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New Delhi: Brazilian documentary filmmaker Ernesto Galiotto was in shock when his iPhone 6S, which he used to take some pictures on board an airplane, accidentally fell from his hand.
Galiotto was on board a plane that flew 2,000 feet over a beach in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro. His phone couldn’t take the strong wind as he slipped it out to click pictures and slipped off his hands. He later followed the phone in undamaged condition to the beach. Some called it a miracle while others praised the Find My iPhone app.
Galiotto shared a video on Youtube to share his report on dropping and finding the phone.
This is not the first time an iPhone has fallen from an airplane at such amazing heights and has been recovered without damage.
In 2018, Sarvinder Naberhaus, from Iowa, took a recreational flight in a vintage American airplane. She took photos from the passenger seat, but the harsh wind unbalanced her grip and the phone slipped out of her hands, as reported by WHO TV.
The pilot advised her not to look for the phone as it would be pointless exercise. However, Naberhaus took her chance and started searching her cell phone with the Find My iPhone app.
Finally, Naberhaus and her friend found the device in a piece of lawn in a residential area. She found the phone in perfect condition and without a single scratch.
In another unrelated case, a woman in Orlando, Florida accidentally dropped her iPhone while she was on a fun ride in a park. She was taking selfies when she dropped her phone from over 450 feet. To their relief, the iPhone was found in perfect condition despite the major fall.


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By: Zach Weisleder
Three industry-leading beverage brands won't air commercial advertisements for their iconic, flagship drinks during this year’s Super Bowl.
Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and now Budweiser have joined several major brands that won't air new commercials during Super Bowl LV. 2020 saw the United States and the world beleaguered by the coronavirus pandemic, political and social unrest, and unprecedented unemployment rates. The world of digital advertising is fragile, and it would be surprising to see a controversial advertisement during this year’s NFL season finale.
For years, Pepsi and Coca-Cola have used Super Bowl commercial spots to accentuate their rivalry. In 2021, the two companies will use different avenues to continue their 'soda war'. Earlier this month, Pepsi announced it would focus all of its Super Bowl marketing budgets on their annual halftime show instead of during the games' commercials. While PepsiCo will run commercials for its soda Mountain Dew and snack collection under Frito-Lay, they will not be advertising its most iconic drink during commercial time.
Coca-Cola then decided to forego advertising any of its products during this year’s Super Bowl and will instead be "investing in the right resources during these unprecedented times."
February 7 will mark the first time in 37 years that Budweiser will not be airing a Super Bowl advertisement. Instead, the company will be allocating that money to the Ad Council and COVID Collaborative in order to expand COVID-19 vaccine awareness. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the company behind Budweiser will still produce and air commercials featuring its other beer brands Bud Light and Michelob ULTRA. Budweiser opted to redirect its funds to the research-driven public education campaign. Budweiser's generosity has put them under the spotlight: over three-million views and multiple press opportunities and appearances.
Perhaps the uncharacteristic approaches and indirect marketing strategies will earn the three companies more respect and viewership than a 30-second commercial could have? Only time will tell.

domain: news


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Land Securities has agreed to sell a portfolio of seven industrial estates to Legal & General for around £87m, it was reported today. The purchase will be made by L&G’s Industrial Property Investment Fund, managed by King Sturge.
The 1.14m sq ft portfolio includes industrial estates in Cardiff, Huntingdon, Tamworth, Hemel Hempstead, Chandlers Ford and two in Welwyn Garden City.
LandSec, advised by Jones Lang LaSalle, is selling the portfolio as part of a review of its industrial holdings. The deal is expected to go through next week.
Roland Nevett, LandSec Director of Industrial and Retail Warehousing, said: “These estates no longer fulfil our long-term investment criteria. Our policy is only to hold or develop industrial property in the South East, which I define as within 50 miles of London.”
The purchase is the latest sign of growing institutional interest in the industrial investment market. Industrial property is becoming increasingly popular due to high initial yields and reliable returns.
Angus McIntosh, Head of Research at King Sturge, commented: “Retail is not expected to perform as well this year as it has done recently because retail sales growth is dwindling.”
Source: Freeman News


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Added: 3rd January 2020Universal Smart Cards is pleased to announce a new distribution partnership with EvoHold! Universal Smart Cards is very proud to announce a new distribution partnership with EvoHol... read more ›
Universal Smart Cards and HiTi Digital Announce Distribution Partnership to Supply the latest HiTi Direct-to-Card Printers…
Added: 11th November 2019Universal Smart Cards, are extremely proud to announce a distribution partnership with HiTi Digital meaning the HiTi CS-200e and CS-220e are now available for purchase via the Universal... read more ›
Added: 3rd October 2019Terry has worked for Universal in our technical centre for the last 6 years and grown from strength to strength. Terry’s been a great asset to Universal over the last 6 years supporting our... read more ›
Added: 28th August 2019Richard Catterall joined the USC marketing department as an apprentice 18th months ago, eager to learn about the world of marketing and gain his marketing qualifications whilst applying the... read more ›
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HID® Global expand the Crescendo® Family with Supported FIDO2 Authentication Converged Smart Cards and Keys!
Added: 18th July 2019On June 25th, 2019 HID Global® announced they have added FIDO2 authentication to their Cresendo® smart cards and keys, with the introduction of the Cresendo® C2300, allowing them to support... read more ›


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Olive Garden to officially open first Hawaii location on Thursday
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Olive Garden, the popular mainland Italian eatery, is planning to open its restaurant at Ala Moana Center on Thursday evening, a spokesperson for the company tells Hawaii News Now.
The restaurant, which will open in the old Bubba Gump’s space across from California Pizza Kitchen, has been renovated to feature the chain’s usual Italian decor, the company says.
The public opening of the restaurant is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Union MAK, the local franchisee for Olive Garden, is also the Hawaii owner of the IHOP and Applebee’s restaurants. A second location has been planned for Kapolei, at the Ka Makana Alii shopping plaza.
Olive Garden, known for its popular never-ending pasta bowl promotion, did not previously operate a Hawaii location.
This story will be updated.
Copyright 2020 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.


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Some 1,800 professional chefs surveyed by the National Restaurant Association identified locally sourced ingredients and healthier choices for kids as key trends for 2012. The American Culinary Federation members who participated in the annual survey also expect smartphone apps and tablet computers to make further inroads at restaurants.
The top 10 menu trends for next year will be:
1. locally sourced meats and seafood
2. locally grown produce
3. healthy kids’ meals
4. hyper-local items
5. sustainability as a culinary theme
6. children’s nutrition as a culinary theme
7. gluten-free/food alelergy-conscious items
8. locally produced wine and beer
9. sustainable seafood
10. whole grain items in kids’ meals
“The top menu trends we’re seeing in our…survey reflect the macro trends we have seen grow over the last several years,” says Joy Dubost, director of nutrition and healthy living for the association. “Nutrition—especially when it comes to children—is becoming a major focus for the nation’s nearly one million restaurants, in tune with consumers’ increasing interest in healthful eating.
“Local sourcing of everything—from meat and fish to produce to alcoholic beverages—is another big trend for 2012,” Dubost adds. “Local farms and food producers have become an important source of ingredients for chefs and restaurateurs wishing to support the members of their business community and highlight seasonal ingredients on menus.”
The 10 next most important trends predicted for 2012 include:
11. Newly fabricated cuts of meat
12. Farm/estate-branded items
13. Food trucks/street food
14. Artisan spirits
15. House-made/artisan ice cream
16. Health/nutrition as a culinary theme
17. Nontraditional fish
18. Fruit/vegetable kids’ side items
19. Children’s mini-meals (i.e., smaller versions of adult menu items)
20. Culinary cocktails
Two separate recent reports support the NRA findings. An American Express study found that more restaurant customers are choosing businesses that feature local and sustainable products. And a just-released report from Mintel notes that regional cooking and house-made items are rising in popularity.
ACF chefs were also asked to gauge the impact of various technologies. One quarter of them ranked smartphone apps as the hottest technology trend. Another quarter said the same about tablet computers. Some 16 percent predicted social media would continue to be the top trend; 16 percent said the same about mobile/wireless/pay-at-the-table technology.
Finally, more than 6 out of 10 chefs said they would consider launching a food truck.
The association surveyed 1,791 ACF member chefs in October-November 2011, asking them to rate 223 individual food items, beverages, cuisines and culinary themes as either a “hot trend,” “yesterday’s news” or “perennial favorite” on restaurant menus.


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And the winner is…
HotPads Director of Marketing and Communications, Paul Gleger said, “We’re pretty pumped about [the app], both for its super fast functionality, use of screen size, new interface, and well… being the first app in this market!”
We echo Gleger’s enthusiasm as Android is often overlooked in lieu of Apple despite projections that Android will account for half of the smartphone market alone in 2012 with tablets sure to follow.
After offering mobile search on the iPad, iPhone and Android, HotPads said they brought the Android tablet (Honeycomb) app to market because they “believe finding a new place is inherently a ‘mobile’ adventure. Naturally, we want to make sure home shoppers have the ultimate freedom to take their personalized search on the go, no matter what mobile device they use.”
Getting a feel for the Honeycomb app:
The app looks to us like a more slick version of their desktop browser, for example, users see the map and listing side by side and an emphasis on contacting the property or agent right from the app.
HotPads says the app features include:
- Easily navigate the map while browsing property details (all on one screen).
- Use your current location or enter any another location
- Search apartments, rental houses, real estate, and hotels
- Inquire about properties right from your Android tablet device
- View detailed listings with photos
- Mark search results as favorites
- Save your searches/favorites and come back to them later
- Share a property with a friend
Do you have an Android tablet? Click here to download the HotPads app.
App may not be live until the afternoon.
Apple announced the 128 GB iPad will launch next week
Apple’s product announcement today of a new 128 GB iPad has been met with mixed reactions as the company shifts its process in the post-Jobs era.
128 GB iPad on the way
Apple today announced a new 128 GB version of the fourth generation iPad with retina display to be launched next Tuesday, February 5th in black or white. Pricing will be set at $799 for the iPad with Wi-Fi, and $949 for the iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
“With more than 120 million iPads sold, it’s clear that customers around the world love their iPads, and everyday they are finding more great reasons to work, learn and play on their iPads rather than their old PCs,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With twice the storage capacity and an unparalleled selection of over 300,000 native iPad apps, enterprises, educators and artists have even more reasons to use iPad for all their business and personal needs.”
Mixed reactions to the 128 GB iPad launch
“The features and capabilities of iPad give us the ability to set a new standard for multitrack recording and editing on a mobile device,” said Rim Buntinas, WaveMachine Labs’ CEO. “Users of the Auria app can play 48 mono or stereo 24bit/96 kHz tracks simultaneously, record up to 24 of those tracks simultaneously, and also edit and mix with familiar tools. With its portability and all-day battery life, iPad has revolutionized recording for audio professionals allowing artists to record anywhere.”
Fans have taken to Twitter to hail the announcement, particularly musicians and media creators, but a large number of Apple fans have commented on blogs that while excited, they had hoped for a different kind of innovation, or an announcement of a next generation device rather than a pricier version of what they are already carrying in hand.
With rumors continuing to echo that Apple will create lower-end devices (read: cheap) for developing nations, skeptics are quietly questioning the company’s plans, and with the product launch schedule becoming more erratic, the company is not necessarily losing its popularity by any means, but die hard fans are showing signs of fatigue at bi-annual (possibly soon to be tri-annual?) product rollouts that theoretically make their brand new expensive device old.
Next generation iPad, iPad mini may be released in March
Continuing with Apple’s accelerated launch schedule, rumors are flying of a spring iPad and iPad mini launch.
iPad and iPad mini: spring launch?
A new report showcasing observations from the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas includes hints at a spring release for the next generation iPad and iPad mini.
Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White said, “Our checks at CES indicate Apple will release the iPad 5 and the second-generation iPad mini this March. The iPad 5 is expected to be lighter and thinner than the iPad 4 that was released in October, while the form factor of the iPad mini should be similar to the first generation iPad mini that debuted in October.”
These reports are similar to what various international bloggers have noted, with dozens of claims that Apple is now observing an accelerated product release schedule, particularly with the iOS family of devices, as the company aggressively seeks to keep their market share.
Big changes at Apple
In years past, the company typically observed annual update cycles, and tech analysts could react accordingly, as could consumers, but last fall’s fourth-generation iPad release only seven months after the third generation iPad shocked the world. Many assumed the move was a way to usher in the post-Jobs era after the passing of the company’s CEO, but with rumors swirling of a spring release and the possibility of more releases annually, it appears a change in the company rather than a one-time marketing ploy. It remains unclear.
Rumors of a less expensive iPhone for emerging global markets were subject to criticism as more than one executive said it would never happen, others say the company plans to offer lower priced smartphones without sacrificing quality, but other analysts note the opposite.
Coupling the two recent rumor reports, the most obvious conclusion one can come to is that Apple is coming up with a new formula in the face of tight competition.
20 million touchscreen Google Chromebooks to ship in 2012?
Reports out of China indicate that rumors of a touchscreen Google Chromebook are true as a Taiwanese component maker is gearing up to outfit 20 million units of Google’s own branded Chromebook.
Google Chromebook going touchscreen?
As laptops and dekstops are increasingly becoming touchscreen to compete with the surging tablet market, reports out of China indicate that Google Chromebooks are going the way of touchscreen as well, which would bring the cloud-centric computing theory to a broader user base. Digitimes.com reports that Google will launch a 12.85-inch Chrome OS touch-controlled notebook for own-brand sale, with Taiwan-based Compal Electronics responsible for OEM production and Wintek supplying touch panels, citing the Chinese-language Commercial Times (CT) indicates, based on Taiwan-based supply chain makers.
The technology news outlet says that Taiwan-based makers have begun shipping components for the notebook and Compal will start shipments as soon as the end of 2012.
Making the Chromebook touchscreen could make it a viable competitor to various tablets already on the market as well as those set to hit for the holidays, with Chromebook fans lauding the light weight and innovative operating system, perfect for true mobile browsing, which functions far differently from the app-heavy tablets Google is clearly taking aim at with their next product.
A new strategy for Google?
Additionally, a touchscreen Chromebook would indicate the first new strategy coming out of the Chromebook department, as the current devices run between $200 and $450, a low barrier to entry which has aided adoption since its launch. Critics claim that because Chromebooks must be connected to the internet in order to function, they could limit use, but supporters claim that most offline use is now within range of wi-fi, making the cloud-based system ideal, freeing up hard drive space for actual use rather than heavy programs and operating systems.
Some believe that this new touchscreen could raise the cost of the device, which could make its competitive edge dull a bit, but it would also put it in the price range of many of the new touchscreen laptops hitting the market, which could help it to directly compete not only on features, but by being featured alongside bigger competitors like the new Microsoft Surface.
With 20 million units reportedly being outfitted by Taiwan’s Compal and shipping in 2012, technologist’s eyes and shoppers’ eyes will be squarely on the inexpensive Chromebook options, especially when it offers touchscreen options.
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Jacqueline Vong - Diversifying Beyond China: tBT Person of the Week
As the anniversary of the first international reported case of Covid-19 has come, we have seen a growing interest in relying less on the Chinese market for manufacturing. There are a number of reasons to look beyond China including labour prices, exchange rates, container availabilities, long holidays delays. To further support this, Josh Punin of Trade Asia Pac eloquently states, this is “driven by retailers in US where they need to start seeing a diversification and production outside of China. It’s not about taking away <opportunities> from China.”
Many companies have considered outsourcing low-cost manufacturing to South East Asia in places like Vietnam. While we see some success stories coming out, we also know that SEA factories still have a long road ahead of them to compete with China’s capabilities and labor force just in terms of numbers. Additionally, if some components are manufactured in other countries, they end up being shipped to China for consolidation and it becomes a ‘made in china product’ once again.
But let’s explore India as an option. Punin has formed a new India based consulting group with long time toy veteran David Selveraj based in Chennai sees the Indian market as a huge opportunity right now.
India is the only population in the world that can rival China’s workforce. As 75% of the world’s toy manufacturing comes out of China and only 1% currently comes out of India, it is time to explore the emergence of India as a manufacturing power.
Many other advantages of India come straight to mind – the fact that international business is done predominantly in the English language, and the holiday schedules are not as long. Steve Reece, an expert on the Indian toy market states: “India has already become one of three primary manufacturing hubs for toys today and will continue to grow rapidly over the next decade.”
While the common belief is that India does not have the quality standards as well as the work ethic, India has come a long way and under the right conditions, it is quickly organizing itself on the global and domestic stage to be a big manufacturing player in the toy industry. Major toy companies like Hasbro and Spin Master have been expanding in their manufacturing footprint in India and with the support of Modi’s Indian government on labor laws, factory incentives, taxation and compliance, the foundation is being laid down for this country. And, under the guidance from international best in class companies like Walmart, who has made a commitment to import $10 B Indian made goods by 2027, India is making large strides in the manufacturing sector.
I will continue to track the evolution of India as well as cover China’s business affairs in my future coverage, but it is certainly interesting to see how quickly things are developing in the Indian market.
Toronto-based Jacqueline Vong is a China market specialist and tracks Asian developments in the marketplace with her editorials. She currently owns a consultancy called Playology International specializing in licensing, franchise management and content development and sales for North America and Asia.
You can reach her @PlayologyIntl or www.playologyintl.com
Josh Punin, of Trade Asia Pac has formed an India Based consulting group. You can reach him at firstname.lastname@example.org
Steve Reece is the founder of the toy expert consultancy, Kids Brand Insight and part of the ToyTeamIndia venture. For more information visit www.KidsBrandInsight.com


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If you were already a devout follower of Vans, you’d know that 2022 marks the 30th Anniversary of the ever-beloved Half Cab. And much earlier in the year, the brand celebrated the occasion with the introduction of the Skate Half Cab ’92, a near-comprehensive upgrade to the original. It’s this model that acts as a vehicle for Uprise’s upcoming collaboration, which — while already an homage in and of itself — honors the skateshop’s own 25th birthday.
Prepared in a duo of colorways, the Uprise x Vans Skate Half Cab ’92 boasts a combination of canvas and shorthair suede, with red contrast stitching embellishing the darker of the two. And save for this thread, the latter is dressed near entirely in black, completing a rather subtle homage to the Windy City. The Chicago energy is much more apparent across its counterpart, whose construction indulges almost entirely in red, not including the tongue and laces.
Finished with both Half Cab and Uprise branding, both pairs will be available on April 8th via Uprise Skateshop‘s physical and online channels.
In other news, the size New Balance 550 is officially releasing on April 7th.
Uprise Skateshop x Vans Half Cab
Release Date: April 8th, 2022
Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.
Where to Buy


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A little over a year ago, The New York Times’ internal Innovation Report was leaked, offering a candid and troubling look at how one of the world’s greatest journalism brands is lagging digitally. The report highlighted the paper’s shortcomings in everything digital, from culture to talent and workflow. It recommended the creation of audience development, analytics and strategy teams, more collaboration with reader-focused departments on the business side, and digital hiring. Here are five areas where the paper has made progress — and still has work to do.
In probably the best single indicator of progress, the Times’ multiplatform digital (Web plus app) traffic grew 28 percent to 59 million uniques in April versus a year ago, according to comScore — not bad for a mature publication. Most of the increase came from people coming to the Times on mobile devices. While desktop traffic was essentially flat, mobile grew 52 percent to 35.8 million uniques. But turning that growth into paid subscriber revenue is harder. The Times is nearing its goal of 1 million digital subscribers, but subscription growth is flattening out, and other paid digital products (Opinion and NYTimes Now apps) haven’t caught on.
It’s not bad work for a year, said Ken Doctor, a media analyst and close Times watcher. “[They’ve had] significant increase in traffic. The monetization isn’t there yet. But you need the audience before you can get to monetization.”
The Times needs more digital talent and to rethink the hard church-state stance that has impeded cross-departmental collaboration. Here, it has moved fast to make good on those recommendations. Last summer, it put Arthur Gregg Sulzberger, a Times staffer (and son of Times publisher and chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr.) who led the Innovation Report, in charge of strategy and Alexandra MacCallum in charge of audience development, which includes analytics. The paper also named former NPR digital exec Kinsey Wilson to head digital product and technology, reporting to the news and business sides. The Times also promoted Meredith Levien, its top ad salesperson and a friend to the editorial side, to chief revenue officer, with responsibility for consumer revenue.
The Innovation Report bemoaned the fact that only a third of the Times’ readers ever visit the homepage, and those that do are spending less time with it. The importance of the homepage goes back to the Times’ subscription-heavy business model: Homepage visitors are more likely to be turned into subscribers, if they’re not already. Here, there’s been some success: Even as mobile growth (usually associated with social traffic) has soared, MacCallum said the Times has stabilized the decline.
That homepage principle applies to social distribution. Central to MacCallum’s strategy is targeting people not just by age group, such as millennials, but interests, like arts and culture. To that end, the Times has also begun interest-targeting through Facebook, presenting stories on niche subjects to users who have indicated an interest in the given topic. The Times is also taking more advantage of outlets including Facebook’s Instant Articles, the Apple News app, Pinterest and Instagram to grow awareness. The Times is just getting going on some of these efforts (it has targeting tools that are set to come out this month), but it has shown some success: The paper had 16.3 million Facebook engagements (total likes, shares and comments) in May, more than double the year-ago level, according to social analytics firm Newswhip.
Hiring is one thing, but changing longstanding work processes at an institution hidebound by print traditions like the Times is perhaps the hardest to do. That has started to change. Growth editors have been embedded with newsroom desks. The Page One pitch meeting has become less print- and more digital-centric, and the Times will start giving its journalists access to their traffic stats.
MacCallum said her goal was once to have her team be obsolete in a year. But she said that may not be realistic in a newsroom of 1,300, where there’s still much to do to make social media processes part of the newsroom workflow. “It’s not a smooth-running part of every desk as I’d want it to be,” she said. “People are being asked to do more with fewer resources. Trying to make it as easy as possible is something our team needs to help with.”
Photo by Ramin Talaie/Getty Images.
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Throughput at the Port of Rotterdam has increased by around 7.2% in 2014 when compared to its 2013 result. Container throughput increased substantially by 5.1% in weight and 7.6% in TEU. Liquid bulk throughput grew by 14.7%.
Allard Castelein, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO, said: “The port had a very strong first quarter. The positive trend in the handling of mineral oil products and LNG is striking. After declining last year, oil products are now experiencing a strong recovery.
“LNG throughput is even growing in triple figures and is really getting into its stride. Container throughput is also increasing sharply.
“Last year Rotterdam grew faster in this sector than rival ports. An increase of almost 8% combined with two new terminals on Maasvlakte II is generating a lot of confidence in the development of this sector in the coming years.”
The growth could be the clearest evidence yet of the economic recovery in Europe and the relocation of transhipment cargo from other ports to Rotterdam.
In recent months container shipping continued to increase in scale. Due to Rotterdam’s easily accessible location for mega-ships than its rival ports, the port saw a 70% increase in the number of second calls in the first quarter to 51.
Ships sail between Asia and Europe on a fixed schedule and are increasingly using Rotterdam as the first and last port of call.


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Butler couple's DeLorean a 'Back to the Future' replica
BUTLER - Gary and Starla Scholler bought their 1982 DeLorean in hopes of owning a car that was less susceptible to rusting in Ohio weather — the flux capacitor, hover board and other "Back to the Future" props were added in later to draw more admirers to the stainless steel sports vehicle during car shows and community events.
Gary Scholler, 62, spent a few years searching for the perfect DeLorean — he finally found "the one" from an eBay seller in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2005.
"I found the car on eBay and contacted the seller directly after the (eBay) auction was over," Scholler said. "I searched for the right DeLorean for about two years, but never bought one because (sellers) had a different definition of good condition than I did. I spent four hours inspecting the DeLorean in Boston before buying it."
The Boston DeLorean met Scholler's definition of good condition. He bought it, and he and his wife have been driving it and showing it at car shows ever since.
"Back to the Future" aspects of the Scholler's DeLorean were added some time after the car was purchased. Scholler said people would view the car and say, 'where's the flux capacitor?' — so Scholler bought a flux capacitor and other items to make a "Back to the Future" replica.
"(The flux capacitor) didn't light up, so I tore it apart and added some LED lights," Scholler said. "Every time I added props, people went crazy. The more things I added, the more interest grew."
He even bought a coffee grinder to create a Mr. Fusion home energy reactor.
Scholler's interest in the "Back to the Future" trilogy might have developed after purchasing his DeLorean, but that doesn't mean he's not a big fan.
"I've always watched the movies and thought they were really cool, and it was amazing to me how some of the predictions they made for 2015 in the movie actually happened, or a spin-off of their predictions happened," Scholler said. "I've always been amazed by the thinking someone had to have had to put all of the movies together."
"It's a phenomenal feat from a movie standpoint. You have to watch (the trilogy) several times to catch every little detail and see how each movie fits together."
Over the years, Scholler said he has obtained an autograph from almost every "Back to the Future" cast member, including Christopher Lloyd, who plays Emmett 'Doc' Brown in the films. Lloyd signed the glove box of Scholler's DeLorean at a car show last year and sat in the passenger's seat. Scholler's DeLorean got 325 out of 400 points in concourse judging at the car show, which is rare for a car that is actually driven, according to Scholler. Most cars in cars shows are not driven on a regular basis. The judges docked points for Lloyd's signature on the glove box, but Scholler said it was worth it.
"Getting (Lloyd) to see the DeLorean and sit inside has been a goal of mine," Scholler said. "It took me 10 years to get him in the car, but it finally happened."
For the Schollers, quick trips to the gas station in the DeLorean usually turn into half-hour events, but they don't mind it. Scholler said he drives his DeLorean for his enjoyment and the enjoyment of others. He said, "it's what you collect cars for."
The local DeLorean recently made an appearance at Mansfield Christian School's homecoming, where Scholler said he dressed up as Doc from the movie. He gave away an autograph he had from Thomas Wilson, who plays Biff in the movies, to a student who correctly answered a "Back to the Future" trivia question. Of course, the DeLorean's guest appearance was a homecoming hit among students.
"We were really happy to do it for them," Scholler said. "Everybody enjoyed it."
The unique stainless steel sports car with its underbody made of fiberglass has become increasingly popular over the years. Scholler said he has received offers from interested buyers that are higher than what he paid for the DeLorean, but he said he'll never sell it.
"It's the most unique car I've ever owned," Scholler said. "I'll keep it forever."
Predictions for the future were made in the movies, and Scholler had a prediction of his own during his conversation with the News Journal. He predicted that DeLoreans would be worth even more than they are now in six or seven years. He said around 8,500 models were made, and currently, there are about 5,000 left in the world.
When asked if he would be driving around in the DeLorean on Back to the Future Day, which is Wednesday, Scholler said he didn't really think about it until the question was asked.
"I suppose I should," he said.


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KAMPALA – The East African Meat Carnival (EAMC), a quarterly event hosted by The Gardens, is set to return this month for Season II on Saturday 25th June 2022, at the Uganda Museum.
It will feature various music and meats from the East African region (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda & Kenya), with sizzling, mouth-watering Kenyan nyama choma taking centre stage.
Speaking at the press conference on behalf of the organisers, Mr. Paul Mwirigi noted that the carnival is coming back for the second time in a larger venue that is bound to attract more revellers.
“We are excited to host our party-goers and meat lovers as we have a lot in store for them this edition. Legendary East African Artists Jua Cali & Wyre, The Love Child, will be our event headliners with DJ Suuna Ben as a guest performer.”
Other performers lighting up the stage include Ykee Benda, Fik Fameica, Irene Ntale and Winnie Nwagi. Radio City’s DEEJAY JO, DJ Mujo and DJ Cisse will also perform.
The Carnival will feature a Barbecue by renowned Kenyan Chef Pascal alongside Chef Mark Kaheru. Other chefs will prepare Kenyan delicacies like authentic Goat nyama choma, Mutura and Mukimo.
According to organisers, the carnival is open to all fun lovers, including Young Families, Entrepreneurs & Corporates, and the East African community resident in and outside Uganda.
Tickets to the event will be available through FlexiPay and Quicket, with a regular ticket going for UGX 40,000 (Early Bird).
There is an all-you-can-eat Carnivore area where meat lovers get to eat as much as they want all day at only UGX 120,000 if you buy an early bird ticket and Ugx 150,000/= cash at the gate.
The key sponsors for the event are Nile Breweries, Stanbic FlexiPay, Coca-Cola, RadioCity 97fm, NTV, KCCA, Uganda Airlines, Hawkseye Lodge Bunyonyi, CedarNet, Sky Reinsurance and Capital One Group and Tembezi Transporters.
Tembezi Transporters has generously undertaken to offer comfortable and efficient transportation to the Kenyan talent while they’re in the country.


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You probably either love Twitter for its quirkiness and brevity or see it as a pointless waste of time. After nearly a decade on the social scene, Twitter still needs to improve its user experience and fill in notable gaps in the service. These seven problems are long overdue for a fix.
twitter in pictures
Everyone knows a lot of people tweet on Twitter each day and even more post to Facebook, but the by-the-minute usage numbers for these eight leading social networks will likely surprise you.
Coming soon to a Twitter timeline near you, these nine new features, which are expected to roll out during the coming year, put a new focus on video, direct messaging, alerts and notifications, and more.
From Apple to Amazon to Microsoft to Twitter, the names of some of the world's most popular tech companies tend to have interesting and significant backstories.
Twitter has appointed former Zcash developer, Jay Graber, to lead its bluesky project, the ambitious initiative to develop a decentralised protocol for social media.
Neon Giant, the developer behind the popular new cyberpunk-themed action-RPG, The Ascent, says they are currently working on a fix after gamers discovered the Game Pass version for PC lacks DLSS and Ray Tracing.
Twitter announced it was giving away 140 free Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in seven different designs to users of its official Twitter account.
Twitter has announced more than 50 premium content deals in the Asia-Pacific region, including 10 new and extended deals in Australia with Seven, SBS, Domain, Sony Music, NRL, Fox Sports and more.
The US House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday to take testimony from Facebook Inc, Alphabet Inc's YouTube unit and Twitter Inc on whether social media companies are filtering content for political reasons, the committee chairman sa...
You can finally request that coveted blue verified Twitter badge that has eluded you for seven years. Here’s why and how you should get verified and let you followers know you are the real deal.
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Etisalat CEO Saleh Al Abdooli on how the UAE's incumbent operator is positioned to be the enviable digital player backed by its robust network, customer base and strategic investments.
At a time when digitisation is disrupting market dynamics and Middle Eastern economies are still learning to make peace with the post-oil era, the telecom industry is facing one of its most interesting yet sceptical moments. While the search for reliable revenue streams continues, and new internet players challenge telecoms, UAE headquartered operator, Etisalat is confident that its network capabilities and enormous customer base offer an unrivalled competitive edge against all other market players. CEO Saleh Al Abdooli believes that this added value places Etisalat at an enviable position as a partner of choice for other service providers.
To develop innovative new business models and generate incremental revenues from the mobile ecosystem, the operator has devised a clear strategy for digital transformation. “Innovation and new business development are key and will add to our existing core strengths to compete effectively. Digital transformation will have to start from within Etisalat enabling us to tap into the market opportunity and increase revenues,” Al Abdooli says.
The operator is banking upon its dedicated business unit, Etisalat Digital to accelerate the development and launch of new kinds of services. On the other hand, looking at the constantly increasing number of devices and desire to stay connected, Etisalat has been solidifying its foundation on the M2M front through strategic partnerships.
Aiming to be a pioneer in the adoption of the fifth generation of mobile technology, the operator has been actively investing and experimenting 5G over its networks. Earlier this year, Ericsson and Etisalat successfully conducted a 5G trial with outdoor mobility at Etisalat’s head office in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The trial demonstrated 5G capabilities in a real world environment over a live network, including tests on speed, latency and beam steering. The 5G trial system used 800MHz of spectrum in the 15GHz band, demonstrating over 20 times greater performance than what is currently used in 4G networks. The trial achieved aggregate site throughput of greater than 24Gbps, with a latency less than half of what is seen currently in 4G networks.
On the customer-facing side, the operator recently launched a new SIM service, swyp, specifically targeting at the digital exclusive generation, aged 15-29 years old in the UAE. With its focus on all the right areas, Al Abdooli is optimistic about the constant growth potential of the operator.
GITEX 2017 marks the first anniversary of Etisalat Digital. “The launch of Etisalat Digital last year was to actively contribute to the digital transformation market, which has a huge opportunity, especially in the UAE, for digital services. The government’s push for innovation makes UAE an incredible destination for everything digital,” Al Abdooli says.
As the premier digital and telecommunications partner of Dubai Expo2020, the operator is working to deliver ‘one of the fastest, smartest and best-connected places on earth’ during the global mega event. “We are involved in creating the infrastructure for the Expo site – enabling Expo 2020 Dubai to provide visitors and participants with a cutting edge, immersive digital experience that brings the Expo themes to life for the 25 million expected visitors,” Al Abdooli says. He adds that apart from that, Etisalat Digital is working on several important projects in the fields of digital health, security and smart cities.
The other major project to Etisalat Digital’s credit is the delivery of the digital infrastructure for Dubai Parks and Resorts. “In the next 12 months, our focus will be to continue growing our digital business by tapping into potential market opportunities and securing key wins in various digital domains. In parallel with that, the unit is working to enrich and expand its digital solutions portfolio in the days to come by introducing new digital propositions such as video-surveillance-as-a-service (VSaaS), mobile cashier and digital signage solutions,” Al Abdooli tells CommsMEA. “We will also complement our digital offerings with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and analytics capabilities presenting an extra value to our customers.”
Etisalat sees its digital unit as an agent of change for its transformation from a connectivity provider to a digital player. The operator is using the assets, platforms and solutions of Etisalat not just to sell to customers, but also to transform its internal operating models. Additionally, newer agile processes have been adopted as well, the CEO explains.
Growth, innovation and disruption are the underlying trends of the telco industry. The sector has undergone immense change with the internet and smartphones transforming the way people communicate, and share information. Al Abdooli sees great potential for telcos to leverage this exponential growth of connected devices. “The mobile platform today is an enabler of digital transformation having the flexibility of bringing different technologies together to deliver unique services to customers and businesses of all sizes. Today we have the flexibility to create new products and services which reflect these in-demand technologies and will be a determining factor in success within the industry. These new technologies also present an attractive opportunity for telcos to offer B2B services,” Al Abdooli says.
(P.S. This interview originally appeared in the October 2017 issue of CommsMEA)
One of the most significant consequences of the mobile age is the increase in customer centricity. Slight delays can annoy a customer; minor indifferences can lead him to publicly shame the brand. This has taken the competitiveness up by several notches in all the sectors, let alone telcos. “In this scenario amidst intense competition, we have launched a variety of innovative offers and services in UAE keeping in mind the best for customer experience. Etisalat has maintained a diverse and effective business model offering value to the customer to meet their expectations, dynamic needs and evolving aspirations,” Al Abdooli says.
One such targeted customer campaigns from Etisalat has come in the form of swyp. A few days into the official launch of Virgin Mobile’s services in the UAE, Etisalat put forth its own version of a youth-friendly plan. The plan’s name ‘swyp’ is an acronym for ‘So what’s your plan’ , which refers to the customisability of the services on this SIM card. Al Abdooli says: “UAE today is a youth driven country. A majority of these millennials are financially independent and contributing to the economic transformation in the UAE. swyp focuses mainly on these millennials between 15-29 years with a completely new customised digital platform that will focus on providing wholly app-based solutions.”
Al Abdooli explains further, that the prime objective of creating this service was to become a lifestyle partner rather than being only a telecom provider. “The young customer can expect ‘swyp’ to meet all his or her changing requirements completely on a digital platform.”
UAE today is at the forefront of a digital driven economy. In line with the ambitions and strategies of the country at large, Etisalat’s focus at this year’s GITEX is to showcase the role it’s playing to enable the big digital dream, with its network and infrastructure. Al Abdooli says: “‘Driving the Digital Future’ is the theme this year at GITEX Technology Week that signifies the company’s mission to participate in creating a connected future in UAE. Today we are transitioning to a digital future with our offering of digitized solutions and services.”
Etisalat’s demonstrations this year at GITEX will enable visitors to witness innovative ideas, concepts and solutions showcased on Etisalat’s digital platforms and infrastructure. “When we say that innovation is at the core of Etisalat’s operations, we do not only mean it in terms of telecom technologies. We are also paving the way for smarter digital solutions and applications that will mobilise people, businesses and the government sector for a better tomorrow,” Al Abdooli adds.
The verdict on the future of telcos worldwide is quite clear by now- operators can choose to just stay as the connectivity providers, or they need to transform holistically, both in terms of technology, culture and business models to position themselves as digital or technology players. Etisalat definitely is not looking forward to be connectivity-only entity.
Al Abdooli says: “Today, we cannot be perceived only as a company leading in providing best-in-class networks and connectivity but solutions and services that change and impact the lives of our customers. Etisalat today has a plethora of services addressing requirements of various customer groups. However with changing market environments demand for smart services and networks will keep growing.
“To remain relevant we need to be faster, better and offer more, in essence agility is the key to success. New revenue opportunities are there for those to respond and those prepared to look for the partnerships that deliver added value. In line with our journey, Etisalat is already playing in the arenas where it matters.”
At GITEX 2016, Etisalat demonstrated the region’s fastest trial of 5G reaching speeds of 36Gbps. This year, Etisalat will be setting yet another benchmark with a live demo reaching double the speed and giving visitors the opportunity to experience 4K and virtual reality in 5G.
(P.S. This interview originally appeared in the October 2017 issue of CommsMEA)


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Cuba's leaders blame the US for their economic hardships and resulting protests
"Cubans know perfectly well that the government of the United States is principally responsible for Cuba's current situation," the Cuban foreign ministry said in a Twitter post.
Cuba's president, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, spoke out on national television on Monday, calling the demonstrations a consequence of an underhanded campaign by Washington to exploit peoples' "emotions" at a time when the island is facing food scarcity, power cuts and a growing number of Covid-19 deaths.
"We must make clear to our people that one can be dissatisfied, that's legitimate, but we must be able to see clearly when we're being manipulated," Mr. Díaz-Canel said. "They want to change a system, to impose what type of government in Cuba?"
Regardless of the veracity of the Cuban government's accusations, I believe the US economic sanctions on Cuba are wrongheaded. America has long been a convenient scapegoat for every problem that the Cubans suffer.
Historical background on the Cuban economy
According to PBS's American Experience, in the early part of the century the country's economy, fueled by the sale of sugar to the United States, had grown dramatically. Cuba ranked fifth in the hemisphere in per capita income, third in life expectancy, second in per capita ownership of automobiles and telephones, first in the number of television sets per inhabitant. The literacy rate, 76%, was the fourth highest in Latin America. Cuba ranked 11th in the world in the number of doctors per capita. Many private clinics and hospitals provided services for the poor. Cuba's income distribution compared favorably with that of other Latin American societies. A thriving middle class held the promise of prosperity and social mobility.
Its income per capita in 1929 was reportedly 41% of the U.S., thus higher than in Mississippi and South Carolina, according a report by economists Marianne Ward and John Devereux.
Today, by way of comparison, according the Brookings Institute, the aggregated gross national income per capita of Cuba is officially $5,539, but the take home salary for most Cubans is around $20 a month. According to the Census American Community Survey 1-year survey, the median household income for South Carolina was $56,227 and for Mississippi was $25,301 in 2019.
Cuba is not a US trading partner, but they trade with other nations
Cuba shipped an estimated US$1.7 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -20.3% decline since 2016 but a 1.9% increase from 2019 to 2020.
Cuba's biggest export product categories are tobacco, sugar, crude oil, nickel, ores and ash.
The latest available country-specific data from 2018 shows that 87% of products exported from Cuba were bought by importers in: Canada (23.8% of its global total), China (18.5%), Venezuela (17.6%), Spain (7.8%), Netherlands (5.2%), Singapore (3.3%), Belgium (2.2%), Hong Kong (2.1%), Germany (2%), Portugal (1.8%), France (1.6%) and Cyprus (1.1%).
Cuba's total $1.8 billion in 2019 exported products translates to roughly $145 for every resident.
Cuba's imported goods cost an estimated total US$5.3 billion in 2019. That dollar amount reflects a -48.3% decrease since 2016 and a -53.8% dip from 2018 to 2019.
The leading share of Cuba's imports in 2018 originated from suppliers in Latin America (34.4%) excluding Mexico. Close behind were providers in Europe (30.8%) trailed by Asia (21%), North America (9.7%), Africa (3.7%), and Oceania (0.2%) led by New Zealand.
Cuba's estimated $5.3 billion imports translates to roughly $470 in yearly product demand from every Cuban.
COVID crippled Cuba's tourist economy
With its favorable climate, beaches, colonial architecture and distinct cultural history, Cuba has long been an attractive destination for tourists.
At over one million Canadian tourists per year, they account for the largest share of the island's visitors. In 2018, 637,907 American tourist (who met special criteria) visited Cuba Europeans, Russians, Latin Americans, Filipinos in numbers totally more than one million also visited.
International tourism, as with much of the world, ground to halt in Cuba with the COVID pandemic.
Before the Cuban Revolution, Havana was akin to a Las Vegas, especially for US east coast residents. Since then gambling casinos in US are more prevalent. The gambling casinos in Cuba are gone now. But if they were to be opened again to Americans, they would face competition from states like New Jersey, Indian gaming casinos, on-line betting sites and other attractions for gamblers.
More COVID-related problems
Because most Cubans lack internet access, (only 30% of Cubans had internet access in 2012) and the bandwidth was limited at that, Cuba lacked the resiliency to work and educate virtually.
So how much blame does America deserve for the current Cuban situation?
The economy of Cuba is a planned economy dominated by state-run enterprises. The Cuban government owns and operates most industries and most of the labor force is employed by the state. Even with a competent and uncorrupted government, planned economies are fraught with pitfalls.
"There's no food, there's no medicine, there's nothing, and this isn't a product of the American embargo, which I do not support," said Ramón Saúl Sánchez, president of the Movimiento Democracia advocacy group in Miami. He noted that the embargo does allow Cuba to buy food from the United States, though restrictions on financing present significant barriers to the amount. Source: NY Times
The COVID pandemic made a bad situation worse. COVID exposed Cuba's problems. Even if America had better relations with Cuba there is little reason to believe that Cuba would be significantly better off today.
The statements of the Cuban government officials are mostly false. We give their claims blaming the US for their troubles:


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Food shelves help put food on holiday tables
Thanksgiving is a holiday built around gratitude, family and almost definitely food. That’s why area food shelves are helping those in need by providing Thanksgiving dinners to the familiesthey serve. As they give to those in need, they’re also grateful to those who help them give.
Area food shelves help hundreds of families and give away tens of thousands of pounds of food a month. The Crosslake, Emily, Pine River-Backus and Lakes Area food shelves all provided families who needed it with a box of food with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner.
While they all do things a little bit differently, they all reach the same goal: putting food on the holiday table.
Lt. Gov. Tina Smith announces free admission to state parks on Black Friday
Lt. Gov. Tina Smith and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr announced November 13 that entrance fees to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas will be waived on Friday, Nov. 27 for “Free Park Friday,” encouraging Minnesotans to spend time outdoors, and with family, on the day after Thanksgiving.
“At a time of year when Minnesotans pause to give thanks, I am so grateful for the incredible state parks and trails we have here in Minnesota,” said Smith. “Visiting these parks is a great way to spend time with family and loved ones, relieve stress, and enjoy exercise in the great outdoors.”
Gov. Mark Dayton has proclaimed Friday, Nov. 27, to be “Free Park Friday” at all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas. The governor also directed the DNR Commissioner to exercise his statutory authority to issue a written order, waiving entrance fees to state parks on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
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I’ve not been a fan of this “4K” revolution for televisions since it was discussed as a mainstream possibility back at CES 2012. Here in Las Vegas for CES 2013, LG, Samsung and Sony all announced brand new televisions with four times the resolution and picture quality of our current High Definition standard. And it’s a problem. A problem at the retail level.
My problem with this move to UHD is there’s just no content out there made for viewing on these things. Sure the big cinema movies are filmed in 4K or better, yes there are 4K cameras now coming into the market, and yes there might be a handful of 4K clips on YouTube, but for the most part anyone with a 4K TV is going to be showing their mates the promo videos that will likely come with it. So why on earth would you want a 4K TV? Wouldn’t HD be enough? That was what I thought.
However, Sony did a good job at convincing me that I might be wrong. At the Sony booth at CES they have two TVs side by side. One was running a picture in High Definition, the other the same picture “upscaled” to 4K resolution. The result was excellent. Amazing even. Better colours, and better quality. Of course I have to take it with a little grain of salt given Sony would have chosen the perfect piece of content to show in the demo.
Additionally, Sony put a lot of effort into talking to the assembled media about the range of 4K content that will be available through downloadable movie services, and the efforts they are going to to enable 4K content production.
Over at LG and Samsung executives from both companies were singing the praises of their new Ultra High Definition (UHD) TV’s which will hit stores this year. Amazingly, UHD also has a resolution four times the current HD.
Wait – are we talking about the same thing here? Yep.
Anyone else see the problem here? Samsung and LG are going to spend millions marketing Ultra High Definition. Sony on the other hand already has huge billboards and in-store posters promoting it’s 4K products.
The industry broadly seems to agree. Last year, the industry body in charge of these things decided that the 4K standard would be called Ultra High Definition. But because Sony already had a large amount of time and effort invested in the “4K” brand, it opted to ignore the rest of the industry to stick with 4K.
If you think that’s a bit confusing, you’re not alone.
Seriously, how can the average Joe have a chance of understanding all this when it hits the brochures.
I spend my days talking about the latest in technology on the radio. Radio is a challenge because I have to try and make sense of things and explain them as simply as possible to a vast audience with a wide range of technical knowledge. Try explaining 4K and UHD to people without putting them to sleep.
It’s not going to be easy. Sony are invested in the 4K brand already, they put it on the side of their cameras and as I’ve said they have signs up already with that as the consumer branding for the product.
Samsung and LG have got it right with a name that makes some sense and could at least be explained.
It’s pretty simple in my view: Sony will fall behind if they dont jump on board the UHD bandwagon. My advice to Sony is to keep the 4K branding for the prosumer and production markets. The money to be made here in TV sets will be made by the companies who make it easy to understand. Sony – get on board.


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ABC’s hit show Shark Tank just began its ninth season, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch a panel of high-profile investors in hopes of landing a deal. In 2013, TU alumnus Tim Barklage (BSBA ’95) took his own turn in the shark tank.
He cofounded a line of all-natural cleaning products called Better Life in 2008 with friend and business partner, Kevin Tibbs, an accomplished formulation chemist, when both were new dads with active daughters crawling on the floor and getting into everything.
“We became concerned about the products we had in our homes,” says Barklage. “My wife and I had been buying what we thought were responsible products for years, but Kevin asked why we were wasting money on products that were expensive, didn’t work and really weren’t that safe.” Barklage challenged Tibbs to come up with something better. A few weeks later, a Mason jar showed up at his house containing what would eventually become Better Life’s all-purpose cleaner. “It worked amazingly well, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to create a business,” says Barklage.
From the company’s inception, Barklage and Tibbs have set a standard to create products that are not only safe for their kids to be around (and even use), but also perform better than a conventional equivalent. As Barklage explains, “There are a lot of products that might be environmentally safe, but not really effective. And there are a lot of products that claim to be environmentally safe, yet still contain dangerous ingredients.”
With little working capital when the company started, the two entrepreneurs knew they had to create products that would consistently exceed customers’ expectations. To maintain that standard, Barklage and Tibbs spend significant time on research and development activities. “Just as an example, it took us five years to develop a laundry detergent that met our standards for effectiveness and safety,” Barklage says. Better Life develops all products in-house and now features over two dozen different products including household cleaners, dish, laundry and personal care.
As for how Better Life landed a spot on Shark Tank, Barklage says the show’s producers invited them to audition for the program. “We filmed the audition video in the spring of 2013 and sent it to the producers. They loved it; and before you knew it, we were taping the show.”
The duo prepared extensively for the appearance by becoming “students of the show” so they could anticipate any questions asked by the show’s panel of investors, also known as the sharks. “It was really exciting. We practiced our pitch hundreds of times over — maybe even thousands,” Barklage says. “We became almost obsessive about watching the show and talking about what the sharks asked the entrepreneurs. We felt very confident and prepared, which made it easier to feel like we could have a genuine discussion with the sharks.”
That preparation paid off in a big way, with an offer by investor Lori Greiner of a $400,000 loan in exchange for 17 percent equity in the company (dropping to 7 percent after paying back the loan). When asked to describe the overall experience, he says “from the moment we started working with the producers of the show until post-production, everything has been an amazingly positive experience. The show’s producers try to make the interaction the best experience it can be.”
After the show aired, the reception by fans far exceeded what Barklage and Tibbs thought was an aggressive sales target. “We ended up selling three times more product than our wildest expectations,” he says. Better Life has been named one of America’s fastest growing privately held companies by being recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for four consecutive years.
Barklage credits TU’s small class sizes and mentorship from Professor Ralph Jackson for equipping him to take risks and explore business opportunities that have personal meaning.
Having patience, something he also remembers Jackson emphasizing, has also paid off in his career. Barklage advises students not to underestimate the value of working in a corporate environment before taking the leap into entrepreneurship. “Although it may not be something you want to do for the rest of your life, you will gain experiences you can apply when you start your own business.” For Barklage, those lessons have resulted in a Better Life, indeed.


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Prospects of Retaliatory Tariffs Hoped to Encourage Resolution of M-COOL Issue12 June 2013
Farm-Scape is sponsored by
Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork
FarmScape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council
and Sask Pork.
CANADA - The chair of Manitoba Pork Council hopes the release of the list of imported US products that could become targeted for retaliatory tariffs in response to US Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling will prompt an early resolution to the issue, writes Bruce Cochrane.
Last month, in response to changes to US Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling, Ottawa announced Canada will seek World Trade Organization approval for retaliatory tariffs on imported US products.
On Friday, the federal ministers of agriculture and international trade released a list of products Canada plans to target.
Manitoba Pork Council chair Karl Kynoch hopes those US industries that will be affected will pressure their law makers to resolve the issue.
Karl Kynoch-Manitoba Pork Council
Canada is known to be fairly soft on a lot of the stuff, very friendly so it's always a concern.
I think some other countries wonder just how serious Canada is about being a hard player in the industry.
This is affecting our economy, this is affecting hog producers to no end, it's affecting the cattle producers so to get that list out and make the decision makers in the US realize that we are very serious here in Canada.
You need to fix this.
It's hurting producers here.
In fact it's even hurting producers in the United States so, to get that list out and show them the things that we're prepared to put a tariff on, it covers cattle, it covers hogs it covers a wide number of things.
There's chocolate on there, there's syrup, there's even some non food products and the idea is to make sure that you cover a lot of these commodities.
You have to try to build up enough commodities to equal the damage that it's doing here in Canada but the thing is that we've put this list out and that gives people an idea what they're going to be retaliated on so hopefully it will encourage a lot of the people affected in the US to come out in support of getting it resolved.
Mr Kynoch notes the WTO process will take another 18 to 24 months.
He hopes the release of the list will prompt the US to settle the issue within the next two to three months instead of dragging it out for another one to two years.
TheMeatSite News Desk


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Apple issues AirPort Base Station, keyboard software updatesApple on Monday released software updates targeting its 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station and its new aluminum Apple Keyboard.
AirPort Base Station Update 2007-002
AirPort Base Station Update 2007-002 for the Mac [7.7MB] includes general fixes and compatibility updates for AirPort Utility, AirPort Disk Utility, and AirPort Base Station Agent.
More specifically, the update bumps AirPort Utility to version 5.2.1. The software supports the AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n, AirPort Extreme Base Station and AirPort Express Base Station.
Separately, Apple also released AirPort Base Station Update 2007-002 for Windows XP and Vista [6.9MB]. That version includes general fixes and compatibility updates for AirPort Utility, AirPort Base Station Agent, and AirPort Disks Control Panel.
Keyboard Software Update 1.1
Earlier in the day, Apple released a 32MB Keyboard Software Update v1.1.
In a brief set of release notes, the company said the software allows its new aluminum keyboard to take advantage of the special features.
On Topic: General
- GE to develop new LED bulbs that work with Apple's HomeKit
- Charter pursues Time Warner Cable merger in wake of abandoned Comcast deal
- DOJ to review secret cell phone tracking programs, reveal information on usage
- This week on AppleInsider: Apple's blockbuster Q2, 'tattoo-gate,' Apple Watch review, more
- Samsung takes Apple obsession to next level with new Galaxy ad


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If state gaming regulators follow the lead of Gov. Brian Sandoval’s 12-member Gaming Policy Committee, the gaming industry and Nevada’s new marijuana distributors will never share a business relationship.
The only time their paths may cross will be when marijuana companies stage conferences at resort convention centers and exhibition halls to bring business people together to talk shop. But the companies will be prohibited from bringing products to those exhibitions.
No marijuana smoking lounges at resort properties; no landlord-tenant relationships for the sale, cultivation or distribution of marijuana; no financing deals benefiting either a gaming company or a pot provider.
That was the conclusion of the committee, which needed less than an hour Monday to discuss and tweak a resolution addressing the state’s stance on marijuana and the gaming industry.
The action reinforces policy that already existed, but was debated anew once voters approved an initiative legalizing recreational use of marijuana in 2016. Gaming regulators have always maintained that their licensees should steer clear of the marijuana business because the federal government views possession and consumption as a violation of


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RIALTO >> The Rialto Marketplace, the city’s largest shopping center to date and anchored by a Walmart Supercenter, is set for a grand opening July 20.
The Walmart Supercenter, which opened April 5 at 1366 S. Riverside Ave., is complemented by Jersey Mike’s Subs, Chipotle, Carl’s Jr., Pieology, Les Schwab Tires, GNC, Kelly’s Nails, Wingstop, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Wells Fargo, Ono Hawaiian BBQ, 7-Eleven and Juice It Up.
The new Walmart brings with it 85 new jobs, officials said, and replaces a 114,000-square-foot Walmart located nearby, which opened in 1993. The new store is expected to employ up to 400 full- and part-time associates, with many transferring from the Walmart’s previous location.
The grand opening ceremony will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. July 20 and will include hundreds of local youths joining Rialto Marketplace company officials, tenants and city leaders to honor a city called “Bridge to Progress.”
The event will have music and dance performances, carnival games, a jump house, wall climbing, costume character meet-and-greet, food sampling from the center’s restaurants, prize giveaways and Rialto Marketplace Trackless Train Tour, according to organizers.
Jay Prag, professor of economics and finance at the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University, said the relative low land costs compared to other cities in the Inland Empire, coupled with new retail center development and growing numbers of logistics workers are an indication that the Inland Empire economy is beginning to develop more retail sites not related to commuting.
“I think also, the traffic and congestion that have plagued the 10 and the 210 freeways, to some extent, is giving people a need and a reason to shop more locally,” Prag said. “So while there is a Walmart Supercenter in Ontario, it just isn’t that easy to get there with the traffic along the 10, and I think that some of the retailers, and especially retailers that are a one-stop shop like a Walmart Supercenter, are seeing really good potential market for the kind of working-class communities of Southern California which Rialto and its neighbors are certainly part of.”
The Rialto Marketplace will be the second largest shopping center in town when the 60-acre Renaissance Marketplace retail center property located in the north of town, near the 210 Freeway at the intersection of Ayala Drive and Renaissance Parkway, is expected to be completed next year. That center will include a luxury 14-screen multiplex theater and could potentially have about 500,000 square feet of retail buildings, officials said.
“I think there is a recognition that Rialto is an underserved market for retail and with the housing growth that’s coming east of the 15 (freeway) and the job growth that’s coming to the region, I think it will bode well for economic activity in the future,” said Randall Lewis, principal of the Lewis Group of companies, which is developing the Renaissance Marketplace.
Rialto Marketplace will be among 73 shopping centers that the Woodland Hills-based NewMark Merrill Companies retail shopping center development company owns or manages.


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Those who defy the new ban on single use plastic bags could face up to four years in jail or a fine of up to $38,000
In Kenya producing, selling or using plastic bags can now land you a four-year jail term or a fine of up to $38,000 under new rules introduced this week. In an event to curb the tide of plastic waste...
Electric vehicle firm's first-ever sustainability report outlines carbon impact of operations for the first time, but admits there's 'still much to be done'
None of the $4.9tr forecast to be spent on new oil and gas fields in the 2020s is compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5C, a Global Witness analysis has warned
Tech giant quadruples number of locations for US customers to hand in old iPhones as part of recycling and reuse drive
GreenBiz releases its latest update on soaring renewables demand from US corporates


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The moment we've all been waiting for is here, folks: the brand new Sonic the Hedgehog movie trailer has officially landed.
When the first images and trailer were revealed for the upcoming Sonic movie earlier this year, it's pretty safe to say that fans weren't impressed with the blue blur's design. It caused so much of a stink online that the movie's creators felt the need to scrap Sonic's look altogether and give him a new coat of paint.
Now, we can finally see the new redesign in action, and we have to say we definitely prefer this to the original. As you can see, the film is now expected to hit theatres on 14th February 2020. Here's the new official poster:
Update: Sonic creator Yuji Naka has commented on the new design, and he seems mostly pleased.
Go on, then... What do you think? Do you prefer this to the original? Are you now excited to watch the film? Still not impressed? Share your thoughts with us below.


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Retailers expect surge is profits in final days before ChristmasPosted: Updated:
Retailers are expecting big shopping gains in the final weekend before Christmas.
The Shops at Nanuet were packed Friday and experts say they expect them to be even more crowded this weekend.
Ryan Hidalgo, general manager of The Shops at Nanuet, says sales this holiday season have seen a big surge.
"Everyone is reporting that sales are up over last year and up over what they had even planned for this year," says Hidalgo.
Many of stores and malls across the area will also have extended hours this weekend.
The Shops at Nanuet are open until 11 p.m. Friday and open again at 8 a.m. Saturday and will remain open until 11 p.m.


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(Reuters) – Indonesia will see a significant boost in trade and investment from the United States as a result of Washington’s renewed trade preference facility with Southeast Asia’s largest economy, a top Indonesian official said on Sunday.
“The ambition of the government is to double (U.S.-Indonesia) trade in the next five years to $60 billion, while simultaneously encouraging U.S. investment,” said vice foreign minister Mahendra Siregar, who noted this came after over two years of negotiations.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said on Friday it had closed Indonesia’s eligibility review for access to the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) facility, with no loss of previous benefits.
The GSP programme gives privileged trade status to developing economies.
Total two-way trade with the United States was worth $28.6 billion last year, according to Indonesian trade ministry data.
Mahendra told a press conference that the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) was also “very interested” in investing in the country’s upcoming $5 billion sovereign wealth fund.


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Norco raises farm gate milk price by 2 cents
An increase in consumer demand for fresh milk, cream, cheese, custard, butter, ice cream and flavoured milk has seen Norco increase its farm gate by two cents to 77 cents per litre.
The move by Australia’s oldest dairy co-operative means the price rise will see suppliers receive an average of slightly over 70 cents across the full year as the two cents to 77 cents per litre will continue for six months to June 30.
The increase delivers an additional $2 million to co-operative in additional payments from the co-operative.
Norco Chairman Michael Jeffery said the continued strong results were a direct result of consumers continued commitment to supporting the 297 members in NSW and Queensland.
Mr Jeffrey said Norco has once again defied the economic uncertainty of COVID-19.
He said the result comes off the back of a record financial year where the co-operative posted an operating profit of $5.4 million for FY19-20, up from $1.2 million the previous financial year.
“I am pleased to say that we continue to be able to support our farmers with strong payments,” he said.
“It’s a credit to our loyal consumers who purchase Norco branded products and the co-operative's management team who continue to drive activities in the business that allow us to provide additional payments to our farmers such as these.”
Mr Jeffrey said the additional farm gate increase is a welcome result for the co-operative’s 297 farmer members who also benefited from a rise in milk payments during FY19-20, with each member sharing in $17.1 million of much needed farm gate milk price increases.
This compared to the previous financial year as they continued to recover from the crippling effects of drought and high costs of production.
“Our management team, led by chief executive Michael Hampson, continue to rollout improvement activities and programs that are transforming the Norco business daily,” he said.
“It’s these activities and the teams’ commitment to delivering these that help provide significant benefits to our farmer members”.
Mr Jeffrey thanked consumers for helping to sustain the Australian dairy industry.


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Therapedic Partners with Tommy Bahama
October 10, 2014,
PRINCETON, N.J.-Therapedic International has signed an exclusive license agreement with Tommy Bahama, the island-inspired lifestyle brand, for a mattress collection that will be unveiled at Las Vegas Market in January.
The agreement marks Tommy Bahama's first venture into mattresses. The brand already appears on home products ranging from bed ensembles to indoor and outdoor furniture, rugs and tabletop. Regarding Therapedic, Bradley O'Brien, executive vice president of design and product development for Tommy Bahama, said, "They share our vision and commitment to using innovative and high-quality materials and creating mattresses that make the bedroom a sanctuary for rest and relaxation."
Other Articles By Author
HFN Launches Interactive Idea Book
HFN's DIGITAL EDITION
COVER STORY: HFN Turns 90
We commemorate HFN's 90th anniversary by paying tribute to the iconic retailer and supplier brands--and the people--that have helped the industry flourish, then and now.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- Up & Coming Leaders - The home industry is in capable and visionary hands as this year’s 40 Under 40 list attests. Today’s young leaders span all disciplines and varied levels of operation.
- Omnichannel Retailing - In the Mobile App World, Time is Money


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WASHINGTON, DC -- (August 22, 2011) Patton Boggs employees recently donated more than 1,100 (1,162) pairs of new and gently worn shoes to Soles4Souls, an international charity that distributes donated shoes to those living in extreme poverty or recovering from natural disasters. The campaign, which ran throughout the month of June in all seven of the firm’s U.S. offices, helped contribute to the more than 13 million pairs of shoes already distributed by the charitable organization since 2005.
“With tragedies such as the earthquakes in countries like Haiti and Japan, on top of the enormous needs elsewhere, we can use the estimated 1.5 billion shoes taking up space in the closets of ordinary people to change the world one pair at a time,” said Wayne Elsey, Soles4Souls founder and CEO. “We need partners such as Patton Boggs to get behind Soles4Souls. Donating shoes is one of the most simple, yet profound acts you can do, because it will greatly improve someone’s life in the most difficult of times” Elsey added.
Individuals and companies interested in donating can visit the organization’s website at www.giveshoes.org.


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Edinburgh hotels now more expensive than London
EDINBURGH has overtaken London to become Britain’s most expensive city to stay in, according to new hotel industry statistics
Even though London is still the most popular tourist destination, Edinburgh’s average room price is now £5 a night more than England’s capital this summer.
This time last year the average price of a hotel room in the Scottish city was £166 a night, less than the average £168 a night for accommodation in London.
But this year the places have been reversed with Edinburgh’s typical room rate now £175 and London’s up modestly to £170, said hotel comparison site Trivago.
Both charge significantly more in room rates than other UK tourist hotspots, said the Trivago summer survey.
York, the third most popular destination, charges an average £102 a night, Blackpool in fourth just £57 a night and Liverpool in fifth, £88 a night.
All three are charging less this summer than last as the growth of budget hotels in the cities helps to force the overall average price down.
The biggest fall is Glasgow where the average summer room rate last year soared to £127 as it hosted the Commonwealth Games but this summer is back down to £93 a night.
Yet Glasgow remains one of the UK’s top ten destinations along with Manchester, Brighton and Bournemouth and, this year, Cardiff who enter the top ten at the expense of Birmingham.
The top ten foreign cities for Brits staying a minimum of six nights are Dubai followed by Benidorm, Barcelona and Albufeira then New York, Orlando and Rome.
Dubai, despite its reputation for luxury, is cheaper than Benidorm for hotel accommodation, charging an average £118 a night compared to Benidorm’s £184 a night.
Denise Bartlett of Trivago said: “The year-on-year price differences are also intriguing.
“While many holidaymakers may expect to find a bargain in the Eurozone this year, this is not the case in popular summer resorts Benidorm and Salou, where prices are up by 33% and 36% respectively.”
Trivago’s figures cover bookings made for stays between July 1st and August 31st this year - the site gets 80 millions visits a month.


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What better way to step into spring than with a spellbinding roundup of stats?
We can’t promise it’ll be too cheerful, but hey, the sun’s been out this week. You can’t have it all.
The roundup includes news about ad fraud, online delivery, and digital ads. For even more, head on over to the trusty Internet Statistics Compendium.
Advertisers predicted to be defrauded by $16.4bn in 2017
While fraud is believed to cost advertisers $7.2bn globally each year, the real cost of ad fraud may have been as high as $12.48bn in 2016 (accounting for almost 20% of the $66bn spent on digital advertising).
If advertising fraud continues to evolve at its current rate, this figure could potentially rise to $16.4bn in 2017.
A third of Brits would rather read a blog than a book
New research from Affilinet has found that one in three people in the UK say they read more online than they do in print.
In a survey of over 2,600 Brits, 32% confessed tospending more time reading online, with cookery, diet and nutrition recipes being the most likely category to search for.
When asked about the reasons why, 61% said they prefer blogs because they are ‘cheaper’ than buying books, 58% stated that they are ‘more convenient’ and 49% said they ‘prefer short-form content rather than full books’.
42% of marketers agree that email relevance is hit and miss
A DMA infographic has highlighted how marketers are failing to create relevant emails, with 42% saying ‘some’ are relevant to the recipient at best. This is despite the fact that the medium remains an effective channel, with email ROI increasing from £29.64 to £30.01 in the past year.
DMA also suggests that one of the biggest stumbling blocks is a lack of content, with one in four marketers citing this as a major problem.
As shown below, other issues preventing effective email is said to be a lack of strategy, a lack of data and data siloes.
Poor communication results in nearly a quarter of missed deliveries
Research from Engage Hub has revealed that a lack of communication from delivery companies is the main reason UK consumers miss scheduled deliveries, with 23% of consumers saying poor communication has caused them to miss a delivery in the past 12 months.
Other reasons include a parcel not arriving at the specified time and having no ability to reschedule the delivery time.
When asked about the most important elements of the delivery process, 49% of UK consumers cited clear confirmation regarding delivery time, while 30% said updates from the delivery company in the event of any changes.
Top three searched-for luxury brands see 63.5% of online visits
In terms of the online market share, Hitwise has revealed that Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and Coach are the most searched-for luxury brands.
In fact, these three brands take 63.5% of the share of online visits to the luxury apparel industry as a whole.
Meanwhile, data shows that Versace, Tom Ford and Yves Saint Laurent are a hit with millennials, as a large portion of their traffic is currently driven by consumers aged 18 to 34.
UK shoppers rate retail experiences as average
According to a new report by Zeta Global, only 40% of UK shoppers think their favourite retailers provide a good or great customer experience.
This comes from a study of 3,000 UK adults, which also found that 48% of respondents considered their retail experience to be merely ‘average’. Meanwhile, a further 11% believe that their favourite shops provide poor service.
From this, it is clear that personalisation presents a huge opportunity for retailers to capture consumer loyalty, with almost two-fifths of shoppers saying they would be inclined to shop around if they received a personalised service.
Emotional context could make digital ads 40% more effective
According to Yahoo, the emotional state of consumers can dramatically impact how receptive they are to advertising.
With US and UK consumers reportedly feeling ‘upbeat’ 46% of the time, this is a key window for advertisers, with people said to be 40% more receptive to digital ads when they are in this mood.
The study also found that when consumers are upbeat, they are 30% more likely to engage with native video content than when they are in any other emotional state.
Lastly, consumers are 28% more likely to engage with content marketing and 21% more likely to engage with direct marketing when feeling happy.
Majority of marketers haven’t got to grips with mobile
A new report by Mobile Marketing Association and RadiumOne has revealed that the majority of marketers are failing to tap into the way consumers use their mobiles.
From interviews with over 300 senior marketers, two-thirds admitted that they’re not confident they’ve identified the most critical signals in their customers’ journey.
What’s more, 61% aren’t fully confident in their ability to find new profitable customers, and 58% are not fully confident in their re-engagement efforts to prevent customer churn.
In terms of the most valuable data, 29% of marketers cite content sharing from apps, 28% cite mobile site visits and 27% cite app installs as the best signals for improving mobile branding.
25 to 34 year olds 65% more likely to search for bank accounts
New data from Hitwise has revealed that people aged between 25 to 32 are 65% more likely to search for a savings account than any other demographic. What’s more, men in this age group are 60% more likely to be saving compared to women.
From an audience of 8.3m 25 to 34 years old consumers in the UK searching to switch banks, Hitwise suggests that the most popular banks to visit are Santander and Halifax, followed by Lloyds and Natwest.
BMW drivers are the biggest retail spenders of any car owner
A new study by Viant has delved into the purchase habits and behaviour of major car brand owners in the UK.
The report states that Fiat is the most popular car brand for millennials, with this age group 18% more likely to drive hatchbacks than non-millennials. BMW drivers are said to be the biggest retail spenders, being 54% more likely to shop at John Lewis and 2.3 times more likely to shop in Selfridges than Ford drivers.
Lastly, Ford drivers reportedly spent £2,157 on flights over a period of six months, with their preferred airline being Emirates.


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These were the best-selling cars in March
Latest SMMT results show that small crossovers are still dominating the market.
It was another good month for new car registrations, with the market experiencing the best March since 2019 alongside the 20th month of sustained growth. In all, 317,786 new cars reached the road, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
But which cars came out on top in the popularity stakes and were there any surprises? We take a look at the top 10 best-selling cars in March below.
Nissan Qashqai – 8,931
The most popular model to be sold over the last month is the Nissan Qashqai and it’s not hard to see why. The Qashqai offers great value for money in the family car class with a decent driving position, efficient engines and impressive practicality.
There is also a hybrid option available to make running costs even cheaper, plus the Qashqai has built up a reputation over the years as a solid, dependable and easy-to-live-with family crossover.
Ford Puma – 8,318
The Puma is the Ford’s baby crossover in its range, and nearly every month it finds itself in a podium finish in terms of sales.
The Puma is a fun-to-drive and good-looking small crossover that shares all its underpinnings with the recently cancelled Fiesta hatchback. The Puma is a direct rival to cars like the Nissan Juke and Toyota Yaris Cross, while offering affordable running costs and decent driving dynamics. For the keen driver, you have the option of the hot ST model, too which comes with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 197bhp.
Kia Sportage – 7,445
The Kia Sportage was the model that kickstarted the South Korean brand’s new image back in 2010, and since then it has gotten better and better.
Now in its fourth generation, the Sportage has striking looks, great build quality and a host of onboard technology – while coming with Kia’s legendary 7-year 100,000-mile warranty.
Nissan Juke – 7,346
Launched in 2010 as what was the first compact crossover, the Juke has been a firm favourite among British buyers for many years. With its bulbous looks and compact dimensions, the Juke offers those who want to drive something funky and fresh without burning a hole in their pocket – and now with it’s available with a 1.6-litre hybrid powertrain, the Juke gives drivers efficient motoring along with modern looks.
Audi A3 – 6,010
The Audi A3 is the small family hatchback of choice for those who want a premium badge with great build quality. Underneath the skin, the A3 is the same as the Volkswagen Golf, but that’s no bad thing as the A3 is great to drive while being practical and easy to live with.
Also, a plug-in hybrid variant is available to make running costs even lower and with Audi’s excellent residual values – it’s no wonder we have seen it on the top 10 list many times before.
Vauxhall Corsa – 5,952
The Vauxhall Corsa has always been a car to suit all types of drivers, while the latest version has injected a healthy dose of style into this clever hatchback. The Corsa’s rise in popularity has no doubt been pushed by the Electric version, too, which has a good range of up to 222 miles on a single charge.
Inside, the Corsa features a lot of hard-wearing plastics which means it can hold up well to daily life, as well as plenty of technology that can make driving more pleasant.
Mercedes A-Class – 5,892
The A-Class has always offered a more premium take on the traditional hatchback format. Though it may have been around in its current guise for a while now an updated version – released in 2022 – has obviously sparked a little extra life into this compact Mercedes.
The new A-Class continues to offer a range of clean and frugal engines – with most supported by mild-hybrid technology – while inside there’s the latest infotainment screen that Mercedes has to offer.
Volkswagen Golf – 5,631
It’s hard to imagine a world without the Volkswagen Golf, isn’t it? The German firm’s ever-present hatchback continues to strike a chord with car buyers and while the eighth-generation car may have hit a few speedbumps on the way – mainly due to criticisms surrounding the infotainment screen – these have been quickly addressed with a revised 8.5 version.
With a great choice of engines and specifications, the Golf continues to offer buyers the variety that they’re after.
Tesla Model Y – 5,602
Tesla’s Model Y continues to remain a common sight on this list, with the firm’s electric crossover continuing to prove popular with buyers. It’s got a lot of modern ‘must-have’ features, such as a large infotainment screen which packs loads of features and systems.
Model Y ownership also gives access to Tesla’s widespread Supercharger network, with thousands of rapid charge points dotted throughout the UK and Europe.
MG HS – 5,460
It’s another MG which rounds out the top 10 this month – the HS. The firm’s largest SUV packs loads of value into a good-looking package, with plenty of on-board equipment coming alongside a range of efficient engines. There’s also a plug-in hybrid variant which can deliver up to 32 miles of electric-only range.
Prices for the HS start from £24,030, making this one of the most value-orientated cars of its type on the market today.