafactory, Tesla builds electric vehicles at its plant in Fremont, CA and Shanghai, China, which officially opened in Dec 2019. The Shanghai plant produces Model 3 cars for the China market, but Tesla was granted approval from officials in China to build the Model Y crossover in Nov. 2020.
Tesla is also building a fourth factory near Austin, Texas, which is also currently under construction. The Texas plant is scheduled to build the futuristic Cybertruck, although no timeline for its production has been disclosed yet.
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Auction clearance rates begin to fall
Alan Kohler speaks with Louis Christopher from SQM Research to discuss the latest developments in the residential and commercial property sector.
Louis Christopher is the Owner and Chief Executive of SQM Research.
Louis is one of the best and most experienced property analysts in the country, been around a long time, seen a few cycles, so I thought it’d be a good idea to catch up with him about both residential and commercial property.
Here’s Louis Christopher, CEO and Owner of SQM Research.
We’re seeing falling auction clearance rates, Alan, the last three weekends in both Melbourne and Sydney. While recording okay clearance rates, they were definitely falling which is a change in the trend from what we had in January and much of February.
Do you think it’s likely that we’re going to see listings dry up now, people will take their properties off the market?
I think that’s a huge chance, Alan. I think a lot of vendors and agents right now would be questioning whether they can go to auction given the fact that many would-be buyers would be quite hesitant congregating at an auction or indeed just going to a public property inspection right now, there would be a lot of concern about doing that. That would be playing on agents’ minds and my anticipation is that this weekend coming and the weekends after, we’re going to see a lot of withdrawals from auction.
I would have thought the open for inspections are the biggest problem. I mean, you can stand apart from people at an auction, but going into an inspection it’s very difficult to not touch stuff, so I would have thought that’s a problem.
That’s exactly right, especially 100-plus people going to a property.
I guess that means if it was just auctions still with a problem, you’d have a lot of private sales, but in fact, you can’t have a private sale if you can’t inspect the property.
Spot on. So, what do your agents do? I think many are going to conclude that, ‘Look, let’s withdraw the property, wait until the crisis is largely over and then reschedule the auction at that point or reschedule the listing at that point.’ I fail to see how that’s going to happen.
Not strict modelling. We have done some work in the past which indicated to us that an unemployment rate of over 7 per cent would be very problematic. It would create forced sales activity. I think if you see a situation where the unemployment rate just spikes, we’ll say a month or two, at those levels and then comes back, we shouldn’t have too many forced sales. However, if it’s sustained for the remainder of this year or indeed, not even that, just say six months, then the property market’s got a real problem on its hands.
I saw somebody – I think it was Shane Oliver at AMP Capital said that he thought an unemployment rate of 10 per cent means a 40 per cent fall in property prices. What do you think?
I’d like to see his modelling, it’s never been tested of course so we don’t know for sure. This economy is in unchartered waters, so it’s difficult to precisely come up with a forecast in my opinion. However, we know that my opinion is heavily indebted…
We did, Alan. That was of course in the last recession in 1990-91. At that time though, you may recall we had a higher inflation rate than what we do now. Property prices back then did fall in real terms and fairly substantially, in nominal terms less so. The Melbourne housing market had the greatest fall, it fell by over 20 per cent from peak to trough and some areas more than that. Sydney did better, so it didn’t really fall that much in nominal terms. That was then of course and we had less debt levels to GDP and of course we were all on a higher interest rate – at that time you may recall lending rates got up to some 18 per cent and then they came off very quickly. Back then, they fell all the way, I recall, to about 6-7 per cent which was regarded as cheap at the time.
So you’d say the ’91 recession doesn’t really provide much guidance as to what might happen this time?
It gives some guidance but the thing is there’s a number of factors which have changed. Our debt levels are a lot higher now, so we need to deal with that. On the other hand, with the Reserve Bank of Australia effectively going into quantitative easing and effectively printing money, we don’t know how the market’s going to respond to that either and the fact we’ve got record low interest rates on top. There’s competing forces out there. I guess I’m a little bit more of an optimist as well, I think the market is likely to fall in the near-term but once we get through this crisis, provided that small and medium size businesses are still intact in some way, then I think the economy could roar back to life with all the stimulus, with record low interest rates. If that were to happen then potentially you would see a very strong rebound in the housing market in the second half of the year.
But I presume for the moment you’d be telling both potential buyers and potential vendors to hold off, would you?
I would. I think it’s very – especially vendors, it’s a very tricky time. But that said though, prices are never too low to go even lower and if you have that more bleaker scenario, if vendors are able to sell today then potentially they are selling still at a good time.
We are aware that a number of retail REITs have withdrawn their guidance. Quite clearly the closure of cinemas is going to affect the likes of Westfield in a big way and I know Unibail-Westfield have fallen significantly. At this stage, it would be very difficult for commercial landlords, particularly any landlord that’s got the retail exposure. On the office side, I don’t think there’s an immediate impact other than there’ll be uncertainty around where capitalisation rates should have been. If white collar tenants can hold out through this crisis then potentially office might be okay, it might do rather well in the second half of the year given the fact that interest rates have fallen. It’s an uncertain time for commercial as well and I think the risk is definitely on the downside particularly for retail which is rather obvious.
I would have thought also, people might get used to working at home and a lot of people anyway, so you might see quite a few empty offices for a while, or at least until…
Well, yes, you’re speaking of effectively a structural change and what may happen is that if tenants realise that, ‘Look, hey, working from home can work, it’s okay for the workforce,’ then when leases roll over, they might go for smaller office space. I don’t think that will happen immediately, but on lease rollovers potentially a number of tenants may well take this path, work from home experience to another level and do it over the longer term and make it part of their overall business strategy to save on leasing costs long-term.
Just back to shopping malls and that, do you think we’re potentially seeing a structural change in shopping as well? I know that cinemas will probably reopen, but I just wonder whether we’re likely to see a structural change in home delivery of items?
Arguably, there has been a slow but sure structural change in retail. Of course, a movement towards online shopping was already there and retail, as you’d probably be aware, was soft. Specialty retail, in particular, was soft prior to this crisis, so the shopping malls were not having the best time of it, to begin with. So, no doubt they’re going to particularly struggle with this and I think capitalisation rates are likely to go up for retail, reflecting the risk in the sector from this point. Even while the lending rate’s fallen. So, a very difficult time particularly for specialty retail. I think with your essential neighbourhood shopping areas, they’ll do better, they should be more stable, but specialty is in a lot of trouble and that seems to be not just the short-term but potentially the long-term.
Yeah, and I wondered about the – speaking of specialty shops, the strip shopping centres which are where the landlords tend to be mums and dads, small SMSFs and so on, much more so on than obviously in the big malls. What do you think is happening there?
That’s a very good question. I have personally seen just anecdotally driving around Sydney a lot of shops now have got the ‘Closed’ sign on. Difficult to see until we get some hard data, but I think you’re honing in on what could be a particularly bleak period for SMSF investors who are owning those small shops, particularly for those who have geared, there could be a lot of trouble there for the self-managed super fund sector.
Okay, Louis, thanks very much.
That was Louis Christopher, CEO and Owner of SQM Research.


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DETROIT -- Chrysler LLC is appealing a federal court's ruling that it cannot retrieve equipment from a supplier that filed for bankruptcy protection.
Chrysler confirmed today it plans to appeal the decision regarding Plastech Engineered Products Inc. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit ruled Feb. 19 that Plastech's efforts to reorganize could be harmed if Chrysler took back its equipment.
The equipment is worth more than $167 million.
Chrysler is expected to file the appeal within the next 30 days.
A Chrysler spokesman says the court's decision could have a significant impact on the relationship between automakers and suppliers.
Plastech is continuing to supply parts to Chrysler under an interim agreement that was set to expire today.


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After recently being surpassed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk as the world’s wealthiest person merely 6 days prior, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has now reclaimed his spot upon the top of the world’s richest humans. As Amazon’s stock rose by almost 1.5% on Wednesday, January 13, Bezos’ wealth also increased by about $2.4 billion for a grand total of $184.9 billion, according to Forbes.
Musk surpassed Bezos briefly a week prior on two different occasions. As Tesla continued to see a rise in its stock prices, the company’s CEO found himself $200 million dollars behind Bezos with a total estimated wealth of $184.7 billion. In the past year, Elon Musk greatly reduced the gap in wealth between himself and Bezos that was present at the start of 2020. The stock price for Tesla rose by nearly 720% throughout the last year and it propelled Musk’s net worth to an unprecedented level.
With Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Tesla’s Elon Musk taking turns upon the top of Forbes’ wealthiest person list, there is a nearly $30 billion gap separating these two from the world’s third-richest person, French businessman and art collector Bernard Arnault, who possesses an estimated net worth of $150.5 billion. Behind Arnault, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg sit comfortably in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.
As Amazon continues to remain the powerhouse it is, and Tesla consistently explodes past expectations, the title of “Richest Person in the World” may not be held by one person for too long as we dive into 2021.


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Retailers in Europe and the U.K. are reportedly using spy technology in an effort to boost sales and customer service. The technology is being used to read customers’ facial expressions, heart rate and pupil dilation while they browse the aisles of physical stores.
According to a Telegraph report, the technology being installed across the U.S., Europe and the U.K. can tell if a customer is having trouble finding an item, read their reactions to particular products and identify and prevent the actions of shoplifters. The moves are aimed at improving customer experience and keeping up with eCommerce, which is greatly hurting the sales of many traditional retailers.
One bookseller in France, which was unnamed in the report, used the spy technology to follow customers’ movements and facial expressions to alert staff if it determined they may need assistance. From August 2016 to April 2017, the bookseller used the software to analyze shoppers movements and read emotions of surprise, dissatisfaction, confusion and hesitation, noted the report. The bookseller claims the technology has resulted in a 10 percent lift in sales.
Meanwhile, a Mothercare shop in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, employed emotion technology software from video applications development company Realeyes. Staff found shoppers who entered the store smiling spent 33 percent more money than those who weren’t smiling. Stores in Italy, according to the report, are running a trial with mannequins that have cameras embedded in them. The mannequins can detect customers’ facial reactions to their outfits.
“These systems are designed to be completely invisible so shoppers do not know they are there,” said Mark Thompson, director of retail and hospitality at Zebra Technologies, in the report. “They are mainly designed to improve people’s shopping experience, but now shops are discovering they can [also] use hi-tech systems to catch shoplifters and learn more about their customers.”


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Is Cultured Meat in Our Future?
A few companies are vying to create “cultured meat” — beef, chicken and seafood engineered in laboratories to taste like the real thing. The Food and Drug Administration held a meeting to receive public feedback on labeling of the product.
Lab-grown meat is seen by some as a way to meet rising global demand for protein while addressing concerns with modern livestock and poultry production methods. There will be questions about whether synthetic meat is healthy and safe – is fake meat good for us? A poll found that consumers want cultured meat to be clearly labeled. The concept also prompts societal and ethical questions.
We sought social and ethical perspectives from three experts:
- Candace Croney, professor in the departments of Comparative Pathobiology and Animal Sciences and Director of the Center for Animal Welfare Science at Purdue University, is the primary author of a paper titled, “Engineering Approaches to Animal Welfare,” currently under review at the Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Ethics. One section of the study addresses the issue of using the tissue of live animals to produce a synthetic meat product.
- Gary Varner, a philosophy professor at Texas A&M University, lists animal welfare and environmental ethics as research interests.
- Raymond Anthony, philosophy professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, has done research in the areas of environmental, food, animal and agricultural ethics.
What are the potential benefits of a synthetic meat product?
Dr. Croney: There is the idea that we could vastly mitigate any suffering that animals experience as a result of being raised for meat. One thing to keep in mind is that we would still need live animals as progenitors of the tissue that would be used to culture meat. Their experiences, the conditions under which they are raised, handled and sampled for tissue biopsies, and their overall welfare needs would have to be addressed. But, significantly fewer animals would be needed and the thinking by proponents of the technology is that this would also result in a significant reduction in the environmental impacts of livestock production.
Dr. Varner: The main one is an improvement in animal welfare by removing sentient beings that are capable of suffering from the food system. People might also think that the process could potentially be made more cost-efficient and also avoid environmental impacts of contemporary meat systems. I don’t know if that’s realistic or not.
Dr. Anthony: The meat we consume and the way we farm it have been scrutinized more than ever in recent years. Synthetic meat production is potentially another way to create a sustainable food future. As we approach 2050, scientific and technological innovations such as precision farming and genetic engineering, and now synthetic meat production, are being tasked to feed the projected 9 billion people and to do so in ways that mitigate such issues as greenhouse gas emissions, overfishing and animal welfare concerns. We face an enormous challenge to produce more food and meet the projected future needs for animal protein using existing agricultural lands and current water and energy resources.
What are the societal and cultural implications?
Dr. Croney: Is growing meat in a laboratory socially acceptable to people? We don’t know that yet. People who lean toward “natural” products might have questions about growing meat in a laboratory instead of using more traditional practices. We know many people today are very sensitive about the technologies associated with food production – particularly anything that looks like genetic modification as people tend to be very risk averse. Will this technology be similarly worrisome to people? What information will be provided to the general public here and elsewhere in the world? When and by whom will that be offered so that people can make informed choices that align with their values and beliefs rather than feeling that technology is being foisted on them? To the extent that technology advances might make it difficult to economically and visually distinguish cultured meat from traditionally produced meat, will cultured meat products be labeled in such a manner as to facilitate consumer choice? If the products are nutritionally different or vary significantly in price, who will have access to them and how does this mitigate or worsen societal inequities?
What happens to rural communities and all the people who are directly or indirectly involved in animal agriculture? It’s a way of life that’s important to many people. Is it socially acceptable to do something that could disrupt or displace that way of life? As consumers have increasingly expressed a desire to know more about how food is produced and to feel connected to farming, will this type of meat production exacerbate existing tensions and areas of disconnect between those who produce food and those dependent on them as consumers?
Dr. Varner: Reduction in animal-based agriculture via synthetic meat, as well as through synthetic dairy products, reduces a traditional lifestyle and relationship with animals that pastoralists celebrate.
Dr. Anthony: I see three areas of concern:
- Philosophically, how do synthetic meat production practices enhance our relationship to animals and the environment? Does “clean meat” production, which occurs in sterile laboratories, alienate us further from the natural world and strain human-animal relationships?
- Sophisticated consumers and regulators want to know if they are getting what is being marketed by these companies. How start-up tech companies foraying into food production address trust and transparency as part of an accountable business model will be a central issue to watch.
- The impact of synthetic meats on issues of justice, fairness and equity for all the stakeholders in the food chain (animal and the environment included) will also be of interest. For example, it will be important to understand just how the public perceives the extent to which this evolving technology will mitigate animal suffering and how new actors in the food system balance this ethical concern against other ethical expectations and risk considerations related to food norms and cultural practices about what is acceptable to do. Also, like any technological use, there will be tradeoffs. How will this technology, if it becomes a viable competitor to conventional production practices, impact farmers the world over who rely on animal protein production for their livelihoods, community and food security?
What is the feasibility of cultured meat – is the technology there yet?
Dr. Anthony: At the moment, there are only a handful of global start-ups working on high-tech meat alternatives. They include Memphis Meats, Hampton Creek, and Beyond Meat. Food safety concerns, accusations of manipulation and adulteration, labeling regulations, and the legacy of how GM foods were rolled out are among some of the hurdles that must be addressed and surpassed.
Dr. Varner: I don’t know how close the proponents of this technology are to being able to scale this up to commercial levels.
Dr. Croney: There has been proof of concept. Tissue-cultured meat has actually been produced and there have been “tastings.” What is not known is whether it can be produced in a way that meets consumer expectations of what meat should look like and how it tastes. The logistics of doing it on a large scale and affordably has not been demonstrated yet.
Do you think laboratory meat production is realistic?
Dr. Croney: There’s a lot of promise. In terms of doing it on a large-scale basis at this point in time, I’m not sure. The economics need to be fundamentally addressed and who would invest in it? Do I see this realistically happening in the next 20 years? No, but we will see efforts to improve the technology and I think there could be benefit from that.
How would you summarize this issue?
Dr. Anthony: Beyond issues of taste, safety, healthfulness and cost, consumers are increasingly interested in flexing their citizenship muscles to co-shape a global sustainable food future. Public attitudes toward the ethical acceptability of synthetic meats will depend heavily on the extent to which the potential of this innovation can live up to the marketing hype and the technology and its applications do not result in worse-off outcomes for people, the planet and animals. When framing questions about the morality of synthetic meats, empirical studies gauging public concern and expectations will be key. Fundamentally, will this technological innovation enhance human-animal-environmental relationships or harm them? Will there be an improvement over conventional practices?
Dr. Croney: We know that global demand for meat is increasing as income levels rise in developing countries. Tissue-grown meat has the potential to help satisfy demand while addressing environmental concerns associated with the additional land and natural resources that would be required to increase conventional livestock production. In short, the base technology needed to produce laboratory meat is there and appears promising, but the logistics and economics of doing it on a large scale while meeting consumer expectations for taste, naturalness, and healthfulness need to be better understood.
Dr. Varner: One thing that isn’t raised by your questions is that as sentient animals are removed from the meat sector then, other things equal, there are fewer animals living on earth. And, if the lives of the animals that are not living would have been good, there is less aggregate happiness in the world.
Lab-grown meat produced from tissues is being researched and tested, but there are still many questions to be answered, including if consumers will accept the new product.
Originally published August 23, 2017.


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ATLANTE – CLC, the premier collegiate licensing and trademark agency, and six schools in the University of Texas system have collaborated to develop the “Arte con Voz” merchandise collection featuring Hispanic and Latino lifestyle artists at the occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15. .
The University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Texas Permian Basin, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the University of Texas at San Antonio will each feature products honoring the artistic contributions of the Hispanic and Latino community through custom designs produced by acclaimed Hispanic lifestyle artists.
The collection’s name, Arte con Voz, or Art with Voice, was derived from a meeting with the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Métis Cultural Studies Program as part of planning efforts. The official Arte con Voz logo was developed by participating artist collective Carlos Donjuan, Sour Grapes Crew, in Dallas, TX.
“Hispanic and Latin American culture and traditions are a core part of all of our schools in the University of Texas system, and we are proud to honor that history and pride through the Arte con Voz collection,” said said Craig Westemeier, associate director of athletic brands for the UT System. “We are thrilled to bring together many of our member schools to elevate the voice of Hispanic heritage through unique art and product design.”
The limited-edition collection includes on-trend t-shirts from iconic licensee Original Retro Brand and vintage-inspired basketball-style shorts from 19Nine.
“The Arte con Voz collection was developed to provide participating institutions with a way to connect with their diverse students and fans while strengthening relationships with local communities,” said Ben Emmons, vice president of marketing at CLC. “Merchandise showcases selected artists’ styles through vibrantly colored designs, unique fonts, and logo treatments not available in other college-licensed merchandise.”
Artists participating in the collection include:
- Christin Apodaca – Christin Apodaca was born and raised in El Paso, Texas where she became interested in drawing. She then studied art at the University of Texas at El Paso before transferring to the University of New Mexico where she earned a degree in Studio Art. She returned to El Paso where she became a teaching artist. Her work can be seen at businesses, galleries and festivals in the area.
- Juan Jose “JJ” Bali, Jr. – JJ Bali is a South Texas artist from the Rio Grande Valley who specializes in wall art. From aerosols to paint buckets, he uses flexible mediums and materials to convey brand messages and stories. While he is particularly passionate about sports and sports-themed topics, he also combines graphic elements and fine art to help local businesses communicate their brand identity.
- Carlos Donjuan – Born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Carlos Donjuan immigrated to the United States when he was three years old and discovered a passion for drawing cartoons, cars, and comic book characters. After expressing himself through graffiti and mural art as a youth, he pursued an artistic education, earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at San Francisco. Antonio (UTSA). He is currently a professor at UTA and exhibits his own art in galleries and museums across the country and Europe.
- Los Otros – Shek Vega and Nik Soup are the Texas-based mural duo known as Los Otros who are highly sought after for their street art murals. Based in San Antonio, Los Otros murals can be found in elite galleries, museums, independent and large corporations, as well as the homes of celebrities and public figures around the world. To date, Los Otros has helped create over eighty works of public art and raised over $40,000 for nonprofits and arts organizations.
The Arte con Voz collection is available exclusively at bookstores on the Follett campus of participating universities.
About the University of Texas System
For more than 130 years, the University of Texas system has been committed to improving the lives of Texans and people around the world through education, research, and health care. With 13 institutions that collectively enroll more than 240,000 students, the UT system is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produce more than 67,000 graduates annually and award more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and more than 60 percent of its medical degrees. Collectively, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics accounted for more than 10.6 million outpatient visits and more than 2 million hospital days in 2021. UT institutions are among the most innovative in the world , collectively ranking 3rd in most U.S. patents granted in 2021, and the UT system ranks #1 in Texas and #2 nationwide in federal research spending. The UT system is also one of the largest employers in Texas, with more than 22,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates and members of National Academies – and more than 93,000 medical professionals, researchers and staff from support. The UT system has an operating budget of $25.2 billion.
CLC is the nation’s leading college brand licensing company with a mission to elevate college brands through insight and innovation. The company is uniquely positioned to deliver consumer relationships and brand visibility to institutions through customized, data-driven solutions that include impactful licensed merchandise strategies and innovative marketing platforms to navigate the market. ever-changing consumer and retail. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, CLC is guided by the values of serving others, building trust, leading well, innovating often, and being passionate. Founded in 1981, CLC is part of LEARFIELD, the leading media and technology services company for intercollegiate athletics.


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UPDATE: Oct. 2, 2023, 2:15 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with more information about Amazon Prime Big Deal Days as well as competing sales at other major retailers.
Just like crunchy leaves, pumpkin-spiced everything, and 12-foot skeletons, a second Amazon Prime sale is now a sure sign that fall has arrived.
Here's what you need to know about the latest iteration, which has a brand-new name for 2023: Amazon Prime Big Deal Days.
When is Prime Big Deal Days?
Prime Big Deal Days will run from Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 3 a.m. ET through Wednesday, Oct. 11. (That's three months after Amazon's flagship Prime Day sale in July and about six and a half weeks out from Black Friday.)
This marks the third time Amazon has held a Prime-exclusive sale in the fall, and the second time it's hosted two Prime events in the same year: It moved Prime Day 2020 to October because of the COVID-19 pandemic and followed up Prime Day 2022 with the Prime Early Access Sale this same time last year. That name didn't stick, evidently.
What's new about Prime Big Deal Days this year?
New moniker aside, Amazon isn't reinventing the wheel for Prime Big Deal Days. Anyone who's shopped a Prime event before already knows the drill: It'll be two days of sitewide doorbusters, with Amazon's own devices and services likely getting the steepest price drops.
It is worth mentioning that Amazon has revived its invite-only deals program for products it expects to sell out on Prime Big Deal Days, a carry-over from Prime Day 2023. Prime members can visit these products' listings to request an invitation ahead of the event, and if chosen, you'll receive an email with a unique link to buy the item at some point during the sale. (Amazon doesn't specify how it picks these lucky eligible shoppers; all we know is that they're exclusive to Prime members.) Check out Mashable's guide to the invite-only deals that are already live if you're interested in participating.
Who's competing with Prime Big Deal Days?
Several major retailers are throwing their hats into the anti-Prime Big Deal Days ring.
Target is hosting one of its semi-annual Circle Week sales prior to Amazon's festivities from Sunday, Oct 1 to Saturday, Oct. 7. It's open to members of its totally free Target Circle loyalty program and covers "thousands of products," with offers available online, in stores, and on the Target app. Here's a quick look at the top Circle Week deals as of Oct. 2; note that all discounts appear once you add the product to your cart:
Apple iPad Air, 5th Generation (WiFi, 64GB) — $499.99
Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS, 41mm) — $224.99 $399 (save $174.01)
Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones — $129.99
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Bundle — $66.99
KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer — $279.99
MSI THIN GF63 (Intel Core i7-12650H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999.99
Save $20 on select Nintendo Switch games
Get a free $15 gift card when you spend $50 on select household essentials
Get a free $5 gift card when you spend $25 on select health and beauty products
Save $10 when you spend $50 on select toys
Best Buy is running a holiday savings event peppered with "Black Friday deals" throughout the month of October, the company said in a press release. Conveniently, that includes a 48-Hour Flash Sale scheduled for Oct. 10 and 11 that'll bring "hundreds of deals on some of the best tech, from TVs and laptops, headphones and smartwatches, to electric transportation and more."
Meanwhile, a Walmart Deals - Holiday Kickoff savings event will be live on Walmart.com from Monday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. ET through Thursday, Oct. 12. Here's a sneak peek at some of the best deals you can expect to see during the sale:
Cricut Maker 3 Machine Tools and Rainbow Vinyl Bundle — $429.99
Keurig K-Mini Plus — $50
Sony 75-inch BRAVIA XR Class X90K 4K HDR Full Array LED TV — $998
In a surprising shift from similar events in past years, these offers will not be exclusive to members of the big box store's Walmart+ program.
Prime Big Deal Days tips and tricks
Aside from aggressively lurking on Amazon's dedicated Prime Big Deal Days page (and reading our coverage of the sale), there are several ways to ensure you don't miss out on a great deal:
Sign up for Amazon's invite-only deals.
Organize your Amazon Wish List. Amazon's virtual shopping list feature puts all of your must-haves in one convenient spot so you can see which ones are on sale for Prime Day at a glance (instead of flipping between links and tabs). Check out Mashable's guide to "wishlisting" for more intel.
Download the Amazon Shopping mobile app. The app features a Prime Day event page where you can set deal alerts for your recent Amazon searches and views; you'll get pinged with a push notification as soon as an offer goes live.
Take advantage of Alexa's advanced deal alerts feature. Amazon's virtual assistant can notify you of a sale on an item in your Wish List, Shopping Cart, or "Saved for Later" queue up to 24 hours before it goes live. Enable the feature on a newer-gen Echo smart speaker, and you'll see its light ring turn yellow (or you'll get a pop-up alert) whenever an item you've saved has a discount in the pipeline. You can then ask for more information about the deal, set a reminder for when it's available, and even give Alexa permission to order it for you using your default payment info when the time comes.
What not to buy during Prime Big Deal Days
After covering Prime events for years, here's what we'd recommend skipping during Prime Big Deal Days:
Anything from Ring. The home security company's popular video doorbells always get really cheap during Prime events since Ring is an Amazon brand, but they're ultimately a privacy nightmare.
Almost anything sold and shipped by a third-party seller. Third-party merchants on Amazon aren't scammers across the board, but buying something from a seller you don't recognize can be risky. (Fake reviews and counterfeit listings are way more common — and convincing — than you'd think.) Stick with products that have "Ships from Amazon.com" and "Sold by Amazon.com" under their "Buy Now" buttons just to be safe.
Any deal that seems too good to be true. Amazon has a bad habit of inflating MSRPs to make discounts appear better than they really are. You can verify whether a deal is legit or not by comparing prices across other major retailers and running the product through camelcamelcamel, a free Amazon price-tracking site.
Anything you get the urge to impulse-buy. Are you buying a new TV because you actually need a new TV, or just because it's $100 off right now?


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Gold Medal Pools Celebrates Milestone Achievement Acquisition of Their 21st Company
Growth by Acquisition Multi-Year Strategy Successful for Swimming Pool Industry Leader
LEWISVILLE, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 14, 2023 / Gold Medal Pools, a leading player in the pool industry, announces the successful acquisitions of Champion Pool Service and Foley Pools Service and Maintenance Division, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth and market expansion strategy.
These strategic acquisitions reinforce Gold Medal Pool's commitment to providing the highest level of excellence in pool services and products to customers throughout North Texas, solidifying its position as a dominant force in the industry. Its growth-through-acquisition expansion model has proven successful for owners of swimming pool companies, homeowners, and investors. In the past three years, Gold Medal Pools has more than quadrupled its customer base, making it one of the largest pool companies in the United States. This milestone is a direct result of a multi-year strategy that creates significant value creation for business owners, best-in-class service to homeowners, and an accelerated career path for team members.
'Many pool company owners struggle to make service and maintenance lines of business profitable. Through the commitment of our financial partners, investments in infrastructure, and our talented team members, we've created a flexible model that allows owners to preserve their legacy and provide life-changing liquidity,' said Josh Sandler, CEO of Gold Medal Pools.
The acquired companies, known for their expertise, will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Gold Medal Pools portfolio.
Gold Medal Pools recognizes that these acquisitions would not have been possible without its team members' dedication and hard work. 'We're excited to welcome the talented professionals from Champion Pool Service and Foley Pools into the Gold Medal family,' said Josh Sandler, CEO of Gold Medal Pools. 'These acquisitions reflect Gold Medal Pool's vision for the industry's future as we continue to invest in growth opportunities and innovate to meet the evolving needs of our customers.'
Service and Maintenance customers of Foley and Champion can rest assured that Gold Medal Pools will continue to provide the same outstanding service and quality products they have come to expect.
Gold Medal Pool's expansion efforts are part of its ongoing commitment to delivering unparalleled customer experiences. The company will now have an even more extensive presence throughout the Sunbelt, making it easier for customers to access the highest-quality pool services and products available in the market.
About Gold Medal Pools
Gold Medal Pools is a premier swimming pool company providing maintenance, design, construction, and renovation services to North Texas. The company represents over five decades of professional experience and employs over 200 team members, bringing unparalleled service and innovation to customers. Gold Medal Pools is the world-champion Dallas Cowboys' official pool builder and service provider. For more information, please visit www.goldmedalpools.com.
About Foley Pools
Foley Pools is a leading full-service pool company in Prosper, Texas, servicing locations throughout North Dallas. The company has been in business for over 30 years and continues to provide swimming pool design, construction, renovation, and related services. For more information on Foley Pools, please visit www.foleypools.com.
About Champion Pool Service
Champion Pool Service is the U.S.'s largest pool home warranty contractor, providing services for all major home warranty companies. The company employs expert technicians who repair, upgrade, and service all pool equipment and automation systems. For more information on Champion Pool Service, please visit www.championpool.com.
SOURCE: Gold Medal Pools
View source version on accesswire.com:


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SEATTLE, WA–(Marketwired – Apr 12, 2017) – CFN Media Group, the leading creative agency and digital media network dedicated to legal cannabis, announces publication of an article discussing Platinex Inc.’s (CSE: PTX) goal of creating shareholder value through opportunistic acquisitions in both cannabis and mining.
Platinex is developing the world’s first online cannabis shopping mall — Cannabismall.shop — in an effort to capitalize on the Canada’s burgeoning cannabis industry. The company is working with top-tier information technology firms and consultants to build out the e-commerce project that is expected to launch over the coming months. While many companies are focused on obtaining cultivation licenses, the company’s management team believes that there’s a much larger opportunity in becoming a leading online destination for consumers to purchase legal equipment — such as vaporizers, grinders or soil enhancers and security systems.
Canada’s cannabis industry is expected to reach $12.7 to $22.6 billion in size over the coming years, according to Deloitte analysts. The base retail market could be worth as much as $8.7 billion per year, while cultivators, infused product makers, testing labs, and security firms could realize the balance of the market size. These estimates don’t include ancillary markets — such as consumer products or paraphernalia — that could make the market even larger.
Additional Opportunity in Mining
Platinex also offers investors an opportunity in the mining sector through its Shining Tree and other gold and platinum assets located throughout Canada. With an experienced management team at the helm, the company is well-positioned to continue executing on these projects and build long-term value for shareholders.
Platinex President & CEO James R. Trusler has over 50 years of experience in Canada’s mining and exploration industry. In the 1980s, Mr. Trusler was instrumental in Teck Resources Ltd.’s acquisition of a gold prospect in the Hemlo area of Ontario. The area eventually included two of Canada’s largest gold mines that contributed up to 60% of Teck’s operating profits from 1985 until it sold the interest in 2009 and facilitated its growth into a major.
In 1998, Mr. Trusler founded Platinex, assembled an operating team, and raised $4.2 million to take the company public on the TSX Venture exchange. The company faced several challenges since then, including First Nation blockades and litigation, but raised a further $6.8 million and reached a settlement with Ontario that involved $5.3 million and a 2.5% Net Smelter Royalty on its former Big Trout Lake property — an unprecedented win for shareholders.
The company has since focused on executing an aggressive acquisition and exploration program on its Shining Tree property. After a four-year hiatus, the company commenced a resource valuation of the Herrick gold deposit to establish a NI 43-101 compliant resource including consideration of an open pit. The company has drilled over 50 holes that have returned good gold values and over a 400m strike length and 300m depth.
Please follow the link to read the full article: http://www.cannabisfn.com/platinex-developing-cannabis-destination/
Learn how to become a CFN Media featured company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/become-featured-company/
Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from your smart phone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8
Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com
About CFN Media
CFN Media (CannabisFN) is the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to legal cannabis. We help marijuana businesses attract investors, customers (B2B, B2C), capital, and media visibility. Private and public marijuana companies and brands in the U.S. and Canada rely on CFN Media to grow and succeed.
Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CFN Media and CannabisFN.com, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. Emerging Growth LLC may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Emerging Growth LLC may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or equity securities in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/.
CFN Media Group


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VISITING a foreign country is not only for leisure but also for taking care of one’s health. That is what Desy Atmaja did when she visited Malaysia. “I usually go to Bali for my holidays, but this time I chose Malaysia,” said Desy, an account director at an advertising agency in Jakarta.
Desy had often heard that the Malaysian government was serious about turning the country into a wellness destination. It believes spas, which most star-rated hotels have — can provide lots of revenue for the government.
Medical tours are not an entirely new concept because other countries, such as Japan, Singapore and several European countries, have spas. However, Malaysia with its vast potential as a wellness destination has become quite competitive and currently attracts 400,000 visitors annually from neighboring countries Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore for spa treatments.
Spa is an abbreviation of the Latin term solus per aqua meaning curing or recovery using water and was introduced in 400 BC in Rome. Spas offer a combination of treatments that may include hydrotherapy, thermotherapy, electrotherapy, massage, reflexology, color therapy, music therapy, therapy using traditional herbs, diet therapy, meditation and so forth.
Compared to Indonesia, especially Bali, spas in Malaysia actually lag behind the facilities and services provided here, but in the past five years Malaysia has revamped its spa industry to turn it into a major contributor to tourism revenue.
It is undeniable that more foreign tourists go to Malaysia for medical, health and beauty care. Although this sector of the Malaysian tourist industry is not as advanced as in neighboring countries, significant and rapid improvements are being made and soon the country may catch up to its neighbors.
Malaysia is the world’s third most popular medical tourism destination. Data from Nuwire Investors online on real estate and investment opportunities indicates that Malaysia is also considered a good place for investment based on the quality of its services and capability in providing health services as well as its willingness to accept foreign investors.
Malaysia offers a number of health and medical services that includes dental, cosmetic procedures and heart surgery, all of which cost far less than in the US. Foreign tourists who visit the country for medical reasons and investors are attracted to Malaysia due to its favorable currency exchange, economic and political stability and the highly educated population.
Currently, no fewer than 35 private hospitals and 300 exclusive clinics provide services to medical tourists. All these complement the country’s various health tourism components, such as spas, hot springs, traditional medicines, acupuncture, traditional massage and herbal products.
The reason many tourists visit Malaysia for health and medical purposes is that it provides high quality services and facilities at comparably lower prices than other countries. Not only is a complete range of spas available in Malaysia but also everything to do with physical appearance, such as chemical peeling, Botox injections to reduce wrinkles, nose and eye surgery, fillers around the nose, cheeks and lips, and a complete range of dental care. There is also liposuction as well as body sculpting.
In short, for middle and upper income earners who are aware of the importance of holistic care, Malaysia is indeed an ideal place to find such services and facilities at a lower cost. (Reyhan Fabiano)
The Jakarta Post, August 30, 2010


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One of the three companies producing custom bike with 360* tires, Motorcycletemple, has been invited to the Moscow Tuning Show 2012.
Lykov`s Jewellery will for the first time participate in TOP LINE and will present to the attention of exquisite audience a new collection of exclusive jewellery with unique precious stones!
The Gala Opening Ceremony of the 5th International medical forum-exhibition Health Industry was held April 24 in crocus Expo IEC.
The 16th International exhibition and conference for the mining and processing of metals and minerals MiningWorld Russia was inaugurated April 24 in the Crocus Expo IEC.
Astounding super cars from world famous TOPCAR tuning studio at Moscow Tuning Show 2012!
The 31st Moscow international dental forum and exhibition Dental Salon was inaugurated April 23 in the Crocus Expo IEC.
The international trade fair PIR 2012 was inaugurated April 20 in the Crocus Expo IEC.
The leading event of professional cosmetics and equipment industry in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe – INTERCHARM professional – is held April 19 to 21, 2012 in the Crocus Expo IEC third pavilion.
Crocus Expo IEC new exhibition project has own page in Twitter network.


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Ridgewood & Lyndale
Quizno’s Sub Restaurant is opening Friday, May 14 in the new Agora Market, 1911 Lyndale Ave. S. It is owners Darby and Michelle Gelo’s first restaurant. Denver-based Quizno’s claims it is opening a new franchise every three hours.
Hours are 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. The location also offers catering.
24th & Nicollet
Blue Eyes Caf/ is not the kind of place where you’ll see Frank Sinatra; instead, the 2424 Nicollet Ave. caf/ serves Vietnamese drinks and several $5 entrees. The Eat Street restaurant’s fare includes rice with roasted pork and roasted chicken.
Manager Kaylin Dao said that in addition to Vietnamese coffee (a very concentrated coffee brew with condensed milk and sugar to cut down on the bitterness), Blue Eyes Caf/ also offers mochas and smoothies.
Blue Eyes Caf/’s phone number is 879-5012.
29th & Lyndale
Pete Bonahoom is setting up his new Whittier restaurant, Galactic Pizza, on what he calls a socially responsible business model.
When the 2917 Lyndale Ave. S. location opens in June, three-wheeled electric-powered cars called Gizmos will deliver the pizza. Bonahoom specified that the electricity he gets from Reliant Energy be exclusively from their wind generators (such power costs 20 percent more). For each sale of Second Harvest Heartland Pizza, he’ll donate $1 to the to the Minnesota Food Bank. The cheese on all his pizzas are from cows who have not been treated with RBH growth hormones.
Ultimately, however, the success of his enterprise will rely on his pizzas’ flavor. His specialty pizzas feature barbecue, Alfredo, pesto and his most unique offering, hemp pesto sauce. While you can’t get high on it, Bonahoom said, it’s a healthy, tasty sauce that uses hemp oil.
The restaurant, which will not serve alcohol, will seat 15. The delivery area is from I-94 to 50th Street and from I-35W to France Avenue.
Lake & Humboldt
World traveler Kevin Sheehy opened a store April 24 called Caravan in the space tucked inside and between Dunn Bros and Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery at 1500 W. Lake St. The store features rugs, pottery, purses, bags, cards, art and jewelry from all around the world, costing from $2 to $2,000.
Sheehy has accumulated goods for more than 20 years from locations such as Turkey, India, Nepal, Mexico and Peru. He’s sold the products from his travels for more than four years at the Downtown Farmer’s Market.
He carries some local merchandise and said he’s eager to expand his selection. Sheehy plans to host monthly weekend events highlighting one new local artist and musician each time.
Store hours are Tuesday though Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking is available in the rear of the building.
Lake & Fremont
Phoenix-based Wild Noodles, which specializes in gourmet noodle dishes, is opening its first Minnesota store at 1221 W. Lake St. on Monday, May 17.
Franchisee Aaron Cherrington described the restaurant as "fast-casual" but said it is more upscale in atmosphere and food.
At the new restaurant, customers order their noodle dishes at the counter and can watch their meals being prepared in fiery woks. Wine and beer, as well as fountain beverages and desserts, are also planned to be available with meals.
Prices range from $5.99 to $8.99, and the restaurant will accept take-out and faxed orders. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit www.wildnoodles.com or call 821-1600.
Lake & Hennepin
Drink of Uptown, LLC applied for a liquor license for the former Snyders Drug space at 2939 Hennepin Ave. S. The application states that Drink would serve a full food menu throughout the day and into the evening business hours.
A recorded message at the property manager’s office stated a lease for the space was signed in April. The message also stated that a party has been paying rent since April and plans to open pending city licensing approval.
Drink’s license application seeks a July 1 opening date. It is unclear if Drink of Uptown is of any relation to downtown’s Drink, 26 N. 5th Street. No one from the downtown establishment returned calls by the Journal’s deadline.
34th & Nicollet
Golf enthusiast Ty McCoy opened Tee Tyme Barbershop located at 3401 Lyndale Ave. on May 1. This is the first time the Minneapolis native has ever owned a business.
The golf theme will be more than just a name for the young man who recently took up the game. He plans to install a putting green where customers can practice their short game while waiting for a haircut.
Haircuts cost $15 dollars for men. He also cuts women’s hair but only does trims. His hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. Tee Tyme is closed on Sunday and Monday — most likely because McCoy will be out on the links.
Tee Tyme’s phone number is 822-6068.
34th & Nicollet
Nicollet Deli is a new take-out restaurant opening later this month at 3404 Nicollet Ave. Its owner is Sedat Soyer, a native of Ankara, Turkey, who has lived in Minneapolis for the past 10 years. This is his first try in the restaurant business.
The Lyndale neighborhood deli will serve chicken, gyros, Philly Cheese Steak, Italian beef, pizza, burritos and egg rolls. Alcoholic beverages will not be served, just soft drinks.
Nicollet Deli will be open from 10 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. They have yet to get a phone number.
38th & Grand
Victor’s 1959 Caf/, 3756 Grand Ave. S., Kingfield’s popular Cuban breakfast and lunch spot, reopened for business April 26 after closing Feb. 2 for renovations.
Co-owner Niki Valens said Victor’s just completed a kitchen expansion and spruced up the dining room, and they also plan to add green space to the front of the business.
She said the extra space will allow for dinner service starting sometime in June or July. "We finally have a kitchen that can put out a dinner," Valens said.
She said she and her husband, co-owner Victor Valens, will seek a wine and beer license to supplement their dinner menu.
Business hours will change once dinner is added, but until then the hours remain 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
38th & Grand
The Grand Family Dental practice, 3757 Grand Ave. S., closed in April. Dr. Jamie Graham, who purchased the Kingfield practice the last year, opened a new practice in the Lyn-Lake area called Fiant Dental.
Fiant Dental is located on the second floor of the business district’s newest building at 2937 Lyndale Ave. S., and offers the same dental services as the previous practice.
Although the practice kept its existing phone number, Graham also acquired a new one, 827-7400. Information can also be found at www.fiantdental.com.
So what’s going into the empty Grand Dental space? While nothing’s final, but Niki and Victor Valens, owners of Victor’s 1959 Caf/ across the street at 3756 Grand Ave. S., said they’re in talks with to buy the property. "We have a really fun business idea in mind," Niki Valens said.
She said they’ve devised a plan for a store called "Victor’s Havana Take-Away," which would sell specialty Cuban foods, accessories (such as Cuban cigar box purses) and provide a place to display Cuban art.
50th & Penn
In response to the impending West 50th restriping project, which will reduce the street’s driving lanes and parking, Broder’s Cucina Italiana, 2308 W. 50th St., now offers delivery service.
Co-owner Tom Broder said the Cucina delivers anything from pizzas, sandwiches, salads and entrees — with a $15 minimum. He said delivery starts after 5 p.m., and orders are taken by phone.
The delivery territory is West 36th Street to the Crosstown and France Avenue to Lyndale Avenue, extending east to I-35W between 46th Street and Diamond
Broder also plans to revamp the Cucina’s menu in the next two or three weeks.
For more information on Broder’s delivery, call 925-3113 or visit www.broders.com.
50th & Bryant
If you yearn for the days when you could get a good, cheap haircut at a barbershop — not a hair salon or boutique — BT Barbers, 5005 Bryant Ave. S., might be just what you’re looking for.
BT Barbers is named for owners Barb Nevils and her daughter, Tenell East. They took over the space occupied for over a decade by Skip’s Barber Shop.
"We’re a family barbershop," Nevils said. "We’re taking over Skip’s Barber Shop’s male clientele. We do children; we have a small child’s chair, and we do women as well. It’s not a franchise system."
She said a basic haircut for a man is $16, for a woman it’s $20 and a child 12 and under is $14.
The new owners refurnished the interior and even added TVs for customers who want to watch a ballgame while their locks are sheared.
BT Barbers is open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s closed on Sundays and Mondays.
54th & Nicollet
Hidden Health Chiropractic, a Windom-based business, moved to a new location in the Minnehaha Mall at 5451 Nicollet Ave. on April 5. Dr. Shona Mackenzie said her business had been in a home office on 54th and Queen for the past five years.
Mackenzie said two chiropractors, Dr. Eric Jensen and Dr. Kori Mortenson, have joined the practice.
Mackenzie said the trio has built a practice serving all ages but catering to families. There is a family room, where the whole family can receive chiropractic care together.
Prices depend on the type of work each patient has done. The business accepts customers by appointment and on a walk-in basis.
Hours are 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday by appointment. For more information, visit www.hiddenchiropractic.com.


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Prudential fails to put all its Eggs in one basket
Should be called Geg -- its ecommerce message is definitely scrambled
Egg -- the lifestyle-branded banking service from the UK's Prudential Corporation -- is taking a soft-boiled approach to ecommerce, even though it would like people to think it was a major player in the digital ballpark. From today if you want an Egg account you can only rustle it up if you apply via the Web. According to the hype, this makes Egg a "firmly established leader in the ecommerce market." So says CEO Mike Harris. "Of the 500,000 customers we have attracted so far we estimate around 30 per cent already have Internet access and with Internet growth in the UK running at around 11,000 new users a day, this proportion will increase rapidly," he said. But once customers have applied via the Net, there is nothing stopping them from ditching their modems and conducting their financial affairs by telephone -- or even by post. There's an eggy waft to this whichever way you approach it. This is not the cutting edge of ecommerce even though the PR window dressers would love you to think otherwise. On the face of it, Egg has done exceedingly well. In just six months it has met its five year target of £5 billion in savings and 500,000 customers and it now wants to cash in on two million Internet customers by 2004. But according to the Financial Times, despite this apparent success Egg is still expecting to make losses of £100 million by the end of the first year. Far from embracing ecommerce, it seems Egg is using it to block the number of new applications it receives to help stem its losses -- not dissimilar to what happens if you eat to many of the oval things. ®
Sponsored: RAID: End of an era?


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How To Get Tickets For Beyonce's 'Formation' World Tour
Beyoncé performed alongside Coldplay at the Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show on Sunday night, and she used the performance to announce her next world tour. As if getting the "Formation" song and video on Saturday weren't enough of a beautiful surprise, the announcement about an upcoming world tour sent fans in to a frenzy. Here's how to get tickets for Beyoncé's Formation World Tour, because they're clearly necessary for life.
The Formation World Tour will begin in Miami on April 27, according to Us Weekly. Pre-sale tickets for American Express cardholders go on sale as early as Tuesday, Feb. 9, according to Complex. Regular-sale tickets will go on sale on Ticketmaster starting Tuesday, Feb. 16. Fans better get ready for the date, because tickets are sure to sell out fast in all the hype. Beyoncé will reportedly use the tour to support her sixth studio album. "Formation" was the first single from the album, and it sent people into a frenzy when the Queen (who is famous for surprises) released in unexpectedly on Saturday.
The Formation World Tour will stop in 40 cities that are evenly split throughout North America and the U.K. and Europe, according to Billboard. Though ticket prices haven't officially been released, Billboard estimated that, depending on market rates, higher-priced tickets could be as much as $250 to $300, while the cheapest tickets could go as low as $65.
Sure, $65 might not exactly break the bank for everyone, but getting those $65 tickets probably won't be easy. Queen Bey's last tour with husband Jay Z sold out in many cities across the U.S. and grossed more than $100 million, according to Billboard.
Fans were a mixture of happy and nervous. Twitter reactions hilariously captured how people wanted to see Beyoncé perform, but many said that they probably wouldn't be able to afford tickets. The struggle was real for many fans.
But, still, many of them were more than ready to throw Beyoncé their money.
Fans are caught between excitement and sadness, because a new Beyoncé tour will mean eating Ramen and sticking to Netflix binge sessions as a cheap weekend activity. I know I'm not just speaking for myself. Thank you, Beyoncé, but also, damn you for being so great.


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SEGA of America executive Scott Steinberg has said that the high price of the PlayStation 3 "is a concern" - but that Sony's strong foothold in the marketplace should ensure that the console is a hit with consumers.
Speaking to GameDaily.com, Steinberg said that the PS3 prices announced by Sony - US$499 for the 20GB model, and US$599 for the 60GB version - are "within expectations... So there's no real suprise there."
"I think it's an expensive device, but it's a very powerful device. Their job is to convince the world that Blu-ray has a high utility and delivers on a promise, a value promise, and I'm sure they'll sell out," he continued.
"Definitely, the [price] is a concern, but globally the brand is so strong that when you think about the marketplace in Japan, North America and Europe, Sony has been the clear winner. So there's a lot of marketing momentum and sales momentum that they're going to absolutely carry into the PS3."
Steinberg reaffirmed SEGA's commitment to Sony's new console, with titles such as Virtua Fighter 5 coming to PS3 straight from the arcades "in a relatively few number of months" - with "very little if any noticeable degradation to the graphics."
"So, effectively you've got thousands of dollars worth of arcade tech in a machine that's 500 bucks, 600 bucks. So there's a lot of value in that machine," he concluded.
The PS3 "is going to be successful," according to Steinberg - but Sony does "have a job to do and selling and marketing it not only to gamers... They've also got to play with the Blu-Ray platform in the consumer electronics market as well."
"So they've really got to do two things with their tech to get this platform to be successful."
In addition, Steinberg argued, Sony may need to bring in a price cut soon after launch: "They're going to have to lifecycle price the hardware in a way that brings it to the masses, I would think relatively soon, because it is expensive. For a lot of families [the launch price is] too expensive."


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Locked in Japan since its release in 2012, Square Enix revealed its massively multi-player online RPG Dragon Quest X is under consideration for hitting new shores.
A slide from the company's most recent financial report states that "expansion to overseas market is under consideration" for the successful title. It should be noted that other games on this particular slide are discussed only in relation to Asian regions, but the vagueness of Dragon Quest X's entry leaves the possibility for wider localisation open at this time.
Dragon Quest X was first released on the Wii, followed by versions for the Wii U, PC, and most recently Android devices.
Square Enix saw a favourable turn of fortunes in its latest financial report. After taking a loss last year, the company has reported a net income of more than 6.5 billion yen ($65 million) for the fiscal year ending 31st March, 2014.


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- Just days after Google unveiled new details about Stadia, Microsoft gave a preview of cloud streaming service Project xCloud at its annual E3 conference.
- Initially announced back in October, Project xCloud would allow streaming from users' entire Xbox One libraries, including games from Xbox Game Pass, to mobile devices.
The cloud gaming battle is about to heat up.
Just days after Google unveiled new details about Stadia, Microsoft gave a preview of cloud streaming service Project xCloud at its annual E3 conference.
Initially announced back in October, Project xCloud would allow streaming from users' entire Xbox One libraries, including games from Xbox Game Pass, to mobile devices. The service would essentially allow users to turn their Xbox One into their "own personal and free xCloud server," said Phil Spencer, head of Xbox.
"Whether you're using a console in our data center or your console at home, this October you will be able to use our hybrid gaming cloud to play your games wherever you go," said Spencer. "Wherever you play is entirely your choice, you decide."
The unveiling comes as part of Microsoft's ambitions to explore the cloud gaming space. Early last year, the big tech giant acquired start-up PlayFab, which provides developers with cloud-based tools for games.
Amazon is also eyeing on launching its own gaming service, but no new details have emerged since last January about its ambitions to dive into game streaming.
Since Project xCloud would allow users to stream from their own consoles, Spencer also revealed Xbox's next console. Titled Project Scarlet, which Xbox had teased in a series of tweets in the days leading up to the pre-E3 reveal, it is expected to be Xbox's most powerful console to date with Microsoft partnering with Advanced Micro Devices for its processors.
"When we talk about freedom to play, Xbox and the cloud, streaming your games, Project Scarlet and all of its power and all of its performance is the foundation of our future in console, and the formation of our future in cloud," added Spencer.
Microsoft also revealed that Project Scarlet will launch next holiday season along with Halo Infinite, the next title in Xbox's flagship Halo franchise.
Sixty other game titles were also unveiled, including other highly anticipated releases like the fifth installment of "Gears of War" and "Cyberpunk 2077," which featured an appearance by actor Keanu Reeves both in-game and on stage at the conference.
The big tech giant's gaming arm also unveiled its Xbox Game Pass for PC, making the subscription service that Microsoft launched in 2017 available for PC gamers. The service, which opened in beta on Sunday, features over 100 games curated for PC, including Xbox's "Halo: The Master Chief Collection."


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The top 10 are listed below:
6. Tip Top ice cream
9 . Sleepyhead
The amount of brands that were included in the survey isn’t clear, but Reader’s Digest says 1211 New Zealand adults were surveyed about 41 categories of products and services.
According to those surveyed, these are some of the qualities that people attribute to a trusted brand:
- “Premium quality at an affordable price”
- “Everlasting, reliable and cost-effective”
- “Top quality and innovative”
- “Well-known brand”
- “Has a positive reputation”
- “Business longevity”
- “Owned or made in New Zealand”
Some of these responses may be regarded as naïve, as trust is defined as “believe in the reliability, truth, or ability of.”
Even if a brand is well known, it may not have the best of intentions.
However some are more accurate, like having a positive reputation.
Word of mouth is a key indicator as to whether a brand is trusted, as companies like Nestle (who recently had a fiasco with changing Milo’s recipe) and Cadbury (who lost a lot of consumer trust in their palm oil debacle) don’t feature.
Reader’s Digest says the results show the size of a company doesn’t predict its reputation, as “family-sized companies continue to win consumers’ regard just as much as multinationals”.
This bears some truth, yet the winners are all large, well-known brands, rather than smaller-scale Kiwi companies.
Ultimately, it seems it boils down to brands that are very familiar within households.
An interesting brand featuring in the list is Sanitarium, which has been the subject of controversy for its tax-exempt status as a charity.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church founded the company 100 years ago to promote plant-based health foods, which include Ricies and WeetBix.
A report released by The New Zealand Initiative earlier this year was damning.
It found that the rules in place for the taxing of charities gives them an upper hand over competitors and proposed they be taxed like their competitors, like Hubbards, which has had to settle for ‘highly commended’.
It makes sense Sanitarium tops the list, as Euromonitor’s country report on breakfast cereals found it had the biggest market share, at 31 percent.
The winner of New Zealand’s Most Trusted Brand, Whittaker’s, won the award for the fourth year in a row.
Some other examples of retailers who won their specific categories:
Supermarkets: Pak’n Save
Retailers excluding supermarkets: Farmers
Sports stores: Kathmandu
Carpets: Cavalier Bremworth
Supermarket home brand: Pams
Petrol companies: Z
The Warehouse’s Noel Leeming and red sheds got a spot on the highly commended list, but didn’t take out any of the categories, which will no doubt be a blow.
This honour instead went to Farmers for more trusted retail store, which was recently the subject of controversy after transgender personality Mary Haddock-Staniland was treated poorly at one of their stores.
One surprising omission from the list was Mitre 10, which was number nine on the top 10 list last year.
Mitre 10 has cultivated a huge social media following that seem to trust the brand quite a great deal when it comes to DIY, so it’s surprising it dropped off the list.
We contacted Mitre 10 for comment but haven’t had a response.
Sanitarium and Watties have also dropped from the top 10.
Resene, Janola and Sleepyhead have taken their places.


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100 Atlanta seniors were treated to a catered Thanksgiving luncheon at The Gathering Spot last Wednesday hosted by multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated rapper Gunna and his family and team. Goodr, a frequent philanthropic partner with the YSL/Atlantic Records artist, invited and provided transportation for seniors from senior facilities Lutheran Towers and National Church Residences, homeless shelter Solomon’s Temple, and the greater Atlanta area. The event was also attended by The Gathering Spot’s co-founder and CEO, Ryan Wilson and mayoral candidate, Andre Dickens. When lunch was over, Goodr sent each senior in attendance home with a bag full of grocery items like turkeys, canned veggies, rice, and banana pudding to further brighten their holiday.
Goodr and Gunna went viral in September after opening Gunna’s Drip Closet and Goodr Grocery Store, a no-cost grocery and clothing store at the rapper’s former middle school. The store provides the school’s students and their families with access to everything from fresh produce and shelf stable items to clothing and shoes – all free of charge. Located in the city of South Fulton, GA, Ronald E. McNair Middle School is a Title 1 school, meaning the lion share of the school’s population live below the poverty line. Goodr and Gunna also partnered to provide over 2,000 Houston families with groceries, household items and drinking water in early March after that city’s historic and crippling winter storm. “Seniors are some of our most vulnerable citizens,” Goodr CEO Jasmine Crowe tells us. “Serving them with a catered holiday meal and fellowship, at a time when many would
otherwise be alone, was one of the highlights of my year.”


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PES 2013 to kick off one week before FIFA 13
Konami has finally announced the closely guarded release date of the latest entry into its long-running football series.
Michael Plant is chief editor and writer of gaming ezine and blog GamesCatalyst.com, as well as editor of 'The Independent'’s games review printed in the Saturday supplement 'Information'. Established in February 2011, Games Catalyst endeavours to bring its unique brand of fact and satire to the videogaming community and, in tandem with 'The Independent', hopefully turn a few non-believers on to gaming while we’re at it.
Friday 07 September 2012
Konami has finally announced the closely guarded release date of the latest entry into its long-running PES series; PES 2013 confirmed as launching on 21 September for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
That gives PES 2013 one week’s grace before its chief rival FIFA 13 makes its own appearance on store shelves – and you can decide for yourself whether that’s a genius piece of market positioning, or the actions of a publisher desperate to ensure its wares aren’t swallowed in the maws of the FIFA leviathan prematurely.
The publisher is also offering a pre-order incentive in the form of a limited UEFA Champions League steelbook edition. which ‘celebrates Konami’s exclusive agreement to feature the UEFA Champions League in the PES series,’ and includes a special DLC code to redeem the Historic UEFA Champions League match balls used in the competition amongst other official elements.
We in the UK will also be able to pre-order a Manchester United, boasting the club’s livery on its cover – sure to go down well with fans of Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea… we’ll stop there.
Release dates for the planned PSP, PS2, 3DS and Wii versions will be announced shortly with no mention of the touted Wii U version made thus far.
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Apple disappointed a lot of people when it didn't announce an iPhone 5 last month. Though owners of the new iPhone 4S are no doubt happy with their purchase, the world thought Apple was gearing up to launch a completely redesigned iPhone and the minor upgrade that was launched in its place was a huge disappointment. However, it seems an iPhone 5 was on the cards for this year, until just a few months prior the launch.
Business Insider cites a reliable industry source that's been right about Apple stuff in the past in reporting that the fully redesigned iPhone was real but was scrapped by Steve Jobs because he didn't like it. BI's source says that Apple engineers he knows thought a new, full redesigned iPhone was going to be Apple's next big announcement until about three months before the iPhone 4S was announced (so Julyish). BI's source says he spent two weeks with one of the new, redesigned phones (before the project was scrapped, we assume) and that the device had a large 4-inch display; was made of in-house prototype material (ie. not production quality); had an aluminum back, just like the rumors predicted; a messed up color profile on the screen (an attempt, he believes, to draw attention away from the fact that Apple planned on having a better screen on the iPhone 5); no physical home button; a flatter/thinner design; much improved performance; a woeful battery; a 10-megapixel lens; and a version of Siri, then called Assistant.
All in all, that sounds to us like a pretty impressive piece of equipment. So why did Steve Jobs toss this device in favor of the iPhone 4S? According to BI's source, there's a rumor among Apple staff that says Jobs wasn't happy with the size of the screen because it "fragmented" the iPhone line. Steve has expressed his distaste for massive screens in the past, so we're not surprised to hear that a 4-inch display didn't jive with him. Still, with phones getting bigger and bigger, we're starting to think customers will want a 4-inch iPhone soon. The iPhone 4S's 3.5-inch display is going to look quite small next to the Galaxy Nexus' 4.65-inch panel.


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Big hair is making a comeback among males, and that's official! The days of Britons sporting baldy headshaves to hide natural baldness are now gone, or at least, not in fashion any more, as the younger generation males rebel against close cropped head syndrome.
Afros, bubble perms, backcombing and big wigs are set to become the norm among British males, with the 'head the size of a beachball' look becoming de rigeur.
"It makes sense, it's practical," said ever so slightly effeminate hair stylist Tinky Winky Van Blinkhorn. "With all this global warming causing snow and freezing cold arctic winds in the UK, it doesn't make sense having a number one. You need something to keep your head warm, like a twelve inch halo of loft insulation like hair. Keeps your lug holes warm too."
Not everybody is equally as pleased by this latest fashion trend for Scouse type hairdos though. Jud Dumpster of Doncaster told Skoob News:
"It's shite is this big hair malarkey. I can't have big hair because I've nowt on top anyway these days. It's discrimination. That's what it is - discrimination against baldy headed sinners like me and me dad, and me son Javelin. Bastards!"
More as we get it.


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Whirlpool Corp., which last month announced plans to shutter its Evansville, IN, U.S. manufacturing facility, has decided to retain a refrigeration products research and development center in the Southern Indiana city, said a Business First report.
About 275 people are employed at the center, said the report.
The closing of the manufacturing plant, which is expected to happen by mid-2010, is expected to lead to the elimination of about 1100 full-time jobs. Top-freezer refrigerators now being made in Evansville will be made at another Whirlpool plant in Mexico. Production of icemakers now made in Evansville will be relocated to a site yet to be determined.
The report said that the Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Whirlpool US$50,000 in training grants and will allow the company to retain $1.1 million in previously awarded tax credits, in exchange for keeping the center open.
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