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Ribbon Cutting: (L/R) Front, Dawn Clifford, Magen Trask, Alicia Chandler, Mark Weidner, Matt Weidner (with scissors), Jason Armstrong, Sandy Pope and Mike Assels. (Back) Sonny Powers, Mark Delestowicz, Paul Tocco, Gary Burns and Doris Ewald.
West Side Supreme Carpet Remodeling Is All About the Customer
State-of-the-Art Showroom Designed With the Customer In Mind
June 10, 2007
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By: O. J. Cunningham
Supreme Carpet held a Grand Opening of their "new look" Euclid Avenue floor covering center last week on Bay City's West Side.
According to brothers Mark and Matt Weidner, the "Retro-Fit" of the Euclid avenue showroom was designed with only one thing in mind -- to make it easier for the customer to find what they needed.
Highlights of the "Retro-Fit" are multiple new areas of Visual Display and a high-tech Idea Center.
"The remodeling is all about the customer," said Mark Weidner. S
(L/R) Mark Weidner, Mowhawk's Paul Tocco and Matt Weidner stand in front of the new "Idea Center" at Supreme Carpet on Bay City's West Side.
Supreme Carpet's company slogan is "Right Product, Right Price, Right Now."
"And we mean it," Weidner said. "We have over a million square feet of floor covering in stock to make Supreme Carpet the right place for the customer."
The three-year plan came together with the help of Mohawk Carpeting. Mohawk Michigan/Ohio Division Manager Paul Tocco said he was more than pleased with the result.
"We've been doing business with Supreme Carpet in Bay City for over 20 years," Tocco said. "We're pleased to be a part of this state-of-the-art Mohawk FloorScapes Showroom Retro-fit."
Matt Weidner, who handles the retail side of the operation, pointed out a series of new areas that have been introduced into the Supreme Carpet showroom.
Ceramic, Hardwood, Vinyl/Resilient and Laminate floor covering areas of display are all "front and center. "We now have over 6,000 square feet of display to make it easy for the customer to see what we have to offer," Matt said.
The business was started forty-three (43) years ago by Jack Weidner, father to both Mark and Matt. Mark has been involved with the company for 18 years and handles the Corporate side of the business and directs all installations. Matt has 15 years in the company and is in charge of retail sales. Supreme Carpet has stores in Bay City, Saginaw and Midland.
"The Weidner family loves doing business in Bay County," said Mark Weidner, summing up his feelings about the Grand re-Opening. "We've got 43 years of history," Weidner said. "And we're looking forward to many more years of service to the community."
Mohawk Division Manager Paul Tocco congratulates Matt Weidner during the Grand Re-Opening Celebration.
O. J. Cunningham
O. J. Cunningham is the Publisher of MyBayCity.com. Cunningham previously published Sports Page & Bay City Enterprise. He is the President/CEO of OJ Advertising, Inc.
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Huge pay packages damaging reputation of UK companies: Survey
March 2 , 2015
The reputation of UK firms is being damaged because of the size of the pay packages offered to top executives, a survey has revealed.
Over 1,000 business leaders were surveyed in the poll. Fifty-two percent said very high salaries were causing people to lose trust in big firms.
Over 50% agreed that pay linked to performance ought to be deferred for around three years.
In 2011, a report had described the excessive salaries of top executives in the UK as “corrosive”.

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Daily NewsView All News
TSR Inc. (NASD: TSRI), a Hauppauge NY-based information technology staffing firm, said Thursday that revenue fell 12.9% to $11.5 million in its fiscal second quarter ended Nov. 30. And the company said economic conditions will likely affect earnings for the remainder of its fiscal year.
"The deteriorating economy has spread beyond the financial services sector where TSR has historically obtained approximately 20% of its revenue," said CEO Joe Hughes. "This broadening has had a serious impact on our bottom line as evidenced by the results of the quarter just ended."
TSR said the decrease in revenue came because the number of its consultants on billing with customers was down to 281 compared with 348 in the same period in the previous year.
Fourth-quarter net income fell 41.8% to $220,000 as customers reduced the company's margins and opportunities to place new consultants slowed, TSR reported.
TSR Inc. (NASD: TSRI)
For the fiscal second quarter ended Nov. 30, 2008, compared with the same period in the previous year.
Revenue: $11.5 million, -12.9%
Net income: $220,000, -41.8%


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Telecom giant AT&T (NYSE:T) last week agreed to buy satellite television provider DirecTV (NYSE:DTV.DL). The news led to a quickly quashed rumor that Dish Network was about to be acquired by Verizon. And the deal drew comparison's to Comcast Corporation's (NASDAQ:CMCSA) recent acquisition of Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC). But why would AT&T want to buy DirecTV -- and why now?
AT&T will pay about $49 billion in cash and stock with the total transaction value coming in at $67 billion after accounting for DirecTV's debt. The number compares to the $45 billion equity value offered up in the Comcast-Time Warner merger, which still awaits final regulatory approval. But Comcast gained the instantly obvious advantage of both increasing its reach and eliminating a competitor.
What's so special about DirecTV that made AT&T buy it?
Strong subscriber additions
When Comcast was circling its Time Warner Cable acquisition, I mentioned that Time Warner needed to consider the sale because the company's subscriber numbers were tanking. And that was particularly true for Video subscribers -- a segment that's taken a hit across television companies as more subscribers cut the cord in favor of streaming services such as Netflix.
How have DirecTV's net subscriber additions measured up to the competition?
Time Warner has the losing seat despite a slight recovery in the first quarter. And DirecTV has spent most of the past three years with the most net subscriber additions, which also means the least net losses.
But comparing the net subscriber addition rate would only work if the companies all have similar numbers of total video subscribers. Here's where the numbers stood as of the first quarter:
- DirecTV US: 20.3 million
- Comcast: 22.6 million
- Time Warner Cable: 11.4 million
Comcast and Time Warner do offer broadband services that continue to attract subscribers. But not at a rate that offsets the losses in video. So DirecTV has held its own in a competitive and turbulent market.
And DirecTV stands apart thanks to its growing presence in the emerging market of Latin America, which includes complete ownership of PanAmerica and 93% ownership of Sky Brasil. Those companies combined brought DirecTV first-quarter $1.7 billion in revenue and 361,000 net subscriber additions.
But how would DirecTV help AT&T?
AT&T doesn't need DirecTV to survive. The company remains a wireless leader with that segment accounting for more than half of first-quarter revenue. But that's not to say an approved DirecTV acquisition wouldn't have benefits.
The telecom company currently has a small television/video footprint through its U-Verse program, which includes an IPTV option. But U-Verse only included 5.7 million television subscribers as of the first quarter. So the DirecTV purchase would greatly increase AT&T's reach to television subscribers.
Why does size matter? Look at the Comcast-Time Warner deal. Comcast certainly benefits from an increased reach -- and swallowing up a competitor -- but the growth gives the company more weight to through around in content negotiations. (And that's also why so many have expressed doubts that the Comcast-Time Warner deal will make it past regulators.)
And content has a more specific purpose in the potential AT&T-DirecTV deal. DirecTV has exclusive access to NFL's Sunday Ticket, which provides subscribers to watch the televised football game of choice, rather than what happens to broadcast on local channels or ESPN. But DirecTV's Sunday Ticket contract expires at the end of the forthcoming football season and renewing that contract will prove vital to AT&T's purchase.
Foolish final thoughts
AT&T doesn't absolutely need DirecTV, but the purchase also shouldn't pull down the overall business. The deal still has potential to problems due to regulator blocks or DirecTV's failure to renew the NFL contract. But if those go smoothly, the television expansion and added weight could help AT&T become less dependent on its wireless segment and move more toward becoming a general media company.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that AT&T had 2.5 million U-verse TV customers. The Fool regrets the error.


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The battle is over between the maker of Ultimate Nutrition protein-shake powder and the organizers of country’s largest bodybuilding competition, which starts Thursday in Las Vegas, who fought over advertising banners that would hang at the entrance to the event.
A new deal between the organizers of the Mr. Olympia contest and Connecticut-based Ultimate Nutrition Inc., which makes workout supplements, has prompted the manufacturer to drop its complaint that the banner advertisements could unfairly highlight the company’s competitors.
Earlier this year, Ultimate Nutrition paid to become the “exclusive title sponsor” to the event, which is expected to draw more than 50,000 people. Arnold Schwarzenegger took the competition’s top title several times in the 1970s. Mr. Olympia organizers argued they could indeed sell the promotional space.
The two sides made peace after Mr. Olympia organizers offered “certain other advertising and promotional opportunities” to Ultimate Nutrition, according to documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Hartford. The deal was approved by Judge Ann Nevins on Friday.
Officials for Ultimate Nutrition signed a $626,800 sponsorship contract in May, enabling it to become the exclusive title sponsor for a seventh year, court documents said.
This weekend’s events could put much-needed spotlight on Ultimate Nutrition, which filed for bankruptcy on Dec. 17 blaming regulatory scrutiny. The 200-worker company said it struggled to make up for a $1 million loss in 2012 after having to pay “millions of dollars of one-time temporary labor charges incurred due to labor strife and onerous regulatory requirements,” according to company officials who did not provide more details about the labor charges.
The company was founded in 1979 by Victor Rubino, a former bodybuilder who died in 2003. It is projecting to take in more than $35 million in revenue this year, according to court papers.


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Have you heard branded video is the next big thing? Well, it is, and that’s why we’re seeing a new wave of offerings from online video technology providers as they fine-tune their products in this area.
Earlier this month, Comcast-owned thePlatform, best known for powering video for big media firms and for TV Everywhere, rolled out a video publishing toolset called mpx Essentials that is aimed at helping brands better manage their Web video needs. ThePlatform said the Essentials tools are geared for brands, agencies and small businesses as they create content, upload video to their own sites, and push it out on their Facebook pages, YouTube, social channels, mobile phones and so on. It’s a pared-down version of what thePlatform offers big media firms.
The company tells me that branded video is one of its new growth target areas as more brands from Coke to Samsung to Red Bull invest in creating their own premium content. thePlatform is betting marketers will need more centralized control of those assets. The company has also formed a new sales team to sell mpx Essentials into the market at $499 per month.
Along the same lines, online video technology provider Adap.TV recently introduced a new suite of tools for brand managers for video ad management. While this solution is focused more on ads than branded video, it speaks to the same trend -- a need to offer new tools to handle the next generation of online video marketing needs.
Adap.TV’s App Center includes access to tools from Innovid, BlueKai, eXelate, Datalogix, AdAdvisor by TargusInfo and others.


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Two beer brands — Bud Light and Budweiser — are uniformly popular among underage drinkers regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity, while certain other brands appear to have a unique appeal to African-American youth drinkers, according to a new study headed by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers.
The study, published in the Journal of Substance Use, is the first to examine demographic differences in alcohol brand preferences among underage youth. Across all demographic groups, Bud Light was “overwhelmingly” the most popular brand, with a prevalence of past 30-day consumption ranging from 19.3 percent among black respondents to 38.2 percent among Hispanic youths. Bud Light also was the most popular brand among female drinkers, with a reported consumption rate of 27.7 percent. Similarly, Budweiser was popular across all groups, with a prevalence of 14.5 percent among non-Hispanic Whites and 17.3 percent among Black youths.
The study also found that 12 alcohol brands among the top 25 preferred brands for Black youth drinkers did not appear at all on the top 25 list for non-Hispanic White youth — among them, Hennessy cognac, Ciroc vodka, and 1800 tequila. Also, there were three popular brands among Hispanic youths that were not among the top 25 for non-Hispanic White drinkers: Dos Equis, Tecate, and Modelo Especial.
The authors, led by Dr. Michael Siegel, BUSPH professor of community health sciences, said the difference in brand preferences by race was the most striking finding.
“We need to look at the reasons for the observed racial and ethnic differences in brand popularity,” Dr. Siegel said.
To read more about the study, go to: http://www.bu.edu/sph/2015/12/01/underage-drinkers-brand-preferences-vary-by-race-age/


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US-listed net lease real estate investment trust WP Carey has invested £141m (€162m) to buy a UK logistics facility developed by Prologis.
WP Carey said it has acquired the 100,000sqm asset in Solihull, leased to automotive company Jaguar Land Rover for 30 years.
Gino Sabatini, head of investments at WP Carey said: “We are thrilled to build on our year-to-date acquisition momentum and add another high-quality logistics asset to our portfolio.
“Since opening our London office in 1998 and completing our first investment in the UK in 1999, we have continued to grow our market expertise and reputation as a reliable partner for companies and developers alike.”
Karolis Adlis, senior VP and part of the investments team at WP Carey said: “Driven by the rapid growth in e-commerce and fulfilment needs, demand for UK logistics assets continues to exceed supply.
“As such, we are thrilled to announce our acquisition of this bespoke, Class-A facility built to high environmental and operational standards on an attractive basis.”
To read the digital edition of the latest IPE Real Assets magazine click here.


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By Sean Delaney
In the new reality created by the Coronavirus pandemic, some businesses that can adapt and react quickly are finding new markets for their products or skills, and Emery Village's Engineered Plastic Designs (EPD) is one of them.
A family owned business that has its beginnings trace back to the 1960s, EPD remains family run, with a second generation at its helm, including Bonnie Rainer, CEO and National Sales Director. And according to Rainer, the Company has been developing and improving upon its techniques since her father opened it.
“The company started way back in 1960, but my father went off on his own in 1982 and created EPD,” she said. “Their forte was in custom acrylic designs. Anything you need to be displayed or showcased, we created the vehicle to showcase your display of shelf space, floor space, wherever.”
The company are experts in working with acrylics and have even blended wood and metals into their designs. They handle every step of the creation process in-house, from design, to testing prototypes to manufacturing, and that ability helped them to pivot fast and find another demand once the Coronavirus pandemic hit.
“A lot of people are looking for desk shields, or barriers to keep the distance and safety between their front lines and their customers,” Rainer said. And EPD not only had the skill, but the close relationship with their clients to ensure they were manufacturing exactly what they needed. “Many of our clients needed it (safety measures) but did not want to have it be overbearing or intimidating. They wanted it to have that friendly approach. So, plexiglass, and polycarbonates, acrylics, those are the things that have become the norm so to speak.”
Rainer said with seven precision cutting machines on site, 45,000 square feet of room to work with, and a dedicated staff, EPD was able to adjust quickly.
“When this (Coronavirus pandemic) hit, we were able to produce things in a record turnaround time,” she said. “We could do it in a day, two days or even three days depending the on volume of the order. It wasn’t difficult. It was just something we did.”
The Company had found much of their market in the jewelry industry, but as the demand for shielding grew, Rainer said they are dealing more with the food industry and others.
They now produce and market protective shields for grocery chains, hospitals, large retailers, banks, gas stations, hotels, dental offices, fast food chains, airports, casinos, car dealerships and others. Their protective barriers can be custom designed to fit any need and are designed for easy self-installation.
To find out more about the company, visit them online at: engineeredplasticdesigns.ca
They are located at 154 Milvan Drive and can be reached at: 416-745-7284
You can also email them at: firstname.lastname@example.org


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New sustainable growth plan acts as ‘roadmap’ to Net Positive for Kingfisher
EXCLUSIVE: Home improvement retailer Kingfisher has unveiled a comprehensive range of short-term sustainability targets in a bid to engage its customers and 77,000 employees in the company's long-term ambition of becoming "truly sustainable".
The B&Q and ScrewFix owner revealed its new sustainable growth plan, with a headline goal of achieving 50% of the group’s sales by 2020 from products that “actively make customers’ homes more sustainable” – such as LED lighting, insulation and low-flow taps. The products which fall into this category make up around 33% of the group’s current range and account for more than £3.8bn of sales annually.
Kingfisher claims that by achieving its headline target, its customers will be able to halve their own energy use and improve their water efficiency by 50% within the next seven years.
The sustainable growth plan sets goals for 2025 and will run alongside Kingfisher’s Net Positive sustainability plan, which incorporates 50 specific targets for 2050, including making every Kingfisher store and customer home zero carbon at least. The 12 new targets will act as a “road-map” to “milestones” along this long-term journey, according to the group’s head of sustainability, Caroline Laurie.
“We have got really ambitious 2050 aspirations under Net Positive, which has been really well-received and hailed as the next frontier of sustainability strategies,” Laurie exclusively told edie at this year’s edie Live event. “But ultimately, that technical language of sustainability and that long-term framing failed to connect with our customers and colleagues, who are our most important stakeholders.”
She added: “What we wanted to do was create a roadmap to 2025 that spoke much more directly to customers and their needs and concerns. It takes our long-term ambitions of becoming a truly sustainable company and breaks it down into short-term steps which are more easily accessible.”
The new plan is based on an extensive customer research project in the UK France, Poland, Russia and Spain, which sought to understand which sustainability issues really mattered to customers in their homes.
Kingfisher found that people were increasingly engaging with energy and water efficiency measures, demanding toxin-free products and making steps towards circularity by repairing, recycling and reusing their homewares. But while sustainability was found to connect with customers’ domestic priorities, they were put off by lofty, long-term targets and the word ‘sustainability’ itself.
The group’s chief officer Véronique Laury, who replaced Ian Cheshire in 2015, has also been “absolutely active” in developing and sponsoring the plan, according to Laurie.
“Sustainability is absolutely core to our purpose set by our chief executive, which is ensuring everyone has a home they feel good about,” Laurie added.
As well as customer-specific targets, the sustainable growth plan includes six internal goals for Kingfisher including sending zero waste to landfill by 2020 and recycling 90% of waste streams by 2025; sourcing all wood, paper and peat-free growing media responsibly by 2025, and achieving transparency of harmful chemicals in supply chains by 2020 before phasing out the “highest priority” hazardous chemicals from its products five years later.
Kingfisher additionally said it will cut absolute carbon emissions from buildings and transport by a quarter by 2020 against a 2010-2011 baseline.
The new plan forms part of the group’s five-year ‘one Kingfisher’ strategy, which was launched in 2016 and aims to transform the company’s structure by “unifying” its key brands.
© Faversham House Ltd 2023 edie news articles may be copied or forwarded for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent.


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Officials and dignitaries at the launch event.
Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co (AAB), exclusive distributor of Toyota in Qatar, recently launched the new Toyota Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) in Qatar at a ceremony that also featured an Iftar for loyal customers.
AAB acting CEO R K Murugan handed over the symbolic key to Hamad Sharif al-Emadi, CEO of Alijarah Holding, in recognition of the company being the first firm to own the model with the purchase of 20 new hybrid Camry vehicles for its taxi fleet.
By announcing the launch of the all-new Camry HEV in Qatar, AAB “exemplified its continuous commitment to providing environment-friendly vehicles in the country while offering customers the opportunity to experience the power and pleasure of sustainable mobility through cutting-edge technology and an engaging driving experience”, it said in a statement.
Further, the statement noted that the introduction of an electric version of the Camry “cements Toyota’s continued efforts in creating ever-better cars and further reiterates Toyota’s commitment to environmental sustainability”.
The all-new Camry HEV provides a comfortable and stable ride with superior handling characteristics, thanks to Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, which represents an entirely new strategy to the way the company designs, engineers and packages its vehicles.
The TNGA retains all of Toyota’s traditional values of superlative build quality and safety while injecting a fun driving experience that plays on all the senses.
The class-leading model can be driven entirely by either electrical power with zero-fuel consumption and carbon emissions, or with a combination of a petrol engine and two electric motors depending on the vehicle speed and customer’s driving behaviour. The batteries in the hybrid electric drivetrain are automatically charged by either the petrol engine or when braking and decelerating, eliminating the need to plug in a power cord.
Further, the all-new Camry HEV does not require a special fuel yet drives like any other conventional car. In addition, thanks to its top-class fuel efficiency, visits to petrol stations will be significantly reduced.
Yugo Miyamoto, chief representative, Middle East and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “With its stirring driving performance and state-of-the-art technology, the all-new Camry HEV creates a whole new value proposition, while ensuring seamless fun and excitement for driver and passengers alike without compromising on its environmental credentials.” Combining two power sources consisting of a petrol engine and two electric motors, the hybrid electric drivetrain on the all-new Toyota Camry HEV produces 176hp and 118hp and delivers 22.5kg-m and 20.6kg-m of torque, respectively. The combined power of the two power sources (petrol engine and two electric motors) is 215hp.
The advanced features offered inside the cabin include a wireless charging system for smartphones, dual-zone automatic airconditioning system and the latest in-vehicle information technology displays.
As with any other Toyota model, safety remains a top priority for the Camry HEV and employs the latest safety technologies, including the brand’s innovative Toyota Safety Sense safety package. The car also includes six SRS airbags, vehicle stability control, anti-lock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, hill-start assist control as well as an enhanced body structure and platform structure, among others.
(c) Gulf Times Newspaper 2018 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info)., source Middle East & North African Newspapers


text: Photo Gallery of Opel Vectra GT Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Uploaded by: Mock Date: 22.10.2018 Image "HEX" Code: #2715519 Image size: 575x431 You can download photo Opel Vectra GT or use this pic as wallpaper or poster for desktop. Full size link https://cloudlakes.com/data_images/models/opel-vectra-gt/opel-vectra-gt-02.jpg We have more photo of Opel Vectra GT in our gallery. If you interesting to view them, you can follow on links below. Also you can see full gallery of Opel Vectra GT on this page. If you have your own good photos of Opel Vectra GT, you can upload them on our website and become one of our authors. See more photos Opel Vectra GT from our users Recent automotive trends, reviews, test drives and the latest news from the world of cars Nurburgring should be acquired by investor group One of the most popular automotive-automobile complex planet is about to change hands. According to Reuters, Nurbugring will be sold to group of investors for an estimated between EUR 65 and 70 million amount. Honda starts production of the new Fit in Mexico Honda began production of the new generation Fit in its newly opened plant in Celaya, Mexico, on Thursday (27). Lamborghini offers online configurator for Huracan Lamborghini has released the online configurator for Huracen , which can be considered one of the most anticipated cars from Sant'Agata since the release of its predecessor, the Gallardo. Hyundai Veloster will introduce the new model line Hyundai announced that it will introduce a new model of the Veloster line in Salon Chicago. The South Korean manufacturer refused to release photos, but is likely to be a new special edition.


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After an embarrassing launch full of bugs, Cyanide Studio has released a second patch to counter bugs issues and server optimization.
Blood Bowl 3 has received disappointing reviews lately, and Cyanide has decided to fix things. Even before the official launch, the project manager at Cyanide announced that they were working on a multiplayer fix to deal with the runaway leader problem. Well, it looks like that runaway leader wasn’t the only problem with Blood Bowl 3, as players faced many bugs and server downtimes that ruined the online multiplayer experience.
However, right after the significant launch, Cyanide announced that they had released a second patch update that claimed to fix the bugs issues and help with better server optimization. So, what’s coming with the new patch update, and what type of fix will it bring for us?
The CPU Guide is here to share the complete patch notes with you for the changes that will be applied in the new patch update of Blood Bowl 3.
Blood Bowl 3 Second Update Patch Notes
Here is a complete list of changes that will be applied with the second patch update to resolve the major issues with Blood Bowl 3.
- Enhanced server response time in the team manager screens.
- Resolved the infinite loading issue while browsing the team list in a competition.
- Resolved the infinite loading issue while browsing the game’s Friends tab.
- Resolved the crash that occurred during an interception.
- Resolved audio and visual crashes, which were rarely caused during the gameplay.
- Resolved a crash after multiple skills reaction, featuring Shadowing, Diving Tackle, or Tentacles.
- Resolved a rare crash that occurred when players used Dive Catch.
- Resolved the player’s aura is distributing presence display in the dugouts.
- Featured a disclaimer tooltip in the account creation menu warning that the manager’s name will be visible to all other players.
What Still Needs to be Fixed in Blood Bowl 3?
Analyzing the Blood Bowl 3 review, I believe the fixes mentioned in the second patch notes were the only ones players faced at the launch. The game was filled with minor details that made the game feel like an incomplete project. So here I have mentioned the issues that need to be resolved to make Blood Bowl 3 worth playing.
- UI experience from the menu.
- Writing mistakes in the names of AI enemy team players during a single-player campaign.
- Extensive offline campaign missions and game modes.
- Attention to objects and getup of players from the customization.
- Starting the single-player campaign without login requirement.
- Lack of save and quit options without conceding the game.
For the final words, I would say that Blood Bowl 3 is off to a bad start. The game still needs much improvement if it wants to secure some recognition and dodge the fear of getting flopped. Players are discovering issues that show how incomplete and unfinished Blood Bowl 3 seems, even after the extensive requirement of the development period.


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Written by Keely Quinlan
In a 67-page report released Friday, the New Hampshire Commission on Virtual Currency and Digital Assets made 12 recommendations urging lawmakers to take a positive stance on creating a new legal framework for blockchain technology. rice field.
Recommendations included creating a pathway for cryptocurrency companies to obtain corporate status and establishing a “blockchain dispute record” within the New Hampshire Superior Court.
The commission, established in February 2022 by executive order of Gov. made recommendations on how to respond. Evolving technology.
The final report was unanimously approved in December, with the two members working for state agencies responsible for administering laws that may apply to cryptocurrency activities, such as the NH Ministry of Justice and the NH Banking Authority. I abstained because
The current regulation and treatment of crypto assets in federal and state law is unclear, according to the report. While the report states that cryptocurrencies offer unique economic and innovative opportunities, blockchain’s involvement in unregulated markets and the recent rise of cryptocurrency exchange and hedge fund FTX It also mentions misconduct such as Sam Bankman-Fried’s mishandling of customer funds that led to its collapse.
“However, as developments throughout 2022 show, one of the largest Crypto exchanges has committed a criminal scam by its founder and CEO, formerly one of the most prominent figures in the Crypto ecosystem. , including when it collapsed amid claims that it resulted in billions of dollars in losses (dollars in client assets), applying these techniques to real people in real life has been around for centuries. subject to the same human vulnerabilities (greed, jealousy, arrogance, ignorance, incompetence, carelessness, naivety) that have plagued the community of has been done,” the report read.
To combat these potential pitfalls, the Crypto Commission recommends an enterprising approach for New Hampshire to “build a better legal infrastructure for the sound development of blockchain technology and its applications.” recommended to take
“New Hampshire should be a leader when it comes to supporting the development of sound blockchain-based businesses and applications through the enactment of clear and sound legal regulations,” the report said.
The Commission’s report sets out 12 specific recommendations. In addition to giving crypto companies limited liability legal status and creating specific courts to rectify disputes, the report provides resources to law enforcement agencies for training to protect consumers and investors. We recommend that you provide
To bolster the state’s appeal to new technology, the report found states establish a task force to assess how to improve current systems for filing and storing official government records using blockchain technology. and recommended that the communication infrastructure be hardened to support the applications. blockchain technology.
New Hampshire isn’t the only state or local government looking at ways to curb cryptocurrency and blockchain technology or make it more attractive to set up shops. In 2016, Illinois established the Blockchain Initiative to explore the potential use of blockchain in government. For example, Colorado now accepts tax payments in cryptocurrencies.
Some cities, such as Miami, are furthering blockchain integration and launching their own digital coin, Miamicoin. Others, including Austin and Philadelphia, are eyeing the potential.
In a press release, Sununu created a committee for recommendations “to promote economic growth, foster innovation and meet changing customer needs while ensuring safety, health and consumer protection.” said.
“This report is comprehensive and timely, clarifying current legislation and including proposals to assist law enforcement in their efforts to protect New Hampshire, making New Hampshire a better place for the development of sound and effective applications of blockchain technology. We provide specific recommendations to establish it as the primary jurisdiction for consumers and investors,” Sununu said.


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Many fashion boutiques have come up in Ludhiana and a huge clientele of females prefer these boutiques which are accessible at their doorstep.
Neelam Handa, who started a boutique as a hobby 15 years ago, has become more popular than any celebrated fashion designer.
Neelam's is an exclusive outlet for ladies designer wear that specializes in embroidered suits, saris and lehengas.
Her "commitment to quality" brought her an international award in 2005 at the International Arch of Europe Award Convention, Frankfurt.
"Fashion designers work according to trends and style as what fashion they are going to introduce for the future. But, it is not necessary that everybody would like it. Boutique is more practical and affordable. Hi-fi designer wears target a suitable clientele", said Neelam.
Numerous boutiques have come up here that offer dress materials unbeatable in quality, comfort or design. The cost of dresses range from 10 dollars to 4500 US dollars.
Natasha Sehgal, owner of `Libaas' boutique said: "Many people have relatives living in abroad, that's the advantage. They do not want the same design, but a fusion of traditional Punjabi and western. So that is really working a positive asset to us. We are also keeping a constant touch with what is latest not in India but what is latest in London and Canada".
Boutiques too go international, as many have plans to open branches in cities like London and Washington.
The smarter the boutique, the costlier the label. One could spend any amount to look fashionable and in sync with fashion.
"Fashion designers make clothes for models walking down the ramp and not for clients like us. Here, in boutiques we get clothes suitable to our figure. We are able to choose the kind of embroidery and colour as per our requirement," Reema, a customer said.
Now, who says that fabulous models can only walk down the ramp? Boutiques very well understand the need and emotions of the world's most prime customers. Housewives also rule the ramp.


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In this episode, we chat to Alexandra Dane and Claire Parnell to discuss this year’s Academic Day for the Independent Publishing Conference 2021. This year’s theme is Publishing and the Environment.
Recent Small Press News
Keynote Announcement: 2022 IPC Research Day
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Call for Papers: Publishing Futures
Book publishing is a forward-thinking cultural sector. There is no shortage of articles, Twitter posts, and think pieces discussing emerging publishing trends and speculating about the future of publishing. Predictions over the eventual dominance of eBooks seemed to put the future of the print book at stake. Beyond the ‘format wars’, digital technologies and platforms […]


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Creation ahead of the curve on Net Zero
Packaging Solutions Green Solutions
Specialist packaging artwork, reprographics, plate and screen producer, Creation, has invested in low mission plate technologies that address the incoming requirements of the Net Zero campaign.
Creation has harnessed reprographic advancements to future proof the workflows of local print businesses ahead of the scheme, which aims to contribute to the UK’s long term emissions targets as outlined in the Paris agreement. Cities such as Leeds, Glasgow, Bristol and Birmingham are all committed to becoming carbon neutral.
As a business thriving on innovation, Creation now offers a completely solvent free plate portfolio, pioneering the use of Asahi AWP water washable plate and DuPont Cyrel Fast Easy EFE thermal plate, both of which eliminate the need for harmful solvents in the plate making process and help companies in the print and packaging supply chain to reduce their emissions impact.
Additionally, the AWP plates improve print quality while reducing the production time by up to 33%, lessening the overall energy consumption and significantly contributing to carbon neutrality and sustainability credentials.
Matt Francklow, managing director at Creation, commented: ‘As specialists in the pre-press environment, we ensure packaging is developed responsibly from the very outset. Strategies and campaigns such as Net Zero demonstrate the growing need for sustainability in all aspects of business. We have invested in eco friendly pre-press solutions to ensure our customers are future proofing their processes ahead of the curve, which will no doubt influence other regions to do the same.’
The investment in sustainable technology brings cutting edge ethical developments to the plate and reprographics supply chain ahead of Net Zero, as well as the strategy agreed by Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) that aims to become a zero carbon energy economy, targeted in plans under the Paris Agreement. The campaign will require all businesses in the region to be demonstrably carbon neutral by 2050.


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Unlike the Volkswagen Group or General Motors, BMW has refrained from taking matters into its own hands to build battery plants. Archrival Mercedes is also expanding its battery manufacturing footprint globally to support its electric car product onslaught. But why isn’t your favorite automaker following suit? Chief Technology Officer Frank Weber provided an explanation in June 2021 in an interview with The Drive.
BMW’s CTO said battery tech keeps evolving and frequent changes to the cell chemistry make it unfeasible to invest in a factory to build a certain type of battery pack. At the same time, the Bavarian marque sees solid state batteries as the future, but they’re not ready yet for mass production.
An EV prototype with the hugely promising battery tech will be operational by 2025. The same year, the Neue Klasse platform will debut with support for solid state batteries. However, a production car won’t arrive until the end of the decade.
In the meantime, BMW says it will be teaming up with partners to build five battery gigafactories around the world. They’ll be strategically positioned where the company is making EVs in order to cut logistics costs. The announcement was made by Joachim Post, a member of the Board of Management. From the beginning of the year, the executive has been leading the Purchasing and Supplier Network division.
BMW And Its Partners Will Build Five Battery Gigafactories
Speaking during the BMW Group’s Annual Media Conference, Joachim Post outlined battery production plans. “In the future, we will also operate gigafactories in the regions where we produce electric cars”. He didn’t go into specifics, but deals have been signed with partners such as CATL, Northvolt, and Samsung SDI.
BMW certainly needs strong battery supply chains to bolster its EV portfolio. CEO Oliver Zipse has announced an ambitious target for battery-powered electric cars to account for at least half of the total sales by 2030. That is when Rolls-Royce will go purely electric, with MINI to ditch the combustion engine early in the next decade.
Including pre-series EVs, BMW will already have no fewer than 15 EVs in production this year. These will include a trio of sedan newcomers, such as the i3 (China), i5 (pre-production), and the hotly anticipated i7.


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New York Nights at Bloomingdale’s
Bloomingdale’s will showcase The King Features Collection featuring designs of Popeye, Beetle Bailey, The Phantom and Hagar the Horrible at its annual “New York Nights” events, taking place on October 12, 2011. The fun begins on Wednesday with a “New York Nights” cocktail bash at 12 Bloomingdale’s stores around the country, including the Men’s Store at the flagship on 59th street and Third Avenue in Manhattan. Attendees are invited from 6 to 8 p.m. to see the merchandise, which includes everything from T-shirts and overcoats to sneakers and toys. All of the merch will be available for purchase through the holiday season.


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Management at the Ocean Garment factory in Phnom Penh, which has temporarily suspended operations due to a lack of orders, said they are awaiting a Ministry of Labor decision on how much they need to pay workers as about 1,000 employees continued to protest outside the Pur Senchey factory Thursday, demanding at least 50 percent of their monthly pay.
Currently, the factory is offering just $15 per month until production resumes.
“We had to suspend [production] from May 26 to June 26 since there were no orders from buyers, including Gap,” Chin Sophat, an administrator from the factory said Thursdy, adding that he didn’t know why the orders had diminished.
“The issue is being discussed…and we are waiting for the Ministry of Labor to decide how much to pay them during the suspension,” he said.
Huon Vanna, a representative from the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, said talks will also be held among the workers to decide what action to take if their demands are not met.
In a separate case, about 800 employees returned to work at the Taiwanese-owned Long Bright electronics factory in Svay Rieng province Thursday after factory owners offered to extend their contracts by three months, a union representative and police officer said.
The workers had been striking since Tuesday after five union representatives were dismissed without explanation. All but about 60 workers returned to the factory Thursday, according to Hun Savoan, Bavet City police chief.
Meas Sokna, a representative of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers at Long Bright, said that Bavet City authorities used loudspeakers to tell workers to return to their stations.
“It is like forcing workers to work, because they are scared of the authorities.”
(Additional reporting by George Wright)


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Almost 40% of Irish people would become part-time globetrotters if they won €20,000 a month for 30 years!
33% of Irish people would choose Gordon Ramsay for celebrity cooking lessons!
Key findings of consumer research * ahead of the launch of new EuroDreams game which offers a top prize of €20,000 every month for 30 years:
- 39% would become part-time globetrotters while 17% would stay in 5-star hotels one weekend a month. Never cleaning the house themselves would be top of the list for 15% of Irish people while 4% would have an on-call hairdresser/beautician and another 4% would hire a personal shopper. 3% admitted they would take lessons with a Michelin starred chef while 19% of people opted for other options such as home renovations and donating to charity.
- For celebrity cooking lessons, 33% opted for Gordon Ramsay while 19% said Jamie Oliver would be their top choice, 13% for Nigella Lawson, 10% for Donal Skehan, 8% for Rachel Allen, 7% for Marco Pierre White and 10% would go for someone entirely different.
According to new research from the National Lottery, 39% of people would opt to become a part-time globetrotter if they won the top prize of €20,000 a month for 30 years in the new EuroDreams game while 15% admitted they would take the opportunity to never have to clean their house themselves ever again.
The findings were released ahead of tickets for the National Lottery’s newest game, EuroDreams, going on sale this Monday 30th October costing €2.50 per line. EuroDreams is an exciting new draw-based game that will offer an annuity top prize of €20,000 every month for 30 years.
When it comes to improving the nation’s cooking skills, the majority chose Gordon Ramsay for lessons (33%) while Jamie Oliver was the second-best choice (19%) and 13% of people chose Nigella Lawson.
The first EuroDreams draw will take place on Monday 6th November marking the first annuity type game of its’ kind in Ireland.
When Dublin Drag Diva, Davina Devine, was asked how she would spend the prize if she were to win big, she said:
"If I hit the jackpot, my first stop would be a world tour in style - no more economy class for me! I'd visit every country on my bucket list and turn my travel dreams into reality, like my own version of 'Eat, Pray, Love', exploring the world, one delicious meal and experience at a time."
Photo Caption: Dublin Drag Diva, Davina Devine, was pictured with the EuroDreams guy ahead of tickets going on sale for the National Lottery’s newest game on Monday 30th October. EuroDreams gives players the chance to win €20,000 every month for 30 years with tickets costing €2.50 per line.
EuroDreams is a joint venture with Ireland’s National Lottery and seven other European countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland). Draws will be held every Monday and Thursday. Players will pick six main numbers from 1-40 and one bonus number (called "Dream" number) from 1-5 to make up their combination.
Tickets for the EuroDreams game will be available at usual National Lottery retail agents nationwide, as well as at www.lottery.ie and the National Lottery App. Tickets for the EuroDreams game can be purchased before the 7.30pm cut-off each Monday and Thursday. Similar to the EuroMillions game, draws will take place in Paris, France at approximately 8pm (Irish Time) on draw nights.
Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on all National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes in the areas of sport, youth, health, welfare, education, arts, heritage, and the Irish Language. In total more than €6 Billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 36 years ago. In 2022 alone, €259 million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.
Play National Lottery games responsibly, play for fun.
* Research conducted by 3GEM RESEARCH & INSIGHTS IN 2023. Sample, 1000 nationally representative. Adults 18+.


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Retail sales were disappointing in February, posting a gain of just 0.1% for the month, while sales rose 0.2% when automobiles are excluded. Auto sales, which account for approximately 20% of total retail sales, have now declined for the past two months. The strength in this report was led by the building material and garden equipment categories, likely due to the seasonally warm weather. I can attest to this after making two trips to Home Depot (NYSE:HD) during the month to purchase yard supplies for the spring.
The good news in this report was that January sales were revised upward from 0.4% to 0.6%, which means that the sales figures look a lot better when we average the first two months of the year. Still, if auto sales continue to decline, which is my expectation, it will pressure overall sale growth. Half of the year-over-year growth in retail sales is attributable to autos and gasoline while there is very little growth in discretionary spending categories.
The core retail sales figure, which excludes the more volatile auto and gas sales data, was up just 0.1% for February. This is the number that is used to calculate the increase in consumer spending on goods in the GDP report.
Industrial production was flat on a month-over-month basis in February due to a 5.7% decline in utility output, but the weak headline number masks the continued strength in manufacturing, which rose 0.5% for a second month in a row. Mining also increased for a fifth consecutive month, rising 2.7%. Overall industrial production is now up a modest 0.3% on a year-over-year basis.
The capacity utilization rate remains at just 75.4%, which is 4.5% below its long-term average. This indicates limited need for additional capital investment moving forward.
Our main concern is that a major source of the increased demand in the manufacturing component of the industrial production report is automobiles. If assemblies continue to rise as sales slow, then inventories will build, leading to slower rates of production later this year.
Total business inventories, which include those of retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers, increased 0.3% in January, while business sales rose a more moderate 0.2%. The inventory-to-sales ratio remained at 1.35, which is the lowest level since December 2014. Again, rising autos inventories at dealerships are a potential headwind in this report, as the largest contributor to the inventory increase was motor vehicles and parts, which rose 2.4%.
Housing starts rose 3.0% in February to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.28 million. The current run rate of homes under construction in the first quarter is 2.9% above the fourth-quarter average, which means that it will contribute to growth in the first quarter. The housing market remains on track for a slow and steady recovery. Our focus remains on the health of the lower-end of the market, as existing homeowners need to sell their homes to first-time home buyers so that they can upgrade to higher priced homes.
On that front we are watching how tighter financial conditions may impact home demand at the low end. Last month I pointed out that mortgage delinquencies for FHA loans, which are primarily used by first-time home buyers, rose in the fourth quarter for the first time since 2006. This increase was driven by loans made since 2014.
Consumer Price Index
The CPI rose 0.1% in February, and is now up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis, while the core index, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% and is up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. What received very little coverage in conjunction with this report was that inflation-adjusted income declined on year-over-year basis for the second month in a row.
The cost of living is now rising at a faster rate than income for the majority of American households. This is revealed in the real average hourly earnings report for all employees, as can be seen in the chart below. Weekly pay, which accounts for the change in the number of hours worked, declined 0.3% on an inflation-adjusted basis in February. This is down from a 1.1% growth rate in February 2016 and a 2.4% growth rate in February 2015.
Declines in real income lead declines in real consumer-spending growth, which is what accounts for two-thirds of our overall rate of economic growth. We think that the recent decline in real income will result in slower rates of retail sales growth, led by a continued decline in auto sales. Yet consumer confidence levels remain near all-time highs, so something must give. We expect confidence to deteriorate through the remainder of this year, as consumers realize that very little of what has been promised on the fiscal stimulus front comes to fruition in 2017.
Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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By: Buz Deliere | February 9, 2023
In a pioneering move, Okay Cannabis and West Town Bakery Cafe in Wheeling have become the first retail store in Illinois to not only offer cannabis but also house an accompanying bar with a liquor license. The combination of cannabis, baked goods, cocktails, and event space make this place one of a kind nationwide.
The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group and CESAM are on a mission to provide more than just cannabis - they want you to make their gathering places part of your life! Scott Weiner, the co-founder of the restaurant group, expressed his vision for providing customers with an inviting atmosphere where everyone can feel welcome. With this innovative concept in mind, cannabis consumers and people who don't are welcome to experience the food and entertainment in a welcoming atmosphere.
West Town Bakery is more than just a place for delectable treats: it's home to the first-of-its-kind cohabitation of cannabis sales, from Okay Cannabis, and West Town Bakery with food and alcohol sales - an innovative arrangement bringing together two distinct businesses under one roof.
Majority owner Charles Mayfield, former Ald. and Ameya Pawar, and other minority owners recently partnered with West Town Bakery to bring a brand-new cafe and event space to Chicago! Whether you're looking for an intimate birthday gathering or the perfect venue for special occasions, this new partnership could be just what you've been searching for.
On Wheeling's restaurant row this massive 12,000-square foot dispensary, the area previously housed Twin Peaks, is now home to this impressive new development. With its dedicated bar and separate cannabis sales area, the cafe is looking ahead to an even brighter future. Soon enough they hope to offer a space for customers to consume their newly-purchased product onsite.
On Wednesday, workers made a few finishing touches as the store had its soft open. The grand opening of this exciting new venue will take place Friday with plenty of festivities to enjoy!
Launching two additional locations, Fifty/50 Restaurant Group—a joint venture of Scott Weiner and Greg Mohr—has announced its expansion plans for Okay Cannabis. The group is well-known in Chicago as the purveyor of West Town Bakery's four existing sites. With this move, they are building on their success while furthering the availability of cannabis products throughout the city.
Gaining entry to the dispensary requires visitors over 21 years of age to show proof, while kids accompanied by an adult can still enjoy their cafe's offerings.
Rather than a typical dispensary visit, Weiner envisions something more memorable - an experience with cannabis. This next step in the evolution of the industry is one that's sure to create memories and lasting impressions for customers.


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Craving a kebab, pizza or greasy burger on the way home from the pub is all down to sugar levels in the blood, according to new research.
Waking up with a hangover surrounded by takeaway boxes is a familiar experience, particularly among students.
Now scientists have shown for the first time how a boozy night out makes it hard to resist junk food and have dubbed the feeling the drunchies, or drunk munchies.
After the first couple alcohol causes the body’s glucose levels to soar because of the sugar content.
But excessive drinking makes it plunge by changing blood flow – making people feel they could eat a horse.
And the phenomenon could be fuelling the obesity epidemic – particularly in universities where there is a traditional drinking culture.
Explained Professor Jessica Kruger: “It is believed after drinking alcohol the amount of blood glucose in the body can rise and fall – which stimulates the brain to feel hungry.”
The drunchies describes the desire to eat salty, fatty and unhealthy foods during or after a night of heavy drinking.
With obesity continuing to rise in the US her team decided to look at a sample of college undergraduates to better understand how drinking affects what they eat.
They followed 286 participants at a large public university in the Midwest both that night and for their first meal the next day when – most likely – they were hungover.
And it came as no surprise they were not eating kale smoothies or fresh oranges at 4 am – with drinking changing dietary behaviours before going to bed.
Prof Kruger said: “All alcohol drinkers were more likely to eat something before they went to bed after drinking alcohol than in general before they go to bed.”
Specifically, they were more likely to opt for salty snack foods and pizza. Healthy foods, such as dark green vegetables and other veggies they would ordinarily eat, weren’t as appealing.
Of particular concern was the fact the students didn’t report drinking more water or other non-alcoholic beverages before bed.
That exacerbates dehydration, which may lead to additionally unhealthy food choices, said Prof Kruger.
The following day after drinking, participants’ dietary patterns varied from the night before.
They were less likely to skip meals the morning after a night of drinking compared to a typical start to the day.
And they favoured foods like pizza or tacos over milk and dairy products and grains.
This is most likely because of the so-called hangover cures that get passed down to students and which entail eating foods that ‘soak up’ the alcohol.
Dispelling these myths is one way to promote a healthy diet even after a night of binge drinking, said Prof Kruger.
She said: “Given the obesity epidemic and the rates of alcohol consumption on college campuses, we need to be aware of not only the negative effect of alcohol consumption, but also the impact it has on what people are eating while they are drinking.”
The inspiration came from an ad Prof Kruger and some of her colleagues saw in a university newspaper.
Prof Kruger, a community health expert at Buffalo University in New York, said: “It said, ‘Got Drunchies?’ and had ads for pizza, tacos, and other fast-food places that were open late after the bars closed.”
Research on the effects of drinking and diet is scarce. Prof Kruger said eating more unhealthy foods following alcohol consumption is an often overlooked behaviour in addiction.
The study published in the Californian Journal of Health Promotion poiinted out two in three US college students regularly drink alcohol.
Prof Kruger said it’s important to know how this impacts diet – especially on and near campuses which tend to have a wealth of fast food takeaways.
The average beer, for example, contains 150 calories. If a person drinks five beers that’s 750 calories – or a third of their recommended daily energy intake.
Add two slices of pizza or a burrito to that at the end of the night and it’s a recipe for weight gain.
Prof Kruger said: “So, we dug a bit deeper and first figured out what the ‘drunchies’ were, and then decided this would be interesting to study.
“Our first study in this area focused on what people ate while drinking alcohol. This study explored what they eat the day after drinking.”
She said it shows universities need to encourage healthy eating at all times of the day – including late at night.
This can be done by reducing the offerings of unhealthy foods and promoting nutrient rich options such as fruit and vegetables.
The findings were based on anonymous online surveys on typical first meals of the day and what – if anything – participants usually ate before bed.


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January 7, 2008
High oil, it’s not all about us anymore
“A hundred factors” pushed oil to the $100-a-barrel mark last week, but this time is wasn’t really “about anything Americans do, or don’t do,” says Daniel Gross in Slate. As demand in China and the Middle East soars, oil consumption actually fell in the U.S. and the industrialized nations of Europe and Asia last year. In fact, “we matter less and less each year, macroeconomically speaking.” So we can take action to tame high oil prices—“using less gas, running factories at fewer shifts, redoubling efforts to conserve and find alternatives”—but the way the world is shaping up, “it won’t result in lower prices at the pump.”
Dashing dreams in Detroit
“Under normal conditions, the star of this year’s Detroit auto show would be the 620 horsepower 2009 Corvette ZR1,” says Joseph White in The Wall Street Journal. U.S. automakers’ old formula for success called for selling “fantasies of power,” but the reality of $100-a-barrel oil put a stop to that. So Detroit is now touting both high-performance monsters and tiny, gas-sipping hybrid concept cars. “Changing strategies on the fly looks messy and incoherent,” but it “beats getting run over as consumers stampede in a new direction.”
of The Week magazine.


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The lifestyle platform is now available to all Mastercard cardholders, providing access to curated priceless experiences across the country’s most popular cultural sites.
Mastercard introduced its flagship lifestyle platform, priceless.com, at a launch party in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Curated for all Mastercard cardholders, priceless.com brings families and friends together for once-in-a-lifetime moments and multisensory experiences found in Israel, built around universal passions, such as cuisine, arts & culture, music and sports.
Israel is the latest destination to join Mastercard’s award-winning platform, spanning North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and more. At launch, Mastercard cardholders will have exclusive access to immersive experiences celebrating the unique culture and history of Israel — a culinary adventure of the popular Hatikva market, a fascinating tour along the alleys of Jerusalem, an exhilarating street art tour in Tel Aviv, a wine tasting in the Northern Galilee, and “behind the scenes” VIP tour of the Uri Geller Museum, led by the world-famous psychic himself, among others. Digital yoga classes at the Dead Sea and Ein Gedi are also available.
“Priceless.com brings people together for bespoke moments built around their universal passions,” said Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer, Mastercard. “By creating these experiences, we have been able to build stronger, more memorable and longer lasting connections with our consumers, and we’re delighted to add Israel to the 35-plus destinations available on priceless.com.”
As part of the launch, Mastercard created a new song in collaboration with artist Ofir Kothiel, known as Kutiman. The local sonic track includes audio and video based on Mastercard’s unique sonic DNA. The track consisting of different sounds and scenes embodying Israel’s identity includes live sounds and scenes recorded from real life and orchestrated to a music track. The track can be found on YouTube: The Sounds of Israel
Consumers seek unique experiences.
Mastercard has identified 10 passion points that people care about – travel is one of them. With the launch of priceless.com in Israel, cardholders – both Israeli tourists and locals will be able to enjoy privileged access and attractive offers for unmatched cultural experiences.
Israel is a top destination for consumers seeking cultural experiences.
Insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute revealed that people are taking advantage of a more traditional travel ecosystem, seeking new and unique experiences at home and abroad. In addition, looking specifically at March 2023 vs. March 2019, experiences were up 27.2% in Israel across all visitors.
Mastercard’s presence in Israel goes beyond priceless. The company actively works with public and private sector partners financial inclusion, digital innovation, cyber security and tourism promotion.


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With the rise of the internet and social media platforms, health trends have become easier to follow and more popular as each year passes. Each year bringing with it new opportunities and new ways to look after your mental and physical health. On Instagram, there is an abundance of celebrities posting stories and pictures of what their daily health routines consist of. Some celebs go as far as endorsing products for both the food and wellness industry while others develop their own and masses of followers tend to jump on their health trend bandwagon. But the truth is, some trends fizzle out thanks to a lack of scientific evidence.
2019 is the year to put all health and wellness myths to rest and to rather focus on what your body and mind really need. It’s the year to finally stick to those resolutions and to start going back to basics using natural alternatives and becoming more environmentally conscious.
Here’s what is on our health trend forecast for 2019.
Food Health Trends
During the past year, we have seen a major shift in how some countries and states are viewing the use of marijuana. Some states such as California, Alaska, Washington, and Vermont have legalized marijuana for both medical and recreational use while other states such as Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, and New York only allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. On the other hand, some states such as Alabama, Kansas, Texas, and Kentucky only allow the use of Cannabidiol or better known as CBD oil (1). Unlike Tetrahydrocannabinol, or rather THC, the main cannabinoid which is responsible for psychoactive sensations found in cannabis, CBD is a better option for those who are looking for relief from pain, insomnia, anxiety or other disorders without any mind-altering properties. Several studies have found CBD oil to be effective for fighting off a wide range of ailments and the symptoms that go along with it such as Arthritis, acne (2), chemotherapy-induced nausea (3), and multiple sclerosis. With these benefits in mind, more and more businesses within the health food industry are introducing CBD oil to their dishes from doughnuts to infused olive oils (4), so you can be sure to see CBD oil topping the food health trends this year.
Take Home Note:
One of the top food health trends to be on the lookout for this year is CBD oil infused treats. CBD oil has a variety of benefits such as reducing acne, reducing pain in arthritis and alleviating chemotherapy-induced nausea without having to experience any mind-altering properties.
2018 was the year when the ketogenic diet truly had more than 5 minutes in the limelight and we can understand why. While the ketogenic diet has been around for decades, the diet’s popularity gained the most traction in 2018, however, this year, the diet is shifting towards using more sustainable principles that are environmentally friendly but yield the same results.
Generally, the idea behind the ketogenic diet is that you eat foods which are high in fat but low in carbohydrates. When you eat a carbohydrate-rich food such as a cookie or cake, the body converts those carbs into glucose and insulin. Since glucose is one of the easiest molecules to convert into energy, it will always be used as the primary fuel source by the body. When you restrict carbohydrates, the body is forced into a metabolic state known as ketosis whereby the liver starts to break down stored fats into fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketone bodies are then passed through the brain and used as an alternative source of energy. To put it simply, by restricting carbohydrates, you force your body to burn fats as fuel as opposed to storing them and using carbohydrates as the main energy source.
This year, we can expect to see a more environmentally friendly way of eating high fats – which is usually done by eating red meat and full-fat dairy. This doesn’t mean having to follow a completely vegan keto diet, it just means that limiting the amount of red meat and eating more plant-based fats such as macadamia nuts, walnuts, and avocados will help reduce your carbon footprint.
When It comes to dairy, rather opt for buying products from local farms which are USDA certified organic and against feeding cows synthetic hormones such as rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone) to increase milk production (5).
Take Home Note:
In 2019, the ketogenic diet is making a shift towards a healthier environment for each an every one of us. While the principals are still the same, the Eco Keto Diet encourages those following it to limit their red meat intake and opt for more plant-based foods which are high in fat such as macadamia nuts, walnuts, and avocados. The Eco Keto Diet also encourages participants to purchase dairy from local farms that are USDA certified organic and against the use of synthetic hormones such as rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone).
Since diets such as the one we have discussed above are making more sustainable adaptations, it only makes sense that new products are being formulated with these changes in mind. Faux meat is the hottest snack trend on the market which is specifically formulated to give your daily “meat” intake without using any meat.
You may be wondering how eating meat affects the environment and how limiting your red meat intake could possibly help, well here are some facts to put it into perspective (6):
- When land is used for animal agriculture, acres of trees need to be cut down to make space for grazing and farm sheds.
- Animal waste that is not disposed of or reused for manure can land up polluting streams and rivers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, animals who are raised for food is quickly becoming the number one reason for water pollution.
- More than one-third of raw materials and fossil fuels used in the USA is consumed by raising livestock for food.
- The raw waste a pig factory generates is almost equivalent to a city of 12 000 people.
Innovative companies and people are seeing the need for meat alternatives and are rapidly producing products that not only taste great but also help to reduce the carbon footprint we are leaving on this earth. This year we will be seeing more keto friendly ingredients replacing meat snacks and meals such as mushrooms, seitan, millet, and eggplant.
Take Home Note:
The keto diet will continue to dominate food trends for this year, however, the manufacturers of keto friendly prepackaged snacks and foods will be taking a different approach by offering more sustainable alternatives to meat. Mushrooms, seitan, millet, and eggplant will all be common ingredients that you can find in Faux meat snacks.
It is estimated that the global cosmetic industry produces a staggering 120 billion units of plastic a year! Fortunately, one thing is for certain when it comes to trends in the health and wellness industry, that more and more companies are joining in on the zero plastic movement. The USA and UK have already passed legislation banning the use of microbeads (small plastic beads used in shower gels, toothpaste, and exfoliators) in any cosmetic product because of the detrimental effect it has on our oceans. This is the first step forward to a healthier planet and as far as this trend forecast goes, it looks like the zero plastic movement is not slowing down any time soon.
In 2019 we will see more manufacturers using “naked” packaging. What this means is that companies in the cosmetic industry are moving away from the traditional way of packaging items in plastic bottles. It is predicted that more cosmetic brands will sell products such as shampoos, bubble baths, and bath oils as solid bars as opposed to liquid form in the future. Other brands have promised to start using 100% recyclable, compostable and reusable plastic by the year 2025 (7).
Take Home Note:
The cosmetic industry is responsible for producing up to 120 billion units of plastic a year, however, innovative brands and manufacturers are working towards reducing their carbon footprint by introducing zero waste packaging. In 2019, big brands will be shifting towards using solid bar shampoos, bubble baths, and bath oils or using packaging that is 100% recyclable, compostable and reusable. Not only does this help the environment but it also helps to cut costs making products more affordable for the consumer.
Both men and women are starting to invest more in their skin, it is the largest organ after all. With every new product and every new brand launching, consumers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about what ingredients a skin care formula should contain and what ingredients they should be wary of. The internet is equipping consumers with enough knowledge to know the difference between ingredients such as retinyl palmitate (8) and retinol and is forcing brands to become more transparent and open about what they put into their formula.
While there are many brands that offer complete transparency, many others are expected to follow suit in 2019. This transparency does not only apply to the formulation but also to the company’s ethics and business practice. 100% vegan, animal-friendly, ethical buying, and naked packaging are company slogans and policies you should expect to see more of in 2019.
Take Home Note:
Consumers have become more dubious about ingredients that are listed on a product’s packaging and the demand for companies to become more transparent about their formulations is increasing. Consumers are equipped with knowledge and are starting to call manufacturers out about what they are putting into their products. In 2019, companies are expected to follow suit when it comes to transparency of the ingredients they are using and the business ethics they are practicing.
Health Trends To Drop In 2019
Now that we have listed a few of the most promising health trends for 2019, there are a few that should be left in 2018. Not all trends are promising and some are just downright bad for your health and wallet. Take Appetite Suppressant Lollipops for example, which as the name suggests is supposed to help you curb your appetite and lose weight, however, there is no scientific evidence to validate that these lollipops help you to lose weight in any shape or form.
The two most harmful trends to consider leaving in the past are:
#1 Activated Charcoal
From toothpaste to facemasks and pills, manufacturers joined in on the activated charcoal craze as soon as the interest sparked online. Activated charcoal has even made its way into the food industry, charcoal hamburger buns and black ice cream anyone? While this craze may be generating money, the primary use of activated charcoal is when there is a medical emergency and life-threatening toxins are in the patient’s body. The charcoal prevents toxins from entering into the bloodstream by binding to the poison in the digestive tract. While you may think that popping a charcoal pill may help with a hangover or when you need a boost, it is also very important to note that it prevents nutrients from being absorbed into the bloodstream and can interfere with medications such Tricyclic antidepressants and blood pressure medications. In some situations, taking activated charcoal without medical advice can have a very negative effect on your health (9).
#2 Raw Water
Another trend that made its way online in 2018 and managed to get a mass following was drinking raw water. Raw water is water that has been found naturally and has not been treated, for example, rainwater that has been collected or water that is taken directly from a river and has not been through any filtering cycle (10). While there are many advocates for drinking raw water, there are potential health risks that you may be exposing yourself to. Unfiltered water is contaminated with harmful bacteria, minerals such as arsenic as well as copper, and parasites. While this water may seem clean, you run the risk of ingesting microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium which is found in animal feces and causes adverse side effects such as nausea, abdominal cramping, and potential death.
Take Home Note:
There are wonderful trends in the health and wellness industry that seem to stick and yield measurable results and then there are others which seem to be more of a fad as well as a hazard to your health more than anything else. Fortunately, these fads seem to die out quickly especially when science disproves each theory and there is not enough evidence to prove otherwise. The two main trends that should be left in 2018 are activated charcoal and drinking raw water. Activated charcoal may have very negative impacts on your health, especially when taken with antidepressants or high blood pressure medication. Raw water is filled with contaminants and bacteria which could cause severe side effects.
To Sum It All Up
Taking into account all the trends in the health and wellness industry that we have discussed for 2019, it seems they all have something in common. Companies and consumers alike are making the shift towards a more sustainable environment and it seems like this is just the beginning. From reusable straws to biodegradable shampoo bottles and curbing the amount of red meat you eat, more and more people are doing their part to change our planet for the better. 2019 is the year to reduce your carbon footprint and look after your health in a more natural and holistic way!


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Yes, you will find love on the web. You might like to end up dropping for a clever con musician who can gain your trust and rob you blind. It takes place all many times.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received significantly more than 25,000 complaints about love frauds. In accordance with new information released this week, victims reported losing $201 million to these frauds year that is last up almost 40%. For the previous couple of years, more income happens to be lost to relationship frauds than just about other kind of scam reported in to the FTC.
Romance scammers post their profiles that are fake popular relationship internet sites and apps.


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Rachel's Organic, a leading UK producer of organic dairy products,
says that the growing appetite of British consumers for healthy,
innovative products is helping sustain growth in the burgeoning UK
organic dairy sector. Tom...
Number one natural colours firm Chr Hansen builds on ambitions to
penetrate deeper into this growing market with the launch of a new
range of natural reds that tackle stability for beverage
formulations, reports Lindsey Partos.


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Mid-Devon garage Cully Tyres & Autocare is enjoying its most profitable period of trading since new owners took over in May 2022. The biggest independent tyre dealer in Cullompton recently invested £100,000 on a wide-ranging refurbishment, new equipment and opting to become a member of the First Stop network. Cully Tyres & Autocare, formerly known as Marsh Tyres, has recruited new staff and now offers additional automotive services, such as repairs and solutions for electric vehicles and hybrids. As a result of its First Stop membership, the branch has also broadened its range of premium tyre brands in stock, naturally featuring the ranges from First Stop parent company, Bridgestone and its Firestone brand.
In addition to our live social media reporting and reporting the highlights of the 2022 Tyre Industry Conference in last month’s magazine, the December edition of Tyres & Accessories brings you curated coverage of the NTDA chairman and chief executive speeches as part of our “Looking back, Looking forward” review-of-the-year feature. With so much having taken place within the tyre market, the nation and the world as a whole, the two speeches offer a distinctly tyre distribution perspective on key issues relating to the associations growing membership, how it is developing relationships with other trade and charitable bodies and how it is investing in the future of the business via training initiatives.


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Argentines brace for debt default
Time is running out for Argentina to pay holdout investors suing for full payment on their bonds, or reach a deal that buys more time to avert a default. Argentina already is struggling with recession, a shortage of dollars and one of the world's highest inflation rates. But Buenos Aires insists a new default would have no effect on most Argentines.
Deutsche Bank burdened by lawsuits
Scandals and huge legal battles are damaging Deutsche Bank's image and hitting its numbers. New figures show a net profit of 237 million euros in this quarter, about a third less than the same period last year. A brief Deutsche Bank statement notes - cost of legal disputes. It has also just earmarked more than two billion euros of its reserves for further legal costs.
McDonald's pulls hamburgers off China's menu
TV pictures in China have shown workers in a Shanghai factory processing rotting meat. Amongst the factory's clients: McDonald's. Factory parent OSI Group has apologised and closed the plant. Some outlets in Shanghai and Beijing have also pulled Chicken McNuggets and other items off the menu.


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iPad2 launch: Never mind the Budget blues – today is must-have Friday
Friday 25 March 2011
Reports of its elegant design and sleek, wipe-clean surface have had would-be purchasers rubbing their hands in anticipation. But the official royal wedding loving cup – the latest addition to the official Royal Collection celebrating the impending nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton – isn't the only eagerly awaited purchase to become available today.
Two much-hyped new gadgets, the iPad2 and the Nintendo 3DS, also hit UK stores today, in a convergence of product releases that have caused some to dub it "must-have Friday".
Apple stores are preparing for frenzied scenes as the second generation of its groundbreaking tablet device goes on sale in the UK from 5pm today. Analysts estimate that Apple sold 500,000 iPad2 devices on its first day of sale in the US, and huge queues are expected to build during the day for the £399 upgrade, which adds front and rear-facing cameras to a thinner-designed model. The queue outside the Apple Store in London's Regent Street was headed by Jewels Lewis, 32, who began waiting at 7.30am yesterday. By the time he gets the new iPad he will have waited 33 hours.
Nintendo, meanwhile, was hoping to steal a march on the iPad by releasing its £179 3DS console, which allows users to play games and films in 3D without wearing glasses, at midnight last night.
Nintendo said it had received 140,000 pre-order sales on Amazon for the handheld device, which was made available at midnight openings at HMV stores across Britain.
Nintendo and Apple both maintained that European supplies of their gadgets would not be affected by component shortages caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
Some gadget-hungry customers are expected to commute from the late-night Nintendo store openings to Apple. But the iPad is also expected to be available for collection at launch from Argos and John Lewis, while Orange is offering a £200 iPad contract deal at its flagship London store.
But Luke Peters, editor of T3, the gadget magazine, warned that "must-have Friday" could turn into "must-return Saturday". "I gave the 3DS to my nieces to play with and the 3D began to hurt the eyes," he said. "Nintendo have to be clear about their warnings that it is not suitable for children aged six and under."
Peters predicted that gadget fans would be most excited about the iPad. "A lot of our readers said they were waiting for the second generation device with cameras for face-to-face conferencing."
The queues for iPads and 3DSs may not be quite as well-mannered as those for the latest must-have item of royal wedding memorabilia – the official William and Catherine loving cup. But the cachet of exclusivity is comparable. Only 1,000 of the double-handed mugs, which retail at £125, are available through Royal Collection gift shops.
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Nine members of the precision fermentation industry have announced the founding of a new trade organisation, the Precision Fermentation Alliance, to promote precision fermentation as a contributor to a resilient, sustainable food system. The technology, which reprogrammes microbes to make particular molecules, is well-established for making vaccines and enzymes such as rennet. It has recently been applied in the food sector, for example the dairy-identical whey protein made by Perfect Day (one of the founding partners) is already used in some products available in the United States, including ice cream and cream cheese.
Read more about the story here. The Precision Fermentation Alliance website is here, but does not contain much information at the time of writing. See also the TABLE explainer How can we reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions?


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An award-winning, former paratrooper has been appointed the new Chairman of Liverpool’s City Central Business Improvement District (BID).
Ian Strettle, a Falklands War veteran who won the British Empire Medal for re-opening a police station within six weeks of it being bombed, swapped the army for retail management 15 years ago and currently runs Clayton Square Shopping centre.
The ex-sergeant major, who now has a Diploma in Shopping Centre Management, has been on the BID Operating Board for seven years and takes over from Ian Ward – former manager at St Johns Shopping centre.
The Liverpool-born 58-year-old father of two, who cites hill walking as a major passion, said he was relishing the new role.
Ian added: “Liverpool city centre needs a strong, professional BID and I will be doing my utmost to ensure the Operating Board and BID team represents its members in the best possible way.
”I want to see better collaboration between the many different organisations in the city centre to ensure we can create a consistently clean and safe destination, so shoppers and visitors will return again and again.”
City Central BID covers Liverpool’s retail core, representing more than 620 businesses, including three major shopping centres which attract more than 1 million people every week into the city centre.
It annually invests almost £700,00 on providing environmental, safety, marketing and animation programmes for businesses and their customer to benefit from, such as the free to download ThIS Liverpool App, which promotes offers in the city centre.
In the past 12 months City Central BID has used its levy on businesses to fund a new police team, launched a new digital platform to combat shoplifters and hosted the Snowflake Trail at Christmas.
This week it is hosting its 7th annual Mystery Shop Awards, in which a record 200 businesses were secretly assessed, and in June will be hosting public tennis events as part of its sponsorship of the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament.
First established in 2003, City Central businesses will get to vote in 2018 on a business plan that will spell out a new 5 year programme of activities.
Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, said the appointment comes at a time of transition for the company as it restructures and is currently seeking a new Head of Operations.
He added: “I’m delighted Ian accepted the offer to be the new City Central Chairman as he brings continuity to the position alongside a new energy to ensure the BID reflects the needs of our members and city centre.
”He has a brilliant track record of delivering results and fostering great teamwork. Under his stewardship I’m sure the BID Company will further improve its services and continue to demonstrate excellent value for money.”


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Ryan Smith is founder and executive chairman of Qualtrics, the leader in customer experience and creator of the experience management (XM) category. He has grown the company from a basement startup to one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the world, with 25 offices globally and more than 13,000 customers, including over 85 percent of the Fortune 100, and 99 of the top 100 business schools.
In the private market, Qualtrics raised $400M in funding from Accel, Sequoia, and Insight Venture Partners. Three days before the company was initially scheduled to go public, SAP announced its intent to acquire Qualtrics for $8B, which was the largest private enterprise software acquisition ever. In 2020, Qualtrics and SAP announced plans to take Qualtrics public as an independently operated company.
Ryan co-founded 5 For The Fight, the crowdfunding campaign to eradicate cancer by inviting everyone to give $5 for the fight against cancer by supporting groundbreaking cancer research. Ryan and his wife Ashley purchased the NBA’s Utah Jazz in 2020.
Articles written by Ryan Smith - Founder & Executive Chairman
Taking Experience Management to the World
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Integrating innovation with strategy: the Citi way
Sanjeev Mehra, Head of Global Product Development, Global Consumer Technology, Citi Singapore, says CITI defines banking innovation as happening across three domains: the customer experience; products that the bank offers; and the bank’s structure and internal processes that relate to how it serves its customers.
In an exclusive interview with Fintech Innovation, Mehra talks about the changing business environment brought about by the confluence of digitally-enabled customers and the disruptive influence of Fintech startups on banking services.
As a result business models of banks are changing and with these the role of information technology. He concedes that previously the role of technology was to align itself to the business strategy and deliver these strategies in the most cost-efficient manner.
In the video interview above Mehra he talks about new business models like aggregator platforms, the unbundling of business models, and mobile financial services centered on superior customer experience. He talks about Citi’s strategy to meet the changing banking paradigm including being present in the platforms or channels chosen by the customers. He concludes by suggesting that banks need to have an open mind to future possibilities, including the benefits of partnerships enabled by Open APIs.


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On this Cyber Monday, a day when consumers shop online for Christmas gifts and other items, some organizations are offering advice to Christians and conservatives.
2ndVote.com is one of the ministries and faith-based organizations offering information on various businesses and where they stand on social issues and or the word "Christmas." The group of conservatives wants to help consumers make better decisions by letting them know where their money really goes when they make purchases.
Similarly, Faith Driven Consumer (FDC) is an organization with an index to show consumers the faith-compatibility of various brands. (See related OneNewsNow story.)
"As Christians," says FDC founder Chris Stone, "We have a great opportunity to be stewards of all that God gave us, including what we spend in the consumer marketplace."
American Family Association (AFA) has also released its annual Naughty or Nice List, which rates top retailers on how they market to Christmas shoppers.
AFA Executive Vice President Ed Vitagliano tells OneNewsNow the good news is the number of "naughty" companies has been shrinking in recent years.
"We're happy to see that. The trend is clearly back towards companies recognizing that Christmas is an important part of this time of year for most people in this country, and certainly the vast majority of those who go shopping," he notes.
The list only reflects a company's "Christmas" advertising and does not take into account other corporate policies with which AFA may not agree.


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The app developer was charged with gathering personal information from children without seeking parental consent.
The Federal Trade Commission on Monday announced a $50,000 settlement with a developer of mobile applications for children. The developer had been charged with violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting information from children who used the apps without their parent's permission.
The case was the commission's first to involve mobile applications, or apps. The charges included collecting and storing children's e-mail addresses and allowing children to post personal information on public message boards.
The company, W3 Innovations, which owns Broken Thumbs Apps, created mobile games and apps for children including Emily's Girl World, Emily's Dress Up and Emily's Runway High Fashion. According to the commission, the apps were downloaded more than 50,000 times by children under 13. In addition to the $50,000 penalty, the company will be required to delete the personal information it collected.
In a statement, Jon Leibowitz, the chairman of the commission said, "The F.T.C.'s COPPA Rule requires parental notice and consent before collecting children's personal information online, whether through a Web site or a mobile app. Companies must give parents the opportunity to make smart choices when it comes to their children's sharing of information on smart phones."
The settlement comes at a time when the mobile technology and advertising industry is increasing privacy protections on devices in order to fend off potential federal regulations.