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Pro Puller Tires is a one-man show. This means owner Aaron Docter has to do lot of heavy lifting, and not just when it comes to moving six-foot-wide tractor tires.
“I go to a lot of tractor pulls throughout the U.S. to promote my brand, so I have a pretty full summer,” says Docter. “I also go to these pulls to deliver tires, too, because it’s a pretty time-sensitive product. They need it when they need it and when shipping can take up to five or six days, it’s just easier if I load them on a trailer and run them up there.”
Docter started Pro Puller Tires in the months leading up to his college graduation in December 2016 after working for his dad’s tire business since 2007.
“What I’m doing with these tractor pull tires is kind of a rush for me,” says Docter. “I’m dedicated to helping [tractor pullers] out and providing a good product. I’m also focused on understanding different puller tire needs and the sport.”
Aside from tractor pull knowledge, Docter says he’s learned a lot of responsibility and time management from running his own business.
“Things just need to get done when they need to get done. There’s no set structure that someone put in place for you, you just have to go out and do it,” says Docter. “It has been really satisfying though to watch just a concept and idea of what I wanted now running down a track.”
Docter, who actually wanted to become an architect when he was a kid, says now his dream has come full circle because in a sense, he’s an architect of tires when he’s drawing up blueprints or working with others to design the best possible tire.
Right now Pro Pullers offers five different sizes of puller tires. Docter is also working on developing a line of skid steer tires, some ATV tires, and some off-road pickup tires in addition to new puller sizes that he hopes will be out by the end of this year or early next year.
“There’s so much competition out there that you really have to sit back and think, ‘How am I going to differentiate myself from the next guy, what is it that going to set me apart from brand X when people have been loyal to them for so many years,’” says Docter. “I plan on finding things people aren’t happy about in their current tires and needs and then capitalizing on that.”
Fun Fact: Docter is excited to get married next April and says going to the Super Bowl (preferably if Denver is playing) and traveling to Australia are two things on his bucket list.


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Oil And Gas Should Not Be Neglected – Dangote
BEVERLY HILLS, September 29, (THEWILL) – Africa's richest man and Chairman of the Dangote group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has emphasized that diversifying the Nigerian economy does not mean we should neglect our oil and gas sector.
Dangote, who was the Guest Speaker at the 44th Annual General Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), in Abuja, said the oil and gas sector needs to be deepened and expanded to enable us to unlock the full benefits in the hydrocarbon value chain.
He said diversification was basically aimed at increasing the range of products and services in the economy through domestic value addition.
He said that the objectives of diversification were to enhance export opportunities for a variety of products and create multiple streams of foreign exchange inflows into the domestic economy.
Dangote explained that the role of government in manufacturing simply was to expand the sector, enhance its productivity and improve its competitiveness.
He added that government embraced industrialisation after independence by putting in place several policies, one of which was Import Substitution.
He said that import substitution was aimed at reducing the importation of finished goods in favour of local production of such products.
He said due to recession, Nigeria should develop other income streams by diversifying its economy since it could no longer depend solely on crude oil exports to fund its economy.
Dangote said that fortunately, Nigeria had huge potential which could propel economic diversification, adding that it had at least 44 known minerals scattered across the length and breadth of the country.
“Indeed, even crops which we would typically associate with temperate regions of the world are known to grow in the highlands of Plateau, Adamawa and Obudu,” he said.
“At this juncture it is worth emphasizing that diversifying the Nigerian economy does not mean we should neglect our oil and gas sector.
“On the contrary, the oil and gas sector needs to be deepened and expanded to enable us to unlock the full benefits in the hydrocarbon value chain.”
Story by David Oputah

domain: news


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Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest handset maker, has reportedly just given its mobile design chief a vote of no confidence.
On Thursday, news emerged that Chang Dong-hoon has “offered to resign” following a strong influx of user criticisms pertaining to the design of the company’s most recent Galaxy S smartphone model.
Dong-hoon will be replaced by Lee Min-hyouk, vice president for mobile design at Samsung.
“The realignment will enable Chang to focus more on his role as head of the Design Strategy Team, the company’s corporate design center which is responsible for long-term design strategy across all of Samsung’s businesses, including Mobile Communications,” a Samsung representative is quoted by Reuters.
The Galaxy S5, which debuted globally last month, has received a lukewarm response from consumers due to its lack of eye-popping hardware innovations, while its plastic case design has been panned by some critics for looking cheap and made out of a conveyor belt. The Wall Street Journal said the gold-colored back cover on the S5 looked like a band-aid.
The decision by Samsung, which now sells two times more smartphones than Apple, to act quickly to pacify consumer complaints should go a long way to help the South Korean electronics giant remain far ahead of Apple in overall sales.


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World's first Cartoon Network-themed water park to open in Thailand
Cartoon Network is planning to build a large-scale water park on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand.travel Updated: Jul 04, 2012 14:38 IST
Cartoon Network is planning to build a large-scale water park on the Eastern Seaboard of Thailand, in the municipality of Bang Saray, located only 15 minutes away from Pattaya, one of the most popular beaches in Thailand and only 90 minutes away from the country's capital Bangkok, it was confirmed last week. Scheduled to open in early 2013, the water park will recreate the Amazon rainforest while including some of the ntework's most popular animated series and cartoon heroes such as Ben 10, The Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo and The Amazing World of Gumball.
The creation of the theme park in Thailand, the first for Cartoon Network, follows a recent trend of entertainment brands reaching out to new markets. Only last month, two entertainment brands announced the creation of theme parks that expand their usual reach. Finnish company Rovio Entertainment, creator of the Angry Birds mobile game, said in a statement that they will be opening parks as well as retail stores all across China. Dubai also announced the opening of a large-scale park with the arrival of the Marvel Adventure attraction centered on action heroes X-Men and Avengers in early 2013.
The creation of the Cartoon Network Amazone Park, first announced earlier this year, will add to the variety of attractions available in a country which is benefitting from rising levels of tourism in Asia. According to the Finance Ministry of Thailand, in 2011 the country welcomed more than 19 million tourists, with a rise in number of visitors from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia.
The park will include several activities for both adults and children. Thrill-seekers are catered for by the huge vertical drop while younger kids can take in more tranquil attractions such as a giant wave-pool, a winding adventure river, speed-racing slides and raft rides.
Organizers are aiming to attract up to 800,000 local and foreigner visitors a year. A team of designers is working in conjunction with Amazon Falls Co. Ltd, a resort and attractions developer firm in Thailand, on the US$32 million project. Phase one of the project is already underway; the opening of the park is planned for early 2013.
First Published: Jul 04, 2012 14:38 IST


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That Intel had problems finding the content partnerships necessary for a set-top box was a well-known situation. However, the situation has developed as the company is now selling its network TV business to Verizon Communications for an undisclosed sum.
Verizon said they will use Intel's technology in existing FiOS video services to bring fresh ammunition against various cable and satellite providers. The possible outcome is expanding the FiOS availability as it is only available in certain regions.
Around 350 Intel employees, that were working for Intel, are now transferred and still working for the telecom giant. While financial terms weren't disclosed, people familiar with the matter say the price is no more than $200 million.


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In a recent opinion piece in Forbes Magazine, CEO of US branding agency THINKTOPIA, Patrick Hanlon, argues that the internet – much like it had done to the global music business – is and will continue to have serious repercussions on ad agencies.
Hanlon’s argument revoles around the role of social media and the power of consumer. If brands want to know what its customers think of them they no longer need an expensive TVC to engage the customer – they simply go online.
“Through a sense of righteous vocal transparency the consumers rate, rank, sort, measure, hashtag, Pin, Yelp, read, review, test and troll. And, as Huffington Post, YouTube, TEDx and others have proven, such ‘non-professional’ content can be amazingly good,” Hanlon wrote.
Hanlon argues the whole thing looks very similar to what Napster did to the music business back in 1999 when everybody started downloading music for free. It may have been eventually outlawed but the music industry never really recovered.
“In turn, traditional agencies have become job shops that churn out 30-second television shops and auxiliary project work such as print ads, outdoor, co-op ads, stunts, and occasional websites. In contrast to 30 years ago, when advertising agencies owned the whole enchilada, client companies now wonder just how relevant this service is,” he argues.
Hanlon’s evidence is that – globally speaking – 28 per cent of advertisers have reduced ad spends to fund digital marketing programs. Social media network ad spending increased almost 46 per cent from 2013-2014 and by 2018 internet advertising will overtake TV for spend.
Not that Adland has simply sat there on its hands. Hanlon agrees many have attempted to transform themselves digitally in recent times, re-inventing themselves as digital agencies or social experience companies. However, many are still dependent on the 30-second TV spot that wins them awards and allows them to charge big dollars back to clients.
“This top-down content has lost relevance in the face of the consumer’s bottom-up postings on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter, which are either come free of charge, or at much lower cost,” Hanlon argues.
The Monkeys has been named Effective Agency of the Year at the 2020 Australian Effie Awards, scooping four Golds, two Silvers and one Bronze across three clients, Beam Suntory, NRMA Insurance and Telstra. One Gold was awarded to BMF for ALDI Australia for ‘ALDI Good Different’, which also went on to win the coveted Grand […]
Inner Health has revolutionised its famous blue bugs as part of a new brand platform launching this week. Developed by VMLY&R, the new platform ‘Listen to your Gut’ re-introduces the bugs in a whole new environment. VMLY&R Client Service Director Jo Millington said the new platform aimed to reposition Inner Health as an overall health […]
Insight-led communications consultancy, The Mint Partners has expanded its technology portfolio with the addition of luxury audio lifestyle brand Bang & Olufsen. Founded in 1925 in Struer, Denmark, Bang & Olufsen has pushed the boundaries of audio technology for almost a century. The company continues to be at the forefront of acoustic innovation with its […]
WA car and home insurer, RAC has launched a new campaign to show locals that they understand the priceless relationship members have with their belongings. Created by Wunderman Thompson Perth, the campaign titled ‘We See What You See’ uses computer generated imagery (CGI) to depict the unique relationship a family has with their insured items – […]
Paper Moose has created a campaign for the recently announced carbon-neutral telco brand, felix, due to go to market towards the end of the year. This is the first work from Paper Moose since winning a competitive pitch for the new TPG Telecom brand. The teaser campaign raises awareness of the nearly 1 million tonnes […]


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The trendsetter of quirky corporate culture is headed toward a massive restructuring. Could it work for your business, too?
Zappos has long been a role model for corporate culture. Entrepreneurs regularly make the pilgrimage to the company's Las Vegas headquarters, to learn about Zappos's commitment to being "a little weird," its over-the-top customer service, and even its policy of offering new hires $2,000 to quit. But according to a new post from Quartz, Zappos is about to implement its most radical policy yet, one that may be more difficult for other managers to emulate. Namely, Zappos is about to get rid of managers, altogether.
Via Mariano Ramos Mejia


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The man peddling fruit and roses at a busy intersection may want to obtain the proper county permits -- if he wants to avoid the hassle of being cited by law enforcement.
The Merced County Sheriff's Department on Friday began "Operation Fruitbasket," a sweep targeting fruit vendors throughout the county who are illegally selling fruit and other items. Most of the vendors are a common sight on roadsides and intersections with high concentrations of vehicle traffic.
Deputy Tom MacKenzie, sheriff's spokesman, said enforcement efforts targeting the illegal vendors also happened in the weeks before Friday's sweep.
About 10 deputies with the sheriff STAR Team and AG/STAR Team, in addition to the sheriff's helicopter, participated in Friday's operation, citing two vendors for operating without a permit and confiscating about $1,500 worth of goods.
The cost of a vendor permit in Merced County is about $84 a year -- but a citation can be triple that amount, according to Eva Yang, a county environmental health specialist.
While some may view illegal fruit vending as an innocuous way to make an easy buck, Sheriff Mark Pazin said there can be serious criminal aspects to the practice. Pazin said some of the fruit is obtained by a practice called "gunny-sacking," where a crew of people will enter a field or orchard and steal the fruit. The stolen fruit is later sold to unsuspecting passersby.
"We don't know where these commodities are coming from, who's putting it together, or whether they are stealing it at night to be sold during the daytime," Pazin said. "We need to be sure that everybody is on the same playing field."
Pazin said there have also been cases where small children are in areas with heavy traffic, which poses an obvious safety risk. He also pointed out there's no guarantees the food is safe to eat, or what kinds of pesticides might have been used.
Apolinar Flores-Rojas, 31, was one of the people who received a citation during Friday's operation. A Mexican citizen, Flores-Rojas pulled up his van to a roadside at Highway 59 and 16th Street. He was preparing to unload watermelons, coconuts and buckets filled with roses to sell when deputies rolled up behind him.
Flores-Rojas broke into tears after being issued a citation, saying he'd like to get the proper permits, but doesn't have the proper legal identification. Flores-Rojas said he obtained about $600 in fruits and merchandise from someone in Los Angeles -- and was hoping to sell the goods in order to feed his family. "I go places to sell and they take everything -- money that I don't have," Flores wept.
Flores-Rojas also explained he's tried to obtain work in the fields, but he only works for a few hours, which isn't enough to make ends meet.
Not all the vendors who were approached by deputies on Friday, however, were out of compliance.
Esperanza Jimenez, who operates a fruit stand on Highway 140 and Arboleda Drive, proudly displayed her county vendor license as deputies approached. Jimenez also displayed a sticker issued by the county, placed in the corner of her van's windshield. "These people are in complete compliance," said Detective Aaron McKnight, looking over Jimenez's paperwork. "This is what we want to see from everyone."
In the meantime, Flores-Rojas said his future isn't so certain. "I don't know what I can do here in the U.S.," he said.
For information about vendor licenses, call the Merced County Department of Environmental Health at (209) 381-1100.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or email@example.com.


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Central Holidays has announced another year of unprecedented growth in 2023, carrying the momentum into 2024 with notable achievements and exciting developments. In all, Central Holidays experienced record-breaking growth, with a surge in bookings and a notable expansion of its global team.
Building on this success, the company has opened a new destination management office in Dubai, further extending its reach and enhancing travel opportunities throughout the United Arab Emirates. The new office adds to the company’s global presence, which also includes long-established offices in Italy and Egypt and affords the brand "an extra edge in delivering immersive travel experiences in the destinations it serves."
As of February 1, 2024, Central Holidays’ group requests have already reached 95 percent of total 2023 revenue, with overall revenue, including FIT business, at 75 percent in just the first month of the year. The company has observed a trend towards earlier bookings, with travelers planning their trips 90 to 120 days in advance, and even this far ahead for 2025. The brand is also reporting a strong demand for customized travel for both group and FIT bookings and is seeing high demand for destinations European destinations such as Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Portugal and Croatia, plus many Latin American countries such as Peru and Panama.
The company continues ramping-up with a huge investment made over the past five years in a comprehensive new technology system soon to be unveiled for travel advisors. News about new training and technology offerings will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information, call visit www.centralholidays.com.


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Even before the recession hit (darn there I go we are not in a recession by technical standards) we heard that the economy sucked. Never mind that we had the longest growth in U.S. history and unprecedented unemployment.
A new article at the Washington Post mirrors my sentiment in Why We're Gloomier Than The Economy.
Soft? You betcha. In recession? Quite possibly. And a crisis in the financial markets has rattled nerves for months now. But so far, the economy is holding up better than it did during the last two recessions in 1990 and 2001. Employers haven't shed as many jobs, the unemployment rate is still relatively low, and gross domestic product has kept rising. Things are nowhere near as bad as they were in the Great Depression, or even during the severe recession of 1982-83. The last time consumers were this miserable, in May 1980, the jobless rate was 7.5 percent and inflation was 14.4 percent. Now those numbers are 5.5 percent and 4.2 percent respectively...This has left economists trying to figure out why Americans' perceptions are so much more negative than the data analysts use to measure how things are going....
Wellesley College economist Karl E. Case and two co-authors researched how changes in the value of homes affect what people spend and got a curious result: When home prices are rising, people spend more money. When they are dropping, they don't spend less money. With stocks and other assets, by contrast, spending both rises and falls with prices...people spend more when house prices go up and worry more when prices go down, but don't actually spend much less," Case said. "That could explain why consumer spending numbers have been much more robust than you would expect if you look at consumer sentiment."
And it is getting old to hear folks claim this downturn is a complete meltdown in the economy. Not to sound like Lyoyd Bentson to Dan Quayle in their VP Presidential debate. But, I knew the last recession and as bad as it may seem this is not 1990! And the old timers who sold houses in the 70's would say the same to me and you. The lesson is the markets go up and down. A fool does not prepare for either. Since I no longer sell real estate after the last downturn you can guess how well I prepared back then.


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Cell phone manufacturer Nokia has come up with an environmentally friendly handset each part of which is made of 100 per cent recycled materials.
The company has named its revolutionary handset "ReMade" mobile.
Experts at Nokia say that their new phone has been designed using recycled materials that avoid the need for natural resources, reduce landfill, and allow for more energy efficient production.
They extracted aluminum from cans, plastic from drink bottles, and rubber from old car tyres for makin it.
They have even used eco-friendly printed electronics in the phone, reports Environmental News Network.
According to the company, the graphics used on the display save energy without compromising on style.
Nokia says that the idea behind the "remade" concept was to determine if it was possible to create something a device from used matter.
The firm says that this concept is part of its ongoing work looking at how people can be helped in making more sustainable choices.
Such an environmentally friendly mobile may help inspire and stimulate discussion on how mobile devices might be made in future, says the company.


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While China’s package delivery services used to pride themselves on constantly surpassing each other in the number of shipped deliveries, a new trend has now emerged: Who is the greenest? Suddenly, packaging sustainability has gained significant importance in the competition between the big players of the People’s Republic.
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- Articles tagged "seagate computex 2013"
Seagate has just announced at Computex 2013 that it is shipping its new 5mm thick Laptop Ultrathin HDD. We got up close with this new slim drive and found out more about Seagate's plans for it and how it works.
- Soon, MasterCard could let you approve purchases with your face
- Here’s why you should hold off on buying a liquid-cooled AMD Fury X graphics card
- Samsung clinches mega deal to provide 20 million SSDs to Apple, Microsoft and more
- Is this Blackberry's first Android phone?
- Apple Watch 2 rumored to retain screen size, resolution and shape
- Xiaomi sold more than 34.7 million phones in the first half of 2015
- Leaked document reveals new iPhones to sport 12MP camera with 4K video recording
- Here's a table comparing four different Windows 10 editions


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Updated: 2014-12-19 09:15
By Yu Yilei and Pauline D. Loh(China Daily)
In Chengdu, celebrities, industry leaders and lion dancers gathered to witness the opening of the latest St. Regis Hotel in China and the world, 110 years after the iconic brand first started in New York, Yu Yilei and Pauline D. Loh report.
The hotel combines elements which reflect the rising importance of Chengdu as a significant economic center for Southwest China.
The sixth St. Regis in China under the Starwood umbrella combines the group's international management expertise, and investment by Hong Kong-based property giant Chinese Estates.
Physically, the 29-story hotel is part of Chinese Estates Plaza, a mixed use development of four towers right in the cultural and historic heart of Chengdu. Its distinctive architecture has already made it a new landmark in the business district.
Preparations for Chengdu's only full butler-service hotel have taken a year, but the opening on Thursday saw a congregation of celebrities－including owner representatives from Hong Kong, Starwood senior management, and leaders from the diplomatic and trade communities.
The sun came out for the occasion and on the dot at 11 am, the ceremony started with short speeches by Lau Ming Wai, chairman and chief executive officer of Chinese Estates Holdings, Danny Lau, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu and Qian Jin, president of Greater China of Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Also taking part in the ribbon cutting were Alec Kong and Matthew Cheong from Chinese Estates Holdings, Paul James, global brand leader of St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, and W Hotels Worldwide, and Richard Deutl, general manager of The St. Regis Chengdu.


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The Oceanaire Seafood Room is trying to stay afloat in dangerous waters. Despite its parent company filing Chapter 11, the sole Miami location of the Minneapolis-based upscale seafood chain will remain open, says senior vice president of operations Tim Whitlock. The announcement came last Monday, forcing the closings of four of its 16 locations in an attempt to restructure.
"It's actually performing very well, considering how rough it is out there," Whitlock explains of the Miami location. "Mary Brickell is the fourth best-performing company-wide, and was the fastest-growing in the network when it opened two years ago. Miami's a really good market for us. Chef Sean [Bernal] is from Miami... He's one of our best chefs."
It sure isn't an easy time to be in the biz, with the off-season
adding insult to injury, but the Brickell branch isn't taking the
troubled times flapping around. Bernal was most recently out and about at the Fairchild Mango Festival displaying his flair with fish and fruit.
In house, the dining room's wishful-thinking $20.10 promotion, a prayer
for economic recovery next year, offers select bottles of wine at this
reduced price, and an ongoing - including for Miami Spice - three
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course lunch ($23) and dinner ($36) special packs value. Patrons can
also find a new Happy Hour menu, introduced a couple a weeks ago, featuring $8 cocktails (a steal!) and day-and-night, bar-only "delicacies" such as a crab meat and bay shrimp chopped salad ($8.99,) crab cake sliders ($4.99 ea.) and a grilled fish taco ($6.99.) For the full bar menu and happy hour specials, see below. Follow the latest news and events at the restaurant on Facebook and Twitter.


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I've been writing for Ziff-Davis, ZD Net and their many facets for almost two decades. It is just a few months short of 19th anniversary of the first time my byline appeared in MacWEEK, in fact, as I write this last posting at Rational Rants.
Mitch Ratcliffe blogs about the constantly changing boundary between media and life, the businesses that live on that border, and the meaning of all this change to society and the economy.
Based on the ever-vague guidance provided by Amazon.com in the form of obscure comments from CEO and Founder Jeff Bezos and fluffy PR releases, such as today's holiday sales update, I'm continuing to update my educated guesswork on the number of Kindles sold.
I recently had the pleasure of presenting a vision for the future of publishing to a group of publishing professionals in New York. Can't say where it was, yet, but suffice to say it was worth saying and that the message was well received by the thoughtful, albeit skeptical, audience.
Last week, Mike Arrington announced the death of CrunchPad, his mythical $250 tablet for surfing the Web. This week, Arrington's former partner in the project, Fusion Garage, announced it will sell the device starting this Friday for $499, calling the product "JooJoo.
Mike Arrington has announced his CrunchPad web tablet, covered here, is "dead", blaming his manufacturing partner for cutting him out of the deal. In the frothy market that is media tablets, just as in other frothy markets Arrington has stirred up, this is a story suspiciously full of holes that make CrunchPad sound like a stunt all along rather than a real project.
The market knows best, right? Markets are bloody paths to progress.
Based on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' comments on the third quarter results for the company, Kindle sales are accelerating. Bezos is quoted: “Kindle has become the #1 bestselling item by both unit sales and dollars – not just in our electronics store but across all product categories on Amazon.
Platform expansion is the logical counter to new competition at the device level. Amazon, facing the introduction of BN.
Yesterday, I posted a long analysis of what I thought was right and strangely wrong about the Barnes & Noble Nook. Matt Miller today got a clarification about my main concern, which was that Barnes & Noble seemed to have said, according to several published reports, that Wi-Fi would work only in its stores at launch and be "opened up.
In addition to this posting, please visit this clarifications posting to get the whole picture. It would be nice to say, as Matt Miller has, that the e-book and e-reader market was revolutionized today.


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Miss. attorney general joins nationwide anti-robocall litigation task force
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Attorney General Lynn Fitch is joining a nationwide anti-robocall litigation task force of 50 attorneys general to investigate and take legal action against the telecommunications companies.
The task force has one goal: to cut down on illegal robocalls.
“Robocalls are an unwanted intrusion on our privacy and often the gateway to fraud,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am committed to stopping illegal and unwanted calls. This nationwide effort will give bad actors nowhere to run and nowhere to hide their illegal activities.”
The task force has issued 20 civil investigative demands to 20 gateway providers and other entities that are allegedly responsible for a majority of foreign robocall traffic.
The task force will focus on the bad actors throughout the telecommunications industry, to help reduce the number of robocalls that Mississippians receive and benefit the companies that are following the rules.
According to the National Consumer Law Center and Electronic Privacy Information Center, over 33 million scam robocalls are made to Americans every day.
These scam calls include Social Security Administration fraud against seniors, Amazon scams against consumers, and many other scams targeting all consumers, including some of our most vulnerable citizens.
“As always, an informed consumer is a scammer’s worst nightmare,” continued General Fitch. “Please know the signs of a scam and be sure to report them to my office so we can take appropriate action, as well.”
Fitch offers the following tips to avoid scams and unwanted calls:
- Be wary of callers who specifically ask you to pay by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. For example, the Internal Revenue Service does not accept iTunes gift cards.
- Look out for prerecorded calls from imposters posing as government agencies. Typically, the Social Security Administration does not make phone calls to individuals.
- If you suspect fraudulent activity, immediately hang-up and do not provide any personal information.
- Contact our Consumer Protection Division at firstname.lastname@example.org or complete our consumer complaint form here
Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Copyright 2022 WLBT. All rights reserved.


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“Beware the Jabberwock, my son! / The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!”
The warning comes from Lewis Carroll’s famous poem, “Jabberwocky,” in which readers are warned against a fearsome creature. But a couple in Crestwood is hijacking the word in the hopes of making people relate it to something more pleasant.
Ben and Alison Smolin opened Jabberwocky Kids after they noticed an increase of young children in the area and a lack of places to find affordable children’s clothing. “When we first moved in, there weren’t really a lot of kids at all, and now there’s tons of young families and tons of kids,” Ben said. “It was kind of cool to see the neighborhood grow. … We kind of wanted to be a part of that.”
The kids’ consignment shop opened in April, and despite a lack of marketing, the Smolins said that the reception has been good. Inside, colorful clothing, toys and books fill racks and shelves. At any given moment, the stereo is playing either local music or the soundtrack from the movie Frozen, which is the favorite of the Smolins’ daughter, Sage.
“We played in local bands, and I still play a lot,” said Ben, a local singer-songwriter (featured in Weld in June 2016), explaining the message on the wall that reads “we only play local music.” While Ben now works at El Barrio and as a youth director at St. Thomas Episcopal, he said that music was a big part of both his and Alison’s lives. “We kind of wanted to support the local artists,” he added.
Supporting local is a priority for the Smolins, who also offer free beverages from local coffee shops and breweries to their customers. They are also offering a 10-percent discount for any local business owner who brings in a sticker for what the Smolins hope will become their “sticker wall.” “Like every small business, I think to survive you have to be pretty community-minded,” Ben said.
Another way that they strive to be “community-minded” is simply by offering the community a pleasant shopping experience, they said. “We just want to make them happy,” Alison said. She explained that the main goal of the store is to provide affordable clothes and a place to resell merchandise. “Or just play, too,” she added. “Because … it’s nice to have a place where the kids can just be okay to be kids.”
They hope to set their store apart from other consignment shops by offering prices comparable to those of thrift stores and by creating a different environment from chain stores, which don’t offer the opportunity for negotiating.
The store is the first venture into the world of retail for both Ben and Alison, and the experience has presented them with new challenges. When it comes to the more difficult aspects of running a new business, they are figuring it out together. “That stuff’s really a learning curve, but so far, it’s been a good experience,” Alison said.
All in all, they are optimistic that the venture will be a success. “Obviously, retail is pretty tough right now,” Ben said. “But the only sector of retail that’s actually growing and doing really well right now is second-hand clothing.” He added that there is a “potential to do well,” and that they would be open to the idea of eventually expanding.
But first, they are focused on making the people within their own community happy and giving parents a reason not to “beware the jabberwock.”
Jabberwocky Kids is located at 4911 Fifth Ave. S. and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, follow them on Facebook or call (205) 703-9767.


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Angel And Devil Smiley Face Cufflinks - Clearance
The devil and angel on your shoulder can now be worn on your cuff! This pair includes an angry devil and a smilng angel. It's up to you which will guide you through the day, but we encourage you to focus on the positive. Cufflinks are silver plated base metal with enamel and have bullet back closure. Approximately 3/4" diameter, Rhodium plated base metal with enamel, Bullet back closure,
India does not allow foreign investors to control and market their own inventory on their e-commerce platforms. They are only allowed to operate marketplace platforms where others sell goods to retail consumers. Traders and rivals say companies such as Amazon and Flipkart have been violating the spirit of these rules by creating proxy sellers or vendors in which they have direct or indirect stakes, allowing firms to give deep discounts that upset off-line trade. The All India Online Vendors Association, a group of about 3,500 online sellers, has accused both Flipkart and Amazon of using their dominant position to favour selected sellers. Amazon and Flipkart deny the accusations.
Both Amazon and Flipkart sought more time to comply with the new rules, But India angel and devil smiley face cufflinks said on Thursday, it had, after “due consideration” decided not to extend beyond Feb, 1 the deadline for the implementation of the modified FDI norms, In a letter to India’s industries department earlier this month, Flipkart Chief Executive Kalyan Krishnamurthy said the rules required it to assess “all elements” of its business operations, a source told Reuters previously, Flipkart and Amazon did not respond to requests for comment on their plans for complying with the new regulations..
The new rules, meant to close loopholes in the regulations, state that if any seller purchases more than 25 percent of its inventory from the wholesale units or other group companies of an e-commerce firm that runs an online marketplace, then that vendor’s inventory will be deemed to be controlled by the e-commerce company. That could disrupt the models of Amazon and Flipkart, whose wholesale units buy products in bulk and sell to thousands of vendors on their platform, who in turn sell to consumers.
Flipkart was likely to create a so-called “middle layer” firm - in which it would have less than a 25 percent shareholding - between its wholesale arm and vendors on its marketplace, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, This company, which would be classified as a non-group company under Indian law, would be able to freely sell to vendors without the 25 percent sourcing restriction, the sources added, Another rule blocks entities in which an e-commerce firm, or any of angel and devil smiley face cufflinks its group companies, owns a stake from selling its products on that firm’s marketplace..
This creates a barrier for India’s Shopper’s Stop to sell on Amazon India, as Amazon’s investment arm has a minority stake in the department store chain. Cloudtail and Appario, among the top sellers on Amazon India, could also face similar restrictions, because Amazon owns minority stakes in their parent firms. “By the letter of the regulation it will not be considered to be an entity in which Amazon has an equity stake, but if the government is wanting to implement the spirit of this rule they might say this doesn’t cut it,” one of the sources said.
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India late last year modified foreign direct investment (FDI) rules for its burgeoning e-commerce sector that has attracted Walmart Inc and Amazon.com Inc, creating new hurdles for both global retail giants, As a result, both Walmart-owned Flipkart and Amazon are scrambling to reconfigure ownership structures and re-jig some key vendor relationships and agreements before the rules come into effect angel and devil smiley face cufflinks on Friday, What is the issue?, At the heart of the problem is India’s view on the two e-commerce models that exist today: marketplace and inventory..
* India allows 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the marketplace model of e-commerce, which it defines as a tech platform that connects buyers and sellers. * New Delhi has not allowed FDI in inventory-driven models of e-commerce. The inventory model, which Walmart and Amazon use in the United States, is where the goods and services are owned by an e-commerce firm that sells directly to retail customers. * The restriction is aimed largely at protecting India’s vast unorganized retail sector that does not have the clout to purchase at scale and offer big discounts.
* It means that Amazon and Flipkart can only operate the marketplace model in India, Both companies have wholesale units that bulk purchase goods and sell them to vendors listed on their platform, These vendors in turn sell to retail customers, What are the restrictions on controlling inventory?, * Existing regulations state that e-commerce firms cannot exercise ownership over the goods sold on their online marketplace, * Both Amazon and Flipkart developed complicated seller structures that helped angel and devil smiley face cufflinks them comply with the inventory control rule while exercising some level of control over inventory..
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The 2017 NBA season will be here before we know it, which means the newest installment of the NBA 2K franchise will be hitting store shelves soon.
NBA 2K17’s newest trailer should get fans excited as it shows off a bunch new faces in new places for the upcoming season, including stars like Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol, and more. Per usual, 2K Sports promises “more authentic gameplay than ever”. We hear that every year, but NBA 2K has been such a solid franchise that I have to believe this game is going to be incredible.
NBA 2K17 also came out with a Team USA themed trailer before the Rio Olympics. You can find that here.
The game, which features Pacers star Paul George on the cover, is set for a Sept. 20 release.


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eSports -- organized, multiplayer video game competitions -- is attracting some big partners and investors. Major multinationals, governments and big businesses are creating affiliations with casino sign up bonus esports teams and leagues through sponsorships and other supportive activities.
Some of the biggest new partnerships include:
Barclays, one of the oldest and most respected banking institutions in the world, is investing in the National Students esports (NSE) on a multinational investment level in preparation for the 2020/21 academic year. According to the agreement, Barclays will sponsor the British University eSports Championships. Additional initiatives for student esports fans will be announced in the coming weeks.
Barclays decided to get more involved in esports after a successful January Barclays Game Technology Frenzy event when NSE and Barclays jointly hosted esports matches in London. Jonathan Tilbury, Managing Director at NSE, said “From day one, we’ve been struck by how passionate the team at Barclays are about esports. We’re incredibly excited to continue working with a brand so committed to positively shaping the future of the student esports space.”
As Barclays increases its involvement in esports, its partnership with NSE marks its second partnership deal in the industry. Barclay’s kicked off its involvement with esports when it became headline sponsor of the UKLC Summer Split which will begin on June 14th. Ben Davey, CEO of Barclays Ventures commented, “We are delighted to be partnering with NSE. We see the important role they play in building UK grassroots esports. Not only does NSE bring students from around the country together online, to play the games they love competitively, they also champion programs like FutureGen, to create opportunities to help individuals and communities develop and grow.”
Barclays believes that, with the absence of live sporting events in the foreseeable future, its esports involvement will give it the opportunity to position itself as a leader in the growing esports industry.
Lamborghini has announced that its first-ever esports series, “The Real Race” is now up and running.
Lamborghini has always been known for speed, prestige and luxury. Now Lamborghini has decided to add a new descriptive to its image – patron of esports. The company is ready to link to the esports industry and become a leading figure in the expanding world of esports.
Lamorghini is launching “The Real Race” – the company’s first-ever esports series – in partnership with the “Assetoo Corsa Competizione” video game. The sim-racing series is open to gamers of all skill levels. The competition consists of five qualifying weekends spanning May to August 2020. Lamborghini will fly many of the world’s top drivers to Italy for the September in-person finale.
Katia Bassi, Lamborghini’s chief marketing officer introduced the series by saying, “This is completely aligned with Lamborghini’s strategy to be closer to brand lovers and the younger generations. Lamborghinis are priced between $200,000 and $5 million, making them unaffordable to the general public. But, Bassi says, the company’s new involvement in esports will make it more visible to the general public and give it useful marketing data.
“We sell 8,000 cars per year,” Bassi said. “The reality is that in terms of brand awareness and participation, for sure this is going to be a good element for us to grow. … And, honestly, to have data to create predictive marketing. The more we know what our fan base would like to see from us, the better it is, because we want to be even more accurate than we are right now.”
Lamborghini joins Nissin, BMW and Porche as sponsors of iRacing games and Ferrari is rumored to be developing its own series. Joern A. Buss, a partner at the Oliver Wyman’s global automotive practice consulting firm, says that these one-make racing series are appealing to car brands for many reasons. “The biggest one, and it’s very attractive, is licensing to video games….We’re talking double-digit margins, easily — more than any car company makes on any car that they’re selling. In that regard, it’s easy money: you lend your logos and lend your scans.”
Buss says that another factor is control. When a company like Lamborghini sticks with one racing platform, the manufacturer has more input on the quality of the sim-racing product and can limit who scans their cars. Of course, the manufacturer has a guarantee that one of its own virtual cars will win the race. “There are always debates about which cars are the best on each track,” Bussa said. “You end up with 75 percent of the service using that one car that people agreed online was fastest, and the other cars don’t get any love.”
Expanding Government’s Mission through eSports
Governments around the world are currently examining ways to use game-based approached to research, educate and engage a new audience.
Today there are an estimated 2 billion to 2.5 billion gamers worldwide. By 2025 the gaming industry is projected to be worth $300 billion. Gaming, as a popular and broadly distributed digital technology, is attracting the attention of government institutions who want to engage audiences in a more meaningful way. For example, in the United States, army recruiters have developed their own competitive esports team so that they can better reach out and recruit young gamers.
Additional governmental entities are also leveraging gaming as a way of meeting their own mission goals. While the framing and the approach differs from one institution to the next, the goals remain the same – to innovate in research and make policy discourse more “real” by educating via gaming.
For several years, the U.S. government has been fostering innovation in game-based approaches by funding organizations and agencies to encourage them to create games that help solve problems. The Federal Games Guild, a community that promotes gaming use across federal entities, maintains a list of funding opportunities for interested organizations and researchers.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation have partnered to fund the Foldit game. Foldit crowdsources health research by encouraging gamers to solve protein “puzzles.” Foldit distributes problem sets.
Gamers then compete and the results of their efforts go towards hasten research directives for innovation in the fields of computing and health. Through the gamers’ efforts, researchers have been able to identify HIV-related proteins and develop novel proteins. The Foldit community is currently mobilizing to treat and stop COVID-19 by identifying causal elements at the molecular level.
The Department of Education’s Institute of Education Services has developed a resource guide of learning tools and games that are funded across the federal government and available for free online until the end of 2020.
Another effort is spearheaded by the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities which believes that game-based approaches can further the arts. The Center has created a game, Walden, which is based on Henry David Thoreau’s Walden Pond and immerses the player in the experience of the book through narrative by steering the player towards stillness and contemplation.
Some sectors of the government are also trying to make abstract policy discourse come to life. The Serious Games Institute leverages games focuses on making conversations related to policy discourse be heard. Most citizens won’t read a 30-page policy paper but they will probably be willing to play a 10-minute game. Topics that a player might be hesitant to explore otherwise come alive through games.
All of these agencies and organizations have come to the conclusion that games are powerful because they are fun. Through gaming the government can reach its goals of engaging and educating the populace.


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The chest dash sequences from ‘Rayman Origins’ are being expanded into a full game for Apple’s platform
‘Bad Piggies’ will have players building egg-catching devices in the role of the smug, green pigs
The F2P management sim for iOS tasks players with scheduling and maintaining costumed vigilante work habits
‘Pheonix Wright’ combo pack with new “Everyone Object” feature and touch screen abilities coming to iOS this fall
‘The World Ends With You: Solo Remix’ will take advantage of Apple’s OS with additional music and retina display support
The Wheel of Time is coming to Android and iOS.
In the wake of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning-developer 38 Studios’ recent bankruptcy, Epic Games has announced that it will be opening a new studio known as Impossible Studios to provide a new home for a portion of the 38 Studios development team.
Epic Games announced the news on its…
Capcom has issued a press release (via Joystiq) stating that Street Fighter X Tekken, which was released for PC, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360 a few months ago, will also be heading to iOS later this summer. More details regarding the port are included after the jump.
The handheld version…


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Mortal Kombat is up for sale
Word in this morning reveals that in the depths of their financial woes, publisher Midway have put the Mortal Kombat series up for sale.
New court documents related to Midway's troubles tell us that the publisher is after an "execution of an asset purchase agreement for the sale of Midway’s Mortal Kombat franchise assets."
According to NetDockets, nearly four million USD has been set aside as part of the selling of rights - Wheelman having already moved across town to Ubisoft.
Of course, this desperate maneuvering and selling of assets could well be Midway's death rattle, the firm desperately seeking to raise cash to appease creditors. We'll bring you more as we get it.
- Microsoft doubles down for April's Games With Gold
- Every wondered what it would be like in James Bond and Joanna Dark met? Cara Ellison and Irene Koh have answered that question
- Dirty Bomb beta is back online
- Obsidian's saviour Pillars Of Eternity launches today, Watch it streamed live here later today
- Infinite Crisis launches fully today on Steam
- Here's what the new Hunters and the Behemoth for Evolve look like in action
- Blood and Burning and Celts Culture DLC Packs arrive for Total War: Attila
- F1 2015 coming to PC, PS4 and Xbox One this summer, first screenshots released
- Ubisoft introduces Alex Parizeau, the new head of Ubisoft Toronto


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Beyonce‘s new album may be M.I.A, but the singing superstar is ensuring she remains a hot topic this Summer. For, after ample speculation, not only has her H&M campaign been confirmed, the all-out promo push is set to bring with it new music too.
WWD report that the 31-year-old has been tapped to front the high-street chain’s Summer line and will appear in television commercials, print ads and billboards in support of the collection (which she also had a hand in designing).
The campaign’s accompanying commercial was helmed by ‘Telephone’ director Jonas Åkerlund and features a new Beyoncé track, ‘Standing on the Sun’. “It was a beautiful shoot on a tropical island. It felt more like making a video than a commercial,” Beyonce commented.
Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin snapped the still ads in Nassau, Bahamas. The print and outdoor spots read, “Beyoncé as Mrs. Carter in H&M,”paying homage to the title of her upcoming sell-out world tour.
The collection will available in stores and online starting in May


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Smucker's brand is utilizing a new photo promotion to celebrate the joy in making someone's day a bit brighter, no matter how small the act. Sharing these moments will let consumers win prizes each week, or win a $10,000 kitchen makeover.
The J.M. Smucker Co. will acquire Sahale Snacks, a privately held company located in Seattle. Sahale is a manufacturer and marketer of branded nut and fruit snacks.
J.M. Smucker's Pillsbury brand is adding artisinal bread mixes to its lineup.
Cafe Bustelo, a brand from J.M. Smucker Co., announced a partnership with Keurig Green Mountain to produce Cafe Bustelo K-Cup packs, which are now available in grocery stores.
The J.M. Smucker Co. is introducing new breakfast mixes to its Hungry Jack line for the holiday season, the food products manufacturer said Wednesday.
Folgers is launching a new online community for fans to read and share good news through social networking feeds.
The J.M. Smucker Co. introduced a new line of natural fruit spreads made with quality ingredients from natural sources, the company stated.
J. M. Smucker has promoted one of its corporate officers.
J.M. Smucker officially has increased the list price for several of its coffee products.
J.M. Smucker said it has completed its acquisition of the coffee brands and business operations of Rowland Coffee Roasters, a privately owned, Miami-based company.
Smucker's has introduced an on-the-go, heat-and-eat breakfast treat.
The J. M. Smucker Company said it is increasing the list price for many of its coffee products sold under the Folgers and Dunkin' Donuts brand names.


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Friends Mark Wahlberg and Sean "Diddy" Combs are on top this year.
Combs landed the number one spot on Forbes' list of the highest paid celebrities in 2017, grossing $130 million the past year, and Wahlberg won the top spot as the highest paid actor, grossing $68 million.
The pair is also working together to dominate in a different industry — bottled water. Combs and Wahlberg are co-owners of enhanced water brand, AQUAhydrate, which sells alkaline water with electrolytes and minerals. And they have big plans to disrupt the space, Combs tells CNBC's "Squawk Box."
"In this category we're number two," says Combs, "and we don't like being number two. We're going to use our marketing powers, things that other brands don't have, to really take this brand to number one."
AQUAhydrate, which raised $10 million in venture funding in 2011 from billionaire Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Companies, is just one of the many businesses each star is involved in.
Among Combs' other endeavors are his music company, Bad Boy Entertainment, his famous partnership with Diageo's Ciroc vodka and his Sean John clothing line. He sold a majority stake in the clothing business last November for an estimated $70 million, according to Forbes.
In addition to acting, Wahlberg is invovled in producing movies (like "Patriot's Day"), he's co-owner in his family's burger chain, Wahlburgers, and has a health and supplements company, Performance Inspired Nutrition.
Both moguls have gleaned lessons on their way to the top. Here are five things the duo have found critical to success.
With AQUAhydrate, Wahlberg says he needed help navigating the new industry.
"I had no knowledge of the beverage business," Wahlberg tells CNBC. So one of the first people he called was billionaire Nelson Peltz whose hedge fund, Trian Fund Management, once held a large stake in Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. (Peltz's daughter played Wahlberg's character's daughter in the 2014 movie "Transformers: Age of Extinction.")
"I knew he was very involved with Dr. Pepper Snapple," says Wahlberg, "so he would introduce me to people, and introduce me to other people."
That is key to getting ahead, he says: "I'm never afraid to pick up the phone, and I'm never afraid to ask questions."
For Combs, remembering the motivation behind his pursuits has been important.
"My talent has been survival and hunger and just wanting to take care of my family and provide a sense of hope," Combs tells CNBC. "Showing people, especially from my community, and where [Wahlberg and I] both come from, which is an inner-city area, that you can make it. That you can do it as a business man, as a business woman."
Combs was born in Harlem, N.Y., where his mother was a school teacher who usually had to work second jobs, ABC News reports. Wahlberg was born in Dorchester, Mass. and grew up as the youngest of nine siblings living in a three-bedroom apartment.
"I started my business career at age 12, delivering newspapers," Combs writes for Forbes. "I had a lot of elderly customers, so I would always put the newspaper in between the screen door and the door — that caring made me different, made me better than the last paperboy.
Combs says he's always understood that if he gives fans or customers his best, "whether music, clothing or vodka, I'll get a return on my hard work."
Wahlberg that his advice for his four kids is to dream big but know that "the only way to really achieve those goals is by putting in the work and being dedicated."
For example, when his kids tell him that he doesn't need to wake up at 4 a.m., he responds, "No, I do."
"I need to make all of my calls before you guys get up and make sure everything is going smoothly with all the business stuff," he says, adding that, usually, his wake-up time is more like 3 a.m.
"Some of my biggest success comes from some of my biggest failures," says Combs in a 2014 commencement address at Howard University, which he attended before dropping out.
For example, in the early 1990s, Combs says he was fired from an early job in music. "I was scared to death. I didn't have a degree, my girlfriend was eight-and-a-half months pregnant with my first baby, I bought a brand new house in Scarsdale [N.Y.] that I could not afford." But, he made a choice to continue.
Says Combs: "Either I was going to sit in that failure and give up, or I was going to make a decision to step out of the darkness."
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Cargo isn’t the only changing factor in the shipping industry. But, freight forwarding Australia is also transforming with time. Shifting trade agreements, consolidation of some shipping lines, changes in energy costs, the growing desire for sustainable solutions, digitization, and terrorism risks are significant drivers of the change.
Although a company cannot regulate all of these factors, good planning and collaboration with an experienced freight forwarder could help mitigate supply chain risk and maintain corporate profitability.
Focus on Introducing Green Initiatives
The growing need for corporations to show accountability and sustainability in their supply chains is being driven by environmental concerns, particularly around carbon emissions and the risks of climate change. With several corporations and notably big stock market heavyweights voluntarily reporting, the onus is now on everyone else to follow suit.
Maersk, the world's biggest shipping line, recently announced that it would disclose Carbon dioxide emissions statistics for its transport ship, and other shippers may soon follow.
This means that firms may need to analyze their international trade carriers and improve routes and ships to reduce the carbon footprint of their supply chains. Experienced providers for freight forwarding in Australia are ahead in the game in this regard and can already offer guidance on environmentally friendly transportation options.
Potential Trade Routes Are Currently Evolving
With international trade contacts constantly shifting due to new agreements opening up new markets and new sanctions closing down others, trade routes move. Keeping up with these advances is difficult enough, but figuring out how they'll convert into fine aspects like shipping, space availability, and schedules might take a lot of time and effort. In 2020, the conditions were bleak as many shipping companies were forced to run blank sailings. But, as lockdown conditions were eased, there was an impressive surge in container demands. Australian meat exporters even reported a 10-day delay due to a shortage of containers in February 2021.
Amid these conditions, seeking support from a freight forwarder with a worldwide presence is critical to navigating the maze. You may also ensure that an unanticipated shift does not hamper your plans due to a new trade pact, free trade agreement, or limitation in a key import or export market.
The Focus on Security and Supply Chain Management
The events that followed September 11th, 2001, are a big example of how quickly things can change. Following that, governments of many countries, including Australia, asked transporters, shipping lines, and freight forwarders to adhere to additional security measures in response to fears of terrorist strikes.
Australia also introduced IFAM or the International Freight Assistance Mechanism to help the industry regroup its supply chains and favor imports of critical goods.
It generated some uncertainty initially, and stakeholders had to work together for several months before the new normal was established. As terrorist incidents continue to make headlines worldwide, more countries are getting weary and implementing additional security measures.
If your goods do not meet a destination’s new and specialized regulations, this might create a considerable interruption to your organization. Keeping a finger on the pulse of regulatory compliance is core business for freight forwarders, placing them in the ideal place to ensure your goods pass through the checkpoints.
Additionally, beyond security in the international sense, there have also been developments in security and safe transport practices for goods. This includes, for example, the development of state-of-the-art storage for hazardous, combustible, and corrosive substances, including these Flammable Storage Cabinets at Storemasta, among other safe solutions which can be utilised during transport.
The Future of Supply Chains Is Digital
The shipping industry, like every other industry, is turning digital. Gone are the days when freight was tracked around the world by reams of actual papers. The majority of paperwork must now be digitized, and data must be transmitted online.
Although some elements of your supply chain always use paper, this is quite likely to shift, and very soon. It's reasonable to assume that your freight forwarding partner will be able to handle digitized data flows all through the supply chain and, as a result, will be able to assist you in maximizing the benefits of digital transformation.
Also, Read This: Cotton World: Cotton Textile Industry In India


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Howard Phillips, former "President" of the Nintendo Fun Club and Nintendo figurehead, has a new gig. He's the new studio director at Chair Entertainment, the development house snatched up by Epic Games last year.
Phillips other gigs include a stint as one half of the comic duo Howard and Nester, a long-running feature in Nintendo Power, and product development roles at Microsoft, THQ and LucasArts. He's sitting down at Chair to help the studio grow as it moves from smaller Xbox Live Arcade games like Undertow to the studio's Ender's Game project(s) and Empire.
Epic president Michael Capps said in a statement that "Howard's continued inspiration, as well as his expertise in product development, will be a tremendous asset to Chair as the studio continues to grow and create ground-breaking games."


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Apple owes Samsung over $170 million in penalties for not selling enough iPhones
The Cupertino tech giant Apple could be once again in trouble, but this time not due to legal pursuance by any company, but because of its own wrongdoings.
According to a South Korean News agency ET News, a reliable media outlet with a good track record of smartphone industry insights, Apple owes Samsung Display “hundreds of billions of won” in penalties for not buying OLED displays as per the agreement. As far as the numbers are concerned, the 200 billion won makes at least $170 million, and it is expected that Apple may have to pay more than that.
Apple insisted that Samsung Display build a new factory for the exclusive purpose of making OLED screens of iPhones, and clearly stated in the agreement that it will need 100 million iPhone displays every year. However, due to the poor sales of its expensive iPhone in the last two quarters, Apple itself failed to meet the terms of the agreement. As noted by ET News,
“Apple had told Samsung Display it would need 100 million OLED iPhone displays a year. But a slump in iPhone sales had a knock-on effect for Samsung Display, which saw its operating profits halve in a year, falling from 5.7 trillion won in 2017 to 2.62 trillion won in 2018.”
However, under the given circumstances, it is unlikely that Apple will pay a cash penalty, instead, it will probably offer Samsung Display fresh contracts for OLED screens in tablets and notebooks to the point where the profit equals the penalty due. Apple is also rumored to be moving to an all OLED line-up for 2020 after last year’s budget iPhone XR stuck with the old LCD display.


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| Nov 9, 2011
| 6:03 AM
I'm going to go ahead and state the obvious...Cabela's is one of the more sane stores, opening at 5am on Black Friday [as opposed to midnight]. Now, the downside to this--the closest Cabela's store is in Verdi, NV. If you want to get away from our area,...
| Nov 10, 2011
| 5:39 PM
Most of the long-struggling Owings Mills Mall will be torn down starting in 2013 to make room for a $65 million retail development, a move that Baltimore County officials hope will complement other burgeoning projects in an area targeted for growth.
| Dec 18, 2012
| 4:29 PM
Some gun retailers this week are reporting a spike in store traffic, in excess of the usual holiday rush, driven at least in part by fears of future firearms bans and other restrictions in the aftermath of the Newtown murders.
But even as foot traffic...
| Dec 18, 2012
| 9:39 AM
Several major firearms retailers are rethinking sales strategies for the rifle said to be used in Friday’s massacre in Connecticut.
Cabela’s, an outdoor products retailer, was still offering Bushmaster AR-15 rifles for between $730 and $1,...
| Dec 27, 2012
| 11:14 AM
Firearms maker Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. said it will buy back an additional $15 million of its stock as gun control talk swirls in the aftermath of the massacre at a Connecticut elementary school.
The company said it has already completed a $20-...
| Sep 20, 2012
Cabela's Candlewood Grill
475 East Hartford Blvd., East Hartford
I don't hunt. I don't fish. I don't shoot arrows, climb rocks or hike trails. So what was I doing in Cabela's, a retail wonderland for outdoorsy...
| Oct 31, 2012
| 7:02 PM
The Lehigh Valley impact of Hurricane Sandy intensified Wednesday with the reports of two more storm-related deaths.
Also on Wednesday, 41,000 of the region's homes and businesses that lost power in the storm had electricity restored. But about 160,000...
| Nov 1, 2012
| 1:01 PM
The Lehigh Valley's recovery from superstorm Sandy seemed to be proceeding slowly but surely on Wednesday, with streets coming to life and the area's electric utilities saying most power would be restored by the end of the weekend.
But the return to...


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The accelerated shift towards remote working will continue to create new opportunities for cyber attacks in the year ahead, according to one global security firm.
While Australian households are generally well aware of the nature of cyber security threats, they are less well prepared to protect themselves from evolving threats targeting smartphones, tablets and the growing number of devices that make up the digital environment within the home, according to new research.
India will experience its first decline in IT spending in the last five years, with expenditure in 2020 to reach US$83.5 billion, a drop of 8.1% year-on-year, the technology research firm Gartner says.
Just looked at both Telstra and Optus 5G roll-out maps, and (as I expected) they're still both EXTREMELY spotty. I[…]
Where’s that loony tunes electrowreque to spread his FUD about 5G? If only he didn’t live under electrical wires or[…]
Electrowreque - an expert in noise and latency emanating directly from the sad excuse for a tin-foiled wrapped brain he[…]
You off your meds again, electrowreque? Need more tin foil for your hat? You make loony people look sane.
You off your meds again, electrowreque? Need more tin foil for your hat? You make loony people look sane. 5G[…]


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Buick could be one of the most unlikely turnarounds in automotive history. When General Motors entered bankruptcy two years ago, the troubled car-making giant was pressured to abandon half of its North American brands. Most observers expected Buick to be one of the first to go. Somehow, though, the century-old marque survived. Now, it is in the running to become the best-selling luxury car brand in the U.S.
"The perception of Buick is out of whack," says Chris Perry, GM's North American marketing director.
Perhaps, but only a couple of years ago, Buick was clearly in dire straights. Once a badge to rival GM's flagship Cadillac, Buick had undergone decades of corporate neglect. Sales had plunged to barely a quarter of their peak by the time GM was forced into bankruptcy in 2009.
It might have made sense to close Buick, yet GM officials were reluctant to abandon it – not because if its presence in the domestic market, but due to a burgeoning reputation in a fast-growing region for car sales: Asia. "We kept Buick because of China," acknowledges Ed Wellburn, GM's global design director.
The brand's success in China was pure fluke. The last emperor was a Buick fan and, after World War II, his personal car landed in the hands Zhou Enlai, top lieutenant of China's postwar communist leader, Mao Zedong.
A little more than a decade ago, former GM chairman Jack Smith began negotiating with Chinese bureaucrats because the U.S. manufacturer was hoping to open a plant in Shanghai. GM wanted to build one of its mainstream global brands there, such as Chevrolet or Opel. The Chinese, however, were incensed. They wanted "the best," recalls a source who had been involved in the negotiations – and to them that meant Buick.
Today, China is playing a lead role in the development of the brand, although the new Buick Regal was heavily influenced by GM's European engineering operations. The results have been significant, with models such as the large LaCrosse sedan (unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show, RIGHT) and Enclave SUV moving decidedly upmarket, with far more distinctive styling.
The consumer response has been equally apparent. Buick has gained sales for 17 straight months, picking up 73 percent year on year in February alone. So far this year the GM brand has outsold longtime U.S. luxury leader Lexus and missed out on topping BMW, the current sales champion, by just 800 vehicles. Significantly, around half of Buick's sales are coming from conquests of brands such as Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.
Buick's new-found momentum is gaining it respect inside GM as well. Within the next two years, the brand will have twice as many models as it did at the time that GM was filing for bankruptcy, and Buick marketing chief Craig Bierley hints that even more offerings are under study – essential, considering the product range expansion Buick's competitors are undergoing.
Keeping its momentum going all year won't be easy, analysts caution. However, even if Buick doesn't capture the top spot in the luxury market this year, it seems to be justifying the decision to keep the brand around.


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KLIA Ekspress have extended their Visa payWave promo until the end of September 2018. Good savings on tickets, both ways to and from the airport.
Plug And Play has signed a partnership with Singapore Airlines to identify and support digital innovation in the aviation & travel industries.
Google Home is the medium for SingaporeAirlines' latest initiative to enhance travellers' flight information access.
Malaysia Airlines new improved and personalised Enrich Members portal is easier to use and enables online duty free purchases for delivery to seat or home.
Singapore Airlines' KrisShop has recently announced a collaboration with China’s largest online travel services provider. This will offer benefits to SIA's customers.
MHchat, MHfeedback and MHguardian are Malaysia Airlines' three new digital initiatives to make customer contact with the airline easier.
Malaysian elections 2018 are just around the corner and many voters want to return to exercise their right to participate. But how to pick the right time to book that flight?
Singapore Airlines signals a better travel retail experience for its passengers after announcement of new joint venture plan.


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Civilization VI is still going strong as an excellent strategy game, Despite releasing in 2016, the game continues to get expansions and updates. It seems that more comment is coming via DLC, as a Civ VI Leader Pass was accidentally leaked by the game’s main website.
The website has since deleted all mention of this DLC, though fans still have the receipts to show it happened. Expect 2K to make an announcement regarding this DLC soon, as it’s set to bring back some iconic leaders to the fan-favorite strategy game.
It seems that Civilization VI is going strong six years after its release, with no indication of stopping anytime soon. Only time will tell if this is the last piece of DLC for the game or if 2K ends up making the sixth entry live for a few more years.
Fans on Reddit got to share the leaked image of the now-deleted Leader Pass, featuring big historic figures like Abraham Lincoln and Queen Nzinga of Ndongo. There are currently no details on the Leader Pass, so we assume that this DLC only adds Leaders to the game until proven otherwise.
Naturally, fans had some things to say about the Leader Pass DLC, with many of them sharing their excitement:
“Nzinga of Ndongo is long overdue! Hype!” said AlphatheAlpaca.
“So there's still hope for quality of life updates and requested balancing?” says LukasOne.
“This is ridiculous. I’m going to give them more money and be happy about it? How do they do this magic?!” said MedicMalfunction.
Prior to this, Civilization VI expansion packs added new campaigns and countries to the game. Unless 2K Games announces what will be in the Leader Pass, this looks to be some barebones DLC, though hardcore fans are going to enjoy it.
Civilization VI is now available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile.


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Since Thanksgiving officially kicks off the festive season, many people will be spending time at the mall over the next month, doing their holiday shopping. Buying gifts for your loved ones is supposed to be fun, but unfortunately, there are some risks associated with hitting the stores over the holidays.
Our Montgomery accident lawyers want to draw your attention to some of the biggest risks of holiday shopping so you can avoid these potential pitfalls. We also urge store owners, managers and employees to do their part in making the shopping experience safe since ultimately it is these commercial property owners who are responsible when something goes wrong.Holiday Shopping Dangers
Awareness is the first step to staying safe this holiday season, and there are many different risks that you should be alert to when you are buying gifts. For instance according to Alabama.com, Montgomery police warn crime prevention is important when making holiday purchases. Among other tips, police recommend you remain alert, carry minimal cash, use ATMs only in well-populated areas, avoid overloading yourself with packages, and check your vehicle carefully before entering.
While theft issues are often given a lot of attention during the holidays, these risks aren’t the only ones that shoppers face. In fact, there are many potential hazards that can arise when shopping and cause injury. Dangers include:
- Escalator and elevator accidents. America Now News cautioned readers that escalator accidents are becoming more common and warns that these accidents can be deadly. Each year, more than 10,000 people are hurt on escalators, 70 percent of whom are injured in falls.
- Icy, wet or slippery floors. Winter weather combined with crowds of shoppers creates a recipe for disaster. Shoppers track ice and snow into stores where it melts and creates a serious fall risk.
- Parking lots and stores with inadequate security. If a parking lot or store doesn’t have a sufficient security presence, this creates a dangerous situation for patrons. Without adequate security, for example, you have a greater chance of being robbed in the store or when going out to your car. You also have a greater chance of being injured if a crowd gets out of hand and there are no security personnel present to do crowd control.
- Improperly stocked merchandise. Stores may get busy over the holiday season and may not keep up when it comes to properly stocking shelves. There may be a lot of people putting items back on shelves where they don’t belong, and stores may try to overfill their shelves so they don’t run out of popular items. All of this creates a situation where there is a good chance that merchandise could fall and injure shoppers.
These are just some of the many potential risks that you can run into at a store or mall during the holiday season. Many of these risks are preventable if stores follow reasonable procedures to ensure their premise is safe for customers.
If a store fails in its obligation to make the premises safe, the store can be held liable for any injuries that shoppers experience. Shoppers who have suffered an injury should consider talking to a lawyer to find out if the store can be held responsible and to learn about what types of compensation may be available after an injury.
Call Allred & Allred P.C. at 334.396.9200 to speak with a personal injury attorney today.
Alabama Injury Attorneys Wish You a Safe Thanksgiving, Allred & Allred, November 22, 2012
Alabama Traffic Crashes: Darkness and Daylight Savings Time, Allred & Allred, Nov. 7, 2012.


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Navman has announced monthly map updates for its its new top of the range portable GPS unit.
The "Rapid Map Refresh" feature will come standard on Navman's new MY450LMT model, and will be an optional extra on the cheaper MY400LMT and EZY250LM units.
The company claims the feature is a "world first" in the portable navigation device (PND) category. The monthly map updates are "verified and validated" on an automatic basis.
The units are available in Australia and New Zealand and the data is from HERE (aka NAVTEQ/Nokia).


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International renminbi (RMB) payments between ‘true offshore’ trading centres (excluding China and Hong Kong) have grown by +837% in value over the past two years – compared to an overall growth of +378% – reaching a share of 3.25% in September 2014 according to the latest RMB Tracker issued by SWIFT.
True offshore international RMB payments are transactions taking place between RMB centres (for example Singapore, the UK and Luxembourg) without involving China and Hong Kong.
The financial messaging services provider said that based on the RMB Tracker, clearing centres such as Singapore, the UK and the newly appointed German centre are driving true offshore use of the RMB. Other countries, such as Belgium that are not normally part of the RMB top ten, are also fuelling this offshore trend.
Belgium currently sits fourth for true offshore RMB international payments. Over the last nine months, SWIFT has noted a significant increase in all RMB offshore centres with Singapore holding its leading position at +574% growth, followed by Luxembourg (+517%) and the UK (+236%).
“Payments, FX and trade finance are the markers to watch for growth in RMB internationalisation,” says Alex Medana, director, securities markets, Asia Pacific, SWIFT. “The RMB is primarily used as a trade settlement currency, but it is worth noting that the RMB is steadily making progress as an investment currency. In the first nine months of 2014, 28% of securities settlement confirmations in RMB were done outside China and Hong Kong, compared to 16% during the same period two years ago.”
Overall, the RMB strengthened its position as the seventh-ranked global payments currency and accounted for 1.72% of global payments, an all-time record share. In September 2014, the value of RMB global payments increased by 13.2%, well above the average 8.1% growth for all currencies.
Vina Cheung, HSBC’s global head of RMB internationalisation, payments and cash management, described the latest figures as “encouraging”.
“At HSBC we’re seeing companies seize the opportunities presented by China’s currency liberalisation to deepen business relationships in the world’s second largest economy. As China becomes ever more important to international businesses, the internationalisation of the RMB is creating new opportunities in trade, investment, cash management and funding.
“HSBC forecasts that a third of China’s trade will be settled in RMB by 2015 and that the currency will be fully convertible by 2017. SWIFT’s findings show that initiatives like the establishment of offshore hubs are supporting greater adoption of the Chinese currency to deliver financial and relationship advantages from using RMB.”
The US dollar and debt yields falling on the North Korea missile test, treasury being a top target for cyber criminals and why treasurers aren't into real-time payments all hit the latest headlines in the world of treasury this week. Don't miss our ten top news stories from around the world.
HSBC arguing that mid-market businesses are missing out on huge exporting opportunities, 3D printing being predicted to cut global trade by 23% in 2060 and the blockchain community launching a voluntary transparency project all hit the latest headlines in the world of treasury this week.
Direct carrier billing is currently a competitive payments industry in Europe, but will it flourish under PSD2? EE and Microsoft think so.
As the 10th anniversary on contactless payments draws near, western retailers are taking steps to incorporate Asian contactless payment methods.


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Warren Mosler, starved of orders and staff, is quitting the supercar business and trying to sell his company. In 26 years, Mosler sold fewer than 200 cars and now is down to two employees and one remaining car at his southern Florida headquarters. He hasn’t sold a car for the past two years.
“I don’t have the energy to do another car or anything else,” said Mosler, speaking from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he lives most of the year. “There’s a whole pile of stuff, good inventory, and [I’m] looking for somebody else with a car disease that wants to live the lifestyle.”
So far, Mosler has had trouble finding a reliable buyer.
“There’s always one or two people buzzing around but nothing ever happens,” he said. In the meantime, Mosler has listed all of his company assets for sale, including the automaker’s 45,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Riviera Beach, Florida, replete with shop equipment and a working paint booth for $3.375 million. In the company’s best years, Mosler said he sold “10 or 12” cars a year, employing up to 40 employees at a time.
While Mosler, 63, jockeys between three other full-time gigs—economist, hedge fund manager, and three-time independent and Democratic political candidate (he recently lost his latest congressional bid in the Virgin Islands)—he blames himself for not having “the type of personality that sells cars.”
Mosler said that while he no longer wants to run the business, he would consider consulting for a new owner “if anybody ever buys it.” His final car, a 2012 MT900S Photon, is unsold with a price of $479,000.
As The Supercar World Turns
In October, former Mosler chief engineer James Todd Wagner unveiled the “final Mosler supercar to be built,” the Raptor GTR. But Mosler isn’t selling this special 838-hp model. Wagner bought it shortly before leaving the company in January 2011, and had signed a 25-year distributor agreement to sell at least three cars per year in China and Thailand. What happened next is the stuff of soap operas.
After Wagner left, Mosler already was in talks to sell his company. When a potential deal went south, Mosler blamed Wagner for ruining it when he allegedly demanded Mosler pay him $100,000 “in return for agreeing not to sue the new owner.” Mosler refused. Wagner says he’s owed the $100,000 as a return on a deposit he made to buy the company.
Their relationship had soured earlier when there was a disagreement regarding the suspension setup for the MT900S Photon. Despite winning Car and Driver’s 2011 Lightning Lap—amid a host of mechanical problems—Mosler blamed him for the Photon’s performance, which was some four seconds off the pace set by the supposedly slower MT900S in the 2008 Lightning Lap competition. (Wagner, for his part, says a friend of Mosler’s designed the suspension.) Now, Mosler says Wagner is claiming to be the official Mosler distributor despite their agreement being “moot” from lack of production.
Wagner is more upbeat on his old boss. He says he loved working on the cars but said Mosler’s “lack of advertising” and insistence on using Corvette taillamps turned away potential customers, who thought the MT900S was a kit.
“The unfortunate thing is that the potential is so huge. So much work went into the engineering up front,” Wagner said. “All the materials were the most expensive and top-tier stuff anywhere. Everything. Ev-ery-thing. It had everything except that last exoticness.”
The frustration continued throughout Wagner’s seven years to the point where he couldn’t use the word “exotic” when describing the car, he said. (Several of his ad proposals, Mosler said, featured “gratuitous sexual imagery” and were rejected.) Earlier this year, Wagner shot a music video with scantily clad women dancing on the Raptor GTR, but even without Corvette taillamps, the $700,000 supercar still has no buyer.
“It’s a shame that it just didn’t become the commercial success that it could have [been],” he said.
The Fast and the Infuriating
Indeed, despite impressive spec sheets and plenty of race wins—including at the Daytona 24 Hours—Mosler never attracted the loyal following or recognition of Lamborghini, Koenigsegg, or even Saleen, which built the mid-engined S7.
Mosler’s barely-street-legal creations—at best, raw and violently quick; at worst, ugly—have so easily dominated racetracks that they’ve all been penalized with added weight, engine restrictors, or outright bans from several international competitions (including Car and Driver’s One Lap of America). On public roads, we’ve better tolerated Moslers on paper than on pavement.
In the October 1991 issue, we tested one of Mosler’s first road cars, the Consulier GTP Sport, which weighed less than a Honda CRX and was powered by a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine sourced from Chrysler. While the “tenacious grip of the mid-engine chassis” was laudable, we wrote, the noise was deafening and the interior was “doing a good imitation of a pizza oven.” Mosler’s audacious bets that he would pay anyone $25,000 for beating the Consulier in a timed trial (later, raised to $100,000) were called foul by the press, including us, when we struck it down with a base Corvette. About 100 were sold.
“From the start, it was a media failure,” he said.
Although terribly fast, later Moslers were loathed for their split, V-shaped windshields which Mosler said offered superior aerodynamics to traditional screens. Hardly any cars were sold from the late 1990s until 2006, when the MT900S—arguably, the first attractive Mosler—was released after a drawn-out federalization process. Despite its generally positive reviews, only about 60 cars were sold, including two dozen MT900R models racing in Europe and Asia.
- First Drive: 2013 Pagani Huayra
- First Drive: 2013 McLaren MP4-12C Spider
- First Drive: 2013 Ferrari F12berlinetta
While Mosler Automotive may be headed to the graveyard like Vector and DeLorean, there still is hope for other American supercar manufacturers. Shelby Super Cars (no relation to the late Carroll Shelby) is intent on setting the fastest production car record with its 276-mph Tuatara. Other American tuner companies have dabbled in supercars, such as the 1244-hp Hennessey Venom GT.
Mosler isn’t second-guessing himself.
“I think I could have taken the latest from Ferrari, produced it myself, and nobody would have bought it,” he said. “It really wouldn’t matter.”
This version of this story has been edited in regards to the suspension design of the MT900S Photon.


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An Intel executive has confirmed that there will be at least six versions of Windows 8 at launch with four targeting ARM partners and two for the Intel architecture. At CES earlier this year, Steve Ballmer mentioned three companies, Nvidia, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments which means that a fourth, unnamed, company must have joined the fray
RIM may potentially have sold more than 250,000 Blackberry Playbook tablets despite the fact that it was lambasted and criticised by many reviewers. According to a research note published by RBC analyst, Mike Abramsky, who was quoted by Business Insider, sales of the tablet are "steady", adding that the milestone of quarter of a million has possibly been reach with a similar amount likely to be sold within the first 90 days.
IBM has added mobility, virtualisation and analytics amongst their top priorities for this year, the tech giant from Armonk, New York revealed. The announcement by the company came just after it conducted a survey of almost 3,018 global CIOs, including 181 from New Zealand and Australia.
Hewett Packard has reported a three percent rise in revenue for the second fiscal quarter ended April 30. The company, which revealed its Q2 results a day early, informed that the net revenue was up by 3 percent to $31.6 billion while the net earnings jumped by 5 percent to $2.3 billion.
The European Commission is going to initiate a public consultation on cloud technologies, a move that could provide a well guided direction to future cloud computing strategies. Apparently, the EC wants every interested party to come and participate in the processes, particularly those from the cloud-developers community as well as cloud users.


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Before Microsoft’s acquisition, Nokia’s mobile device division didn’t become famous just because of the great flagship smartphones that it produced, but also because of the entry-level devices that were pushed at amazing price tags. Such is the case of the Lumia 630 that we recently reviewed, in addition to the Lumia 520 as well. Still, we’ve been following the rumors of the Lumia 530 for a couple of weeks now, and more details have emerged today.
After seeing some of the renders of the Lumia 530 in previous leaks, today we see some real photos of the device leaked on Chinese social media. The main differences with the Lumia 530 and the Lumia 520 are that the newer model will have dual-SIM support, aside from some additional bumps on its internals like a Snapdragon 200 processor.
We should expect this device to rock Windows Phone 8.1, and given the fact that there really aren’t any new devices running it yet, it makes sense for this smartphone to be held for a launch later this year.


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MEXICO: Grupo Modelo seeks acquisitions, tie-ups
Grupo Modelo in expansive mood - CEO
Mexico's largest brewer, Grupo Modelo, has confirmed that it is eyeing acquisitions in beer and other drinks categories in emerging markets.
A Modelo official confirmed chairman Carlos Fernandez as telling local financial daily Milenio: "If we see a good opportunity, we have the financing to make a purchase.” Fernandez said that China, Brazil and Venezuela are interesting markets due to their booming growth rates.
Modelo is also looking to expand its product portfolio through new launches or brand acquisitions, the official confirmed to just-drinks today (9 November). It is mulling strategic partnerships similar to the one struck recently with Nestle's bottled water division in Mexico.
Earlier this year, analysts speculated that Anheuser-Busch Inbev would seek to use its 50% non-controlling stake in Modelo to mount a full takeover of the brewer. However, Fernandez reiterated prior statements that the family-owned enterprise intends to remain independent.
Modelo will invest MXN5bn (US$400m) in its Mexican business in 2011, down from MXN7bn this year, reflecting a forecast fall in Mexico's GDP growth, to 3.8% in 2011 from an expected 5% this year.
Crown Imports has followed the latest push for Grupo Modelo's Corona Extra beer brand in the US with a national multimedia advertising campaign for Modelo Especial in the country....
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Mercedes-Benz India to Roll Out Locally Assembled S Class; S Class S500 to Come Cheaper by ₹20 Lakh
By greeshma m | March 13, 2014 9:45 PM EST
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has started assembling its S Class model locally in India (at their Chakan plant in Pune), said the company on Wednesday.
Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche (C) applauds singer Alicia Keys (R) during the presentation of the new Mercedes-Benz S-class car in Hamburg, May 2013.
The company, which started bringing its 2014 Mercedes S Class as a completely built unit (CBU) to India, has also rolled out its first locally assembled S500 from its Chakan plant. 2014 Mercedes S Class S500 originally priced at ₹1.57 crore (ex-showroom Delhi) is now available at ₹1.36 crore, which is about ₹20 lakhs cheaper than the CBU model.
The car draws its power from the 4.7l V8 engine, which can churn out a power of 455 hp at 5250 rpm and a torque of 700 Nm at 1800-3500 rpm. It is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 4.4 seconds. The company claims a top speed of 250 kmph for its new luxury sedan.
The company sells a wide range of cars in India, such as A Class, B Class, sedans C Class, E Class, S Class and SLS AMG. Beside S Class, Mercedes also assemble E-Class, C-Class, GL-Class and the M-Class models locally in India.
"No other car stands for Mercedes-Benz brand promise more than the S-Class and we are delighted to manufacture the new S-Class at our state-of-the art production facility in Chakan, Pune. Quality has all along been the strength of Mercedes-Benz India, and the new S500 production in India is set to take this success story even further," said Eberhard Kern, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, according to AutoCar India.
Recently, the company opened its state-of-the art second dealership in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Mercedes Benz's new dealership Benchmark Cars is spread over a total area of 11000 sq. ft. The showroom offers facilities like customer lounge, accessories, collections display and easy one stop shopping. Currently, Mercedes-Benz India has 62 outlets in 35 cities, and the company is also planning to expand its network in the country.
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