text:
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Feedstuffs is the news source for animal agriculture
April 26, 2018
U.S. Food & Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said his agency is taking a “fresh look” at how to address the mislabeling of imitation dairy products, with misbranded plant products using terms such as “milk,” “yogurt,” “cheese” and “ice cream.” Gottlieb recently said FDA announced a request seeking additional information on the agency’s overall approach.
In response to questions from Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D., Wis.) during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Tuesday, Gottlieb confirmed that FDA statutes state that “milk is defined as coming from a lactating animal.” He added that he could agree with Baldwin that the term is being used on products "derived from things that are not from a lactating animal.”
However, because FDA has not stepped in to prevent the mislabeling, there is now a lot of commercial activity occurring. Baldwin argued that this could be addressed right away if FDA issued guidance to the industry and declared its intent to enforce existing regulations.
Gottlieb said the agency has decided that it would be more prudent to develop a careful administrative record since FDA has exercised enforcement discretion up to this point. “For us to reverse our current posture might take more than just issuing guidance,” Gottlieb said, adding that the intent of the recent request for additional insight from stakeholders is to inform a substantial administrative record that could sustain a review.
He said in regard to public health specifically, the agency is interested in hearing whether consumers are confused about or misled on the nutritional status or quality of milk because of a way certain products are labeled.
“For the record, I do not believe that there needs to be further review or study. What we need is the FDA to act and issue guidance on its enforcement of existing dairy standards on identity,” Baldwin noted.
Last year, Baldwin introduced the DAIRY PRIDE Act, which would require FDA to issue guidance for nationwide enforcement of mislabeled imitation dairy products within 90 days and require FDA to report to Congress two years after enactment to hold the agency accountable for this update in enforcement obligations. More recently, the omnibus spending bill Congress approved last month contains language expressing its concern that dairy labeling standards need to be properly enforced.
National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) president and chief executive officer Jim Mulhern said FDA “must stop turning a blind eye toward violations of food labeling laws. It needs to use more enforcement and less discretion as dozens of brands flagrantly violate government requirements.” NMPF has repeatedly urged federal regulators to enforce U.S. food labeling laws that exclude the ability for plant-derived foods to use dairy terms, as do other nations that also have regulations clearly defining milk.
Mulhern thanked Baldwin “for holding the FDA accountable for its inaction on this matter and imploring the FDA to do its job.”
Baldwin said dairy farmers are facing challenging times due to low milk prices, the farm bill’s dairy risk management tools not working as well as they had hoped, trade negotiations creating uncertainty in export markets and Canada’s pricing of certain classes of milk adding additional injury.
“I’m not saying this is the only problem,” Baldwin said of the mislabeling. “I’m saying there is a perfect storm of challenges to the dairy industry right now.”
Policy editor, Farm Futures
Jacqui Fatka grew up on a diversified livestock and grain farm in southwest Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a minor in agriculture education, in 2003. She’s been writing for agricultural audiences ever since. In college, she interned with Wallaces Farmer and cultivated her love of ag policy during an internship with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, working in Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Capitol Hill press office. In 2003, she started full time for Farm Progress companies’ state and regional publications as the e-content editor, and became Farm Futures’ policy editor in 2004. A few years later, she began covering grain and biofuels markets for the weekly newspaper Feedstuffs. As the current policy editor for Farm Progress, she covers the ongoing developments in ag policy, trade, regulations and court rulings. Fatka also serves as the interim executive secretary-treasurer for the North American Agricultural Journalists. She lives on a small acreage in central Ohio with her husband and three children.
You May Also Like
Iowa turkey flocks confirmed with HPAIOctober 23, 2023
Current Conditions for
Enter a zip code to see the weather conditions for a different location.
Smithfield Foods unveils its 22nd annual sustainability impact reportApril 15, 2024
NAW's growth continues with addition of new senior staffApril 15, 2024
Global trade, shipping closely monitored as Middle East tensions escalateApril 15, 2024
CME Group International reports on Q1 average daily volumeApril 15, 2024


text:
Realme chose Mobile World Congress 2022, to launch its 100-200W UltraDart charging technology. The Chinese company has already confirmed that the Realme GT Neo3 will bring a 150W solution on the market soon and now today has shared a short video, on Chinese social media platform, Weibo, showcasing the phone and its immense charging speeds.
This insanely fast charging speed is made possible via multiple boost charge pumps which increase the charger’s current. Realme has said that using UltraDart charging will retain 80% battery capacity for its smartphones, after 1000 complete charge cycles.
It’s been confirmed that the Realme GT Neo3 will also be among the first phones using MediaTek’s brand new Dimensity 8100 chipset.
Realme GT Neo3 rumored specs
While we wait for official specifications, we can look at the rumors that surround the upcoming camera phone. Renders leaked once again on the Chinese social media platform, Weibo, show the smartphone with gaming phone-like design with sharp lines and orange accents, a rear triple-camera setup and shoulder trigger buttons on the frame, which could potentially be customisable.
Like its predecessor, the GT Neo3 is tipped to also boast a triple-camera system on the back, and we can see, from the leaked renders, the camera module has two large cut-outs and a third very small one below these. The camera module also looks to be home to the LED flash module. An educated guess would be a 50MP or even 64MP main camera, together with an ultrawide camera and a macro sensor.
Super-fast charging at WMC
Realme weren’t the only brand to demonstrate 150W charging at World Mobile Congress – Oppo has also announced a new 150W SuperVOOC fast-charging standard, which it claims will charge a 4,500mAh battery from 1 percent to 50 percent charge in just five minutes and to 100 percent in 15 minutes. The company has said we will see this first it a yet to be named smartphone from sub-brand OnePlus in the second quarter of 2022. The company has even been talking about 240W in the future, so we expect charging to get a lot speedier across the board this year…
• Latest phone rumors
• The best camera phones you can buy today
• Best Samsung phones
• Best Xiaomi phones
• Best budget camera phones
• The best burner phones
• Which is the best iPhone for photography?

domain: news


text:
FLSmidth CEO confirms selling Cembrit unit
COPENHAGEN Aug 15 (Reuters) - Danish engineering group FLSmidth has put its Cembrit fibre-cement products unit up for sale and some potential buyers are on the radar, the group's chief executive said on Wednesday.
FLSmidth said in its second-quarter report that it had initiated a sales process for Cembrit and the unit would be reported as discontinued activities from the third quarter.
"We don't know how long this will take but we know that there are interested buyers," Chief Executive Jorgen Huno Rasmussen told Reuters. (Reporting by Ole Mikkelsen)
Trending On Reuters
We are living longer but not creating financial plans to keep pace. Advisers give tips on how to make sure you don’t outlive your money. Video


text:
Kentucky Senator Bourbon is set to unveil its fourth release of Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey, named after U.S. Senator John Sherman Cooper of Somerset in Pulaski County.www.KentuckySenatorBourbon.comThe Kentucky Senator Bourbon brand was revived in 2019 by co-founders Andre Regard and Damon Thayer. They are passionate about offering the finest-tasting Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, serving up great Kentucky Bourbon with a side of Kentucky history.Hitting shelves this summer, the John Sherman Cooper Release comes on the heels of the announcement that Kentucky Senator Spirits won an ASCOT Award – the famed international bourbon competition – for the quality of taste of previous releases. This highly anticipated release is named after the esteemed U.S. Senator John Sherman Cooper. Aged eight years in oak barrels, this Bourbon is 107 proof with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. Kentucky Senator Spirits will distribute approximately 1,000 bottles of this 2023 limited edition small batch Bourbon, to be sold with a suggested retail price of $134.99. It has been distilled and aged in Kentucky, bottled at Bluegrass Distillers in Lexington, and distributed by Kentucky Eagle Wine & Spirits. The John Sherman Cooper Release will be rolled out at select Kentucky retailers, with a single barrel private selection at all Liquor Barn stores. In addition to the small batch bottles available next month in Kentucky liquor stores, bars and restaurants, Kentucky Senator Bourbon will feature a limited quantity for sale at the world-famous Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, D.C. “Damon and I have been able to unleash our passion for Kentucky’s native spirit,” said co-founder Andre Regard. “Our very first batch was honored with an ASCOT Award for taste, and we have been pleased to let our subsequent releases speak for themselves. This fourth release demonstrates our continued commitment to deliver only the finest taste in each pour.” “We are featuring the same mash bill as our second and third bottling, this time aged eight years instead of seven or six,” said co-founder Damon Thayer. “As always, Kentucky Senator will be released at 107 proof, and this time, we have paired our release with the popular Senator Cooper, one of the most consequential Kentuckians of the 20th Century.” Each release is named for a U.S. Senator from Kentucky. To learn more about why John Sherman Cooper was chosen for Kentucky Senator’s fourth release, visit the company website,
[The Bourbon Flight] Kentucky Senator Bourbon to release The John Sherman Cooper edition
Click here to sign up for The Bourbon Flight Newsletter.
Click here to join The Flight Club.


text:
Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney is in some legal trouble. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Sweeney is being sued by the swim and lifestyle brand LA Collective for not honoring an agreement.
Sweeney reportedly broke a contract stating that she would model and promote swimsuits for the company. Last year, LA Collective says, she signed on to be their influencer for their “Somewhere Swimwear” line.
The brand claims The White Lotus actress approved their designs and prototypes, but then she suddenly dropped out on the deal without explanation. LA Collective also accused Sweeney of wearing the swimsuits on at least five episodes of Euphoria.


text:
The new offer will be available until 30 November and will be available for the first 100 subscribers only
Tata Motors is offering the new service in partnership with Orix Auto
Tata Motors has announced a limited period service on Tata Nexon EV called ‘Electrifying Subscription’. The new offer will be available until 30 November and will be available for the first 100 subscribers only. Tata Motors is offering the new service in partnership with Orix Auto.
The new offer allows customers to use the electric SUV at an all-inclusive fixed rental starting at just ₹34,900 per month. The company claims that the new service will allow the use of the electric SUV without the hassles of traditional vehicle ownership such as road tax and registration, insurance renewals, servicing and maintenance. The new subscription package includes comprehensive insurance coverage, on-call 24×7 roadside assistance plus free maintenance with periodic servicing and doorstep delivery.
Customers can also select the tenure of their subscription from a minimum period of 12 months to 24 and 36 months. The new service is being offered in 5 major cities – Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Tata Motors claims the new service is customised for corporates who prefer to lease, individuals with frequent inter-city job transfers, and expatriates who stay for a fixed tenure.
Customers will also get a complimentary personal EV charger that can be installed at their home or office. The facility can be easily accessed online. Following the tenure of their subscription, customers can either choose to extend it or just return the vehicle.
Pankaj Jhunja, Head- Mobility Services, Tata Motors said, “We at Tata Motors are continuously striving to offer exciting propositions that are smarter, affordable and convenient, for those who desire to experience driving smooth, silent and green Nexon EV. Our new ‘Electrifying Subscription’ offer is designed with an aim to make EVs even more accessible to a rapidly growing base of future conscious citizens. It is ideal for customers preferring ‘usership’ over ownership amidst the rapidly growing phenomenon of shared economy."


text:
The CBI expects the UK economy to continue to grow, and at a slightly faster pace in 2010 than had been expected.
However, the pace of recovery looks to be more sluggish in 2011 than previously forecast, following measures announced in the emergency Budget to deal with the deficit.
The outlook for consumer spending next year is now weaker as households will have less disposable income due to ongoing high inflation, resulting from January’s VAT rise, and modest wage increases.
In its latest economic forecast, the CBI predicts that the UK economy will grow by 1.6% in 2010, up from 1.3% in its previous forecast in June. The slight upward revision reflects better than expected growth in the second quarter this year as companies began rebuilding their stocks.
The CBI has revised down its GDP forecast for 2011, to 2.0% from 2.5% in June. This takes into account the additional fiscal consolidation measures announced in the emergency Budget, which took place after the CBI’s June forecast.
Looking at quarter-on-quarter growth, the CBI expects the economy to grow by 0.3% and 0.6% in the latter two quarters of 2010, having achieved 0.3% and 1.2% growth in the first half of the year. Quarterly growth is then forecast to pick up gradually from 0.3% to 0.6% over the course of 2011.
Although the level of uncertainty around the forecast remains high, the CBI considers that a double dip back into recession is unlikely.
Richard Lambert, CBI director-general, said: “The degree of uncertainty around the outlook remains high, but our view is that the UK’s tentative recovery will be sustained, albeit with weaker levels of growth.
“The fragile nature of the recovery is why, in the forthcoming spending review, the Government must focus its scarce resources on those areas which most galvanise growth, namely infrastructure and capital investment.”
Although household spending is expected to receive a boost at the end of the year, as consumers seek to avoid higher VAT in January, growth in spending is forecast to be restrained next year. Consumer spending growth of 0.9% in 2010 is likely to be followed by an equally anaemic 1.0% in 2011.
Having stabilised this year, following record falls in 2009, the recovery in business investment will be fairly subdued, with only moderate growth next year.
Ian McCafferty, CBI chief economic adviser, said: “While the outlook for growth in 2010 has been lifted slightly, due to slightly faster economic activity in the second quarter of the year, the outlook for next year will be more restrained.
“The action to get the public finances back onto a sustainable footing will no doubt temper the recovery going into 2011.
“Consumer spending will be more constrained than previously thought, due to higher inflation resulting from next January’s VAT rise, and wage increases continuing to be modest.
“We do expect exports to grow at a faster rate than imports however, with net trade making a positive contribution to GDP growth during the coming 15 months.”
With VAT increasing to 20% from January, inflation is expected to remain above the Bank of England’s 2% target through to the end of next year. This is despite some downward pressure on inflation from spare capacity.
The Bank is likely to start raising interest rates later than previously expected, from next spring. Monetary stimulus will gradually be withdrawn, and rates are forecast to reach 1.25% by the end of 2011.
UK exports are expected to grow by 3.5% in 2010 and 6.4% in 2011, with net trade expected to make a positive contribution to GDP growth rates throughout the forecast period.
Unemployment is no longer expected to peak during the forecast period, but will rise at a more gradual rate, moving from an expected 2.49m at the end of this year to 2.62m at the end of 2011.
Public sector net borrowing is forecast to reach £141bn in 2010/11, before falling to £116bn in 2011/12, representing 9.5% and 7.6% of GDP respectively.


text:
China’s 3D Printing Manufacturer, Zhuhai CTC Electronic, Opens Headquarters in London, Expanding through Europe
As 3D printing technology offers a voluminous number of innovations and changes to the world, transforming manufacturing worldwide, the subject of how it will affect China is interesting and well-discussed. As their traditional methods of manufacturing have a global stronghold currently, many economical and industry pundits in the U.S. predict there may be surprising changes on all sides.
Traditional manufacturing methods in China may not be enough as the U.S. and others gain independence in production processes and are able to create more manufacturing locally as well as bringing a great deal of it back home to stay.
The other side of the coin is that China is very interested in 3D printing, and not far behind us in ambition and acumen regarding the extremely useful technology. As they sharpen their skills, the combination of 3D printing and traditional methods could be extremely enticing as they are able to lower manufacturing prices even further and offer greater efficiency.
While what transformations and changes will truly take place remains to be seen, today China has their sights set on Europe. Zhuhai CTC Electronic Co., Ltd., a leading producer of 3D printers in China, has just announced the opening of an office in London as they set down roots in new headquarters meant to serve as the base for the beginning of their expansion not only in the UK but throughout Europe.
The office is 4,000 square feet and located on the southern bank of the Thames River.
“The ultimate goal of setting up a London office is to establish business relationships with local 3D printing services businesses and retailers across Europe. Most Chinese developers only focus on the Chinese market, causing them to remain quite closed-minded as their knowledge and understanding remains limited to their local market. But the fact is that there is broader space for development beyond the Chinese market,” said Zhuhai CTC Electronic PR director Siyi He.
Founded in 2004, Zhuhai CTC Electronic has no problems thinking outside the box when it comes to business and expansion, which is signified simply enough by their transition from 2D to 3D, embracing highly modern, progressive technology which still has plenty of skeptics worldwide.
“China has always regarded the American market as the benchmark and the American 3D manufacturers as the model that Chinese 3D start-ups should learn from and emulate. As the American and Chinese markets become ever more similar to each other, a 3D printer that has gained traction and been successful in America is quite certain to be a profitable product or a source of inspiration for China’s 3D development once introduced to China,” added Siyi He.
Now, with over ten years in 3D printing and exponential growth, they are expanding marketing efforts globally, with a research and development facility in India and logistics warehouses not only in Europe and Australia, but also the U.S.
Do you think China will continue to expand with 3D printing exponentially, worldwide? How do you think this will affect the U.S. hold on 3D printing? Share your thoughts with us in the Zhuhai CTC Electronic forum over at 3DPB.com.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
U.S. Military Innovation Pushed to the Frontlines with Advanced Manufacturing
Since at least World War One, the U.S. military has been the principle driver of American technological innovation. This is such a well-worn narrative by now — subsuming the origins...
3D Printing News Unpeeled: Sweat Collectors, Blue Lasers & Testing for Concrete 3D Printing
Today we learn of a project between GE Additive and Nuburu to implement blue lasers on powder bed fusion machines presumably for copper and aluminum. Also, a DLP 3D printed...
3D Printing News Unpeeled: Thing Memberships, Formwork and Deutsche Bahn
Both Thangs and Prusa Research-owned Printables announced memberships for exclusive models to support their platforms and creators. This could greatly encourage new open source creations, or it could reduce the...
US Army Tasks Senvol to Research Metal 3D Printing Repeatability
One of the biggest issues in industrial additive manufacturing (AM) is differences between print jobs, parts in the same build, and on from one machine to the next, even if...
Upload your 3D Models and get them printed quickly and efficiently.


text:
Samsung already makes the most smartphones in the world, but now the South Korean company is pushing to make the most semiconductors. Samsung just started constructing its own version of Silicon Valley, starting with $14 billion semiconductor complex larger than 400 football fields.
The “Pyeongtaek Semiconductor Valley” is set to open in 2017, and will be Samsung’s biggest push into the chip game thus far. Samsung plans to produce D-RAM and chips for the Internet of Things market within the factory.
The city of Pyeongtaek is about three hours by bus from downtown Seoul, and it’s no stranger to rich, powerful forces establishing sprawling bases of operation there: It’s home to Camp Humphreys, a US Army base that is set to become the largest in Asia by 2016.
It might seem like Samsung is pivoting as it flags behind Apple in smartphone profits. But in a way, this is a strategic bid to remain more relevant to the smartphone market than ever. Apple still can’t quitSamsung’s chips, so the chances that your next iPhone’s innards will get made in this upcoming labyrinth of circuits are high.


text:
Buenos Aires, Nov 28 (Prensa Latina) Cuba on Thursday won the Silver Bitacora Award in the category of Best Foreign Tourist Destination Promoted in Argentina.
At the gala of the 14th edition of the prestigious awards, the Caribbean island was also recognized in the Best Wholesale Operator category, due to Havanatur’s work to develop the tourism industry this year.
Finalists for the awards, promoted by Mensajero Turistico, a specialized publication with more than 30 years of experience, are chosen through the votes of travel agents and other tourism sector stakeholders, as well as online votes.
Melia Internacional won the Gold Bitacora Award in the category of Best International Hotel Chain.
Present at the event on behalf of Cuba were the Tourism Counsellor for the Southern Cone at the Cuban Embassy in Buenos Aires, Janet Ayala, and Havanatur Manager in Argentina, Adalberto Gonzalez.


text:
US military is a cause that 60% of those surveyed consider a popular cause for brands to support.
This article cites a Morning Consult and Advertising Week report which revealed a sense that even though people want to purchase from brands that align with their values but when brands take a stand on “hot-button” political issues, it could land them in a difficult spot.
The study found that 29% of Americans have “stopped purchasing from a brand because of its political stance.” 31% of Gen Z believe that businesses should “use their influence to impact political and cultural issues”.
Further, 60% of those surveyed find US military a popular issue brands could support. 49% of the respondents highlight the reformation of the criminal justice system and 46% want brands to support rights of racial minorities.
[5 minute read]


text:
The nationwide chain has taken over a former Dorothy Perkins store on North Walk in Yate Shopping Centre and is hopeful of an early-November opening but certainly in time to take advantage of the Christmas sales period. Work has already started on transforming the former fashion store to the familiar set up of Savers stores which sell beauty, health, fragrances, medicines, and home products at bargain prices.
This is exciting news for Yate shoppers who have previously had to travel to other Savers stores in Bristol for their bargains. The Yate location becomes the fourth Savers store in the city joining those in Regent Street in Kingswood and The Galleries, and East Street in Bedminster. Savers was recognised as one of the Sundays Times " Top 25 Big Companies to Work For" in 2019. Created as Savers Drugstores in 1988, it is now owned by the A.S. Watson Group which in turn is part of the Hong Kong-based C K Hutchinson Holdings. The A.S. Watson Group is the world's largest health and beauty retail group with 14,100 in 24 markets. In the same group are Superdrug and The Perfume Shop. Savers employees more than 3,000 people and operates more than 400 stores all around the UK.
As a destination shop for bargains, Savers sells top quality branded goods at heavily discounted prices and with fantastic deals. The range covers the everyday to the special occasion gift and top brands sold include Simple, Maybelline, Febreze, Dove, Oral-B, as well as premium hair care brands and the world's leading perfume manufacturers such as Calvin Klein and Gucci. Andy Lowrey, the manager of Yate Shopping Centre described the news as a "big plus for the shopping centre with another major retailer bringing more variety and great offers." Prior to the opening of the new store in Bristol, customers can check out the Savers website to get an idea of the products sold and the promotions, deals, and discounts.
News in the same category
Announced as the largest shopping centre in the world, Dubai Holding's "Mall of the World" should extend over more than 14 million m². It will include a 7 km long shopping street, a theme park and 20,000 hotel rooms.
Plant & Paint is an impressive up-and-coming craft store and local Hull residents will be pleased to learn that this bespoke franchise has recently made its presence known within Hulls Fruit Market.
Shoppers at Westfield Stratford City are the first to experience an exciting new concept store from Zara.
The recently opened Sheldon Retail Park is in its second phase of development now. Among the outlets which will open in the coming month is a brand new M&S food store.


text:
The Xperia E2 which is expected by early next year will be a low-level Android phone featuring 4G LTE and may improve on the Xperia E’s features which included a 3.5-inch display, 1.0GHz single processor and 3.2MP camera. According to EMSOdm, Foxconn Taiwan will be manufacturing 7 million units of entry level LTE phones for Sony which confirms that the Xperia E2 may hit the market soon. Affordable smartphones are credited as the major drivers of mobile device adoption in emerging countries.
Chip manufacturers including Qualcomm and MediaTek have announced processors which will support the creation of affordable smartphones with improved graphics and 4G connectivity. Samsung, ZTE and HTC are among device manufacturers who are planning the production of low-level devices targetting emerging markets. The Xperia E2 could place Sony on this list if it is launched in early 2014. The device will reportedly sell for $72.69.


text:
LAWRENCEVILLE -- Gwinnett Technical College's Environmental Horticulture program has scheduled its annual community plant sale for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17 at the Gwinnett Technical College Greenhouse.
The event is a partnership with Gwinnett County Public Library, and it will feature landscape designer and author Jane Bath, who will be speaking at 11 a.m. about gardening and landscape design solutions included in her book, "The Landscape Design Answer Book."
"We're very excited about this year's spring plant sale," said Aaron Poulsen, environmental horticulture program director. "I'm looking forward to selling our plants to raise funds for our program and providing an opportunity for attendees to talk with Jane about landscaping for their home."
The Gwinnett Tech Environmental Horticulture program holds the plant sale annually to sell student-grown plants to the community. The plant sale features a wide assortment of annuals, perennials, herbs, tropicals, houseplants and vines.
Annuals include petunias, dianthus, wax begonias, coleus, marigolds, melampodium and gomphrena. Perennials include phlox, verbena, ice plant, rudbeckia, agastache, liatris, heuchera, nippon lily, hostas and creeping jenny. Herbs include mint, oregano, thyme, sage, dill, basil and thai basil. Tropicals include shell ginger, brazilian candles, ginger lily and canna. House plants include begonias, wandering jew, spider plants, pothos and philodendron. Vines include clematis, confederate jasmine, carolina jessamine and trumpet honeysuckle.
The GTC Greenhouse is located next to building 600 on the Gwinnett Tech campus.
For more information, visit www.gwinnetttech.edu or call (770) 962-7580.


text:
ByBox increased its turnover by 12 per cent to £73 million in 2014, according to the firm's latest financial data.
This comes in the wake of a strategy focus, which saw the company place a greater emphasis on its B2B field support and global click and collect locker technology services.
More than 500 engineers are available all over the country as a result of ByBox's investment in its technical services division, Logistics Manager reports.
The logistics and supply chain management company - which specialises in locker storage - recently appointed Steve Huxter as its new chief technology officer. He is joined by Dan Turner as chief executive of ByBox Networks, who takes responsibility for expanding the click-and-collect locker service.
ByBox CEO Stuart Miller said he is delighted with the latest trading results.
"If this growth continues, we are on track to exceed our target turnover of £100 million by 2016," he commented.


text:
When it comes to car loans, money is cheap — historically cheap.
Yogesh Mathur discovered that when he was in the market for a minivan for his baby-on-the-way. To keep his monthly bill reasonable, the Wheeling, Illinois, software engineer figured he would have to come up with a large down payment. Instead, Mathur got money for free: a no-interest, 60-month loan from Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) to purchase a $27,683 Sienna minivan. Mathur figures the free financing is saving him $1,000 to $3,000.
“It’s great,” Mathur, 32, said in a telephone interview. “I didn’t have to empty out my pockets just before a new baby is coming.”
Banks, bolstered by loose monetary policy, are charging U.S. consumers the lowest interest rates on new-car loans since the Federal Reserve began surveying them in 1971. Attractive rates helped spur a 9.5 percent jump in light-vehicle sales last month and maintained the fastest pace since the U.S. government’s “cash for clunkers” program three years ago, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.
In addition to Toyota, General Motors Co. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F), Chrysler Group LLC and Nissan Motor Co. also are offering zero- percent financing on some models, according to Edmunds.com.
“There’s no question that the quantitative easing and the pressure on interest rates has helped the industry,” said Paul Ballew, chief economist at Dun & Bradstreet in Short Hills, New Jersey. “It’s absolutely breathtaking to think about not just zero-for-60 programs, but just base interest rates. It’s insane.”
(read more at Bloomberg.)


text:
Ladies of Harley (LOH) from all over the country began the official ride across the Golden Quadrilateral on April 7. It is scheduled to conclude on April 21. The ride was flagged off from Daman during the Western H.O.G. (Harley Owner’s Group) Rally. From there, the eight-member, all-women team set out for the ‘golden highway roads’ of India.
H-D opens its 27th dealership in the country to offer better sales and service experience [Read more…]


text:
Himachal theme state at Surajkund Crafts Mela this year
Himachal Pradesh will be participating in the 34th Surajkund International Crafts Mela–2020 as a Theme State, a government official informed today. The prestigious annual fair is slated to be held from February 1 to 16 at Surajkund in Faridabad, Haryana.
The department of tourism and civil aviation, language, art and culture department and industries department will participate in the fair with the purpose of promoting tourism, cultural heritage, cuisines and handloom products.
Additional chief secretary (tourism and civil aviation) RD Dhiman said it is an opportunity for the state to showcase its tourism potential, cultural-heritage, handloom–handicrafts and other products of the state at an international level platform. He said that during the 16-day fair, Himachali cultural performances will be held at venue daily and a mega cultural night will be held on February 4.
A fashion show will also be held on February 9 by Ritu Beri, a famous fashion designer. Seventy stalls are being put up for Himachal artisans to display and sell their wares and a food stall will serve the Himachali cuisine.
Director, tourism and civil aviation Yunus said the department will promote the state tourism via print and electronic media.
He said chief minister Jai Ram Thakur will attend the inaugural ceremony of Surajkund fairwhile governor Bandaru Dattatreya will attend the closing ceremony.
Yunus said the tourism department has constructed a permanent gate at the venue in hill-architecture which is a replica of Bhimakali temple. Five other gates at each entry point are also being erected which are replicas of Sakaya Tangyud Monastery–Spiti, Chamba Millennium gate, Chhinna Mastika Shaktipeeth–Chintpurni, Chindi Mata Temple gate–Karsog and Jwalamukhi temple gate.
“An ‘Apna Ghar’ has also been set up in a traditional style,” he said, adding that an information centre has also been set up by the tourism department to provide information and showcase unexplored tourist destinations.
Himachal Pradesh had last participated as ‘theme state’ in the fair in 1996.


text:
In June 2012, the United States Food and Drug Administration will pilot a program allowing medical device manufacturers to submit ISO 13485:2003 quality system audits to satisfy the FDA 21 CFR Part 820 inspection requirements for one year.
The FDA currently requires that all foreign and domestic medical device manufacturers comply with CFR Part 820, Good Manufacturing Practices. Allowing manufacturers to avoid FDA inspections for one year via the ISO 13485 audits, the agency is attempting to align with Global Harmonization Task Force guidelines. The FDA will review the findings of the ISO 13485 audits, and if found acceptable, the manufacturer will be removed from the FDA audit schedule “from the last day of the most recent ISO 13485 audit.”
For more information, visit the Emergo Group: http://www.emergogroup.com/


text:
BTS Jungkook has an extraordinary brand power that caused an out-of-stock craze. The British media highlighted the effect of his ‘Midas Hands.’
METRO, a British newspaper, recently featured an article focusing on BTS Jungkook’s ‘Midas hand effect.’
They published an article with the title, ‘Everything Jungkook touches are sold out, and his influence knows no limit.’
After BTS Jungkook drank Teazen Kombucha Tea (Brand) on a live broadcast, the media said it helped increase its sales five times. Besides, it caused export inquiries to rise. They evaluated that his influence in attracting buyers was powerful.
In addition, they emphasized that this is not the only case, which sales have surged after the products were linked with BTS Jungkook. It also includes the clothes he wore that were also sold out.
In February, he explained the sold-out phenomenon of “Feel Enuff” knit vest worn in a selfie shared by Jungkook. Also, he was photographed wearing ‘La Mode Chief’ clothes, which stock were also sold out several times.
In addition, other examples of items worn by BTS Jungkook, which also were sold out in 25 countries, include a Prada jacket worn in a teaser video for VOGUE JAPAN, a T-shirt worn in less than 12 hours, a whale tail necklace, an onyx bracelet, shoes, and a fabric conditioner.
Even fans know that the products Jungkook uses are sold out without any publicity. It is because of BTS Jungkook’s ‘Midas’ hands.’
So, it is natural for them to call him the ‘King of Sold Out.’
It was also mentioned that the companies spread good influence by donating to welfare centers and foundations. This is due to increased sales caused by the political situation.


text:
As core systems demand more integration with multiple delivery channels, credit unions turn to outsourcing.
They are the $377 million City & County Credit Union in St. Paul, Minn., and the $139 million Summit Credit Union in Greensboro, N.C.
As smartphone popularity grows – and not just across Gen Y, but all generations – some experts say so does the demand for mobile banking functionality.
CoastHills Federal Credit Union has introduced an integrated marketing and mobile banking application for the iPhone that the Lompoc, Calif
CoastHills Federal Credit Union has rolled out what it says is the first integrated mobile marketing and banking smart phone application offered by a credit union.


text:
Google reported profit and sales that topped estimates, lifted by
robust sales of online ads and tighter cost controls, putting
parent Alphabet Inc. on track to overtake Apple Inc. as the
world’s most valuable company.
The results, reported for the first time under a new structure
that separates Google’s main search and advertising operations
from riskier investments, show that fourth-quarter revenue,
excluding sales passed on to partners, rose 19 percent to $17.3
billion. That exceeded analysts’ average projection for $16.9
billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Profit, before
certain items, was $8.67 a share, beating the prediction for
The shares of Mountain View, California-based Alphabet rose as
much as 9.4 percent in extended trading. The stock advanced 1.2
percent to $770.77 at the close in New York, giving the company a
market capitalization of $523.1 billion, compared with $534.7
billion for Apple.


text:
Despite the pandemic, the sprint from wires to Wi-Fi has continued at pace, and with good reason. As organizations speed up their transition to the cloud, increase their use of bandwidth-devouring video and battle a rocketing number of devices, the demand for Wi-Fi connectivity has reached a whole new level. In fact, according to the Wi-Fi alliance, there are as many as 16.4 bn clients and IoT devices now in use.
Simon Wilson, Chief Technology Officer Aruba UK&I.
The pandemic has undoubtedly been a catalyst for faster, more agile connectivity. However, even before the events of the past year and a half, wireless networks were already strained; for years, WLAN has been under increasing pressure due to the growth in the number of solely wireless devices demanding more and more data.
The emergence of latency-critical applications such as AR and VR only adds to this. Meaning that ultimately, wireless networks will at some point become oversubscribed, leading to sub-par application performance, negative user experiences and lagging productivity.
Now the latest networking development, Wi-Fi 6E, is widely regarded as the solution for this, promising to make Wi-Fi technology faster and more powerful than ever before.
But what progress has Europe made towards Wi-Fi 6E adoption over the past year? And what does this mean for businesses considering technology investments in the near future?
Expanding Europe’s airwaves
While the regulatory body in North America (the FCC) were quick to open up the full spectrum of 1,200 MHz offered within the 6 GHz band, others including Europe have taken a more cautious approach. With the continent adopting a bandwidth of 5925-6425 MHz, this means that so far only the lower 500 MHz has been opened up.
While not quite what the technology world wanted, it still offers a huge opportunity and supports Europe's political drive to become a gigabit society by 2030.
All the while, European approval at the current level means that manufacturers are busy developing products to support broader adoption and availability of Wi-Fi 6E. IDC predict more than 338 million devices will enter the market, but just 20% of all Wi-Fi 6 device shipments will support 6 GHz by 2022. Regulators in Europe must continue collaborating with industry representatives to open up the final 6425-7125 MHz band to ensure growing capacity demands are met.
Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 6E
It’s worth remembering that Wi-Fi 6E is still very new and as a result, not many client devices support it just yet and businesses should not dive straight into an upgrade just because they can. However, the small cost delta and longer lifespan means 6E should be a serious consideration for new builds and pilot projects.
Like any new technological advancement, there are several considerations and, like most things, it’s not a ‘one fits all’ approach, the needs and requirements of the business will determine the best route forwards.
Fundamentally organizations must ensure their country has adopted 6 GHz. The UK and most of Europe has adopted 6GHz ¬¬(at the time of writing), but countries such as Oman, Turkey and Jordon are all still in the consultation process. Businesses based in such locations will be unable to buy or implement 6E, as such they could try to lobby their local regulator – however the reality is that they will have to wait until a decision has been made. Assuming country adoption is in place, organizations should then consider areas such as what the additional bandwidth will be used for, where it’s needed, and what’s already in place. Businesses most suited to 6E are those looking to expand into high-definition video, VR and AR technologies, those with low latency requirements as well as those planning a refresh of anything older than Wi-Fi6. In addition, organizations wanting to future-proof their business by protecting technology investments will also be viable candidates for 6E adoption. With the new band, product refresh cycles can be extended from five to six years to eight to 10, meaning that upgrades could last up to 50% longer.
It’s also important to note that 6 GHz is only currently available indoors, so companies that require outdoor connectivity won’t benefit from it at this stage. Companies operating in primarily outdoor environments and organizations based in locations that have already announced they won’t be adopting the new 6 GHz band, will have to stick to Wi-Fi 6 for the time being.
Hang on, what about 5G?
It’s an age-old argument – will Wi-Fi still be necessary in a 5G world? The truth of the matter is that whilst both are different, they are equally complimentary. The same applies to 5G and Wi-Fi 6E; together, they provide increased speeds, higher capacity, and lower latency.
Businesses don’t need to (and shouldn’t) take a ‘one or the other’ approach. Currently, around 60% of cellular traffic is offloaded to Wi-Fi and that number is only increasing, making it all the more important. Wi-Fi is also cheaper to deploy, maintain, and scale; without the ability to offload traffic to Wi-Fi, 4G and 5G networks would become considerably more expensive. This is especially true for those in the UK where service providers have made the decision to re-introduce roaming charges – Brexit now means travelers will likely prefer free Wi-Fi over having to fork up cash to cover roaming charges.
In addition, mobile operators would need to invest more into network densification to increase network capacity. It makes sense, therefore, for the two technologies to work in tandem to ensure a robust user experience.
The benefits of Wi-Fi 6E are clear and, alongside other important networking advancements, it is set to enable businesses to become more connected than ever before. Wave goodbye to sluggish connections and poor user experiences and replace them with powerful, high-speed networks.
However, they must make the right choice for them. Not every company is immediately suited to Wi-Fi 6E, and an incorrect investment could be a costly mistake at a time when every pound counts. Instead, businesses should spend time assessing their business needs both now, and for the future, to ensure they embark along the right path for their digital transformation journey. For those utilizing AR/VR and wishing to take advantage of next-generation devices, Wi-Fi 6E will be an obvious choice.
- We feature the best wireless headphones.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Simon Wilson is the CTO of HPE Aruba.


text:
Keller Rohrback Newsroom
Keep up with the latest news from Keller Rohrback on our blog, the Newsroom. For news in a specific practice area, select the category on the right.
Keller Rohrback L.L.P. is proud to announce that 25 of our attorneys were named to the 2020 Washington Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.read more
Did a company mislead you into thinking a product would prevent, diagnose, or cure coronavirus (COVID-19)?
If you have been a victim of false advertising claims stating that a product can prevent, treat, mitigate, diagnose, or cure COVID-19, Keller Rohrback wants to hear your story. Please contact our consumer protection team at email@example.com or (800) 776-6044 for a consultation at no cost to you.read more
If you are being charged for a gym membership or other recurring plan despite being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Keller Rohrback wants to hear from you. Please contact our consumer protection team at (800) 776-6044 or firstname.lastname@example.org more
If you have been denied a refund for a flight cancelled or significantly delayed by an airline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Keller Rohrback wants to hear from you. To learn more, please contact us at (800) 776-6044 or email@example.com more


text:
Biscuit manufacturer Border Biscuits has appointed Paul Parkins as its new managing director.
In his new role, Parkins will refocus and drive growth back into the business, it said.
He previously held leading roles with companies including McVitie’s, Tyrrells and Belvoir. He then spent two years as a non-executive director on the Executive Board at Border Biscuits.
Parkins takes on his new role as owner John Cunningham steps into the chief executive post.
In 2019, Border Biscuits’ turnover reduced by 3% to £16.5m with increased promotional costs eroding net profit from £1.2m to £0.4m, said the firm.
“We are delighted to welcome Paul Parkins as the new managing director of Border Biscuits. Paul has a wealth of experience within the FMCG industry,” said John Cunningham, chief executive of Border Biscuits.
“Paul joins us at a challenging time both for us as a business and the country with the impact of Covid-19. We are excited by his appointment as we work to make Border Biscuits a business that is fit for the future and return to growth following a difficult 2019 and 2020.”
The new appointment signals the start of a new era for what remains a huge category that provides so much opportunity, it added.
“Border Biscuits is a brand I’ve known and enjoyed for many years. It is full of potential and I’m looking forward to starting work on helping it fulfil that across the UK,” added Parkins.


text:
Well-known gym chain GoodLife Fitness is closing all its locations across Canada effective immediately in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“As the virus continues to spread in communities across Canada we have made the difficult but important decision to close all GoodLife Fitness Clubs across Canada, effective immediately,” said a statement posted online Sunday night.
The company says it will continue to pay its workers for the next two weeks to “help lessen the financial burden of this tremendous change.”
As of Tuesday March 17, member payments will be suspended. Memberships that have been paid in full will be frozen, with expiry dates pushed back.
It is unclear when the company plans on reopening.
Source: Read Full Article


text:
In January, Birmingham FoE teamed up with the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s to protest against off-road vehicles on the morning school run (see Action Briefing Feb-Mar 2005) by distributing 'could do better' report cards to 4×4 drivers outside Edgbaston High School, Westbourne Road.
Greenpeace waded into the controversy in mid-May when thirty-five protesters dressed as Rover workers evaded security at Solihull's Land Rover plant and chained themselves to the assembly line, bringing production to a standstill for approximately four hours. After negotiations to end the protest failed, West Midlands police were called in and made fifteen arrests. Undeterred, Greenpeace later descended on Land Rover dealerships in seven major cities and thirty towns, clamping the worst models and demanding that 'Climate Criminals' Land Rover stop marketing off-road vehicles for use as urban run-arounds.
According to Greenpeace, the new Range Rover Sport, which 'has been tuned primarily for on-road performance', does fewer miles to the gallon than the Model T Ford built eighty years ago. So much for progress. (It's worth noting that Greenpeace did not shut down production of the Land Rover Defender, most of which are used for legitimate agricultural and industrial purposes.)
Greenpeace's protest attracted a predictably irate response from the local press. "Heavy-handed publicity stunts like this invasion and disruption of Land Rover's plant in Solihull do little to further the group's cause" thundered the Birmingham Evening Mail on 16th May. But with climate change proceeding apace and oil at $50 a barrel, there can be no future and no jobs in making cars that damage the environment. Greenpeace point out that Land Rover's parent company, Ford, is losing money and shedding jobs in the USA in response to falling sales of their gas-guzzling models. British sales of 4x4s have doubled in the last ten years, to almost 180,000 vehicles in 2004, but their share of the car market fell in the first three months of 2005.
For a full report on the protests and Greenpeace’s ongoing campaign visit www.greenpeace.org.


text:
Whole Foods upgraded to 'outperform' and Kraft Foods downgraded to 'hold.'
The Asian giant no longer wants your manufacturing dollars as it aims to shift its economic model to one based on consumption. Guess which country could benefit.
Usually the end of the year guarantees a big rally, as funds buy and sell to get the bonus money pool up, but this year, the fiscal cliff has meant sober markets ... for now.
Looking for growth and a dividend, with exposure to the emerging markets? The Mexican producer and distributor of Coke beverages fits the bill.
VIDEO ON MSN MONEY
Copyright © 2014 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
A new survey reveals Americans are most embarrassed to admit their amount of credit card debt.
In a tax case, a US judge ruled that the agency's published guidelines don't hold up in court.
MUST-SEE ON MSN
- Video: Easy DIY smoked meats at home
A charcuterie master shares his process for cold-smoking meat at home.
- Jetpacks about to go mainstream
- Weird things covered by home insurance
- Bing: 70 percent of adults report 'digital eye strain'


text:
Third quarter revenue drop for Haynes
A small frontlist and weak ...
DK launches design internships
DK has opened applications ...
Quadrille signs GBBO's Bell
Quadrille has signed a cook...
Caffeine Nights launches online store bundling
Independent publisher Caffe...
Libraries competition marks Kipper birthday
Libraries can take part in ...
Atlantic cuts losses in 2011
09.01.13 | Joshua Farrington
Atlantic Books managed to cut its losses and increase its turnover in 2011, according to results just filed with Companies House.
The independent publisher made a loss of £193,195 on a turnover of £8,192,561 in 2011 according to the abridged results for the year ending 31st December 2011.
The loss in an improvement on its figures for 2010, which chief executive Toby Mundy branded "a dreadful year", where the company suffered a £1,814,614 loss against a turnover of £6,935,932.
Overall, it raised its turnover by 18%, while cutting its losses by 89%, during the year.
Chief executive Toby Mundy said: "I think the results represent very satisfactory progress. The company is on the road to reviving its former strength. Looking ahead, I think we have a very good programme lined up, with some great fiction and novels with real potential. Corvus, which we started a few years ago, is really starting to see its authors building their reputations nicely."
The results also show that Atlantic ended 2011 with net assets of £2,431,897, and net liabilities of £269,044.


text:
Holidaymakers face the hard sell
TRAVEL agency chains have been ordered to give customers a hard sell on 'own brand' package holidays as the industry struggles to cope with the collapse in bookings since 11 September.
Britain's three largest holiday companies operate travel agents. Thomson owns Lunn Poly, Airtours is the parent of Going Places, and First Choice has the Travel Choice chain.
In the past, up to 60% of holidays sold by a typical travel agent in one of the big chains have been packages provided by the parent, known as directional selling.
But industry statistics show directional selling at record levels. Up to 80% of sales through Going Places and Travel Choice are for their parent companies. About 75% of Lunn Poly's sales are for parent Thomson.
The big operators are trying to boost profits by ordering High Street chains to focus sales almost exclusively on in-house products. Profit margins from directional selling can be as high as 30% for travel groups.
Where an agent is selling a rival operator's holiday, the only profit is the commission on the sale - typically 10%-15%.
One analyst explained: 'It's no secret that holiday bookings have dried up since the attacks, with sales down by about 40%. The big operators need to pick up what few bookings there are and they are instructing their travel agencies to give people the hard sell on their products. At times like this, customer choice goes out of the window. All that counts is the bottom line.'
An Airtours spokeswoman denied the company's policy had changed. 'We have always made it clear that Going Places supports Airtours. On average, directional selling is near 60% and that hasn't changed, although there may be odd weeks where it has been higher.'
Even Thomas Cook, which prides itself on offering more impartial advice than its rivals, is dramatically increasing sales of in-house operator JMC, aiming to reach the same level of directional selling as Thomson and Airtours.
A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said: 'For years we've tried to be the honest broker, but we're in a new world since 11 September and you have to get better at directional selling. Clearly, given the trading conditions, we have to sell more in-house products to restore profitability. But we're very transparent with customers.'
The major casualties of the holiday giants' new policy are tour operators without a High Street presence.
Bookings for Cosmos, which is reportedly for sale, and Libra Holidays have been hit because they rely on travel chains to sell their holidays.
• Bookings plummet
HOLIDAY bookings for next summer fell by as much as 50% after the US launched air attacks on Afghanistan, says First Choice.
But the operator claims bookings are slowly recovering.
Chief executive Peter Long said its figures were a good barometer for the market.
'The biggest fall was at the beginning of October when the bombings started. Winter bookings were about a third down. Bookings for next summer peaked at 50% down. But we may have seen some bottoming out now.' First Choice, which is axing 1,100 jobs because of the bookings slump, plans to cut capacity for next summer by about two million holidays, taking six of its 32 aircraft out of the market.
Long said: 'People are deciding about travel much later. If you haven't got early bookings you will have more to sell late and prices will be discounted. Taking holidays out of the market should give firmer prices.'
• Thomson Travel Group is this week expected to announce job losses. Rival Thomas Cook has already cut 2,600 jobs across Europe.
Most watched Money videos
- The classic Moke is reborn as an electric vehicle
- Bitcoin and crypto demystified: Part two
- Range Rover announces new fully electric version
- New £95k Range Rover unveiled - and will have an EV version
- Volkswagen launch stunning all-electric cars ID.5 and ID.5 GTX
- Kia creates an electrical storm with all new battery-powered EV6 GT
- MGB Roadster Limited Edition in detail
- Portable electric vehicle charger that can be stored in the boot
- Are BP and Shell worth investing in despite green concerns?
- New Nissan concept car uses same powertrain as family-designed SUV
- Roll-Royce launch new heavy-metal Black Badge Ghost limousine
- Renault show off AIR4 retro drone version of Renault 4 without wheels


text:
According to Android Authority, a leaked photo of the Google Pixel Fold 2 indicates potential design modifications, following recent reports on hardware specifications. The second-generation Pixel Fold features a narrower cover screen compared to its predecessor.
This suggests that the overall design of the Fold 2 may resemble other foldable phones like the OnePlus Open, with screens falling between those of the Pixel Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 in size.
The narrower form factor of the Pixel Fold 2 may come as a surprise to some. However, it's likely a strategic move by Google, considering that many Android apps aren't optimized for tablets. By narrowing the Fold 2, Google might circumvent the need for software adjustments to address apps that don't perform well in landscape mode.
The leaked image of the Pixel Fold 2 also reveals a revamped camera bump on its rear, featuring four sensors and an LED flash, without the camera bar extending from edge to edge. Design elements shared with the upcoming Pixel 9 series include a more rounded display and a premium aluminum frame.
Reports suggest that the inner screen of the Pixel Fold 2 includes a display cutout in the top right corner for the internal camera, a departure from its predecessor. Additionally, the crease in the foldable screen remains noticeable, as stated in the report.
Given that the leaked device is still in early development, its design may undergo changes before mass production. With more details expected closer to the release date, which could be later this year, we still have a long way to go.


text:
The developer of the Best Market shopping center in Shirley is going before the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals today seekings approvals for a new Sonic Drive-In burger restaurant.
The proposed restaurant would be on the far west side of the plaza, at 800 Montauk Highway, in what’s currently an empty part of the parking lot.
Gould Shirley Real Estate Corp., of 60 Cutter Mill Rd., Suite 303, in Great Neck, is requesting reduced front-yard setback and a reduced minimum natural landscaped area. The developer is also seeking permission for a total of seven wall signs and is proposing that all exterior lighting be fully shielded fixtures (green LED awning strips and yellow and red LED canopy stars are proposed.
Mark Lundy, president of Gould Shirley Real Estate Corp., said he believes the company has responded to any concerns the ZBA brought up at the initial April 24 hearing, and that he hopes the restaurant is approved today.
“This is the unutilized northwest corner of the area. Longer term, the goal is to improve the center. This is a start,” Lundy said.
Sonic officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Best Market, the plaza’s anchor tenant, will be transitioning to a Lidl in 2020. Lidl’s store format is different, and the company is currently exploring whether it can find a tenant for up 22,000 square feet.
The Sonic proposal will be taken up at 4 p.m. at Brookhaven Town Hall, at 1 Independence Plaza in Farmingville. New public hearings will start at 2 p.m.
There are currently four other Sonic locations on Long Island: in East Meadow, Nesconset, North Babylon and Valley Stream.
Sonic would join a crowded fast-food environment.
There is a Checker’s and KFC in the Best Market shopping center, and across the street on William Floyd Parkway is a Taco Bell, Wendy’s. On the north side of Montauk Highway is a Boston Market.
Lundy said Sonic is a step up from a McDonald’s, which is about a mile down the road on Montauk Highway, and that the company’s goal was to lease a pad site, which operations like banks aren’t opening. “So this is a good use of that space.”


text:
Monoprice's Noise Canceling Headphones are about 70 percent as good as the Bose QC15s for a little more than a third of the price.
While they may not be quite as comfortable as Bose's ultrapopular QC 15 headphones, the Harman Kardon NCs offer slightly better sound and have a built-in rechargeable battery to power the active noise-cancellation circuitry.
Sony has launched a new range of hi-res portable audio gear at IFA in Berlin including headphones and players. We went hands-on.
The company is looking into bone conduction technology that would improve voice communications in a wireless earphone system.
Get your feline fix with an online noise generator that soothes your soul with the sound of a cat purring.
Long-awaited sequels and new franchises highlight Sony's E3 press conference in Los Angeles.
We see which phone takes better shots in low-light -- the iPhone 6S Plus, the Samsung Galaxy S6 or the older iPhone 6.
Exposure to traffic noises doesn't just make us madder. It may also make us fatter, according to a new study from Sweden.
While it isn't quite as good as the Beats Studio wireless, Sony's MDR-ZX770BN costs significantly less.
CNET explains the tech behind noise-cancelling headphones, which electronically eliminate the sounds of your surroundings.


text:
The Federation Against Software Theft (FAST), is working with Trading Standards in order to fight against software piracy being carried out in offices.
According to IDC 27 per cent of software used in businesses is illegal. Unlicensed PC software use dropped in 49 percent in the economies studied, stayed the same in 34 percent and rose in 17 percent in others.
A more recent IDC study showed that 27 percent of all UK business are using unlicensed software.
FAST has said that it hopes its partnership with Trading Standards will urge businesses to stay safe from software misuse by insisting it monitors software usage closely.
When we asked the organisation what the most used piece of pirated software was we were told: “Unfortunately FAST does not have records of the most used underlicensed software.”
We were then told that this was not the approved FAST spokesperson, and that in actual fact, FAST has plenty of figures to back up its move but must withhold them to keep impartiality: “FAST is an industry body, and must remain impartial rather than call out particular vendors. It’s in no one’s interests to give these figures out, hence they are not disclosed.”
We were also directed to the IDC figures above when we asked how many businesses were found doing this last year. It said that FAST is continuing to reduce illegal software use by educating businesses on software management and best practices in IT management.
John Lovelock, Chief Executive at FAST said: “It has become commonplace for businesses to often unintentionally break piracy laws by not paying attention to software licensing. To clarify, if a software application doesn’t have a licence, or if the licence only entitles its use for an individual machine but it is being installed on various computers, then it is illegally installed.”
According to section 107A of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Trading Standards has the duty and the power to prosecute copyright offences and this could mean inspecting UK workplaces to check compliance after a whistleblower complaint.
In partnership with FAST, Trading Standards is forewarning businesses to check that licences are in order before any inspection. Rob Abell, Fair Trading Officer at Trading Standards, says some companies have already been caught using software illegally and they have been fully investigated.
“Every year Britain’s digital economy is largely affected by piracy and illegitimate software use: future investment, innovation and people’s jobs are at stake. We want a level playing field for those businesses that are meeting their legal requirements.
“With the support of FAST we are now looking to do more work in the arena of software theft in the workplace, to minimise the chances of the bad trend continuing, as well as helping and supporting those businesses trying to trade legally and remain competitive in the current economic climate.”


text:
Mastercard to drop its name from iconic logo
What’s in a name? For MasterCard, not enough to keep it in the logo.
The company is removing the word Mastercard from the pair of interlocking red and yellow circles where it has resided for more than 50 years.
Mastercard will join a small stable of brands like Nike, Apple and Target that rely on an image rather than a name in most marketing materials.
The organisation says 80 per cent of people recognise the Mastercard logo even when its name isn’t present.
Senior Advisor at KPMG Andrew Billy Baxter says Mastercard’s “branding of the red and orange circle is pretty well known”.
Click PLAY below to hear the full interview


text:
Google, Amazon and Microsoft are robbing the world of potential spies with exorbitant salaries and ‘fun’ offices. Doesn’t anyone prize espionage over cash these days? For shame! By Duncan Gardham … Continue Reading Google, Amazon and Microsoft are robbing the world of potential spies!
A B&B owner, who strangely resembles Leonard Nemoy, was using secret peepholes to watch and record his guests while they were having sex. The hidden cameras were discovered by a … Continue Reading B&B Owner used surveillance gear to spy on his guests
To celebrate the glorious summer, Spy Tec is offering one free pair of Free Covert Rear-View Sunglasses with any purchase. These sunglasses are perfect both for protecting the eyes and … Continue Reading Free Covert Rear-View Sunglasses With Any Purchase
Crowdsourcing for gathering Spy Data? American Spy Agencies hope to use crowdsourcing in a new way to gather intelligence that eludes the experts. By Adam Rawnsley Crowdsourcing. It’s been used … Continue Reading Spy Agency to use Internet Crowdsourcing to Gain Intelligence
Sometimes it’s a thin line between Spy Intrigue and just plain old Spy forgetfulness. Germany is investigating reports that a set of blueprints its future BND spy headquarters under construction … Continue Reading German Spy Org Loses Blueprints to Proposed 2.3 Billion Dollar Building!
Appellate court in New Jersey rules that placing GPS tracking devices covertly in a person’s car to track them is NOT an invasion of privacy and is perfectly legal! New … Continue Reading GPS spying on vehicles in New Jersey deemed LEGAL
Sure you do! Internet users may soon have a chance to use real spy satellite technologies. A Canadian company plans to equip the International Space Station with two high-resolution cameras, … Continue Reading Want to control spy satellites on the International Space Station from your Iphone?
An interesting look into The Church of Scientology’s methods for spying on its followers and enemies. By Tony Ortega For Scientology watchers, one of the reasons this is a particularly … Continue Reading The Church of Scientology’s Spy Methods
These images and more like them were nabbed by the secret service along with the artist’s computers (Apple laptops of course!) and hard drives. See more at : http://peoplestaringatcomputers.tumblr.com/
BY NEAL UNGERLEIDER A new, creepily awesome Android application developed by two Microsoft interns turns Android smartphone cameras into full-on spy machines. The app, called TagSense, relies on smartphone sensors … Continue Reading Interns develop spy app which can automatically tag photos
I find it strange that we live in a technologically advanced society that can catch a government official [former South Carolina county councilman, Tony Trout] in the act of using … Continue Reading Covert technology can’t abate sex crimes
As surveillance becomes more robust, cybercriminals become more profound – forcing a persistent innovation of security strategy at all major tech corporations. This is the message of RSA 2009 – … Continue Reading RSA: the Premier Security Conference for security professionals, tackles Clouds
As summer and the travel season approach, we thought it may be useful to present some travel tips when young children are in tow. Airports can be less than friendly, … Continue Reading Transportation Security: Travelling with Children
Well I have to admit, I’m really an old SLR manual camera buff with a couple of Canon Canonet Q17 GIIIs, a Canon 650 [heavy and durable as a tank], … Continue Reading Nikon readies entry-level DSLR with articulating display (discovered via spyshots!)
Why would anyone want to purchase covert cameras and/or recording devices?
Apple predicts their App store will soon hit a record 1 billion downloads – in only nine months. Get ready for your rewards you downloading fools … customers will automatically … Continue Reading Apple to celebrate 1 billion app downloads – you could win big.


text:
Animoca Brands apologises, offers compensation after hackers scam Phantom Galaxy fans of $1.1m
Link copied to
Animoca Brands says it will pay US$1.1 million in Ethereum to cover the cost of a scam involving the hack of its Sydney-based subsidiary’s social media channel.
The November 19 hack targeted the chat server of Phantom Galaxies, an upcoming game being developed by Blowfish Studios, the indie North Sydney gaming company that Animoca acquired for up to $35 million in July.
Some 94,000 people belong to Discord server, and early last Friday the hacker or hackers were able to use a “malware bot” to compromise the two-factor authentication for its admin account.
Once in control of the account, the hackers banned all staff accounts, as well as the accounts of advisors and community moderators.
Around 3am AEDT, the hackers began posting fraudulent announcements about a surprise “stealth mint” of its game NFTs. The announcements directed people to a fake website with a phony minting process. Users were charged 0.1 Ethereum (around US$430), but nothing was minted – the funds were just transferred to the hacker’s wallet.
For anyone paying attention, there were some clues this wasn’t on the up-and-up.
In the past, Phantom Galaxy had issued server-wide notices that there’d never be any unannounced “stealth” or “surprise” drops or mints.
In addition, the website had an .org domain, rather than the official dot-com one.
But within half an hour, nearly 1,000 users had sent the hackers Ethereum, blockchain data shows. Most sent just 0.1 Eth, but some paid 0.5, 1 or even 1.5 Eth for multiple NFTs.
Just minted Phantom Galaxies @the_phantom_g
But can’t see it in my wallet! 😟😟
— crypto-noob (@lnvestor_wannab) November 18, 2021
Senior management of Animoca, based in Hong Kong, became aware of the scam around 3.40am AEDT (12.40am Hong Kong time), but were unable to rouse anyone in Sydney given the extremely late hour.
Phantom Galaxies discord has been hacked!! Please do not mint. Our team has all been kicked out of the chat and it’s 3:30 am in Sydney so we can’t even reach the admin. Please spread the word so that more people do not get scammed @elliotrades @the_phantom_g
— Santi (@NFT_Santi) November 18, 2021
They were able to post a warning in the Telegram channels at 3.45am AEDT and Animoca chairman Yat Siu tweeted about it at 3.58am.
.@the_phantom_g .@blowfishstudios @discord was compromised there is no mint taking place! The team is looking to resolve this in the meantime do not mint on https://t.co/nWViAGrGcA it is a *fraud* the official website is always https://t.co/y0RpYMub4H
— Yat Siu (@ysiu) November 18, 2021
Animoca was able to contact Discord, the San Francisco company behind the chat software, which took emergency steps to restrict access to the server at 4.30am.
Still, people kept sending in funds for another half an hour, the blockchain data indicates.
In total the hackers collected 265 Ethereum (US$1.1 million) in 1,574 transactions in a little under three hours, according to Etherscan. Nearly all of that has been transferred to Tornado Cash, an Ethereum privacy solution useful for money laundering.
Animoca and Blowfish issued a lengthy statement last night about the hack, pledging compensation.
“The exact nature and mechanism of the compensation will be determined after discussions with the Phantom Galaxies community, but it will involve transfers to users to cover the amounts stolen by the hackers, or the delivery of equivalent value. More information will be provided in the game’s official channels.”
The two companies also apologised and said they were taking steps to further increase security and prevent such incidents in the future.
“This includes holding in-depth reviews with our security experts, external consultants, and Discord security personnel,” the statement said. “Animoca Brands is also instituting a group-wide assessment of security measures.”
UPDATE: Animoca Brands has released a public statement and update on the hack of this Discord server.
We are committed to the wellbeing of the Phantom Galaxies community, and remain extremely excited about building the game together.
Please read 👇 https://t.co/qhM0thaTao
— Phantom Galaxies (@the_phantom_g) November 24, 2021
The statement also advised users of steps they could take to avoid scams and said people should be very cautious of stealth drop/mint events.
“Never trust announcements that play on the fear of missing out (FOMO). It is better to miss out than to get scammed.”
Phantom Galaxies is a “mecha” game that’ll be released next year on consoles and PC. Here’s an early look at gameplay that was released last month.


text:
The Children’s Food Campaign today launches a report calling for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to re-examine its sponsorship deals and take a tougher approach to its food and drink sponsors in the face of rising obesity levels.
The Obesity Games report finds that corporate sponsorship accounts for less than 10% of the total funding for the London2012 Games, and junk food sponsors contribute only around 2% of the IOC income. Yet, it says, sponsors like Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Cadbury’s “are given an unrivalled platform to promote their unhealthy brands and products”.
The Children’s Food Campaign wants the IOC to set proper conditions on promoting healthy eating in their sponsorship deals, and for junk food brands to be excluded from sponsoring all sporting events.
Malcolm Clark, co-ordinator of the Children’s Food Campaign, said: “The Olympics have become a celebration of big. For the junk food companies who sponsor the Games that means big restaurants, big audiences, big brand value, big profits. But for children that could also mean bigger waistlines and bigger health problems later in life. Yet the one thing about the Olympics which is not big is the proportion of revenue from sponsorship. The International Olympic Committee could choose to cut out the top-tier category of food and soft drink partners entirely, and lose little more than 2% its total income.”


text:
Thursday, 14 March 2019
Researchers from The University of Western Australia and Stanford University have confirmed eco-labels on seafood are a trusted way for consumers to ensure they are buying sustainable seafood products and also encourage the seafood industry to be more sustainable.
The advice comes after the scientists carried out one of the largest global studies to examine the success of fisheries that use fishery improvement projects.
Fishery improvement projects work by using consumer demand for sustainable seafood to encourage improvements in fishing practices and management. When successful, these projects improve the sustainability of fisheries, often earning the fishery an eco-label, which entices consumers to choose that product.
The effectiveness of fishery improvement projects is often questioned and has been the subject of great debate, and with a lack of research into their success, the researchers put 67 fisheries from 50 countries to the test.
Lead researcher Dr Kendra Travaille from the UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences said long-term projects with regional level management arrangements and focused on species in danger of over-fishing had the best success rates.
“Interestingly, and contrary to popular opinion, the level of success didn't come from how well financed the fisheries were or their size, with fisheries in developing countries and smaller catches often carrying out effective improvement initiatives,” Dr Travaille said.
She said the study used online data and although Australia was not part of the study and in general had great fishing practices, the research provided useful insights for the industry and government about what makes a fishery improvement project successful.
“The research also highlights the power we have as consumers in ensuring a sustainable and high standard of fishery practices,” she said.
The research has been published in the Fish and Fisheries journal
Jess Reid (UWA Media and PR Advisor) 08 6488 6876
- International — Media Statements — Research — Science — University News
- Oceans Institute — School of Biological Sciences


text:
A sixth-grader has been suspended for 10 days because the 10-inch chain on her Tweety bird wallet violates the school district’s zero-tolerance weapons policy.
Ashley Smith, an 11-year-old student at Garrett Middle School in suburban Atlanta, received the maximum punishment Tuesday. The chain connects her wallet to her key rings.
“It’s only a little chain, and I don’t think it can really hurt anyone,” said Ashley, who maintains her own Tweety Web site.
Because her suspension is “short-term,” Ashley cannot appeal, assistant superintendent Tony Arasi said. School officials said Ashley and her parents, Raymond and Carmen Smith, knew chains were banned.
Smith said the suspension “lacks common sense.”
“A little piece of chain is not a deadly weapon,” he said.
At the beginning of the school year, students were shown samples of items they could not bring to school. Ashley said she saw a chain about 2 feet long and much thicker than the chain on her wallet.
“They shouldn’t have jumped to immediately suspend her,” said Gerry Weber, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Georgia chapter. He called the suspension “zero-tolerance gone awry.”
The ACLU successfully represented Atlanta student Rose Marie Spearman in 1994 after she was charged with criminal weapons possession for bringing African tribal knives to school for extra credit.


text:
Analysts predict to see the Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Dakota, Jeep Commander and Compass all face the axe, while the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Durango are also favorites.
Chrysler has established a product evaluation committee that’s currently reviewing sales progress of each model but any final decision will come down to managers at Cerberus, reports the Free Press. The carmaker’s new Vice Chairman Jim Press explained to reporters last week that too many models overlap and that markets exist “where Chrysler has insufficient coverage. Where Chrysler doesn’t have enough product.”
This helps to explain why last week’s UAW negotiations failed to secure any production guarantees in the same way it did with GM. When CEO Bob Nardelli took over the reigns back in August he mentioned that one of his key moves would be to reduce the number of models currently available.


text:
According to recent reports, over half-a-million Activision Accounts may have been breached, with log-in details, including passwords, being leaked publicly. Activision Accounts are primarily used to track progress for the publisher’s ultra-popular Call of Duty games, although other Activision titles, like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, may prompt players to sign up as well.
Activision accounts are apparently being leaked so change your password, although that might not even help because they’re apparently generating 1,000 accounts every 10 minutes.
— TheGamingRevolution (@TheGamingRevo3) September 20, 2020
While we don’t know exactly how the hackers gained access to the accounts, but likely they just used a brute-force method, as Activision Accounts do not offer two-factor authentication. Numerous Call of Duty players are reporting not being able to get into their Activision Accounts due to hackers accessing them and changing their passwords.
As of this monent, it’s unknown if the hacks are still ongoing or what the status of affected accounts is, as Activision has yet to release any kind of statement on the matter, and those who initially revealed what was going on haven’t revealed any new information. Needless to say, if you do play any Activision games, you should check on your account now – you can’t turn on 2FA sadly, but you should at least change your password and make sure it’s different than the passwords attached to other sensitive things (your email, bank account, ect.) Also, unlink Battlenet, PSN, Xbox, and social media accounts from your Activision Account.
This isn’t the first time these sort of publisher-specific accounts have been breached (Nintendo suffered a fairly major hack recently). It’s disappointing that publishers are so insistent that players sign up for these things, yet often don’t provide proper security. I’ll update this story if and when Activision acknowledges their security breach.


text:
Executives on RLHC’s second-quarter earnings call told analysts they are maintaining an aggressive approach during their transition to an asset-light or completely asset-free operating model.
DENVER—On RLH Corporation’s pursuit to become fully asset-light and move toward franchising upscale, midscale and economy hotels, it has executed 93 franchise agreements as of 30 June, according to executives on the company’s second-quarter earnings call.
“We knew heading into 2018, it would be a vital year for transition and transformation for (RLHC). The key elements that we focused on were significant changes to our business model, our balance sheet, our technology advantage and our brand’s development,” said President and CEO Greg Mount. “Our team has achieved a great deal on each of these elements in the first half of the year.”
Through July, RLHC has sold nine of the 11 remaining hotels out of the 18 previously listed in October. But with high confidence in market conditions, the company decided to “market three additional hotels in Anaheim, Atlanta and Kalispell (Montana) and anticipates gross proceeds in excess of $40 million,” according to the company release.
“Selling the nine hotels significantly reduces the risk in our business model and repositions our capital,” Mount said. “This will, as planned, transform RLH Corporation into a high-margin, non-capital-intensive franchise fee business model.”
EVP, CFO and Treasurer Douglas Ludwig said he is confident the company will close on the sale of the three additional hotels in the “coming months.”
Mount added the company is now positioned to use its cash reserves and capital capacity to grow its franchise business “more aggressively through targeted acquisitions.”
He credited the integration of 10 new franchise agreements from the Inner Circle Investments deal in March and the acquisition of Knights Inn brand for $27 million in May for “allowing us to capitalize on our growth opportunities in the future.”
Now that the Knights Inn acquisition and integration is complete, Mount said he has commenced a brand review to update brand standards to make Knights Inn more relevant to its travelers today.
“Our technology and revenue-management advantages will be meaningful to the Knights Inn owners, allowing them to improve their returns on invested capital as part of the RLH group,” he said. “We also see significant potential to grow Knights Inn’s franchise base.”
More than 600 markets have been identified where Knights Inn could expand and “create significant value for that brand,” he added.
Mount told analysts the company is constantly looking for more acquisition opportunities and the focus is on staying in the midscale and upscale segments.
“With the right (brand) we would definitely add it, even though this year we will be moving from 11 down to about nine brands, and we’re not opposed to adding another brand, but we will want to make sure that it strategically makes sense,” he said.
RLHC also focused its efforts on cost reduction on franchise operations with “the goal of increasing its divisional margins in 2018 by more than 600 basis points compared to 2017,” according to the release.
Ludwig said by selling the additional three hotels, the company is further reducing the maintenance capital it needs to spend on its asset base. He said he hopes by the end of the year RLHC will have reduced realized proceeds to offset the majority of the loan used for the closing of the Knights Inn acquisition.
HNA Group sells shares in RLHC
As Chinese conglomerate HNA Group has been on a selling spree of late, Ludwig noted on the call that HNA was RLHC’s largest shareholder—holding 3.8 million shares.
However, concern was raised during this quarter as RLHC was “unaware as to how (HNA) would sell its shares. This caused concern because they represent a significant overhang on Baird, and we believe trading volumes during the second quarter were reduced significantly because of that,” he said.
Through an overnight transaction on 14 June, Coliseum Capital Management and Vindico Capital became owners of those shares. Ludwig said the closing share price on 15 June was $12.20.
He said RLHC is pleased that this transition did not create any negative impact on the company’s share price.
The company reported net loss was $2.3 million for the quarter compared to a net loss of $66,000 in Q2 2017, which executives attribute to the lost income from seven hotels that were unloaded in the first half of 2018.
On the upside, executives said the second half of 2018 is expected to be “positively affected” by its acquisition of Knights Inn. It’s also expected that RLHC will benefit from cost reductions as it transitions out of an ownership model to franchise operations, executives noted in the release.
Midscale franchise revenue per available room increased 1.2% and about 80% of the company’s franchised hotels have a “fixed fee representing an important hedge against an economic downturn and providing stability of its base franchise revenues and cash flow,” the release states.
The company expects 2018 midscale systemwide RevPAR to grow 1% to 3% year over year and franchise divisional profit to fall in the range of $19 million and $20 million.
As of press time, RLHC’s stock was trading at $12.70 a share, up 29.6% year to date. The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index was down 4.6% for the same time period.


text:
Traffic Down, Average Ticket Up in 2012 Holiday Shopping, Says RetailNext
January 7, 2013,
SAN JOSE, Calif.-Store traffic during the 2012 holiday shopping season fell from the 2011 season, but average transaction value rose, according to research conducted by RetailNext.
Based on the brick-and-mortar retail consulting firm's look at more than 780 U.S. stores, total 2012 holiday traffic was off 16.4 percent from 2011. At the same time, the average purchase ticket rose 3.7 percent, indicating that shoppers had planned out their strategies for store visits and purchases in advance of going to the stores.
Other Articles By Author
HFN Launches Interactive Idea Book
HFN's DIGITAL EDITION
COVER STORY: HFN Turns 90
We commemorate HFN's 90th anniversary by paying tribute to the iconic retailer and supplier brands--and the people--that have helped the industry flourish, then and now.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- Up & Coming Leaders - The home industry is in capable and visionary hands as this year’s 40 Under 40 list attests. Today’s young leaders span all disciplines and varied levels of operation.
- Omnichannel Retailing - In the Mobile App World, Time is Money


text:
From Our 2011 Archives
CDC: Kids Lack Access to Healthy Food Choices
Latest Healthy Kids News
Study Shows Stores That Sell Healthy Food Aren't Accessible to Families
By Jennifer Warner
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
April 26, 2011 -- Limited access to healthy foods in most U.S. states may be making it more difficult to instill healthy eating habits in children and may be fueling the childhood obesity epidemic.
A new CDC report shows 32 states and the District of Columbia scored at or below the national average for the Modified Retail Food Environment Index, an indicator of access to retailers that sell healthy foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables.
Based on a range from zero (no food retailers that typically sell healthy food) to 100 (only food retailers that sell healthy food), the national average score was 10. The highest-scoring states were Montana and Maine, with scores of 16 and 15, respectively. Rhode Island and the District of Columbia ranked at the bottom of the index with scores of 5 and 4, respectively.
"To feed their children healthy food at home, parents must have ready access to stores that sell affordable, healthy food," says William Dietz, MD, PhD, director of CDC's division of nutrition, physical activity, and obesity, in a news release.
Availability of Healthy Food: State-by-State Scores
The scores for all 50 states and the District of Columbia on the Modified Retail Food Environment Index are:
Food Environment Unhealthy for Many
The index is a key component of the CDC's 2011 Children's Food Environment State Indicator Report. Researchers say lack of access to supermarkets and other venues where healthy foods are available for sale have been associated with a lower quality diet and increased risk of obesity.
In addition, some studies suggest that greater access to convenience stores and fast-food restaurants where healthy choices may not be readily available or may cost more is linked to a greater risk of obesity.
"Childhood obesity has tripled over the past 30 years," says CDC Director Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, in the release. "This report underscores the need to make healthier choices easier for kids and more accessible and affordable for parents."
The report also includes information on how U.S. states fare in meeting a variety of environmental, behavioral, and policy goals designed to combat childhood obesity and foster healthy eating habits among children.
For example, the report shows:
SOURCES: CDC: "Children's Food Environment State Indicator Report, 2011."News release, CDC.


text:
‘Sri Lanka: A Proud Heritage of Craftsmanship’ at Manila FAME 2019
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Manila, in cooperation with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, participated at the Manila FAME 2019 from 17-19 October at the World Trade Centre, Pasay City, Philippines. The delegation comprised 14 members who represented the handicraft, home decor, and lifestyle industry of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s pavilion, under the theme ‘Sri Lanka: A Proud Heritage of Craftsmanship, showcased the creativity and ingenuity of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs through their high-quality, sustainable, and artisanal products.
Manila FAME 2019 was formally launched on 17 October with the opening ceremony graced by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, DTI officials, members of the diplomatic community, and representatives from relevant international and local organisations.
The Sri Lanka pavilion was inaugurated with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp with the participation of Secretary Ramon Lopez, Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to the Philippines Shobini Gunasekera, CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan, and other distinguished guests.
The delegation’s participation to the trade event were able to reap tangible benefits such as securing export orders, collaboration and linkages with their local and international counterparts and the establishment of Sri Lanka’s presence in the crafts and design industry of the Philippines.
Apart from the participation at the Manila FAME 2019, the delegation attended a series of tailor-made events such as the networking reception, design tour, design workshop and crafts industry visits which all aimed to capacitate the entrepreneurs with new ideas and skills to innovate their products in keeping up with the standards of the global craft and design industry.
Source at: Daily FT


text:
Neobank Xinja has halted the roll-out of its new savings account as record low rates weigh on its business.
Xinja took the “unprecedented” step of stopping the opening of new Stash accounts rather than dropping the interest rate paid to existing customers following the RBA’s latest cut.
“Because these are uncertain times for everyone, we are holding our rate steady, at 2.25 per cent, but hitting the pause button on customers opening Stash accounts,” said Eric Wilson, Xinja founder and CEO.
“No more new Stash accounts means no increase in cost to Xinja, and means we can protect the interest rate for people already with a Stash account.”
The announcement comes as Xinja has had its “biggest couple of days ever”. The neobank only recently began the roll-out of its new Stash account and was targeting $1 billion in deposits by year’s end after record low rates caused a rush of $200 million in funds to the start-up in less than a month.
“When faced with higher than expected deposit flows, and an RBA rate cut, most banks would just drop deposit interest rates, hurting existing customers while chasing new ones,” Mr Wilson wrote.
“That’s not what Xinja is about.”
The neobank is also gearing up for the launch of a lending product later this year.
Momentum Media is proud to unveil HR Leader, a dedicated brand for HR and the industry surrounding people leadership. ...
Having put the Twitter deal on ice back in May, Musk has now confirmed he is pulling out of the US$44 billion bid citing multiple breaches o...
CBA will be among the first financial institutions to adopt the new service. ...


text:
Liberty Rehab expands into Derby with 4th location
Published 9:27 pm, Monday, September 13, 2010
Liberty Rehab & Patient Aid Center recently expanded its operations with the opening of a fourth location in Derby.
The Stamford-based provider of health-care equipment last Tuesday held a grand opening of its largest store and distribution center at 49 Pershing Ave., in Derby, after acquiring the former tenant, Valley Medical Supply, in February.
"We're always looking to further expand our locations based on need and demographics," said Marc Connolly, Liberty Rehab's general manager about the 6,000-square-foot outlet in Derby's Shop Rite Shopping Center.
Liberty, which employs about 10 customer service representatives and 12 delivery personnel, was founded in 1969 as Patient Aid in a roughly 2,000-square-foot space at 65 Stillwater Ave., in Stamford. The present firm came into being when Patient Aid acquired Liberty Rehab in Monroe's Clock Tower Square, 477 Main St., about 10 years ago, Connolly said.
The merged entity, which was bought in 1998 by New York state banker Bill Fletcher, further expanded a few years ago with a third location at 1151 Stratford Ave., in Stratford.
The expansion is partly driven by the federal government's recent changes in the extent of medical coverage being required by insurance companies, said Connolly, a licensed respiratory therapist who joined Liberty Rehab last year.
"Congress is requiring that more items be covered but with less in reimbursements per item," he said, adding that his growing company can offer needed products that are not covered by insurance at a lesser cost. "We have the retail locations to educate consumers on what they truly need, whereas you can go into a big-box store and they'll tell you to buy it because it's there."
In response to an overall 30 percent cut in reimbursements from insurance providers, Liberty Rehab tries to get the best deals from its vendors to keep prices low for the consumer, Connolly said.
About 80 percent of revenues for Liberty Rehab, whose product lines include wheelchairs, hospital beds and orthopedic braces, comes from nursing homes in the state, said Connolly, who will exhibit at the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo and Health Fair later this month.
"We have quite a cluster," he said.
Companies such as Liberty Rehab are poised for great near-term growth despite changes in Medicare and lower reimbursement rates because of the Health Care & Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, said Jack Plunkett, chief executive officer of Plunkett Research Ltd. in Houston.
"There's this vast number of 38- to 58-year-old people ticking along that are suddenly going to be old," he said, adding that the country's population of people who are at least 65 years old is expected to double to 80 million by 2040. "That alone should encourage a company like this to grow."