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Allegiant Fined for Scorching Cabins During Tarmac Delays
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You get what you pay for, and with Allegiant Air, that’s taken to the extreme. The ultra-low-cost carrier is being punished by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for routine instances of uncomfortable temperatures on board its aircraft.
The DOT has fined Allegiant $225,000 after it found that the airline “failed to provide passengers a comfortable cabin temperature” on 10 different occasions where aircraft were delayed on the tarmac during 2016 and 2017. This is the second fine in six months for Allegiant after the DOT slapped the airline with a $250,000 fee for violating consumer protection rules.
Even worse, most of the airports where the incidents occurred were in high-temperature regions during summer months, including Las Vegas and El Paso, Texas. Allegiant said passengers on the flights in question were subject to outdoor temperatures north of 110 degrees. Its use of portable air conditioning carts and other tools to supplement the aircraft’s internal air conditioning system apparently failed to keep aircraft cabins at reasonable temperatures.
“In one of these instances, Allegiant did not provide food and water to passengers in a timely manner or announce to passengers that they had an opportunity to deplane, as required by DOT rules,” the DOT said in a statement.
According to USA Today, the government “based its findings on passenger complaints, crewmember statements, temperature readings, reported medical incidents, operational considerations such as the use of external cooling units or air carts during the delays and decisions to deplane passengers.”
In April, CBS’ “60 Minutes” aired a report on Allegiant that detailed similar incidents on planes that even included smoke-filled cabins and cases where the airline forced passengers to stay on board during uncomfortable or dangerous circumstances.
It’s unclear whether the “60 Minutes” investigation, which was critical about the DOT’s lack of discipline on Allegiant’s issues, had anything to do with the issuance of the fines.
The airline defended its decisions as “sensible” because of customers’ desire to get to their destination as quickly as possible. Allegiant says it will change its training procedures to better avoid temperature issues and noted that its soon-to-come all-Airbus fleet can better cool cabins than its older MD-80 aircraft.
In the DOT’s April fine, the agency said Allegiant “failed to provide passengers with disabilities adequate and timely assistance in moving within airport terminals, and did not adequately respond to complaints filed by passengers with disabilities. In addition, Allegiant failed to provide timely responses to consumer complaints and failed to make prompt refunds to consumers when they were due.”
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I compared grocery prices at Costco and Dollar General, and was surprised by how few items were cheaper at the discount store
Costco had lower prices on most items, but a few products were priced lower at Dollar General, including orange juice and chicken broth.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's truck inspection policy created a logjam at the border that resulted in $240 million of spoiled produce
Millions of dollars of fruits and vegetables were spoiled due to the delays, the president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas said.
Trader Joe's is more expensive than Aldi and Walmart for nearly every grocery item, with a few notable exceptions
Trader Joe's prices are higher than its competitors for almost every product, but it's the most affordable place to buy organic foods.
I compared grocery prices of household staples at Aldi and Walmart, and it persuaded me to change up my whole shopping routine
Aldi had lower prices on almost every item, especially meat, produce, and canned goods.
How a Pennsylvania dairy farm quickly pivoted to sell directly to customers as thousands of other businesses were forced to destroy unused produce
The Browns knew they could count on their in-house machinery and strong community ties to stay afloat when milk-processing plants canceled pickups.
Producers of milk, produce, and beer have had to make difficult decisions about what to do with their unsold inventory.
A major US fruit supplier says up to 15% of its produce 'will end up in the ditch' without funding to donate to food pantries
As food banks across America are overwhelmed by the newly unemployed, farmers are being forced to throw away their goods. But there may be a solution.
Should you wipe down everything you buy from the grocery store? Two experts explain how to safely shop for groceries during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fruits and veggies can rot quickly because of a pesky gas called ethylene. Here are the items you should never store together.
Some fruits and vegetables emit a gas that can make produce ripen faster — but you can slow that process based on how you store fresh food.
From products to store atmosphere, here are eight reasons people can't get enough of Wegmans, one of America's most loved grocery stores.
From a radical bookstore to a French-style deli, this is the best route of spots to eat and shop at Pike Place Market, according to a Seattle native.
We went grocery shopping at Walmart and Whole Foods and saw how Amazon's $13.7 billion bet is failing to beat the superstore in price and selection
Walmart and Amazon's Whole Foods are two big destinations for grocery shopping. We shopped at both and found the better store.
Expiration or "sell by" dates on food products aren't a reliable means of telling whether a food is safe to eat. Use these hacks to see if food is bad.
A startup selling ugly fruits and vegetables just received a major investment from NBA all-star Kevin Durant
Imperfect and Kevin Durant have teamed up to fight food waste in America, one ugly fruit and vegetable at a time.
One of the world's largest banks has issued an alarming warning about antibiotic resistance — with big consequences for humanity
The use of antibiotics in meat production and other forms of agriculture could lead to antibiotic resistance, which is expected to cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050.
The farm prioritises sustainability and it uses leftover food from local businesses to feed the insects. Mealworms are the easiest and most energy efficient insects that the farm grows. The worms only need 10% of the land used for beef, and they produce far less CO2.
Las Vegas has a new $30 million vertical farm that aims to produce over 1 million pounds of produce every year — take a look
Oasis Biotech says it has invested nearly $30 million in the regional economy, created more than 100 jobs, and developed a sustainable model for local agriculture.
A Bill Gates-backed edible coating available at Costco could make avocados last twice as long — and it just got a $70 million boost
Apeel Sciences makes an invisible coating from plant molecules that acts as an edible barrier to oxygen, pests, and water. After the startup's avocados hit Costco and Harps Food Stores locations, it scored a $70 million investment. Dormer Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb also joined its board.
The CDC is currently investigating a large recent E. coli outbreak linked with romaine lettuce. Here are the foods that are the most likely to get you sick.
A tiny bug could destroy Michigan's $54 million cherry industry — and scientists know relatively little about it
This tiny fruit fly is destroying Michigan's $54 million cherry industry, which makes up 75% of tart cherry production in the US.

domain: news


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Amazon has announced 3 new Ring products on 25 September: a car alarm, a car camera, and a flying drone camera.
Ring Inc. is a company owned by Amazon. It was initially known as Doorbot. It is a company that manufactures home security devices and products.
The flying drone camera which Amazon calls as Ring Always Home Cam will enable you to monitor the current activity inside your home, while you are someplace else. It will be available at $249.99 when it comes into the market in 2021.
It is capable of flying to all the corners of your home. The drone’s flying path can be set as per the requirement of the owner. The drone records only when it is in its flying mode and is physically blocked when it docks, for privacy.
Although the idea is unique and has its advantages, it does pose a threat to an individual’s privacy. A law professor at the University of Washington, Ryan Calo, shared his views on the drone camera: https://t.co/bjggru9K1D?amp=1
The car alarm will notify your phone if it detects suspicious activity around your car. For example, it is a great device for warning you about any break-ins or bumps, even tows and more. It costs $59.99 and is believed to work with “99% of the cars” as said by Amazon.
Similar to the car alarm, the car cam will also be able to monitor any break-ins. The car cam also has high definition cameras which will also be able to record all that is happening. If you are being pulled over, the cam will start recording a video if you say, “Alexa I am being pulled over”.
It will be available at $199.99.


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San Francisco-based American Truffle Co. is encouraging North American vineyard owners to plant trees designed to encourage truffles to grow.
California Vintage, a chain of California-themed wine bars launching across Asia, will open its first branch in January in Hong Kong. The restaurants will offer 80 wines by the glass from partner wineries, including Fritz, Hope, Peachy Canyon and Tierra Roja.
Walmart is seeking regulatory approval to install wine vending machines in its Pennsylvania stores.
Some winemakers in Wisconsin are trying to create less expensive ice wine by limiting the uncertainty that can drive up the price. Grapes are harvested earlier in the fall and aged in freezers that simulate the chill takes place under ideal outdoor conditions.
No, you’re not seeing double: The Kraken Black Spiced Rum will be rolling out bottles with 3-D labels at select stores nationwide.


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Now Accepting Cryptocurrency Payments!
“The world’s changing. It’s time we change too.”
If you’ve been keeping up with current events across the globe, then you likely have heard about the upward trend of cryptocurrency. Most of the cryptocurrency talk in the news refers to the upward-trending price of certain digital coins but fails to acknowledge the reason why this is happening. Cryptocurrencies are becoming more accepted as a form of payment for goods or services. Large corporations and public figures (*cough* Elon Musk) are backing online transactions of various digital currencies as a method of moving away from centralized currencies such as the U.S. Dollar. Each day new companies are adapting to these trends and accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment.
Today, All-Out Brick is one of those companies.
Starting today, we will be accepting purchases on our site that use cryptocurrencies as the method of payment. All cryptocurrency transactions are processed securely through Coinbase Commerce. While checking out on our site, this will appear as a payment option after entering contact and billing information. After clicking “Complete order”, you will be redirected to Coinbase Commerce to complete your purchase securely for the final step of checkout.
To view the prices of our products in denominations of Bitcoin (BTC), simply hover your mouse over the price (desktop) or tap on the price (mobile) to convert the price.
We are thrilled to be offering you the opportunity to use cryptocurrencies to complete purchases on our site and will continue to update our accepted coins as they become available through Coinbase Commerce. Currently we accept the following cryptocurrencies:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Dai (DAI)
- USD Coin (USDC)


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The ad industry is focused on changes in consumer behavior based on the actions of brands and advertisers. But what about changes in the way advertisers respond to consumers?
In a wide-ranging, free-wheeling Q&A, U.S. President Gila Wilensky helps define what Xaxis is today and where it is going in the near future.
"I believe in the value exchange, but I don't think we need email to do it," said Jana Meron, SVP programmatic and data strategy at Insider In a virtual panel discussion on "Life After Cookies," hosted by LiveIntent.
Privacy notifications tied to Apple's Identifier for Advertisers officially launch this week, but some in the San Francisco Bay area have already had a glimpse.
What if marketers had access to an identity graph that updates in real-time using billions of transactions that give them access to hundreds of identifiers across millions of online, offline, social, and household personas?
Marketers who made significant investments in addressable advertising and found results in data may feel any other targeting option is a bridge too far to cross.
Facing significant changes, from Apple's IDFA to Google Cohorts, marketers need to think outside their silos. Working with one provider drives accuracy and less data loss.
The road to Infutor took Zora Senat from an internship at Fox 4 News, Emma L. Bowen Foundation Media Partner, where she worked as a field producer, cutting video and audio tape for reporters to build out their interview reels.
This year's increases won't be enough to wipe out 2020's losses. The ad marketplace won't grow larger than what was seen in 2019 until 2022.
Some companies will become opportunists, or disrupters and pioneers. Some like Best Buy will focus on first-party data and getting closer to the customer, said Keith Bryan, svp and president of Best Buy's ad business, media, and CRM.


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How can I cut costs on my mobile?
Australia is a tech nation. In fact, a report from McCrindle Research found that the average person is spending an average of 10 hours and 19 minutes each day on an electronic device. They're quick, convenient ports of information and communication that are connecting us with the world more than ever before.
With technology ever-improving, mobile phones and other portable devices have become an integral part of everyday life. Smartphone use makes up a huge bulk of the time spent on these gadgets. Australians spent around 52 per cent of daily screen time on mobile gadgets last year, according to a study by IAB Australia and Nielsen. Whether texting, surfing the web, using social media, gaming or playing on the ever-expanding selection of apps, Australians are avid smartphone users - and you might have the bills to prove it.
If you're looking to cut down on your mobile phone spending and get the best mobile plan, bear these useful tips in mind.
Save on data
Without realising, you could be paying more for data use than is necessary. This could simply be browsing on the way to and from work or on lunch breaks. Around 14 per cent of smartphone browsing is done reading the news according to IAB Australia and Nielsen, and social media is another big part of our usage. You can easily save money on casual data use by connecting to a WiFi network, whether you're at home or at the office - and keep an eye out for free wireless internet on public transport.
Review your plan
The first thing you should do is check your mobile plan. On average, Australians spend around $12 per week on their mobile phone, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. You might find that you are paying for something you didn't know which part of the contract. Providers often provide a clear breakdown in how you are using your phone, but without looking over the fine print carefully, it's easy to miss extra charges.
In any case, without understanding what's included in your plan, you might end up overspending in one area while another goes untouched. Check your allowance for calls, minutes and data each month. It might be that you are an enthusiastic conversationalist but aren't getting value from SMS.
If this is the case, the team of experts at Make It Cheaper can help. By looking at how you use your phone and what you're spending each month, they can compare mobile plans and find a deal to suit your habits.
Posted by Richard West


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The elusive Samsung ATIV S is now on sale on Swedish operator Telia.
The handset is available for 449 SEK (around $70) per month on a 24 month contract, which includes 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and 4 GB of data per month.
The phone also comes with either Spotify Premium or Unlimited Storytel for 1 year, but of course Spotify is not available on Windows Phone 8 yet.
See the handset at Telia here.
We have just been tipped to the potential launch date of the Nokia Lumia 920 on Telia in Sweden.
Nokia has previously announced that the handset will be coming to the country in Q4, and will be costing 5700 SEKÂ .
Now we can peg the date a bit closer, to the 46th week of the year, that being from the 12th to 18th November.
The handset will also be available on Vodafone, 3 and Tele2Â in the region.
Thanks MrTelevision for the tip.
The Nokia Lumia 800 only launched on the 23rd January in Sweden, but still managed to clock up enough sales to get into the top 10 phone sales charts in the Scandinavian country.
The chart is compiled from sales at 85 Telia stores around Sweden.
The last time Nokia was in the Swedish charts was 8 months ago, in May 2011. Hopefully with more phones out there we will have snow ball effect and the Lumia 800 will improve its position even more in February.
Thanks Hasona for the tip.
The Nokia Lumia 800 has just been released in Sweden, and Telia, the countryâ€™s biggest carrier, is giving it pride of place.
The carrier has a two-monthly in-store magazine promoting their handsets, which Wingadget.se notes usually features the iPhone 4S.
In this edition however the Nokia Lumia 800 has featured position, and the Nokia Lumia 800 and 710 also have hero positions inside the publication. The magazine also includes HTC and Samsungâ€™s Windows Phone handsets.
The magazine is available in store, but can also be seen online here.
The magazine will remain current till the 22nd March, which should give pretty good exposure to the handset.
Read more at Wingadget.se here.
Nokia in a press release has announced the release date for the Nokia Lumia 800 in Sweden.
The handset will become available in all Swedish carriers on the 23rd January 2012, and pre-orders have opened up onÂ Telenor, Tele2, Telia and Tre.
The handset will come with both Nokiaâ€™s Drive GPS navigation app and MIXRadio music streaming app.
“This is one of our most anticipated products ever and it feels very good to our Swedish consumers finally get to meet Nokia Lumia 800″ said Vanjoki,Â product manager for Nokia in Scandinavia.
“With the Nokia 800 Lumia gets Windows Phone visible to the public at large. Nokia’s total focus on Windows Phone has resulted in an amazing phone, unique both inside and out – a phone that everyone will want to have,” said Peter Wissinger business area manager for Windows Phone in the North.
The Lumia 800 is cost around 3900 SEK in the store, excluding taxes or subsidies and will accompanied by Nokia Purity HD Stereo Headphones by Monster (on-ear) and Nokia Purity Headsets by Monster (in-ear), developed jointly with Monster Cable. These headsets are expected to cost around 2000 SEK (on-ear) and 1000 SEK (in-ear).
To read the full press release from Nokia, click here .


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By Adina Moloman
According to INEGI, Mexico recorded a trade surplus of 1657.61 USD Million in December of 2013. The Balance of Trade in Mexico has reached a record high of 1752.97 USD Million in March of 2013 and an all time low of -3292.31 USD Million in October of 2008.
The good news is that the Mexican economy recovered from the severe contraction generated by the 2008-2009 global financial crises. Since then the economy experienced an average annual growth of 4.5 %.
According to a declaration of the Mexican Secretary of Economy, the increase in trade is one of the benefits that free trade agreements has generated for Mexico, mentioning that prior to trade liberalization, exports from Mexico were primarily energy, and now due to an remarkable effort of promoting the industries sectors Manufacturing in Mexico, the export is currently around 80 percent of manufacturing.
Trade between Mexico and the rest of the world grew by almost 800 billion of dollars in 2013 according to the same source.
Last year Mexico’s main exports were automobiles and related products (24 percent of total exports), oil and oil products (14 percent) and agricultural products (3 percent).
Last year Mexico’s main imports were metallic products, machinery and equipment (50 percent of total imports), mining products (13 percent), chemical products (6.3 percent).
In 2013 the Oil exports recorded the highest drop (6.2 percent) and auto manufactured goods sales grew by 7.7 percent.
For 2013, Mexico´s main trading partners: United States (78 percent of total exports) followed by Canada, China and Japan.
Mexico’s main imports are from United States, 51 percent of total imports.
Sales to the US in 2013 comparing to 2012 increased 6.7 percent while those to the rest of the world increased 0.2 percent.


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It is estimated there are more than half a million nicotine pouch users in the UK. That’s roughly the equivalent of the population of Manchester, up from zero just four years ago when nicotine pouches first became available in the UK.
The increasingly popular product offers adult smokers and nicotine users an oral, tobacco-free and smoke-free nicotine alternative. Placed under the lip, the pouches allow nicotine to be absorbed through the lining of the mouth.
According to estimates by British American Tobacco UK (BAT UK), there may be more than two million regular nicotine-pouch users in the UK by 2026.
The surging popularity of nicotine pouches is timely news for those committed to delivering on the government’s Smoke Free 2030 target for England.
Independent research commissioned by BAT UK found that practically all nicotine-pouch users in the UK are current or former smokers (99 per cent). The same study also found that most nicotine-pouch users have previously tried, and subsequently failed, to quit using ‘replacement therapies’ such as nicotine gum. Two-thirds found nicotine pouches more effective than nicotine replacement therapies at helping them quit or reduce smoking.
These findings offer extremely promising signs that nicotine pouches can help England go Smoke Free by 2030.
According to the Dr Javed Khan Independent Review on Tobacco Control published in June last year, England will miss its Smoke Free 2030 target by at least seven years on current trends, while its least prosperous communities will not reach the Smoke Free threshold (defined as smoking rates of below 5 per cent) until 2044.
If the example of Sweden is anything to go by, nicotine pouches may be just what’s needed to regain momentum.
In Sweden, oral nicotine – traditional snus, as well as nicotine pouches – has long been popular. Although snus has been widely used since the 1970s, the introduction of nicotine pouches in 2018 has caused smoking rates to decline even faster, with smoking rates of 5.6 per cent reported in November last year – a 51 per cent drop in a decade. According to Statistics Sweden, almost 14 per cent of Swedes used oral products every day last year, a 23 per cent increase on 2012. Sweden is on the brink of becoming the first European country to become officially smoke free.
The June 2022 Khan Review recognised the potential of this new category when it called on the government not to legalise snus, but instead promote ‘safer alternative nicotine products such as nicotine pouches, maximising their value to help smokers to quit’. However, nicotine pouches do not have a specific set of regulations covering them in the same way vaping products do. Instead, they are governed by general consumer product regulations which do not properly regulate the sector. To keep oral nicotine pouches in line with other reduced risk products and to protect consumers, a bespoke regulatory framework for tobacco-free oral nicotine pouches is urgently needed.
On 17 April, the Committee on Toxicity published its position on nicotine pouches, at the request of the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, concluding that ‘the use of oral nicotine pouches, as recommended by the manufacturer, as a replacement for combustible cigarette smoking is likely to be associated with a reduction in overall risk of adverse health effects’.
In the absence of regulations, BAT UK, along with two other responsible manufacturers, has adopted a voluntary code of conduct to govern the marketing, packaging and labelling of these products. The code also imposes a nicotine ceiling of 20mg/pouch.
The answer to a recent question to Neil O’Brien, Under-Secretary at Department of Health and Social Care, disappointingly stated, despite previous indications of the contrary, that the government has no timeline for nicotine pouch regulation. Although this would be a missed opportunity in securing the sustainability of the category, we are still optimistic that the government will realise the potential role of nicotine products in reaching Smoke Free 2030.
Smokers are already turning to pouches to help them move away from smoking. It is not too late for the government to seize this golden opportunity to put sensible regulations in place which we believe will give more smokers the confidence they need to switch.
 Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette smoking. These products are not risk free and are addictive.
By David Waterfield, Area Director of Western Europe Area, British American Tobacco
BAT UK is a UK subsidiary of BAT. BAT is building A Better Tomorrow™ by reducing the health impact of our business. From launching our first vaping device in the UK in 2013, non-combustible alternative nicotine products accounted for almost half of the revenue of BAT’s UK business in 2021.


text: Clarence and Richmond Valley fixed income recipients with older style televisions and fridges should take advantage of a popular NSW Government scheme that could get them new appliances at half price, according to Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis. “So far our Home Energy Action appliance replacement scheme has replaced more than 32,600 old, inefficient appliances in 28,100 homes across NSW, but I am concerned not enough Clarence and Richmond Valley locals know about it,” Mr Gulaptis said. “The deal is pretty straightforward: eligible households get up to 50% discount when replacing their fridge or TV at The Good Guys store, courtesy of NSW Government subsidies. “This is going to save you hundreds of dollars of your annual power bill, with the bonus of also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” Low-income, concession card holders are eligible to apply, with additional support available for energy hardship customers. A subsidised sliding scale fee covers delivery and is available across the entire state. The initiative is also available to small business. Apply online at www.powertosave.nsw.gov.au. The web site also includes information about other ways to save on your bills.


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Oakley Launches the “One Obsession” Campaign to Inspire You to Live Yours
By Megan Munro ( Complex mag Uk)
Oakley’s new “One Obsession” campaign is an initiative to live their obsession, aiming to invite and inspire people to join the brand’s global network of athlete ambassadors in living out their passions. Oakley pretty much has the sports eyewear game on lock, with skiing, skating, cycling, and countless other sports all turning to the brand for their eyewear needs.
Oakley has more than 450 athletes on their roster, including names like Eric Koston, Gabriel Medina, Mark Cavendish, and Matt Kemp, who all live out their obsessions in their daily lives with Oakley, and the movement aims to encourage fans to share and celebrate their physical places of obsession around the world. It could be a mountain peak, a suburban garage, or a public handrail.
Oakley will reward the #LiveYours contributions with surprise experiences and access to athletes who inspire them. The global campaign launched this week, and runs throughout the year, for more information and to get involved


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Vimeo — owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ:IAC) — has agreed to acquire video-sharing site Livestream.
The move will help expand Vimeo’s video empire as the company looks to reach the heights of competitors YouTube and Hulu with the acquisition. Livestream hosts more than 10 million events for more than 10,000 paying subscribers such as Dow Jones, Philadelphia Eagles and Spotify.
Roughly 50 million viewers tune in to watch Livestream’s events every months. Vimeo’s acquisition makes sense as the company recently abandoned plans to roll out a subscription video-on-demand business earlier in the year.
Instead, the company will use Livestream’s capabilities to launch its own live streaming product, Vimeo Live. The move will allow Vimeo to record, edit, stream and archive live events, plus it will be able to host, distribute and generate revenue from its videos.
The terms of the deal have not been disclosed so far, but it is slated to be completed early in the fourth quarter of the current year. Vimeo told TechCrunch that this is its largest acquisition as of yet.
In addition to now hosting live events, the move will bolster Vimeo’s core business of selling tools and services to professional and semi-professional video creators.
Vimeo acquired its VHX unit last year, allowing companies to launch their own video streaming services to make their films, shows and web series available for a profit through its platforms.
The service is used by the Foo Fighters, NPR’s This American Life, Comedy Central and several others.
IAC shares fell 0.6% Tuesday.


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As Zynga continues to weather its first weeks of trading on the stock exchange (NASDAQ: ZNGA), investors are cautiously looking for what companies will become the next big names in social gaming. While the dim IPO of the San Francisco startup only reached a high of $11.50 ($1.50 above the debut price) and is now trading in the 9.30-9.50 range, the demand for more social gaming and digital goods providers continues.
Zynga is expected to grow revenues in 2012 due to the 2011 new games such as Adventure World in September, Mafia Wars 2 and CastleVille in November, in addition to the continued expansion on the mobile market -- and more gaming companies are looking to be follow this trend.
In 2010, players spent nearly $510 million on virtual goods and by 2012 that number is expected to rise to nearly $780 million according to PopCap Games and TripWire magazine. And while there are a staggering 53 million social media gamers in the U.S., the adoption by other countries has been far greater by percentage -- with more than 26% of the UK using social games and nearly 30% in Japan.
So who has what it takes to catapult toward Zynga-like proportions?
There are hundreds of companies that have entered the social gaming and virtual goods market in the last seven years, but few have been able to gain the audience and brand loyalty that it takes to keep the companies at the top of the charts. There are some, however, that have the potential become the new household names in gaming.
This explosively-named social gaming company has done a lot to separate itself from what they refer to as the “mass market/casual games,” like Zynga's, that dominate Facebook and because of it, they have gained a different and loyal following. The titles under Kabam's cloak include Kingdoms of Camelot, Dragons of Atlantis, Edgeworld, The Godfather: Five Families, Glory of Rome and Global Warfare. Kingdoms of Camelot was even voted Readers’ Choice Facebook Game of 2010 by IGN readers.
Recently, Kabam created two new business units: Kabam Game Studios and Kabam Game Distribution. These distractions have positioned the company and its CEO Kevin Chou to expand the scope and strength of the company to not just developing its own original games, but also distribute content from designers they admire.
Dragons of Atlantis is the company’s biggest game, with 1.1 million monthly active users, according to AppData - overall, Kabam has roughy 3 million users but their users tend to spend more money on the games than the Zynga players. This fact was a large reason why they drew $125 million in venture capital since their launch in 2006 -- $85 million of which came in this past May.
In November, Kabam began selling pre-paid branded game cards at GameStop and Best Buy nationwide that can be redeemed through Facebook or on Kabam’s own site.
In December, Kabam launched the Five Families game exclusively with the new Google+ gaming platform as a joint promotion to grow the gaming familiarity on sites outside the Facebook sphere.
This social gaming company has been on the Facebook scene since Zynga started and was the first company to develop a Zoo-themed social game that continues to be one of the business' best performers. Its stable of games includes Gourmet Ranch, Zoo World, Zoo World 2, Cloud Forrest and Galactic Allies.
Zoo World currently has approximately 2.3 million monthly users, which brings the number of RockYou users to almost 7 million per month.
The six-year-old company has garnered capital from Sequoia Capital, Partech International, Lightspeed Venture Partners, DCM and Softbank and is in the works of launching some more male-focused games in the coming year in order to supplement its strong 40-year-old housewife audience.
When I spoke with RockYou's CEO Lisa Marino earlier this month, she expressed the strength that her company has found in the advertisement returns it can get.
For some of RockYou's games, the company is collecting $20 CPM on advertising campaigns and have an "extremely high" completion rate (which means most people are taking the poll, watching the video or otherwise interacting with the advertisements.)
Some of the brands that RockYou has been able to work closely with to create integrated marketing campaigns that want to reach moms, and their wallet, include Dawn, Volkswagon, Method, HP and The CW.
With approximately 42 million users a month playing its signature games such as Sorority Life, Gardens of Times and Wild Ones, Playdom has created a solid following that could continue to grow with the demand.
Playdom now has more than 15 games available for free on Facebook, MySpace, and other social networks around the globe.
Playdom is bringing the tradition of high-quality entertainment, to the rapidly growing world of social games.
In 2010, Playdom was acquired by Disney and now has more money at its disposal to not only improve the quality and marketing of the company games but could lead to some creation of Disney-themed social games in the very near future.
Having access to the Disney catalog could be the shiniest feather in the Playdom cap and would give the company a competitive edge in become the next big name in gaming.
So, while there is no gearing up for IPO possibilities for this offshoot of Disney, its growth in the social gaming sphere could have a great impact on the landscape.
TV tie-in games
Television and marketing executives have gotten very excited lately by the prospects of creating social games that follow the theme of popular programs on cable.
Premium programming such as Weeds and Dexter have already entered the social gaming world and there is word that Game of Thrones is next on the production line for letting fans play in the alternate world popularized by novels and TV episodes.
While no particular company is responsible for all of these new social gaming focuses, this trend looks to be in the early stages of gearing up and will also affect the player pool and which games will attract more of their time and virtual goods.


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When Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle in 1906, readers were exposed to the horrible abuse of those who worked in the meat-packing industry. The book changed how the country thought about food safety and sparked considerable shifts in inspections and labor practices, shaping laws for the last century. Now, it seems that we’re increasingly turning our attention to the other major component of the industry: the animals themselves. Despite the shock-and-awe campaigns of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (which occasionally uses naked women to encourage vegetarianism), ours is a country rife with meat eaters. Health pronouncements about eating less red meat have had some effect, and “meatless Monday” is catching on in many areas, but on the whole, the United States is a paradise for omnivores.
But can you eat meat and still maintain a sense of spiritual health and physical well-being? Those who encourage mindful eating believe it can be done. By treating animals with respect and raising them on diets that are fundamental to their health — letting cows graze on grass, for example — we can improve further upon the efforts of Sinclair. Reducing the number of factory farms (with their complete elimination as an eventual goal) is a major step in this direction. Recently, McDonald’s Corporation announced it would work toward phasing out gestation stalls for pregnant sows, a move that surprised many food activists and sparked some hope that big business would align with advocates for a more sustainable food system — similar to when Walmart started carrying organic produce. Bon Appétit Management Company, which operates over 400 cafés for corporations, universities, and museums, also announced this year that they are rolling out a comprehensive farm animal welfare policy. In all likelihood, more companies will make similar moves, and forward-thinking ranchers and farmers are beginning to sign up for certification programs, like Certified Humane and Animal Welfare Approved, which assure consumers of more humane practices.
In general, though, the mindful meat movement will rely on individual eaters who demand to know about the origin of what they’re eating. It’s akin to the local food revolution, which rallies eaters to “know your farmer.” Sales of organic meat increased more than 150 percent from 2002 to 2009, and the growth continues. Young butchers like those at Dickson’s Farmstand Meats in New York City are touting their relationships to the farms where they source their meat. Restaurants are including farm names on menus, along with descriptions of how the animals were raised. All of these changes are vital for increasing awareness and forging a connection to farmers and ranchers who make the effort to raise their animals with respect. For many who continue to eat meat, tapping into this movement can be a powerful way to stay out of The Jungle.


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For several years, fast-growing Dell Computer Corp. has been the envy of computer manufacturers, many of whom openly seek to emulate its highly efficient direct-sales business model.
Now, corporate customers in manufacturing and service businesses also want to learn from Dell.
So the Round Rock, Texas-based computer-maker is planning an expansion of its services business--from dealing largely with technical issues into business consulting.
"Companies are coming to us, saying, `Show us how,"' said Kevin B. Rollins, vice chairman of Dell and a former partner and director at Bain & Co., a management consultant.
Dell executives cautioned in interviews last week at the Comdex/Fall trade show in Las Vegas that the consulting initiative is embryonic, though they said they are committed to the concept.
"We will do this," Rollins said. "We're still working out exactly what we will do, what we will announce and what our third-party alliances will be."
Joseph A. Marengi, senior vice president and group general manager for Dell Americas, said the objective is to create a "practice to understand best practices."
The main goal will be to sell more Dell personal computers, executives said, though the service could eventually lead to significant revenue.
"The whole industry is transitioning from pure-product strategies to more service-centric models," said Ashok Kumar, an analyst at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.
Dell's latest electronic-commerce efforts are tied to applying the Internet to everything the company does, improving customer service and automating processes to cut costs.
Its efforts are geared toward making on-line shopping superior to any alternative by offering higher levels of convenience and pertinent information to buyers.
"Dell has the brand, the intimate understanding of how to reduce costs and leverage the Internet," said Gopi Bala, an analyst with the Yankee Group in Boston.
"The fact that companies want to talk to Dell is understandable," Bala said.
Dell has lots of capabilities that interest customers, Rollins said.
The company is best known for its build-to-order sales model, through which customers are able to purchase products to the exact specifications they choose.
A big advantage for the Dell business model is that the company's factories keep minimal inventory--a critical competitive edge in an industry where components rapidly become obsolete and depreciate.
Also, Dell is able to build better relationships with its customers because it deals with them directly rather than through distributors or retailers.
Recently, Dell has also been gaining attention for its Internet-related efforts.
The company now sells $35 million worth of equipment over the Internet each day, accounting for 43 percent of overall revenue.
Based on an annualized rate, company officials said, Dell's Internet sales alone would place the company in the top 125 among Fortune 500 companies.
The consulting work typically starts with traditional customer relationships.
For example, Ford Motor Co., one of Dell's most prominent customers for desktop and notebook PCs, has asked executives from the computer-maker to talk with car dealers about the Internet.
Dell's chairman and chief executive, Michael Dell, has also been addressing Ford executives.
Dell has met with Ford's president and chief executive officer, Jacques Nasser, to talk about Internet strategies.
Ford has been putting considerable resources into its Internet efforts. At Comdex, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates showed off some of Ford's latest efforts in a demonstration for Windows 2000 software.
Another customer, Eastman Chemical Co., sought out Dell as a role model for e-commerce strategies because executives want to be a leader in the chemical business on-line.
"We've looked at Dell as a benchmark," said Fred Buehler, director of electronic business for Kingsport, Tenn.-based Eastman, which sells largely to other chemical businesses.
Dell has also helped Plano, Texas-based J.C. Penney Co. with e-commerce strategies. Penney said it bought Dell computers for its Web site in advance of the holiday rush.
Indeed, Dell executives emphasized that the service offerings don't represent a retreat from the hardware business.
"Having watched us do it, the natural inclination is to ask how it was done," Marengi said. "And our natural inclination is to help them. Michael (Dell) is the lead evangelist, the poster child for it all."
Marengi said the company has a very positive story to tell about its Web site,
http://www.dell.com "The proof is in the pudding," he said, citing data showing the site runs reliably around the clock.
"CEOs are trying to move into a new world," Marengi said. "They need to challenge the existing processes inside their companies. They need corporate renegades."


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Senec Australia's MD, Ian Parkinson, has a long-term vision that sees households, businesses and whole communities empowered to take back energy control from the corporate petrochem companies. Ian is determined to make Senec a key part of the energy market in Australia and New Zealand.
In his presentation, Ian said that most homes won't be able to get completely off the grid mostly due to our excessively high consumption of power. A 10kw battery system is around $16,500 installed and prices are unlikely to come down any time soon because demand outstrips supply. This is not only because of the demand from the housing industry but extremely high demand from the world-wide auto industry. An example is that Norway will soon be a 100% electric vehicle country.
Ian also brought an actual battery for us to view. Even though the price is currently high, demand is strong.


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Building Loyalty on Facebook: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
The term "brand loyalty" may bring to mind many well-known companies, such as Facebook, Google, Walt Disney World or Starbucks, but what about a non-profit organization?
According to a recent brand loyalty survey from social research firm LoudDoor, the brand with the most loyal Facebook fans is not a for-profit corporation. It's St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The study, which asked consumers how likely they are to recommend a brand page they "like" on Facebook to a friend, found that consumers feel far more loyal to St. Jude than even Facebook itself. St. Jude scored a 77.8 on LoudDoor's scale, compared to Facebook's score of 66.6.
The reason? John Avola, St. Jude's senior liaison for interactive marketing, social, and mobile, believes that it comes down to mutual involvement and loyalty. "We at St. Jude are just as loyal back to our fans as they are to us," he said.
For example, this past July, St. Jude decided to run a weekly feature titled, "St. Jude Moments." These posts focus on one child each week and a few important aspects of his or her daily life at St. Jude. Sharing these more personal moments humanizes the brand and allows it to connect with its audience on a more emotional level.
St. Jude also keeps the tone honest. It uses social media to reflect the true nature of the brand by being inspirational and uplifting. While many children at St. Jude are dealing with hardships, their smiles and hope keeps fans coming back to the page.
Finally, the St. Jude Facebook page places a high priority on giving back. Posts on the page regularly show appreciation and gratitude to the support of the network, and comments and questions are addressed quickly.
All of these practices are what makes St. Jude the most loyally followed brand on Facebook. To learn more, check out the article from Ragan's Health Care Communication News.
TIPS OF THE MONTH
Last month, Facebook announced it would be rolling out a redesign for timeline to make it cleaner and more personal for users. Below is some information that helps explain the new design, so you can make the most of these changes for your organization's Facebook page. For the full article, visit Nonprofit Hub.


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Chase Mobile and Credit Karma are locked in a struggle to claim the number one slot among finance apps this week, with Chase Mobile topping the iOS charts and Credit Karma emerging as number one for Google Play. PayPal and Wells Fargo Mobile also vied for spots four and five on the lists,Read More
Post Tagged with: "Mobile Apps"
Bank of America last Tuesday introduced version 7.0.0 of its iPhone mobile app, and it was noteworthy largely because of one new feature: it gives consumers access to their credit scores. Bank of America is believed to be one of the few financial institutions to offer consumers unfettered access to their creditRead More
Ally Financial is betting that negative reinforcement can have a positive effect on your wallet. The bank launched a new app this week — still in beta — dubbed “Splurge Alert.” The app asks users to identify stores and areas where they tend to overspend, from coffee shops to malls,Read More
Pentagon Federal Credit Union is mapping out its “next big transition” in the mobile banking space: switching its app to a customer “acquisition” channel, from a customer “maintenance” channel, Chris Martin, senior vice president of regional service centers at PenFed, told Auto Finance News, a sister publication of Bank Innovation.
VeriFone Systems Inc., the payments hardware company, is going whole hog into apps. In the second quarter of next year, VeriFone plans to unveil an app marketplace for its products and services. The app marketplace will “[enable] our clients and third-party app developers to create and deploy payment and commerce applications onRead More
Listen to this: Bankjoy, the Y Combinator alum startup, is hotly working on a banking app for Apple Watch that will rely on voice for functionality. Dick Tracy would be thrilled. Michael Duncan, the founder and CEO of Bankjoy, told us yesterday that the Apple Watch app will be doneRead More
Bankers need but one mantra today: “my bank is a technology company, my bank is a technology company.” And exhale. The truth is this concept appears to be incredibly difficult for the vast majority of American banks to fully grasp even today — unlike European banks, for example. Why exactlyRead More
Wells Fargo & Co. has ditched BlackBerry for its mobile banking apps, as well as cut support for some iPhones.
Why can’t banks generate the kind of media buzz of an Apple?
No one likes paying bills, but we all have to do it. Managing bills is a tedious and frustrating task for most — and several new ventures are taking renewed aim at this pain point. Google Now Google Now is a predictive personal assistant that tries to figure out whatRead More


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For some years now it was known that Google was working on self-driving cars, and for a while now, no one really knew what the team was working on next. However, recently Google did reveal to the world their next ambitious and interesting project: Wing. It is all about a self-driving flying vehicle which will be able to perform deliveries on its own. Similar to the Amazon drone delivery system in its testing phase.
Even though the idea is relatively closely tied with delivery, the main idea behind Google’s drones is focused on disaster relief. Delivering supplies and medication to areas where needed most without jeopardizing anymore lives in the process.
The vehicle itself is small and light, which means that their carrying capacity is rather restricted as well. It is a self-driven drone, which means that they can take off and land without any help, and they also do not need any runways.
The vehicle has four electric propellers which will help with steering and staying airborne. The main processing unit is located near the tail, and this is where all the instructions come from; but the main power is distributed in the front part of the drone.
Google is also considering implementing human interaction with the drone, when engineers have to help the drone so that the drone itself, or the package does not get stuck somewhere. Google is hoping to improve the AI by doing so, similarly as in with their automated software in development for the self-driving cars.
Because the team was afraid that when it is time to leave the package, the clients would get hurt because of the small propellers, the engineers came up with a simple yet effective method of lowering the package via a string line from the drone itself and safely getting to the desired location.
What is in it for Google?
The project team’s Chief Executive Larry Page and the company hope that the so called “moonshot” projects will create new economic growth opportunities. And Project Wing is on a good road to create and cultivate such opportunities when it is about moving good around more efficiently and safely.
Furthermore, with Amazon developing a similar technology, it is only a question of who will dominate the sky and who will deliver better. But, it looks like the drone war is only just beginning.
On a more serious note, where even military leaders are concerned, and with good reason too, to what extent will self-driving drones impact security measures as well as legal rights concerning secured airspaces.
It is feared that these autonomous drones can be used for very serious terrorist activities without ever being noticed. Even if the technology develops, it will still be a matter of legal and practical headwinds. When will the drones see the daylight of functionality and practicality is still a question left for the future.
But even if we do not consider only the most useful of a number of usage scenarios – drones can be really handy to have around. Imagine ordering a cold lemonade on a hot day and having it instantly delivered to your doorstep. Or a pre-ordered laptop landing into your backyard as soon as it becomes available. Yes, it would certainly spoil us some more, but we like to be spoiled. We asked our friends from Shopping Express, an online computer shop, for their opinion on this delivery method and they were more than enthusiastic – they pointed out that this would eliminate many troublesome aspects of the delivery process and make things easier for both buyers and sellers.
And for now it seems that the drone system is far from becoming a reality, but as Astro Teller, Google X’s team leader announced that developing these drones will help with helping people in dire need. The true aim for this project is to develop autonomous drones fit for disaster relief.
Image Source: Flickr


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In print – The best new hotels of 2024
Online – 25 Amazing new hotels for the year ahead – for all budgets
We were so thrilled to start the year with a feature in The Times’ Travel section – both online and in print! Listed in the best new hotels of 2024 – as plans to renovate the bedrooms of Harbour House are well underway.
They wrote “The hotelier Tamara Costin made her name with the much-loved Whitehouse in Devon. She recently sold that property and has done the unthinkable: defected to Cornwall. The chance to renovate a quayside pub and centuries old sailor’s pitstop in Flushing proved too irresistible. Flushing? Yes exactly, the fact that you’ve probably never heard of this sweet maritime village, a 15 minute ferry ride from Falmouth, was part of the draw. She’s already revamped downstairs in shanty-chic fashion including antique lighting and a bespoke bar crafted by a local boat builder. Dinner by Jeffrey Robinson, who previously worked at the Michelin green star New Yard Restaurant, is already getting plaudits too. By Easter four bedrooms will open, layered with soulful rusticity and accompanied by grand views.”
Stay tuned for news and updates on when you can book your stay!


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Gartner Enterprise Applications Summit 2010 to take place between the 17 and 18 May Betsy Burton, vice president & distinguished analyst at Gartner Business talks about the impact of business capabilities...
Zoom denies claims that its service is a security risk
Design is all about applying the fundamental principles of engineering, believes Mark Wilson, in the latest in his ten-part series
The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak should concentrate some people’s minds about the importance of experts, argues Professor Peter Cochrane
While the Sony PS5 hardware will be similar to Microsoft’s Xbox Series X, the two consoles also offer a number of differences in terms of raw specs


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A Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market is set to open Wednesday at 515 3rd St. in Independence.
The 12,000-square-foot store will employ 30 people. The neighborhood market will have a pharmacy along with a grocery store selling fresh produce and meat.
Wal-Mart has been concentrating on smaller Neighborhood Markets. They’re more like a traditional grocery store, with a bakery, deli and pharmacy, and not the massive array of merchandise found in a SuperCenter.
Since the start of the year, Neighborhood Markets have opened in Gonzales, Slidell and Clinton. Neighborhood Markets are under construction in Kentwood and near the Coursey Boulevard-Sherwood Forest intersection in Baton Rouge.


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KNP BT, parent company of Info' Products, is abandoning its packaging division to focus efforts entirely on its PC business.
The Dutch-based company announced the split on 12 February, and will invest proceeds from the division's sale into its PC and office supplies side. If a trade buyer cannot be found, the current organisation will be demerged and floated on the Dutch stock exchange as two separate companies.
The move will also mark the end of KNP BT's head office and supervisory board.
Patrick Delleede, senior staff officer of corporate communications at KNP BT, said the packaging arm accounted for between 15 and 20 per cent of the company's sales for 1997, and about 35 per cent of its net operating profit. He added that it had 10 candidates who were 'willing and able' to buy the packaging side of the business.
Howard Dickel, director of business development at Info' Products UK, confirmed that the reseller cannot continue with the diversity of two branches and needs to concentrate on one discipline. He said: 'There has been some concern over the company's focus, and it was decided to separate the two divisions and invest more in the distribution side. The packaging is not as dynamic or fast growing.'
He added that there are a number of acquisitions Info' Products wanted to add to its list. This is despite the reseller failing to meet its 1997 financial targets after last year's buyout of UK reseller Simmons Magee (PC Dealer, 11 February). Delleede said any long-term plans for Info' Products expansion would most likely rest in the continent and not in the UK.
Shares for KNP BT, Europe's largest paper merchandiser, went up after the split announcement, suggesting shareholder and market pressure.
The move follows the sale of the company's Leykam paper production division to South Africa's Sappi, and unsuccessful talks to merge KNP BT's trading arm with Dutch Hagemeyer in December last year.
The same month saw announcements of executive departures from the board, including chairman, Frank de Wit, and group finance director, Rob Bonnier.
After the split, the remaining operation will trade as Buhrmann-Tetterode.
Infrastructure provider says international sales now make up 51 per cent of its revenue
Suzanne Chappell of TMS plans sailing venture after selling Oxfordshire-based TMS to acquisitive Chess
Withdrawal of credit insurance by some providers a 'reflection' of current challenge facing IT sector, according to MD Steve Soper
SMART's UK managing director joins Lenovo to boost SMB business


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Turkey to unveil prototype of first indigenous car in December
SERKAN DEMİRTAŞ - ANKARA
Turkey will launch the prototype of the country’s first indigenous electric car in December two years after a joint venture of five local industrial giants was established, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank has said, describing the move “revolutionary” for Turkey’s continued development efforts.
“We are hoping to introduce the moving prototype of Turkey’s first domestically-made car in December. It will mark an important achievement in our efforts to this end,” Varank said on a visit to Demirören Media Center on Sept. 13.
The prototype is an electric SUV, one of five different models to be produced by the joint venture. “Turkey will be the only country in our region that will be able to produce an electric SUV,” Varank stated.
Five suppliers - Anadolu Group, BMC, Kıraça Holding, Turkcell, and Zorlu Holding – have been engaged to jointly manufacture Turkey’s first indigenous car. The details about the electric cars and its brand will be announced at the ceremony to be held in December, the minister informed.
As a result of a $3 billion investment, Turkey is hoping to manufacture three models with five different bodies, namely sedan, hatchback, station wagon, sports and crossover. The mass production of the cars is set to begin in late 2022.
Varank said there was some delay in the implementation of the road map for Turkey’s indigenous car, stressing, “We want to expedite the process. Our president is also very keen to see the accomplishment of this manufacturing process. He is not happy of the extension of the process.”
A ‘revolution’ for Turkey
Varank stressed the importance of this project for Turkey’s development efforts, repeating President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s characterization of this industrial move as a revolution. “We see the manufacturing of Turkey’s first locally-made car as a very important project. It’s a revolution in terms of our industrial efforts,” he said. “Of course, it should be a sustainable and successful project.”
The state supports the manufacturing process, but it’s a commercial affair run by these five companies, Varank said. “The automotive industry is changing. It’s more about software than man-handling. Our initiative is very much consistent with our efforts to start a technology-concentrated industry move. It was the right time for us to manufacture the electric cars.”
New strategy for industry, technology
Varank informed that he will announce a new Industry and Technology Strategy on Sept. 18 in the Turkish capital, which will set Turkey’s road map for industrial development towards 2023, the centennial of the Turkish Republic.
“We will also publicize the Industry and Technology Strategy Document. It will set our goals and the titles we will coordinate our development efforts on,” he stressed.
Along with the strategy, a system for subsidies is also going to be amended by integrating different stimulus mechanisms under a single roof, the minister said.


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Across from Macy’s, the World’s Largest Store, H&M is building the Largest Store in Its Global Fleet.
H&M’s 63,000-square-foot space will be a fraction of the Macy’s Herald Square flagship’s 1.2 million square feet. But H&M’s four-level flagship at Herald Center, bowing in fall 2014, will be unlike any other unit in the chain, offering the singular combination of women’s, men’s, sport, maternity, plus sizes, accessories, cosmetics, children’s — from newborns to kids age 14 — and home.
The Swedish retailer operates two existing stores within blocks of the new flagship, one on 34th Street and Broadway, and the other on 34th Street and Seventh Avenue. At the moment, the company has no plans of closing either store or converting them to other concepts.
H&M has used the strategy before — clustering stores within blocks of one another — in San Francisco and SoHo, here. “There’s a lot of traffic in that area,” said Daniel Kulle, president of H&M North America. “As we’ve done before, we’re keeping all the stores open in close proximity to each other.” RELATED STORY: H&M Launches E-commerce in U.S. >>
Macy’s, which developed so-called fast-fashion brand Impulse, has been trying to make inroads with 24- to 30-year-old customers, one of H&M’s key demographics. Macy’s recruited Karl Lagerfeld, among others, to collaborate on collections for Impulse. Lagerfeld in 2004 ignited the masstige movement when he partnered with H&M on a onetime collection that sold out in a flash. That led to annual designer hookups at H&M and copycat launches by other players.
H&M has been expanding aggressively in the U.S. In March, the retailer said it was opening 10 stores in cities such as Chicago, Washington, New Orleans and Honolulu.
The Herald Center flagship will take the title of biggest store in the world from a previously revealed 57,000-square-foot unit opening on Fifth Avenue and 48th Street. H&M is also planning to open a 42,500-square-foot store at 4 Times Square at the end of 2013. The retailer said the three new Manhattan stores will together hire 900 employees.
Kulle explained the difference between the Herald Center and Times Square neighborhoods. “The Herald Square location is a very strong shopping district with both national and international retailers,” he said. “The Times Square location is a very strong international tourist destination with global visibility.
“We are proud to continue our unprecedented expansion in New York City with this groundbreaking Herald Square location,” said Kulle. “Locking in our 14th store in Manhattan shows our continued commitment to growth in the New York City market. Thirty-Fourth Street has proven to be one of the most successful retail corridors for the brand after having operated two stores there for over 10 years. With close to 300 stores across the country as well our new Shop Online, the H&M anchor store at this historic intersection will be one of our greatest accomplishments to date.”
A source said that even though H&M may not have been shopping for a new location in Herald Square, the company, which is opportunistic in its leasing, pounced in characteristic fashion. “They found this incredible space,” said the source. “It’s a very impressive space, and they wanted to grab the opportunity.”
H&M’s rendering of the new flagship shows that a brighter day is dawning for Herald Center, the 10-story, 250,000-square-foot retail and office property located at the southwest corner of 34th Street and Broadway. The building, clad in depressing black glass, was a jumble of odd layouts inside for retailers such as Daffy’s, Toys ‘R’ Us, Payless and several low-end stores. H&M won’t be the only retailer in the building. A Bank of America unit will open there, and there could be a few smaller stores.
The black glass covering the exterior of the first three floors will be replaced by a custom modern 300-foot wraparound glass facade. Images from ad campaigns will be interspersed in windows like billboards; the building has signing rights that don’t require city approval. Floors four through 10 will have LED light panels on the outside of the building. There will be an atrium about 35 feet high on the second level.
Herald Center was built on the site of what once was Saks Fifth Avenue and later E.J. Korvette. The property in the early Eighties was financed by Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, who conceived it as a luxury shopping mall with early tenants such as Charles Jourdan, Ann Taylor, Alfred Dunhill and Brookstone. But they didn’t last in the location.
JEMB Realty in 1989 acquired Herald Center from the Marcoses and envisioned the property as a big-box vertical mall. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles also has offices in the building.
JEMB has been planning to renovate the building and was looking for a fashion tenant to fill the primary space when Daffy’s closed. When the off-price retailer filed for bankruptcy protection last year, JEMB entered into an agreement to acquire Daffy’s leasehold interests, some real estate and some intellectual property. JEMB agreed to buy out Daffy’s from its location in its Herald Center property for $10 million and hired CBRE Group to market the space.
Asking rent reportedly was $1,200 a square foot for street-level space, $250 a square foot on the second floor and $200 a square foot on the third.
@chanel and @pharrell dropped what’s being dubbed as the world’s most exclusive sneakers yesterday. The Adidas Originals NMD Hu, which Williams designed in collaboration with Chanel and @adidasoriginals, has a waiting list of over 120K people who pre-registered online at chanelatcolette.fr –– and only 500 pairs are on sale. The singer predicted the resale value of the shoes could reach $40K. Read the full interview on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdfashion
@imanshumpert is diving deeper into his creative endeavors and relaunching his clothing line, Post 90s, and is helping to raise money for the hurricane victims in St. Maarten with a jersey he’s designed with his brother. The Cleveland Cavaliers player talked to WWD about kneeling during the national anthem, working with fashion brands and how he wants to be more than an @nba player. Read the interview on WWD.com #wwdfashion (📷: George Chinese)
Not only does #TheProfit return to CNBC tonight, but @marcuslemonis has launched @shopmarcus, a new shopping and lifestyle retail experience in Aspen and Chicago, with more locations to come. The retail stores offer in-store stylists and a variety of contemporary womenswear selections.
“It’s life, I’m going to face it,” @mingxi11 sighed. “I fell, but you know, I think the most important thing is that I get back up. I had the love, the help from my sister — the girl next to me Gizele [Oliveira] — she’s so nice. When I went backstage everybody was trying to comfort me like ‘Oh Ming, it’s OK.’ I’m really, really touched. I think it’s them who gave me the courage to go back on stage for the finale,” Xi told WWD of her fall at the @victoriassecret fashion show. (📷: David Fisher) #wwdfashion #vsfashionshow #victoriassecret
@louisvuitton tapped @therealpeterlindbergh for its latest city-centric photo book, which is part of a series called Fashion Eye. The primarily black and white book captures the spirit of Berlin in 57 images shot between 1989 and 2019. “Berlin is an inspiration for me, more than a city. I mean @millajovovich is simply Berlin!” said Lindbergh. #wwdfashion
“You know, I think audiences expect a certain performance so I have to deliver to them what they’re expecting to a certain degree. But I’m also a different actor and a different person, I have my own spin on the character,” says @noahegalvin of his takeover of the leading role in “Dear Evan Hansen” following the departure of @bensplatt, who originated the role. Read WWD’s interview with the 23-year-old actor on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
For pre-fall 2018, @etro created richly-colored wonderland, using tapestries, textiles and wallpapers from the Eastern world at large. The line featured floral and graphic prints and jacquard motifs, like this two-piece look featured here. #wwdfashion (📷: Giovanna Pavesi)
@kith is moving into children’s. The men’s and women’s streetwear brand has launched Kidset, a Kith kids line located in New York at 64 Bleecker Street. The line includes mini versions of staple Kith pieces like the Astor bomber jacket and the Kith box logo sweatshirts, along with a wall that can display up to 120 pairs of shoes from @adidas, @newbalance, @timberland and more. #wwdfashion
“I just wanted to create this fully rounded character, but I do think what excited me most was just the opportunity to give a group of people representation that I feel needs it. I like to do characters in projects that stand for something and Karolina definitely does, so that was really exciting to me,” @ginnygardner says of her new role in @hulu’s “The Runaways.” Gardner plays Karolina Dean, a queer superhero, which is a rarity for @marvel. Read more about Gardner’s character on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: @dandoperalski)


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Bomag announces plans to build new roller drum facility
| November 24, 2008 |
Bomag, manufacturer of compaction technology, has announced plans to build a 124,000-square-foot roller drum facility. The facility will be an expansion of BOMAG’s main factory in Boppard, Germany. The new facility will cost approximately $34 million, making it the largest single investment in the 51-year history of the company. Construction will begin on the new drum plant at the beginning of 2009, and completion is planned for early 2010.
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May inflation eases to 8.9%
Headline inflation eased by 0.3 percentage points to 8.9 percent in May, latest figures from the National Statistical Office (NSO) show.
The rate is also 0.2 percentage points higher than the 8.7 percent inflation rate recorded in the same month last year.
The NSO further records that food and non-food Inflation rates went down to 11 and 7.1 percent, respectively.
“The urban month to month inflation rate is -0.5 percent. Urban food and non-food inflation rates stand at -1.6 and 0.1 percent, respectively. The rural month to month inflation rate is at -2.6 percent. Rural food and non-food inflation rates stand at -4.6 and 0.1 percent, respectively,” reads a Consumer Price Indices newsletter published by the NSO.
University of Malawi Professor of Economics Ben Kalua said the development reflects seasonal trends of the economy as the country is at the peak of the harvesting period.
“The month of May is peak of maize harvesting and maize is the major driver of inflation in Malawi. But I expect inflation to stabilise and I do not expect further reduction in the rate but from next month (August) it may start to increase,” Kalua said.
Executive Director of the Economics Association of Malawi (Ecama) Frank Chikuta, however, said the outlook remains mixed.
“Most likely, the food inflation is going to continue decreasing but non-food inflation movement would depend on the strength of the Kwacha against other currencies.
“With the third wave of Covid, we have also seen economies starting to respond with restrictions and lockdowns and that will also have a bearing on inflation trends in coming months,” Chikuta said.


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Priceline-Kayak deal: Marketing expertise and global footprint at heart of $1.8 billion takeover
Priceline’s acquisition of Kayak is a huge step in looking for value in travel search and advertising platforms, not just through the transaction channel.
Priceline is acquiring Kayak for $1.8 billion in cash and stock. Yes, read it again. While unexpected, interestingly the news does not fundamentally tell us anything about the industry.
Unless, that is, aside from Priceline’s willingness to use its strong stock performance to continue its aggressive growth.
Kayak IPOed just a few months ago, on July 20, with a debut price of $26 per share. It closed on that first day of trading at $33 per share. Over the last 3.5 months, the price has fluctuated between $27 and $36.


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Chinese equipment market fell -12% in first half
By KHL Group21 July 2016
Sales of construction equipment in China fell -12% in the first half of the year, according to specialist market intelligence and forecasting company Off-Highway Research. The drop came despite a rush of sales in the first quarter, ahead of the implementation of the new China III emission laws on April 1st.
A total of 77,250 construction machines were sold in the first six months of the year, compared to 88,000 units in the first half of 2015. There was a rise in sales of road building equipment on the back of new government investment in infrastructure. This saw 5,500 pieces of compaction equipment sold in the first half of the year, an 11% increase on 2015, while asphalt finisher demand was up 9% to 1,090 units. Dozer sales were also up, with an 11% rise to 1,950 units sold.
However, these gains were more than offset by a -11% drop in excavator sales, a -20% fall in mobile crane demand and a -21% decline in the wheeled loader market. Mini excavator sales were up 2%. However, sales of other types of equipment were down -14%.
The continued recession in the Chinese construction equipment industry is attributed to the large number of machines which are still active in the country following the stimulus spending boom of 2009 – 2011. In addition, the Chinese government is seeking to reduce capacity in a number of industries, including the coal and steel sectors. This has had a direct impact on demand for excavators and loaders, among other machines.
Off-Highway Research expects the Chinese market to fall -12% overall in 2016, with sales dropping to 120,450 units, from 136,534 for 2015. The forecast is then for a gentle recovery, with the market rising to 162,750 machines by 2020.
The China III regulations have similar requirements to the European Stage IIIA and US Tier 3 laws for construction equipment, which came into force in those regions a decade ago. The increase in price of China III, compared to China II machines was an incentive to buy before the implementation date.
However, there are said to be some concerns over the reliability and performance of China III-compliant machines, as they have engines built to high tolerances, which may experience problems if powered by dirty or low-quality diesel. Off-Highway Research added that many of the ‘sales’ before the 1st April deadline were in fact a transfer of equipment from manufacturers to their distribution channels, rather than genuine deliveries to end users.


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The life sciences industry has warned that a lack of government guidance on plans to ensure a smooth flow of medicines into the UK under a no-deal Brexit is putting the sector at risk.
Steve Bates, chief executive of the BioIndustry Association, said the Government had worked with the industry well ahead of the earlier March Brexit deadline.
It had put plans in place to, for example, use alternative trade routes, fly goods in on chartered aeroplanes in emergencies and procure ferry companies to help keep medicines flowing, should there be a delay at the border.
This meant that, leading up to the March deadline, there was also a clear understanding of government policy on issues such as regulation...
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The 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport or, simply said, just SX4, looks remarkably different from the SX4 Crossover which is really...
Suzuki is injecting some humor into the idea of automakers taking vehicles on the road for consumer test drives with the Kizashi Kicks Road Tour Show, which began on July 1.
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The playground taunting between Suzuki and Volkswagen continues unabated, and there’s no schoolteacher to put them in their respective time-outs.
Besides the holidays, savvy car buyers know deep discounts can also be had towards year's end as dealers cut prices on last year's cars to make room for the newest models.
Suzuki recalls select Grand Vitara and SX4 models for faulty airbag sensors.


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Now the ACCC tackles misleading environmental claims | WARC | The Feed
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Now the ACCC tackles misleading environmental claims
After finding that more than half of the 247 businesses it reviewed last year were making “vague or unclear” environmental claims, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched investigations into several cases, with more likely to be asked to substantiate their claims.
Why it matters
The move signals a tougher approach to greenwashing by regulators and comes days after the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) announced it was suing a corporate pension fund as part of its crackdown on false sustainability claims.
- The sectors with the highest proportion of problematic claims include cosmetics, clothing and footwear, and food and drink.
- The ACCC will offer targeted guidance for specific sectors and undertake a range of education activities.
- The Commission’s research indicates that claims are most useful when they are “relevant, clear, reliable and transparent”.
“Businesses using broad claims like ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘green’, or ‘sustainable’ are obliged to back up these claims through reliable scientific reports, transparent supply chain information, reputable third-party certification or other forms of evidence” – Catriona Lowe, deputy chair, ACCC.
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Their Christmas Craft Fair normally runs alongside a Frankfurt market in Birmingham.
But this year the local traders say they are being turfed out of their prime pitches.
“This is England, not Germany. Yet the Germans seem to have won”Trader
They will be moved to a different part of the city while the Frankfurt retailers have been allowed to stay in the usual Christmas market location.
The traders reckon the move will be disastrous for business.
One said: “This is England, not Germany. Yet the Germans seem to have won.
“People will all end up going to the German market and the craft fair will be ruined.”
But council chiefs said that because of building work, there will not be enough room for both markets.
They said the German traders had 80 stalls compared to the craft fair’s 30.


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Fishermen learn to protect dolphins
The Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) jointly launched a training course on protecting dolphins during fishing tuna in Phu Yen province on December 13.
Read more ...
Up 22% in frozen tuna sales to EU
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After the continuous slump, Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU in 2016 has recovered, especially in the end of the year.
Tuna exports to EU on the rise
Vietnam tuna exports to the EU is showing signs of recovery and upturn in the remainder of this year after several months of declines, hitting US$87.9...


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Brooks Macdonald has hired a veteran from Ninety One and Architas for its newly created Global Head of Marketing role.
Leanne Barnham joined the firm on 13 February. The role will see her driving marketing strategy and execution to support the firm in becoming a top five wealth manager within the UK and Crown Dependencies.
She reports to Sarah Ackland, Global Head of Distribution & Marketing.
Leanne has worked in the sector for 15 years. She joins from Ninety One, where she was the Head of UK Marketing.
Prior to this, she was Global Head of Marketing with Architas Multi-Manager, having worked there for nine years in distribution, marketing strategy and marketing management roles.
Sarah Ackland, Global Head of Distribution & Marketing at Brooks Macdonald, said: “Leanne’s experience and proven industry expertise make her a perfect fit to lead the marketing team as we move into our next phase of growth.
“I am very much looking forward to working with Leanne to continue to drive forward the firm’s proposition.”
Founded in 1991, Brooks Macdonald is an investment manager. Its discretionary FUM was £16.2 billion as of 31 December 2022.


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Hitting The Open Road? These Are the Best RV and Trailer Accessories for Covid Camping
From solar panels and portable grills, to night vision cameras for safety, here’s what to pack for your social distance-friendly road trip
When the coronavirus cancelled international trips, cooped-up travelers decided to safely hit the open roads instead. So-called “Covid camping” went through the roof last year as more Americans switched to remote working, among other factors.
The RV Industry Association reported that wholesale shipments of recreational vehicles in June 2020 were up nearly 11% compared to June 2019.
The boom in trailer traveling was unexpected among hobbyists who “originally thought this was going to be a severe downturn in the hobby with initial lockdowns and campground closures and restrictions,” says Michigan-based retiree Terry Bone, who runs the vintage camper and trailer club, Tin Can Tourists, with his wife, Michelle. “We all were surprised to see quite the opposite.”
Geneva Long, founder and CEO of Bowlus, says sales inquiries “skyrocketed” to 4.5 times higher in 2020 than the previous year. The California-based company’s handmade high-end trailers go for upwards of $190,000, and it recently announced a new model, the Terra Firma (which starts at $265K), that won’t be ready to deliver until 2022 as high demand has pushed the production calendar.
“We’re predicting that the trend is going to continue in 2021 and beyond,” Long tells Rolling Stone. “The Bowlus is always something that sparks the imagination for RV buyers, and demand for the winter season delivery is up significantly. Not only that, our purchasers are people who are new to RV’ing,” she says, including globetrotters with a renewed interest in domestic travel by land.
To find numerous RV and Trailer accessory suggestions, continue reading the full article written by Danielle Directo-Meston here.
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Sawyer Squeeze is ubiquitous on any long-distance trail, as it is the most popular water filter. Tried, trusted, and true, this 3 oz water filter is a handy gift to anyone planning a backcountry trip.
The Sawyer Squeeze is a time-tested, on-the-go filtration system. This lightweight option is wonderful for personal use, providing great functionality on multi-day excursions and daily adventures in the backcountry.
When we’re backpacking, we tend to focus on two things: the beautiful scenery, and what we’re eating for dinner!


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Low-priced Android tablets are a dime a dozen. Case in point? The LG G Pad 7.0 and G Pad 10.1. As is typical for devices of their class, the hardware is middling, but the price is right. This happens to be a category wireless carriers seem to pounce on. Verizon announced today that it will be carrying LTE variants of the G Pad 7.0 and G Pad 10.1 “in time for the holidays.” (more…)
Starting August 8, AT&T will be the first carrier in the US with LG’s newest tablet, the G Pad 7.0 LTE. If a new tablet and new phone have been on your list, then the carrier’s deal should be somewhat enticing, as customers can bundle a G2, G3, or G Flex smartphone with the tablet, bringing the price of the G Pad 7.0 to just $0.01. (more…)
Back in early May, LG announced a new G Pad lineup, consisting of three tablets – the G Pad 7.0, G Pad 8.0, and G Pad 10.1. However, following LG’s new-found philosophy of announcing devices then giving no release date, we had no idea when to expect the tablets to arrive in the US. And technically, we still don’t.
LG announced European availability this morning, stating that buyers in Europe can pick up a G Pad 7.0 beginning next week, with G Pad 8.0 and G Pad 10.1 availability coming in the next few weeks. But still, no official word on a US launch from the manufacturer. (more…)
This evening, shortly before posting a new promo video for the G Watch, LG also announced three new tablets to its G Pad line – the G Pad 7.0, 8.0, and 10.1. All three tablets will be officially unveiled May13-16 at MedPI 2014, a European tech show.
These new tablets are joining the G Pad 8.3 to provide new options for tablets users who want choices in size. No specs have been given, but all include LG’s proprietary UX with features like QPair and Knock Code.
As you can imagine, the 7.0 is a 7-inch tablet that is made for one-handed use. The 8.0 is a mid-sized tablet with an “immersive multimedia experience.” The 10.1 is the big dog, a tablet that provides “endless hours of entertainment and fun.” And that is all we know. (more…)


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The Chinese tech giant, Xiaomi hosted an event recently where they unveiled the much-awaited Mi 8 series. Xiaomi also introduced the MIUI 10 which will soon be available to the masses. Currently, Xiaomi users can download the MIUI 10 Developer ROM for the eligible devices.
The MIUI 10 brings a lot of new features and improvements to the UI. Here are the Top 5 features:
One of the biggest changes you will notice when you first boot into MIUI 10 is the whole new redesigned UI. It looks like Xiaomi has given its software a new thought and has focused on improving consumer experience as well as enhancing features. The MIUI 10 now has a redesigned notification panel and it is optimised for the new aspect ratios like 18:9 and 19:9.
Just like the new UI, with the MIUI 10, Xiaomi has given a new thought to its Recents tab. The new recents tab maximises the screen space and allows full-screen display gestures. Now users can swipe to delete tasks and long press to see more options.
The all-new MIUI 10 focuses mainly on the AI side of things. The MIUI 10 brings in AI features like AI Portrait and AI Preload. AI Portrait uses some software algorithms to allow Xiaomi phones without dual-cameras to capture pictures with the bokeh effect.
As far as the AI Preload is concerned, it reduces the load times for apps and other UI functions. AI Preload will use some AI algorithms to detect which the user's daily usage partners and will keep apps open in the background accordingly.
Xiaomi has also introduced a new Car Mode in the MIUI 10. Enabling the car mode will change the UI into an easily accessible UI while driving. The car mode also enables voice commands for answering calls, replying to text messages and change the navigation route.


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Invaders of personal space cause biggest travel headache
Poll shows most-annoying traveler is onewhostandsthisclose
Just take a step back, please. You're annoying your fellow travelers.
Invasion of personal space tops the list of traveler habits that cause the most headaches, according to Capital One's Rewards Barometer Survey.
It wasn't even close. In the survey conducted of 1,000 adult rewards cardholders, 31 percent of people said invasion of personal space is the most annoying trait a traveler can have. The next closest were talking loudly, at 20 percent, and overly large carry-ons, at 19 percent.
The person with a life story to tell and the guy who is never ready for the security line also cause headaches -- for each one, 15 percent of those polled said those were the most-irritating traits.
The Capital One Rewards Barometer Survey was conducted April 3-14, 2014, through an email invitation and an online survey.
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- Going cashless? Millennial women in the South lead the way – While three in 10 Americans say they never or rarely carry cash anymore, millennial women in the the Southeast and Southwest are leading the way, a Capital One study finds ...
- Cardholders desire security features from their mobile wallets – The No. 1 desired mobile wallet feature: A "No, I didn't buy that" button ...
- Half of new credit accounts are opened online – Half of new credit accounts are opened online, but the percentage differs by generation, a Jumio survey finds. For example, millennials lead in starting and completing a credit application by smartphone ...


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Submitted by: The Two Sides Team July 28, 2016
As the world of communication continually shifts towards digital, many consumers are being given a message that this is better for the environment. This latest Two Sides survey provides an insight into how consumers view these initiatives, including the environmental impacts of digital versus paper-based communications, and how they perceive and use paper in their daily lives.
Organisations and governments are increasingly driving communications online and either withdrawing paper-based documents such as bills and statements, charging consumers who wish to receive them, or making paper more difficult to access.
Carried out by international research company Toluna in June 2016, the survey questioned more than 7000 consumers worlwide (528 of them in the UK). Among the findings, the survey reveals that many consumers want to retain the choice of using print and paper, at no additional cost, and that many question or feel misled by "go paperless – go green" and similar greenwash claims – believing cost savings to be the primary driver for organisations looking to phase out paper-based communications.
Although there are concerns about the environmental impacts of print and paper, many respondents prefer paper-based communications to digital options for a variety of reasons including ease of reading and a lack of internet access. A large majority recognise that paper-based communications can be a sustainable way to communicate when produced and used responsibly, including recycling.
More education is needed to raise awareness about the industry’s positive environmental message related to sustainable forest management and recycling. For example, despite European forests growing in size (44,000 square kilometres – an area bigger than Switzerland in the past 10 years or the equivalent of 1,500 football pitches a day), 65% of UK respondents perceive that European forests are shrinking. The majority of respondents do not know that paper is one of the most recycled products in Europe with recovery rates of 72%.
There is a preference for print on paper in all age groups, indicating a more fundamental and more human way that we react to the physicality of print on paper.
Compared to the 2011 Two Sides surveys, the following positive trends are apparent showing that messages from the industry are gaining traction:
To read the full report, please click the download link below.


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The St. Ignace Car Show Weekend is set for June 28-30 in St. Ignace, Michigan. The event has been running for 43 years, and more than 1,000 classics, customs, hot rods, and late-models are expected to converge on the picturesque up-north setting along with over 30,000 spectators.
The show is set to kick off with the Cruise Night on Thursday and then continue with the Down Memory Lane Parade Friday night. On Saturday the event will culminate with autos on display throughout the historic downtown St. Ignace.
“We are excited to announce this year’s guest of honor, hot rod designer Murray Pfaff of Pfaff Designs,” said executive director Quincy Ranville. “Murray has designed over 400 cars for top builders coast to coast and is well known for his own builds as well.”
Pfaff’s cars can be found in the pages of HOT ROD and on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Each year he organizes a fundraiser at the Detroit Autorama known as The D Lot that has generated over 100,000 meals for the hungry in Michigan. “I am flattered and honored to be invited back to gorgeous St. Ignace,” Pfaff said. “This car show is one of Michigan’s crown jewels for car enthusiasts.”
Pfaff is probably best known for a two-seat runabout called The Imperial Speedster that he designed, built, and owns. Murray and his friends started with a 19-foot 1959 Imperial and shortened it 4 feet and 3 inches, narrowed it 8 inches, and sectioned it 3 inches, creating the hot rod concept car that Chrysler never built. It won hot rodding’s top cash prize-Darryl Starbird’s Go for the Gold award-and has been featured in numerous magazines and at the Playboy Mansion. It most recently appeared on the Caffeine and Octane TV show.
In his spare time, Murray can be found in the garage behind his studio building his own hot rods, including a 1956 Cadillac Custom Lead Sled known as FireMaker, a 2002 MINI Alter-Ego that he races, a supercharged Dodge Ram Draggin’ Wagon, the Super Yeti Jeep, and the custom built pitbike SqueezeBox. Several of his designs will be on display at St. Ignace courtesy of auto hauling specialists Pilot Transport.
Murray lives in Royal Oak, Michigan with his wife Monique and son Griffin. He is originally from Northern New York and studied at Syracuse University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design. For more information, visit Facebook.com/pfaffdesigns.


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The Advocate-General of the European Court of Justice, the European Union’s closest equivalent to the U.S. Supreme Court, has just made a key finding in a court case involving Facebook. If the court follows his recommendation – which it does 80 percent of the time – either the U.S. will have to change its laws on surveillance or companies like Facebook and Google will find their European business models undermined.
This time, it’s not Facebook’s fault
Facebook has a terrible reputation among mainland European privacy regulators. In part, this may be because of inflammatory statements like Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s claim that people don’t really care about privacy any more. Yet given Facebook’s business model – which involves gathering detailed personal data about its users before serving them up on a platter to advertisers – it’s unlikely that privacy officials would love Facebook even if it had a more diplomatic CEO.
However, even if Facebook abandoned most of its controversial policies, it would not have been able to avoid this preliminary opinion. The Advocate-General isn’t worried about what Facebook does to its users’ personal data. He is worried about what U.S. surveillance agencies can do with Facebook’s data after Facebook has gathered it.
The target is bigger than Facebook
Facebook uses the so-called “Safe Harbor” arrangement to transfer its users’ personal data from Europe to the U.S. It’s not alone in this – other big e-commerce companies like Google and Amazon (whose CEO Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post) use the Safe Harbor too. As this academic article that one of us wrote in 2003 discusses, Safe Harbor was a set of rules negotiated by the EU and U.S. to allow U.S. companies to transfer the personal information of European citizens to the U.S.
Read the full piece at The Washington Post.