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According to the rumor new, it seems that LG is working on a new smart Watch called the LG Watch Timepiece, a watch that will work with the system WearOS of Google Inc. However, this will not be a smart watch like other smart watches, which the company LG issued in the last few years, but it will be a smart watch hybrid that will come with smart features, but it will also be a analogue Clock.
It is reported that the smart watch hybrid LG Watch Timepiece will be the structure made of stainless steel and will be resistant to water and dust thanks to the testimony of IP68, in addition to the quartz movement extremely accurate. Besides, it has also rumoured that this smart watch hybrid will be the LCD screen with a diameter of 1.2 inches and accurately 360×360 pixels, battery capacity of 240mAh.
On the other hand, it was also said that this smart watch is the new hybrid coming with dimensions of 45.5 × 45.4 × 12.9 mm, which is in line with the dimensions of the smart watch LG Watch Soprt and LG Watch Style. Regardless of the dimensions, it was speculated further that the LG Watch Timepiece will have 4GB of memory storage eMMC, and the random size of 768 MB, as well as the Processor of the model of the Snapdragon 2100. As you can expect, this smart watch will also support Wi-Fi 802.11 n, Bluetooth 4.2, but it will not support cellular networks.
This will be a smart watch is rechargeable through the USB Type-C, will support NFC and GPS, but ” not expected ” that includes NFC and GPS. Apart from that, you’ll be charging this watch with a strap of silicone the size of a 22mm, but if you want to replace something else of this size, you’ll be able to do so. There will be a special version of this Watch called +LG Watch Timepiece will come in advance with a metal belt, in addition to the holder an additional person.
Advertising can be done officially about the smart watch in the next week, most likely Monday of next week, to April 30. Will be offered in two different colors, namely silver and black. Will become available for purchase sometime during the month of June next in all over the world.
The post leaked specifications of the smart watch hybrid LG Watch Timepiece, it will make the system WearOS appeared first on electronic.


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The Piaggio Group have announced new models to be unveiled at Eicma in Milan today, with motorcycles from Moto Guzzi and Aprilia (including an electric motorbike), while the new scooters consist of updated GTS and GTV Vespas, striking new colours for the Primavera model and 946, plus the latest electric Piaggio 1 scooter. Starting from … Continue reading New Vespa Options and Piaggio Electric launched at Eicma 2022
New 2023 Vespa GTS 300 – suspension and other upgrades
As we approach show-season here in Europe, a new Vespa GTS has been spotted on the roads of Vietnam. But what can we expect for 2023 from the classic Italian marque? The scooter was spotted, despite it’s disguise, and photographed by Hoang Son with the story later published on https://tuoitre.vn Details of whether this was … Continue reading New 2023 Vespa GTS 300 – suspension and other upgrades
New Vespa Pic Nic Announced
Italian scooter manufacturer Piaggio announced today that a new version of their Vespa Primavera model is to be produced, the Pic Nic. The Vespa Pic Nic is kitted out with a range of dedicated accessories, "designed for maximum enjoyment of outdoor moments, in the most classic ride in the countryside or in one of those … Continue reading New Vespa Pic Nic Announced
Racing, world records, tributes & more scooters!
We're pleased to announce that edition 25 of Scooternova magazine is currently at the printers being prepared for publishing next week. To celebrate our 25th magazine and FOUR years of independent publishing we're giving away a FREE sticker too (while stocks last), so renew your subscriptions now or get your pre-orders in ASAP to make sure … Continue reading Racing, world records, tributes & more scooters!
Vespa 75th Anniversary Models Announced
To mark the 75th anniversary of Vespa, Piaggio – the creators and manufacturers of the famous scooter – are to produce a special version of the Primavera and GTS models that will only be sold during 2021. The patent for the first Vespa was filed by Italian manufacturer Piaggio on 23 April 1946. ScooterNova magazine celebrated … Continue reading Vespa 75th Anniversary Models Announced
Vespa & Piaggio News – illegal fakes, free extended warranty, finance offers
On a number of occasions, Sticky and I used to play a silly little game between ourselves at the Milan Motorcycle Show (EICMA) of 'Spot the Clone'. You see, over the years some of the less scrupulous manufacturers in China seemed to think it was fine to simply copy other manufacturers' scooters and arrive back … Continue reading Vespa & Piaggio News – illegal fakes, free extended warranty, finance offers

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The Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group has launched its new record label, Burgundy Records. The new Sony BMG SMG imprint label, spearheaded by executive VP Joe DiMuro, is set to sign multi-Platinum artists and release new titles. The new label marks its debut with the signing of Chaka Khan and Aaron Neville.
“I am looking forward to working with many of the artists that I grew up and making their music available to everyone, including new and old fans alike,” comments DiMuro. “I am confident that Burgundy Records will be a fantastic addition to the Sony BMG myriad of labels.”
“I am excited to be a part of Burgundy Records and look forward to giving my existing fans and hopefully new fans some brand-new music,” comments Neville. Likewise, Khan reports, “I think that Burgundy was made for me, and I know that we’ll do great things together.”
Central to every project is the concept of a “360-Degree Approach”: promoting through a variety of channels, including licensing, strategic partnerships, mobile applications, DRTV, tour marketing and publicity.
“Artists and their labels can no longer rely on exposure through radio and video to get their music into the hands of existing or potentially new fans,” says DiMuro. “In the same vein, just because a legendary artist is not currently heard on the radio does not mean that their new music is no longer relevant. Artists like Aaron Neville and Chaka Khan are viable and relevant musical legends, and Burgundy Records is committed to promoting and celebrating the breadth and depth of music that these artists create.”
For more information, visit www.burgundyrecords.com.


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The FDA Will Require New And Stricter Talc/Asbestos Testing Method
A newly-formed multi-agency working group has had enough of the 1970s asbestos testing protocols used by the cosmetics industry
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 - There have been exciting, breakthrough developments from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week establishing standards to test cosmetic talc for asbestos, a known carcinogen. Talc is also suspected of causing ovarian cancer because it is an innate mineral that does not break down and can become lodged in the ovaries and create levels of oxidative stress and irritation leading to cancer. The FDA created the "Interagency Working Group on Asbestos in Consumer Products (IWGACP)" to establish talc testing standards that would be required to be used by the entire cosmetics industry. Incredibly fortunate for those who believe that the industry has dropped the ball and put company profits ahead of the health and safety of their clients, the newly-appointed director's first statement was damning for companies like Johnson & Johnson, Colgate Palmolive, Revlon, and many others. MesotheliomaGuide.com reports that Susan Mayne, Director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, told reporters, "We have become aware that methods employed by some industry members to test for asbestos in talc-containing cosmetic products may not always detect the presence of asbestos. () That's why an interagency working group sought to take a state-of-the-science look at available methods." Johnson & Johnson have forever resisted placing a talcum powder cancer warning on bottles of Johnsons Baby Powder.
At the core of the newly-formed group's efforts will be to insist cosmetics companies update their talc asbestos testing methods that seldom found asbestos, to a more modern method that regularly finds the carcinogenic material. The IWG will require companies to replace their outdated Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) testing method adopted in the 1970s, with the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), made popular in the legal community by plaintiff expert witness Dr. William Longo. The TEM has repeatedly found asbestos fibers in the talc samples that were labeled negative by PLM.
The formation and requirements of the IWG serve as a stern follow-up to the FDA's 2018 talc asbestos testing using TEM and finding particles of asbestos in bottles of Johnson's Baby Powder purchases from retail stores like Walmart, Rite Aid, and CVS. The findings prompted Johnson & Johnson to discontinue selling their iconic baby powder in the United States and Canada. The FDA announced that they would begin testing randomly-selected samples of cosmetics, Beaty, and baby care products annually. This resulted in a reduction from 17% to 0 cases of finding asbestos, a very welcome statistic for mothers who relied on talcum powder to diaper their infant. Johnson & Johnson has resorted to a last-ditch effort to save their company tens of billions of dollars in legal costs by creating a separate company called LTL Management, and placing their 40,000 or so talcum powder ovarian cancer cases in it along with $2 billion. The new company is now looking for bankruptcy protection from women with talcum powder ovarian cancer. It is unsure if the company will get away with the Texas Two-Step legal maneuver and plaintiff attorneys feel that it is illegal and beyond the scope that bankruptcy protection was designed to offer.


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Shares of Charlotte Russe were looking sweet Wednesday, rising over 8 percent to a 52-week high, after the women's apparel retailer raised its financial outlook for its fiscal second quarter -- and said it could break even.
Before the bell, Charlotte Russe
In a press release, CEO Mark Hoffman said the improved forecast was the result of "what may be the beginning of improved business trends during the past month ... Rather than a low-single digit comparable store sales decline, we now expect to report slightly positive comparable-store sales for the quarter."
Shares of San Diego-based Charlotte Russe closed with a gain of $1.44 at $18.30 after peaking at $18.97 earlier.
Most retail issues, though, hugged the flat line as the S&P Retail Index $RLX ended just kind of sitting there at 381.56.
Among the giants, Wal-Mart
Grocers rebounded early from a miserable Tuesday session prompted by a Lehman downgrade. But those gains mostly evaporated as Safeway
finished unchanged at $20.02, Kroger


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The Consumer Council has set out what your rights are if your flight is cancelled or delayed.
The Consumer Council today is calling on all business and farm owners interested in saving money and helping the environment to get involved in ‘Water Champions’, a campaign launched today (25 October, 2012) in partnership with NI Water and Invest Northern Ireland.
The Consumer Council welcomes the Court of Justice of the European Union ruling, which entitles passengers who have had their flights delayed by three hours or more to compensation, where the cause of the delay has been within the control of the airline1.
Consultation on the implementation of EU Regulation 1177/2010 concerning the rights of passengers wh
The Consumer Council agrees with the proposed approach for handling passenger complaints outlined in the consultation document.
Government policy aims to make public transport people’s first choice, not last
If your flight is disrupted because of airport closure, your airline is required by European law1 to inform you of your rights.
The Consumer Council and Financial Services Authority (FSA) today (18 October) launched the Journey to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) paper, which outlines how the UK’s new financial conduct regulator will operate and how it will benefit consumers.
The Consumer Council will be attending this event in Andersonstown leisure centre on Thursday 18th October to help older people prepare for winter.
The Consumer Council and Financial Services Authority are hosting a joint event to explain the new role of the Financial Conduct Authority.
Consumer Council Brief on the Office of Fair Trading Call for Information on the UK Petrol and Diese
The Consumer Council is an independent consumer organisation, working to bring about change to benefit Northern Ireland (NI) consumers. Our aim is to make the consumer voice heard and make it count.


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Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global coatings company, has announced its 2023 Global Automotive Colour of the Year – Techno Blue. This is the 9th year the company has featured a trending colour.
Axalta’s 2022 Automotive Colour Trends ‘Powered by Colour’ highlights the generational trends, changing reality and positive outlook that shaped this 2023 selection. Techno Blue is a pulsating colour that is right on beat with the rhythm of today’s lively energy. The modern, whimsical shade also embodies the transition from the real to virtual world.
“This year’s colour is vibrant and radiates positivity,” said Hadi Awada, Senior Vice President, Global Mobility at Axalta. “Techno Blue is a bold contrast to the luxurious Royal Magenta, Axalta’s 2022 Colour of the Year, shifting people’s mindsets towards futuristic thinking. I’m proud that our Mobility team continues to drive trends throughout the automotive industry,” noted Hadi.
Techno Blue is formulated for various coating solutions and enriches the already diverse Axalta colour palette. As a leading colour expert in paint and coatings, Axalta uses its innovative technology, advanced colour formulations and proprietary insights into global and regional colour preferences to drive future colour trends.
There is no end to fancy accessories for your car, be it for the interiors or the exterior. Can you imagine, you can also change your car key to a real fancy one? Keydroid India, the pioneering brand ...
Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global coatings company, announced its 2024 Global Automotive Colour of the Year – Starry Night. The latest edition marks the 10th year Axalta has introduced its auto...
Greencore Electronics, a trailblazer in advanced automotive solutions, has unveiled a car vacuum cleaner and puncture repair kit which are fully made in India.


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Behind Crons Brand’s Deal With Pittsburgh Penguins
Bryant has been officially selected for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game starting lineup, then he will follow the All-Star signed boots on sale to commemorate the All-Star game. I have brought Nike for the last 10 pairs of boots and I am hoping they have some new none plastic boots when I need to purchase another pair! Once the referee is officially allowed to conduct the soccer matches he will be judged himself by an officially assigned representative of the soccer federation.
According to Nike: The first-ever Nike home and away kits for the Norwegian National Football Team honor Norway’s footballing heritage while incorporating the latest in technical innovation for maximum performance.
He sent the buy nike turbo 2 in shops e-mail chain to 10 friends, clerance Nike Free GYM authentic who forwarded it to 10 more friends, and so on, until the exchange became something of an Internet legend air max 90 hyperfuse womens cream pink over the past several weeks, transforming Peretti – who had never protested against Nike men nike air froce 1 white and swears he was just goofing with the company’s lofty marketing rhetoric – into a hero of anti-Nike crusaders.
While graduating at the University of Tennessee, she played for the Tennessee Lady Vols, and helped the college team win the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championships in 2007 and 2008. During her high school education, she led her school basketball team to four straight New York State Championships, clerance Nike Mercurial Vapor Ix FG cheap and was named High School All-American by the WBCA. After enrolling at the University of Southern California, she led the college basketball team to mens nike air max 95 trainers chocolate NCAA tournament titles in 1983 and 1984. Her passion for basketball helped her become a member of the 1988 Texas State Championship team.


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Retail stores charge up to 350% more for products than online. A study shows online shops have enjoyed the lowest inflation level in five years due to the lower costs and high competition.
The research, carried out by the UK internet service provider TalkTalk and the Centre for Economics and Business Research, found that online prices fell by 0.7% in the second quarter of 2012 compared to 2011, while in-store prices rose by 1.6%. Over five years, prices in the internet shops have risen by 3% compared with 6.2% in shops.
The digital price index was complied by comparing retail and online prices for more than 50 random goods and by tracking the digital inflation rate.
According to the study some of the biggest differences in retail and online pricing were found in prices for entertainment products such as DVDs, CDs and video games. Average prices for films and music in retailers were 124% higher than online, the researchers revealed.
For example the PC game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 cost £39.99 in a high street retailer compared with £19.99 at Amazon.co.uk. While Ralph Lauren Romance Eau de parfum cost £70 in a high street store comparing to £46 online.
For toys, the average difference between store and web prices was as much as 180%, according to the survey. For example, Lego City Big track cost £39 in a retailer, while in an online shop it carried a price tag of only £14.
Prices for electrical goods also showed some of the biggest differences as a Zanussi ZDF2020 dishwasher cost £330 in a retail store compared with £237 at Appliances.co.uk.


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Microsoft is launching a new Family Safety app for iOS and Android this week. The software giant has tested the app in the past few months and is intended to enable families to manage screen and app usage. Parents can use the Family Safety app to get reports on app usage, total screen time, and even set app time limits so children can request extensions.
Microsoft Family Safety is also synchronized on Windows, Xbox and Android, so that time limits for games and apps are synchronized on multiple devices. This prevents children from swapping devices for extra hours for Minecraft or Fortnite. Certain apps can also be blocked entirely.
Content filter in Microsoft's Family Safety app.
Microsoft has also added web and search filters to limit surfing to kid-friendly websites. These filters work in the Microsoft Edge browser on Windows, Xbox and Android. Most of these screen time and content filters are limited to Android on the mobile side. However, Microsoft is working on transferring them to iPhones as well. There is even the option to block surprise spending on accounts with purchase request emails, avoiding credit card bills for thousands of V-dollars.
Family security can also be used for location sharing between family members. Microsoft added a new location clustering feature during the beta that allows users to see when multiple family members are in the same location. Microsoft also plans to add notifications when family members reach or leave a location. However, this is a premium feature for Microsoft 365 subscribers.
Location sharing in the Microsoft Family Safety app.
A new drive security feature is also underway for Microsoft 365 subscribers. It should help people to develop better driving habits and to get "insights into driving behavior". Microsoft doesn't say exactly when it'll arrive, but this drive security feature is rolling out in the U.S., UK, Australia, and Canada.
If you'd like to try the Microsoft Family Safety app, it's now available on the Google Play Store and will be available on the Apple App Store later this week.
Update, July 28, 12:35 PM: Microsoft plans to launch the app on iOS later this week.


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The trade shows, analytica Anacon, India Lab Expo and Pharma Pro & Pack organised by Messe Muenchen India, had over 316 exhibitors showcasing over 5,000 products in a 17,500 sq mtrs exhibition space. Alongside the display of the latest technologies, analytica Anacon India, India Lab Expo and Pharma Pro & Pack Expo also conducted conferences and the popular buyer-seller forum. The conference focussed on the theme: Trends in regulatory aspects for analytical instruments, AI/ML- accelerating the growth of Indian Pharma and Pharma 2030.
A round table on the subject ‘Technology and Automation – Futuristic Scenario’ was organised with participation from industry experts representing the pharma and machinery sector. The findings of the nation-wide survey on the subject was shared. The experts deliberated and suggested the way forward citing long-term benefits. IPMMA and Messe Muenchen India is planning to make a position paper on digitisation and automation and submit it to the Government of India and play a supportive role in the mission of Digital India.”
Gautam Ram, Ravi, Director, Craftsman Automation, said, “We got a good response for our storage systems. This is the first time we have displayed our storage systems, specifically for pharmaceutical companies. We got a good response and a large number of good quality visitors, and we look forward to converting them into good inquiries.”
Madan Mohan Reddy, Director, Aurobindo Pharma said, “………I have been to other similar tradeshows, but the quality of exhibitors and the scale that I have witnessed here is incomparable. After a gap of almost three years, it was pleasing to meet industry players face-to-face, and, at the same time, it was exciting to see such a vast number of innovative machinery being displayed…….”
Gautam Rajan, President, Indian Analytical Instruments Association, said, “We are happy with the quality of visitors, and we are sure that lot of the conversations here will translate into real business opportunities. Visitors were also satisfied with the quality of exhibition design, on-site events and activities, and vast range of technologies and product solutions………”
Commenting on the scale, quality and impact of this edition, Bhupinder Singh, CEO, Messe Muenchen India, said, “We are delighted to bring this show for the pharma machinery segment after a three-year break during the pandemic period. The excitement and anticipation from both exhibitors and visitors were evident. The conferences on timely topics like regulatory scenario and AI/ML as well as the leadership conclave attracted large audiences……”


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It seems you can’t turn on a radio these days without hearing ads for CBD products. Hemp, defined as the cannabis plant with less than .3 percent THC, is now legal thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill for the first time since 1937 when it was lumped in with marijuana and made illegal. Today, thousands of acres of hemp are being planted across the United States. Colorado has a thriving hemp industry from cultivation to extraction to finished goods. What is going on here and what does this emerging market look like?
The number of acres of hemp being cultivated in the United States is expanding exponentially, from 25,000 acres in 2017 to an estimated 230,000 acres in 2019. Some sources predict over 500,000 acres of hemp will be planted in 2020. However, this crop has a high risk of failure. Many things can go wrong.
Seeds that were guaranteed to be 98 percent female can turn out to be half male. Like its high THC cousin, female hemp plants are more desirable for their higher CBD count and other cannabinoids.
Planting the seeds too deep or not deep enough can cause them to not germinate. Neighboring farms that spray pesticides can contaminate a hemp crop and cause it to fail testing. Early frosts and snow storms can ruin the plants just before harvest.
And after all this, the crop can fail testing for a number of reasons, including having above .3 percent THC or having traces of heavy metals, pesticides, mold and other contaminates.
Because of all these risks it is estimated that of all the hemp that was planted in 2019, only half was harvested and made it to market as biomass for extraction or smokable hemp.
The market for biomass and smokable hemp
Once hemp is harvested, farmers can sell two main products: smokable hemp and biomass . Smokable hemp looks and smells like marijuana, but because of its low THC content it does not get you high. The 2018 Farm Bill, that was signed by President Trump, removed low THC hemp for the schedule of controlled substance. Thus, smokeable hemp can be shipped across state lines. Smokable hemp buds and pre-rolled ‘joints’ are sold in gas stations and convenience stores from coast-to-coast.
Smokable hemp is currently selling for $150 to $400 per pound, which is quite a bit lower than high THC marijuana. In Colorado, with unlimited cultivation licenses, THC marijuana is selling at wholesale for $1,200 to $2,000 a pound.
The other hemp product that farmers bring to market is biomass, which is sold by the ton to extraction facilities. Biomass is made by putting the whole hemp plant, minus the stalk, through a shredding machine. After shredding, it is stored in large Kevlar bags that hold about 250 pounds of plant matter.
Even here, things can go wrong. Bagged biomass can attract moisture and get moldy. Therefore, considerable labor is involved post-harvest. Bagged biomass has to be rotated, de-bagged, and exposed to dehumidifier machines. This process is expensive and very labor intensive.
The sooner that farmers can get this product to market the better, and the sooner these expenses stop.
The Market for Biomass
Hemp is harvested once a year in most states. Southern States like Texas and Florida are experimenting with growing hemp year round, but the hemp harvest is currently an annual event. This means that once the biomass is sold and extracted, there won’t be any more until the following September and October.
Hemp farmers sell their biomass to extraction facilities that convert it into high CBD, low THC oil. Because of the annual nature of the hemp crop, in November and December through January and February there is more biomass than the current extraction facilities can handle. This leads to lower prices during the winter months following a harvest with prices rising in the spring and early summer.
For example, a year ago when the National harvest was much smaller, pounds of biomass were selling for $40-$60 per pound. This winter prices are $10-$20 per pound, depending on the CBD content.
Biomass prices are determined by CBD levels referred to as points. Buyers will offer so much per percentage point of CBD. If the CBD content is 10 percent and the offer is $1.00 a point then the selling price is $10 a pound.
As the 2019 hemp crop gets extracted, CBD oil is put into CBD products, and prices are expected to rise steadily until it is all gone by the summer of 2020.
Hemp biomass is extracted into CBD oil at extraction facilities that are similar to food processors, i.e. corn oil companies. Keep in mind that the modern hemp industry is only three years old in the U.S. and the extraction facilities have not kept up with the increase in hemp cultivation. There are not enough of them to extract the massive amounts of biomass from the 2019 harvest. Thus, they can pick and choose from the hemp that has the highest CBD content and offer low prices per point. Some offers to farmers have recently been as low as $.6 (60 cents) per point. This is below the farmer’s estimated cost to grow and harvest their hemp of $8 per point.
The good news is that more extraction facilities are coming online with massive machines that can process 500,000 pounds of biomass per month. The end product is high CBD hemp oil that is sold to companies that make the CBD products. CBD oil is then shipped all over the world at $3,000-$4,000 per liter.
There are two ways extraction companies pay farmers. They can buy the hemp by the point as described above. The other way is to fee share with the farmer, which is a process called “tolling.”
In a tolling contract, the farmer retains ownership of the hemp that is processed. As a fee for the process of making CBD oil, the extraction company keeps some of finished oil that is then sold on the open market. A tolling agreement can be more lucrative for farmers because they are selling a processed product, CBD oil, instead of raw shredded hemp.
In a future CannaBlog, we will address finished goods. Stay tuned…


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Stockholm Pie Company celebrates both a ten-year anniversary and grand opening
STOCKHOLM — Ten years ago, it was a tiny storefront in the tiniest village in Wisconsin. A decade later, the Stockholm Pie Company has quadrupled in size, garnered national recognition, and launched a brand new general store.
The Stockholm Pie Company will celebrate its 10th anniversary and the official grand opening of the new, adjacent "General Store at Stockholm Pie" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 5.
The free festivities will include live accordion music, treats and drawings for gifts. Guests can experience an array of pies with a "Pie Flight" tasting.
"We're calling it 'The Big Pie Day,'" said shop owner Alan Nugent. "We hope everyone will join us in celebrating this momentous anniversary and grand opening."
USA Today has featured the Stockholm Pie Company on a list of destination pie shops from California to New York. The pies — especially the double lemon — have received acclaim from Gourmet Magazine, NPR, Roadfood.com and many more. Stockholm Pie was named "Best Pie Shop in Wisconsin" by Delish Magazine.
Nugent's sister, shop co-owner Janet Garretson, developed the recipes that have taken the pie world by storm. Her mother taught her the basics of a good pie, and she later developed her top-secret piecrust formula based on a recipe from an old friend.
"People often say they feel nostalgic about pie, remembering the pies their grandma used to make," Nugent said. "We're celebrating that feeling in the new general store."
The General Store at Stockholm Pie offers an assortment of vintage items, chocolate, pie- and kitchen-related goods, and an old-fashioned candy counter. Abode Gallery, also run by Nugent, shares space with the new store in the historic Mercantile Building. The gallery will continue to showcase fine arts and regional crafts.
"It's exciting to look back and see how far we've come in 10 years," Nugent said. "And we're excited about the new store taking us into the future."


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Globe myBusiness strengthens global partnerships to boost services for Filipino entrepreneurs
Shopify Executives visit The Globe Tower to reinforce its support for Globe myBusiness through enhanced e-commerce platform for local SMEs.
As digital solutions become imminent tools to power the growth of e-commerce for the SME sector, it has become imperative for SMEs to expand their presence and reach in the digital space. In its effort to extend and broaden its support to local SMEs, the small and medium business arm of Globe Telecom, Globe myBusiness has furthered its global partnership with top e-commerce platform Shopify.
In the recently concluded 2015 APEC Summit hosted in Manila, the state of SMEs was among the major undertakings of the event. As SMEs provide major support to the country’s economic landscape, business innovations are sought to help boost these local ventures. With the world fast becoming a globalized marketplace, e-commerce is seen as key where business owners can have increased capability of reaching a wider market.
With Shopify’s recent visit to Globe, led by its Strategic Partnership Manager and member of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Canada Advisory Group, Cameron Vernest and Shopify Head of Business Development Brennan Loh, they reinforced their support and partnership with Globe myBusiness as part of their Southeast Asian expansion, by enhancing the Shopify platform to suit the needs of Filipino entrepreneurs.
Shopify’s technology together with Globe myBusiness’ services can give SMEs a reliable package that will allow them to build their own online store, showcase their brand, and at the same time efficiently manage the back-end processes through capabilities such as tracking orders and customer data, viewing marketing and analytics information, and much more.
As Shopify’s Loh shared, “The Philippines is a fast growing economy and there is no better time to expand our presence here than now. As Shopify becomes available to more SMEs, we can in turn contribute to the expansion of their brand by helping them open up to a bigger market outside of the country, giving them that competitive edge that every business needs.”
Globe myBusiness Senior Vice President Martha Sazon also continues that, “The digital age requires us to offer innovative business solutions to SMEs so that we can help them run their operations smoothly and more efficiently.
With technology as the definitive equalizer in business, these digital solutions allow SMEs to compete with bigger brands through the use of tools that give them the competitive edge. With Shopify, we continue to make our customers’ digital journey easier and we are excited to be partnering with Shopify to shape and redefine the future of retail in the Philippines,” says Martha Sazon, Senior Vice President for Globe myBusiness.
Through Globe myBusiness, SMEs can avail of Shopify starting at P429 a month.
Founded in 2006, Shopify currently powers over 175,000 businesses in approximately 150 countries. It is a cloud-based, multichannel commerce platform designed for small and medium business. Merchants can use it to design, set-up and manage their stores across multiple sales channels. The platform also provides merchants with a powerful back-office and a single view of their business.


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Statistics show that not only are women making up the majority of car purchases, they also want to buy from other women. They trust them more and as such when women customers see saleswomen in a dealership rather than just men, they’re more likely to make a purchase. So why aren’t more women working in car sales?
Women in dealerships
An auto dealership in Victoria, Texas is trying to change that. Victoria Auto Smart has an all-female staff. Apparently, the dealership never intended to do this until they realised the accident was working in their favour.
“People are always surprised when they see it’s all women who work here. We get that all the time.” – Jessica Peinkofer, Sales Manager in an interview with the Victoria Advocate.
Victoria Auto believes their success comes from understanding their customers’ needs and that they’re more equipped to relate to female customers.
Unfortunately, most dealerships don’t do a great job relating to their female customers, with 74% of females saying they feel misunderstood by car marketers and salespeople.
According to Jody DeVere, president, and CEO of Ask Patty, “The auto industry today is in trouble and automakers are struggling so hard. Yet they’re only doing lip service to women in terms of marketing and selling. When want they need to do is change, and create an environment where women don’t equate buying a car or getting is serviced with going to the dentist.”
Women in dealerships in Australia
Closer to home in Australia, women also make the majority of all purchasing decisions and Australia’s sales industry is gradually recognising the importance of female employees. A car dealership in Queensland recently applied for an exemption under the Anti-Discrimination Act in order to advertise for female-only sales positions. The company told the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal that less than 5% of its sales team were female and that needed to change.
Women are better at negotiating car deals
On the flip side of women making better car dealers than men, women are also better at negotiating car deals. According to the Harvard Program on Negotiation “Women not only negotiate harder bargains than men when it comes to vehicle purchases but also they do more extensive preparatory work. Conventional wisdom has always placed the automobile in the realm of masculine, but the emergence of the prepared and educated female customer has changed the way car dealers sell cars and the way car manufacturers market and design them.”
So next time you’re considering making an auto purchase or even selling your old car, make sure a female is doing the talking because you’re likely to get a much better deal.


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November 30, 2018
We are delighted to announce that Vaimo has been awarded the status of Platinum Partner by product information management specialist, inRiver. This is the highest partner status awarded by inRiver and is judged on a solution partner’s experience and delivery of inRiver PIM.
November 23, 2018
Here’s our monthly guide to your digital commerce success…
November 23, 2018
Awards and Acknowledgements
We are pleased to announce that Vaimo Estonia has been awarded the title of a 2019 Gazelle company by the Estonian financial newspaper, Äripäev.
November 21, 2018
HobbyLink Japan has launched! In our latest ‘We Have Launched’ story, we go behind the scenes of the new site delivered for the Japanese hobby goods store HobbyLink Japan. The story details how Vaimo developed a responsive and user-friendly webshop that could also handle HobbyLink Japan’s huge product catalogue.
November 19, 2018
From November 4th-7th, Web Summit—one of the largest technology conferences in the world—welcomed over 70,000 visitors from 159 countries to Lisbon to talk all things tech.
November 15, 2018
We are pleased to report that Vaimo’s client and supermarket powerhouse, Selver, has officially opened its new distribution and assembly centre—the first of its kind in the Baltic States.
November 14, 2018
We are pleased to announce that Vaimo has been awarded the status of a top-rated, leading B2B service provider in Asia and Africa for 2018.
November 12, 2018
On the first weekend of November, 2 teams from Vaimo, a Magento eCommerce agency in London, participated in 48in48, an event organised by a volunteer organisation helping charities in need of a website.
November 4, 2018
The South African Vaimo team recently hosted a Meet Magento Event in Johannesburg. The event welcomed over 50 delegates, who had come together to meet, network and share. We were pleased to welcome Katy Wilson and Sean McCarry from Magento, as well as Grant O’Connor from Adobe to the event, all who offered very insightful keynotes: Magento – […]


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Meta-owned Facebook says that it's bringing its Messenger Inbox back to the actual Facebook app for the first time since it removed it way back in 2014.
Facebook Messenger users haven't been able to access their Inbox in the actual Facebook app since it was pulled almost a decade ago, but the company says that it's now working on the possibility of fixing that, meaning you won't need a separate "Messenger" app to use Facebook Messenger.
Some Facebook users have already started to be invited into a testing program that allows them to read Messenger messages in the Facebook app on their iPhones, likely for the first time for many of them.
Facebook gets the message
The inability to read Messenger messages in Facebook has long felt like a glaring omission, but the company said in a blog post that it's ready to fix that.
"We are testing the ability for people to access their Messenger inbox within the Facebook app and you’ll see us expand this testing soon," Facebook said. And that was basically all it said about the feature.
However, some people have already reported being invited to test the relocated Inbox out, perhaps a sign that Facebook is indeed expanding its existing testing pool to bring new users online.
Well that’s new on Facebook 👇Cc @MattNavarra pic.twitter.com/bPqYRV8DPuDecember 25, 2022
Facebook also took the opportunity to remind everyone that it is indeed in rude health, despite reports that suggested it is in decline.
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"Contrary to reports otherwise, Facebook is not dead nor dying, but in fact alive and thriving with 2 billion daily active users," the blog post kicked off by saying. From there, Facebook spent a lot of words to try and convince everyone that it's doing great.
In reality, Facebook and parent company Meta continue to struggle in a world where people's trust in the platform continues to erode. Strong competition from TikTok isn't helping of course, but Twitter's recent attempts to implode might be helping Facebook at this point.
Facebook has long been one of the most-downloaded apps on the iPhone, but it's no longer at the top of the list. Once upon a time, Facebook was the first app people installed when buying a new iPhone. That doesn't seem to be the case right now, whether they're buying a mid-range iPhone SE or the very best iPhone that Apple has to offer.
Putting the Messenger Inbox back into the Facebook app is unlikely to change that alone. But it does at least fix one of the biggest irritations that existing users have had to deal with for years.
Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.
Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.


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Third-party repair stores are a common option if you drop or break your smartphone, but Apple is reportedly not a fan of these alternative repair options. Apple is one of several high-profile companies that have been lobbying against a New York state bill that would make it easier to independent stores and users to repair devices. According to Motherboard, the Fair Repair Act would have companies sell replacement parts and tools to everyone, bans software locks that would limit repairs and, in some cases, have companies provide repair guides publicly. However, Apple and other companies have come out aggressively against the proposed legislation. Along with Apple, other companies who have lobbied against the Fair Repair Act include Toyota, Caterpillar and Verizon.
May-19-2017, 21:10:06 GMT


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A leading technology transfer centre has joined forces with a local food network to market the first Yorkshire grown tomatoes of the year.
Sunstream midi plum tomatoes have been grown at Selby based Stockbridge Technology Centre and will be marketed by members of the East Yorkshire Local Food Network (EYLFN) to its customers throughout Yorkshire.
Nigel Bartle, chair of the tomato Growers Association and board member of the EYLFN, is delighted with the collaboration: “The first tomatoes from Stockbridge’s new research facility were harvested in time for Christmas and have been very well received due to their exceptional, just-picked taste. Sunstream is a lovely variety, with a deep red colour, but most importantly, that home grown flavour.
They were grown in a research glasshouse that is testing the potential of energy efficient LED lights to allow crops to be UK grown for superior freshness and taste.”
Stockbridge Technology Centre science director Martin McPherson added: “This is a great example of us carrying out world leading research and development, but giving everyone the chance to participate by using a local network of independent producers and caterers to deliver fresh, local food.”
Yorkshire tomatoes will be available from many EYLFN retailers* and from Delifresh, the sole distributor to the catering trade.
Stockbridge Technology Centre is an independent, not for profit organisation that is wholly owned by the UK horticultural industry and is a centre of excellence in technology transfer to agriculture and horticulture.
It leads the way in research into LED lighting and the new facility for tall crops such as tomatoes complements an existing facility looking at benches or layers of crops that could be a model for urban farms of the future.
Established in 2010, The East Yorkshire Local Food Network champions the wide range of delicious food and drink available in and around East Yorkshire for the benefit of local food and drink businesses and communities and currently has 120 members.


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Salmon is good for you — that part we know.
“Fish is one of the few animal foods consistently linked to health benefits, and salmon is at the top of my list when I recommend fish to people,” said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a distinguished professor and the director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University.
But choosing which type to eat for your health — sockeye or coho, wild or farmed — isn’t so obvious. Researchers have found that the nutritional value of salmon can vary depending on the species. And there is a consumer perception that farmed and wild-caught salmon differ in terms of their nutrients and levels of contaminants — beliefs that research partly supports.
From healthy fats to heavy metals, here are answers to all your salmon-related questions.
What’s so great about salmon?
Dr. Mozaffarian highlighted omega-3 fatty acids — specifically DHA and EPA — as one of salmon’s distinctive nutritional attributes. Salmon packs more DHA and EPA omega-3s than almost any other food, apart from other fatty fish such as herring and sardines.
Studies have consistently linked the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids from seafood to lower rates of stroke and heart disease. Research suggests these fatty acids reduce arterial stiffness, which is associated with high blood pressure, and they may also have anti-inflammatory effects that could be protective against obesity and Type-2 diabetes.
Dr. Mozaffarian also said that omega-3s are essential to early life brain development, and emerging evidence suggests that consuming them regularly may guard against age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
While the human body is able to make some DHA and EPA on its own, eating foods high in these omega-3s can help ensure the body and brain get what they need, he said. The American Heart Association recommends eating a 3-ounce serving of fish (particularly fatty fish, like salmon) at least twice a week.
While many supplements contain omega-3s, there’s evidence that getting these fats from seafood may be superior, perhaps because there are compounds in fish meat that help prevent omega-3s from breaking down during digestion.
In addition, experts say that salmon contains other nutrients, such as protein, selenium and iodide, that may support or augment the healthy effects of these fats. “The focus is usually on omega-3s, but it’s the whole package that makes salmon so healthy,” said Matthew Sprague, a lecturer in nutrition at the University of Stirling Institute of Aquaculture in the United Kingdom.
Is one type healthier than another?
“There are so many different options in the marketplace, it can be confusing,” said Stefanie Colombo, an associate professor and research chair in aquaculture nutrition at Dalhousie University in Canada.
In an attempt to clear up some of that confusion, Dr. Colombo examined the nutritional values of the types of salmon available to consumers. “The main finding of our work was that there’s not much difference between wild and farmed,” she said.
While wild sockeye and wild chinook — two of the most commonly sold species — were the most “nutrient dense,” her study also found that farmed Atlantic salmon only had slightly lower levels of omega-3s, proteins and other healthful nutrients. Wild Pacific pink salmon tended to have less of these nutrients than the other types, regardless if they were farmed or wild.
The nutritional figures in Dr. Colombo’s study were averages, however. Depending on factors such as the type of feed given to farmed salmon, or the time of year a wild salmon is caught, she said, the levels of healthy fats or other nutrients can differ from fish to fish.
Dr. Colombo added that “all the salmon we looked at was very nutritious.”
What about mercury and other contaminants? Dr. Colombo said her paper did find some differences among types: Farmed Atlantic salmon, for example, tended to have lower mercury levels than wild-caught varieties. However, all the samples contained levels of mercury far below international safety standards. “Even if you ate salmon every day, mercury is not something you should be concerned about,” she said.
The same can be said for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other contaminants that sometimes turn up in seafood. Research has found that salmon, whether wild or farmed, does not contain harmful levels of these toxins. That’s partly because it doesn’t live long enough to absorb a lot of them, Dr. Mozaffarian said. 多氯聯苯(PCB)和海鲜中有时含有的其他污染物也是如此。研究发现，不管是野生的还是养殖的三文鱼，这些毒素都没有达到有害水平。莫扎法里安说，部分原因在于三文鱼寿命没有长到能大量吸收这些毒素的地步。
For those concerned about the ecological impact of their food choices, salmon comes with some baggage; both the overfishing of wild species and farming-related pollutants are ongoing concerns. But experts said that all types of salmon outperform most animal sources of protein, in terms of environmental footprint.
When buying salmon, Dr. Colombo recommended looking for label certifications from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP). “If the salmon is certified, that should give you more confidence it has been sustainably and ethically sourced,” she said.
Above all, the experts affirmed that all salmon is good for you, and agonizing over a choice isn’t necessary: “Assuming you like the flavor,” Dr. Mozaffarian said, “it’s really the perfect fish.”


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DeviceAnywhere, the company that specializes in providing web-based, interactive mobile phone models, has just announced that the T-Mobile G1 is now available for virtual testing and development. The T-Mobile G1 is the first, and by many accounts still the best, Android handset to hit market. And, with HTC expecting to push many more G1’s out the door before the end of 2009, it stands to reason that DeviceAnywhere would support the G1.
DeviceAnywhere users can “test, monitor, and develop for the Android G1… from anywhere in the world,” and can “interact with the G1 as they would if the device were in their hands. This includes interacting with the device’s touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard, using the one-click Google Search feature, and accessing the device’s high-speed 3.5G network connection and 3.2-megapixel camera.” DeviceAnywhere also offers virtualized models of the iPhone 3G and BlackBerry Bold, giving customers a chance to compare the handsets side-by-side, all from the convenience of their home computer.
DeviceAnywhere boasts a collection of over 1,500 physical handsets that are connected to live networks – in the case of the G1, it’s connected to T-Mobile’s network. The handsets can be accessed and tested via a remote web connection, allowing developers and interested consumer to play with a device and ensure that it meets their needs and objectives. Users are invited to sign up for an account that includes three free hours of “play time” with DeviceAnywhere’s device portfolio.


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Stac has introduced a set of backup and disaster recovery software aimed at exploiting the Internet and Intranets, to erode market share from competitors Cheyenne, Seagate and MacAfee.
The Replica suite of products includes agent technology and will reduce the amount of time spent backing up files in large corporations, according to Tom Toperczer, product manager at Stac US. He said: ?The leader position in the backup market has changed several times in the last 10 years. We believe that the Internet features of our product will give us a lead over our competitors.?
Products in the set include Backup for Netware, an entry level product that includes server backup, and file and volume restore, using a Windows front end.
Stac has also released a cut-down version of Replica, which people can download for nothing from its Web site at http://www.stac.com. Backup for Netware costs #159 while its Intranetwork edition costs #750 for a host server. Stac will also introduce a Windows NT version of the software before summer.
BT wants to make the public switched telephone network history within eight years
Personal data being purloined by third parties via Facebook Login API
MacOS and iOS are better off apart, says CEO Tim Cook
Or they'll no longer be entitled to updates and bug patches


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A Georgia-based poultry company has expanded a recall of its ready-to-eat (RTE) meals from stores, citing concerns over a bacterium found in samples that could lead to a serious infection if consumed.
The company, Tip Top Poultry, initially issued a nationwide recall on September 28 of all of its RTE products produced between January 21 and September 24, after food samples sent to Canada tested positive for a bacterium called Listeria monocytogenes.
Tip Top Poultry added additional products to the recall list yesterday, according to WFTS-TV. It includes chicken salad, pasta, spring rolls, wraps and other products. The products were sold in some locations of Aldi, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Piggly Wiggly and other supermarkets. A full list of stores affected by the recall can be found here.
As of this writing, no one has been declared ill due to eating a Tip Top Poultry product with the bacterium. However, eating food that has Listeria monocytogenes can lead to a bacterial infection known as listeria or listeriosis that mainly affects “older adults, persons with weakened immune systems and pregnant women and their newborns,” according to a news release from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Listeria has the potential to cause a plethora of difficulties for someone who is infected, especially if it spreads outside of the gastrointestinal tract and becomes an invasive infection. It can cause muscle aches, headaches, fever, loss of balance, stiff, and diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems, according to the USDA.
It can also cause “miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn” in pregnant women, the news release read.
About 1,600 people in the U.S. become infected with listeria every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The infection can be treated with antibiotics.
The USDA provided a full list of the products that were recalled and advised those who have purchased them to not consume them but rather throw them in the trash or return them to the location where they were purchased.
An outbreak of listeria in the U.S. lasted from November 2016 to September 2019 and affected 10 people in five states, according to the CDC. Every infected person was hospitalized, and one person died from complications resulting from the infection, according to a CDC investigation that concluded on September 26, just two days before Tip Top Poultry announced its initial recall.
The outbreak of listeria that the investigation examined was caused by consumption of infected deli meat and cheeses, according to the CDC. The investigation did not identify a “single, common supplier of deli products” as the source of the outbreak.
The post Concerns over bacteria prompt expanded recall for a company’s ready-to-eat chicken products appeared first on Newsweek.


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L’Oreal SA is to pay a California-based startup $91.4 million for stealing its trade secrets, breaching a contract and infringing two patents related to a popular system that protects hair during bleaching treatments, a federal jury decided on August 12, 2019, in the case of Liqwd Inc. v. L’Oreal USA Inc.
The jury, in Wilmington, Delaware, also found that L’Oreal’s acts were intentional, meaning the judge can substantially increase the damages if he chooses.
Olaplex LLC had accused the French giant of stealing the secrets in a meeting in California in 2015, when the companies were in talks for L’Oreal to buy the startup. L’Oreal, during a weeklong trial, said it independently conceived the use of a critical acid in August 2014 and developed its products on its own.
US District Judge Joseph Bataillon ruled in late June that L’Oreal’s products had infringed the two patents at issue. One question the jury had to decide was whether the patents were valid to begin with. Another was whether L’Oreal had stolen the trade secrets. A third was whether it had broken nondisclosure agreements relating to them. The answer to all three was yes.
The startup has no physical store and does little traditional advertising. Yet its core products, launched on the company’s website in June 2014 after a trial by top hair quickly built a following. It says they strengthen and reconnect protein bonds during bleaching.
L’Oreal, whose hair-dyeing innovations go back more than a century, reported more than $30 billion in sales for last year. The product lines in question, which all involve the three-step hair-protection system, are just one part of a division with about $3.7 billion in sales, or 12% of L’Oreal’s 2018 revenue, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. But they are sold under the prestigious Matrix, Redken and L’Oreal Professionnel labels, important to the overall brand’s identity.
By November 2014, one of the largest wholesale salon and beauty-supply distributors in the country, SalonCentric, had put Olaplex on U.S. shelves, propelling it to an early success. SalonCentric is owned by L’Oreal, which noticed the product’s performance and buzz on social media and tried to hire away the two scientists who invented the product, according to Olaplex’s lawsuit.
Outsiders to the industry, the pair had worked out of the requisite California-startup garage, pouring their product from five-gallon buckets into small bottles, and decided to stay put.


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With Jeremy Clarkson’s new farming show, I Bought A Farm (working title) officially being confirmed by himself and Amazon Prime Video, we can’t wait to get stuck in to the farming action. And it seems as though Jeremy is feeling the same way, as he has proposed plans for a farm shop on his estate which he’s nicknamed, Diddly Squat Farm, which sits in the Cotswolds.
His neighbours aren’t overly happy about this decision however, and have been pushing to get the plans denied. Parish councillor Tony Allan told the Oxford Mail:
“The potential impact on the village store and butchers is a concern. People move to these kind of villages because they like them as they were.
“We have seen new money coming into the Cotswolds such as Soho Farmhouse and Daylesford organic farm shop and they risk changing the character of the communities.”
On top of this shop, Clarkson also wants to build a farming shed and a carpark which he will use for farming and ‘film-making’.
In a statement to the publication, the TV personality said: “[He’s] not doing anything wrong or anything that would hurt the village but didn’t blame residents for their concerns, otherwise what is the point in planning permission.”
If Jeremy built a shop, would you buy from him? Stupid question… of course we would.♦ Follow Grand Tour Nation on Google News


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Apple is believed to have poached key staff from Radio 1 and BBC Introducing.
George Ergatoudis, the head of music at Radio 1, has called Apple a "huge disruptive monster" at the technology company poached a number of key staff from the British corporation. Speaking at a global conference in Los Angeles about the issues facing radio, Ergatoudis said Apple's "piles of cash" could change the industry forever.
Zane Lowe jumped ship from BBC Radio 1 to Apple
The US giant is to announce plans for a streaming service in June, though the BBC boss said he believes Apple is building a service with a "huge amount of learning from traditional radio" - an opinion strengthened by the company's poaching of Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe in March. Apple is believed to have also hired Lowe's former producer and a number of senior staff from Radio 1 and BBC Introducing.
Ergatoudis added that the streaming market is already saturated and that these services are "the sharks taking our audience away". He warned that Apple will be the biggest threat to radio stations globally when they finally announce their plans.
BBC Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper, speaking alongside Ergatoudis, spoke about Radio 1's commitment to its YouTube channel, saying, "Listeners spend three hours a week less with the station on average.
"Where do they spend time? On YouTube. The answer is to visualise a lot of our content."
Cooper also insisted that content has to be meaningful and engaging and will include the usual live performances but also unexpected one, too.
"When you get famous people to do something different, that's great content."


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We know that your week can get busy, and the time you have to catch up on the news from around the retail loss prevention industry is often stolen away by other things. That’s why the LPM team sifts through headlines from all over the country to bring only the most relevant LP news to you here, in our special weekly news round-up—the perfect bookend to a productive week.
Here’s What You May Have Missed
The California Highway Patrol’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force made more than 1,000 arrests in the first 11 months of 2023, marking a 109 percent year-over-year increase, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Target’s Reasons for Closing 9 Stores Questioned
On Sept. 26, Target set off a national firestorm when it said it would close nine stores in four states because theft and ORC had made them too dangerous to run. Now, CNBC is saying that the locations it shuttered saw fewer reported crimes than others it chose to keep open.
Serial Shoplifter Arrested Then Released on $500 Bail Despite Multiple Warrants
Law enforcement is looking for a serial shoplifter after he was released from jail on just $500 bail. Target alone blames him for more than $125,000 in losses, and he had warrants in at least three counties when Minneapolis police arrested him on Thanksgiving.
Nike Files Lawsuit Against Social Media Influencer for Endorsing Counterfeit Products
Nike has filed a trademark lawsuit against social media influencers Nicholas Tuinenberg and Eben “Cedaz” Fox for allegedly promoting counterfeit Nike merchandise to their followers.
Woman Arrested for $8M Theft Ring Targeting Ulta Beauty Stores
A San Diego County woman has been arrested for her role in leading a nationwide shoplifting ring worth more than $8 million in beauty products. She paid as many as 12 people to steal from Ulta Beauty stores, as well as other retail outlets.
How LA Police Are Fighting Back Against ORC
While flash mob robberies are all over social media this holiday season, the Los Angeles Police Department has officers working around the clock to stop the organized rings behind these heists.


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Reflecting its status as de facto broadcast service, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone announced yesterday the company had changed its signature question from "What are you doing?" to "What's Happening?"
"The fundamentally open model of Twitter created a new kind of information network and it has long outgrown the concept of personal status updates," wrote Stone on the company blog. "Twitter helps you share and discover what's happening now among all the things, people and events you care about."
I'm guessing the Twitter folks probably didn't spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to hire a corporate image firm to come up with its new question. But you figure they must've kicked around a few ideas before settling on the not-so-sexy "What's Happening?" Maybe, "What's going on?" No, Marvin Gaye owns that. "SUP?" Appropriately brief but too text-messaging. "WTF?" Too vulgar. "Waazzup?" Too last decade.
Whatever the company chose as its new slogan probably wouldn't do much to dampen the buzz around Twitter. In fact, it's going against the current branding zeitgeist highlighted by Yahoo's "It's You!" and HTC's "You" campaigns emphasizing personalization. Twitter is saying "enough about you." Its rephrased question acknowledges no one cares you just had a bad airline meal, but if you just saw a plane go down in the Hudson, that's what the microblogging service is about.
And Twitter's "rebranding" cost a lot less than the $100 million Yahoo is spending on its own marketing makeover.


text: The Jiangmen government’s recently launched campaign to develop its nighttime economy and stimulating growth affected by the coronavirus pandemic is a step in the right direction, say analysts but some residents say the programme falls short of expectations. Jiangmen, a city of 4.63 million people in Guangdong province that is also part of Beijing’s Greater Bay Area development zone, launched the programme that runs up to late October to “develop its nighttime economy and drive consumption upgrade”, according to a notice on the government’s website. The government is handing out over 10 million yuan (US$1.45 million) worth of vouchers and discount coupons and organising dozens of events and activities, such as food and barbecue festivals and live-stream shopping, to encourage residents to spend more on their evening out. Some 1,000 businesses have agreed to take part in the programme and the operating hours of commercial streets have also been extended. “By organising this, the local government will be able to boost market confidence as well as grow the size of Jiangmen’s nighttime economy,” said Bryan Chan, executive director of advisory services for South China at Colliers International. However “a lot of people are still wary about going out to spend after the outbreak of the coronavirus,” said Chan. In August last year, the State Council, China’s cabinet, listed 20 measures to help boost domestic consumption , from improving commercial pedestrian streets to encouraging nighttime businesses. China’s nighttime economy accounted for around 60 per cent of the country’s total retail sales in 2019, and could surpass 30 trillion yuan by the end of 2020, according to Chinese research firm iiMedia. “The nighttime economy of Chinese cities has become an important indicator of their soft power … and an important force in supporting their consumption upgrade and promoting economic growth,” according to a JLL report published in December. Colliers’ Chan noted that while many first-tier mainland cities and even Hong Kong have a very vibrant nighttime economy, it is relatively small in third-tier cities like Jiangmen. He added that Jiangmen’s current nighttime economy is relatively small and expanding it to a citywide level can help boost its economy and image. Total retail sales in Jiangmen fell 8.6 per cent to 62 billion yuan in the first seven months of the year, compared to the same period in 2019. The city’s gross domestic product, hit by the coronavirus pandemic, fell 11.5 per cent year on year in the first quarter this year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The government is hoping live streaming on platforms like Taobao Live, JD.com and Pinduoduo will help entrepreneurs and promote local products. But some residents could not care less, pointing to the lack of marketing efforts on the government’s behalf to boost excitement. “Not many people around seem to be talking about the events,” said Ye Mingsi, a Jiangmen resident in her 20s. Ye said she has not eaten out since the coronavirus outbreak, pointing out that many like her may not want to leave home to avoid contracting Covid-19. In late April, Jiangmen launched another programme to drive direct consumption by more than 500 million yuan by issuing 900,000 electronic consumption coupons worth 56.7 million yuan.


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Zambia’s president Edgar Lungu has officially commissioned the Zambian Breweries’ new US$33 million malting plant in the capital Lusaka. Construction of the first malting plant in the country started in January 2015 and was completed within three years. It is designed for a production of 15,000 tons of malt made from locally grown barley. Two thirds of the production will be used for the production of so called “clear beer” in the company’s two breweries, while one third will be exported. The new plant can store up to 15,000 tons of barley and malt in 10 silos and will recruit some 50 permanent workers.
“This malting plant is a concrete demonstration of the confidence that Zambian Breweries and its shareholders have in the long-term growth of the economy and the stability of the tax environment,” said Zambian Breweries Country Director Annabelle Degroot. Last month, the brewery already commissioned a new US$2 million packaging line at the company’s Mungwi Road plant in Lusaka.
This and other investments are following government’s decision to reduce excise tax on clear beer from 60 percent to 40 percent in the 2016 Budget. The lower tax reduced smuggling beer into the country from abroad and is therefore preventing cannibalization of local production through illegal imports.
“At the time that clear beer excise was reduced to 40 percent, some people were worried about such a move, but that bold policy by government has proved to be absolutely the right decision and a win-win for government and business. We commend and thank government for their forward looking policies,” said Degroot in the presence of President Edgar Lungu.
Zambian Breweries was a subsidiary of SABMiller but changed ownership last year with the takeover of SABMiller by its larger rival AB InBev. Main beer brands include Mosi, Castle and Castle Lite lagers.


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The Ford Territory will receive a final visual and equipment tweak this year before it’s ushered off to great scrapyard in the sky, and this is it.
Aston Martin has confirmed that it will make a sharped-edged Lagonda sedan patented after polarising 1976 model.
Ford has finally revealed the front-end look of its final Falcon XR6 and XR8 sedans, which will go on sale in the final quarter of 2014.
The Opel/Vauxhall Ampera will not live into a second generation, although it’s unclear when it will be withdrawn from sale across Europe.
Ford’s teaser campaign for the facelifted Falcon continues apace, with the XR8 teased for a second time. This time in a video.
The XL30 Toyota Sienna has been given a mild visual refresh and some new tech to pacify kids in the back seats, including a dual-view rear screen.
Mazda has revealed the third generation Mazda 2 (fourth generation JDM Mazda Demio), which sits on lightweight chassis, and looks like shrunken Mazda 3.
Fitted with optional black carbon fibre highlights, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster comes over all brooding and sinister.
Ford Australia has released a second teaser image of its final ever locally made Falcon sedan. This time the image is of the car’s tail-lights.
Nissan has detailed plans for its 2015 model year range, and it doesn’t include room for the quirky Nissan Cube.


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CNN announced that CNN+ will debut on March 29, 2022 in the United States.
CNN+ will be available for purchase at $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. Early subscribers that sign up within the first four weeks after March 29 directly with CNN+ will have access to the “Deal of a Lifetime,” or 50% off the monthly plan – for life – as long as they remain subscribers.
“March 29 will be an important day in the history of CNN and CNN+ will be a critical part of our future,” said Andrew Morse, CNN EVP, Chief Digital Officer and Head of CNN+. “I am so proud of the work our teams have done to ensure our world class journalism and storytelling comes to life on this new platform. We can’t wait for our subscribers to experience it.”
CNN+ was announced in July 2021 as set to debut in Q1 of 2022. The product offers subscribers three types of content: live, on-demand and interactive programming, including a whole new way to engage with CNN’s world class journalism and storytelling.
“We’re excited for everyone to experience CNN+ and see what we’ve been working on,” said Alex MacCallum, CNN Worldwide Head of Product and General Manager for CNN+. “We have a really compelling content offering with CNN’s world class journalists and are confident in the product offered at this compelling price.”
CNN will have a single CNN app that will offer access to both CNN+ and TVE experiences, with easy navigation between the two. In the single CNN app, CNN+ customers can explore a range of new live, on-demand and interactive content through editorially-curated and personalized experiences that suit their interests. Pay TV customers can also enjoy the TVE experience that they’ve known for years, including access to CNN’s linear TV feeds of CNN, CNN International and HLN as well as a substantial on-demand offering, which will be available exclusively to pay TV customers.
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Collect-Aire is back with two new announcements. They have restocked the F3H-2M/N Demon and their new E2C Hawkeye will begin shipment in April.
Cobra Company is back again-this time with a new release in their 72nd scale line of aircraft detail sets. The new parts are for the Airfix and MPC 1/72nd Scale FW-189.
By now you've probably seen or heard about this long-awaited kit. The expected delivery date of May is fast approaching and the hype for this kit is really picking up.
I'm a little late one this one but I found the latest aircraft photoetch releases by Eduard today. Lots to choose from including express masks, great photoetch and two new plastic kits.
After some delays the long awaited release of the 1/72 EC-135N/E ARIA/ALOTS is here. Also called a "Droop-Snoot" or "Snoopy Nose", only 5000 kits of these kits are being produced which is made from a never released ERTL KC-135 kit.
After being out of stock for a while, the YF-23A Black Widow II is now back in stock over at Collect-Aire Models. This is a hot seller and is hard to keep in stock according to Collect-Air.
We received an email today from the fine Bobs over at TwoBobs announcing the impending release of eight new decal sheets. They have received the 1/48 scale sheets from their publisher and they may be available for purchase as early as this weekend.
Following in the footsteps of their previous releases of 1/32 scale fighters, Tamiya has updated their original F-15E Strike Eagle kit which is now called the 'Bunker Buster'.
Following on the heels of their very successful F-16B lithograph, TwoBobs has followed it up with one of my personal favorites-the F/A-18C "All American Bug" of the VFA-146 Blue Diamonds. They are now taking pre-orders for this awesome looking litho.
Hello Folks, after giving us new prices for shipment of orders, TwoBobs will be releasing some new decals for modern aircraft in 1:48 scale.
The folks at Platzdarm.com have sent over a list of some of the newer and upcoming releases for AIRES. Some items include a cockpit set and engine detal set (sold separately) for the Tamiya Me 262A kit. Read on for the whole list.
Today I received another email from Twobobs Aviation Graphics announcing a new incentive starting on Monday, January 13.
Rest Models has two new pre-WWII figher aircraft kits which are exclusively available at HobbyTerra.com. Both are 1/48 scale and pre-WWII era Soviet planes designed by Polikarpov. One, the I-15 also played a role in the Spanish Civil War.
RODEN officially announces the release of the following new products in January 2003. Roden specializes in 1/72 and 1/48 scale WWI aircraft, but also manufacturers other aircraft and a 1/72 Soviet IS-3 tank.
Academy has announced the new release of two models on their website. They are the P-47N Special "Expected Goose" and F-51D Mustang "Korean War".
The end of December will see the release of the Anatov An-71 AEWR aircraft. The kit is in 1/72 scale and manufactured by Russian Project.
Not to leave you Diorama Modelers out of the mix, I've gotten my hands on the latest releases from Verlinden for you as well. Among them are a castle remains and park wall materials.
With the month of December comes some new releases from Eduard Model Accessories. Included are new kits, photoetch sets and more.
With Christmas Time now upon us, Hasegawa has given us the oportunity to buy some special limited release products.
Coming soon from Twobobs are two new decal sets. They are the 'Whiskeys in the Mix' for the AH-1 Cobra and the 'All-American Bug' of VFA-146 for the F-18.
Just in time for the holidays, Collect-Aire
is taking pre-orders on the Thunderscreech. Deliveries will begin in early January.
Eduard Model Accessories has announced their new releaes for November. Heading the list is a new product line at Eduard-modern jets.
Just in time for Christmas shopping, Collect-Aire Models has announced that they are re-stocking some kits that many are waiting on. Collect-Aire has been making limited-run, custom-built kits for the discerning modeler for 15 years. Their kits are 100% resin, often containing metal and photo-etch parts.
RODEN, the leading Ukrainian scale model kit manufacturer, has confirmed three upcoming releases for November which includes the long awaited Gloster Gladiator MK1.
Cobra Company is at it again with a new resin detail set. The cockpit set is designed to fit the ESCI and Italeri 1/48 Mirage F1 and is available immediately.
Want something new in your WWII A/C collection? Buy the PZL P-11 C Polish fighter - first in battle with german fighters in September 1939 , made in 1:48 scale from Mirage-Hobby .
Academy has confirmed two upcoming releases on their forums. The two kits mentioned are a 1/32 F-18 Hornet and a 1/72 F-8 Crusader.
Want to build aircraft in 1/72 scale that were/are engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom? Two Bobs has stepped forward to offer more Enduring Freedom decal sets in 1:72 scale. These sets are for the same squadrons that are produced in 1:48 scale.
Mike Grant Decals has released a new range of 1/144 scale aircraft markings. Aircraft for which these markings are to be used for include the B-24 Liberator, B-29 Superfortress and MIG-23 Hellfighter.
The Polish company "JADAR" is releasing a 7 barelled 30 mm GAU-8 Cannon for the mighty 1:32 Trumpeter Warthog.
Trumpeter has released news concerning kits to be released later this year.
If you've been wanting to build an aircraft precisely modeled after those flying missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom or in response to the World Trade Center attacks-now's your chance. Twobobs Aviation Graphics has decal packages available in 1/48 scale for those squadrons flying missions at home or abroad after September 11, 2001.
Verlinden is releasing some great add-ons for tankers in November. Items include; an M5 Recon/Command interior & exterior for the Tamiya kit, stowage pieces for the M5, US tanker figures reading mail, and other 1/35 scale WWII items. Civil War fans will also enjoy the 8 inch Armstrong Rifle Confederate with a figure included.
Amtech has recently announced their upcoming releases for 2003. All of the kits are manufactured with new steel tooling and etched panel lines.
Ukrainian manufacturer OKB-144 has just released a great model kit in1/144 scale, a Soviet three-engined civil aircraft. This kit will be produced as "limited edition".
Announcing Quartermaster's Depot
! The newest scale model accessories store on the Internet. We have just opened for business and currently offer a line of American,
British, Canadian and German Second World War posters, D-Day Maps, Modern Maps,
WWII Newspapers, WWII German Magazines, and three styles of Camouflage nets, all
in 1/35 scale.
Cobra Company has relased the 540 Rotor Replacement Set. This resin replacement set replaces the improper rotor system used on the Italeri 1/72 UH-1C (kit #050).
Pacific Coast Models has announced the upcoming release of their latest kit, the 1/48 scale Macchi C.200 serie VII-one of Italy's most widely used fighters. This is a plastic injection kit produced with newly designed molds.
TwoBobs Aviation Graphics has announced the release of a new product line in the form of Limited Edition Lithographs. The initial offering is an F-16B from Edwards Air Force Base.
Following the successful release of the 1/48 Messerschmitt Me262 A-2a w/ Kettenkraftrad, Tamiya is proud to present yet another aircraft/ground vehicle set: the 1/48 scale F4U-1D Corsair (Item 61061) with the all new 1/48 “Moto Tug.”
In war, there are secrets that need to be kept - and heroes that need to keep them.
On December 8, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan. For the next several years, U.S. forces were fully engaged in battle throughout the Pacific, taking over islands one by one in a slow progression towards mainland Japan. During this brutal campaign, the Japanese were continually able to break coded military transmissions, dramatically slowing U.S. progress.
Hasegawa has several interesting aircraft kits scheduled for release in June. First off is a 1/48 scale SBD-3 Dauntless from the battle of Midway (item number 09430). Next is the P-38L Lightning flown by Maj. Bong. Also in 1/48 scale (part number 09429). The Japanese forces of WWII is represented with the Mitsubishi A6M5b Zero Fighter, Type 52 OTSU. This 1/48 scale kit represents a plane from the 166th Fighter Squadron (part no. 09428). Read on for the Modern releases.
On 14 Nov.1965 in the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam, more than 400 troopers from the U.S. 7th Air Cavalry found themselves outnumbered. Nearly 2000 enemy soldiers surrounded them in a small clearing called Landing Zone, and they had to fight like they'd never fought before.
From USA Network
Combat Missions pits four elite squads comprised of six non-active military and law enforcement professionals against one another. Comprised of Navy SEALs, SWAT, CIA, Marine Recon, Delta Force, and Green Berets, squad members must use their strength, skills, and wits to compete for bounty — and, more importantly, for honor and pride. Check the USA site
From The History Channel
On October 4, 1993, the world was witness to the graphic images of dead American soldiers being dragged through the streets in Somalia. What had been planned as a 30-minute military mission had erupted into one of the most intense gun battles of recent U.S. history.
Based on Mark Bowden's best-selling book Black Hawk Down, takes an in-depth look at the Battle of Mogadishu by presenting the first-hand accounts of Army Rangers, Delta Force members, UN officials, and Somali militiamen. Bowden shares his knowledge and research throughout the program, guiding the story from the arrival of the UN peacekeeping force through the events of October 4, 1993.
For encore showtimes please check the listings at the History Channel
There are four new items from Plus Model for October, a large farmhouse, an air conditioner unit and more.


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Lehman Brothers and Credit Suisse are providing financing for B&G Foods' approximately $200 million acquisition of the Cream of Wheat and Cream of Rice hot cereal brands from Kraft Foods Global. David Wenner, B&G ceo, expects the acquisition will be financed with an expansion to its existing $50 million credit facility from the 2005 acquisition of the Grandma's Molasses brand from Mott's.
The existing credit, also led by Lehman, consists of a $25 million revolver and a $25 million term loan. Wenner expects the size to be increased to $250 million to fund the acquisition and refinance the existing debt. Exact terms of the financing and when it will be brought to market have not been disclosed. Bankers at Lehman and CS declined comment.
"We are always looking at acquisitions," Wenner said in regards to future plans. "This is the ninth one we are on and we're very good at it." Lehman also led a deal for the Parsippany, N.J.-based company in 2003, which backed the acquisition of Nestlé Prepared Food Co.'s Ortega brand for $116 million (LMW, 9/1/2003). That credit includes a five-year, $50 million revolver with a $5 million sublimit for letters of credit. "We've done a tremendous amount of work with [Lehman]," Wenner said. "They have financed deals for us the past 10 years." B&G sells and distributes a diversified portfolio of foods under brands such as Emeril's, Ortega and Polaner.
Moody's Investors Service placed the company's ratings on review for downgrade following the announcement. The agency commented the B2 corporate family rating could be confirmed if the transaction does not cause higher leverage or cash flow instability. Standard & Poor's placed its senior unsecured debt on CreditWatch negative.


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Sunday, September 12, 2010
Keanan Duffty Renegade Fashion Show
From Women's Wear Daily 09/11/2010
WHAT PERMIT? It only took a New York minute for the police at Lincoln Center to shoo away Keanan Duffty's "guerrilla fashion show." Duffty, who is relaunching his label for spring, foresaw that. But in that short time, the designer and his five models — silently carrying signs and looking very young rocker in officer jackets, plaid shirts and skinny pants — managed to attract a crowd on the plaza, which is, after all, full of people just waiting for something to photograph. Unfazed, Keanan and the models paraded onward to 63rd Street for a bit longer. No budget, no permission, no problem.


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A Hong Kong publisher of political commentary said it is being targeted by several bookstores with strong ties to mainland China.
Up Publications Ltd. has been hit by massive book returns from distributors in the Sino United Publishing Group since December, Ming Pao Daily reported Monday, citing Carmen Kwong, the publisher’s chief editor.
Kwong identified the book sellers as Joint Publishing, Chung Wa and Commercial Press.
A Sino United Publishing spokesman refused to comment on individual book returns, saying these decisions are made based on market demand.
Bookstores typically keep newly published titles for up to 12 months, Kwong said.
However, Sino United Publishing returned several hundred books, including non-sensitive titles, such as those about dining and pets, without giving a reason, she said.
Kwong said the move will hurt Up Publications’ finances.
A Chung Wa employee said bookstores backed by Chinese interests will have a hard time selling books supporting or advocating any civil disobedience in Hong Kong.
Shiu Ka-chun, a lecturer of social work in Hong Kong Baptist University, said Sino United and Singapore-based Page One Group did not carry his book on last year’s democracy protests.
It is rare for a bookstore to return almost all books from a single publisher, although it is not uncommon to see sluggish books sent back to their publishers, Pang Chi-ming, president of publisher Subculture, said.
Up Publications was founded in 2006 by Tony Tsoi, political commentator Ivan Choy and Liang Wendao.
Many independent bookstores reported stellar sales of their books on political commentary.
Tsoi rose to fame after launching outspoken publisher House News in 2012, which he closed two years later, citing political pressure.
– Contact us at [email protected]


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The region’s top digital advertising talent was honoured last night at the second ever MENA Digital Awards ceremony, the culminating event of the only awards programme in the region dedicated to celebrating marketing in the digital industry. The glittering soiree that took place at the Westin hotel, Dubai, concluded the two-day Digital Media Forum (DMF) 2015, which had attracted 500 industry stakeholders from across the region and beyond to discuss the latest developments taking place across the digital landscape.
“The MENA Digital Awards is the only marketing industry awards programme in the region that focuses solely on the digital sector. It was established last year to honour success and excellence in the sector, thereby helping to promote the best in digital marketing planning, creativity, innovation, and effectiveness,” said Najla Semaan Mazboudi, Managing Director of Spot On Media Services and Events, owner and founder of DMF and the MENA Digital awards.
“This is the second ever MENA Digital Awards and follows on from last year’s highly successful event which set a template for recognising the very best marketing initiatives that harness the ever-increasing power of digital,” she added.
The MENA Digital Awards 2015 featured 14 categories, including 4 categories added this year to reflect the evolving digital platform across the region. There was also an award for Agency of the Year and Network of Year, based on a newly introduced winners’ points system. Voting took place across two rounds; a preliminary heat to determine shortlists and a final round to establish overall winners. All categories had been designed to be all-industry inclusive and not restricted purely to media companies, meaning that a variety of businesses from across sectors were eligible to enter.
Big winners on the night were Leo Burnett Mena, who scooped the Grand Prix Award through their impressive tally of awards in several categories; including two Golds in Digital Cause Marketing, a Gold in Best Digital PR, a Gold in Best Use Of Social Media, a Silver in Best Performance Campaign, a Bronze in Best Use of Video and a Bronze in Best Use of Mobile. Omnicom picked up the Network of the Year Awar, and OMD picked up the Agency of the year.
Other notable winners included Initiative Mena, who garnered two Silvers for their work for KFC under Best Application Mobile/Tablet and Best Use of Mobile, along with two Bronze under Best Integrated Media Campaign and Best Use of Video. Across the categories, Socialize Agency received two Golds, BBDO collected a Gold, three silvers and a Bronze and Proximity picked up a Gold, two Silvers and a Bronze. Other various precious metal awards under different categories went to UM MENA, Ogilvy, Buzzman, OMD MENA, PHD and Sama Dubai.
“It was an absolute honour and a pleasure to be asked to judge the MENA Digital Awards for 2015,” said Evan Welsh, Senior Director – Corporate Affairs, SAP, US “The standard was incredibly high, as I had expected, but as a jury panel, we had a strict set of guidelines that helped us greatly in our decision-making process. Personally, I was very impressed over the levels of creativity seen with all entrants and there were some tough calls to take,” he added.
“One of the main things we looked at was how well each agency made use of the full capabilities open to them for their particular campaign,” added Maria Lagutina, Digital Sales – eCommerce and Customer Experience EMEA Citibank, UK “The digital platform is such a rapidly developing one that the most dynamic of agencies were able to update their campaigns with new initiatives, something that garnered extra points. But all proved to be of a very high standard which shows just how far we have come in the space of a few years” she continued.
The MENA Digital Awards 2015 wrapped up this year’s DMF, which was held under the banner: ‘Digital Technology: Bringing the Future Closer.’ The instalment was the latest in the DMF programme that has grown significantly since its inception in 2011, when it was established in response to the increasing popularity of the digital platform for marketers. DMF Cairo was hosted for the first time in October last year, with DMF Jeddah planned to take place soon. The forum has established itself as a must-attend event on the calendar for industry professionals from across the region.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook put to rest today any doubt that Apple has had its engineers working round the clock to fix the bugs in the new Maps app in its iOS 6 mobile operating system.
“At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers,” Cook said today in a 219-word apology addressed “to our customers” and posted on the company’s web site. “With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better.”
Apple released the update to its mobile operating system Sept. 19, adding a new maps service that was built using its own data rather than relying on maps information from partner-turned-smartphone and tablet rival, Google. Users immediately began criticizing Apple’s app, calling it dumb, sad, awful” and annoying after getting incorrect directions, the lack of local public transit information and poor search results that don’t even deliver addresses in the right city. Photos of Apple’s maps showing distorted images are rapidly turning into humorously named slideshows, including a Tumblr called “The Apple iOS 6 Maps are amazing. Not.”
Forrester analyst Kerry Bodine speculated that the app would never have been released by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who she says understood the importance of putting the “customer experience first.”
"Steve Jobs defined a clear customer experience strategy for Apple: We will provide the most incredible possible experience and we will command a premium price for it. It’s what made Apple famous, and it’s what its legions of loyal customers – true Apple fans – across the world expect. And now, Apple has let them down,” said Bodine, author of Outside In, a book about improving customer experience.
"Jobs always put the customer experience first. If he were alive today, I’m positive he would have made the tough decision to prioritize the user experience over the urgency to include Apple Maps in iOS 6," she said. "The decision to move forward with a not-ready-for-primetime mapping app has the potential to erode the trust that Jobs built, and the Apple brand right along with it."
Cook, who took over as CEO in August 2011, said that more than 100 million iOS devices are using the new software and Maps app. That includes iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch users and owners of the new iPhone 5, which was released last week. Apple said customers bought more than 5 million iPhone 5’s in its opening weekend. The iPhone is the company's top money-maker, accounting for almost half of sales.
“iOS users with the new Maps have already searched for nearly half a billion locations," Cook wrote. "The more our customers use our Maps the better it will get and we greatly appreciate all of the feedback we have received from you.”
While Apple works on its improvements, Cook suggested that frustrated users seek out alternatives in the company’s App store, including Microsoft’s “Bing, MapQuest and Waze, or use Google or Nokia maps by going to their websites and creating an icon on your home screen to their web app.”
Even with the Maps misstep, financial analysts don’t believe it will put off buyers from taking home the iPhone 5. Ben Reitzes, an analyst with Barclays Capital, praised Cook for addressing the issue "a little faster than we expected."
“From time-to-time in prior editions of the iPhone, Apple has acknowledged product issues on its website and/or in a public forum (i.e. antenna, MobileMe) and then aggressively moved to rectify the problem. We think precedent will continue with Maps,” Reitzes told investors today. “We believe Apple will improve the maps application with a fleet of new engineers with prior experience. We would also point out, however, that Apple’s app does have a few advantages such as voice activated turn-by-turn navigation and Fly Over, a really neat new feature.”
“We believe demand for the new iPhone 5 remains robust, with sales only limited by component availability and supply chain constraints,” Reitzes said. He expects that Apple will sell 45.2 million iPhones in the quarter ending December, a 22 percent increase over last year, thanks to the iPhone 5.
Unfortunately, investors didn't' seem as impressed with Cook's apology. Apple's shares, which crossed $700 for the first time this month, closed down $14.22 or 2.1 percent, to $667.10 on the Nasdaq.