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Superyacht Eminence (formerly Project Excellence IV) is a 78.4m / 257' motor yacht, custom built in 2008 by Abeking & Rasmussen of Germany...Read more >
We are pleased to announce that a new boat, a Mangusta 105 (2004) has confirmed its new home port will be Tivat in Montenegro...Read more >
Super yacht high season 2013 is nearing its end and the Pampelonne beach was once again the prime spot for super yachts, superyacht owners and yachtcharter clients...Read more >
Giga yacht Cakewalk, an 281’ Derecktor built yacht is currently cruising in the West Med...Read more >
One of the nicest super yachts available for charters in Florida and the Bahamas region announced a special charter rate for all superyacht charters before the ...Read more >
The Monaco Yacht Show will be holding a new superyacht event this September. Monaco Yacht Summit will open its doors on 24th September...Read more >
Charter the super yacht Pegaso before it’s too late... RV Pegaso is one of the outstanding mega yachts offered for luxury crewed charters...Read more >
The siting of super yacht ANDREAS L, last week, in the South of France was both impressive and stunning to admire...Read more >
Last week we had the privilege of spotting the amazing Abeking & Rasmussen built super yacht EXCELLENCE V in the South of France...Read more >
Last weekend visitors to Cote d’Azur were able to witness a number of the superyachts in front of the famous Hotel du Cap Eden Roc in Cap d’Antibes on the Cote d’Azur, in South of France...Read more >
A long term client chartered the super yacht SIMPLE PLEASURE, a Sunseeker 30m in Italy earlier this year.
With only a small number of guests on board and crew / guest ratio being 2 / 1, the well organised private yacht charter experience was unforgettable.
All meticulously planned details were met, including lower fuel bills, carefully sourced out wines, personalised menue and difficult to keep bespoke itinerary.
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A scots confectionery firm is aiming for a turnover boost by launching a new range of sweets packed with calcium.
Golden Casket group hopes the strawberry yoghurt version of their Millions range will be a big hit.
The sweet will provide 15 per cent of the recommended daily amount of calcium for children.
Packets will be hitting stores across the UK and Ireland over the next few weeks.
Millions already contain natural fruit juices and are approved by the Vegetarian Society but bosses believe adding calcium may provide extra appeal to health-conscious parents.
The Greenock-based company had been looking into ways to make its new flavour stand out from the current portfolio and experimented with sugar-free sweets.
But after testing it decided to go with the calcium-enhanced version instead. Initially the flavour will be launched as a special edition but will be fully rolled out if sales go well.
Marketing manager Sandra Fisher hopes it will prove popular with all age groups.
She said: "We really don't know at the moment how many it is going to sell. It is new for us which is why we have started off as a limited edition.
"We looked at the calcium aspect and thought it was quite interesting because obviously kids like yoghurt and strawberries and cream.
"We did some research and a lot of testing and were able to perfect the flavour which is unusual and really nice.
"It gives you 15 per cent of your recommended daily intake which is quite high for a sweet."
The test for the new flavour will be whether it can increase sales of Millions.
Millions are responsible for more than half of Golden Casket's £20million turnover with strawberry the most popular flavour.

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Living life currently without purchasing a package in plastic is impossible for the majority of the world. Our society has been built around the ease and ability to utilize plastic whenever possible but we have to find an alternative for the sake of the planets future as well as our own.
To make this change, first and foremost, we need to find an alternative that is cheap and biodegradable. While researchers across the world are working to identify a product and have made serious progress, we also need our politicians to place bans on plastic packaging. To accomplish this, we need to make sure they understand all the consequences of plastic.
Given that, scientists from Flinders University and The University of Newcastle in Australia have detailed how opening a plastic bag or ripping open a plastic soda bottle can sprinkle small amounts of micro plastics into the environment. While this is just a small amount, microplastics are often consumed by living things, particularly in the ocean, adding to the growing problem of plastic pollution.
The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports, where they examined the number of micro plastics that were released by opening different types of plastic packaging using multiple methods.
Methods of opening varied from cutting with a scissors to tearing open the packaging. In all circumstances, microplastic pollution was released.
The researchers found that 10 to 30 nanogram of micro plastics could be shed for every 118 inches of plastic during cutting, tearing or twisting. The micro plastics consisted of fibers, fragments, and triangles.
Very little is known about the impact microplastis have on human health as the there has been very little research done but it something we need to be aware of.
Ingested microplastic have the potential to physically damage organs and leach hazardous chemicals that can compromise immune function and stymie growth and reproduction. Both microplastics and these chemicals may accumulate up the food chain, potentially impacting whole ecosystems, including the health of soils in which we grow our food. Microplastics in the water we drink and the air we breathe can also hit humans directly.


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BBC News - Microsoft unveils self-sketching whiteboard prototype
Microsoft is working on an interactive whiteboard that aims to interpret users' sketches to complete the diagrams they were drawing.
The firm will unveil the prototype as part of Techfest - an annual event where its researchers reveal some of the projects they are working on.
The digital canvas is designed to help workers make sense of "big data" - the growing amount of information available from sensors and other sources.
The project is still at an early stage.
However, one analyst suggested there would be significant demand for such a product if Microsoft was able to overcome the hurdles involved in bringing it to fruition.
Microsoft spent $9.8bn (£6.5bn) on research and development in its last financial year.
That is less than Samsung Electronics' $10.5bn investment but more than Apple's $3.4bn, Sony's $4.6bn and Google's $6.8bn R&D tallies.


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Retail future “overwhelmingly mobile” as m-commerce hits $5bn in Aus
M-commerce sales are on track to surpass $5 billion in Australia this year, with one in three now transacting via mobile devices and even more using them as product-discovery tools.
The findings from online retail portal eBay and payments service PayPal forecast spend through mobile channels to hit $5.6 billion in 2012, compared with just $155 million in 2010. But the value of mobile devices to retail doesn’t stop there, according to Melani Ingrey of Nielsen, with new screens growing the role of online media during the purchase cycle.
Based on research conducted by Nielsen among 3200 people in October, the proportion of Australians transacting on mobile devices has seen strong growth over the past 18 months, up from 12% of online Australians in January 2011 to 32% today. Looking at smartphones and tablets in isolation, the smartphone is used more commonly with 25% of the population engaging in this activity compared to 16% who transact via tablets.
Similarly, the use of smartphones as a discovery device is more widespread at 47% than the use of tablets at 25%.
The increase in access of mobile content is a valuable proposition for retailers as mobile devices provide a range of opportunities to support consumers’ discovery of what to buy and where to buy it from, not to mention facilitating purchases, Ingrey says: “Much of this growth has been driven by the ever increasing penetration of mobile devices across all demographics as well as strong attitudinal shifts.”
The study forecasts smartphone penetration to close the year at 64% of online Australians, up from 51% in 2011, and points to an increased appreciation of the convenience mcommerce provides.
Among those involved in shopping behaviour on their mobile devices, search remains the most common starting point of the discovery process. Two in three start the journey at this point, eclipsing emailers, a starting point for 29%, apps, for 26%, links on Facebook, for 24% and online ads, for 19%, as a trigger.
All up, across both mobile devices and PCs, 95% of online Australians now use online media for their research or discovery, the study found. Those engaged in such behaviour are almost as likely to have completed the purchase in-store purchase (75% have done so), than online (71%).
The findings are contained in eBay-PayPal’s joint ‘Secure Insight’ report, which calls the last two years a turning point for Australian retail thanks to a trifecta of pressures: the strong Australian dollar, mobile phones and heightened competition from offshore.
It likens the change in the retail landscape currently occurring at the hands of technology to the birth of the shopping mall in the country – at Roselands in Sydney in 1964. However, rather than taking 50 years to develop, vice president of eBay Australia, Deborah Sharkey, predicts the industry will consolidate under a new omni-channel model within five years.
The future is “overwhelmingly mobile, and it’s increasingly multichannel, on any connected screen” Sharkey predicts.


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There is no question that PROMATION is a key player in the world of printed circuit board (PCB) handling solutions offered in today’s marketplace. But what differentiates PROMATION from companies claiming to offer a premium solution? Many times when a customer is making a decision to automate a process in order to decrease cycle time or increase product throughput, they can be bombarded with proposals by many companies claiming to offer “the best” solution.
This upcoming fall will be PROMATION’s 15th anniversary and the company is proud to have provided customers with outstanding solutions and products that fit or surpass expectations. Hence, there must be a reason why PROMATION has been fortunate enough to have survived through a turmoil economy and –to this day - continues to provide PCB handling solutions to the electronics industry. The answer may be rather simple; however, the road to achieving world-class status — which is where PROMATION now stands — is, in fact, more complex. Over the years, PROMATION has continually reviewed applications, processes, customer feedback and product offerings to remain competitive and to offer continual improvement to product designs.
On a recent visit with contract manufacturer Dynalab, whose facility is located in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, PROMATION was able to conduct a comprehensive review of systems that had originally been installed more than nine years ago. “This visit has been both educational and informative,” said Gary Goldberg, President and CEO of PROMATION. “By understanding and analyzing the life spans of equipment currently undergoing real-life scenarios, we gain important insights as to our excellence and our areas allowing for improvement. As a manufacturer of premium solutions, it is vital that we understand how our equipment performs in the field and that we continually offer outstanding support, ensuring that our customers remain at the highest level of satisfaction.”
Because Dynalab is continuously presented with unique manufacturing opportunities, its capabilities have stayed diverse and vertically integrated. Dynalab provides a wide range of technologies, including-through hole and surface mount PCB assembly, wire harness and cable assembly, insert molding, and electromechanical assembly.
Craig Reiselt, Director of Manufacturing for Dynalab, reported running PROMATION’s equipment virtually incident-free over the past nine years. “We have achieved great faith in PROMATION’s products,” says Craig Reiselt, “By incorporating handling systems that perform well in a high output environment we allow ourselves more time dedicated towards our products; while eliminating time spent troubleshooting the production line.” Dynalab is a high-volume shop that runs three shifts, often seven days a week and has rigorously worked the equipment.
PROMATION’s technical review noted that the equipment was still in excellent condition (considering the workload) and would continue to perform for many more years with regular upkeep.
So what is the key to PROMATION’s success?
The company believes that an honest and well-designed product is the key element. By introducing products that require less maintenance and troubleshooting while increasing flexibility on the production floor, it has succeeded in retaining a strong foundation as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of premium automated solutions. While most of PROMATION’s designs remain proprietary, it believes that the “quality in design” is truly the most important aspect to its success.
It is well known that not much has changed in the conveying industry with regards to the simple transport of PCBs from one process to the next. However, PROMATION has managed to offer customers long-lasting custom solutions that best fit their needs without over complication. Some of these outstanding solutions include: traceability solutions (tracking of a PCB from initial birth until final assembly), intelligent routing systems, large platform handling solutions, automatic label placement and much more.
As PROMATION looks toward celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, it surely has many things to be thankful for. “Without our customers’ trust and loyalty, PROMATION simply would not exist,” concludes Gary Goldberg. “We are now entering a new golden era of electronics manufacturing, and we are proud to have served so many excellent customers with a truly premium solution. We are excited about the advancements in technology unfolding within our industry and look forward to celebrating another 15 years of excellence. ”
To find out what PROMATION can do for you; give us a call today and see why more people are choosing PROMATION than ever before.


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The best way to lose weight as well as protect yourself against a number of diseases is to cut your intake of animal products, according to an article in British news outlet The Express.
While the paper stops short of promoting a 100 percent plant-based diet, it promotes the idea of plant-heavy eating, saying it 'can improve life expectancy and decrease cancer risk - as well as offering fast weight loss'.
According to the article: "Embracing a vegetarian or vegan diet with the occasional inclusion of animal products may be the key to healthy living, and a trim waist line."
The article quotes nutritionist Dr. Emma Derbyshire's Flexitarian Diets and Health: A Review of the Evidence-Based Literature paper from January of this year.
In it, Dr. Derbyshire writes: "A flexitarian or semi-vegetarian diet [SVD] is one that is primarily vegetarian with the occasional inclusion of meat or fish.
"Of late, there appears to be an increasing movement toward this practice. There has not been a recent update on these diets from a health perspective.
"Using the National Centre for Biotechnology Information PubMed database, a search was made for all studies published between 2000 and 2016 that met defined inclusion criteria. A total of 25 studies were located with 12 focusing on body weight and diet quality.
"There was emerging evidence suggestive of benefits for body weight, improved markers of metabolic health, blood pressure, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
"SVD may also have a role to play in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease."
While the article promotes the benefits of flexitarianism, it also references a study suggesting plant-based is the optimum diet for weight loss.
Scientists behind the 2016 diet study conducted at I-SHOU University in China suggested that vegans can lose more weight than meat eaters and vegetarians, after testing out eight different diets on a total of 1151 subjects over a median duration of 18 weeks.
According to the study: "Overall, individuals assigned to the vegetarian diet groups lost significantly more weight than those assigned to the non-vegetarian diet groups.
"Subgroup analysis detected significant weight reduction in subjects consuming a vegan diet and, to a lesser extent, in those given lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets
"The vegans lost on average 5.5lbs, while the vegetarians lost on average 4.5lbs."
In line with the I-SHOU study's conclusion, other health experts agree that while flexitarianism can be a positive step, a plant-based diet offers more benefits.
Veronika Powell, Scientific Advisor at Viva! Health told PBN: "Meat and dairy are two major fat sources, so reducing their consumption will have a noticeable effect on your weight - but it’s best to cut them out of your diet completely.
"It will make you feel better, lighter yet more energised, and it will improve your digestive health.
"A fully plant-based diet is the best for effortless weight management and overall health."
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are prepared in the author's capacity and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Plant Based News itself.Reuse this content
Maria is the Editor of Plant Based News. A former magazine editor, newspaper reporter, and features writer, her work has been published by The Guardian, The Huffington Post, and various regional newspapers. She was previously the editor of Vegan Life magazine and Vegan Trade Journal. She has interviewed a huge range of people, from Prime Ministers to authors, activists, pop stars and actors, and enjoys the varied range of topics writing for PBN allows her to tackle. You can follow her on Twitter @MariaChiorando and Instagram @mariachiorando.
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July 2017: Google opens London data centre region
Google has expanded the footprint of the GCP with the opening of a new data centre region in London, strengthening the company’s commitment to the UK in the face of Brexit.
The London base is only the Alphabet-owned company’s second European data centre region after Belgium, although it does also have plans to spread its wings further into Germany, Finland and the Netherlands later this year.
At the launch event, Google’s managing director of UK and Ireland Ronan Harris described the UK as “the home of digital and the home of digital innovation”, reiterating that the UK has plenty to offer the technology market even after it breaks away from the European Union.
April 2017: Elastic brings search and analytics to GCP
Google has partnered with California-based data firm Elastic to bring managed support of its open source search and analytics platform onto GCP.
The complete Elastic stack is now available in Google’s cloud, providing customers with multiple new features including increased security and privacy, data analytics and machine learning services and the tools needed to build applications.
Elastic co-founder and CTO Shay Banon said the partnership represents “a significant step forward for our users”, describing GCP as “one of the most innovative and open source friendly cloud platforms”.
March 2017: Google releases Cloud Container Builder on GCP
Google has strengthened its container offering on GCP as competition in the market continues to gather momentum.
Cloud Container Builder is now generally available on Google’s cloud service and boasts features such as a command-line interface, automated build triggers and build steps for executing build commands.
Google describes the service as “a stand-alone tool for building container images regardless of deployment environment”, which can be used by both large enterprises and startups.
The real sweetener for potential customers is that it comes with 120 free build-minutes per day, enabling most users to move their builds to the cloud at no cost and with none of the overheads of managing their own servers. Any additional build-minutes are priced at $0.0034/minute.
February 2017: GCP packs Nvidia GPUs for deep learning algorithms
Google has made access to Nvidia graphics cards available on its Compute Engine and Cloud Machine Learning platforms, giving GCP customers access to additional computational power for training smart software and artificial intelligence (AI).
Offering such a service means companies working on software and systems that use machine and deep learning algorithms won’t have to have GPU clusters in their own data centres, thereby cutting hardware costs.
Deep learning and AI networks both require huge amounts of data analysis, something which traditional central processing units (CPUs) fall short on when compared to products such as Nvidia’s Tesla K80 graphics processing units (GPUs).
Google is of course not the only company providing cloud-powered deep learning systems, but this partnership will help to strengthen its offering in this area.
Victory for irate neighbours? Airbnb confirms its temporary Covid ban on parties in its listings…
Market analysts see strong demand for virtual reality and augmented reality tech through 2026 in…


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Pokemon Go's ambitions look to have been hinted at in this new Super Bowl spot
UPDATE ONE: The future ambitions of Pokemon Go following its release later this year may have been hinted at in a new trailer celebrating all thing Pocket Monster.
Providing something special for the Pokemon Super Bowl TV spot, an inspirational story can be seen unfolding from around the globe.
Feeding off each other's confidence, a group of individuals can be seen exceling at their chosen activities, ending with a man taking on a rival Pokemon trainer in a huge stadium.
Super Bowl adverts are known for their creativity and cost and this one looks certain to help celebrate Pokemon's 20-year anniversary, in a 2016 already jam-packed with special releases.
The biggest by far though has to be Pokemon Go, and it would seem that this new advert hints at both Nintendo and developers Niantic's ambitions to create a global hit that could see real-life tournaments take place in packed arenas.
Pokemon Go looks set to feature the first generation of Pocket Monsters, although it's unclear if this will be the only generation available at launch.
The Wii U will also see the launch of Pokemon fighting-game, Pokken Tournament which arrives later in 2016.
Pokemon Go could be the Nintendo NX's first AR if recent reports are to be believed
New reports claim that the NX gaming platform could launch in two parts, with a standalone-style controller device arriving in November, ahead of a full home console launch in 2017.
Macquarie Capital Securities in Japan have released their own predictions, revealing that an element of AR could be included in the Nintendo NX setup.
They also surmise that the handheld will cost around $200, leaving the first part of the Nintendo NX project likely on shelves following Pokemon Go’s launch.
Pokemon Go will be Nintendo's first AR title released in 2016 and will be playable on select Android and Apple devices.
Pokemon Go is to launch on smartphones in 2016
Games industry consultant Dr. Serkan Toto has predicted that recent moves made by developers Niantic could pave the way for yet more titles getting the special real-world treatment.
“In a quote, John Hanke (CEO of Niantic proper) says the platform is a new business he wants to see developing quicker through his company’s Japan operations,” Toto states in his Kanten Games blog.
“Generally speaking, Japanese gaming companies (I mean Nintendo in this specific case) love going vertical by becoming platforms if any opportunity to do so opens up: so it might very well be that Pokemon is not the only Nintendo mobile game that will make use of AR and GPS going forward.”
Recent patent filings, according to MCS, also suggest that the company could see new mobile games run on both NX devices.
Nintendo has confirmed that a dedicated device will launch alongside the AR game, called Pokemon GO Plus.
Plus will connect to smartphones via Bluetooth and notify the player about events in the game—such as the appearance of a Pokémon nearby—using an LED and vibration.
Players will also be able to catch Pokémon or perform other simple actions by pressing the button on the device.
The Nintendo NX could certainly profit from being compatible with Pokemon Go and it would fit into the recent reports that suggest Nintendo are looking to expand into the mobile market, as well as expand the usage of their exclusive IPs.
The Pokemon Go Plus device from Nintendo


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Gov. Bill Haslam, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, and dozens of local business and political leaders attended a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of Global Green Lighting's 180,000-square-foot manufacturing facility Friday morning.
"I want to thank Global Green Lighting for their investment in Hixson and for bringing their offshore operations back to the U.S., creating quality jobs for Tennesseans," Haslam said, according to a news release. "Earlier this year, we announced an international strategy to increase exports of Tennessee goods, and supporting companies like GGL that are taking their products to the worldwide market will help us in our effort to become the No. 1 state in the Southeast for high-quality jobs."
Global Green Lighting employees design and assemble low-energy lighting control systems.
The products allow an operator to control lighting systems that use smart grid and fiber optic technology via the Internet from up to 35 miles away.
Global Green Lighting's first generation of LED lights and fixtures provides energy savings of up to 75 percent compared to traditional streetlights, according to GGL President and CEO Don Lepard.
The company has a contract with Chattanooga to replace 27,000 lights throughout the entire city.
Prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Haslam and Berke toured the facility with Lepard.
The tour included a lighting demonstration, as well as a tour of the manufacturing lines that were previously operating in China.
"Today marks a major milestone for our company," Lepard said, according to a news release. "GGL has designed, developed, produced and deployed our lighting technology right here in Tennessee. We’ve honored our commitment to bring manufacturing and jobs back to the U.S., and today, GGL is producing lights for Chattanooga in Chattanooga."
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Hoagies on Main lowers prices, celebrates 1 year
At a time when almost all businesses are raising prices, Hoagies on Main actually lowered them.
To celebrate one year since opening, Hoagies on Main in Palmyra made big changes to the menu beginning April 3. By far the biggest was reducing the cost of all cold sandwiches by $1.
“We want to bring more families in and we want to be a more family-oriented place,” said Michelle Anderson, who co-owns Hoagies on Main with her daughter, Caitlin Hummel.
Hoagies on Main now offers half-size cold sandwiches as well. Previously, only the full size was available, ranging from 10 to 12 inches.
All sandwiches are still made using Philadelphia rolls delivered fresh daily – hard rolls from Liscio’s Bakery, soft rolls from Conshohocken Italian Bakery – as well as premium ingredients you won’t typically find at your local grocery store.
“It all starts with the bread,” said Anderson. “Then the fresh cut vegetables and your fresh cut meats that you can’t go down to Weis Markets and get.
"Our special Italian meats and cheeses are cut fresh every day, too.”
After the price changes, sandwiches now start at $5.75.
“We’re kind of in between Lebanon and Hummelstown, so there’s a hoagie shop on either side, and we were coming in high compared to them,” said Anderson. “We wanted to come in around their price and make it so that everybody can afford us.”
In addition to the changes on the cold sandwich side, Hoagies on Main expanded its menu. New offerings include appetizers such as cheese fries, specialty burgers, a buffalo chicken cheesesteak and for the healthy diet, hoagie bowl salads.
All of the new items are on sale now.
Located at 601 W. Main St. in Palmyra, Hoagies on Main is open 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, until 5 p.m. on Saturdays and closed Sundays. The phone number is 717-641-3251.


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A sticker of FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi is now available on LINE. Courtesy of LINE Philippines
MANILA, Philippines - With the soccer leagues abroad on international break, mobile messaging application LINE gives Filipino fans of FC Barcelona something to talk about.
LINE has officially signed a partnership with world-renowned soccer club FC Barcelona in an effort to further increase its users.
Fans of the world-renowned soccer club can now access club updates, news, photos and videos by adding the team's official account as a friend.
Users will also be able to download LINE exclusive stickers featuring several players from FC Barcelona, including recent signed Neymar da Silva Santos Junior and current FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.
With soccer already growing in steady popularity in the Philippines, the collaboration of FC Barcelona with LINE, which is already a popular app among Filipinos as well, will only boost the sport and the team more, said LINE in a statement.
The characters will also appear in LINE's family applications, such as LINE GAME and LINE camera, as well as an original brand room of LINE PLAY.
LINE is available for download for free on the iTunes App Store, Google's Play Store, BlackBerry's App World, as well as for Windows and Mac OS X platforms.


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BRADLEY BEACH — The borough council Tuesday voted to introduce a revised version of an earlier approved ordinance that sought to ban development of hotels and motels within Bradley Beach.
The original ordinance had been motivated in part by concern that operators of large chain hotels could seek to build one in the borough. However, a review by the zoning board and borough attorney found the measure to be in conflict with land use law.
The corrective ordinance, introduced by a 3-2 vote, will next receive review by the zoning board, to consider whether it complies with the borough’s master plan.
The introduction followed an unsuccessful attempt by Mayor Larry Fox to offer an alternative measure that would allow for construction of smaller boutique hotels and motels of 20 rooms or less. The council voted 3-2 to remove that version from the meeting’s agenda.
Despite the outcome, Mayor Fox said his alternative had opened “a discussion that needs to be had.”
The borough council is next scheduled to meet on Tuesday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m.
For more on this story, read the next edition of The Coast Star—on newsstands Thursday or online in our e-Edition.
Subscribe today! If you're not already an annual subscriber to The Coast Star, get your subscription today! For just $34 per year, you will receive local mail delivery weekly, with pages and pages of local news and online access to our e-edition on Starnewsgroup.com.


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Nintendo has announced that Metroid Prime 4 is being scrapped, and the development process is beginning again with the help of a new studio.
Metroid Prime 4 is being rebooted before it's even been released, with development now being handled by Retro Studios, who developed the original Metroid Prime series.
Starting from scratch will delay the release, and Nintendo warned that it will be a long time until we can expect another update on the title.
Shinya Takahashi, senior managing executive officer, broke the bad news on YouTube.
The game was announced at E3 2017, and didn't make an appearance at last year's event because it wasn't ready to show off.
It looks like the development process hasn't gone as envisioned, with Takahashi explaining that it "has not reached the standards [Nintendo seeks in] a sequel to the Metroid Prime series."
Producer Kensuke Tanabe will be working alongside Retro Studios, with the team starting over from scratch.
Nintendo promised that once the title is finally complete, it will "stand shoulder to shoulder with the past Metroid Prime series titles."
While no release window was shared, it looks like we're in for a long wait.


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A family of three (including a 7 year old girl) on a British Airways overnight from Vancouver to London spotted bedbugs crawling on their seats and alerted the crew, but the crew said the flight was sold out and wouldn't move them, so they spent 9 hours getting gnawed by bedbugs, arriving with their skin "absolutely covered" in bites.
The family was unable to reach anyone at BA customer service by phone -- they just kept getting stuck in endless hold queues -- but when a tweet showing the child's bites went viral, BA contacted them and offered them a business-class upgrade on the way home.
It's possible the flight was genuinely sold out on the way out, but based on my experience as a 33d Order Mason Platinum Flyer on BA, I'm willing to bet that the were unsold seats in First or Business.
The airline responded when she snapped photos of their bites and Tweeted them at British Airways. British Airways upgraded the family to business class for their return trip, and apologized for the experience.
“We have been in touch with our customer to apologize and investigate further,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement to CTV. “British Airways operates more than 280,000 flights every year, and reports of bed bugs onboard are extremely rare. Nevertheless, we are vigilant and continually monitor our aircraft.”
British Airways Apologizes After Bed Bugs Bite Passengers On Overnight Flight [Mary Beth Quirk / Consumerist]
In a new Columbia Law and Economics Working Paper, Columbia Law prof Joshua Mitts uses "stylometry" (previously) to track how market manipulators who publish false information about companies in order to profit from options are able to flush their old identities when they become notorious for misinformation and reboot them under new handles.
When Vancouver tech retailer NCIX went bankrupt, it stopped paying its bills, including the bills for the storage where its servers were being kept; that led to the servers being auctioned off without being wiped first, containing sensitive data -- addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers, passwords, etc -- for thousands of customers. Also on […]
Jesse writes, "Vancouver tech retailer NCIX was driven into the ground last year (much to the morbid fascination of local techies). Now their fetid corpse is in the news again, after their SQL servers were sold for $1500 at auction without being wiped, containing the personal data – including credit card details – of thousands […]
Gone are the days when you needed to pore over a 400-page physics textbook to learn about weight ratios, aerodynamics, and all of those other STEM concepts that let us take to the skies. Thanks to Force Flyers’ DIY Building Block Drones, you can foster your STEM knowledge as you build and fly your own functional […]
As more companies leverage cloud technology to unite and streamline their operations, the need for capable IT pros increases. But, as any IT guru will tell you, demand alone won’t get your foot in the door to this lucrative field. If you want to cash in on the demand and build a thriving IT career, […]
iOS 12 is finally here, which means now is the best time for aspiring developers to throw their hats into the app development game. While app development can be tricky for some, you can take an intuitive, beginner-friendly approach to understanding app creation and Apple’s latest iOS platform with the iOS 12 & Xcode 10 Bootcamp, […]


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Researchers at the University of Geneva have studied the psychological barriers to electric vehicle adoption, finding that underestimating battery autonomy is a significant obstacle to uptake.
Currently, the transport sector is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, with the use of fossil fuel vehicles accounting for approximately 18% of the world’s CO2 emissions. As greenhouse gases are a significant cause of global warming, which is accelerating at a worrying pace, it has become imperative to transition to electric vehicles (EVs).
The electric vehicle market is expanding in many countries. However, the market share is not yet big enough for a significant reduction in road traffic emissions. In 2020, EVs represented only 1% of the global vehicle fleet, including hybrid vehicles. In order to meet the 2030 climate targets, this proportion must reach at least 12%.
What is curbing electric vehicle adoption?
There are currently barriers to the electrification of the vehicle fleet; this includes practical barriers such as sufficient electric vehicle charging points, as well as psychological barriers to electric vehicle adoption.
A group of researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have examined these psychological barriers that prevent consumers from transitioning to electric vehicles. Through their research, they found that there is a systematic problem of consumers underestimating the capacity of electric vehicle driving ranges to meet their daily requirements.
The team’s research findings, which have been published in Nature Energy, could lead to new avenues to overcome current barriers to electric vehicle adoption, speed up electrification and influence policy approaches.
According to the researchers, the majority of financial and technological obstacles to EVs are being eliminated, with more affordable EVs on the market and financial incentives, as well as a growing number of charging points. Despite this, EV adoption has curbed. The team discovered that the barrier to EV adoption now resides in cognitive biases and shortcuts of car drivers.
“Until now, initiatives related to the energy transition generally focused on the technological and financial barriers to their realisation. Psychological factors have been given very little consideration. However, many studies show that individuals do not automatically adopt the behaviours most beneficial for themselves or society, often due to a lack of access to complete information”, said Mario Herberz, who is the first author of the study and researcher at the Consumer Decision and Sustainable Behavior Laboratory of the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the UNIGE.
Data collection reveals cognitive bias
The team interviewed over 2,000 car drivers from Germany and the US, ensuring to interview people from a variety of social backgrounds and a broad age range. Through this, the UNIGE team were able to get to the root of the cognitive biases that were holding consumers back from electric vehicle adoption.
“We observed that the participants systematically underestimated the compatibility of electric battery capacities available on the current market with their real needs,” commented Tobias Brosch, director of the Consumer Decision and Sustainable Behavior Laboratory and last author of the research.
The data reveals that many consumers lack the necessary information on EV batteries, believing that current batteries are not sufficient to cover their daily requirements. This underestimation is significant, at approximately 30%.
“To reassure people, the solution is not only to densify the network of charging stations or to increase the size of batteries, which require scarcer resources such as lithium and cobalt. It is the provision of information adapted to the concrete needs of drivers that will reduce their concern and increase their willingness to adopt an electric vehicle,” added Herberz.
Calculating the optimal driving range of EVs
Upon further research, the UNIGE team discovered that over 90% of journeys could be completed using vehicles with a 200km driving range; this is well within the capacity of EV batteries on the market today. “The trend is to increase performance, but we have observed that a greater range, beyond 300km for example, does not increase the fit to daily needs. It would only have a minimal impact on the number of additional trips that can be completed with one electric charge. Increasing the size of the batteries is therefore not a key element in the energy transition,” concluded Herberz.
The group’s research – which was partially funded by the Swiss Federal Office – indicates how significant the psychological barriers to electric vehicle adoption are. It also demonstrates how important it is that people have access to relevant information so that these misconceptions are less prevalent. Without such underestimations on the capacity of EV batteries, consumers would be more likely to buy and use electric vehicles, thus taking us closer to reaching important climate targets.


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NEW YORK — Wall Street surged on Tuesday as a record jump in retail sales indicated the U.S. economy is on the road to recovery, five months into its pandemic-inflicted recession.
All three major U.S. stock indexes were sharply higher, and on course for their third consecutive daily gains.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The Dow and the S&P remain about 11% and 8% below their respective record closing highs reached in February, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq hovers about 1% below its all-time closing high reached on June 10.
Data released by the Commerce Department showed retail sales jumped by a record 17.7% in May, blowing past the 8% increase analysts expected.
“We’re seeing pretty broad gains,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities in New York. “As the economy reopens, you’re going to see strong numbers but after that they’re going to peter out.”
“As (U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome) Powell pointed out, we have a long way to go,” Cardillo added.


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Snowden Proposes Smartphone Privacy Introspection Engine
Whistle-blower turned Russia-based privacy advocate Edward Snowden has proposed a device that will inform users when their phones are tracking or disclosing their location.
Named “The Introspection Engine”, this will be an open source, user-inspectable and field-verifiable module attached to an existing smart phone “that makes no assumptions about the trustability of the phone’s operating system”.
In a lengthy article, Snowden said: “Turning off radios by entering airplane mode is no defense. Furthermore, airplane mode is a “soft switch”; the graphics on the screen have no essential correlation with the hardware state. Malware packages, peddled by hackers at a price accessible by private individuals, can activate radios without any indication from the user interface; trusting a phone that has been hacked to go into airplane mode is like trusting a drunk person to judge if they are sober enough to drive.”
Snowden intended the application to be for journalists working in sensitive areas, as “smartphones are extremely complex and present a large, porous attack surface” and “even a perfectly secure phone will not save a reporter from ‘victim-operated’ exploits such as spear-phishing”.
He intended the Introspection Engine to monitor radio activity using a measurement tool contained in a phone-mounted battery case, which engine has the capability to alert a reporter of a dangerous situation in real-time. “The core principle is simple: if the reporter expects radios to be off, alert the user when they are turned on,” he said.
“This work is not just an academic exercise; ultimately we must provide a field-ready introspection solution to protect reporters at work. Although the general principles underlying this work can be applied to any phone, reducing these principles to practice requires a significant amount of reverse engineering, as there are no broadly supported open source phone solutions on the market.”
He said that from the outside, the Introspection Engine will look and behave like a typical battery case for the iPhone 6 and as well as providing extra power to the iPhone 6, the case will contain the introspection engine’s electronics core.
“The electronics core will likely consist of a small FPGA and an independent CPU running a code base completely separate from the iPhone 6’s CPU,” he said. “This physical isolation of CPU cores minimizes the chance of malware from the phone infecting the introspection engine.”
Snowden intends to build a prototype over the coming year, and verify the introspection engine’s abilities, and will be built for the iPhone 6 and later for other makes and models of phones.
“By grouping radio control test points together, leaving them exposed, and publishing a terse description of each test point, direct introspection engines can be more rapidly deployed and retrofitted into future smartphones,” he said.
However Cesare Garlati, chief security strategist at the prpl Foundation, doubted how this would aid the confidentiality, integrity and authenticity of mobile communications.
He said: “There is an easier way to make sure your mobile device doesn't send unwanted communications: turn it off and remove the battery, and if you really care about this, don't buy ‘sealed’ devices that don't allow you to remove the battery.”
Source: Information Security Magazine


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Arkham Intelligence, a blockchain analytics company based in New York, has unveiled the launch of its latest platform, the Intel Exchange. Positioned as an intel-to-earn platform, Arkham claims that it will empower web3 sleuths and researchers to monetize their skills effectively.
The newly introduced Arkham Intel Exchange aims to facilitate the convergence of buyers and sellers of valuable blockchain data associated with any cryptocurrency wallet through a bounty mechanism. According to the team, the platform allows users to post bounties seeking on-chain information by locking funds to request details about crypto addresses or entities. These bounties can then be fulfilled by “bounty hunters,” who are blockchain researchers or sleuths, in exchange for payment.
The blockchain analytics company aims to connect buyers and sellers of valuable blockchain data through a bounty mechanism
The company asserts that the decision to launch this innovative solution stems from a desire to simplify the lives of crypto traders, investors, journalists, researchers, and other individuals who require comprehensive, clear, and accurate on-chain data. Arkham recognizes that many individuals lack the time and expertise necessary to develop proficiency in blockchain analysis.
However, the project has received criticism from some observers who raise concerns about a potential breach of people’s privacy. Despite this, Arkham remains steadfast in its commitment to providing a platform that enables the exchange of blockchain intelligence.
Announcing The World’s First On-Chain Intelligence Exchange
Buy and sell information on the owner of any blockchain wallet address—anonymously, via smart contract. pic.twitter.com/4xr7dLvOjp
— Arkham (@ArkhamIntel) July 10, 2023
As part of the launch, Arkham plans to offer a maximum of $2,500,000 worth of ARKM tokens to users of the platform. Buyers will be restricted to purchasing a maximum of 300,000 ARKM tokens, equivalent to $15,000.
To facilitate the token sale, Arkham has chosen Binance Launchpad as the platform for its native ARKM token. Binance Launchpad will commence taking snapshots of users’ BNB balances starting from July 11, with the subscription period set to open on July 17.
With the launch of the Intel Exchange, Arkham Intelligence aims to provide a platform that empowers web3 sleuths and researchers to monetize their skills while offering a convenient marketplace for buyers and sellers of valuable blockchain data. Despite concerns from critics regarding privacy, the company remains committed to providing comprehensive, clear, and accurate on-chain data for individuals in need.


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Windows 10 systems will be updated automatically to patch the processor flaw
Microsoft has issued an update to all supported versions of Windows.
The software update is designed to protect against a processor bug unearthed in Intel, AMD, and ARM chipsets.
Computers running Windows 10 will be updated automatically today.
Windows 7 and Windows 8 users can manually download and install the update now, however, Microsoft will roll-out the update automatically via Windows Update next Tuesday.
The update issued by Microsoft is not enough on its own and relies on firmware updates from Intel, ARM, and AMD.
Thankfully, these are being rolled-out at the moment to most users.
Windows 10 systems with Intel Skylake processors or newer will not see a performance dip
Unfortunately, the fixes could be extremely taxing on some older machines.
According to technology blog The Verge, Intel processors based on Skylake architecture (launched in 2015) or newer should not see any significant drop in performance.
However, older processors could see a dramatic slowdown following the firmware and software updates.
The Register has reported that these updates could slow down some PC models by up to 30 per cent.
The flaw appears to be present in every Intel chipset produced in the last decade, The Register reports.
Kernels in operating systems have complete control over the system.
It is the kernal that connects applications to the processor, memory, and other hardware built into the computer.
Kernels also contain a memory space hidden from user processes and programs that houses password data, login keys, files cached from disk, and so more sensitive data.
Microsoft issued a statement about its latest patch, “We're aware of this industry-wide issue and have been working closely with chip manufacturers to develop and test mitigations to protect our customers.
“We are in the process of deploying mitigations to cloud services and have also released security updates to protect Windows customers against vulnerabilities affecting supported hardware chips from Intel, ARM, and AMD. We have not received any information to indicate that these vulnerabilities had been used to attack our customers.”
Intel issued the following statement, following the news of the kernel flaw.
“Intel and other technology companies have been made aware of new security research describing software analysis methods that, when used for malicious purposes, have the potential to improperly gather sensitive data from computing devices that are operating as designed. Intel believes these exploits do not have the potential to corrupt, modify or delete data.
“Recent reports that these exploits are caused by a ‘bug’ or a ‘flaw’ and are unique to Intel products are incorrect. Based on the analysis to date, many types of computing devices — with many different vendors’ processors and operating systems — are susceptible to these exploits.
“Intel is committed to product and customer security and is working closely with many other technology companies, including AMD, ARM Holdings and several operating system vendors, to develop an industry-wide approach to resolve this issue promptly and constructively.
Microsoft Edge shows off Windows 10 creators update features
“Intel has begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits. Contrary to some reports, any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time.
“Intel is committed to the industry best practice of responsible disclosure of potential security issues, which is why Intel and other vendors had planned to disclose this issue next week when more software and firmware updates will be available. However, Intel is making this statement today because of the current inaccurate media reports.
“Check with your operating system vendor or system manufacturer and apply any available updates as soon as they are available. Following good security practices that protect against malware in general will also help protect against possible exploitation until updates can be applied.
“Intel believes its products are the most secure in the world and that, with the support of its partners, the current solutions to this issue provide the best possible security for its customers.”


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|Lorna Jane Calypso Run Tank, $59.99 (AUS$)|
There was an interesting paragraph in the linked OC Register article about Lululemon: "However, a problem involving bright colors that bled when washed may impact sales, according to one July 31 analyst report by BMO Capital Markets. "Following our recent trip to Asia, we believe LULU's recently expanded manufacturing partnerships could be partly to blame [duh - ya think?] in terms of isolating the problem. However, because this is a grass-roots company, we think this is a significant customer-relations issue that could tarnish the brand's reputation among LULU's loyal customer base and possibly result in lost sales." Lululemon declined Tuesday to respond to the report."
I will comment that my latest Cool Racerback and Define purchases have been made in Indonesia instead of China and haven't had problems with bleeding so I'm thinking lulu dumped the bad Chinese manufacturer who was causing a lot of the bleeding. I've been watching the boards for comments about Flare Light and Bordeaux bleeding but haven't seen any mentions of it so I'm crossing my fingers the bleeding is behind us. (Thanks to Michelle for the tip on the new store.)


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GOOGLE'S NEW PLATFORM GOOGLE MUSIC INCLUDES OVER 13 MLN TRACKS
Google launched a Google Music platform, which is about discovering, purchasing, sharing and listening to digital music in new, innovative and personalized ways, according to Official Google Blog.
Last May Google launched Music Beta by Google with a clear ambition: to help people access their music collections easily from any device. Music Beta enables users to upload their personal music collection (up to 20,000 songs) for free to the cloud so they could stream it anywhere, any time. Now the beta service became a broader platform.
Google Music automatically syncs users' entire music library both purchases and uploads across all devices so users don't have to worry about cables, file transfers or running out of storage space. It is also possible to select specific artists, albums and playlists to listen while being offline.
Google also added a new music store in Android Market, fully integrated with Google Music for purchasing music. The store offers more than 13 million tracks.
Google Music also has the feature of sharing the song with friends on Google+.
Now Google Music is open in the U.S. at market.android.com, and over the next few days, it will be also available in Android Market on devices running Android 2.2 and above.
- 1Google launched a Google Music platform, which is about discovering, purchasing, sharing and listening to digital music in new, innovative and personalized ways, according to Official Google Blog. Last ...
- 1861 Death of philologist George Akhverdian. He was born in 1818.
- 1928 The First Congress of Armenian Collective Farms opens in Yerevan.
- 1937 Death of Hakob Hakobyan (poet) in Tbilissi. He was born in 1866 in Elizabetpol (Gandzak).
- 1957 The Yerevan-Akhta (Hrazdan) railroad is completed.


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The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has revised a lower court’s ruling in a patent battle between Apple and Samsung, according to an article by Adi Robertson on The Verge. The court battle, dating back to 2011, revolved around allegations that Samsung had copied iPhone designs for several of its smartphones.
A recent ruling found that Samsung had indeed infringed on Apple’s design patents, and awarded the latter $930 million in damages. The latest ruling essentially agrees with the previous one, but to a lesser extent; the court said that while Samsung had infringed on some patents, it wasn’t stealing the overall look and feel of the devices. Accordingly, lower courts will now have to find a lower figure for the damages owed to Apple.
In a statement, an Apple representative called the ruling “a victory for design and those who respect it.” Meanwhile, a Samsung representative said the ruling “shows that Apple’s claims over trade dress and damages lack merit and are grossly exaggerated.”
The case is probably a bit embarrassing for both parties, at this point. The companies have been seeking to thaw their relations lately, with a recent announcement that Samsung would provide the microprocessor for Apple’s next iPhone. Bad blood is costly, after all, and the smartphone market is only getting more competitive. But with both players still very much active in the smartphone market, and Samsung preparing an mPayment platform to rival Apple Pay, it’s a rivalry that will clearly continue for some time.


text: More anger directed at chancellor following failure to freeze VAT for hospitality in spring statement: Further anger has been directed at Rishi Sunak after the chancellor failed to announce any sector-specific support in his spring statement. The industry has long been campaigning for its rate of VAT to be frozen at 12.5%, highlighting both the importance of the sector to the UK’s economic recovery, and to the damage already done to it by pandemic-related lockdowns and subsequent restrictions. But hopes of avoiding a return to the rate of 20% were dashed when the chancellor failed to make any mention of such a move in his “mini-Budget”. Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, said: “While the government has taken some important steps to address the cost-of-living crisis, including the very welcome cut to fuel duty, we feel the measures do not go far enough to support pubs. We’re disappointed the chancellor has failed to reverse the VAT rise for the hospitality sector, which is a bitter blow for UK pubs still struggling to recover following the pandemic. Coupled with rising prices across the supply chain, and disproportionately high business rates, today’s VAT hike is a missed opportunity for the industry and puts at risk the ability of UK pubs to fully recover from the pandemic, create jobs and support the wider economy.” Neil Manhas, managing director and chief financial officer at Pizza Hut UK and Ireland, added: “Several government initiatives have been critical for the survival of hospitality businesses, but the temporary VAT cut has played an out-sized role in allowing the industry to rebound following the pandemic. The government choosing not to grant an extension will be devastating for the momentum of our post-pandemic growth, recruitment and expanding the support we offer our communities.” Clive Chesser, Punch Pubs & Co chief executive, said: “The spring statement signalled a missed opportunity for the chancellor to provide the critically needed long-term strategic support to a sector that has paid a disproportionate burden of tax for decades. This is hugely disappointing but we will continue to lobby the government for the essential, targeted and meaningful financial support required to help our sector to thrive again.” JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martinsaid: “We are naturally disappointed the chancellor has not taken the opportunity to reduce VAT in respect of food in pubs and restaurants to the same level as supermarkets. It does not make economic sense for the hospitality industry to be taxed at a higher rate.” Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, added: “The sector remains on a knife-edge as it emerges from the pandemic, and the impact of the recent energy crisis and invasion of Ukraine has ensured the turbulent times will continue. The coming months could be some of the hardest yet for our pubs and brewers, and the failure to act represents a hugely missed opportunity.” Ronan Harte, chief executive of BaxterStorey, said: “As a workplace hospitality provider, we have started to see promises of a fast recovery following the latest restrictions lifting, with more and more customers returning to the office on a more frequent basis. However, with the cost of living on the rise and consumer spending likely to suffer as a result, failure to do more to support hospitality bosses may impact this upwards trajectory and leave the industry struggling to invest and forward plan.” Sunak made his statement against a backdrop of inflation rising to a 30-year high of 6.2% in the 12 months to February, and forecast to rise further to 7.4% this year.


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With the explosion of smartphone technology this year, freelance developers have found lots of work.
Elance, an online firm that helps businesses hire and manage online instead of onsite, says that 2010 broke records for online work adoption. This was due mainly to the explosion of the smartphone market.
According to ComScore, over 45.5 million people in the U.S. owned a smartphone in 2010, and it's the fastest growing segment of the mobile phone market. Elance says that this jump translated into a 98% growth in the number of jobs posted on its site by businesses seeking mobile developers this year alone and it's expected to continue to accelerate into 2011.
Here are some other skill areas that saw a sharp increase in online workers:
- SEM (search engine marketing) was up 53% in job postings-SEM is internet marketing that promotes websites by increasing their visibility in search engine result pages through the use of SEO, paid placement , contextual advertising, and paid inclusion.
- iPhone development-35% increase.
- Google App Engine (a platform for developing and hosting web applications in Google-managed data centers) was up 32%.
- Job postings for HTML5 programmers and developers was up 31%.
If any of these look enticing to you, look into them. Calvin Sun wrote a piece for TechRepublic that gives some great legal advice for those entering the freelance or consultant realm.


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- The complete A to Z of food in France, according to famed American chef David Lebovitz
- French pastry wars: Pain au chocolat versus chocolatine
Photo: Campus France/Flickr
With the price of butter on the rise since May 2016, favourite French treats like croissants, brioche and tarts could suffer a knock-on price hike, the federation said.
As your scales might be already be aware, croissants are 25 percent butter and with the crucial ingredient now costing €5.37 per kilo, compared to €3 before May last year, bakeries are taking a hit.
“These levels of prices have never been seen,” explained Armelle Favre, who is in charge of communications for the FEB, adding that the rise is due to a shortage of milk. “The lack is a result of a strong demand in Asian countries for milk. Today, the shortage has been slightly curbed but milk is used for cheese and cream as a priority, not for butter.”
Photo: Raphaël Gabbay/Flickr
The federation has called for the dairy industry to prioritise the production of butter as a way of battling the rise in prices.
But the FEB, which represents the baked goods industry encompassing the factories responsible for producing the products as well as those distributing them, is also calling for large distributors to pay more for their baked goods to avoid the production line suffering.
If the distributors listen to their appeal, it looks likely consumers won't be able to avoid paying more for their buttery treats.


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It wasn’t a wipe-out, but it also wasn’t brilliant news either as the UK’s statistics body reported December retail sales figures on Friday with just a 1.4% volume increase year-on-year. Online was the star of the show.
E-sales surged at UK value fashion retailer Bonmarché in the 13 weeks to December 30. But that was the best news in its trading update on Friday as the year ended on a pretty bleak note with falling store sales.
Japanese online marketplace Mercari is planning to go public in June, according to local media reports on Friday. The app-based e-tailer sells domestically, in the US and the UK, and will use funds to expand globally.
Slated for Tranoï, which debuts this Friday, Arche - known for its shoes sprinkled in colour - will celebrate 50 years with a new pop-up store that will travel across four capitals, reflecting its international acclaim.
The Italian fashion group acquired by English asset management firm Attestor Capital last year has confirmed the appointment of Cristiano Portas as its CEO. He brings 16 years of experience leading swimwear brand Arena.


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NEW BOATS - Cooper Tender
As summer approaches and the weather beckons us onto the water, here’s a sneak preview of the new model
“If you are familiar with the superb Wally powerboats from Monaco, our new tender offers a similar-style vessel (although a more compact size) to these iconic fast tenders,” says importer Duncan Stewart from Coopersloop Australia.
The Cooper Tender measures 25.5 feet LOA and is powered by a 110hp Yanmar freshwater-cooled diesel with shaftdrive for comfortable cruise speeds in excess of 20kts.
“We are still testing different propeller configurations at present, but we’re aiming for a sprint speed of around 25kts to allow water skiing, as well as fast transit times while retaining spectacular diesel economy and low emissions,” says Stewart.
The Cooper 765 Fast Tender hull is solid handlaid fibreglass and available in any colour at no extra charge. A range of options for the Australian market includes enclosed head, a full tonneau cover, and a double berth.
Stewart says the new launch offers many of the luxurious features of the Coopersloop 745 open launch, such as bowthruster as standard, teak decks, lots of stainless steel, Euro fittings, powerful stereo, etc.
Accompanying the Cooper Tender release is a photo of a Wally 47 as, perhaps, a hint of what the new 765 (shown hereabouts undergoing final fitout) will look like. According to the importer,
the abovementioned Wally tender sells in Europe for around $US1 million as a 2007 model.
“As you can see, she (the 765) is very European, predatory, and very, very sexy,” says Stewart. “As yet, we are still finalising pricing but we are expecting to retail the Cooper Tender from around $A107,000 fully equipped and registered to drive away on the water,” he said.
Coopersloop Australia added it has two new Coopersloop 745 launches (read the Trade-a-Boat test online at www.tradeaboat.com.au/news-and-reviews/article/articleid/70436.aspx) available at a “heavily discounted” sale price to make way for new 2012 stock.
For more info, contact Duncan Stewart, Coopersloop Australia, phone 0418 350 220, email:
email@example.com or visit
1 & 2). Under construction, the Cooper 765 Fast Tender.
3). Inspiration for the Cooper Tender is from boats like the Wally 47.
4). The Coopersloop 745 launched the brand in Australia.


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Bigle Legal, the Spanish doc automation company, has launched an office in London, underlining the UK’s importance as a centre to the world’s legal tech companies. It has also received fresh funding from top Spanish firm, Cuatrecasas. It follows Australian doc automation and no-code company, Josef, setting up a base in London in September.
Bigle Legal said that it chose London as it wanted to expand within what is ‘a mature and growing market’. It will be aiming at winning clients in the public sector, as well as among corporates and law firms. The company has clients such as Cuatrecasas, Santalucía Insurance, and Aigües de Barcelona, which provides water to the city of Barcelona.
Bigle Legal provides a broad contracting platform that includes doc automation, digital signatures, and support for the virtual negotiation of contracts in real time.
Sergio Esteve de Miguel, co-founder of Bigle Legal, said: ‘We have an outstanding team and a product that unifies all document automation solutions, so we will go in to compete for the top [in the UK].’
The company has also gained €2m in a funding round led by Adara Ventures, with participation from ICF Venture Tech II. THCap and Cuatrecasas, existing investors in the company, also participated in the round.
While Spain has a steadily growing legal tech market, law firms funding startups is not as regular an event as it has become in the US and UK. Cuatrecasas is also one of the leading firms in Spain and has offices across Europe and in South America.
Is this a big deal? It’s further evidence that London is a key centre for legal tech companies globally. That said, Eigen Technologies, which also covers the financial and insurance markets, has decided to move its HQ to the US to be closer to what it sees as its largest market.
In a quick – and only indicative – Twitter survey, this site asked which city people thought was the best place in the world for a global HQ of a legal tech company. London came out on top very clearly.
One reason for this is that London remains – even in this pandemic-affected and post-Brexit era – a truly global city, in part because it has to be.
The UK is not a giant economy, and London’s financial centre has always sought to be international. The legal sector here is dynamic, highly competitive and operates in an open regulatory environment. This combined together has led to pressures and opportunities that tend to drive legal sector innovation. In turn, this can act as a magnet to legal tech companies from around the world.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2021
Maddy McDaniel, Communications Director
[email protected] or 914-471-7716
NEW DIGITAL AD: GOP PASSED $1.9 TRILLION TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY BUT CRY “DEFICIT” WHEN IT’S $1.9 TRILLION FOR STRUGGLING FAMILIES
The $1.9 Trillion Tax Bill of 2017 Gave Over $1 Trillion to Wall Street, and Included Provisions that Benefited the Wealthiest 0.2% of Americans
President Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Plan Would Give $1 Trillion in Unemployment Insurance and Direct Checks to Struggling Families, Keep Small Businesses Afloat, and Keep Essential Workers on the Job
The American Rescue Plan Would Boost GDP By 4% by the end of 2021, Says Brookings
Majority of Americans Want a Large Covid Relief Package As Soon As Possible, Even Without A Bipartisan Vote In Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Invest in America launched a digital ad, “$1.9 Trillion vs. $1.9 Trillion,” highlighting how many Congressional Republicans passed a $1.9 trillion tax bill when it benefited big corporations and wealthy interests in 2017, but are now balking at the same price tag when it would help struggling Americans put food on the table, help local governments keep first responders on the job and get people vaccinated, and keep small businesses afloat during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The ad will run on targeted digital platforms. View the digital ad here.
“A $1.9 trillion price tag was a-ok for some folks when it lined the pockets of big corporations and the wealthiest Americans, but now those individuals claim the price tag is too high when it helps get Americans back on their feet after the worst year for the economy since World War II,” said Zac Petkanas, senior advisor to Invest in America Action. “Here’s the bottom line: America needs big, bold stimulus to help our economy recover from the coronavirus crisis. Hypocrisy shouldn’t get in the way.”
While President Biden’s American Rescue Plan would put money directly in the pockets of people in need, give support for struggling small businesses, help get people vaccinated and keep essential workers on the job, the GOP’s 2017 tax bill mostly benefited corporations that shipped jobs overseas, and the wealthiest Americans:
The 2017 Republican corporate tax giveaway will cost $1.9 trillion, and mostly benefited the very wealthy on the backs of middle class and struggling families.
President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion emergency coronavirus relief package mostly provides direct economic relief for middle class and struggling families.
The package includes a significant expansion
of child tax credits, increasing the credit up to $3,600 per child and allowing 17 year olds to qualify.


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The LG Nexus 4 was launched two years ago by Google and is fortunate enough to still software support from the company. However, it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing for the handset after the Android 5.0 update according to some users. These unfortunate users are apparently seeing a substantial lag, specifically in the dialer app of the smartphone. It is said that the lag is as much as 3-4 seconds in some cases, while the call refuses to go through in some isolated incidents.
Clearly, it hasn’t been a smooth transition to Android 5.0 for some of the users. It is hoped that Android 5.0.1 will fix most of these issues. As of now, Google has only rolled out the update to the Nexus 7, Nexus 9 and the Nexus 10, with cellular devices expected to get it shortly. The complaints in Google’s support forums are increasing by the day, so this is clearly a widespread issue.
Are you facing any trouble with the Nexus 4? Let us know in the comments below.
Via: Talk Android


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UK-based EMI Jeton, whose services are available in over 100 countries across the world, has chosen Konsentus Verify to protect its customers from unauthorized third parties gaining access to valuable account data and funds.
Jeton, a payment provider, allows its users to securely send money and pay online. Shoppers and merchants use Jeton’s trusted e-wallet and all-in-one account solution to make fast and secure payments, across 70 payment methods and 50 currencies, in more than 100 countries.
Konsentus Verify allows Financial Institutions and other entities to transact securely and safely in the open financial and open banking ecosystems. Verify checks a third party’s identity and regulatory status each time it attempts to access a Financial Institution’s Open Banking API. This information is sourced from hundreds of registers and databases across the EEA, UK, and then passed to the Financial Institution via an API in real time, so that informed risk management decisions may be made.
Saaly Temirkanov, CEO of Jeton, commented: “Ensuring we keep our customers’ data and funds safe and secure has always been our priority. Implementing Konsentus Verify means we can satisfy growing customer demand for digital payments, confident in the knowledge that transactions are being safeguarded.”
Mike Woods, CEO, Konsentus, stated: “Jeton prides itself on its security standards and ensuring it can provide its customers with fast and secure access to data and funds. Working across markets and with multiple third parties increases Jeton’s exposure to risk, so we are delighted to partner with them so they can continue to provide trusted and secure payment solutions to their customers.”


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Strategic Restaurants Acquisition Corp. Holdings Inc., which operates 280 Burger King restaurants throughout the country, has partnered with MegaPath Inc., a managed data, voice and security services provider, to roll out Managed WiFi HotSpots service in key units.
The service provides public Internet access to customers.
The Burger King franchisee also utilizes MegaPathâ€™s MPLS and Managed Security Services to access corporate applications and remain PCI compliant.
“With MegaPathâ€™s Managed WiFi HotSpots, we are giving our customers a way to be both productive and social at the same time when they dine in one of our restaurants. Overall, MegaPath has greatly improved how we operate our business and provide value-add services to our customers,” said David Knutson, director of IS, Strategic Restaurants.


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Miami-Dade project could be one of the nation’s largest trade showrooms
- Darcie Lunsford
If it happens, the proposed 2.5 million-square-foot trade center in Miami-Dade County would rank among the nation’s largest showroom and merchandise marts.
Most average less than 1 million square feet, according to Mark Falanga, senior VP of MMPI, which operates the landmark Chicago Merchandise Mart and 16 other showroom and trade show facilities.
He said operating a successful merchandise mart is less about the real estate than expertise.
“It is a very management-intensive business,” Falanga said. “Most of the employees have been brought in from the industries that they sell to.”
While he did not know anything about plans for a South Florida showroom facility nearing the scale of the one in Chicago – the world’s largest, at 4.2 million square feet – he said driving traffic through a parade of events and aggressive marketing is paramount.
MMPI is developing a medical-oriented merchandise mart in partnership with local government in Cleveland, but Falanga said launching a new general merchandise mart is likely to face financing and leasing hurdles in this economic environment.
“This group probably has its challenges ahead of it,” he said.
The existing Miami International Merchandise Mart, which was foreclosed on last year and is the hands of the FDIC after its lender failed, suffered from this lack of management and marketing expertise, said leasing agent Vilma Quintela of NAI Miami, which is managing and leasing the project for the FDIC.
With new management, the mart, just south of Miami International Airport, is now seeking to rebuild its merchandising mojo. While it is still focused on wholesaling goods to retailers, it is expanding its strategy to also capture more consumer traffic to help bolster sales, Quintela said.
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Google’s irate missive against Apple and Microsoft yesterday was met with a quick reply from Microsoft, who suggested on Twitter that Google was being disingenuous.
Microsoft said Google had declined its offer to jointly bid on a set of patents owned by Novell, implying Google was being uncooperative, not the object of a purposeful campaign to use patents to hamper its Android operating system with licensing fees and lawsuits.
But the tit for tat between the two tech giants took another turn yesterday, when Google confirmed that it had turned down an offer from Microsoft on the Novell patents, but said it had a good reason for doing so.
“A joint acquisition of the Novell patents that gave all parties a license would have eliminated any protection these patents could offer to Android against attacks from Microsoft and its bidding partners,” Google chief legal officer David Drummond said in a Thursday afternoon post on the company’s official blog. “Making sure that we would be unable to assert these patents to defend Android — and having us pay for the privilege — must have seemed like an ingenious strategy to them. We didn’t fall for it.”
Patent experts cited by The New York Times seemed to support Google’s explanation, saying joint agreements on patents could do more harm than good unless all the owners of the patents agree on how to license them.
According to the publication, “if Google and Microsoft jointly own a patent and a third party wants to sue Google, Microsoft could theoretically license that patent to the third party and Google would lose its protection from that patent.”
In a series of Twitter posts, Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw responded to Google, saying, “We offered Google the opportunity to bid with us to buy the Novell patents; they said no. Why? BECAUSE they wanted to buy something that they could use to assert against someone else. SO partnering with others & reducing patent liability across industry is not something they wanted to help do.”
The acquisition of the Novell patents by Microsoft and a group of other tech companies including Oracle, Apple and EMC attracted the attention of the Justice Department, which ordered the group to license the patents to the open source community “to protect competition and innovation in the open source software community.”
Specifically, the DOJ said that the original terms of the deal, which would not have required Microsoft, Oracle, Apple and EMC to allow other companies access to the patents, “would jeopardize the ability of open source software, such as Linux, to continue to innovate and compete in the development and distribution of server, desktop, and mobile operating systems, middleware, and virtualization products.”
Google recently lost an auction of Nortel’s patents on wireless technologies by a similar cadre of tech companies including Apple and Microsoft, which together threw in $4.5 billion for the vendor’s intellectual property portfolio.
Google claims Apple and Microsoft are using the patents to make Android smartphones more expensive by imposing high licensing fees on patents used by the operating system, as well as plaguing manufacturers of Android smartphones with superfluous lawsuits over what it calls “bogus” patents.


text: Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui is getting a major overhaul, with Wharf (Holdings) earmarking HK$600 million for the revamp and construction of a Ferris wheel on the harbourfront next door. Completed in 1966, Ocean Terminal is the oldest commercial property in Wharf's Tsim Sha Tsui portfolio. The shopping centre will re-emerge as a Lifestyle Concept X (LCX) megastore and present an image aimed at younger customers with the shops better designed to foster an open feeling. Executive director of Wharf subsidiary LCX Joe Wong said the centre would provide 300,000 square feet of net floor area following the two-phase facelift. The first phase, of 80,000 sq ft, on Level 3 of Ocean Terminal would open next month, he said. LCX had committed HK$60 million for interior renovation in this phase. Work on the second phase, of 220,000 sq ft, would begin in the next few months and was scheduled for opening in the second half of next year. Mr Wong said LCX had employed a retail format combining Japanese and American experiences in operating shopping malls and department stores to create a barrier-free environment. 'With the open concept, we provide a comfortable environment for people to hang around and relax at our store longer,' he said. LCX is dividing the first phase of the revamped centre into five zones: fashion and accessories, American-style casual wear, beauty products, food and beverages, and hip fashion brands. Mr Wong said the second phase would include children's wear, more apparel and accessories, a game centre and a nine-screen cinema. Wharf received Town Planning Board approval last year to convert about 58,000 sq ft on the ground floor into a multi-screen cinema with 1,430 seats. Mr Wong said the LCX target customers were those from the low teens to late 30s, with the merchandise mainly mid-range products. 'The large mid-range consumers' market will be the first to recover when the economy turns around,' he said. Research showed there were about three million people living in subsidised and public housing estates who had not been hit by the problem of negative-equity ownership, he said. 'This group will be among the first to return to consumption and their propensity to spend is great.' Analysts viewed the revamp as part of Wharf's ambitious plan to turn Ocean Terminal into an entertainment, shopping and tourist attraction. Mr Wong expected the 75-metre Ferris wheel to become a landmark and draw local visitors and tourists to the LCX store. The Ferris wheel is tentatively planned for completion in 2004. LCX is also taking the retail concept into China with plans to open similar stores in Beijing and Chongqing. Mr Wong said the consumption power of mainlanders was strong and China's large population presented a great potential for business growth. Next month would see the opening of its Beijing store, 300,000 sq ft of net area at the capital city's Times Square, a Wharf development. The Beijing store had adopted a similar concept but slightly adjusted according to specific market conditions in the city, he said. 'The store has not included beauty products because there is very strong competition in the cosmetics business in the area,' he said. The planned LCX store in Chongqing is expected to open in September next year. With 500,000 sq ft of net area, the store will be located at another Wharf Times Square project, now under construction. Mr Wong said the detailed mix at the Chongqing store had not yet been finalised but expected the interior renovation cost would exceed HK$100 million. The Beijing store cost HK$60 million. He said LCX was studying opportunities in other cities, including Shanghai. In identifying suitable properties and locations, he said Wharf's own projects in the mainland would be one choice but LCX was also looking at others.


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Jakit - iPhone Accessory Launched to US Market
Oct 16, 2012Jakit - iPhone Accessory Launched to US Market
Oct 16, 2012 - Different PR is proud to announce Jakit, a new device recently released in the USA which combines a built in tangle-free earphones that you never need remove, which can be switched off at any time without removing the device and a hard case to protect your iPhone. The product, which has taken two years to develop, test and manufacture, will initially only be available for Apple iPhone 4 and 4S. Additionally, it will still allow Bluetooth functionality.


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Ola To Start Delivering S1 Air E-Scooter In July: CEO Bhavish Aggarwal
Ola has achieved record sales of 35,000 units of electric scooter in May 2023. Now the company has planned to start delivering the S1 Air E-Scooter from July 2023.
Ola’s CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has announced via Twitter that the much-awaited Ola S1 Air electric scooter will commence deliveries in July. In a recent development, a tester video of the highly anticipated Ola S1 Air has been shared, causing excitement among enthusiasts.
In a fresh clip, viewers can witness the entire process of creating the Ola S1 Air, from its initial design to its production in the factory.
According to the video, the soon-to-be-released electric scooter is designed to provide customers with everything they need and nothing they don’t. The voiceover also described the scooter as a “joy to ride.”
In February of this year, the Ola S1 Air electric scooter was unveiled in India with a base price of Rs 99,999 (ex-showroom).
An electric scooter has been unveiled with an 8.5 kW motor and a range of 91 km on a single charge. Home charging can fully charge the battery in just four hours.
The S1 Air, now available in a variety of 11 different color options including Gerua, Liquid Silver, Matt Black, Coral Glam, Midnight Blue, Jet Black, Marshmallow, Anthracite Grey, Millennial Pink, Porcelain White, and Neo Mint.
The S1 Air, weighing in at 115kg, has been announced as the lightest scooter in the S1 portfolio.
Indian customers have quickly embraced world-class alternatives to ICE vehicles, resulting in a surge in the popularity of EVs.
India has become one of the largest EV markets globally, thanks to the overwhelming popularity of Ola S1 and Ola S1 Pro in the premium scooter segment.
In a move aimed at promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, the S1 portfolio and the S1 Air have been expanded to include three new variants, available at various price points.
This expansion is expected to attract more customers to make the switch to EVs on a permanent basis.
Ola has had a promising start to 2023 with a flourishing market and successful product launches. Last month, the company achieved its highest sales figure on record.
During this period, more than 35,000 units of electric scooters were sold by Ola. In the segment, the company has achieved a market share of more than 30%.
In response to the updated subsidies set to take effect in June, Ola has announced a revision of its electric scooter prices.
Ola Electric is set to hold discussions with investors in Singapore and the United States next week regarding its upcoming stock market listing. This marks the beginning of a series of meetings for the company’s IPO, which could raise up to $1 billion.
Ola is supported by investors like SoftBank and Temasek, and is reportedly aiming to raise $600 million to $1 billion in its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) scheduled for late 2023.
Ola has started investor meetings earlier than usual to discuss the business potential of India’s emerging EV market, ahead of its upcoming IPO.
Bhavish Aggarwal, the CEO and founder of Ola, will be embarking on a two-week trip to Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom.


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SD, ND spared Sears, Kmart closings so far
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- No Sears or Kmart stores in North Dakota or South Dakota is on a list of stores that the company is planning to shut down.
Sears Holdings Corp. announced this week it intends to close 100 to 120 stores around the country.
On Thursday, the company released a list of 79 stores that it intends to shut down. The list didn't include any stores in North Dakota or South Dakota.
In Minnesota, the company is shutting Kmart stores in Willmar, Duluth, New Hope and White Bear Lake.
Sears Holdings says the targeted stores aren't doing well enough in sales to keep open. The company expects the shutdowns will reduce its fixed costs by up to $200 million annually.


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I have never had cosmetic surgery — and I will never joke on camera now, says Swara Bhasker. This sari took 47 people and 39 days to make! Get that pink glow this Valentine's Day. We can't decide who looks more stylish. Sharing the front-row seats with the likes of Julianne Moree, Salma Hayek, the actress stole the thunder with her stunning dress.
How to wear an all-black outfit.
Priyanka Chopra looks every bit hot in this nude pink dress!
Get that pink glow this Valentine's Day. Choose an eye and it will reveal your TRUE personality! Recently, the actress made heads turn at New York Fashion Week Priyanka Chopra just gave hot a new definition at the pre Grammy gala. And, this year it was the case for Bottega Venetta's show in New York.


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As part of its quarterly earnings report, Garmin announced delays for its first mobile phone. While they had previously announced the Nuvifone would be available sometime during the fourth quarter, don’t expect to see one now until the first half of next year.
Here’s what the press release said:
The nuvifone will not be available in fourth quarter as previously announced. While we had hoped to have carrier launches in the fourth quarter, we have found that meeting some of the carrier specific requirements will take longer than anticipated. We remain pleased with carrier interest in the device and are working toward making necessary design changes to meet their requirements. We anticipate launching the product during the first half of 2009.”
Here’s the company’s full quarterly report, if you’re interested.


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Paired with Google Instant, autocomplete, the feature whereby Google predicts what it is you're in the middle of typing, can make searching incredibly fast. But the problem with autocomplete is that many people who use Google for their online searching are looking for things that not many others are looking for -- there's just too many possible term combinations -- and the feature works largely by looking at the most popular searches across the site.
Yesterday, the search giant rolled out some changes to autocomplete for users of google.com in English that should make it more accurate. Instead of making predictions based on your entire search term, "now what we're doing is making predictions based on only part of your search -- specifically, the last word or words," software engineer Bartlomiej Niechwiej explained on the official Google blog. (Emphasis is original.) "While few people have searched for [florida state senate building], many more have searched for [state senate building]. By looking at just the last part of what you've typed into the box, in this case "state senate bui," we can generate a prediction for "building." You'll see a dropdown box below the end of your search with predictions for just that word."
The change isn't a huge one, but it's the next step in building the perfect search engine, one that knows what you're thinking before you can get the words out on the page.


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Bank of Canada Rate Announcement - June 9, 2021
January 26, 2022 | Posted by: Ken Fadel
This morning the BoC again left its target overnight benchmark rate unchanged at 0.25%. It also provided some positive thoughts on both the state and outlook of the Canadian economy.
First quarter GDP growth registered a strong 5.6%, and while that was lower than the BoC’s projection, the underlying fundamentals suggest rising consumer confidence and resiliency.
Economic activity to this point in the second quarter has been more muted due to the renewed lockdowns associated with the third wave of the pandemic, but this is not unexpected.
Inflation has risen to around the top of the BoC’s comfort zone, due in large part to comparisons with depressed 2020 numbers and rising gasoline prices. This is expected to last through the summer and ease later in the year as excess capacity in the economy exerts some downward pressure on prices.
While new COVID-19 variants definitely create uncertainty, as provincial restrictions continue an ease over the summer the BoC expects the Canadian economy to rebound significantly as consumer spending ramps up. The BoC also noted that with the housing market, “activity is expected to moderate but remain elevated.”
The BoC still maintains there is considerable excess capacity in the Canadian economy, and that the recovery will continue to require “extraordinary monetary policy support.” As such, it restated its commitment to holding its policy interest rate until economic slack is absorbed and its 2% inflation target is “sustainably achieved.” This is expected to occur sometime in the second half of 2022.
The next rate announcement is scheduled for July 14th.


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After two years of waiting, Android users will now be able to use the popular Breadwallet application. Today the team behind the Bitcoin wallet has released its Android version through the Google Play store and has also released the source code via GitHub repositories.
Also read: New Research Project ‘BitCluster’ Tracks Sloppy Bitcoin Usage
Breadwallet Goes Android
Two years ago, Breadwallet debuted for iOS users through the App Store in June of 2014. Since then the wallet has gained attention and a good reputation for being a secure Bitcoin wallet that connects to the network without relying on central servers. This has provided Breadwallet users the ability to manage their funds on their own, and the company says thousands of people have “started their Bitcoin journey with Breadwallet and have remained as loyal users ever since.”
Since the Apple release, many Android users have been asking the firm when the app will be available for their OS. The company knows that Android users greatly outnumber those using iOS, and most companies want to maximize their success by supporting both platforms.
However, Breadwallet remained focused on iOS solutions for security reasons, and now the company believes things have changed. Bitcoin.com
Read more ... source: TheBitcoinNews
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A huge crime wave is hitting the UK and the Land Rover Defender is the number one target, with some believing they’re being stolen to order for the export market.
Yorkshire-based CCTV.co.uk spokesman Jonathan Ratcliffe said, ‘Virtually every community in the county has been visited by these criminals, and according to official figures, the classic Defender is high on their shopping list.’
Figures published by the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NVCIS) show the Land Rover Defender as one of the top 10 stolen cars nationally, along with the Audi S3 and the Range Rover. The NVCIS has also warned that while the tried-and-test method of stealing the car keys from the hall table and simply driving the car away remains a popular choice among opportunist thieves, organised criminal gangs are increasingly using sophisticated electronic tools to bypass vehicle security systems.
‘With the humble Defender, you don’t even need the vehicle key – with keys from older vehicles working in door locks and ignitions. A friend of ours managed to enter and start a 02 plate Defender with a key from another vehicle – it’s crackers. Your car can quite literally be gone in 60 seconds.’
To fight back, police have advised drivers to use a high-quality steering wheel and gear stick locks, consider a lock cover for the car diagnostics port to prevent keyless theft, use the best quality alarm system available, and park in your garage if you have one.