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|MINI ALL4 RACING WINS HUNGARIAN BAJAMINI ALL4 Racing wins Hungarian Baja. Mikko Hirvonen // Michel Périn on top step of podium. Fellow MINI ALL4 Racing crew of Bryce Menzies // Peter Mortensen secure second place.|
Munich. The 16th edition of the Hungarian Baja concluded today after a spectacular opening event of a Super Special Stage (SSS), followed by two days of challenging long distance rally action over three Special Stages. The end result of this tough competition saw MINI ALL4 Racing cars fill the top two po....
|MINI USA HONORS 'THE DEFIANTS' IN NEW OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN• RINGS IN THE OLYMPICS WITH NEW DEFY LABELS CAMPAIGN|
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – August 1, 2016 …A volleyball player who is a two-time survivor of cancer. A Rugby player who was a 'special-ed kid.' A fencer who is Muslim. Meet some of the athletes of this year's U.S. Olympics team who also take center stage in a new campaign by MINI USA. These are 'The Defiants.'
The brand has evolved its star studded 'Defy Labels' campaign launched earlier this year to now feature U.S. Olympic ....
|MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 RALLYS TO A BITTERSWEET FINISH IN PALM SPRINGSWoodcliff Lake, NJ – July 27, 2016- MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 (MTTS), the legendary two-week cross-country rally for MINI owners and enthusiasts, came to an end this weekend at The Thermal Club in Palm Springs, Calif., after an epic 4,397 mile adventure that started at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 9th. Travelling through two national parks and eight race tracks, the biennial trek attracted a record 4,000 plus MINI owners over the two weeks, with more than 900 owners going 'all the way'....|
|MINI TAKES THE STATES SHIFTS INTO GEAR AND MOTORS WITH A PURPOSEWoodcliff Lake, NJ – July 11, 2016 - MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 (MTTS), the eagerly anticipated two-week cross-country rally for MINI owners and enthusiasts, kicked off this weekend in Atlanta, GA. The bi-annual trek will travel track-to-track through America's open roads, stopping in 14 cities over 15 days with thousands of MINIs. Along the way, the group will rally to #DefyHunger with charity partner Feeding America .|
'Big things happen when the MINI community comes together, and thi....
|DOUBLE WIN FOR MINI AT AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS 2016◾MINI Hatch is 'Best Premium Small Car' for third consecutive year|
◾Newly introduced MINI Convertible is 'Best Convertible' 2016
◾MINI Hatch and MINI Convertible provide 'benchmark in terms of style, quality, desirability and driving thrills, while being great value for money' – Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief at Auto Express
Auto Express magazine has awarded MINI two sought-after honours at the publication's annual New Car Awards.
MINI Hatch was awarded 'Best Premium Small Car' for the th....
|MINI AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2016◾World premiere of MINI Seven, the first design model of current generation|
◾Unveiling of brand new UK-only model, MINI John Cooper Works Challenge
◾The fastest production car exclusively built for UK market will go up the Hill climb along with the MINI Challenge Race Car
◾MINI ambassadors, Harry Hunt and Charlie Butler-Henderson available for interviews on MINI stand throughout the weekend
◾3D virtual exhibit showcasing the MINI VISION NEXT 100 vehicle, developed to celebrate 100 Years of B....
|THE WORLD'S FIRST MINI CENSUS – THE RESULTS!◾Census of the world's Minis completed, with responses from all corners of the globe|
◾In conjunction with Mini World Live at Rockingham Motor Speedway, July 10, 2016
◾More male Minis than females
◾Most popular name is 'Marvin'
Over half of the world's Minis are boys, with the most popular name being Marvin, according to the world's first ever Mini Census.
The survey, carried out by the organisers of Mini World Live, which takes place at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Northants, on July 10, ....
|MINI SEVEN TO MAKE EXCLUSIVE WORLD PREMIERE AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEEDThis year's Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 23-26) will host the global debut of the first design model of the current generation of MINIs, MINI Seven.|
Taking its name from the very first Mini, the 1959 Austin Seven, MINI Seven has been designed to fuse the brand's classic heritage with modern design and technology.
MINI Seven joins the current MINI Hatch range in 5-door or 3-door form and features specially designed exterior and interior looks unseen before on this generation's model lin....
|MINI USA ANNOUNCES SPONSORS & PARTNERS FOR MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 9, 2016 – MINI USA today announced the official list of Sponsors and Partners that will come along for the ride during MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016. The list includes Shell V-Power® NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline , Pennzoil PurePlus™ Technology , InterContinental Hotels Group , Pirelli Tires , Kem Krest® and Aquafina® .|
MINI TAKES THE STATES is a legendary cross country rally for MINI owners that kicks off at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia, on July 9. From there, pa....
|MINI PLANT OXFORD CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF MINI PRODUCTIONPlant Oxford today celebrates 15 years since the first new MINIs rolled off the production line on 26 April, 2001.|
The BMW Group, which is marking its centenary year in 2016, acquired the plant in 1994 and relaunched the brand in 2001 with the debut of the new MINI Hatch.
Since then more than 2.5 million MINIs have been produced in Oxford, with the three million milestone expected to be hit later this year. 80 per cent of the cars made here are exported to more than 110 countries around th....
|MINI CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF PREMIUM DRIVING FUN - MADE IN OXFORDMunich/Oxford. Today the employees of the British MINI plant in Oxford are looking back to the 26th of April 2001. A new era began exactly 15 years ago at the Oxford production site, which was steeped in tradition already at that time. This is the date the first MINI to be produced after the relaunch of the brand came off the production line – a MINI Cooper in Chili Red with contrasting white paintwork for the roof and the exterior mirror caps. Both for the location and the brand, a uniqu....|
|TWO MINI ALL4 RACING CREWS ON THE PODIUM AT ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE. FOUR MINI ALL4 RACING FINISH IN TOP FIVE• Two MINI ALL4 Racing crews on the podium at Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Four MINI ALL4 Racing finish in top five.|
Positive start for MINI and its MINI ALL4 Racing in the 2016 FIA Cross Country World Cup. Yazeed Al Rajhi takes second place overall. Mikko Hirvonen is third.
Munich. The MINI ALL4 Racing crew of Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) and co-driver Timo Gottschalk (GER) completed the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, round two of the 2016 FIA Cross Country World Cup, with a hard-earne....
|FOUR MINI ALL4 RACING IN THE TOP FIVE AFTER STAGE 3 OF ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE. VLADIMIR VASILYEV IN SECOND PLACE• Four MINI ALL4 Racing in the top five after Stage 3 of Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Vladimir Vasilyev in second place.|
Round 2 of the 2016 FIA Cross Country World Cup: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Six MINI ALL4 Racing inside top ten.
Munich. The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, round two of the 2016 FIA Cross Country World Cup is shaping up for an exciting finale. After Stage3 of this prestigious desert race, four MINI ALL4 Racing are placed within the top five. To further underli....
|MINI CLUBMAN ALL4 AND JOHN COOPER WORKS CONVERTIBLE MAKE WORLD PREMIERES AT NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOWWoodcliff Lake, NJ – March 22 – MINI USA will motor into this year's New York International Auto Show with two world premieres - the new MINI Clubman ALL 4 and the new MINI John Cooper Works Convertible . With its power transmission to all four wheels, the new MINI Clubman ALL4 offers a superior grip on all types of terrain. In addition, MINI has developed its fastest, most powerful open-top yet with the new MINI John Cooper Works Convertible.|
SUPREME DRIVING FUN IN EVERY SITUATION....
|MINI USA OPENS REGISTRATION FOR MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 AND ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL CHARITY PARTNER◾Registration for the 10th anniversary of the cross-country rally now open|
◾Feeding America® named Official Charity Partner
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – March 17, 2016… MINI USA today announced that registration for MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 (MTTS) is now officially open. MINI owners looking to participate can now register at MINITAKESTHESTATES.com. The adult registration fee is $40 for a single city ticket, which includes an evening and morning event in one city, or $75 for a multi-city tic....
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Sportsbook.com player owed $9,800
A Sportsbook.com US (SBR rating D-) player submits a payment complaint. The player requested a $9,800 payment via bank transfer on February 17th, 2012, and has yet to receive his funds. The player claims that customer service has been unable to assist him, allegedly blaming a third-party processor without giving a more concrete update. SBR has contacted Sportsbook.com (ag) manager to discuss the issue.

domain: news


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Americans drink less milk but have more choices
Americans might drink less milk than they did a generation ago, but they face more decisions when they stare at the dairy case in the supermarket.
Whether you choose skim, low-fat, or organic, nutritionists point out milk remains a key source of calcium. They also say you should choose a milk that best suits your dietary needs.
Organic milk claims to be free of synthetic growth hormones, but a study in the Journal of The American Dietetic Association found no significant difference in the hormones found in organic and conventional milk.
food, diets, shopping, health
- I-5 bridge collapse raises Bay Area safety questions
- Damage reported after 5.7 quake in Greenville
- Limos without valid permits listed on airport website
- Shift in tactics may be helping Oakland police
- No charges in Starbucks orange juice case
- 3-D printer helps save dying baby with rare disease
- Lawmakers want to restore dental care to Medi-Cal
- Walnut Creek student dies after brain hemorrhage
- NASA Ames focusing on advanced manufacturing
- I-5 bridge collapse caused by truck hitting span
- Get Free Stuff: Challenge butter; Shoe laces
- abcnews: McDonald's CEO scolded by 9-year-old
- roundup: Bicyclist killed ID'd; Unsolved murder
- weather: Bay Area weather forecast for Saturday


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Envista (NYSE:NVST), the Danaher (NYSE:DHR) dental spinout, today post third-quarter results that beat the consensus forecast on earnings but missed the revenues mark, in its first quarterly report since going public last month.
Brea, Calif.-based Envista put up profits of $62.1 million, or 48¢ per share, on sales of $659.3 million for the three months ended Sept. 27, for a bottom-line decline of -3.1% on a -3.0 sales decline compared with Q3 2018. The company last month closed its initial public offering at $677 million.
Adjusted to exclude one-time items, earnings per share were 47¢, 4¢ above the consensus on Wall Street, where analysts were looking for sales of $669.4 million.
“We are pleased with the results of the third quarter, our first as a public company. The team has made traction on several cost initiatives resulting in earnings, margins, and cash flow that exceeded our expectations. Revenue was slightly lower than anticipated, a result of our brand consolidation efforts and weaker equipment demand,” CEO Amir Aghdaei said in prepared remarks. “As we begin our journey as a public company, our strategic priorities are centered around accelerating growth by investing in high impact areas such as clear aligners, implants and high growth markets, improving margins, and transforming our portfolio. We have made good progress over the past several years towards enhanced business performance and look forward to updating you as we move forward.”
Envista said it expects to log adjusted EPS of $1.73 to $1.76 this year and 37¢ to 41¢ during the fourth quarter.
NVST shares were down -4.3% to $27.90 apiece today in noontime trading.


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August 21, 2018
Posted 9:30 AM ET - The market is treading water near the all-time high and we are in a news vacuum. Traders are taking time off so the volume is light. This compression will continue through Labor Day. A possible trade war with China, an Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the threat of a government shutdown are keeping a lid on the market. Trump can control these events and he does not want a market correction ahead of mid-term elections. Analysts believe that a trade deal with Mexico will be signed in the next few weeks. Both sides are close and that will force Canada back to the table. A trade agreement with Europe is also being negotiated. Any improvement on this front will spark a market rally. Domestic economic growth is strong and inflation is moderate. As long as these conditions prevail, the market will absorb Fed tightening. Powell will speak Friday and the FOMC minutes will be released Wednesday afternoon. Quarterly profits were up 25% year-over-year and stocks are reasonably priced at a forward P/E of 16. Swing traders are long a half position of SPY and we will hold without a stop. Buy the other half at $280. Conditions will remain choppy for the next few weeks and we want to buy dips. Day traders should look for stocks with technical breakouts on heavy volume. You won't get any help from the market so the stock has to be strong. Set passive targets and reduce your trade count. NFLX, BABA and NVDA are bouncing and that is a good sign for the tech sector. . .
Daily Bulletin Continues...
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Google delays support for Android tech mimicking Apple's 3D Touch
Google has reportedly interally delayed its own equivalent of 3D Touch, the pressure-sensitive Apple technology that allows iPhone 6s and 6s Plus owners to take shortcuts through iOS apps.
Although the second preview version of Android N came with documentaion suggesting the possibility of such a feature, it won't be in the initial N release, sources explained to Re/code on Thursday. The feature is instead expected to be in a later Android update, though possibly just a maintenance release, meaning Android device owners wouldn't have to wait a full year after N's launch, which should happen later in 2016.
Currently very few Android phones use pressure-sensitive screens, since without default operating system support, apps have to be custom-tailored to each device's technology.
Indeed, 3D Touch is still a relatively modestly-supported feature in iOS apps, even if support has been growing since the technology first debuted in September of 2015. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are the only devices that support it, despite Apple launching three new iPad models and the iPhone SE.
More news about Google's plans could come from its I/O developers conference, which is scheduled for May 18 through 20. There the company is likely to show off several new products, if not its rumored Amazon Echo competitor.


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The Game Awards 2016 is happening in the next hour. And any gamer is excited for their game to be crowned Game of the Year. Last year, the coveted award went to Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt and for good reasons. This year, odds are, Uncharted 4: A Thief?s End could be facing the same fate.
Uncharted 4: A Thief?s End, the continuing story of Nathan Drake?s adventure, was released earlier this year. The game was highly anticipated by many of it fans as it is the conclusion of the entire story of Nathan Drake.
It continues where the third instalment left off, his retirement from treasure hunting. In the game, he reunites with his brother and his life long business partner, Scully. Sam, Nathan?s brother, needed help in finding the lost treasure of Captain Henry Avery?s ship.
The game was released last May 2016 and was widely received by the gaming community. It garnered various gaming awards and accolades from critics and game reviewers. That being said, Uncharted 4: A Thief?s End could be going home with the Game of the Year Award by the end of the night.
The Game Awards will be hosted by none other than Geoff Keighley, a gamer by heart. The show will in the next hour and can be seen from its own webiste or here at TheBitbag.
Another interesting fact about the show is the supposed announcement form game maker Randy Pitchford of Gearbox Software. For those who do not know Pitchford, he is the lead developer and CEO Gearbox Software, the same studio that made the famous Borderlands series.
On his Twitter page, Pitchford said that he has a very big announcement at the Game Awards. For a long time, fans of the Borderlands series have been expecting the release of the newest instalment, Borderlands 3. Is Pitchford really unveiling the much awaited game from Gearbox Software?
For more updates, be sure to check us out at TheBitbag.


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A small Taiwanese PC firm with lofty ambitions is preparing to take the next step in the own-brand PC industry with First International Computer Inc’s (FIC, 大眾電腦) release of its first tablet computer.
The 30-year-old company makes notebooks and desktops on a contract manufacturing basis and also ships PCs carrying own-brand logos in Japan, the US and China in small volumes.
It has decided to heighten its global profile by rolling out a slew of tablets that will carry the “FIC” logo beginning next year. The foray will first begin on its home turf, with its first tablet scheduled to be launched on Saturday.
Photo: Chen Ping-hung, Taipei Times
“FIC has been laying low for quite awhile and our performance wasn’t very impressive either in the past few years,” FIC’s chief operating officer Leo Chien (簡民智) said. “Next year is the time for us to make a hike up the hill and we will make the splash with tablets.”
Chien said the company sniffed the trend of a tablet revival early this year and launched research and development activities in April.
“Users need something that is even more portable than a netbook. With tablets weighing less than 1kg, it is a good fit,” he said.
The tablet FIC showcased yesterday has been designated “Tycoon,” and is targeted at business executives that demand productivity on the go.
The 10.1-inch model runs on Windows 7, sports a 120GB hard drive, an Intel Atom N455 processor and weighs 840g. It will start selling on the U-Life TV shopping channel on Saturday, with telecom partners, including Vibo Telecom Inc (威寶電信), to sell the device later.
Tycoons will sell for NT$19,800 apiece, compared with Apple iPad’s US$499 entry-level price with Wi-Fi connectivity and 16GB of storage capacity.
Chien said the shipments in Taiwan would be a few thousand units a month. Total volume will round up to 50,000 units per month if shipments to overseas contract clients are taken into account.
Despite taking a lead over Taiwanese PC peers by launching a tablet, FIC is set to compete against giants Acer Inc (宏碁) and Asustek Computer Inc (華碩) in winning over users’ hearts.
Acer is set to announce its first tablets in New York at the end of the month, while Asustek will unveil its own version in January.
Meanwhile, Vibo is also following in the tablet chase with plans to launch its own-brand tablet called “Vpad” next week.
Vibo president Chang Feng--hsiung (張豐雄) told reporters yesterday that the 7-inch model will run on the Android 2.2 operating system.
DIGITAL RIGHTS: Although Ottawa did not identify any particular country as a risk in the video-game sphere, it has repeatedly accused China and Russia of interference Canada is to enhance its scrutiny of foreign investments in video games and other interactive media, seeking to block outside actors from manipulating public opinion in the country. “Hostile state-sponsored or state-influenced actors may try to leverage foreign investments in the interactive digital media sector to spread disinformation and manipulate information,” Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne said on Friday in a joint announcement with Canadian Minister of Heritage Pascale St-Onge. Starting immediately, Ottawa is to increase scrutiny of investments “by entities owned or influenced by foreign states, particularly states that engage in activities that may pose a risk
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERS: Y.J. Mii, who is in charge of R&D, and Y.P. Chyn, who is responsible for fab operations and management, start their new positions today Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday promoted Y.J. Mii (米玉傑) and Y.P. Chyn (秦永沛) as co-chief operating officers (COO) of the world’s biggest contract chipmaker, signaling the formation of a succession team. The latest executive reshuffle comes after TSMC chairman Mark Liu (劉德音) in December last year announced that he is to retire this year. CEO C.C. Wei (魏哲家) has been recommended as his successor while continuing to serve in his current position. Mii and Chyn, as well as the company’s human resources, finance, legal and corporate planning units, are to report directly to Wei, a company statement released after the
SEMICONDUCTORS: Under India’s chipmaking incentive plan, the government would bear half the cost of any approved project, with an initial budget of US$10 billion for the task The Indian government, after years of watching from the sidelines of the chips race, now has to evaluate US$21 billion of semiconductor proposals and divvy up taxpayer support between foreign chipmakers, local champions or some combination of the two. Israel’s Tower Semiconductor Ltd is proposing a US$9 billion plant, while India’s Tata Group has put forward an US$8 billion chip fabrication unit, people familiar with the matter said. Both projects would be in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, the people said. Semiconductors have grown into a key geopolitical battleground, with the US, Japan and China investing heavily in
AI PRIORITIZED: Analysts said the move was a good strategic decision for Apple, which was still years away from producing a vehicle and facing a cooling market Apple Inc is canceling a decade-long effort to build an electric vehicle (EV), people with knowledge of the matter said, abandoning one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the firm. Apple made the disclosure internally on Tuesday, surprising about 2,000 employees working on the project, the sources said. The decision was shared by Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams and Kevin Lynch, a vice president in charge of the effort, the sources said. The two executives told staff that the project would begin winding down and that many employees on the EV team — known as the Special Projects Group


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Muscle-Car Makers Market Mayhem – Streetsblog New York City
This month, a 20-year-old Brooklyn woman waiting for a bus was run over and killed by a drag racing driver of a Dodge Charger. The driver did exactly what the vehicle was built for, and exactly what Dodge had heavily marketed it for – reckless racing. Another Brooklyn woman, mother of six, sustained life-threatening permanent injuries last November when another fast-moving Charger driver smashed T-bones into the car she was driving.
Chargers are the status vehicle of choice for the drag racers who nightly threaten the streets of Inwood, Howard Beach and other neighborhoods. the cars often appear between vehicles that have been seized in busts from drag racing rings.
The street violence of racing muscle car drivers is no accident; it is the result of grotesque marketing deliberately served by the automakers. And like the marketing of other American manufacturers selling dangerous products, it is time (as Danny Harris of Transportation Alternatives recently argued) it got regulated. With so many suffering from those 700 horsepower, the freedom to glorify, sell, and ruthlessly operate these vehicles has stolen everyone else’s most basic freedom of movement.
As a professional marketer, I can tell you that Dodge uses the “best” tools in my field. The first thing you see on Dodge’s Shrine of Road Violence (sorry, website) is a video of his vehicles burning out and speeding dangerously through neighborhoods. It’s a deliberate message: Consumers have limited time and attention, so marketers need to be efficient and effective in capturing and communicating their core values. These are theirs.
Scroll down and you will see Dodge’s flagship “performance vehicles” – the Charger, Challenger and Durango, the marketing team better known as “The Brotherhood of Muscle” – glorified in the language of speed and power. The marketers carefully craft the appeal to exploit primal, toxic, testosterone-aggression-fueled fantasies of strength and speed. It reads like satire: “Stone Cold Strength”. “Super fast and charged.” “Ready to fight.” “Race to the finish line.” “The beauty of the beast.” “Soul of a demon.” “Cool to crazy.”
Dodge advertisers market the company’s lineup with slogans that sound more like elementary school playground bravo than multi-million dollar marketing propaganda, but that’s the point – and it works. Smoking tires, tight corners, excessive speed and racing streaks on the cars signal aggression and a desire to intimidate those behind the windshield.
Last year, I tweeted a video clip I had put together highlighting the absurdity of Dodge’s positioning of drivers sharing streets with pedestrians, cyclists, and children. This Twitter account (@ tomflood1) broke a rule somehow and got banned (I’m still trying to get to the bottom of it …) but I shared the clip again under my new handle, @tomfloodone:
From Dodge. https://t.co/fclr0aEVOK pic.twitter.com/hP6RTXyvgk
– Tom Flood (@TomFloodOne) August 5, 2021
But isn’t that exactly how marketing works – promoting products by highlighting their best features to the target audience? Yes, but remember that unlike most consumer goods, cars are deadly weapons, killing tens of thousands of Americans annually; the frame is the ammunition. For far too long we have been persuaded that running a vehicle on divided roads is a personal choice, but we all pay the price for that – and too many pay the ultimate. These seemingly “innocuous” ads promoting the muscle car legacy of the “Good Old Boy” – the Charger became famous as the Confederate flag-carrier vehicle The General Lee in “The Dukes of Hazzard” – have real-world ramifications . People who walk and roll, including our children and vulnerable members of the community, need to share space with these “beasts” made for only one cause.
The fact that manufacturers advertise the “performance” of their vehicles is nothing new, but it doesn’t really do it. We know advertising works – that’s why automakers spend millions each year creating stories and connections that remove metal from lots, at all costs. Of course, not every Dodge Charger or performance vehicle owner is out to kill, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t rigorously regulate those vehicles now and curb the disturbing news and tactics that ultimately hit our roads. Yes, the advertisers place legal notices on the screen with the note “Closed Course. Professional drivers. Don’t try. ”But for some reason the fine print didn’t move the needle on street violence.
How could it be? The violence is the point. Thanks anyway, Dodge.
Tom Flood (@tomfloodone) creates strategies and content for his marketing company creativebyrovelo.com. He created a series of ads for the infamous “bicycle lobby” Transportation Alternatives.


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‘Pent-up demand’ and ‘revenge shopping’ are driving U.S. retail and restaurant spending
In a report Tuesday, the U.S. Commerce Department said retail sales appeared to have jumped dramatically in May.
National retail and restaurant spending jumped dramatically in May as stores and dining began to reopen across parts of the country during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a preliminary sales report from the U.S. Commerce Department released Tuesday.
May sales were projected at $485.5 billion, a 17.7% jump from April. But those numbers were still 6.1% below what they were last May, noted the report, which relied on surveys given to about 5,500 retail and food service companies in the United States.
Still, Jaime Ward, the Boston-based head of retail finance for Citizens Bank, remained heartened by last month’s improvement.
“That pent-up demand is driving this," he said, adding that some customers could have used stimulus checks to go shopping. “Part of it is [that] growth is coming off a really low-level month before.”
States in the South and Midwest began to reopen before those in the Northeast that had contended with an ongoing barrage of coronavirus cases.
It’s “revenge shopping,” Ward said. “Payback for being cooped up for 2½ months. They want to go out and do some things they’ve been denied.”
In Philadelphia and New Jersey, the states slightly loosened safety restrictions by allowing outdoor dining, although indoor dining remained prohibited. New Jersey also permitted day-care centers and nonessential retail to resume operations Monday, with hundreds of customers crowding into stores to buy everything from clothes to household goods.
Of 1,910 city residents who responded to a June survey from the Center City District, 20% said they would dine out immediately as soon as they were allowed. Another 20% would do the same in the first two weeks, 15% in three to four weeks, 24% after a month, and 21% after at least two months.
For shopping, 20% said in the survey that they would visit stores immediately; 23% would go within two weeks; 16 percent would wait the longest — at least two months.
In New Jersey, some residents grabbed the chance to shop in person.
“Things are going very well,” said Andréa Marcellé, owner of the Paris-inspired Haddonfield dress boutique Maison Marcellé, on Monday, the first day she was finally able to reopen her shop. “Tomorrow will be three months since we closed our French doors.”
In those three months, she maintained business online, delivered merchandise to customers’ homes, and offered curbside pickup.
"Certainly not enough to support a business,” she said, “but we’ve been working full time to do the best that we could.”
The shop brimmed with goods that Marcellé had selected in Paris. She had inventory for the spring and summer, but worried about what she would have for the fall and holidays, given the possibility that she would be unable to make one of her regular trips to France due to the pandemic.
“We’re going to struggle now with how to maintain the authenticity, the Frenchness, of this boutique,” she said.
She found a potential solution with French vendors who could ship items to her, “but it’s going to be a different experience when I have to take their word for it that it’s Maison Marcellé-worthy.”
Among small businesses, a raft of chains, most recently Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores, reopened in the two states on Monday and Tuesday, adding to the growing list of chain retailers — Gap Inc., Ulta, Macy’s, Best Buy — that have opened for the first time since March.
Certain retailers performed better than others, Ward said. Many groceries, hardware, arts and crafts, and liquor stores were able to weather the economic beat-down compared with other sectors, such as clothing.
“Apparel still has a long way to go before it gets back to last year’s levels,” he said. “ … There are some pretty clear winners and losers."
Among other winners, Ward said, big-box stores deemed essential — Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, among others — thrived during the pandemic.
“Some of the largest companies out there did very well and got bigger," he said. “Meanwhile, a lot of the mom-and-pop [stores] had to stay closed, and that was tough.”


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DETROIT (Jan. 18, 2013) — While crowds were ogling the new 2014 Corvette Stingray at the Detroit auto show, editors at Autoweek made a not-so-tough unanimous decision: They named the sports car Best in Show.
With that choice out of the way, the magazine's editors gave their imprimatur to other standouts they felt pushed the limits of automotive design, passion and creativity for "Most Significant," "Best Concept" and "Most Fun" vehicles at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, which is under way in the Motor City.
"Sometimes choosing a favorite is difficult, other times it's easy. When Autoweek's editors gathered to pick a winner from the North American International Auto Show, it was easy," said Editor Wes Raynal.
"A new Corvette comes but once every eight years. This was that year and the new Corvette was a stunner. The car was the talk of Detroit and the talk of car passionate people around the world. It was the cover boy of media and, easily, by unanimous vote, took our Best in Show honors."
Here are the Autoweek editors' Choice Award winners, with accompanying comments:
Best in Show: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
"On rare occasions, at least one car premieres at an auto show that absorbs all the light and air in the building, that takes our breath away, and it takes every one of our editors' votes without debate," Mr. Raynal said. "The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is that car."
Others vehicles considered: None.
Best Concept: Hyundai HCD-14
The HCD-14, the latest in Hyundai's long line of concept cars, could eventually become the next Genesis sedan in production guise—and that would take the Korean auto maker to another level of sophistication in styling as well as technological prowess.
"You look at this elegant sedan and say, 'That's a Hyundai?' This is a gorgeous concept car," said Davey G. Johnson, Autoweek's senior online editor.
"It's big, comfortable and luxurious," said Mark Vaughn, senior editor. "It's old money."
Others considered: BMW 4, Ford Atlas
Most Significant: Ford Atlas concept
Look past the Atlas concept's obvious truck styling for the real story of aerodynamic improvements and weight-saving high-strength steel parts.
"When the Atlas arrives as the 2015 Ford F-150 pickup, it will be a game-changer in terms of fuel economy in the segment," said Bob Gritzinger, executive editor. "And if aluminum replaces steel as is rumored, the significance of the Atlas grows astronomically."
Others considered: Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel, Lincoln MKC concept
Most Fun: Audi RS7 Sportback
The editors said superior performance and styling usually catch their attention when it comes to contenders for the Most Fun award. "While the unusual Corvette LS9-powered Destino collaboration from Henrik Fisker and Bob Lutz turned our heads, and the Mercedes E63 AMG's 3.5-second 0-60-mph time will snap them back, ultimately it was the Audi RS7's combination of panache and power that earned our nod."
"Twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8, 560 hp, quattro all-wheel drive, and a 3.7-second 0-60-mph time," said Germany correspondent Greg Kable. "And it looks great."
Others considered: Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, VL Destino
Autoweek is a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.


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DripWorks has been operating out of Willits since the early 1990s, although not at the scale they are currently operating at. Owner Leon Springer explained sales were up 50% for the second consecutive year.
DripWorks specializes in drip irrigation systems, they sell greenhouses and pond liners as well. The Willits location houses the call center, demonstration garden and store. They have a distribution center in Healdsburg and will be distributing out of their main supplier’s factory in Georgia starting next year. Springer said they hope to increase the distribution at the Healdsburg location from its current level of 20% to 50% next year, taking some of the distribution pressure off of the Willits warehouse.
When Springer started the company 30 years ago with Jerry Jordan and Eric Glassey, they worked out of Glassey’s garage. After five years, the business moved to near where the Food Bank is located. At that point, the three partners ran the business with the help of two employees. In 1999, the business relocated to the current location and got their website up. Springer said, “The business really took off.” In 2000, there were a dozen employees. Currently, there are more than 40 employees. Over time, Springer bought out Glassey and Jordan and is now the sole owner.
To keep up with the increase in orders, Springer said, “It’s all hands-on deck to get these orders out,” and that includes the owner. Springer claimed that it is the first time in 20 years that he has been in the warehouse picking product and preparing it for shipment. Staff from the call center came down to lend a hand as well.
Springer praised his employees. He said of general manager Scott Montez, “He is doing an amazing job.” Aside from the manager, Springer said, “We have hired a number of all stars. We have been very fortunate to find some really good people… thank goodness for great employees.”
DripWorks distributes across the nation. Springer stated that California comprises 30% of sales, with 5% being local to Mendocino, Humboldt and Lake counties. States in order of the highest purchasing totals include; Washington, Texas, Oregon, New York and Colorado.
Springer appreciates the increase in business the legalization of marijuana has brought to DripWorks, however he estimated the industry only accounts for 5% of total sales. He stated the water shortage issues the West Coast and other locations are experiencing is the main cause of the increase in sales. Staying home throughout the pandemic led to an increase in gardening, which was also a factor driving the increase of sales.
The global pandemic was not the only hardship Springer faced in 2020. In February, while up in a ladder pruning a persimmon tree, the ladder collapsed and Springer broke his ankle. He affirmed he was lucky to only have broken his ankle and not his neck. Later that year, as a result of leaning to one side to accommodate the broken ankle, he was experiencing a bit of pain. The doctor told him there was a lot of arthritis and suggested a hip replacement. Springer went for the hip replacement and said, “Now I’m really good, my wife tells me, you’re not getting another ladder.”
The injury and surgery led to Springer not being at DripWorks much last year. Fortunately, Montez stepped in to handle the whole business while Springer continued to manage the blog and heal his body, with the help of his wife, Nancy. An avid biker, Springer purchased a Peloton to ride until he was ready to get out on a bicycle again.
The DripWorks store is currently closed due to the pandemic but Springer expects it will reopen to the public next year. Curbside pickup is available. Visit www.dripworks.com


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Toys “R” Us will hire thousands for holidays
Toys “R” Us Inc. will hire 350 seasonal employees in the Kansas City area, part of plans to hire 45,000 seasonal workers for stores and distribution centers nationwide. That’s up from the 40,000 holiday workers it hired last year.
The retailer, which lists three Kansas City-area Toys “R” Us stores and three Babies “R” Us stores, said the increase in numbers is due to added positions to help with the influx of orders from new offerings, such as ship from store, ship to store and in-store pickups of online orders. Toys “R” Us also offers free layaway and Hot Toy Reservation programs.
“Christmas is truly the Toys ‘R’ Us time of year, and having knowledgeable, toy-trained associates in our stores to help customers find the perfect toy for the child in their lives is a big part of what differentiates us as a specialty retailer,” spokesman Dan Caspersen said in a release.
The company also plans to open between 150 and 200 temporary stores, though spokeswoman Alyssa Peera said there are no confirmed plans for any in Kansas City.
And the jobs might not all be temporary. Last year, 15 percent of Toys “R” Us holiday workers stayed on past the holiday season, and seasonal employees have the same opportunities this year.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), which lists at least 20 Kansas City-area locations, also announced plans to hire more than 50,000 seasonal workers — a slight increase from last year, though a spokeswoman declined to disclose precise 2011 hiring numbers.
“We know how many customers are continuing to struggle as a result of the economy and high unemployment levels, but they have shown us that they’re resilient,” COO Gisel Ruiz said in a written statement. “We hope that every customer who shops at Walmart this Christmas will be able to add a few more gifts under the tree. By offering more hours and more jobs, we hope our associates can do the same.”
Autumn covers retail, advertising and marketing, and creates Web stories and other online content.
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SmartHop, a startup that uses AI to help truckers make their routes more efficient and attractive by eliminating administrative hassles, just raised a $30 million Series B funding round, bringing the company’s total funding to $46 million. Comes after the $12 Series A. million last year.
The startup’s core offering is Smart Shipping, which advises truckers to pay for freight by optimizing mileage and travel time based on the capacity of their trucks, the cities they drive in, and other details. With the new capital, SmartHop plans to focus more on its fintech products, such as the company’s fuel card program, which offers fuel discounts and other benefits, or SmartHop’s insurance offerings.
“Fuel prices and insurance premiums in the trucking industry are skyrocketing and hurting the profits of small truckers (our main market) and SmartHop just did a study showing fuel and insurance costs are on the rise. There are two biggest problems,” says Guillermo. . SmartHop co-founder and CEO Garcia told gaming-updates.
With fuel prices so high today, smaller trucking companies already have less ability to negotiate fuel rates and are therefore subject to higher diesel rates, according to the company. SmartHop’s access to a large network of brokers, marketplaces and partners can give small businesses access to better rates.
Other companies such as CloudTrucks are trying to alleviate the problems of smaller used truck companies with a variety of transportation and financial products.
SmartHop typically uses the money to scale its platform and expand its team, according to a company statement.
Freight transport is a tricky business. This puts a strain on the body and mind of truck drivers as they spend hours in social isolation and experience physical discomfort. Not to mention the stress of shutting down thousands of broker websites and apps, trying to plan schemes and gain control of their earnings.
Last year, according to the American Trucking Association, trucking companies in the United States faced a record shortage of 80,000 drivers, which some say contributed to disrupting the supply chain. While autonomous trucking startups are getting more and more money from investors, the latest round of SmartHop shows that making the job of the average trucker easier is a real priority today.
This does not mean that the SmartHop business model is not designed for the future. Garcia said that while we don’t come close to having autonomous trucks on our highways, the SmartHop service is just as relevant for manual truck companies that choose to operate autonomous trucks.
Sozo Ventures led Series B of SmartHop, and it also featured existing investors such as Union Square Ventures, RyderVentures, Greycroft, Equal Ventures, Las Olas VC and The Fund, as well as business angels from the logistics and transportation industries.


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Ashes of Creation Reveals All 64 of its Classes
If there’s anything MMO fans love, it’s options. Ashes of Creation has just that with its 64 classes. Today, all of them were revealed in a blog post from the developers, outlining the choices made for the Class System. With the need for choices present, they introduced a secondary class system into the game, where picking a base and a secondary class will create something like, like a Fighter/Fighter is a Weapon Master, A Mage/Summoner creates a Warlock, or a Cleric Ranger is a Protector. There are so many options, and their blog post below goes into further detail.
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Record order intake in the first quarter of 2022
In the first quarter of 2022, the Homag Group was able to further improve its order intake, sales and earnings. The company was particularly successful in China and North America.
In the first three months of 2022, the Homag Group’s order intake increased by 30 percent to EUR 574 million (previous year: EUR 440 million), thus reaching a new quarterly record. Sales improved by 21 percent to EUR 367 million (previous year: EUR 303 million), while the order backlog reached a new record of EUR 1,213 million as March 31, 2022 (March 31, 2021: EUR 718 million). The HOMAG Group almost doubled its EBIT before extraordinary effects to EUR 26.8 million (previous year: EUR 13.5 million).
“Once again, we exceeded the previous year’s high order intake and achieved a new quarterly record,” emphasizes CEO Dr. Daniel Schmitt. “Our single machine business performed very well. We were particularly successful in the Chinese and North American markets.”
As of March 31, 2022, the company had 7,274 employees (December 31, 2021: 6,634). Roughly 120 employees joined the company for acquisition-related reasons. In addition, the Homag Group increased its workforce moderately as part of its growth strategy.
“A forecast for the rest of the year is not easy given the many economic and geopolitical uncertainties,” says Dr. Daniel Schmitt. “Nevertheless, we are confident that we can continue to improve sales and earnings in view of our high order backlog and the good first quarter, which testifies to customers’ high investment requirements. The high material prices and the recent pandemic-induced lockdowns in China are posing challenges, although we are able to address them successfully.”


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Wave 2 of New Horizons' summer update adds dreaming, which allows you to visit copies of other players' islands. Here's how it works.
Own the extended LOTR trilogy in digital HD for a fraction of the price today.
BioWare reveals a long list of changes coming to Anthem's loot and equipment systems, while gunplay is getting changes, too.
Two new Final Fantasy 7 Remake jigsaw puzzles are up for pre-order at Amazon.
Ride Destroy All Humans' UFO and Skater XL's board.
The new Nioh 2 update includes more magic and skills, "enhanced featured," bug fixes, and more.
Xur's back with another opportunity to snag new Exotics to help you fight through raids and survive in the Trials of Osiris--here's what he has and where to find him.
The Ashen Lords has arrived in Sea of Thieves' July update, Ashen Winds.
Green Man Gaming's weekend promo code offers a nice discount on Steam keys for Resident Evil 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Red Dead 2, and more.
The 75-inch TCL 8 Series 4K TV boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, which is something the PS5 and Xbox Series X both support.
The latest patch for the action game also reworks the game's swords, giving them more breadth to their use.
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DC FanDome has announced its list of guests. That includes Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman 1984), Zack Snyder ..


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Monash Gallery of Art (MGA)’s exhibition, Antipodean emanations: cameraless photographs from Australia and New Zealand, will bring together Australian and New Zealand artists who push boundaries through experimentation. They unearth the elemental properties of photographic practice by exploring the art of cameraless photography from a new perspective with 80 cameraless photographs.
The media will redefine modern masculinity this year — according to Getty Images’ 2018 Visual Trends. ‘Masculinity Undone’ is one of three trends the photo agency has identified as reshaping the visual language consumers will be most responsive to this year, alongside ‘Second Renaissance’ and ‘Conceptual Realism’.
Most photographers dream of making their passion line their pockets. But, in a fiercely competitive photographic market, in which anyone can buy a camera and call themselves a professional photographer, it’s not only experience, credibility and business acumen that set shooters apart — it's finding their niche.


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Jeans Redesign, an initiative launched by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation last year, is recruiting brands to change the way they manufacture denim.
Denim manufacturing is one of the most destructive in fashion, using enormous amounts of water and energy as well as harsh chemicals.
Both brands and suppliers participate in the initiative to reach the end goal of not just cleaner denim, but circular denim.
Modern denim manufacturing is one of the fashion industry’s most chemical- and water-intensive sectors. Between the pressure to minimise costs and the processes that give denim the styles that designers and consumers want, it’s not easy to eliminate those impacts. Piecemeal efforts have been made — some brands have changed the dyeing process, others are using organic or recycled materials — but they make little more than a dent.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched its Jeans Redesign initiative last summer as a way to unite those efforts and propel the industry toward its goal of circularity. "The more organisations start to make jeans circular, the easier it would be across the industry,” says Francois Souchet, who leads the Make Fashion Circular initiative. Denim, with its enormous water and energy use and harmful chemicals that have caused extensive water pollution, alongside its staying power in fashion around the world, is in need of the attention of a dedicated initiative.
Changing an entire sector is challenging, as risk-averse brands use materials and processes that are known quantities — often trying to reduce impacts by, say, testing one new dyeing technique at a time. Jeans Redesign is trying to help the industry over the hump of inertia by bringing different brands and suppliers together to work towards a set of shared criteria that a group of more than 80 experts helped to lay out.


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GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THE FRAGILE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
CORONAVIRUS SHOWED US THE WEAKNESS OF OUR SUPPLY CHAIN. WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO ACT?
2020 has been a crazy year. Everyone has a story about racing to the grocery store to stock up on toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and food for months. Unfortunately, most people also have a story about not finding the product they were looking for. The barren toilet paper aisle, the out-of-stock bread shelf, grocery store lines stretching around the block – until this year, these were all images we’d see in dystopian television. Yet it happened.
The reason why it happened is two-fold: First – the coronavirus crisis and ensuing panic. Second – an unprepared supply chain.
To some extent, global supply chains were simply overwhelmed by the demanded volume. But the problem goes deeper than that. Modern supply chains are woefully unprepared to facilitate communication across their points. Many supply chains (including and especially food) still operate like a game of telephone, with each point relaying a message to the consecutive point. This creates a disjointed, slow-to-react supply line.
The problem only gets worse when details are needed. Incredibly, many food supply chain points still rely on paper records and non-networked computers.
Even if fluid communication between supply chain points does happen, the supply chain players still have an incredibly difficult time adapting to demand. This problem goes beyond farming. Slaughterhouses often don’t know the exact number of animals coming in. Processing plants can’t easily adapt to a new output volume. Shipping companies have a difficult time changing their trucking schedule. These bottlenecks only get worse in crisis.
This supply chain lethargy means consumers are at risk. If the supply chain can’t communicate or adapt, food born illness outbreaks pose an enormous threat.
In the wake of COVID, research by the FAIRR Initiative showed a rather grim picture. They conducted analyses of the world’s 60 largest meat, dairy, and fish companies, rating them on metrics “vital to preventing future zoonotic pandemics,” including food safety, worker safety, animal welfare, biodiversity, and antibiotic usage.
FAIRR found that between factory farms and obscured supply chains, 73% of the food companies presented a high risk for pandemic based on an “inability to prevent the emergence of new zoonotic diseases.”
This report is a wake-up call, but not shocking. As mentioned above, paper trails and bottlenecks have long been pain points, even in modern times. It can still take months to track a contaminated product back to its source, if it’s even possible at all.
FIXING WHAT’S BROKEN
Part of the solution is enacting better food safety protocols and training at the source. Increasing vaccinations for animals and workers, utilizing more sanitary practices, and moving away from the factory farm model could all help in preventing contamination. Farmers and food producers should also cultivate a better digital picture of what’s going on in their farms with improved testing, field surveillance, and animal tracking. (In addition to improving the supply chain, this can often increase profit margins per unit sold for farmers)
The other part of the solution is transparency and communication. Not only do farmers need to know what’s going on in their fields and facilities, but that information also needs to be relayed down the supply chain and integrated with data from slaughter houses, processing plants, distribution centers, and retail. This team work creates a supply chain that can function as a singular, agile unit, with better efficiency, transparency, and safety.
With digitization and integration in place, the next time the supply chain is shocked, we’ll be ready for it.
Interested in digitizing and integrating your supply chain data? Let’s talk more


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U.S. regulators Tuesday warned people Tuesday not to use certain Claire’s makeup products because tests confirmed they contained asbestos.
The Food and Drug Administration said Claire’s refused to comply with its request for a recall, and that the agency doesn’t have the power to force one. A representative for Claire’s did not immediately have a comment.
The FDA conducted the tests after learning of reports of asbestos in products sold by retailers Claire’s and Justice in 2017.
A Justice representative noted that it quickly recalled products in 2017. Claire’s removed products from stores but didn’t issue a recall. The FDA said its tests confirmed asbestos in three Claire’s products and one Justice product.
To view the products of concern, click here.


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MUSIC NEWS: Deftones Announce 20th Anniversary Reissue Of ‘White Pony’ With ‘Black Stallion’ Remix Album
Photo Credit: Tamar Levine
Deftones have announced a 20th anniversary reissue of their 2000 album White Pony, accompanied by a disc of remixes titled Black Stallion. Due for release on 11th December 2020 via Reprise/Warner Records, the collection features an eclectic cast of contributors, including DJ Shadow, Robert Smith, Mike Shinoda and more.
To coincide with the announcement, Deftones have revealed a reimagining of Knife Prty, remixed by Purity Ring.
Like what you hear? You can stream or purchase Knife Prty (Purity Ring remix) HERE.
Check out the Black Stallion tracklisting below:
1: Feiticeira (Clams Casino remix)
2: Digital Bath (DJ Shadow remix)
3: Elite (Blanck Mass remix)
4: Rx Queen (Salva remix)
5: Street Carp (Phantogram remix)
6: Teenager (Robert Smith remix)
7: Knife Prty (Purity Ring remix)
8: Korea (Trevor Jackson remix)
9: Passenger (Mike Shinoda remix)
10: Change (In the House of Flies) (Tourist remix)
11: Pink Maggit (Squarepusher remix)
White Pony (20th Anniversary Edition) is available to pre-order HERE.


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Holiday Movie Guide 2018. New Movies. Welcome to Fandango’s Holiday Movie Guide - home of the most buzzed about holiday blockbusters and Christmas movie. Sep 5, 2018. Soaps, Christmas specials, the Queen's speech and films galore - the tv schedules for Christmas are packed with things to tempt you.
Countdown to Christmas year round with your favorite holiday movies. Get the latest on upcoming Christmas movies, TV schedule updates, and new release Mar 21, 2018. Hallmark to debut 34 new Christmas movies in 2018. game, announcing last week that it will debut original 14 holiday TV movies in 2018. Looking for the 2017 Christmas movie schedule? We've got you covered with this guide of all of the classic Christmas movies on TV and holiday episodes! This holiday season, enjoy Hallmark Channel's 2018 Countdown to Christmas, with festive movies all day and all night!
Enter sweepstakes, get the schedule. It all starts on October 27 (before Halloween! ) when the Countdown to Christmas starts on the Hallmark Channel, which will show 22 of the new movies. The other 12 movies will be shown on Hallmark Movies& Mysteries, which will start their Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas on November 4.
Mar 31, 2018 · So far, confirmed movies include Vet, " an emotional story of heroism and homecoming, " and a new one with veteran Danica McKellar, who has starred in Coming Home For Christmas and My Christmas Dream. Hallmark Will Debut a Record Number of New Christmas Movies in 2018 Desiree O · Mar 21, 2018 There are still nine months until Christmas, but we’re already dreaming of cozy nights by the fire with hot cocoa, candy canes, and feel-good holiday movies on TV.
Get the latest updates and news on Countdown to Christmas movies, only on Hallmark Channel! Hallmark. Hallmark Baby. Hallmark eCards. August 23, 2018 Mar 21, 2018 · Watch video · Lifetime also is stepping its Christmas game, announcing last week that it will debut original 14 holiday TV movies in 2018.
To relive last year’s slate of. Entertainment Weekly reports that the Hallmark Channel, along with its sister network Hallmark Movies& Mysteries, will to air a record 34 new original Christmas movies in 2018.
There will be 22 new movies on the Hallmark Channel, starting their Countdown to Christmas on October 27, and 12 will premiere on Hallmark Movies& Mysteries, starting their Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas programming on November 4.
Hallmark Christmas Release Movie 2018 Hallmark Christmas Movie A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville. See which other movies and TV shows we're excited about. Related News. Fall 2018 Movie. Christmas may still be nine months away, but Hallmark movie fans will have a lot to look forward to this holiday season!
According to Entertainment Weekly, the Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies& Mysteries will be releasing 34 new Christmas movies in 2018 — which is a new record of heartwarming films for the two networks. Hallmark Channel is welcoming back two Xmas 2018 tv movies of Christmas. Candace Cameron Bure and Lacey Chabert — who each have already starred in six Hallmark holiday movies — will headline their seventh. This holiday season, enjoy Hallmark Channel's 2018 Countdown to Christmas, with festive movies all day and all night!
Enter sweepstakes, get the schedule, explore recipes, and more. While we anxiously await the full Christmas movie lineup, we do know that the headlining movie will star Toni Braxton, who has worked with the network before on the 2016 film Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart.
2018 TV Schedules. Christmas Movies On TV Today. If were gonna have countdown to christmas than lets have xmas movies playing 24/7! C’mon lifetime it’s once a. Jul 11, 2018. Christmas queens Lacey Chabert& Candace Cameron Bure return as Hallmark airs a record 36 movies. Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your Watchlist and rate your favorite movies and TV shows on your phone or tablet!
IMDb Mobile site Follow IMDb on Thank you for watching my video! WElCOME TO MY CHANNEL! Please LIKE" COMMENT" SHARE" my Video!
The 2018 holiday season — which will include a record number of Hallmark Channel original movies — is still five months away, but thanks to the network's upcoming 2018 Christmas Keepsake Week, we can enjoy some holly jolly entertainment in July. Here is the complete schedule for Hallmark Movies& Mysteries Christmas in July 2018, courtesy of Crown Media.
This year’s special Christmas event is called Gold Crown Christmas 2018. The times listed below are for Eastern/Central, and start out with AM. This movie is scheduled to premiere holiday 2018 on the Hallmark Movies& Mysteries Channel. Year Released. 2018. Cast Includes. Erin Krakow, Wendie Malick, Niall Matter.
Rate Movie: Movie Trailer. Christmas Movies on TV. Christmas Movie Database A to Z. Christmas Movie Database Christmas Movies A to Z 2018 New Christmas Movies It's hard not to twitch in excitement thinking of the Christmas movies Hallmark, Lifetime, and even Netflix are known for releasing every holiday season.
And even though it's only March, Lifetime has already announced big plans for their 2018 holiday lineup. The network Xmas 2018 tv movies this week it would.


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Mox Bank Limited (“Mox”) is launching ‘Payroll’, a new service allowing customers to use Mox as their default payroll account.
By choosing Mox as their payroll account, customers can get more out of their salaries with Goal Savings, daily interest and real-time monitoring of activities, including instant notifications when their salary is received.
Barbaros Uygun, CEO of Mox, said: “The new ‘Payroll’ service brings us a step closer to becoming our customers’ primary bank. It also continues our efforts to give our customers better control of their finances by offering an all-in-one banking experience to grow their money, their world and their possibilities.”
Earn a total of 1% p.a. interest
To celebrate the launch of ‘Payroll’, Mox is offering customers a chance to increase their deposit interest rate to a total of 1% p.a. during December 2021 and January 2022. The Mox Bonus Promotion allows customers to earn an additional 0.5% p.a. deposit interest rate on top of their 0.5% p.a. base deposit interest rate, on deposits up to HKD500,000. Customers who switch their payroll account to Mox and complete the below two challenges during each of December 2021 and January 2022 will enjoy interest at the Bonus Rate on their next-day deposits for the rest of the month:
• Payroll Challenge: Having at least one eligible payroll transaction of HKD10,000 or more which is dated in the past 35 days in their Mox Account.
• Spending Challenge: Monthly spending on eligible transactions of at least HKD6,000 on their Mox Card (with Mox Credit or from Mox Account).
New ‘Bill Payment’ service
Paying bills is now easier at Mox with the new ‘Bill Payment’ service. Customers can pay their bills to more than 900 organisations or merchants, including public utilities, telecommunications, government and private organisations, directly with their Mox or Goal accounts using their Mox app — no more time-consuming trips to bank branches.
Mox takes care of its customers’ everyday banking needs, with the ‘Payroll’ service, ‘Bill Payment’, ATM cash withdrawal, card spending and facilitating the splitting of bills between friends. We will continue to add new services for Mox customers to manage their digital lifestyles more effectively and make spending, saving and borrowing smarter.


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Honda recalls nearly 500K vehicles over seat belts that may not latch
Honda is recalling nearly 500,000 vehicles over a manufacturing issue with the front seat belts that could prevent them from latching, the company announced.
More than $448,000 vehicles are covered in the recall. Affected models include certain 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrids, the 2017-2018 CR-V, 2018-2020 Odysseys, the 2019 Insight and 2019-2020 Acura RDXs.
Honda says the seat belt in the driver seat and front passenger seat may not latch properly. As a result a person is at an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash since they may not be restrained.
Impacted owners will be contacted by mail starting April 17th.


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Elan comes under new ownership, joins Linear
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Eight years after being taken private by a management led buyout, Elan Home Systems is now under new ownership.
Linear Corp., which offers complementary security and home automation products under the Linear, Xantech and Multiplex name, bought the company for an undisclosed sum in an acquisition that closed Jan. 17.
Ã¢â‚¬Å“WeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve been aware and talking with Elan for a number of years,Ã¢â‚¬Â said Grant Rummel, president of Linear Corp. Ã¢â‚¬Å“WeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve always recognized that they have a very high growth rate and theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve been very successful in whole house music systems or whole house entertainment systems.Ã¢â‚¬Â
Elan, said Rummel, is a good fit on a number of fronts, such as technology and manufacturing. He expects to shift ElanÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s manufacturing, a job currently out-sourced, into a facility owned by either Linear Corp. or its parent company, Nortek, a building and indoor environmental controls company based in Providence, R.I.
Carlsbad, Calif.-based Linear Corp. is one of 28 subsidiaries owned by Nortek, which offers products such as windows and doors, heating and air conditioning and vinyl products.
According to Rummel, NortekÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s strategy is to buy good operating companies with a similar focus.
For Elan, the acquisition provides it with access to more capital to fuel continued growth. In seven years, while owned by investment firm Montgomery & Shelton and Elan President Bob Farinelli and Vice President Paul Starkey, the now 75-employee company grew by 600 percent, said Rick Gratz, communications manager for Elan.
Ã¢â‚¬Å“We need to take the company to the next level,Ã¢â‚¬Â said Gratz. Ã¢â‚¬Å“Nortek is a billion dollar multi-national company and weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re going to be investing in more engineers, product research and development.Ã¢â‚¬Â
Farinelli saidÃ‚Â Elan hadÃ‚Â been looking for a partner for several years since its outside investors had a timeline to stayÃ‚Â onboard. Ã¢â‚¬Å“They wanted to move on and we wanted to move forward,Ã¢â‚¬Â he said.
After looking at a half dozen companies, Elan went with Nortek, which has made several acquisitions over the past 10 years in the home automation and controls market. It acquired security product manufacturer Linear Corp. in 1987 and later rolled in companies such as Multiplex Technologies and Xantech in 1999.
Multiplex, a provider of structured wiring solutions for the home and video products is now in the process of combining its Brea, Calif., facilities with LinearsÃ¢â‚¬â„¢. That move, which is expected to happen by April, will eliminate duplicate functions. Xantech is a home systems company.
Together, the companies bring a nearly whole house solution, from structured wiring and home automation products to security and life safety.
Ã¢â‚¬Å“We have complementary product lines and similar missionÃ‚Â statements,Ã¢â‚¬ÂÃ‚Â said Farinelli. Ã¢â‚¬Å“With the three businesses together, thereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s opportunity for synergies.Ã¢â‚¬Â
Plans call for Elan to tap into the engineering expertise of its new parent company, enabling it to bring new products to market more quickly. It intends to expand systems integration capabilities, enabling items such as audio, video, security, lighting, air conditioning and heating to all work from one system. Farinelli and Starkey will also remain with the company.
Ã¢â‚¬Å“This market is still in its infancy,Ã¢â‚¬Â said Gratz. Ã¢â‚¬Å“It has incredible room to grow.Ã¢â‚¬Â


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Part of: GS Mains II – India and its neighbourhood relations
- India appreciated Bangladesh’s position which regards Kashmir as an ‘internal’ matter of India.
- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had raised the future of Kashmir issue during his phone conversation with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina.
Do you know?
- “India and Bangladesh are celebrating the centenary event ‘Mujib barsho’ this year in memory of the founder of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
- Sheikh Mujib had led the Anti-Pakistan freedom struggle till the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
Some Related Links:


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Go to Admin » Appearance » Widgets » and move Gabfire Widget: Social into that MastheadOverlay zone
BOWERHILL Baby and Toddler Group will hold a winter fayre at the village hall this weekend to start the festive celebrations.
The fayre will take place on Saturday 21st November, from 2pm to 5pm at Bowerhill Village Hall. Everyone is welcome to get involved with the stalls and activities on offer.
There will be face painting, a bouncy castle, hot and cold drinks, cakes and biscuits, a raffle and lucky dip, and new for 2015, Santa will be there in his grotto.
There will also be arts and crafts stalls selling handmade goods, perfect for Christmas presents.
For more information contact Christie on firstname.lastname@example.org


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Lowdown on download taxes? They hurt artists, labels and students
This past week, though, the Illinois state legislature almost joined 19 other states in one-upping that hoary aphorism: They almost instituted a tax on honesty.
On Thursday, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn backed off a proposed plan to impose a state sales tax on digital downloads of music and movies, which would've made Illinois the 20th American state to institute such a plan. The new levies--quoted at around $0.50 per $9.99 album and $0.75 per $14.99 movie--provoked criticism and made headlines on Wednesday, including front-page coverage from the Chicago Sun-Times, which dubbed them "iTaxes."
Since 2007, 19 states have enacted such download taxes, including Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Washington, according to the Sun-Times. And one can only wonder whether lawmakers are using the revenue as efficiently as college students who might save all month long for a single mini download spree. Doubtful.In Illinois, honest music consumers should applaud, at least for now. Why do I label such fees as "taxes on honesty?" As any college music junkie can tell you, rampant piracy has already made it hard enough on those of us who still choose to pay for our music. Every time I purchase an album on iTunes or at a record store (which I try to do about once a week, although I'll readily admit that I acquire some songs for free), I lose out on a decent meal, some beer, a new book--whatever--to satisfy my music appetite.
A classically-trained economics prof might call that an "opportunity cost." But the dawn of the BitTorrent era pretty much nullified classical economics for the digital music industry, because I'm now choosing between products I absolutely must pay for (such as food) and one that I could get for nothing, if I so chose.
Anyone with basic web skills can find a decent rip of just about any album they're looking for--and believe me, many of my friends and peers suck up pirated albums the way blue whales ingest krill. Basically if you can stomach compromising your ethics and morals, then you can have your Sea & Cake album and eat, too. With unlimited free music for the picking, and no one (for the most part) watching downloaders or enforcing the laws against partaking of pirated tunes, my choice to keep buying music has becomes an act of conscience.
When pressed to explain the rationale behind the proposed download tax in Illinois, the director of the Illinois governor's Office of Management and Budget offered the kind of clueless justification that shows lawmakers still fail to understand that fact. Customers already pay taxes on music at physical record stores, he noted, so Internet consumers ought to pay them as well.
The difference, though, is that record stores provide a physical product--and one that's not so easy to duplicate in its original form. Hand any joe (or jane) on the street a professionally-manufactured vinyl LP or CD and a home-packaged bootleg, and I'm willing to wager they'll pick the winner without a second thought.
But the audible difference between a high-quality 256k rip from a piracy site and a track from iTunes? The basic joe-on-the-street could only tell if she happens to be a professional audio engineer carrying thousand-dollar cans.
This dilemma pretty much sums up the challenge that online retailers of digital music and movies face. They essentially have to co-exist with the black markets in their backyard that offer just about all of their products for free--and, perhaps most importantly, the free stuff is just about equal in quality (especially to the ears of average, non-audiophile consumers) to what they're asking (or pleading) customers to pay for.
The effects have made themselves apparent, to say the least. Over the last ten years alone, revenue from U.S. music sales and licensing plummeted by fifty percent--a previously-unthinkable figure for an industry that had never even clocked a decline in sales over a decade until the 2000s. (The film industry and television industries haven't been hit quite as bad, but signs of a similar storm are gathering on the horizon.) No brick-and-mortar business has ever or perhaps will ever come up against a problem quite like it, and, as a society, we've yet to figure out a solution that will ensure the long-term vitality of the creative content industries as the economy continues to digitize.
So what are state legislatures doing imposing taxes on a business model that's still wobbling on its heels? And why should honest consumers who pay for music in the face of such illegal abundance get forced to pay additional taxes on their scrupulousness? It seems that U.S. lawmakers, unwilling to seriously consider forward-thinking solutions such as universal licensing fees on wireless and Internet accounts, frame the issue in terms of the holes in their budgets and the legal opportunities for a short-term cash-in on a sinking ship.
College students may especially wind up on the losing end of additional download taxes. Although they pursue new music more than just about any other demographic, their lack of disposable income tends them toward the pirate sites to keep up with new bands and tracks, which is why college campuses are such hotbeds of piracy. Every 10% that states tack onto the price of MP3s turns more cash-strapped students toward online music theft--and at least a few will even get sued as record companies, well aware of this dynamic, continue to trawl college networks, seeking potential targets for "we'll-make-an-example-of-you" lawsuits.
I'm not the only one who sees state taxes on digital media in these terms. In an e-mail statement, Gene Hoffman, a digital music expert who used to serve as the CEO of eMusic before he founded Vindicia, a billing consultant for digital merchants, told me that he views these taxes as both ill-conceived and difficult to implement.
"The state sales tax model is predicated on a bricks-and-mortar retail model that simply doesn't apply to digital retail channels," he wrote. "As a result, state sales tax is unfairly onerous to providers of this content, while also penalizing states that don't tax content or have digital content providers operating within their borders."
And, although the media tend to focus on the big content distributors and their epic woes, the implications of this debate stretch all the way down to indie labels and niche markets nationwide. When I worked as an intern at local Chicago record label Minty Fresh last year, the label was settling out of a long transition that reflects the way most surviving indies stay afloat. The major-label offshoot that introduced the Cardigans to America in the '90s had, over time, downsized into a small, two-employee operation that now sells the majority of its music online.
I called up my old friend and boss at Minty Fresh, owner and founder Jim Powers, to ask him about his take on the Illinois download-tax proposal and the wider issue of state download taxation. By some coincidence, he described such taxes with the exact same term Gene Hoffman had typed out: "ill-conceived."
"You know, it's hard enough to keep honest people honest [when it comes to downloading music]," he said. "To me, it's just one more thing to steer people away from actually paying for music, when they're already having a hard enough time doing that now."
Later that day, the governor of Illinois came out with his formal retraction of the proposed "iTax." Although that more likely signals a temporary truce than a halt to the spread of download taxation, it's still one tentative step forward by my estimation-- and 19 more until we reach the starting line for a sensible discussion about the future of digital media.
Steven Kent is the Dollar Store Dilettante, a blase lad who knows more about saving a buck and stoking his hipster credentials than all his editors combined. His Money College column runs Sundays; send tips and best MP3s of Pitchfork bands to Steven at email@example.com.


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Store smooths the way for angry customers
The plea to Tesco to ‘dump the hump’ has been partially successful.
Bosses at the Park Farm supermarket have bowed to customer pressure and made changes to the “brutal” speed bump just nine days after it was installed.
The Tesco Extra store had come under fire when the unusually-high traffic slowing ramp was introduced in the access road to the main car park.
Customers complained their cars scraped the floor as they went over the huge hump and some drivers claimed it “really shook them up.”
But last Friday, workmen were spotted in the car park making the ramp smoother and easier to manoeuvre past.
Last week a spokesman for Tesco said they had no plans to remove the speed bump.
He said extra signs warning customers to slow down would be installed alongside the 5mph speed limit signs, but there were no plans to remove or change the hump itself.
“Just gone over it and thank God something’s been done. As soon as my son was in his wheelchair in the car it scrapped along the bottom. Today we went over with ease.”
“I smashed the front of our car on a small speed bump the other day so Im defo not going over this one until it’s sorted.
What about lowering the concrete speed humps that the KCC have installed in some country lanes? Where the cars designed in the Far East cannot ride
Delighted drivers took to social media to share their relief, with some customers saying they are pleased Tesco as “got the message.”
Driver Steff Weller said: “Just gone over it and thank God something’s been done.
“We have a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) and as soon as my son was in his wheelchair in the car it scraped along the bottom.
“But today we went over over them, as their suspensions are too stiff and are not designed to go over concrete speed humps.”
“It was only going to be a matter of time before a lawsuit happened. You don’t have to be going fast for that thing to damage your car.”
“U-turn on a speed-bump, is that part of the new driving test?” “I thought the picture was of a vehicle parked in the usual way at this store!” “With the excess tarmac not being used it would be with ease.”
Peter Morris-Kelso added: “It was only going to be a matter of time before a lawsuit happened.
“You don’t have to be going fast for that thing to damage your car.”
A Tesco spokesman said: “We are always listening to feedback from our customers so we are currently making modifications to the speed hump in our Park Farm Extra car park.”
The spokesman explained that the work had widened the speed hump so cars will sit flatter on the hump before descending on the other side.
‘We are always listening to feedback from our customers so we are currently making modifications’
nice to put it in a few holes as they say every little helps?”
“It’s the most savage speed bump ever. I’d rather drive 50mph over a giant pothole and those automatic hydraulic security posts that slam from the ground do less damage.”
“Tesco worried they’ve frightened away a few customers.”
“Technically not actually lowering the ramp, rather widening the table top and extending the ramps, thus making it smoother.”
“About time after so many complaints!”
A customer’s car scrapes ground over the new Tesco speed hump


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We are pleased to reveal the stunning video for Johnny’s new single ‘Bottom of the Sea Blues’, which will be released on the 7th of April. The video was shot on hand-processed super 8 and was made by Luke Montgomery, who also directed the video for ‘Country Mile’.
You can watch the video here.
Alongside the launch of the single, we are also releasing a deluxe edition of Johnny's most recent album, 'Country Mile', which will contain the original full length album, the videos for singles ‘Country Mile’ and ‘Bottom of the Sea Blues’ plus an all-new live solo album consisting of tracks from across Johnny’s recordings. Also available as a stand-alone digital release, the live recording was captured at a show in Washington DC on his recent sold-out solo tour of the USA.


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Every weekday we bring you the Ad Age/iSpot Hot Spots, new commercials tracked by iSpot.tv, the always-on TV ad measurement and attribution company. The ads here ran on national TV for the first time on March 4.
A few highlights: Comedian and rapper Lil Dicky (yes, seriously) talks about safe sex for Trojan. Neil Patrick Harris and Billy Eichner help Old Navy promote its current sale on fleece. And Spotify hypes its new original podcast, “The Last Degree of Kevin Bacon,” a Funny Or Die production.


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Thursday, April 21, 2011
Kindle Users to Join the Long Library Queues with the Rest of Us
Without a doubt, Amazon is doing the right thing for its customers. But those customers are likely in for rude shocks the first time they try to "check out" a book from their local libraries. Even without the millions of Kindle-users in the queues, checking out an e-book has been no easy task. It is all a matter of supply and demand - and most public libraries are already finding it near impossible to keep up with the demand for e-books. Throw the new Kindle-based patrons into the mix, and the wait is likely to be one of several weeks for access to even a relatively popular title.
Rather than helping to shorten the wait-time for library patrons, publishers, still unsure how to deal with public libraries and e-books, are actually a big part of the problem. Libraries face at least three challenges when acquiring e-book copies, especially copies of popular titles: high base prices vs. their very limited budgets for what are considered to be extra books; not all publishers are willing to sell e-books to libraries; and, at least one publisher will only allow its e-books to be checked out 26 times before they must be retired forever.
There is little doubt that Amazon's entry into your public library will bring the e-book/public library business model to a crisis much sooner than would have otherwise happened, forcing publishers to take a more reasonable approach to libraries - or to concede that market to other publishers willing to grant more equitable terms. In the short run, this will further frustrate those who enjoy the convenience of acquiring library books from the comfort of home; in the long run, it will probably help to equalize the current e-book supply/demand imbalance a whole lot sooner than expected.
We'll be watching.


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Printing Impressions August 2012
Ripon Printers is a company on the move, bolstered by the digital and commercial printing assets it acquired from Sells Printing—including a 10-color Heidelberg sheetfed offset press and two Xerox iGen4 digital presses. Customer "delight" and education have become significant forces in the way Ripon Printers has conducted business in the past 10 years.
Selling print is a tough line of work, I imagine, especially these days. What impresses print buyers? How do you, a sales rep, stand above the competition and get prospects' attention? I have an idea. You engage them. Here's a perfect example—and I couldn't have scripted it better myself.
PrimeNet Direct Marketing Solutions' facility is now hurricane Category 3 certified and its data center within the building is in a Category 5 certified bunker. Diesel generators provide a backup in the event of a power failure. A comprehensive disaster recovery manual has also been created by PrimeNet's executive team.
An online digital printing company, Docucopies.com, is also taking a hard-line stand against California's sales tax. Headquartered in Wisconsin, Docucopies.com recently opened a production center in San Luis Obispo, CA, to drastically cut delivery times to West Coast clients.
New York-based Mimeo.com is one of the first online printing companies, having debuted in 1998. Its market position gives the firm a unique perspective on the concept of online ordering interfaces. Web-to-print is an ongoing quest for the perfect beast, according to Chuck Gehman, vice president of product platforms.
In May of 2009, I interviewed Dan Ellis, along with Frank Tantillo and Ray Cody, for the June cover story on C&S Press of Orlando, FL. Eight months after the article appeared, Ellis received life-altering news: He was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Printers must evolve the methods they use to communicate with their core markets. We recommend an integrated marketing strategy that involves direct mail, blogging, SEO and Web design, content marketing, social media and, you guessed it, broadcast e-mail.
InfoTrends’ recent “Emerging Trends” survey was designed to create performance and value innovation benchmarks for the production printing market. There were a total of 10 data points developed from this survey that a company can use to evaluate its performance.
Printing Industries of America (PIA) has announced that a dozen technologies were recipients of its 2012 InterTech Technology Awards. The technologies receiving this award have been judged as “truly innovative and are expected to advance the performance of the graphic communications industry.”
The House of Representatives is putting Mr. ZIP on ice, and the many industries impacted by the U.S. Postal Service are up in arms by the lack of action on postal reform. A Capitol Hill source told the National Journal that the House would not debate the reform bill prior to its August recess.
Taylor Corp. has reached agreement to acquire Venture Encoding of Fort Worth, TX. Venture is being merged with Corporate Graphics Direct Marketing Solutions, a Taylor affiliate based in Arden Hills, MN, with the new company carrying the name Venture Solutions.
While most companies were trying to remain afloat during the recession in 2009, Hauppauge, NY-based trade printer Island Pro Digital was just getting started. By creating a physical and digital media platform, co-owners Kurt and Kyle Kubik poised the company for growth and transformed it into one of the most successful (and busiest) trade shops in Long Island.
It's difficult to believe that Michael Meredith has been at the helm for just 10 years, yet The Printing Express has experienced incredible growth. The company now employs 24 people and sales, which stood at roughly $300,000 in 2002, hit nearly $4 million in 2011. The company is on target to post revenues of $6 million to $7 million this year.
Transcontinental Inc. announced that it is selling its Canadian book printing assets—namely its Transcontinental Gagné printing plant in Louiseville and Transcontinental Métrolitho printing plant in Sherbrooke—to Marquis Book Printing, of Cap-Saint-Ignace, which specializes in book printing.
Every month, Steve Olson, owner of Steve Olson Printing and Design, writes a check for $700 to pay for a glorified paper weight.


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During the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced that Siri will, in fact, become open to third-party developers, in addition to desktop users and TV.
Mondelez executive B. Bonin Bough equates being a dragon with fearlessness. Right now that means Oreo embracing messaging apps as brands begin to test the waters.
This week featured a lot of video offerings, in addition to Microsoft reintroducing Tay after her disastrous debut and Google giving AdWords its first makeover.
A lot of today's virtual reality is actually virtual virtual reality. The technology may take off, but like "the year of mobile," it will happen slowly and gradually.
Thailand's bombing tragedy led the week on Twitter, divorce lawyers were a central theme of the Ashley Madison leaks, and #WorldPhotographyDay gave the Twitter community much to celebrate in beautiful pictures.
Two rappers' Twitter beef prompted Tweets from burger brands, Jon Stewart's Daily Show departure brought nostalgia, and National Underwear Day mostly just made brands get weird.
To compete with Google and Facebook, Microsoft and AOL are training one another on their respective strengths: content and programmatic.
This week, Twitter set a new record and also celebrated #NationalDonutDay, #WorldEnvironmentDay and #NationalRunningDay.
This week, Twitter remembered our fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, got really into #NationalBurgerDay, and finished with #NationalBiscuitDay.
This TV-centric week, brands tweeted about the Red Nose Day charity event as well as The Late Show with David Letterman and Mad Men, both of which aired their final episodes.


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Bitcoin resumes climb, extending 2017 rally - Market ExtraAMD and NVIDIA Target Miners with Specific Hardware, Longer Production Times.Bitcoin, Ether in bear market territory after declines MarketWatch Precipitous declines in prices for bitcoin and Ether in the wake of a potential crackdown on.Bitcoin Cryptocurrency Price Breaks New Records Once Again PR Newswire - PRF.
Bitcoin may have reached a tipping point, if ‘DowntownThe surging price of the cryptocurrency bitcoin showed little sign of letting up on Friday, carving out a fresh all-time high even as stocks took a breather from a.
Open Search Field. Search. the black-and-gray-market site Silk Road anointed the bitcoin the coin of the realm;...Bitcoin enthusiasts flock to the Bitcoin Center NYC to buy and sell the virtual currency just steps from the New York Stock Exchange.
Cannabis and Cryptocurrency: The Time is now PR Newswire - PRF.The main digital currencies drift lower, while new entrant Bitcoin Cash extends its rise since being split from bitcoin less than 24 hours ago.Prices of bitcoin and rival Ether bounce slightly on Tuesday after sharp falls during the Labor Day weekend,.
MarketWatch - BigCharts: Stock Charts, Screeners
Curiosity about the identities of the richest Bitcoin millionaires rises every time the price of the digital currency jumps higher.
Buy The Bitcoin Dip? - Winklevoss Bitcoin Trust ETF
Bitcoin Takes Weekend Slide - WSJ
bitcoin index - NYSEBecause of their vastly larger size and greater levels of liquidity, Google searches for stocks—as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial.
Bitcoin is the currency of the Internet: a distributed, worldwide, decentralized digital money.
Bitcoin surges past $4,000, sets more records - MarketWatchRyan Vlastelica is a markets reporter for MarketWatch and is based in New York.
Bitcoin? Ethereum? Ripple? Three Reasons to Consider
MarilynJean Media Interactive (MJMI.qb) Announces Entry
Bitcoin, Ether extend gains, even as digital currenciesBitcoin cannot, and does not need to, dislodge fiat currency.Quote. Bitcoin is one of the most important inventions in all of human history.Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only.Bitcoins have been used to pay for a Tesla Model S at a Southern California car dealership, and are beginning to gain credibility with currency analysts as well.
HotForex Now Offering Bitcoin Trading - MarketWatchSuch a correlation seems to be unique to bitcoin, which is increasingly followed by investors but remains a small and thinly traded asset relative to stocks or bonds.
The Chinese government recently announced significant policy changes regulating crypto-currencies, like Bitcoin.
Bitcoin sets fresh record above $3,500; ether tradesHurricane Maria expected to hammer Caribbean again, Jose to bring rain to northeast.Praising your child for this could make them more likely to cheat.His thoughts on the current Bitcoin market evaluation and a possible Bitcoin fork scenarios as well.Get stock market quotes, personal finance advice, company news and more.
Bitcoin just might be forming a top when. your 68-year-old dad paints a picture of it.Historical and current end-of-day data provided by SIX Financial Information.MarketWatch provides the latest stock market, financial and business news.


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It's been a while since my last post, but that's mostly because it has been a few very busy weeks.
So, let's compile what happened the last few weeks...
YCS Lille's details are (finally known)
YCS Lille has been announced for a few months now and it will occur at the end of this month. But until last week, the details page still wasn't there. Now the details are finally known: http://www.yugioh-card.com/uk/events/ycs_lille.html
The event will be held at:
- Lille Grandpalais
- 1 bd des Cités Unies
- 59777 Euralille
- Lille - France
- Event website: http://www.lillegrandpalais.com
- How to get there: http://www.lillegrandpalais.co.uk/contacts-and-pratical-information/accessibility
Hidden Arsenal 7 postponed for a week (in the US)
One of the biggest rumors last week was the postponing of Hidden Arsenal 7. The news was revealed on April 1st, making people unsure whether or not it was an April Fool's Joke. But with Julia Hedberg (of Konami) confirming the delay, people became kind of worried at this side of the Ocean.
So it's postponed in the US, but what about the rest of the friggin tcg-world? It took me (and several other European players) a long time to figure out whether or not Europe's release is going to be affected as well.
Why does it matter? Well, if it's postponed, the set would not be legal at YCS Lille. If it comes out in time, it WILL be legal to play. That's a frigging big difference, don't you think?
Today we have a 90% assurance that the European release will be on time (we'll only be certain next Thursday, when the set comes out), making it legal to play at YCS Lille (unless otherwise notified).
Update: Scratch that. European release will be postponed as well, so it's NOT legal at YCS Lille. I repeat: NOT LEGAL!
Battle Pack 2 shares its first details
In June we will not only have a new Starter deck, we'll also have the new Battle Pack. And this week the first details of this new pack have been revealed:
- The full name is: Battle Pack 2: War of the Giants
- The cards will be focused on bringing out high-level monsters on the field.
- Starfoil rares are no more. Each pack will now have 3 commons, a rare and a Mosaic Rare (a new foil type).
- All three Egyptian Gods will be in this pack (the playable versions, obviously). This marks the first reprint of Slifer the Sky Dragon!
- Tewart already revealed that the packs will not be easily mixed with battle Pack 1 (ensure your event organizers know this, before they actually do so in tourneys). He also said that certain cards from BP1 will also be in BP2 (Obelisk, obviously).
- So let the speculation begin: Biggest rumor on reprint is (next to Gaia Dragon) obviously Number 11: Big Eye and Gustav Max (big monsters, big XYZ ranks). Big Eyeis the omnipotent Snatch Steal in monster form and is the boss monster in the 4-Dragons deck (and many others now). And Gustav Max becoming legal in the rest of the world is always wellcome.
Judgment of the Light is out in the OCG (first spoilers)
Apparantly, today is the offcial release of Judgment of the Light in the OCG. While it will take the rest of the weekend until the Wiki and Shriek are fully up to date, the first spoilers are flowing in on the Singapore Facebook page.
First surprises are (among others) a new "C" monster, following Maxx "C" and Shiny Black "C"; a new prophecy monster (The World?), a new cuties/fiends archetype and many others. Keep your eyes on the pages, because more info will flow in soon.
And yes, I'll give you my cards to look forward to-list next week ;-).
Until then, V out.