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Blockchain-as-a-service is the new trend in the business
Blockchain technology is more useful and powerful than any other centralized technologies. Naturally, the use cases of blockchain technology go beyond cryptocurrencies. Though blockchain technology comes with overarching potentials along with it dwells the scope of improvements that need to be done in order to make it a mainstream solution to many existing discrepancies. It is known to everyone that almost all the sectors found a problem-solving feature in the blockchain technology’s decentralized and distributed ledger feature of data storage but with the huge buzz about blockchain technology going around the world, there are some experts who have been calling the craze as just an initial hype which is not going to stand its ground for longer times.
What is BaaS (Blockchain as a Service)?
These claims of the blockchain, not immature though, have not stopped it from being adopted by many organizations and companies of different sectors. Therefore, there is an exponential rise in technology companies offering blockchain-as-service (BaaS). Microsoft’s ‘Azure’ and IBM’s ‘Hyperledger’ are a well-known example to quote.
Blockchain may have its drawbacks, but ignoring it may make many companies miss out a golden opportunity. Organizations adopting blockchain must thoroughly evaluate the pros and cons of this technology before its adoption. BaaS provides the new startups and companies to test the yet to be fully matured blockchain technology without actually being getting the risk of developing it themselves. Thus BaaS comes up as the risk-free version of Blockchain.
Bill Fearnley Jr, the IDC research director of Worldwide Blockchain strategies, stated, “One advantage of partnering with a BaaS provider is users can leverage the lessons learned by the provider to help make their systems more secure.”
Like ‘DealMate’ allows one to generate escrow smart contracts using the platform as Ethereum. ‘Waves’ let companies create, use and implement their tokens and in turn, allows them to hold ICO’s.
Many developers are generating their own decentralized apps on platforms such as Ethereum, Qtum, etc. But the problem of their scalability and saturation with growing demand has been a topic that even ethereum’s developers are addressing.
Currently, the network used by more than 900 decentralized apps and can handle 10 transactions per second. A sudden increase in usage of one or some of them can hamper the services of others. For instance, the chat service, KIK shifted its KIN token from ethereum to stellar because of CryptoKitties craze caused them a setback.
Have a strategy in place
Thus, application of technology in a more strategic and evaluative way is the crux of BaaS. With the rise of BaaS, the companies and startups are finding it easier to go according to their limited business budget, needs, and requirements.
To overcome the scalability and other discrepancies occurring during the application of blockchain, the users must make a strategy in detail which exactly means to know your own requirements and then going for BaaS that will suit it the best. The blockchain technology has an overwhelming potential but its adoption comes with some challenges which should be considered before implementation. Along with technical aspects, the employee education on blockchain and their effective adaptation to technological change is the best strategy of an hour.
As Fearnley says, “the challenge will be developing a staff to build out and maintain the network.”


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Image Source: Everett Collection
"Here's the mail, it never fails, it makes me wanna wag my tail. When it comes I wanna wail, 'MAILLLLLLLLLL!'" Well, have we got some mail for you, friends: beloved children's show Blue's Clues is officially getting the reboot treatment at Nickelodeon. That means that millennial parents will be able to share the '90s classic that they loved growing up with a whole new generation of little ones, just with a fresh twist.
There's no word yet about who will fill the shoes — err, green striped shirt — of memorable former host Steve (sorry, Joe!), but Deadline reports that casting will begin for the role in mid-April. And it's not just the host that will change in the reboot, either. Viacom's Nickelodeon Group president, Cyma Zarghami, told the publication:
"The new, modern version of Blue's Clues will capture all the original's creativity and visual identity for a whole new audience ready for its fun adventures and expertly designed problem-solving curriculum."
Essentially, there will be nostalgic elements of the '90s show that return in the new series, but it will be reinterpreted for today's kids. Does that mean Blue will bid adieu to mail time and have a new method of communication that will make her want to wag her tail? We'll know soon enough!
Image Source: Nickelodeon

domain: news


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PEORIA, Ill. (CBS.MW) - Investors weren't very hungry for Caterpillar Tuesday after the company missed Wall Street estimates on the first quarter - but reaffirmed profit targets going forward.
Before the bell, the heavy equipment maker posted net income of $80 million, or 23 cents per share - less than half the $162 million and 47 cents of a year ago and a penny below the consensus estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial/First Call.
Shares in the Dow component closed down $1.34, or 2.3 percent, to $56.65.
The company blamed sagging sales of larger machines and engines and "related manufacturing inefficiencies" for the shortfall but said it is confident that year-end revenue will be about the same as last year with profit "up slightly" for all of 2002.
On the quarter, revenue came in at $4.41 billion, down from $4.81 billion in the year ago period.
"These results are in line with our expectations for a slower first half of the year and demonstrate our ability to perform well, even when many of the major industries we serve continue to be depressed," said CEO Glen Barton. "We remain confident that sales and revenues will be about the same as last year, aided by improving global business conditions in the second half of the year."
The potential uptick in profit reflects "continued efforts to aggressively improve our cost structure, aided by the global success of 6 Sigma projects," Barton added.


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Amazon has yet to say anything in terms of when we can expect a Kindle Fire refresh, but judging from how the rumors seem to be picking up traction — it looks like that may be coming sooner rather than later. Aside from the recent spec related rumors we have also seen Amazon lower the prices on the current line of Kindle Fire HD tablets. The focus today is on the non-HD version of the Kindle Fire and it looks like a rather complete set of specs have leaked.
This round of details have come by way of BGR, who are reporting that the entry-level Kindle Fire line will arrive with a display resolution of 1280 x 800 and powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz Texas Instruments OMAP4 4470 processor paired with PowerVR SGX544 graphics and 1GB of RAM. This is the same processor currently found in the first-generation Kindle Fire HD and will also serve as a nice bump from the 1.2GHz OMAP4 4430 processor current used in the entry-level Kindle Fire.
This entry-level Kindle Fire refresh is also expected to be based on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. This same report also touched on the storage and pricing. It was said the Kindle Fire will be selling for $159 with 8GB of storage. There was also mention of a model with 16GB and 32GB of storage, however the price for those remains a mystery.
All said and done, it is looking like Amazon will take the next-generation of the Kindle Fire to a point where the current-generation of the Kindle Fire HD stands at this time. A release date has yet to be revealed, however it was said they are expected to arrive something in the fall. Of course, a fall refresh would fit in with previous patterns.
Looking towards some of those Kindle Fire HD rumors and we have seen talk of the tablet arriving with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM and a display resolution of 2560 x 1600 for the 8.9-inch model.


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A very convincing scam steals users' personal details and credit-card information before taking them to the real Facebook.
7 Recent Stories
Phishing scams on social networks have shrunk considerably in October, and spam in general has decreased too, according to a report by Internet security giant Kaspersky Lab released last Friday. Compared to September, phishing attacks -- emails that trick users into sharing private or financial information with hackers that can then steal their money -- decreased by more than 10% last month. Even though that's clearly good news, it wasn't exactly a surprise for the analysts at Kaspersky Lab.
A nefarious link that hacks Twitter accounts is being circulated via direct messages. The DM says, "There is a rumor/blog going around about you [LINK] might want to read it." There may be slightly different versions of the link circulating, but if you click on it, all of your followers will be spammed with the same message, and your account will be compromised.
A new scam offering free Justin Bieber concert tickets is spreading virally through the status updates of Facebook users. The status message, which reads: "WOW! Justin Bieber Is Giving Away Free Concert Tickets Now!" is followed by a bit.ly link to a rogue Facebook application that, if installed, posts the same message on a user's Facebook status, security software firm Sophos has learned.
You have to credit the phishers and scammers: they are persistent in their attempts to hijack your Twitter account. They scammed many uses back in September and updated their tactics in October. Now they're at it again with similar tactics but a different approach. We've received multiple reports (and multiple direct messages) that phishers are trying to steal account info by appealing to your lust for money.
There is a new Twitter phishing scam making the rounds, and this one is spreading quickly via direct message. The infected message, which seems to be an iteration of a previous phishing scam, simply reads: "Hi, this you on here?" Clicking on the link will take you to a phishing site where scammers can take your personal information and hijack your account.
Twitter is being blindsided today by a new wave of attacks, this time involving the takeover of the accounts of prominent users. Barack Obama, Britney Spears, CNN's Rick Sanchez, Fox News, and Facebook’s official accounts are amongst those that have been targeted thus far, with each sending out an obviously fake message ranging from explicit comments to ads for online scams.


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If current memory speeds aren’t enough, you might be wondering when the next iteration is coming
Updated December 8, 2022 9:25 am
Compared to Micron’s current 24Gbps GDDR6X standard, the new 36Gbps GDDR7 standard offers potentially 50% faster rates compared to GDDR6X. The maximum GDDR7 bandwidth could reach 1.7 TB/s with a 384-bit bus.
Read now: Where to buy RX 7900 XTX
Samsung Electronics, a leader in advanced semiconductor technology, unveiled a new generation of storage solutions and plans for the future at Samsung Tech Day 2022 to dramatically boost performance for data center, server, mobile, gaming and automotive applications.
Samsung is accelerating the 1b production process for the DRAM industry, enabling scaling beyond 10nm with innovations like High-K. The company will soon release DDR5 chips with 32GB density, which is a 2x improvement over the current 16GB chips and a 33 percent improvement over 24GB chips.
The use of 8.5Gbps LPDDR5X DRAM solutions for smartphones and ultrabooks is also expected to increase in the coming year. Development of customized DRAM products such as HBM-PIM, AXDIMM and CXL will continue to offer faster processing for neural networks and AI applications.
Samsung S95B 65″ QD OLED TV
With the S95B, Samsung introduces the latest QD-OLED TV technology – with impressive color accuracy, brightness and contrast. In addition to these properties, the S95B also has functions a refresh rate of 120 Hz, a near-instantaneous response time and multiple HDMI 2.1 ports – making it the perfect choice for entertainment and gaming scenarios.
*Price subject to change. WePC is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Faster RAM will benefit next-gen GPUs, the South Korean firm revealed GDDR7 specs with transfer rates up to 36 Gbps. Compared to Micron’s 24 Gbps GDDR6X chips used by some Nvidia RTX 4000 graphics cards on the market now.
This new standard aims to increase speed by 50%. In theory, GDDR7 can deliver 1.7 TB/s of bandwidth with a 384-bit bus, although a 256-bit bus can still surpass the 1 TB/s limit.
Samsung hinted that the new 36 Gbps GDDR7 could debut alongside upcoming RTX 5000 and RDNA 4 GPUs. However, a release date for the technology has not yet been set. In 2023, we’ll likely learn more about and see more of Samsung’s upcoming 36Gbps GDDR7 memory.
WePC is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more


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General Motors sold 69,048 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks in the United States during August 2014, edging out crosstown rival Ford Motor Motor Company and its popular F-Series by 939 units.
The General sold 49,201 Chevy Silverados and 19,847 GMC Sierras, an increase of 12.83 percent and 10.16 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, as the market anticipates the all-new 2015 F-150, sales of the Ford F-Series dropped 4.23 percent to 68,048 units in August.
Notably, sales of the Ram truck shot up 32.62 percent to 43,775 units, while those of the Toyota Tundra grew 4.13 percent to 11,834 units.
Pickup Truck Sales - August 2014 - USA
|MAKE & MODEL||AUGUST 2014||AUGUST 2013||YOY MONTHLY CHANGE|


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Blog: New York chain restaurants ordered to use salt-warning symbol
Dean Best | 10 September 2015
New York City's Board of Health today (9 September) voted through plans for chain restaurants in the Big Apple to carry symbols on menus to highlight dishes containing more than the recommended daily limit of sodium.
The label will be the first of its kind in the US and is the latest initiative seeking to improve the health of consumers to come from public health officials in New York, if we think back to moves on artificial trans fats and calorie counts.
The unanimous vote was - perhaps unsurprisingly - applauded by health campaigners and disappointed restaurant owners. However, from 1 December, restaurants in New York City with 15 or more locations nationally will have to warn consumers about menu items that contain at least 2,300 milligrams of sodium.
The board said the regulation would affect "leading fast-food and fast-casual restaurants, which can easily make sodium information available".
The board said US consumers eat "excessive amounts of sodium". It pointed to a study that said more than 95% of American adults report consuming more than the maximum recommended daily limit each day. Citing figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the board said on average, American adults consume approximately 3,400 mg of sodium daily, well above the recommended limit.
"Sodium over-consumption is a reality in NYC as well," the board said in a statement. A 2010 study found average daily sodium consumption among New Yorkers was more than 3,200 mg, it noted.
The board took the restaurant sector to task, claiming: "The sodium content of fast food, in particular, appears to be on the rise." It said a 2013 study published in Public Health Nutrition examining the sodium content of menu offerings at "eight leading fast food chains found that the mean sodium content of menu items had increased more than 23% between 1997 and 2010".
"A similar study using receipt data collected in 2007 from over 6,500 transactions occurring at fast food chain outlets in NYC demonstrated that the sodium content of 20% of meals exceeded the daily recommended sodium intake limit. Today, nearly one-third of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from restaurant food," the board said.
It added: "Consumers typically underestimate the sodium content of restaurant food and are generally unaware of both sodium intake recommendations and the major sources of dietary sodium. It is imperative that consumers are readily able to identify menu items containing the recommended daily limit of 2,300 mg or more of sodium, because these items are clearly incompatible with recommendations regarding sodium consumption. The proposed consumer warning label will provide consumers with information about food items that contain exceedingly high sodium levels and will empower them to make well-informed decisions when making choices for themselves and their family members in the food retail environment."
As with any nutrition labelling or symbols, the key question is whether they will change consumer behaviour. Wouldn't a customer in, say, California's Pizza Kitchen wanting a meaty pizza already have an idea how much salt is in the food anyway? Would they care?
Michael Jacobson, president of consumer watchdog the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said the symbol might cause some to think again.
"Today’s action by the New York City Board of Health will help consumers avoid some of the riskiest chain-restaurant offerings," Jacobson said. I hope that New York City’s move will spur restaurants to voluntarily lower sodium levels nationally and embolden public health authorities around the country to require sodium warnings on menus. The city’s action might even prompt the Food and Drug Administration to come down from its perch on the sidelines and issue its long-awaited voluntary sodium-reduction targets for the industry to consider."
The New York State Restaurant Association said the labels will be introduced ahead of broader federal regulations on nutrition labelling next year, meaning its members would have to change menus twice.
"It is disappointing the Department of Health has decided to go forward with sodium menu warning labels when more comprehensive federal regulations take effect next year. The establishments that fall under these new regulations will be forced to construct costly new menu boards in consecutive years," said Melissa Fleischut, the association's president and CEO, said. "This is just the latest in a long litany of superfluous hoops that restaurants here in New York must jump through. Every one of these cumbersome new laws makes it tougher and tougher for restaurants to find success."
The BBC turned to just-food today for insight on the price dispute between Tesco and Unilever....
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Sales in the U.S. are on pace to exceed 8.5 million units in the first six months of the year after having had an astounding performance last May. Forecasters estimate that the industry will end the period with a 5% gain to achieve the best spring in a decade. LMC Automotive and Kelley Blue Book forecasters both raised their forecasts for the full year to 17.1 million units to match TrueCar’s estimates.
With sales likely to be more than 8.5 million units for the first half of 2015, the industry will have its best first half as well as second quarter since the year 2005, when there was a sudden increase in demand due to deals that gave discounts to employees.
In a statement, Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting at LMC, said that this is the “strongest and healthiest” that the auto industry has been in a long time.
He explained that their prediction of achieving 17.1 million units in the second half of 2015 is supported by an optimistic outlook throughout a range of metrics, which include “economic support, gas prices, the stock market, higher and stable transaction prices and significant product activity.” LMC anticipates that consumer spending on new vehicles in the first six months of 2015 will break records with sales of $206.2 billion.
This figure is higher by $11.6 billion than the same period in 2014. It’s believed that June 2015 sales will be around 1.5 million units, leading to a 4.7% gain in the first half. Notably, it was in 2001 that sales last exceeded 17 million units.
To achieve this number this year, sales in the second half of the year will have to increase by only 1.1% compared to the same period the previous year. Both TrueCar and KBB both estimate that the seasonally adjusted, annualized selling rate in the industry will be 17.4 million in June.
This figure would be lower than the rate in May of 17.8 million (the best-ever May in history) but higher than the 16.9 million rate recorded in June 2014. Edmunds had said that it predicts 17.3 million for the June SAAR while LMC has a 17.2 million estimate. June 2015 has one extra selling day than in June 2014.
In a statement, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ director of industry analysis, said that the auto industry has retained the strength it showed in May when it broke sales records. She said that the deal offers that were available in May were extended into June in numerous states in the country. She pointed out that promotions for the Fourth of July holiday are expected to start this week.
She believes that these offers will aid in sustaining the momentum until the first weeks of summer. KBB’s senior analyst Alec Gutierrez said that sales may start to “flatten out” in the later part of summer.
If the pace recorded in the first half of the year continues, it’s estimated that sales for the entire year will be more than 17.3 million. This puts the rate very near the standing record of 17.4 million achieved in 2000.


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If by considering, we mean it’s an inevitable eventuality, then yes, Porsche is considering stuffing a battery pack somewhere on its 911 and introducing a hybrid variant.
The writings on the wall for the future of hybrids and electric cars in the years to come and it looks like everyone has some sort of plan to not only have a hybridized lineup but possibly some dedicated EV’s. Porsche is no different. According to Bloomberg on their latest musings on the possibility of an electrified Porsche 911 they posted about earlier this weekend (Nov 17, 2017) the most expensive variant of their flagship car, the Porsche 911, will probably be some kind of hybrid.
If there’s a car company that desperately needs to revamp its image as an earth-friendly car company, it’s definitely the VW group, Porsche included. I’m referring to the $24 billion plan to build electric versions of its entire 300 model lineup spread over 12 brands.
In an undisclosed interview with representatives from Porsche who wish to remain anonymous, Porsche plans to introduce this hybrid variant a few years down the road of the model’s eighth generation that has yet to be produced. In fully electric mode, this new hybrid 911 will have 40 miles of range without the aid of the internal combustion engine, enough range that may see some Porsche 911’s not even firing up on their commutes to work.
Earlier last year, Top Gear UK got a whiff of an electrified 911 coupe shortly after Porsche’s Mission E was introduced. The Mission E is a fully electric concept that has more than 600 HP and 310-mile range thanks to its two electric motors.
“The Mission E could lead to a future when we need more electric cars to meet our regulations. So, you can imagine a Mission E with two-doors – the car looks great and there could be potential for a sports car,” Mössle told TG. “Whether it’s called a 911 or not is another discussion.
These latest semi-verified rumors of an electric 911 all might stem from the other electric car that took media headlines earlier this week, Tesla’s Roadster 2.0. The highest priced Porsche Turbo S’s top out at very close to $200,000, the same as the MSRP of the new Roadster.


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Squarespace, the tech-startup empowering small businesses with effortless website creation and hosting, is rumored to be the next company to join the IPO sector with a valuation of hundreds of millions of dollars. It is a hot topic for tech industry insiders and investors alike, as the company has generated substantial revenue and has become one of the go-to sources for creating and managing professional-quality digital presence. With its rise in popularity and success within the global market, Squarespace is swiftly becoming a tech name to watch, and the 300 million dollar IPO proposal is a clear indication of its potential to become an industry leader.
The Founders: Anthony and Xaver
As with any impressive startup, there is a story. Anthony Azevedo and Xaver von Erlich, two college friends and web entrepreneurs, decided to pursue their shared dream of developing a user-friendly website-building platform. They knew if they could develop the right tool, their clients would have more control over their companies’ architectural web presence. Squarespace was born from this desire to combine the benefits seamless user interfaces with the security and robustness of enterprise-level hosting.
Squarespace’s Expansion in the Market
Squarespace is used by over two million people, ten percent of whom are Enterprise users. As of 2020, the company had more than $200 million in revenue as it continues to expand its services across the globe.
Squarespace’s strength lies in its ability to create a modern digital presence in a fraction of the time and cost compared to traditional web design methods. It has quickly become the go-to platform for budding entrepreneurs and established companies alike, offering an array of innovation while still allowing users the ability to customize their site to make it their own.
Securing the 300m Dollar IPO
The potential 300 million dollar IPO has been made possible due to the tremendous success of Squarespace’s services. With its user base rapidly expanding, the startup has been able to greatly increase its top line revenue. This revenue has been used to further development of the product, with investments in data engineering, marketing, customer service and sales, among others.
Furthermore, Squarespace has already raised significant venture capital from both strategic investors and traditional venture firms. This includes a Series D round back in 2017 that raised $200 million, as well as several other investments leading up to that point. In addition, the company also has a solid track record of creating successful startup exits, having sold its product to a number of companies including IBM, Google, and Apple.
The Timing and Impact
The IPO is planned to be filed sometime in 2021, and the exact timing of it depends on several market factors. It is rumored that the offering will be between 250 and 300 million dollars, giving Squarespace the necessary resources to push its platform even further.
The impact of the IPO cannot be understated, as a successful filing would solidify Squarespace’s position in the tech industry and give it both the resources and reputation to compete with bigger players such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon. It will also generate a significant return for early stage investors, and serve as a cornerstone strategy for future fund raising.
The prolific and innovative Squarespace is on the cusp of a major move in 2021. Being able to secure a 300 million dollar IPO would truly be a remarkable feat in the industry, due to the tremendous competition and ever-evolving landscape. While there are a number of factors that could affect the successful exit of the company, there is no doubt that Squarespace’s founders and investors are looking with optimism towards the future.
Q1: What is Squarespace?
A1: Squarespace is a tech-startup empowering small businesses with effortless website creation and hosting.
Q2: What is the IPO amount rumored for Squarespace?
A2: The IPO is rumored to be between 250 and 300 million dollars.
Q3: Who are the founders of Squarespace?
A3: The founders of Squarespace are Anthony Azevedo and Xaver von Erlich.
Q4. What is squarespace 300m 10b ipoann azevedotechcrunch?
A4: Squarespace 300m 10b Ipoann AzevedoTechcrunch is the rumored 300 million dollar IPO that Squarespace is preparing to launch in 2021.
Q5. What is squarespace 10b ipoann azevedotechcrunch?
A5: Squarespace 10b Ipoann AzevedoTechcrunch is the potential 10 billion dollar market capitalization that Squarespace can reach, should it successfully launch its 300 million dollar IPO.
Q6. About sweetch 20m series capitalbetueltechcrunch.
A6: Sweetch 20m Series CapitalBetuelTechcrunch is related to the Series D round that Sweetch raised in 2017, bringing in $200 million from strategic investors and venture firms.


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Google has revealed a unique AI-based photo printing service five months ago. Now the tech giant is planning to shut it completely from 30 June. The photos service was a monthly paid service where the user would get printed images from their collection.
The service was initially launched as a trial in the United States. Google has not provided an answer as to why the service will be stopped completely.
According to a report by Engadget, Google sent a note to subscribers stating, “Thank you for your invaluable feedback these last several months. You have provided us with a lot of helpful information about how we can evolve this feature, which we hope to make more widely available. Please keep your eyes open for future updates.”
The algorithms were programmed to pick the best photos from a user’s Photos Gallery and then print it in 4×6 prints. The user has the option to select their own preference like printing pictures with faces or landscapes. Then the user could select up to 10 pictures to be printed for a monthly price of $7.99 (roughly ₹600).


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TJX International, which operates discount retail chain TK Maxx in Europe and Australia, has posted a fall in Q3 profits after investing in a new UK distribution centre.
Its results for the three months to 28 October, which also include homewares chain Homesense, show that adjusted profits slid by 18.5% to $75m (£56.8m).
The company said the reduction in profits was largely caused by opening a new distribution centre in Wakefield. The processing facility, at Knottingley, opened in August.
Meanwhile quarterly net sales on a constant currency basis rose by 9% to $1.2bn (£900m), compared with the same quarter last year. Like for like store sales crept up by 1% during the period.
The company opened seven TK Maxx stores in the UK and Ireland during the third quarter, to bring its store count in the region to 363.
Total store count across the UK and Ireland, Germany, Poland, Austria, the Netherlands and Australia stood at 578.
The business hopes to expand to 1,100 TK Maxx and Homesense stores in their existing markets, which currently tallies 633, during the 2018 fiscal year.
The news comes as US retail group TJX Companies, which operates TJX International, reported a flat consolidated like for like store sales rate compared to last year’s 5% increase, after it was hit by hurricane-related store closures and unfavourable weather conditions.


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Big FM launches self-service platform for booking ads
MUMBAI: FM radio network Big FM has launched a self-service platform for booking ads called BuyAdsOnBigFM.com. The platform, according to Big FM, will enable the long tail, retail SMEs and entrepreneurs to conveniently advertise with the FM radio network.
Apart from booking ads, the platform also offers a dashboard for ad rates, invoices & broadcast certificates and online payment options. ‘BuyAdsOnBigFM.com’ app will soon be available on IOS and Android platforms.
Additionally, Big FM will be providing access to a 24/7 call centre and chat bots to address any incoming queries on ‘BuyAdsOnBigFM.com’. BIG FM will also appoint direct selling agents, to on board advertisers for a frictionless experience.
Speaking about the development, Big FM CFO Asheesh Chatterjee said, “BIG FM is proud to launch ‘BuyAdsOnBigFM.com’, which will allow our advertisers and agencies to request for jingles, buy ad inventory and pay online. ‘BuyAdsOnBigFM.com’ is a part of our digital transformation journey which will significantly enhance customer service and showcase transparency. The advertisers will also be able to avail exclusive special loyalty and festive offers.”


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MAS moves to promote financial technology
Singapore's banking regulator is exploring an all-in-one system that will allow people to pay others electronically using the payee's mobile number, e-mail address or social network account, without the need for bank account numbers.
It is also working towards setting up a unified payment system that can read all kinds of cards at retail and hospitality outlets, said Monetary Authority of Singapore managing director Ravi Menon, speaking at the Singapore Forum last Saturday.
This is part of efforts to promote financial technology (fintech) here, he said at Shangri-La Hotel.
This is done through three main channels. First, by creating common platforms like the unified payment system and standards so fintech applications can complement each other.
The MAS is also engaging with fintech firms to better understand emerging innovations, he added.
Lastly, it also allows banks to experiment with new technologies in a safe environment.
"We want to create an environment where, if an experiment fails, it fails safely and cheaply without larger adverse consequences."
The MAS will soon issue guidelines for public consultation on how this "regulatory sandbox" approach will work.
This is necessary as emerging fintech is transforming the banking industry and may well be "the best hope for the future of finance" but is not without risks.
Unregulated fintech firms are offering many financial services and disrupting banking, he said.
However, "banks and insurance companies have something that unregulated entities do not have… trust based on a track record of performance," he said.
Banks are not sitting still amid all this - they are setting up in-house fintech units and collaborating with or buying over fintech firms.
But rapid change is throwing up many questions for the industry and regulators, Mr Menon noted.
He said the MAS is taking a differentiated approach to fintech applications, as the risks and benefits of different technologies vary.
Each must be assessed on its own merits, he said.
However, regulation of fintech must not hold back innovation.
"Introducing regulation prematurely may stifle innovation and potentially derail the adoption of useful technology," said Mr Menon.
The MAS applies a "materiality and proportionality" test, he said. This means regulation will kick in as risks posed by a new technology becomes material. The regulation must be proportionate to the risks.
For instance, peer-to-peer lending that takes place outside traditional banks are not regulated as long as they do not take deposits.
"But if they get very large and pose macro prudential concerns, then we may consider regulation."
Similarly, an Internet payment service will not automatically attract regulation if it is for small payments for e-commerce. Only larger, more significant players will be regulated.
"Even then, we do not regulate them as banks and throw at them the whole kitchen sink of capital and liquidity requirements under the Banking Act," said Mr Menon.
This article was first published on April 4, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.


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Touchscreen-equipped BlackBerry Bold en route?
Pluto phone rumours
Research in Motion (RIM) is secretly developing a BlackBerry handset that’s set to be out of this world, leaked info about the phone suggests.
The firmis thought to be working on a talker that’s already been dubbed the 'Bold with a touchscreen'. Aaccording to an account by website BGR, the unconfirmed phone has been codenamed 'Pluto' by RIM.
Although technical details are still thin on the ground, the phone – which could officially be labelled as part of the the BlackBerry 9000 series – will sport a Curve 8900-like body and feature the all-important Qwerty keyboard, as well as the touch-sensitive display.
It’s thought that the BlackBerry Pluto 9000 could appear in the third or fourth quarter of next year.
RIM always gives some new and innovative to its Blackberry lovers. That is why Blackberry handsets and Blackberry accessories remain in demand in the market.
The adverts are for the Storm - a solely touchscreen device, this article refers to a Storm/Bold hybrid with touchscreen and a physical keyboard.
Vodafone TV adverts
This phone has been advertised as an exclusive in the UK to the Vodafone handset. The adverts for the phone have been running in prime-time for the past week and the phone should be available from Vodafone within the next few weeks.
Paris-because she will need to have the latest Blackberry to throw at Naomi Campbell in the next cat fight!


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A new survey has highlighted the need to find “safer” routes of consumption, as over half of uncontrolled asthma patients were found to smoke cannabis.
As the legalisation of medical and recreational cannabis grows, so does the importance that doctors discuss with patients the effects of cannabis on those with asthma, researchers in the US have warned.
A new survey published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, shows that of those who consumed cannabis, around half smoked it while a third vaped – both “inhalation routes” likely to affect the lungs.
“It surprised me that over half of the cannabis users in this study who have asthma were smoking it,” said Joanna Zeiger, PhD, principal investigator for the study.
“And further, of those with uncontrolled asthma, half reported smoking cannabis. We also found that people with asthma are not routinely being asked or advised by their physician about cannabis and how they are consuming it.”
Eighty-eight (18 percent) of the 489 adults with allergy/asthma who completed the survey reported current cannabis use.
The majority of those responding were younger than 50 years, female, and white.
Among non-cannabis users, 2.5 percent reported an allergy to cannabis and two-thirds of current cannabis consumers did so for medical or medical and recreational purposes.
The anonymous survey, conducted in collaboration with Allergy & Asthma Network, was of those 18 years and older and looked at cannabis knowledge, attitudes, and patterns of use.
“Strikingly, among current cannabis users, only about 40 percent report having their physicians inquire about cannabis use, and about the same number of patients want to discuss cannabis with their physicians,” says allergist William Silvers, MD, study co-author, ACAAI member and expert on cannabis allergy.
“In order to more completely manage their allergy/asthma patients, allergists should increase their knowledge about cannabis and inquire about cannabis use including types of cannabinoid, route of use, reasons for use, and adverse effects.”
Dr Silvers adds: “As with cigarette smoking, efforts should be made to reduce smoking of cannabis, and recommend other potentially safer routes such as edibles and sublingual tinctures.”
Many patients claim inhalation methods are more effective for relieving their symptoms, with a growing body of research looking at the effects of inhaling cannabis flower on pain relief.
A recent study, by the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, found that cannabis smoke was less harmful than tobacco, but still raised levels of potentially harmful chemicals in the body.
According to the asthma survey, positive effects of cannabis use, including reduced pain, calm and improved sleep, were reported significantly more frequently than adverse effects (e.g cough, increased appetite, anxiety).
However about 20 percent of survey respondents reported coughing, which was significantly related to smoking cannabis.
Almost 60 percent of cannabis consumers in the survey reported current asthma, of whom 40 percent were uncontrolled by the Asthma Control Test.
Dr Zeiger adds: “We look forward to future studies of larger, more diverse cohorts to better explore more deeply the effect of cannabis use on asthma and other allergic disorders.”
How CBD helps me combat arthritis pain
A patient shares how they combine CBD with lifestyles changes to manage their chronic pain.
Caomihe Ni Drisceoil shares how she uses CBD, alongside other natural remedies, to help combat the pain from arthritis and migraines.
Caoimhe Ni Drisceoil was diagnosed with arthritis when she was in her 50s. The pain began in her knees before moving to her hands and other joints. She also suffered from painful migraines.
“It was a gradual development over the years, to a point where it was becoming uncomfortable to do the things I loved such as gardening or walking,” she said.
Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation in the joints. It can affect people of all ages but particularly, older people. Symptoms can include joint pain, tenderness and stiffness, inflammation and restricted movement. It is thought that over 900,000 people in Ireland live with arthritis pain.
Patients will often have to make lifestyle adjustments to help ease the pain they experience. Caoimhe learned to avoid causing extra pressure on her joints if the pain was particularly bad, but she also struggled to fall asleep.
“If I was having a bad day then I wouldn’t stress the area that was inflamed. I would break up what I was doing during the day to relieve the pressure on that area and go back to it again if the pain eased off or I would take medication in the evening,” she said.
“Sometimes it would stop me from sleeping which is difficult for your physical and mental health, as well as not being able to do things you love. It’s also stopped me from learning a musical instrument which was on my bucket list. I haven’t been able to do this because of the joints in my hands being too painful.”
Natural arthritis pain relief
Caoimhe has always been a big believer in natural remedies or homoeopathic alternatives. She often took echinacea for colds or flu. When she began researching pain relief, she looked for the natural options first.
She explained: “I started off with glucosamine and chlondroitin first, they are herbal remedies that you can get over the counter to ease the joints. Glucosamine and vitamins help the cartilage around the joints. The chlondroitin helps the glucose absorb into your body quicker. I was on that for several years while adding paracetamol if I knew I wasn’t going to be able to sleep from it.”
Caomihe had been experiencing migraine pain at the same time, and was struggling to find a pain relief option that helped her with both. As her doctor prescribed pain relief, she began to explore if CBD could offer an alternative.
“I was on half beta-blockers for over a year and they weren’t stopping me from getting the migraines,” she said.
“My doctors wanted to increase the pain relief and I wasn’t happy with that which is why I started taking CBD,” she said. “They were daily headaches that were very uncomfortable. It would make me miserable and stop me from going out.”
CBD for arthritis
Caomihe began to take CBD drops in the morning. She describes experiencing the effects “almost immediately” on her migraines. However, when it came to arthritis pain, it took further lifestyle changes.
“I noticed that once I was on it, I didn’t get full-blown migraines. I would get headaches, but they never developed into migraine symptoms. I wouldn’t get the tingling in the arms or the tongue, the brain fog or lose the ability to think clearly. It would just be a normal headache,” she said.
Caoimhe found that CBD was just part of the many different things she could do to fight the pain rather than a cure for everything. She combined her CBD intake with dietary changes. One of her daughters is a personal trainer who was able to design a diet plan with pain relief in mind.
She said: “There are things that flare up inflammation in the body such as bell peppers, aubergines. Those [can be] bad if you are prone to inflammation so I avoided those, added more protein for energy and stopped eating gluten as a personal preference. I also gave up red wine, chocolate and cheese as they were triggers for my headaches.”
She also started to combine the CBD with ginger and turmeric which are also known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
“It’s part of a whole collection of things that you do to alleviate the problem,” she said.
But she does hope that the CBD industry will eventually regulate the way that dosage is worked out to make it easier for consumers.
“Figuring out the right dosage is the worst thing, especially if you are new to it,” she added.
“You do tend to find one bottle and stick to it because you get used to the system. I know they need to declare what is in the bottle but it’s not put out clearly. It doesn’t make it any easier to compare one week to another what strength you are taking.”
The difference in her pain levels has been incredible, Caoimhe says, noticing it most when she took her first holiday since the beginning of the pandemic.
“Two years ago, going on holiday would have been difficult because I would have to carry my own luggage, and would struggle going up and down the steps of the plane. This time I was able to put the case up by myself over the seats. I suddenly realised I had been able to do that and walk up all the steps without any pain,” she added.
“That was something that really shocked me because we hadn’t done anything like that since Covid. I had been in my normal routine and not really noticed it.”
Caoimhe lives in a rural part of Ireland, but thankfully access to CBD has not been an issue. The town she is closest to has many health food stores that stock Irish CBD products. She says she would consider trying medical cannabis for the pain if it increases over time, but with the restrictions concerning chronic pain through Ireland’s MCAP program, this is not currently an option.
“I was taking medication from the doctor for years that was doing my liver absolutely no good, THC is a natural, herbal thing,” she said.
“I would have taken CBD for either condition, but I was lucky that it worked for both. I was able to come off the medication from my doctor as a result.
“I haven’t taken beta-blockers or anti-inflammatories in a couple of years, not since I’ve been taking the CBD.”
How can CBD help with Covid-19?
Juicy Fields examines if CBD could play a role in tackling Covid-19
With a desperate need for more research into treatments for Covid-19, Juicy Fields examines the ways in which CBD could help.
The world has been battling the Covid-19 crisis since 2020. The number of global infections and deaths keeps rising. As of 16 January 2022, the international infection numbers stood at 326,813,089, while the deaths reached 5,553,745.
According to research studies, CBD shows potential as a possible antiviral agent. The research is still in its early stages, and some studies have only been conducted in vitro. There is a growing need for the research to be advanced further, especially considering the virus’s rate of mutating.
CBD may prevent infection and stabilise the aggressive immune response
According to a study published in March 2021, CBD may be essential during the early stages of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The researchers treated cells with CBD 24 hours before infecting them with SARS-CoV-2. CBD effectively suppressed the viral infection and promoted the destruction of the viral RNA. CBD, directly and indirectly, induces interferon production, enabling the body to fight the virus.
The researchers additionally analysed 93,000 patients tested for Covid-19. The results indicated that individuals that were taking FDA-approved CBD before the test showed a reduced risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2.
The study further supported previous studies relating to CBD and its function in inhibiting cytokine activation. SARS-CoV-2 attacks and weakens a host’s respiratory system. As a response, the immune system has an overactive inflammatory response. This leads to a cytokine storm, the leading cause of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, characterised by fluids in the alveoli. Consequently, severe tissue damage leads to multiple organ failure and death.
In summary, this study concludes that CBD acts as an antiviral agent in the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, the cannabinoid helps stabilise the aggressive immune response during the advanced stages of infection.
CBD and CBG acidic precursors may prevent SARS-CoV-2 from penetrating human cells
Another notable study was conducted recently by researchers from Oregon State University. According to the results, CBDA and CBGA, which are acidic precursors of CBD and CBG, respectively, show potential in blocking SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants from entering human cells. Cell penetration is one of the virus’s main processes before infecting the host.
The research team used a proprietary screening technique to identify the two acidic cannabinoids. The team concluded that Cannabigerol acid and Cannabidiol acid, at specific potency levels, helped minimise the infections by half. This is a promising result that needs to be explored further. The authors of the study noted that for this to work in humans, the potency of the CBDA and CBGA needs to be considerably high, but it is not impossible to achieve.
The different variants and the consequent spread of the virus have raised concerns worldwide. The most prevalent mutations are Alpha and Beta, which CBGA and CBDA block effectively. The scientists are hopeful that the results will be replicated in other studies involving different variants, such as Omicron, Delta, Gamma, and others.
Supporting pre-covid study on CBD and Asthma
A pre-covid study conducted in 2019 looked into the effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD) in reducing the inflammation of the lungs and managing airways hyper-responsiveness. Although the study was not on SARS-CoV-2, it does prove how CBD works to inhibit cytokine production. The study concluded that different dosages of CBD help to stabilise airway hyper-responsiveness. However, only high doses of cannabidiol seemed to combat lung inflammation.
The research on the effects of CBD on SARS-CoV-2 is still in its infancy stage. There is a growing need for more studies as the cannabinoid promises a lasting, diverse solution. With new variants popping from different parts of the world, having a solution that cuts across the mutations will bring about much-needed relief.
Other ways CBD can help with Covid-19
One of the symptoms of Covid-19 is pain, which can stem from body aches or headaches. Numerous studies have concluded that CBD does possess potent analgesic properties. The cannabinoid is widely used as a pain-reliever by hundreds of individuals, especially since its legal status is no longer complicated. General perspective and attitudes towards CBD are positive, especially for people who have confirmed its efficiency. Covid patients can utilise CBD to combat pain.
Since the pandemic struck, the number of individuals experiencing anxiety has significantly increased. Patients with Covid face great fear of being incapacitated and possibly dying. The growing mortality rate fuels this fear. CBD is a natural anxiolytic that can aid in alleviating anxiety.
According to Your Covid Recovery, many Covid patients experience changes in their sleep cycle. While some find it challenging to fall asleep, others experience interrupted sleep, keeping them awake most of the night. CBD helps restore the normal sleep cycle, leaving patients refreshed and healthier.
CBD presents as a potential antiviral agent in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Research suggests that CBD can help prevent infection and stabilise aggressive immune responses to the virus. More research is needed to solidify these findings. CBD is readily available, comes in various forms, has minimal side effects, and is self-administered. This makes the ideal treatment option if or when it is confirmed in large-scale studies. You too can help the researchers by joining the world’s leading cannabis crowdgrowing platform, as part of their funds are destined to investigation programs that can help understand the numerous benefits of this ancient plant.
Study: Can cannabis help you have better sex?
Those who use cannabis regularly may have better orgasms and over sexual function.
Cannabis consumption may improve sexual function, arousal, and orgasm, according to a new study.
Young people who use cannabis frequently may have better orgasms and overall sexual function, findings from a new observational study have revealed.
A team of researchers in Spain examined impact of alcohol and cannabis on sexual function in 274 men and women, aged 18 to 30 years old.
Sixty eight per cent of participants identified as female, while 32 per cent identified as male.
The study analysed the effects using three commonly used surveys, designed to identify alcohol and cannabis use disorders, as well as changes to a person’s sexual functioning, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST), and Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire Short-Form.
The findings revealed a higher score in sexual function, as well as arousal and orgasm, in participants who were identified as being “high risk” of having cannabis-related problems and addiction associated with alcohol consumption.
Sexual function and arousal was found to be generally higher among heavy consumers compared to non-consumers, which the authors have indicated could be linked to the lesser feelings of anxiety and shame, as a result of the effects of cannabis.
There was no significant difference in results between men and women, indicating that young people who use cannabis frequently, regardless of gender, have better overall sexual function.
These results are consistent with previous findings involving 216 people, who used cannabis to improve their sexual experience.
Researchers concluded: “Sexual function is improved in young people who are high-risk cannabis consumers with a moderate risk of alcohol use, resulting in increased desire, arousal, and orgasm. This improvement is usually associated with a reduction in anxiety and shame, which facilitates sexual relationships.”
Women’s sexual wellness
Previous findings have also suggested that cannabis may increase sexual desire and orgasm intensity.
But while this study has revealed positive effects on both genders, others have focused on the role it could play in improving sexual wellbeing in women.
Its effects are thought to help relieve discomfort in women, particularly those with gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis, leading to a more enjoyable experience.
In a study of almost 400 women in 2019, most reported increases in sex drive, improvement in orgasm and a decrease in pain after consuming cannabis, and concluded that cannabis “appears to improve satisfaction with orgasm”.
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After all, what could New Yorkers—who live in tiny apartments with their tiny “Charlie Brown Christmas trees”—want more than a cozy retail holiday experience, complete with roaring fireplace, huge bookshelves and different “rooms” that emulate a real house?
For its seventh “issue,” concept retail shop STORY aims to recreate this feeling of home with its Home for the Holidays setup, running through December 30th.
STORY hails itself as “a curated concept shop that takes the point of view of a magazine, changes like a gallery and sells things like a store,” according to founder Rachel Schechtman. It changes its point of view every four to eight weeks, completely breaking down the space and re-imagining it according to a new theme. It also partners with a sponsor directly connected to the theme.
In this case, STORY teamed up with Jason Bell of design firm JD Bell, Inc. to bring “comfort, functionality and ease to the holiday shopping experience.” The team recreated the space with specially designed environments—from a men’s study to a gumball lined children’s playroom to something for everyone in the dining room.
The best part? Consumers can snap photos in the store, then ePrint them at the HP printing center. Because what says Home for the Holidays more than family photos? And here, STORY aims to be that family.
ABOUT STORY: STORY is an innovative retail media model pioneered in a 2,000 square foot space in Manhattan’s burgeoning 10th Ave. retail corridor. STORY follows the successful soft launch of Rachel Shechtman’s widely lauded beta exhibit “A Startup Store” in December 2011 and since opening has presented stories including STORY: Love | Color | New York | Project Pop Up NYC, part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Fashion 2020 initiative and most recently Making Things in partnership with GE and featuring MakerBot and TechShop. STORY was named best Concept Shop in NYC for 2012 by the Village Voice and Shechtman included in the 2012 issue of “Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business” on behalf of STORY and its new, inventive retail model.


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- September 19, 2018
Plans for two commercial projects are moving through Manatee County’s review process.
Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch has submitted a preliminary application to rezone a 17-acre parcel at Lorraine Road/State Road 70 to build a shopping center that includes a potential grocery store. Farther north, Sarasota-based Starling Group has submitted plans for a 12,500-square-foot commercial center within Heritage Harbour.
Plans for SMR’s Lorraine project show three multitenant outparcels ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet apiece, two of which will have drive-thrus along Lorraine Road. A fourth outparcel located farther east is designated for a 5,000-square-foot bank. The plaza will be anchored by a 45,600-square-foot tenant, likely a grocery store, with five adjacent businesses, each at about 1,400 square feet.
Kirk Boylston, president of SMR subsidiary Lakewood Ranch Commercial, said the whole property is under contract, but declined to disclose details until the sale is finalized.
“We don’t expect to close until the end of the year,” he said. “Construction might not start right away. That’s totally up to the purchaser.”
Manatee County planner Rossina Leider said she didn’t have major concerns based on the pre-application for the project. The proposed use is consistent with the property’s future land-use designation.
In Heritage Harbour, the Starling Group is proceeding with plans to build a neighborhood commercial center on five acres at the northeast corner of State Road 64 and Heritage Green Way.
Starling Group COO Brian Kennelly said the commercial center likely will include a restaurant on one end and six other units, each at about 1,500 square feet.
“We certainly think that with the traffic on State Road 64 and the continued success of Heritage Harbour that a neighborhood project will do very well,” he said. “A family restaurant/sports bar use would be ideal, as well as services — a nail salon, dry cleaner, hair salon — those types of things.”
Starling Group has owned the property for several years, but Kennelly said time for development finally is right. The parcel’s proximity to Interstate 75 and continued growth at the north end of Lakewood Ranch and along State Road 64 will make it a prime location for the project.
The Starling Group owns a nine-acre parcel immediately north of the site, but Kennelly said the company has no immediate plans for the property.
“I think it would be ideal for a day care on a portion of that land,” he said.
Medical uses also might be appropriate, he said.


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Thursday, 13 July 2017
McDonald’s and International Paper Talk FSC at GreenBiz
July 13, 2017
"We can have Rainforest Alliance Certified espresso, we can have great sustainability programs in our supply chain, we can have great tasting, high quality coffee, but if we try to tell them it’s high quality and put it in a foam cup, they don’t believe it," said Townsend Bailey, director of supply chain sustainability at McDonald's U.S at a recent GreenBiz event.
With that insight, a session with FSC partners McDonald’s and International Paper opened with a focus on McDonald’s work to transition all 14,000 of their US restaurants to FSC-certified hot cups. This was no simple task, given the scale of their operations, but the goal was clear due to McDonald’s fiber sourcing policy, which states a preference for FSC.
The challenge for International Paper: Figure out how to source enough FSC-certified fiber to meet McDonald’s needs.
As IP’s manager of natural capital stewardship and FSC US board member Sophie Beckham noted, the company has brought more than 500,000 acres of forestland into their FSC group certificate over the last few years to meet demand from companies like McDonald’s. One of the keys was bringing McDonald’s team members out into the forest, to introduce them to landowners and show them what FSC really means. For landowners, “it gives them a sense of pride” in the way they are managing their forests when a company like McDonald’s comes to pay a visit.
In partnership with WWF’s Global Forest and Trade Network, FSC worked with McDonalds and International Paper to develop “One Simple Action,” our recent video to engage consumers.
Watch the whole conversation.


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Now that we’re in the midst of a new uprising, the editors found it appropriate to remind our readers that Amazon is still as powerful as ever in the US, even more so because of the COVID-19 lock-down. With thousands of businesses shuttered under government orders, Amazon has filled this supply gap and gobbled up even more consumers into its Prime empire. As you might expect, Jeff Bezos has done everything in his power to not only keep his Amazon fulfillment centers open during the quarantine, but to endanger the lives of everyone who works there. Despite his pledges of new safety measures, Bezos continues to repress any organized resistance in his warehouses or Whole Food grocery stores, fueling a backlash that we will now attempt to describe.
On February 16, 2020, less than a month before the US quarantine, a group of anarchists vandalized a Whole Foods in Los Angeles and disabled the Amazon Locker where consumers retrieve their new commodities. In their communique for the action, the group wrote that “Amazon has collaborated with La Migra aka ICE by snitching on undocumented workers who have gone on strike. They have supported the surveillance capitalist infrastructure of the police state with Amazon Web Services.” In addition to all of this, the group spray-painted “1312 multiple times to demonstrate our hatred of the police.” While this action received no coverage from the local media and was easily buried once the US pandemic hit, workers at that Whole Foods went to work with a smile the next morning.
Once the quarantine hit, workers at Whole Foods organized a sick-out at the end of March to demand higher pay, more safety measures, and the shut-down of any Whole Foods store with a case of COVID-19. This work-stoppage took place just as Amazon was waging a fierce anti-union campaign inside its stores and fulfillment centers, a despicable effort that resulted in over 500 cases of COVID-19 being hushed up or ignored completely. The few employees who challenged this horrible situation were fired. This tension grew in the lead up to May 1, a day that saw thousands of Amazon and Whole Foods workers refuse to do their jobs alongside workers from Target, FedEx, Walmart, and Instacart, all demanding higher pay and better safety precautions. In a depraved and cynical gesture, Jeff Bezos increased their hourly pay from 15 to 17 dollars, only to announce this raise would be taken away by June. As you can imagine, people were very upset.
Some time around May 1, a group of anarchists torched an Amazon Prime delivery van in Los Angeles in solidarity with these striking workers. In their write-up for the action, the group explains that they “could not sit idly by and watch the spread of COVID-19 turn ICE detention centers into full blown death camps. Amazon provides the cloud services that hosts the Investigative Case Management system, the database utilized by ICE and other Federal agencies to compile public and private data to track and deport immigrants. Amazon plays a role in every raid; every family separation; and every death at the hands of ICE.” Once again, this action in Los Angeles received no attention outside of social media and the internet, although it certainly pleased the employees at that Amazon facility.
On May 1, around the time of the arson, a Vice President at Amazon Web Services resigned from the company after the firing of “whistleblowers who were making noise about warehouse employees frightened of COVID-19.” In the same blog post, he goes on to write that “at the end of the day, the big problem isn’t the specifics of the COVID-19 response. It’s that Amazon treats the humans in the warehouses as fungible units of pick-and-pack potential. Only that’s not just Amazon, it’s how 21st-century capitalism is done.” He cynically concludes this statement by stating that the Amazon workers are “gonna get treated like crap, because capitalism.” This high profile resignation received massive media attention and represents just a fraction of the internal resistance plaguing Amazon.
On May 26, 2020, a group calling themselves the Lorenzo Orsetti Anarchist Brigade snuck into an Amazon facility somewhere in North Carolina and slashed the tires of eight Prime delivery vehicles. In their communique, the group writes that “it is not only the corona virus that is making our lives unbearable. But even more so, it is our continued daily lives under capitalism and state control. Amazon and other tech companies are exploiting the virus, accumulating unheard-of profits and pushing their nightmare tech world.” This action received no media attention, but it did succeed in brightening the day of the workers at that Amazon facility. It’s doubtful those anarchists of the Lorenzo Orsetti brigade had any idea an uprising would break out in the days after their modest action.
On May 26, the police murdered George Floyd in Minneapolis. Two days later, the city’s Third Precinct was burned to ground, along with luxury apartments and corporate box-stores. This anti-police uprising spread across the US all the way to Los Angeles where a Whole Foods was looted on May 30 amid the burning of police cars and the torching of buildings. This uprising continued onward to Santa Monica where, on May 31, hundreds of people looted the stores of the Third Street Promenade. In the midst of smashing the windows at City Hall, torching a sheriff’s patrol car, stealing dozens of guns from a Big 5, and shooting an LAPD officer at the Venice border, part of this massive crowd broke off to loot an Amazon Prime delivery van of all its goods, an act that will only become increasingly common. According to the Prime drivers, Amazon has instructed them to abandon their vehicles should they ever be surrounded by looters.
Five days after this action in Santa Monica, an Amazon fulfillment center burned to the ground sixty miles away in Redlands. Located within the massive Inland Empire logistical hub, this facility has the distinction of being the first Amazon facility in the US to be completely destroyed by fire. Shortly after this event, Amazon claimed an investigation would determine the cause of the inferno in “the next couple days.” As of May 13, a full week after the fire, there is still no word about the cause, making it highly likely it was arson. Given the history of fires in Amazon facilities, Bezos will no doubt attempt to cover up this latest act of worker sabotage. And so we leave you here, within the charred remains of the Redlands fulfillment center, to ponder the paths of this unfolding uprising. Good luck in all your efforts. The world is yours.
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Friday marks National Donut Day, and is jumping on board to hand out free donuts to their loyal customers.
Just swing by the Dunkin' Donuts on , or , purchase a beverage and you'll get a complimentary donut of your choice.
If you travel in or out of Arlington, you can locate another Dunkin' Donuts using the restaurant locator and snag a freebie while on your way to work.
The national day itself, always celebrated on the first Friday of June each year, was established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to honor women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I.
The Salvation Army this year is teaming up with baking company Entenmann's to help celebrate National Donut Day; Entenmann's will donate proceeds from sales and offer customers a chance to win free donuts for a year, by entering a contest on its Facebook page. Entenmann's donuts can be found at area grocery stores.
Follow more National Donut Day doings on Twitter at #DoughnutDay or #DonutDay. You can also visit donutdayusa.com.


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Government’s travel agent grants scheme comes under attack by scammers
by Huntley Mitchell
Have you been getting threatening calls or emails about your grant application? All is explained here.
AFTA scrutinises online start-ups as Bali scam makes waves
The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) has revealed the only applicants to have so far been refused ATAS accreditation […]
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The deal will see the manufacturer’s Naked Noodle brand stocked in 3,000 Walmart stores across the US – reportedly the biggest supermarket chain in the country.
Symington’s will be supplying five variants of the noodles to the supermarket: Thai Sweet Chilli, Thai Green Curry, Japanese Teriyaki, Chinese Chow Mein and Singapore Curry.
Commenting on the brand’s international success, export manager Scott Hall said: “Symington’s has enjoyed great success across both domestic and global markets. This deal with Walmart is fantastic news for our business and reflective of the growing strength of our Naked brand.
“The relationship with Walmart holds huge potential for both companies. We are excited about building on this initial success into 2020 and beyond, as we look to emulate Naked’s phenomenal UK growth in the States.”
The Naked brand – which also includes rice pots and soups – is now worth £22m at retail and is growing at over 40% year-on-year, according to Symington’s. The manufacturer is targeting $10m (£7.9m) in retail sales value in the US over the next two years.
Mark Robson, head of Yorkshire and The Humber at the Department for International Trade (DIT), welcomed Symington’s export win, which showcased the ability for Leeds-based goods and services to excel on the world stage.
“With a packed programme of trade missions and industry events over the next six months, the Northern Powerhouse team at DIT is ready to get even more businesses from Yorkshire making the most of global opportunities,” he added.
“Following the UK’s departure from the EU, new trade deals and freeports will turbocharge investment and bring new opportunities and better jobs for people in our region.”
Meanwhile, Symington’s is one of the finalists at next year’s Food Manufacture Excellence Awards, nominated for its export expertise. Visit the Awards website to find out who else is in the running and book your ticket to attend the food industry’s Oscars.


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Harnessing current vending machine trends
21 / 07 / 2022
From tech innovation and agile payments solutions, to more seamless user journeys, discover which vending machine trends are driving success in vending.
Innovation in payments is placing vending firmly back into focus as the industry looks to reimagine itself in the aftermath of recent global events. Over the past few years, businesses have been forced to respond to unprecedented challenges by speed-tracking more agile and exciting solutions. Here are just some of the ways in which technology trends are transforming the vending industry. Take a look at these vending machine trends.
A craving for convenient payment options
One trend which began before the pandemic is the shift toward contactless transactions. The customer’s preference for paying electronically has dramatically increased across Europe in recent years. Over 80% of Visa payments are now cashless, with the use of this payment method seeing an increase of 20%, in many European countries since last summer.
Governments and regulations are adapting to this change too, with, for example, the UK increasing its contactless limit from £45 to £100 in October 2021. The vending industry is not immune to this gigantic shift in the payments landscape. With customers desiring frictionless payment experiences, no-contactexperiences are here to stay; implementing these capabilities is essential to getting it right.
In the vending machine industry, mobile payments will be key in the shift to cashless payments. Fewer people will want to use their credit cards, and more will want to use mobile payments. Smart vending machines with various payment modes will be the key to an improved customer experience and a significant growth in sales.
Mastering micro-markets and product diversity
Traditional vending machines typically sold crisps, chocolate bars and fizzy drinks. Today, vendors have been taking advantage of the growing demand for a more diverse offer by widening the range of products and proposing fresh snacks to meet the heath-conscious demands of the customer. Smart fridges are one example of this diversified offer, providing healthier goods whilst simultaneously pre-authorising transactions before a customer takes an item.
This, in turn, also helps the stock monitoring process. A further development to the smart fridge is the introduction of entire micro-markets, small, unattended convenience stores located in workplaces- which are being deployed across the US and have now made tracks in Europe. These also offer a healthy, selection of snacks 24/7 and saw a mammoth 360% surge in 2020.
Meanwhile, locally sourced produce is also becoming increasingly important for consumers, who have never been more ethically minded regarding their purchasing decisions. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, roughly 60% of customers have reported making more environmentally friendly, sustainable, or ethical purchases, with 90% saying they would likely continue doing so in the future. With the climate and environmental crisis becoming an increasingly pressing issue, vending merchants should choose carefully how to source their stock.
Paving a path to success
Providing customers with the best possible experience means facilitating a smooth and seamless user journey, every step of the way. And that includes offering optimal payment capabilities. Only then will providers be able to guarantee sustainable revenues, loyalty and repeat engagement. This paired with a focus on agility and purposeful innovation is a sure-fire way to gain that all important, competitive edge in a busy marketplace.
Worldline [Euronext: WLN] is a global leader in the payments industry and the technology partner of choice for merchants, banks and acquirers. Powered by 20,000 employees in more than 50 countries, Worldline provides its clients with sustainable, trusted and innovative solutions fostering their growth. Services offered by Worldline include instore and online commercial acquiring, highly secure payment transaction processing and numerous digital services. In 2021 Worldline generated a proforma revenue close to 4 billion euros. worldline.com
Worldline’s corporate purpose (“raison d’être”) is to design and operate leading digital payment and transactional solutions that enable sustainable economic growth and reinforce trust and security in our societies. Worldline makes them environmentally friendly, widely accessible, and supports social transformation.


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A little-known firm may one-up big tire companies like Michelin and Bridgestone by launching an indestructible tire for the consumer market by 2014.
By Tuan Nguyen
| March 8, 2013 -- 04:15 GMT (20:15 PST)
| Topic: Innovation
Amazon reportedly bringing translation service to AWS
Could apple-picking robots signal the end of a human hand in agriculture?
Apple's iPhone turns 10: Here's how the device impacted business, work
Big Data Analytics
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AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
In the buildup to the launch of Lamborghini‘s new supercar and successor to the Murcielago, the Italian automaker has announced details of an all-new 6.5-liter V12 engine that will power the beast.
While the current top-level Murcielago models, like the SuperVeloce, make use of a V12 engine with the same displacement, that powerplant is a version of the 6.2-liter that debuted in the Murcielago. The all-new engine is made of aluminum-silicon alloy and is lighter, with considerably reduced piston speeds even at a 11.8:1 compression ratio. (In other words, Lamborghini has protected the engine for similar expansion). Debuting in the next Murcielago, the V12 will make 700-hp at 8250 rpm, while 509 ft-lbs of torque is available at 5500 rpm.
Possibly more impressive, Lamborghini has announced a new ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) 7-speed transmission. Rather than opt for the dual-clutch setup becoming popular among other automakers, the ISR is a single clutch unit and will deliver shift times up to half the speed of a dual-clutch setup. Lamborghini also claims that at 154 lbs., the transmission is far lighter than a dual-clutch version and is also more compact. The transmission is able to shift so quickly (40 percent quicker than the E-gear setup in the Gallardo) because rather than having several gears and one shift rod to engage them, there’s a shift rod for each gear, allowing one gear to be engaging as the other one is letting off. The transmission will come with three modes: Strada (automatic), Sport and Corsa.
Lamborghini is expected to debut the new transmission in its successor to the Murcielago at the Geneva Auto Show this coming March and is likely to have the new engine/transmission on hand at the LA Auto Show later this week.
GALLERY: New Lamborghini 6.5L V12
Official release after the jump:


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A Lowe’s home improvement store in Canada has hired a package deal: a man and his dog.
The Lowe’s in Regina, Saskatchewan hired a man who has lived his last 40 years with a brain injury, and with him, his service dog.
Owen Lima had been searching for a job for nearly 10 years, struggling to find the right one due to his condition. He started his new job Monday, with his dog, Blue, next to him. Blue wears a Lowe’s vest, like any other employee. Lowe’s calls him its customer service dog.
Lima and Blue applied to the Lowe’s a few weeks ago, according to CTV News. The store manager took no issue with hiring a man who needed a service dog.
“We asked what the dog was for, obviously, and then he took us through the story and we went on with our interview process like anybody else,” store manager Paulo Gallo told CTV.
“The effect on Owen has been priceless. The engagement he has with our customers (and) staff, it’s given him a new take on life, per se. All the great things that he is, he now can showcase.”


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Here are all of the posts tagged ‘Sina Weibo’.
McDonald’s China proves critics wrong and wins Weibo over with grey burger buns.
When McDonald’s China revealed the grey bun last month in celebration of the Chinese national day, many scoffed at the colour that they found unappealing. This grey bun is made of a steamed flour bun commonly found in Chinese cuisine. Users on Weibo raved about their love for the grey buns, shared photos and their reviews for the mantou buns. We’ll like to say that this is a win for McDonald’s.
Facebook engineers try living life with slower connections on 2G-Tuesdays.
To give their engineers a taste of what it is like to access Facebook on 2G connections, the social media platform is allowing staff to switch their connection to speeds. This should help the engineers understand the restrictions of a low-speed connection and design a better Facebook experience with that in mind. Facebook has previously released Facebook Lite, a version of the app that is stripped down that takes fewer resources to load and use.
China’s social network sites remove fake accounts
An estimated 60,000 fake accounts have been removed by Sina Weibo, WeChat and QQ — China’s top social media sites. This comes after the country’s State Internet Information Office (SIIO) implemented new regulations to “promote the healthy development of the internet industry”. These regulations include banning the use of certain nicknames, impersonation accounts of public figures, as well as parody accounts or handles that may be deemed inappropriate.
$2.2 million of Bitcoin red packets sent through WeChat
Using OKLink, WeChat‘s integration with OKCoin‘s mobile wallet, $2.2 million worth of Bitcoin red packets were sent in China during the week-long Chinese New Year holiday. While this amount is a much needed boost to the cryptocurrency, it pales in comparison to the amount of conventional currency that was sent through WeChat. On the eve of Chinese New Year alone, the company reported that 1 billion red packets were sent, although the total amount transacted was not disclosed.
Twitter confirms upcoming office in Indonesia
Following Facebook’s and Apple’s moves to open offices in Indonesia, Twitter has revealed that it will also be setting up an office there within the next six months. Adam Bain, Twitter’s global president for revenue and partnerships tweeted from Jakarta last week, confirming this announcement.
Terima kasih for welcoming us, Indonesia! I’m in Jakarta today to say that Twitter will open an office here soon! pic.twitter.com/MTXRXkBovR
— adam bain (@adambain) August 29, 2014
Indonesia has 20 million active Twitter users and 69 million active Facebook users, proving to be a strong market for social media.
China’s Renren sees drop in active users
The social network once known as ‘China’s Facebook’ recently released its Q2 2014 earnings report, revealing that it now has fewer monthly active users than it had two years ago. Renren‘s drop in active users could be attributed to the rise of Sina Weibo and WeChat in China, which offers a vast array of services including news-reading, online payments, gaming, messaging and more.
‘Ice bucket challenge’ hits Asia
Not sure if you’ve heard, but there’s an ‘ice bucket challenge’ thing happening on Facebook right about now. It looks like it’s going to be the biggest online charity campaign ever, as our data in the Huffington Post shows. The hashtag #icebucketchallenge has received over 4.48m mentions, over 20 times the number seen by #nomakeupselfie. There have been over 2m videos on YouTube, too, including videos from a number of participating brands.
In an infographic by Social Samosa, research shows that India, Thailand and Singapore are the next highest contributors to online buzz around the charity initiative, behind the US and UK. These three Asian countries contributed to a total of 14.7% of online buzz.
#icebucketchallenge goes viral around the world
A hashtag called #icebucketchallenge started trending over the weekend on social media. This tag is associated with a cool challenge, accomplished by dumping a bucket of ice water (or ice cubes) on yourself, then posting and tagging a photo of the feat on social media. Upon completion, challengers nominate 3 people to either follow suit with the challenge or donate $100 USD to the US-based ALS Association (an advocacy, care and research association for ALS). The ALS association is aiming to utilise the ice bucket challenge to encourage people to pay attention to, or donate for those affected by the disease. There have been more than 118,000 tweets mentioning the #icebucketchallenge in the past 30 days according to Topsy. The ALS Association had subsequently raised $7.6 million in donations over the course of a two-week period–a sum that trumps last year’s $1.4 million raised in the same period.
The ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) ice bucket challenge is now taking over America, and when Mark Zuckerberg nominated Bill Gates for the challenge, he gave him 24 hours.
Surprisingly, the #icebucketchallenge also went viral in China. The hashtag has already ranked as the most trending topic in China in just two days. There have been 167,000 discussions and 180 million views on the #icebucketchallenge, reaching 16,000 individuals in China so far. The challenge successfully attracted a massive amount of influencers and celebrities from different industries to challenge the game as well.
Twitter turns favourites into retweets
According to The Next Web, Twitter has been experimenting with a new feature that turns favourited tweets into retweets on mobile and web versions of the site; this feature has also started to annoy some Twitter users. A number of users are seeing the tweets they favourited from the brands they follow or the people they follow automatically turned into retweets, and appearing on their Twitter timelines. The Next Web also mentioned that the new feature has impacted some users’ Twitter user experiences, making the users feel frustrated because the retweets are irremovable and appears permanently on their timelines. Twitter appears to be experimenting with many more different features on a regular basis, such as payment and shipping option.
Sina Weibo grows to 157 million monthly active users
According to Sina’s Q2 2014 report, the platform has grown to 157 million monthly active users, up by 30 percent in the past 12 months. For daily active users, Sina Weibo has reached 69.7 million. Compared with WeChat, however, Sina Weibo is still far behind WeChat’s massive MAU base of 438 million. WeChat’s dominance may have been strengthened by their recent launch of its first foreign-made game, a WeChat edition of the popular Candy Crush Saga on Android.
Weibo adds new feature for video records and uploads
Weibo app added a new feature that allows video recording, uploading and playing directly in Weibo. Although embedded videos have been there for a while, it’s meaningful that this is the first time Weibo ever built video function directly without involving third party sites. However, the new function doesn’t seem to be a threat to existing local video sharing apps like Tencent’s Weishi and Sina’s Miaopai at the moment as it doesn’t have video editing ability. But the new feature might add more burdens on Sina for the responsibility to censor inappropriate video content.
WhatsApp might no longer be free in India
Free messaging or call apps like WhatsApp and Skype might not be free anymore in India. The issue all comes down to the conflict between Telecom companies and OTT (over-the-top) service providers. (OTT refers to text, audio or video sent over the internet.) With rising smartphone usage and data access in India, increasingly fewer people are using SMS or phone calls, which are more profitable than data plans for Telecom companies. In order for revenue to bounce back, Telecom companies have requested the Telecom Regulatory of India (TRAI) to approve a so-called ‘connectivity charge’ for free messaging and calls. But it is not clear whether this ‘connectivity charge’ will be applied to consumers in addition to data usage. However, the Internet and Mobile Association of India argues that TRAI should not be involved in this matter. It remains to be seen how the issue will pan out.
All chat apps in China to verify users with real identities
In an effort to “clean up” all instant messaging services, the Chinese government has ruled that all public account owners on any chat apps in China have to register with their true identities and get permission to publish. Although some chat apps like Weixin already has started real-name verification processes last year, this is the first time that the government has issued a formal regulation on this matter.


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Timberland takes its rugged image to tires
LAS VEGAS — Timberland boots are popular for people who venture into the outdoors. Now they can have cars shod in the brand as well.
Timberland Tires debuts this week at the SEMA aftermarket car parts show here, extending the outdoors lifestyle brand beyond its base in apparel and footwear. The tires will be American made, sourced from Cooper Tires, based on the brand's specifications and will focus on the vehicles favored most by outdoors-oriented people — primarily crossovers and SUVs.
There will be no mistaking these motorists' affection for the brand: The Timberland name is prominent on the tires in raised white letters.
It's not just about the name. Timberland and its tire-making partner, Omni International, say they have come up with a process of recycling the tires into the rubber used in footwear. Rubber in the tires will have to meet footwear standards.
Both brands say the hookup was a natural marriage since tire makers and shoemakers are the largest users of rubber.
Talks began about three years ago just as Timberland, based in Stratham, N.H., was looking for a way to extend its sustainability message, according to President Stewart Whitney.
Along came Omni United CEO G.S. Sareen.
"He came with the idea of, 'Hey, let's make a tire together,'" Whitney recalls.
Sareen says the Timberland Tire will help him solve what he considers one of the big problems in the tire industry — that most people now view tires as mere commodities. He says look at soda and milk; everyone knows what brand of soft drink they prefer, but few know the brand of milk in their refrigerators.
The tires are set to go on sale next year.


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While many have debated how the Affordable Care Act will affect doctors and their patients, far less attention has been given to another law with far-reaching consequences for the medical profession: the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
SOCHI, Russia | South Korean organizers of the 2018 Winter Olympics say there have been no talks with North Korea about forming a joint team for the games.
Phil Bremen, a former newspaper reporter and NBC News correspondent, is an associate professor of telecommunications at Ball State University.
CROWN POINT | Lake County's E-911 director resigned in dramatic fashion Thursday morning, leaving some to feel the consolidation of emergency communications is suffering its own emergency.
CHICAGO | The consumer advocacy group Citizens Utility Board says scams that add charges to customers' cell phone bills have almost doubled in Illinois the past year.
Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president of iOS Software, demonstrates a new mapping feature Wednesday showing Big Ben in London during an introduction of the new iPhone 5 in San Francisco.
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks Wednesday in front of an image of the iPhone 5 during an Apple event in San Francisco.
At the advent of Mitch Daniels' governorship, a close ally of his told me the new governor always had a long-range plan. Actually, the Daniels governorship was scripted in advance.
For the first time, Samsung Electronics Co. shipped more smartphones in the latest quarter than tech industry darling Apple Inc. This may look like a big upset in a world that affords the iPhone maker adulation and outsized expectations.
Mike Daisey's new show may be the only one in town where you may stifle the desire to automatically switch on your phone after it's over. You may not even want to admit you have one.
The Obama administration has explained its effort to block AT&T's purchase of T-Mobile USA by saying it will fight mergers that would reduce competition and hurt consumers.
AT&T may be flexing its lobbying muscle in next year's Indiana General Assembly session to put one of the finishing touches on telecommunications deregulation in the state and to limit the reach of a university consortium's super-high-speed fiber optic network.
HOBART | City officials on Monday shopped around for a citywide outdoor wireless service option but said they're in no rush to buy.
NEW YORK (AP) — In buying Skype, Microsoft is getting one of the rare companies that has turned its name into a verb, like Xerox or Google. "Let's Skype" is a phrase understandable, with slight translation, in much of the world.
Aging curbs ability to multitask
NEW YORK | Verizon Wireless made the long-awaited announcement Tuesday that it will start selling a version of the iPhone 4 on Feb. 10, giving U.S. iPhone buyers a choice of carriers for the first time.
CEDAR LAKE | The Town Complex parkland on Constitution Avenue is no place for a cell phone tower, residents told the Town Council during a work session on the project Tuesday night.
Frontier Communications Corp. announced Thursday it completed the acquisition of Verizon Communications' local wireline operations in 14 states, including Indiana and Illinois.
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