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Panasonic has announced the launch of the world’s first single body 50,000 lumens 3-Chip DLPTM SOLID SHINE laser projector with True 4K resolution, providing new potential for creating transcendent experiences across live events and themed entertainment.
The PT-RQ50K maintains Panasonic’s trend of creating projectors which combine high brightness with relatively compact dimensions simplifying installation, especially important when working under time constraints at large events. Additionally, a single RQ50K offers the same potential as multiple lower brightness projectors, saving on installation and setup.
The RQ50K combines 50,000 lumens brightness with ultra-sharp native 4K resolution in an easy to handle all-in-one body. In addition, the deployment of separate red and blue SOLID SHINE laser-phosphor drives ensures an advanced level of colour reproduction, providing vibrant and immersive images to engage audiences.
“The increasing popularity of experience orientated projection in live events and the themed entertainment sector was a key consideration behind the development of the RQ50K,” said Hartmut Kulessa, European Marketing Manager at Panasonic Business. “More than ever, diverse spaces are wrapped in projections creating memorable experiences for audiences. The outstanding brightness and image quality of the projector allows creatives in this entertainment space to push the boundaries in terms of the level of detail and immersive quality of their content.”
Panasonic has extracted even higher performance from the cooling system technology featured on its flagship 30,000 lumens PT-RQ32K to achieve almost double the brightness within the similar compact body. Hermetically sealed optics and filterless design contribute to its 20,000 hours of maintenance-free projection, even within severe environments.
Reliability is further enhanced with a new ‘dualised’ concept within the projector. In addition to dual laser drives and backup video inputs, the RQ50K also features dual power supplies to ensure total reliability.
The PT-RQ50 is set for release in December 2019. For more information please visit Panasonic at Booth 1-H20, Hall 1, ISE2019, Amsterdam RAI, February 5–8, or learn more about Panasonic projection and professional displays solutions at https://business.panasonic.co.uk/visual-system/
Read more insights…
The Malaga museum institution trusts in Panasonic Connect audiovisual technology to reinvent its 360º immersive room.
Culture, heritage, and technology intertwine as a team of enthusiasts metamorphoses architectural sites for an evening. Reporting from the city of Nancy, on the Stanislas square, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a special edition of the Monumental Tour.
Panasonic Connect Powers Guinness World Records™-Certified World’s Largest Permanent Projection Mapping Display
Panasonic AcroSign and Remotely Managed Service solutions enable cloud-controlled spatial production at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku.
The incredible success of Avatar: The Way of Water is just one of the factors that has put 3D back into focus for the entertainment industry. Incredibly, the movie has already scaled the heights to become the third-highest ever grossing movie – knocking Cameron’s own Titanic one rung down the ladder. The ability to see the world of Pandora in 3D has been cited as one of the driving factors behind its huge success.
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- ‘I would state things are more optimistic than they were in 2021,’ states the head of auto dealers’ organization.
- The P.E.I. Automobile Dealers Association declares inventory levels in the region rely on the manufacturer and brand.
Car sellers optimistic in Prince Edward Island:
Amid a lack of new cars on P.E.I. throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, several car dealers state manufacturers inform them that supplies and inventory should begin to balance outcome in March or April.
“It’s still early for inventory forecasts for the calendar year, but I would state things are more optimistic than they were in 2021,” stated P.E.I. Source – cbc.ca
However, several Islanders have already made efforts to adjust to the lingering supply chain uncertainties.
Kensington citizen Gordon Coffin has been reluctantly driving his convertible in the middle of winter while waiting for the year-round four-by-four he requested in September.
“I’m not going to put winter tires on a convertible, OK,” stated Coffin. “It’s not what I should be driving.” Source – cbc.ca
He drove a four-by-four truck standard for fighting severe winters for the previous few years, but he stated he desired to reduce and get a new hybrid vehicle.
The Coffin was optimistic it would come before winter. But due to the uncertainty, his only choice is to be especially careful where he goes with his car.
Coffin stated he understands others who have brought their demands on time despite seeing the low inventory at the Summerside car lots he’s driven through.
“My dealer was very upfront with me and said, ‘We are undergoing supply chain problems,'” stated Coffin. Source – cbc.ca
“Christmas has arrived and gone, and the seller has been responsive, but obviously, there’s not a thing that the seller can do.” Source – cbc.ca

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When did iOS 16 come out?
iOS 16 has been great, but when was it originally released?
Quick Answer: During its Sept 7, 2022 Event, Apple revealed that the release date for iOS 16 was September 12, 2022.
In early June 2022, Apple held its annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). As part of the conference’s opening ceremony, the company revealed its next iPhone operating system, iOS 16.
iOS 16 includes a bunch of upgrades for the iPhone. For one, users are finally able to customize their lock screens.
The updated operating system also brought a new buy now, pay later system, and more ways to share and edit Photos. So when did iOS 16 make its way to iPhones?
iOS 16 release date – here’s what to know
Short answer: September 12, 2022
The official release date for iOS 16 was September 12, 2022. The release of the new OS coincided with the release of the new iPhone at the time, the iPhone 14.
Since its release, iOS 16 has seen several updates. The current build is 16.3, launched on January 23, 2023, and it added security keys for Apple IDs and other features.
READ MORE: iOS 16 is on the way, but not for all iPhones – here’s how to check
The release window for iOS 16 was on par with what Apple typically does with new OS versions. New operating systems typically come out alongside the release of the latest iPhone.
READ MORE: How to use emojis as your lock screen background in iOS 16
Now that it is 2023, we expect an announcement for iOS 17 to come alongside the iPhone 15 in the fall.
Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.
- iOS 16 finally lets you lock photo albums with Face ID
- Apple will reportedly unveil its VR/AR headset in January 2023
- Does Apple’s Studio Display work with Windows PCs?
- iPhone apps can still track you regardless of what Apple claims


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Could India Be the Poster Kid for New eCommerce Models?
New eCommerce models are catering to unsolved consumer needs that we never even knew existed
We have always kept a watchful eye on India’s retail and eCommerce space, and it has never failed to disappoint. We witnessed the emergence of eCommerce and saw it change and transform India’s economy and digital ecosystem. With exponential growth year after year, the industry is stronger now than ever before. But here’s the best part: there seems to be a tectonic shift within this sector, yet again. As customer behavior changes, new eCommerce models are disrupting the space even more. It’s safe to say that these new eCommerce players have set a hawk-eye focus on
the latest dynamic trends to ensure the success of the businesses for years to come. In this week’s newsletter, Mrigank Gutgutia and his team explain all this, and more, so read on…
1. Despite the resurgence of offline retail, online remains on a robust growth trajectory with 60% y-o-y growth
We’re well aware of how the world made its switch to online owing to the COVID-induced pandemic. In the last few months, however, offline channels are slowly opening up. India’s online retail landscape remains on a robust growth trajectory despite the transition to offline, in fact, in April, May, and June this year, close to 40-60% year on year growth was observed.
2. New eCommerce models are catering to unsolved consumer needs that we never even knew existed
Over the past decade, eCommerce has evolved faster than any other industry. The needs of consumers have been met faster than ever before, and new questions have been raised about what our retail experience should look like. The answer has been to build a better experience and improve the way we interact with the brands we love most. This has led to some of the most impressive customer experiences in the world and has also given rise to some of the most innovative eCommerce plaforms.
3. Interestingly, we saw that the growth trajectory has been robust for new eCommerce models who have gained share steadily in fashion and grocery categories
Quick commerce has become a hot favorite and it shows with its 10X growth y-o-y. In our most recent report, we saw that this exciting sub-segment is ready to grow 15X in just three years, to reach a market size of $5 billion. Another impressive sector is Social commerce, which involves buying products and services from other people on social media. It includes buying products or services from influencers, finding products or services on social media platforms and using social media platforms to share products or services with others. This sub-segment is on a growth spurt as it effectively solves problems for affordability and customer experience. Owing to a high referral
share, this also is a low CAC model, stated the report.
4. It comes as no surprise that the market is well set for strong GMV growth and continued strong share of Tier 2+ shoppers
With a CAGR of 38%, the market is well set for strong GMV growth, and a GMV of ~INR 4.9 Lakh Crore is expected in 2022 Additionally, a strong share of Tier-2 online shoppers is also expected to drive this growth further. Sustainable growth is the key- new ecommerce players need to find the right combination of aggressive monetization (via ads, relevant higher margin products and others) while doubling down on their inherently lower CAC model to achieve EBITDA profitability at scale
Larger players are likely to adopt these models more aggressively in the coming years and the sector will undoubtedly witness more M&A activities. Additionally, this emerging sector will also witness innovation in business models to expand topline and control costs.


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Buying a new iPhone 11 from Apple will set you back at least $500, but for those who aren't fussy about minor scratches and dents, buying a refurbished phone can be just as good for a lot less. This sale at Woot, which only lasts today, is offering iPhone 11 for prices as low as $340.
You can have up to 10 of these phones and get them shipped to you fast and free, should you need more than one for some reason. No judgement here.
You can choose a 64GB, 128GB or 256GB iPhone 11 at different prices and colors. A 64GB iPhone is on sale now for $340, and it comes in black, purple, yellow, red or white. For just $40 more, you can have double the flash memory with a 128GB iPhone 11 on sale for $380.
That's $170 less than what Apple charges for a new iPhone with the same capacity. Apple doesn't even offer a 256GB option but on Woot, a refurbished 256GB iPhone 11 costs $420 today.


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The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has left many health care providers scrambling for basic personal protective equipment, or PPE.
Surgical masks and respirators are two forms of PPE that health care providers need to work safely in a pandemic.
The virus is mainly spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks in close proximity to others, according to the CDC. The agency offers instructions on how to fashion masks out of household materials like t-shirts, bandanas and coffee filters, even for those without sewing skills.
“Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure,” the CDC says on its website.


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Trina Solar gets CTDP certificate from Underwriters Laboratories
Nov 15, 2012 - Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) products maker Trina Solar Ltd (NYSE:TSL) today said it had received Client Test Data Program (CTDP) certificate from US-based safety testing and certification company Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
The certification enables Trina Solar to conduct independent testing programmes and issue test data recognized by UL without the presence of UL engineers at its Changzhou PV Testing Centre.
The 7,000-sq-m (75,347 ft) testing centre supports product certification, material reliability testing, highly accelerated aging test, test material evaluation and research for PV products, Trina Solar said, adding that it was the first solar company to get the CTDP certificate.
UL and Trina Solar have also signed a framework agreement to reinforce their collaboration.


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Nissan Motor Company has revealed its plans for the next decade, including a significant shift toward electrification, deepening its proprietary technologies, and expanding global operations. The automaker says it will invest 2 trillion yen (nearly $18B U.S. dollars) over the next five years to achieve its goals.
The announcement occurred during the reveal of its latest long-term vision dubbed Ambition 2030. Under this plan, Nissan will release 23 new models worldwide by 2030, with 15 being electric vehicles (EVs). By 2030, the automaker intends 40 percent of its U.S. sales to be EVs and to electrify 50 percent of its fleet.
To support this vision, Nissan will invest heavily in battery technology. According to Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida, this will be a vital component of the plan's success. "Batteries will be the key to transition," said Uchida. "With batteries made smaller and thinner, we can offer flexible layouts, with more dynamic performance, expanding to larger segments, like pickup trucks."
Nissan says it will launch an EV with a proprietary solid-state battery system by April 2029. In the meantime, the automaker will integrate cobalt-free battery technologies into its EVs, a move they say will reduce costs by 65 percent. Nissan and its partners will increase their global battery production capacity to 130 GWh by 2030.
In addition to battery technology, Nissan will expand its ProPilot advanced driving assistance system in both Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. Nissan is also planning to incorporate Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems on all new models by fiscal year 2030. An advanced sensor system, LiDAR is currently used by several self-driving car companies, such as Waymo. In 2022, Volvo's flagship SUV, the XC90, will also include LiDAR.
To keep up with these advancements, Nissan will hire 3,000 new tech and engineering employees across the globe. The automaker will centralize its EV manufacturing and sourcing by expanding its EV36Zero, an EV hub concept in the United Kingdom. In addition, Nissan aims to open new battery refurbishing facilities in Europe by March 2023 and in the United States by 2025.
As a part of Nissan Ambition 2030, the company also revealed three new concept cars to deliver Nissan's new EV vision: the Nissan Max-Out, a slick, convertible EV; Nissan Hang-Out, a utility van-like vehicle with swiveling seats and rear bench seating; and the Nissan Surf-Out, a pickup with a flatbed that flows into the seating area.
Up until now, Nissan's electrification plans have been fuzzy despite its early entry into the American EV market with the first-generation Leaf. Meanwhile, most of its rivals have taken a clear stance. Toyota Motor Corp. announced plans to invest $3.4 billion in U.S. battery production with a goal of 70 electrified models by 2025. Honda Motor Company has pledged to have a fully electric fleet (both BEV and fuel cell) by 2040. Other manufacturers plan to be fully electric earlier, with Volvo and Cadillac pledging a 2030 milestone. With the release of Nissan Ambition 2030, it's clear that Nissan intends to be a serious contender in the race towards electrification.


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Huntsville, AL, May 25, 2012 --(PR.com
)-- Marketing on the Web, LLC (MOTW) is pleased to announce that today it is celebrating its fifth year in business. According to John Allen, MOTW President, “We feel this is a significant milestone since the Small Business Administration reports that more than half of all small businesses fail within the first five years of operation.”
“Marketing on the Web changed our business. When we began internet marketing, our business immediately increased and it was the only expenditure that could show an exact correlation between dollars spent and business growth.” – L. Lackey, Director of Business Development.
Marketing on the Web has assisted many local, regional and national businesses with their internet marketing efforts including the University of Alabama Huntsville, The National Children’s Advocacy Center, Greengate School, Jeff Benton Homes, SportsMed, The Pinnacle Schools, U.S. Diagnostics and dealnews.com. Says Allen, “We’ve been fortunate to watch our business grow each year and would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our success!”
“When the National Children's Advocacy Center launched our new website in September of 2011, search engine optimization work done by Marketing on the Web expanded our organization's visibility online and helped increase visitor traffic to our website.” – P. Jones, Training Program Manager.
Marketing on the Web focuses on getting people found in search engines like Bing, Yahoo and Google. Businesses are increasingly turning to the internet to increase market share and Marketing on the Web has the search optimization and search engine marketing skills to help them grow. “After serving as an in-house marketer for many years, I knew I could do more to help companies with their internet marketing efforts. I started Marketing on the Web in 2007 as a stand-alone venture to drive more traffic to web sites, generate more leads and convert more of those leads into sales,” said Allen.
“Since Marketing on the Web took over our internet marketing, we’ve experienced a significant increase in visitors to our website and more calls from our target audience. We had a 90% increase in pay-per-click traffic the first quarter of 2012 compared to last year's numbers and spent 15% less. Philip and John are talented, friendly, prompt, and always helpful.” - S Mason, Marketing Director.Marketing on the Web
(MOTW) provides Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Internet Marketing services to businesses in the Huntsville Alabama area. With the collective talents of John Allen and Philip Busk MOTW has helped many Huntsville companies achieve first-page-placement through their search optimization and marketing strategies. MOTW drives more traffic to web sites, generates more leads and converts more of those leads into sales for its customers.


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Gigya said Fernandez will act as a trusted advisor and assist the company with decisions involving corporate strategy, product development, go-to-market plans, and client services.
Prior to Marketo, Fernandez served as president and chief operating officer of Epiphany and COO at Red Brick Systems.
Gigya CEO Patrick Salyer said in a release announcing the appointment of Fernandez:
Having Phil join our board is invaluable to Gigya. He has a tremendous track record of success building large, successful, and independent companies. Bringing him onto our board provides us with direct access to one of Silicon Valley’s most influential and visionary leaders.
As I’ve watched Gigya evolve over the years, it has become clear to me that this company has an incredible opportunity in its hands. Patrick and his team have built a strong and sustainable business by helping marketers gain a better understanding of their users through first-party data, and I think they are well-positioned to dominate the market.
And Fernandez wrote in a blog post:
I believe this combination of sound products, an innovative go-to-market strategy, and a collective passion to do something special is a recipe for success for almost any company. It’s the playbook we use at Marketo and one that Gigya employs today and is clearly working. I see Gigya as a pioneer with a distinct set of products to collect and manage first-party consumer data, which closely aligns with Marketo’s continued efforts around B2C (business-to-consumer) marketing. I believe that Patrick and the Gigya leadership team share Marketo’s level of passion for marketing and have a very similar entrepreneurial spirit.


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More than 3,200 people have signed an industry petition urging the government to open travel corridors to Africa.
Current blanket rules advising against all but essential travel and two weeks quarantine on arrival back to the UK.
The Africa Travel and Tourism Association is calling for a review of the travel corridors list to countries in Africa “in line with the same metrics used for the rest of the world”.
The government is obliged to respond when the petition reaches 10,000 signatures.
The petition says: “If metrics of cases per 100,000 and testing levels were used, this could enable travel to eastern and southern Africa, to start with.”
On a humanitarian level, ATTA estimates the African continent relies heavily on international travel for £130 billion in income and 25 million jobs.
“Each African travel job typically supports 8-10 dependents, helping to support up to 250 million people across Africa,” according to the association.
Reopening travel from the UK would also help protect jobs across tour operators, travel agents, tourist boards, airlines, marketing and PR companies as sell as helped reduce poaching of wild animals in Africa with “more eyes on the ground”.
ATTA added: “African countries have been opening their borders to international travellers over the last few months.
“Those who have been able to travel have experienced unparalleled wildlife sightings with exceptionally proficient and smooth Covid-19 protocols in place – all delivered with a big smile.
“However, we in the UK do not have air bridges to Africa. Instead, the FCDO [Foreign Office] and PHE [Public Health England] have a blanket approach.
“This all but stops tourism and puts at risk a huge number of jobs in the UK and throughout Africa as well as putting African wildlife and communities that rely on tourism in jeopardy.”
More: Review travel advice and travel corridor list for African countries [External]


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PVH Corp., whose brands include Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, is streamlining its North American operations.
The company plans to shut down its 162-outlet-store Heritage Brands Retail business. (Heritage Brands include Van Heusen, Izod, Arrow, Warner’s, Olga and Geoffrey Beene.) The stores are expected to stay open through mid-2021.
.In addition, PVH said it will reduce its North American office workforce by approximately 450 positions or 12%.
The workforce reductions, which are across all three brand businesses (Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Heritage Brands) and corporate functions, are expected to result in annual cost savings of approximately $80 million.
“The structural changes occurring in the North American retail landscape have required us to take a hard look at our North American operations and identify where we can optimize costs across our business model,” said Manny Chirico, chairman and CEO, PVH. “As a result, we are making the incredibly difficult decisions to close our Heritage Brands Retail business and eliminate a significant number of positions throughout our North American organization to align with the lower revenue base. We did not take these decisions lightly, as our Heritage Brands Retail business is our oldest retail business yet no longer met appropriate return metrics.”
PVH expects to incur pre-tax charges of approximately $80 million during the next 12 months in connection with its actions, of which approximately $10 million is expected to be non-cash. The remaining cash outflows are expected to occur over the next 12 months. The charges primarily consist of severance, lease termination costs, inventory markdowns and non-cash asset impairments.
“While these decisions are always challenging, they are strategically important for the long-term health of PVH, commented Stefan Larsson, president, PVH. “The COVID-19 crisis is dramatically reshaping the retail landscape in ways that we believe will be long-term in nature and far-reaching in terms of consumer purchasing behavior. We are adapting our businesses and rebalancing our cost base to improve our competitiveness and financial profile and, where appropriate, are reallocating resources to our businesses that drive greater returns.”


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The winds of change are blowing across the country as politicians and the public turn from hostility to a more accepting and welcoming attitude towards cannabis. The removal of political roadblocks is good news for cannabis manufacturers, as the market seems to have reached a tipping point with more and more states legalizing cannabis and the worldwide market expanding.
The expansion of cannabis manufacturing is continuing at a rapid pace throughout the United States. We’ve reported on new factories cropping up in Florida, Nevada, and California, and now another new plant is set to open in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the second cannabis operation to open in that state.
Getting on the Cannabis Bandwagon
As the number of cannabis manufacturing plants increases, we are seeing a steady stream of stories about changes to state laws, new permits being issued to manufacturers, and comments from state officials and local populations about the positive impact the cannabis industry is having on their region.
This turnaround is significant because even medical cannabis has taken a hit from politicians who have conflated medical and recreational marijuana while demonizing cannabis to the public. The tone is changing as we hear positive statements from politicians like Cedar Rapids city manager Jeff Pomeranz, who had only praise for the new cannabis plant in his district.
“It’s twenty-one new jobs, manufacturing in Cedar Rapids, it will be good for the people of Iowa, and it makes sense for Iowa’s second-largest city to have a plant,” said Pomerantz.
The Cedar Rapids plant is being built by Iowa Relieve, a subsidiary of Acreage Holdings, one of the largest medical cannabis manufacturers, with cultivation, processing, and dispensary operations in 12 states. Like MedMen and other major cannabis manufacturers, Acreage Farms is expanding rapidly and has plans to set up operations in New York, Florida, and Maryland this year. The company also has plans to become a publicly traded company in Canada.
Citing the growing recognition of the benefits of medical cannabis, Acreage Farms observed that, “As cannabis becomes legal across the country, we’re witnessing a pivotal moment in medical research and treatment — the kind of shift that changes lives for millions.”
No Federal Crackdown in Massachusetts
Another positive sign for the cannabis industry is U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling issuing a statement that his office essentially will not interfere with the public consumption of recreational cannibis, which became legal in Massachusetts as of July 1. Lelling said his office would limit its enforcement activity to out-of-state sales, sales to minors, and organized crime.
As Jason Williams reported, this is big news and signals a huge win for the cannabis industry. “Even staunch opponents like Lelling are bending to the awesome might of this growing juggernaut,” said Wiliams.
Hope is seen on the federal level as well. As The New York Times reported, President Trump recently said he would likely support a bill introduced by Senators Cory Gardner and Elizabeth Warren to leave it up to individual states to legalize marijuana. This view is in “stark contrast” to the tough stance Trump and his administration have taken towards cannabis previously, said the report.
This new bill comes on the heels of a bill introduced by Senator Charles Schumer in April that would decriminalize cannabis on a federal level.
The cannabis industry has been operating under a cloud because of a conflict between federal and state laws. As Inc. reported, if these statutes pass, there could finally be a resolution to the “odd reality” in which selling a joint could land you in jail under federal law and give you a paycheck under state law.
As the maker of the most modern, integrated, and scalable cannabis manufacturing management solution, MaxQ has deep cannabis industry expertise. Contact us to learn more about the latest trends and business solutions in the cannabis manufacturing industry.


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Verizon announced $30 billion in 4th quarter revenues, including $20 billion for their wireless business which was up 9.5 percent year over year, and a net loss of $1.9 billion. The company cited restructuring and pension adjustment costs and Hurricane Sandy as contributing to the loss.
Verizon added 2.1 million new wireless connections in the 4th quarter for a total of 98.2 million retail connections, a 6.6% increase year over year. The company has 35.1 million retail wireless accounts, up 1.4% year over year, with an average of 2.6 connections per account, up 4.3%. Average revenue per account grew 6.6 percent year over year to $146.80 per month.
More than 58% of Verizon's wireless customers are now using smartphones, and nearly 89% of the U.S. population is now covered by 4G LTE.
Shares of VZ are off around 2% in pre-market trading following the announcement.
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Listen to this article
It sounds like a cliché, but when Juan Ramos, head of Latin American operations at the internet telephony company iBasis, took his US boss to Brazil to seal a deal, the Latin pair spent an hour discussing football while the American looked on, bemused.
Yet without all that preamble – and the subsequent hour talking about business values to build trust – Mr Ramos says no agreement would have been possible.
Mr Ramos knew that not only would a US-style cut-to-the-chase approach have been considered clumsy, it would also have ended in failure. He was also aware that his company’s previous approach to doing business, based on managing accounts rather than markets, was less efficient in Latin America than the country-by-country model he has successfully implemented.
Mr Ramos’s strategy has attracted the attention of Fernando Fraguiero, dean of IAE Business School Universidad Austral in Buenos Aires. Prof Fraguiero is focusing on the way a new breed of regional managers at international companies has abandoned the one-size-fits-all approach handed down from headquarters in favour of using local knowledge to find business opportunities that may not be apparent from outside the region.
To learn from their experience and share best practice, the dean has assembled 36 regional chief executives from leading global companies including American Express, Kraft, Hewlett-Packard, Danone, the Walt Disney Co, Telefónica Móviles and Volkswagen, who meet twice a year for a day in Buenos Aires to analyse the fresh approaches being implemented by people such as Mr Ramos.
“Multinational companies mapping out their international strategy from an office in somewhere like St Louis are losing lots of opportunities to grow,” Prof Fragueiro says.
Although Latin America accounts for only about 10 per cent at best of a global company’s sales, experience has shown to take a different tack can pay off.
Prof Fragueiro says that in companies where dynamic regional bosses have room to take strategic decisions about the best approach for their markets, “growth of the company in the region in terms of sales is much higher”.
As an example, he cites how, during Argentina’s 2001-02 debt and devaluation crisis, the French-based global food group Danone abandoned the traditional recessionary strategy of putting up costs and instead slashed prices, while aggressively advertising its determination to stay in the country during the tough times.
The bold tactic paid dividends in both market share and consumer goodwill and helped make the region a crucible for ideas applicable to other recession scenarios.
“Latin America may still only be a small component of a company’s bottom line but there are 500m people here and there are opportunities,” says Prof Fragueiro.
The region’s relative distance from global headquarters can even work in favour of such a tailor-made approach, by giving far-sighted regional bosses the room to innovate and to add value in a region seen as non-core.
The Business Council for Development and Integration that the dean has assembled – named the “business board” – is a forum at which regional chief executives can discuss approaches and problems using the analysis of corporate case studies as a starting point.
Prof Fraguiero started the ball rolling by calling on former IAE alumni and then networked to assemble the council. It is a novel approach, blending hands-on experience about successful strategies and the ways in which regional managers have changed their global headquarters’ thinking, with academic analysis.
Importantly, it also gives managers whose seniority often makes them feel isolated a chance to compare notes with their peers in other sectors.
“I don’t have too many forums where I can benchmark myself vis-à-vis my colleagues,” says Victor Agnellini, the communications group Alcatel-Lucent’s president for the Caribbean and Latin America.
“It gives you the chance to think through challenges you haven’t faced yet and, if you have faced the same ones, to compare yourself with the others.”
Mr Ramos says there is no risk of industrial espionage: “We talk about the concepts rather than specific details.”
But still, he adds, “we expose ourselves a bit and talk with complete freedom”.
Prof Fragueiro says IAE, like other such institutions worldwide, has found in the business board a way to educate people and to promote development in the region.
Eugenio Sevilla-Sacasa, vice-president and managing director of the transport and logistics company Ryder Latin America, says it has helped him to secure investments in a region still often perceived as flaky.
“Brazil, for example, is still viewed as a very volatile country, and it is, but [during] the past five years it [has also been] a country whose currency has been appreciating against the dollar – something unheard-of in Brazil for the past 50 to 100 years. How do you communicate to headquarters that there is a real change in Brazil, and that the economy is much more stable?”
One way – an approach he honed at the business board – is to show that free trade agreements struck by Latin American governments such as Mexico go beyond matters of trade and form institutional rules that make it hard for governments to slide into a populist agenda that could make the business environment volatile.
The response was: “OK, let’s invest a few thousand more. It’s been pretty positive,” he says.
The first case the executives analysed was the bold reorganisation of Disney’s Latin American operations led by Diego Lerner to unify a fragmented structure to take advantage of the business assets and challenges: a common language, under-development, unequal wealth distribution and political and economic volatility.
The board’s second case is that of iBasis, where Latin American business and profitability have grown rapidly.
What emerges is the vision of a regional chief executive with an entrepreneurial outlook, granted trust and autonomy by global bosses, says Prof Fraguiero.
Mr Ramos says he hopes the business board will yield a set of best practices for growth in the region.
“To be successful today in global negotiations, you have to have a structure to act locally, but for real – not like the appendix of headquarters.”
“That means giving up a lot of things, and lots of headquarters aren’t willing to do that. But companies that don’t understand this are going to lose out.”
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The more corporations try and take us for fools, the more people we need like Bob Blatchford
Whistle-blowers come in all shapes and sizes. While I admire Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning for blowing the lid off government spying and war crimes, I have equal admiration for those who out corporate wrong doing. Bob Blatchford is one such fellow who falls into that category.
Last summer, Bob Blatchford went on the Today Show and spilled the beans on J.C. Penney’s sales practices. He described how the department store was severely hiking prices on items, cutting them back and then advertising huge discounts.
“I saw a lot of pricing teams going through the store, raising the prices, mostly doubling – towels and clothing,” Blatchford told NBC. “Then they would go on sale, and they wouldn’t always go on sale for 50 percent off. Not only was it a fake sale, but they were actually paying more than they would have been previously.”
A few days after Blatchford’s television appearance, he was unsurprisingly fired from J.C. Penney, but it didn’t end there. Eight months after his termination, J.C. Penney is crying foul and going after Blatchford. Even in the corporate world, the guilty party needs to get even with the whistle-blower.
J.C. Penney filed a plea against Bob Blatchford with the American Arbitration Association. In it, J.C. Penney characterized Blatchford’s exposé as a “trade secret, proprietary and confidential business information.” If that’s not laughable enough, the company also claims that it was forced to bring the matter to arbitration in order to protect customers. The department store believes Blatchford holds confidential business and customer records.
The problem here, is that there is some truth to be found, at least in the first part, but it’s not much of a secret. These types of “sale scams” are industry wide. In fact, it’s something J.C. Penney had to deal with just a few years ago and it cost them billions in sales. After restructuring didn’t work, they went back to the same scam.
According to Robin Lewis, co-author of The “New Rules of Retail”, marking up prices only to mark them back down as a promotion is a fairly universal practice. But lately, retailers have become more aggressive due to intense competition.
In a retail world where you have to compete with the likes of Walmart, it’s almost impossible to know who you can trust. With competition so tight, everyone is trying to steal away customers from each other. And the only way many businesses know how to compete is through fake sales or pricing.
I would have thought this was a job for the Federal Trade Commission, but apparently the laws covering these types of practices are a little vague. It just makes the Bob Blatchford’s of the world so much more important these days.
If J.C. Penney wants to try and silence Blatchford instead of changing the way they do business, so be it, it will be their downfall. The truth is, we need more people like him out there keeping big companies in check.
You can say, as J.C. Penney did in their petition, that Blatchford has a ‘love of media attention’. But who cares, maybe he does. He did what he had to. What we all need to do. I don’t think, as some do, that Mr. Blatchford will have a hard time finding other employment. I’m sure there are still honest businesses out there looking to hire an honest man. I would do so in a heartbeat.


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Grass roots effort launches clothing drive for needy
After chemotherapy for her leukemia, Theresa Smith lost so much weight that her clothes no longer fit.
Her husband, Danny, who is being treated for lung cancer, also found his clothes were suddenly too large.
But with such serious illnesses, they were unable to work. And what few resources they had went to pay the rent, other bills and put food on the table.
They didn’t know how they’d find the money for proper-fitting clothes.
Fortunately, the Easley couple didn’t have to.
A new ministry launched at Bon Secours St. Francis Health System by an employee surprised them both with the clothing they needed.
“They came to me with a bag full of stuff. Like brand new,” Smith said with astonishment.
“I got a brand new coat, scarves, gloves and hat, and everything matches,” she added. “My husband, too. He got a new coat, new shoes, new pants. It’s just awesome.”
Taking time to help
The clothing ministry was launched by Ben Noblitt, an engineering department employee who’s responsible for all repairs on the fourth through ninth floors of St. Francis Downtown.
The 55-year-old Greenville man was repairing the TV in a patient’s room one day when she broke into tears because she’d lost everything she owned in a rental house fire.
He offered to pray with her and promised to do his best to find her some clothes. Then he mentioned her situation to a secretary, who happened to be the same size as the patient. And she decided to donate some of her clothes to the woman.
That sparked an idea. Maybe others would be willing to help. So Noblitt asked his fellow congregants at Unity Baptist Church if they could “be a blessing to this lady who had nothing.”
The response, he said, was overwhelming. Not only clothing, but a Bible, money and a rolling suitcase to transport it all.
“She opened it and looked right through it and cried with joy,” he said. “She was just overwhelmed. She couldn’t believe that someone would take the time to help her out.”
Before long, other folks around the hospital got wind of what Noblitt had done.
Case managers Stacy Alexander and Tiffany Bosket described to him how homeless patients sometimes came through the ER without a warm winter coat or clothes so bad they had to be destroyed. And while they had a few items in the ER to give them, there was nothing major, so some had to leave the hospital in paper scrubs and socks.
That was the limit for Noblitt.
Planting a seed
“Just thinking about somebody who had to go back out on the street with nothing like that ... ,” he said. “Anyway, I thought this could be the Lord’s will to start something to help the needy.”
Noblitt’s church kept giving — shirts, pants, sweaters, sneakers, socks and more. By late September, so much had been collected that space was needed to store it and he found a room in an empty building on campus. His brother and sister-in-law also got into the act, helping to install clothing rods and sort, label and stock the donated clothes and shoes.
In three weeks, he said, the donations had grown so much that a second room was needed. That was the start of a men’s clothing room and a women’s clothing room. And more clothing rods, he said with a chuckle.
“It was flowing in like crazy,” he said. “It was amazing.”
When Alex Garvey, senior vice president of mission, found out what Noblitt was doing, the two men met and planned a St. Francis coat drive because the weather was turning colder. The Nov. 11 effort yielded more than 450 coats, along with hats, gloves and scarves as well.
“The majority were brand new clothes. It was just unbelievable,” said Garvey. “We loaded up truck load after truck load. Not only did we have people coming down from floors giving and individuals from (doctors) offices, but one of our ladies in a physician’s office took it to her church and they donated all new clothes. It’s really been a moving experience.”
And so a third room was opened to house the coats.
Though it’s just started, more than 100 items of clothing have been dispensed so far, Noblitt said.
“God’s blessed it tremendously. It’s not me, it’s Him,” he said. “Now there’ll never be a person who’ll have to leave there with paper scrubs and socks no more. They will have clothes and coats and whatever they need.”
Paying it forward
Noblitt had his own run of hard luck about two decades ago when, as a self-employed remodeler, he was between jobs and wondering how he was going to pay the bills.
Through church — and the “love offerings” of his fellow parishioners — he and his wife got by.
“Someone would walk up and just give me a donation,” he recalls. “And it met my needs at the time.”
Ever since, he’s paid it forward, often with his brother, Bud. Not only through the clothing closet, but by working on St. Francis Habitat for Humanity homes, helping elderly neighbors by cleaning their gutters or blowing their leaves, or wherever else he sees a need.
“It’s a calling,” Noblitt said. “We’re here to show the love of God to everybody. And one way the Lord’s helped me to do it is through things like this.”
Garvey calls the clothing closet the true essence of a grassroots ministry.
“People just took the initiative and ran with it,” he said. “It’s phenomenal.”
And so much clothing has now been collected that St. Francis is beginning to share with other charities, like United Ministries, he said.
Originally, the idea was to provide for needy people being discharged or leaving the ER, Garvey said.
But children often come through who’ve been sharing coats with their siblings. So they’re sent home with coats, too, he said. And another outreach ministry has taken clothes to families at San Sebastian Church to help migrant families who didn’t have winter coats for their children, he said.
‘They think of everything’
And while chatting about the coats, one woman mentioned a walker she no longer needed, he said. That began a collection of medical equipment like crutches and shower seats for people coming through the ER who have no insurance or can’t afford them on their own — and the opening of a fourth room to house it.
It’s even grown to include personal items, like toothbrushes, toothpaste and razors as well. All while maintaining the person’s dignity.
Theresa Smith said she learned of the effort from the chaplain while she was hospitalized.
“It’s a wonderful idea,” she said. “There are so many people who don’t know where to go. And they think of everything. Even down to hair brushes.”
With both Smith and her husband of 39 years suffering from cancer, times have been hard. Danny can no longer do construction work, she said, and they don’t have a car.
“If I hadn’t gotten clothing from hospital, I don’t know what I would have done,” she said. “I don’t even want to think about that.”
The clothing closet has been fully embraced by the hospital.
“It’s really powerful,” Garvey said. “We support them however we can.”
And that makes Noblitt, a truly humble man, even happier.
“I asked God to take this little mustard seed and plant it,” he said. “And it’s just been overwhelming.”
YOU CAN HELP
Donations can be dropped off at the St. Francis Downtown emergency room


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By Nathaniel Mallon
Conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have led some retailers to adopt a more permanent e-commerce business model. Forced to give up prime locations in street-level storefronts, malls, and shopping centers, these owner-operators have decided to pivot indefinitely to online models for moving inventory. As a result, a new retail landscape is emerging in communities all across the country as healthcare providers move in to occupy these spaces, abandoning their traditional office paradigm for greater access, convenience, and visibility.
This new opportunity in ground-floor leasing has become especially popular among medical practices and related facilities. While tenants gain access to daily, high-volume consumer foot traffic, landlords gain peace of mind, knowing that doctors, dentists, and other healthcare providers are valuable assets, able to bring employed, insured patients to their offices, ultimately increasing spending within the surrounding retail setting and luring higher profile clients to other portfolio properties.
Today, we are seeing a surge of medical tenants taking the opportunity to lease ground-floor real estate as landlords who are reeling from the pandemic seek the advantages of longer term, more stable tenants who retain their value during hard times. Here’s a quick snapshot of what’s driving this trend.
Medical Tenant Demand Is Changing Retail Landlord TI Packages
Medical tenants are taking advantage of new vacancies in retail spaces, which has prompted landlords to offer higher tenant improvement (TI) capital compared to what they previously have given retailers.
Evan Gassman, broker at CARR who specializes in representing healthcare providers, chimes in on the current trend, explaining that “healthcare is an expensive buildout,” especially when tenants such as dentists require specialized plumbing and face the challenges of meeting ADA requirements. However, these tenants, he says, have a much higher success rate than restaurants and other retailers.
So, although the concessions New York landlords must make for medical tenants far exceed those of past retailers, they recognize the potential of renting to healthcare providers. Gassman shares, “If they want that kind of a tenant, landlords should be prepared to invest in the tenant a little bit because in return, the tenant is going to sign a long-term lease. That’s what they want.”
New Mixed-Use and Planned Communities Are Hubs for Retail, Medical, and Residential
Potential tenants are also targeting retail spaces for the demographics. Ground-floor retail space in dense urban areas and other mixed-use residential properties offer a tremendous opportunity for building owners, other retailers, and new businesses as synergy among tenants creates a win-win solution for all involved. The result is a consolidated hub of services for community members who prefer a self-contained lifestyle where everything – shopping and other daily and professional services – is within walking distance from their residence. Ground-floor spaces give tenants the opportunity to market their high visibility and accessibility to patients who live and do business in the area.
Verada Retail, for example, recently represented the landlord at 24 Fourth Avenue, Boerum Hill – a luxury mixed-use condo building with 11,000 square feet. While the number of retailers in the area is growing, this particular landlord elected to diversify the retail space, leasing it to three different tenants, including two healthcare providers – a dental practice and a dermatologist – and an organic market.
Overall, landlords leasing to healthcare tenants are benefiting from these new mixed-use communities. Gassman explains, “The plus side of having a medical provider in your space is that they sign a long-term lease and they’re class A tenants. They may not be a large retailer or standard retail place like Starbucks, a dream tenant, but medical providers, in general, pay their bills [and] have very low default ratios on their loans, so they’re a great tenant to have.”
Demographic Studies Encourage Ground-Floor Leases
Landlords have started to focus more on renting to medical offices after doing research and providing potential new tenants with demographics related to age, including the number of children, youth, and elderly in the area. These statistics provide various clinicians and primary practice providers with the information they need to determine whether a lease in a particular space is more or less ideal for their practice. Hospitals are also leasing out urgent care and other specific treatment facilities in ground-floor spaces that match the demographic profile of the area in lieu of having patients come to the hospital or medical campus to seek treatment.
Gassman further explains how the pandemic has led healthcare providers to weigh the pros and
cons of leasing retail space with the promise of greater exposure versus traditional office space.
He says, “I think with COVID, people said, ‘Okay, I’m going to be working from home now, so
where in my neighborhood am I going to go to the doctor, the dentist, or urgent care versus from
my office?’ Prior to the pandemic, workers often visited medical providers that were closer to
their office in Midtown than their residence. Now, however, someone working from home in
Brooklyn may want to have their whole healthcare network within their neighborhood. It just
makes the commute a little easier.”
The Ground Floor – Modernization Key to Reaching Next-Gen Patients
In the past, medical office buildings have been short on amenities. Newly constructed and renovated ground-floor spaces with amenities have become increasingly attractive to medical tenants looking to modernize and make their practices more attractive to Millennials who are accustomed to a more consumer-oriented, retail-type experience. Ground-floor spaces are extremely popular in the dental and dermatology industries, where offices often occupy key corners in dense urban areas. This is in stark contrast to traditional medical buildings and campuses that house healthcare facilities, which are often distributed around multiple floors and out of sight from the public.
Medtail Is the Retail Space of the Future
Overall, landlords are repurposing spaces to include what tenants want and need. In the past, retail building owners may have shunned medical facilities with the mindset that those in need of healthcare may potentially run off shoppers and other tenants for fear of being around the sick and infirmed. Today, nothing could be further from the truth as landlords are recreating spaces to attract and accommodate medical professionals. How this trend progresses, however, remains to be seen as we move into a post-pandemic environment.
It’s likely to depend on the provider, explains Gassman. Tenants who want the exposure and neighborhood appeal of a ground-floor retail space are more likely to make the move. However, they can expect to pay a premium for these locations and should take this into account when developing their overall business plans. For providers who specialize in aesthetic treatments such as teeth whitening, chemical peels, or botox injections, the retail component may be attractive. For other providers, the move to a retail location may pose greater risk, especially if they are part of a well-known practice and receive much of their business from other doctors. Regardless, medtail is here to stay and can be an effective way for providers to grow, attract new patients, and better serve existing patients by making healthcare more convenient and accessible.


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C Central Resort in The Palm Dubai set to open
Property is in the final stages of finishing
Central hotels is all set to open its fourth luxury hotel — the C Central Resort – The Palm — in Dubai.
With 206 luxe rooms and suites, the hotel is in the final stages of finishing and is expected to open its doors within the coming weeks.
Commenting on the launch, Abdulla AlAbdulla, chief operating officer of Central Hotels, said, “We are very proud and excited about the upcoming opening of the C Central Resort. Equipped with superb facilities, it will be a new beachfront destination offering guests an enriching and memorable experience. The time of the opening is just perfect with Dubai Expo 2020 on the horizon.”
C Central Resort is located on the East Crescent of the Palm Jumeirah.
Elaborating further, Ammar Kanaan, group general manager of Central Hotels said: “We are delighted to expand our footprint in Dubai with a unique property like the C Central Resort – The Palm where we currently have three fantastic hotels in operation.
"The hotel has been thoughtfully designed to meet the expectations of discerning regional and international travellers and is equipped with business and recreation facilities including a meeting room, innovative spaces for outdoor weddings, events and functions, multiple dining outlets and bars, spa, fitness centre and gift shops," he added.


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It was just not meant to be — but boy, did it make for industry fodder.
After rumors circulated for more than a year, the much-hyped and widely expected arrival of Riccardo Tisci at Versace never materialized. The elements for a potential match were there: Donatella Versace and Tisci’s long-standing friendship, which culminated with her appearing in Givenchy’s fall 2015 campaign; Tisci’s lifelong admiration for Gianni Versace’s legacy, and Donatella Versace’s inclination to champion young designers — see Anthony Vaccarello and Christopher Kane tapped to forge a new path for Versus. Tisci’s exit from Givenchy in February, after 12 years as the brand’s artistic director, immediately added fuel to the speculation.
The Versace house argued throughout that Donatella Versace was the creative director of the company and that there were no plans to change that, without ever addressing whether talks were being held with Tisci. He seemed a natural for the fashion house, given his penchant for bold prints, demonstrative hardware and tough chic. Industry sources believed Tisci, who had rejuvenated Givenchy’s image and with his social media reach and appeal was perceived as an additional element of coolness, could have helped boost business ahead of Versace’s potential initial public offering, which is now understood to be on hold.
In June, after a few weeks of silence, attributed to Tisci’s non-compete agreement with LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton and lengthy negotiations over control and strategies, sources said the talks between the designer and Versace had broken down.
Shortly afterward, The Blackstone Group, which bought a 20 percent stake in Versace in 2014, spoke about the issue for the first time, maintaining that it did not want to replace Donatella Versace at the company’s creative helm, despite never disputing the earlier reports.
Still, could 2018 bring a new designer to the storied Italian house?
Sources told WWD in September that Versace was eyeing Kim Jones, currently men’s artistic director at Louis Vuitton, although his contractual obligations are allegedly slowing the talks.
Following her strong and emotional spring show, asked to discuss the topic, Versace told WWD: “Who should be coming now? I’m losing count. Listen, there is no scandal here. I’m open, if I want someone in-house to bring Versace with me into 2050, let’s say, I will do it, if I think it’s the right person, if it works. The designer alone is not relevant. What is relevant is the team, those around the designer. People were saying I was retiring. No. And there is nobody [joining] now, but this does not mean that if I see someone, I won’t take them in. I’m always looking around. I took [designers] in for Versus. What is the difference if I want them for the signature line?”


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Apple is planning its first major event of 2019 which will be supposedly held on March 25th.
According to Buzzfeed, it won’t be a product release event. Since the next generation AirPods or the rumored new iPad Mini won’t be making an appearance. The company does plan to release a news subscription service dubbed ‘Apple News Magazines’.
Sources from Buzzfeed have described the event as being mainly focused on subscription services. Apple’s stand-alone video streaming service has also been rumored to debut in 2019, but its difficult to say wheather anything related to that will be present in the event.
Although Apple has held product events in late March most of the times, there is a slight chance that the date could change.
Sources said there is a small chance the final date could shift a bit given the level of publisher pushback the company is getting over the revenue-sharing terms of the so-called Netflix for news service it hopes to debut.
Read more about this by clicking here.


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It was almost exactly a year ago when Sony revealed the FES watch — a timepiece that uses low-power e-paper tech not only in the face, but in the band as well. Now, following a campaign on Sony’s own crowdfunding site First Flight, the watch is finally a release, albeit limited, in Japan. It was originally developed by the Sony-owned subsidiary Fashion Entertainments, and was first pitched for crowdfunding without the Sony name attached, as the company wanted to see if there was a real market demand, without their reputation overshadowing the concept.
The FES Watch is getting a debut a bit similar to the Apple Watch’s earlier this year in that it’s skipping all the traditional electronic stores where one would expect to find the latest Sony device. Instead it will be available starting on Saturday, November 21st, at Omotesando’s MoMA Design Store in Shibuya, Tokyo.
It will also be sold at Isetan in Shinjuku from December 1st, the boutique department store that offered the Apple Watch at launch. As a standard, “non-smart” watch, the FES Watch is priced at ¥29,700, or roughly $240.
The timepiece is still being offered on First Flight, and will also be available for purchase through the Japanese online store for MoMA. Sony adds that it plans to offer the FES Watch at a wider range of stores in the future, but didn’t offer any specifics.


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Heather M. Federman
Director of Public Policy, Online Trust Alliance
Join TRUSTe at the OTA’s Data Privacy Day Town Halls in NYC, Seattle and San Francisco & Save 20%
It’s no longer an “if” your company will become the target of a data breach; it’s just a matter of “when.” From small nonprofits to Fortune 500 tech-savvy organizations, breaches and data loss incidents are becoming an unfortunate rite of passage. More and more businesses have found themselves exposed and ill prepared to manage the fallout. In addition to the confusing (and conflicting) regulatory landscape, breaches can be quite expensive, with the average cost equaling $5.5 million. And while innovative defenses against privacy and security threats are introduced with each passing year, cybercriminals outpace those innovations with new and more malicious tactics.
As online trust is on the decline, 2014 needs to be the year of “Data & Privacy Stewardship.” This requires moving from minimal compliance to enhancing the protection of your company, your data and your customers. In order to do so, consider the following New Year “data resolutions”: Read more “Make Data Privacy & Security Your New Year’s Resolution”
— Jan 17
The New Frontiers of Privacy Harm
TRUSTe is speaking
Join Fran Maier, Founder and Chair of Board, TRUSTe, at the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship on Friday, January 17, 2014, for a panel on Commercial Tracking. Thought leaders and top practitioners and regulators venture into the New Frontiers of Privacy Harm to answers questions including: What harms are privacy laws designed to prevent? How are people injured when corporations, governments, or other individuals collect, disclose, or use information about them in ways that defy expectations, prior agreements, formal rules, or settled norms? How has technology changed the nature of privacy harm?
Read more “TRUSTe Starts the Year off Right with Data Privacy Week, CPDP, OTA and more”
January 28th is International Data Privacy Day (#DPD2013 on Twitter) and, in its celebration, we are participating in several events next week.
We kick off the week with IAPP Privacy After Hours. There’s no agenda, just show up at Jillian’s in San Francisco, from 5:00-7:00 PM. Have a good time and get to know other local privacy professionals.
Next up, in conjunction with the San Francisco Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) Forum, TRUSTe Director of Product Policy, Joanne Furtsch will host the MMA Privacy Committee meeting. The MMA Forum is a two-day event that will inform visitors on how to effectively infuse mobile into a brand’s broader marketing strategy.
TRUSTe CEO Chris Babel will participate in interactive panel discussion at the Seattle OTA Data Privacy Day Town Hall. Panel speakers include leaders in public policy, privacy, consumer protection and cybercrime law enforcement. The panel will cover innovation in privacy and impact on business.
Later in the week, stay turned for some exciting news at the San Diego DistribuTECH Conference, the energy industry’s leading smart grid conference and exposition. Read more “Data Privacy Day 2013 Events”
“The more of our lives that we put online, the less privacy we have,” says Erick Schonfeld in his TechCrunch blog, posted today. In an increasingly networked world, where social networking, behavioral targeting, and information sharing online have all become commonplace, consumer privacy has come under siege. With the online world changing rapidly, consumers are beginning to feel that they don’t have control over their personal information. Today is the nationally recognized Data Privacy Day, a day dedicated to spreading awareness about data privacy practices, problems, and rights. One of the primary audiences is U.S. teens who have grown up … Continue reading Every Day Should Be Data Privacy Day


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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while many of us support the efforts to raise awareness year round, this month is a great way to show your support while picking up some really cool products (think gifts for the upcoming holidays!) Here are some of my favorites that I’ve seen around…feel free to include your “pink” favorites in the comments below!
Ford’s Warriors In Pink 2011 Scarf
From the Ford Warriors In Pink site:
Ford is proud of its 17-year National Sponsorship of the Komen Race for the Cure. To date, Ford has dedicated more than $110 million to the cause. Our commitment runs well beyond raising funds. We know that awareness leads to early detection and early detection saves lives. Read more…


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|By Marketwired .||
|April 25, 2012 07:00 AM EDT||
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwire) -- 04/25/12 -- Poynt Corporation (TSX VENTURE:PYN)(OTCQX:PNYTF) ("Poynt Corp." or the "Company"), a global leader in mobile local search and advertising, today announced its flagship mobile local search and advertising platform, Poynt ("Poynt"), has won the best "Overall Consumer App" in the Mobile Apps category of the 2012 Mobile Merit Awards.
The Mobile Merit Awards recognize companies, individuals and technologies that have shaped the global mobile industry. Winners are selected by judges from the mobile industry and technology media and are selected for their industry impact, innovation, technology, social importance, implementation and overall success.
"We are honored to have been selected as Best Overall Consumer App by the Mobile Merit Award judges. Winning for best overall app emphasizes our success at creating an engaging user interface, locating the most accurate data partners as well as providing a fast, reliable local search experience on multiple platforms," said Andrew Osis, CEO of Poynt Corp. "We strive to continually put the user first and make sure they have the highest quality data available for mobile local search and recognition by industry peers highlights our success in reaching this goal."
For more information on the 2012 Mobile Merit Awards, please visit: http://www.mobilemeritawards.com/index1.html
Poynt is available as a free download for users in the United States, Canada, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Australia and India on Android, iPhone, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry smartphones; the BlackBerry Playbook tablet; and Nokia devices from the respective App Stores. Poynt is also available via mobile browser as a free download at m.poynt.com.
About the Poynt Platform
Poynt is a convenient and timesaving GPS-enabled mobile local search and advertising platform that connects consumers to local offers, businesses, events, restaurants, movie theatres, gas prices and weather information at the moment they are looking to buy or acquire products or services. Poynt provides consumers with the ability to move beyond discovery of their local area to view movie trailers and reviews, buy movie tickets, click-to-call businesses, get directions, browse listing websites, read reviews and book dining reservations or find and interact with local coupons and offers.
Poynt provides contextual and relevant advertising to users performing local queries and its revenue model is based on user queries, page views, advertising and transactions within the platform. Each user query generates several page views, which are monetized through display advertising and sponsored listings paid for by advertisers. These advertising placements generate revenues on a cost per thousand impressions (CPM) basis or on a cost per click (CPC) basis. Transactions, such as ticket sales and restaurant reservations, also contribute to revenues on a fee for service basis.
About Poynt Corporation
Poynt Corp. (www.poynt.com) (TSX VENTURE:PYN)(OTCQX:PNYTF) is a global leader in the mobile local advertising space. Its Location Based Search (LBS) and advertising platform, Poynt, enhances a user's ability to connect with the people, businesses and events most important to them. Poynt is available on Android, iPhone, Windows Phone and Nokia devices, along with BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook Tablets in Canada, the United States, Europe, India and Australia. Poynt Corp. entered the mobile publishing space with the acquisition of an advertising publishing platform in January 2011. Whether through the Poynt Local Search Platform or the Ad Publishing Platform, Poynt Corp. simplifies connecting consumers with businesses, retailers and events. Headquartered in Calgary, AB, Canada, Poynt Corp. trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PYN and in the United States on the OTCQX under the symbol PNYTF.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. Apple App Store and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Android is a registered trademark of Google Inc. Nokia is a registered trademark of Nokia Corporation.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
"We build IoT infrastructure products - when you have to integrate different devices, different systems and cloud you have to build an application to do that but we eliminate the need to build an application. Our products can integrate any device, any system, any cloud regardless of protocol," explained Peter Jung, Chief Product Officer at Pulzze Systems, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at @ThingsExpo, held November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 7, 2016 05:15 AM EST Reads: 1,038
Internet of @ThingsExpo has announced today that Chris Matthieu has been named tech chair of Internet of @ThingsExpo 2017 New York The 7th Internet of @ThingsExpo will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, New York. Chris Matthieu is the co-founder and CTO of Octoblu, a revolutionary real-time IoT platform recently acquired by Citrix. Octoblu connects things, systems, people and clouds to a global mesh network allowing users to automate and control design flo...
Dec. 7, 2016 02:00 AM EST Reads: 614
In addition to all the benefits, IoT is also bringing new kind of customer experience challenges - cars that unlock themselves, thermostats turning houses into saunas and baby video monitors broadcasting over the internet. This list can only increase because while IoT services should be intuitive and simple to use, the delivery ecosystem is a myriad of potential problems as IoT explodes complexity. So finding a performance issue is like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack.
Dec. 7, 2016 01:45 AM EST Reads: 6,160
Data is the fuel that drives the machine learning algorithmic engines and ultimately provides the business value. In his session at 20th Cloud Expo, Ed Featherston, director/senior enterprise architect at Collaborative Consulting, will discuss the key considerations around quality, volume, timeliness, and pedigree that must be dealt with in order to properly fuel that engine.
Dec. 7, 2016 01:00 AM EST Reads: 1,614
According to Forrester Research, every business will become either a digital predator or digital prey by 2020. To avoid demise, organizations must rapidly create new sources of value in their end-to-end customer experiences. True digital predators also must break down information and process silos and extend digital transformation initiatives to empower employees with the digital resources needed to win, serve, and retain customers.
Dec. 7, 2016 12:45 AM EST Reads: 1,238
The WebRTC Summit New York, to be held June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, announces that its Call for Papers is now open. Topics include all aspects of improving IT delivery by eliminating waste through automated business models leveraging cloud technologies. WebRTC Summit is co-located with 20th International Cloud Expo and @ThingsExpo. WebRTC is the future of browser-to-browser communications, and continues to make inroads into the traditional, difficult, plug-in web co...
Dec. 7, 2016 12:15 AM EST Reads: 1,371
In his general session at 19th Cloud Expo, Manish Dixit, VP of Product and Engineering at Dice, discussed how Dice leverages data insights and tools to help both tech professionals and recruiters better understand how skills relate to each other and which skills are in high demand using interactive visualizations and salary indicator tools to maximize earning potential. Manish Dixit is VP of Product and Engineering at Dice. As the leader of the Product, Engineering and Data Sciences team at D...
Dec. 7, 2016 12:15 AM EST Reads: 1,022
The Internet of Things (IoT) promises to simplify and streamline our lives by automating routine tasks that distract us from our goals. This promise is based on the ubiquitous deployment of smart, connected devices that link everything from industrial control systems to automobiles to refrigerators. Unfortunately, comparatively few of the devices currently deployed have been developed with an eye toward security, and as the DDoS attacks of late October 2016 have demonstrated, this oversight can ...
Dec. 7, 2016 12:00 AM EST Reads: 1,267
What happens when the different parts of a vehicle become smarter than the vehicle itself? As we move toward the era of smart everything, hundreds of entities in a vehicle that communicate with each other, the vehicle and external systems create a need for identity orchestration so that all entities work as a conglomerate. Much like an orchestra without a conductor, without the ability to secure, control, and connect the link between a vehicle’s head unit, devices, and systems and to manage the ...
Dec. 6, 2016 11:45 PM EST Reads: 744
"Once customers get a year into their IoT deployments, they start to realize that they may have been shortsighted in the ways they built out their deployment and the key thing I see a lot of people looking at is - how can I take equipment data, pull it back in an IoT solution and show it in a dashboard," stated Dave McCarthy, Director of Products at Bsquare Corporation, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at @ThingsExpo, held November 1-3, 2016, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
Dec. 6, 2016 10:15 PM EST Reads: 1,150
Unsecured IoT devices were used to launch crippling DDOS attacks in October 2016, targeting services such as Twitter, Spotify, and GitHub. Subsequent testimony to Congress about potential attacks on office buildings, schools, and hospitals raised the possibility for the IoT to harm and even kill people. What should be done? Does the government need to intervene? This panel at @ThingExpo New York brings together leading IoT and security experts to discuss this very serious topic.
Dec. 6, 2016 09:15 PM EST Reads: 347
We are always online. We access our data, our finances, work, and various services on the Internet. But we live in a congested world of information in which the roads were built two decades ago. The quest for better, faster Internet routing has been around for a decade, but nobody solved this problem. We’ve seen band-aid approaches like CDNs that attack a niche's slice of static content part of the Internet, but that’s it. It does not address the dynamic services-based Internet of today. It does...
Dec. 6, 2016 08:45 PM EST Reads: 1,081
Data is the fuel that drives the machine learning algorithmic engines and ultimately provides the business value. In his session at Cloud Expo, Ed Featherston, a director and senior enterprise architect at Collaborative Consulting, discussed the key considerations around quality, volume, timeliness, and pedigree that must be dealt with in order to properly fuel that engine.
Dec. 6, 2016 06:45 PM EST Reads: 2,154
As data explodes in quantity, importance and from new sources, the need for managing and protecting data residing across physical, virtual, and cloud environments grow with it. Managing data includes protecting it, indexing and classifying it for true, long-term management, compliance and E-Discovery. Commvault can ensure this with a single pane of glass solution – whether in a private cloud, a Service Provider delivered public cloud or a hybrid cloud environment – across the heterogeneous enter...
Dec. 6, 2016 05:30 PM EST Reads: 1,709
An IoT product’s log files speak volumes about what’s happening with your products in the field, pinpointing current and potential issues, and enabling you to predict failures and save millions of dollars in inventory. But until recently, no one knew how to listen. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Dan Gettens, Chief Research Officer at OnProcess, discussed recent research by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and OnProcess Technology, where MIT created a new, breakthrough analytics model for ...
Dec. 6, 2016 05:15 PM EST Reads: 405
More and more brands have jumped on the IoT bandwagon. We have an excess of wearables – activity trackers, smartwatches, smart glasses and sneakers, and more that track seemingly endless datapoints. However, most consumers have no idea what “IoT” means. Creating more wearables that track data shouldn't be the aim of brands; delivering meaningful, tangible relevance to their users should be. We're in a period in which the IoT pendulum is still swinging. Initially, it swung toward "smart for smar...
Dec. 6, 2016 04:45 PM EST Reads: 803
Everyone knows that truly innovative companies learn as they go along, pushing boundaries in response to market changes and demands. What's more of a mystery is how to balance innovation on a fresh platform built from scratch with the legacy tech stack, product suite and customers that continue to serve as the business' foundation. In his General Session at 19th Cloud Expo, Michael Chambliss, Head of Engineering at ReadyTalk, discussed why and how ReadyTalk diverted from healthy revenue and mor...
Dec. 6, 2016 03:15 PM EST Reads: 1,649
SYS-CON Events has announced today that Roger Strukhoff has been named conference chair of Cloud Expo and @ThingsExpo 2017 New York. The 20th Cloud Expo and 7th @ThingsExpo will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. "The Internet of Things brings trillions of dollars of opportunity to developers and enterprise IT, no matter how you measure it," stated Roger Strukhoff. "More importantly, it leverages the power of devices and the Internet to enable us all to im...
Dec. 6, 2016 03:15 PM EST Reads: 640
Information technology is an industry that has always experienced change, and the dramatic change sweeping across the industry today could not be truthfully described as the first time we've seen such widespread change impacting customer investments. However, the rate of the change, and the potential outcomes from today's digital transformation has the distinct potential to separate the industry into two camps: Organizations that see the change coming, embrace it, and successful leverage it; and...
Dec. 6, 2016 02:30 PM EST Reads: 3,351
The 20th International Cloud Expo has announced that its Call for Papers is open. Cloud Expo, to be held June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, brings together Cloud Computing, Big Data, Internet of Things, DevOps, Containers, Microservices and WebRTC to one location. With cloud computing driving a higher percentage of enterprise IT budgets every year, it becomes increasingly important to plant your flag in this fast-expanding business opportunity. Submit your speaking proposal ...
Dec. 6, 2016 02:30 PM EST Reads: 2,219


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SINGAPORE - A survey of 500 Singaporeans has revealed that one in three owns a Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) device - a key component in the fight against identity theft and online fraud.
The survey by Assurity Trusted Solutions, a subsidiary of the Info-communications Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), showed that the majority of respondents with 2FA devices owned two devices each (about 23 per cent), and many would prefer to use just one universal device.
Banks - the first adopters of 2FA devices - constitute 98 per cent of 2FA device transactions for respondents with more than two devices.
Assurity's Chief Operating Officer Chai Chin Loon said: "Using 2FA devices to authenticate online banking transactions has become the norm in Singapore."
IDA is currently implementing a National Authentication Framework (NAF), as part of Singapore's 10-year masterplan to grow the infocomm sector.
The NAF seeks to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information available online, such as bank account details, securities trading account details or electronic health records, through a nationwide common platform for strong authentication.
Assurity, which has been assigned as IDA's NAF operator for 2FA services, has created a universal device in Singapore that can authenticate online transactions across different industries called OneKey.
Securities trading firms started issuing OneKey in November 2012.
"The user base for 2FA devices has expanded and is likely to continue to expand as more Singaporeans transact online," said Mr Chai.
Assurity aims to implement OneKey across different service providers, such as banks, to enhance security and convenience for end users.
Currently, there are over 60,000 OneKey users who carry out more than 300,000 2FA transactions a month. They benefit from the convenience and security of using their OneKey with multiple service providers.
"As more service providers join the nationwide 2FA system, users will progressively use their OneKey for multiple e-services. "Chin Loon said.


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Nissan & E.On launch V2G project in the UK
Nissan and E.On have installed and successfully deployed 20 Vehicle-to-Grid chargers at Nissan’s European Technical Center in Cranfield, England. Now the two partners are looking for other companies that want to use V2G chargers.
The installation in Cranfield is part of a project sponsored by the British government. The project aims to test and demonstrate how V2G technology can generate additional revenue for the participating companies and support the power grid in fleet vehicles.
Having validated the system at Nissan’s Cranfield site, the project is now recruiting more participants for the test and plans to deploy V2G chargers in companies across the UK. The V2G package is subsidised for the participants in the study via Innovate UK.
“This is about commercialising a vehicle’s bi-directional charging capabilities, with clear advantages for businesses either already with a fleet of electric vehicles or those that are ready to make the transition to electric,” says Luke Ellis, V2G Programme Manager at E.On UK. “Now that we’ve proven the technology’s capabilities with these 20 installs, we’re a step closer to bringing it to market”.
The Nissan Leaf and the e-transporter e-NV200 are V2G-capable, as has already been demonstrated in Hagen, among other places. If the vehicles are connected to an appropriate charging station, not only can the battery be charged, but if there is a high demand for electricity, energy can also flow from the battery back into the grid – thus relieving the strain on the power grid.


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Indica Zaugg was the victim of a credit card fraud.
Jenny WagnerEditor News
Indica Zaugg (37) from Aesch BL can hardly believe it: more than 3000 francs were stolen from her credit card at Cembra Money Bank – she was the victim of credit card fraud. She asks her bank for help. Without success. The single mother of two children has to pay for the damage. A shock for Zaugg. “Something like that breaks my neck,” she says.
Among other things, the fraudsters left 300 francs in a bar, 1,700 francs in the Apple Store, more than 200 francs in a restaurant or 500 francs at the slot machine. A wild party night in Milan can be reconstructed.
While the scammers were having fun in Italy, the single mother spent Christmas at home with her daughter, 10, and son, 7. She saves every franc and lives at the subsistence level.
“Phishing, smishing, scamming or QR codes”
When Zaugg noticed the bookings on December 25, 2022, she immediately called Cembra Money Bank and reported the fraud. A few days pass. Then she gets mail from the bank. The content shocked the Basel bidder. “Due to the present situation, we must assume that you have reacted to a fraudulent event,” writes Cembra Money Bank. She had become a victim of “phishing, smishing, scamming or QR codes”. The bank is convinced that this would have given the fraudsters access to their data. Zaugg’s legal protection does not apply either because she has not taken out any additional insurance for cyber fraud.
With the best will in the world, Zaugg cannot explain how the fraudsters got their data. She denies ever clicking on a phishing link. “The card never left the house, I only use it in very rare cases and only for small amounts.”
For Cembra Money Bank, however, Zaugg is to blame for the fraud: “According to the terms and conditions, you were obliged to keep your security information secret at all times and not to pass it on to third parties.”
One wrong click can be fatal
Katrin Sprenger (43) is CEO of the Zurich start-up Sileniccio and fights against cybercrime. She says: “Fraudsters often steal credit card data as part of an online payment process or as part of a data leak.” Even payments with two-factor authentication can be processed. “Either the scammers have the phone number or cell phone and intercept the second factor directly, or they rely on the carelessness of the owner,” she says. Sprenger warns: “One wrong click and the requested payment is confirmed!”
For Zaugg, the fraud is a disaster. “I don’t have the money and now I have to pay it off for years,” she says with tears in her eyes. The credit card should only be used as a backup for emergencies. Desperate emails and letters to Cembra Money Bank went unanswered. Zaugg only received a request to compensate for the minus amount.
Bank shows goodwill – but only after Blick asks
When asked by Blick, Cembra Money Bank did not want to comment on the case. But a short time later, Zaugg then receives a redeeming call from Cembra Money Bank: you don’t have to pay for the damage and the bank deeply regrets what happened. Zaugg can hardly believe her luck. “It wouldn’t have happened without a look,” she says, relieved.
Nevertheless, caution is required on the Internet. Cyber expert Carola Hug (34) warns against payments on the Internet by credit card. “It’s best to pay with providers like Twint or Paypal,” she explains. “Fraudulent sites could fake such programs badly, which means that a phishing site can be seen through quickly – even if it looks particularly genuine.”


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MISSOULA — The announced closure of the Lucky's Market in Missoula not only means the loss of more than 100 jobs -- and a blow to the Southgate Mall's redevelopment efforts -- but also a "dead stop" to humanitarian efforts which channeled thousands of dollars to local charities.
Lucky's announced Tuesday it was closing its stores in Missoula and Billings as part of a nationwide shutdown which sees the company shuttering dozens of stores in 10 states, following Kroger's decision to sell its stake in the natural chain.
Back in May 2018, as Lucky's founders Bo and Trish Sharon joined a boisterous gathering of 150 employees and community leaders to open the new store in the Garden City.
The opening culminated months of planning and reconstruction of the former Sears store, with an eye toward becoming the new "anchor" for Southgate's redevelopment into a retail destination with more of a "neighborhood" feel. In fact, what the Sharons told us they liked about Missoula is that it had a similar atmosphere to Boulder, Colorado, where they opened their first store.
The Lucky's concept was not only to offer products to "celebrate" good food, but also become a part of the community. In fact, on that first day, Lucky's donated more than $10,000 to Garden City Harvest, Youth Homes and the Open Aid Alliance. And since the giving has continued, with tens of thousands raised to help local non-profits.
The Sharons had come into the grocery business from a background as chefs, which gave them an appreciation of not only quality food and preparation, but a unique understanding of supply, and sourcing local products.
Southgate Mall General Manager Tim Winger issued the following statement following the announcement that Lucky's Market would close.
“Our thoughts are with the employees impacted by the Lucky’s Market announcement. We believe the decision to close Lucky’s Market at Southgate Mall is part of a larger store closing announcement impacting locations across the U.S. While continuing to support existing tenants, our leasing team is actively pursuing new uses, which could include specialty grocery, as well as other tenancy which provides differentiated goods and services. We continue to see strong demand for space at Southgate Mall and will share additional details in the future.”


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England lags behind Wales and Ireland.
Have you noticed how much easier it is to get a plastic bag these days? About 6 years ago the government had a drive to try and reduce plastic bag usage – supermarkets stopped having them readily available and you had to ask for them. It made you feel a little guilty and you had to think about how many you wanted and if you asked for an extra one… As a result of this plastic bag usage fell by 40% in the next three years. Now though it is on the rise again, and, I don’t know if you are finding the same, but these days I am asked if I want any bags, or they are automatically put out for me. Even worse, when I have occasionally had food delivered (it was mainly tea, coffee and sugar for work) the plastic bag usage was horrendous. However, there is hope.
Wales has recently introduced a 5p levy on plastic carrier bag, Ireland introduced one in 2002 Following the introduction of the charge plastic bag usage in Ireland dropped by 95% and in six months use in Wales dropped by 22%. Compare this to an increase of 7.5% in England last year. But, just in case you think this is a money making scheme by the Irish government the levy, in addition to acting as a deterrent, is being recycled (unlike most plastic bags) into environmental schemes. And, it is not just these two countries that are trying to curb the use of plastic bags – Italy is the first European country to ban non-biodegradeable plastic bags, and certain plastic bags are banned completely in countries as diverse as China, South Africa, Rwand and the United Arab Emirates.
So, why are plastic bags such a problem. Firstly, the numbers used are huge, 12.2 billion were handed out in 2011 – that is roughly 11 per shopper per month, and that is just in the UK. They are used on average for just 12 minutes before being thrown away, with very few being recycled. Whilst lots are used as bin liners, it takes between 500 and 1000 years for them to degrade in landfill. Plastic bags are of course made from oil, as we know a scarce commodity that really should have better uses, but this also means that there are additional nasties in there that leach out when the bag decays. (I am not even going to get into the resources required to make and transport them – well, maybe I will another day.) Not all bags end up in landfill, you have all seen them out in the countryside, caught in trees and lying on the beaches. You have no doubt also heard the stories about the amount that are drifting around the oceans, killing the sea life either directly or through those aforementioned nasties (the current estimate is that there are 46 000 pieces of plastic litter floating in every square mile of ocean).
What are the alternatives then, because we all have to get our shopping home. Firstly, do you need a bag, or at least THAT many bags – really, you do? What about reusing the bags you got last time (I always keep one in my bag – it also stopped my bum getting wet when I sat on a damp bench – bonus)? What about a bag for life – these last for ages and yet only need to be used 4 times to make up for the additional resources used to make them. They are also bigger and you can therefore get more in them – less juggling. I prefer the Jute bags, they are easier to carry (I can sling mine over my shoulder), should last a long time and are relatively inexpensive – reusable bags that are a modern take on your grandmother’s shopping basket. Some would prefer paper bags as in the US, but the resources that these use are a lot higher and there is the risk of soggy bag syndrome.
What can you do now? Well, apart from reusing your bags (after all, shouldn’t we use oil for something more than carrying home a packet of biscuits for 12 minutes), you can join in the call for the government to introduce a ban or a tax on single use plastic bags. Please sign the petition that has already been started on the government website and lets try and stop some of the waste. Ban the Bag!


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The Controversy Over BPA-Free Dog Food Containers
Consumers are demanding BPA-free cans, but industry isnt ready with an alternative.
On March 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it had rejected a petition from environmentalists that would have banned bisphenol A (BPA) from all food and drink packaging. The scientific evidence at this time, said the FDA, does not suggest that the very low levels of human exposure to BPA afforded through our diets are unsafe. The agency has performed extensive research on BPA, has reviewed hundreds of other studies, and is continuing to address questions and potential concerns raised by certain studies, the news release continued. The agency takes all concerns about BPA seriously and is evaluating them as part of the agencys ongoing oversight of food safety.