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McGrady to be on NBA Live 07 Cover
Posted Jul 24 2006 4:52PM
June 23 -- Electronic Arts announced Wednesday that Houston Rockets All-Star Tracy McGrady has been selected the new face of NBA Live 07, scheduled for release this fall under the EA Sports brand.
A six-time NBA All-Star, McGrady led the league in scoring by averaging 32.1 points per game in 2003, when he became the youngest NBA player to average 30-plus points per game since Bob McAdoo in 1974-75. McGrady finished 12th in NBA scoring (24.4 ppg) in 2005-06, and averaged 6.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
McGrady will serve as spokesperson and will be the center-piece of NBA LIVE 07 advertising, marketing and packaging in North America and several other countries around the world.
"Iíve always looked upon the EA Sports athletes as fan favorites so Iím honored to be named this yearís NBA Live 07 cover athlete and join the EA Sports family," McGrady said. "Each year there is tremendous anticipation around the league as players wait to see themselves in NBA Live and I feel like this year my virtual self plays more like me than ever before. This is as close to playing in the NBA as you get."
McGrady joins an exclusive list of superstar athletes previously featured on the cover of the best-selling NBA Live franchise, including Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat (2006), Carmelo Anthony (2005), Vince Carter (2004), and Jason Kidd (2003).
This year NBA Live 07 will partner with the worldwide leader in sports to deliver more ESPN content in-game while you play than ever before. The most advanced ESPN integration package with never-before-seen features will be available only through NBA Live 07.
Powered by next generation technology that EA showcased at Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), NBA Live 07 will introduce the next generation of basketball gameplay with EA Sports Total Freestyle Control, a new feature that gives users more control over athletes than they had in the past. By introducing a ground-breaking next generation AI system that is both intuitive and intelligent, combined with advancements to fan-favorite features like All-Star Weekend and Dynasty Mode, NBA Live 07 will continue to deliver its NBA simulation experience to fans worldwide.


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Digital to Offer UNIX System
The New York Times
Washington -- January 17, 1984 -- (Reuters) -- The Digital Equipment Corporation said it would offer an operating system based on the American Telephone and Telegraph Company's UNIX software system for its mid- range and high-range Vax computers. The company said it would distribute Ultrex-32 under an A.T.& T. license.
Last week, the International Business Machines Corporation said it would make the UNIX system available to users of its Personal Computer. That move was seen as upstaging A.T.& T. UNIX is widely used on much larger computers, primarily by engineers and on campuses. It can permit several computer users to work on a single machine simultaneously.
Copyright 1984 The New York Times Company

domain: news


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Cars in cities
Passing your driving test was a traditional rite of passage for many British teenagers, and in the early nineties nearly half of all 17-20 year olds had a driving licence (75% of all 21-29 year olds). However, since then there has been a sustained decline in car use among young adults – so much so, that by 2014, the number of 17-20 year olds with a driving licence had fallen to 29%.
This can partly be explained by more fundamental changes in life circumstances, such as increased entry into higher education, lower employment rates, higher costs of living and marrying at a later age. As a result, the younger generation are reaching adult milestones later, and this includes driving a car. Yet these delays in adulthood aside, car usage overall is falling - we are making 16% fewer car trips today than in 1996.
In London at least, this means the rate of car ownership is slowly declining. However, this is not yet evident in the other major cities where car ownership is increasing. This data is taken from the 2011 census and so must be treated with some caution. We suspect that the next Census is likely to show car ownership has begun to decline in the bigger cities of Manchester and Liverpool (which already have among the lowest levels of car ownership, and an increasingly supportive public transport network).
Figure 1: New car registrations, 000s, 2001-2017
Source: Department for Transport Statistics Table VEH0150
The steady shift away from car ownership partly reflects technological change, which means owning a car is less of a necessity. For example, online shopping now makes up 17.5% of all retailing, up from a base of zero twenty years ago. But other factors are also influencing these trends, from a tendency towards train usage to avoid road congestion, consciously being environmentally responsible and the lack of available parking at our homes and in our towns.
Uber is perceived by some to provide a cheaper alternative to both personal car usage and traditional taxi cabs; and with Uber Pool facilitating sharing between passengers, this is better value and more accessible than ever. And car clubs are becoming a convenient and cost-effective means of accessing cars: some 170,000 people in London are estimated to belong to a car club. This is projected to grow to 1 million by 2025 (3.3 million members across England and Wales). Extrapolating these trends could suggest around 8 million members by 2040.
It’s possible that a rise in autonomous vehicles might throw this decline in car usage into reverse. The requirement to pass a test and then do so again at age 70, acts as a brake on the number of people able to drive. But if the skill required to drive a car is significantly reduced, usage could well increase. However, the cost of owning and operating such a new piece of technology could be significant. This suggests that by 2040, the UK’s cities could still be experiencing lower, rather than higher, levels of car usage than today. This might just make way for all the extra trucks which, as we write elsewhere, we suspect will be needed to deliver e-commerce parcels in urban areas.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. stock prices closed higher Friday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its first gain for the month of September in seven years and all three major averages realized gains for the third quarter.
The Dow industrials
The S&P 500 Index
The Nasdaq Composite Index $COMPX closed up 10.47 points at 2,151.69, making for a small 0.1% loss for the month but a 4.6% gain for the quarter.
There were more than 1.54 billion shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange, with rising stocks outnumbering decliners by 20 to 12. On the Nasdaq, more than 1.65 billion shares were traded; advancing shares led falling stocks by 17 to 12.
The market was volatile but in tight ranges throughout most of the day.
Jim Awad, chairman of Awad Asset Management, said money managers maneuvered to push stock prices to a higher close Friday so that the indices could close the quarter with gains.
"The truth is that the market is controlled by money managers who get paid based on profit and asset values," said Awad. "They have a vested interest in closing the quarter higher and today they used cheaper energy prices as an excuse."
The market will kick off the fourth quarter next week by focusing on economic reports and on earnings announcements and warnings, Awad said.
Market sentiment Friday was wary after news from the Commerce Department that personal income in August fell 0.1%, the largest drop since January. Excluding the impact of Hurricane Katrina, income would have risen 0.2%.
Consumer spending fell 0.5%, the biggest drop since November 2001. Economists were expecting incomes to rise 0.3% and consumer spending to fall 0.2%, according to a MarketWatch survey See full story.
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment showed a drop to 76.9 in September from 89.1 in August. See full story.
The news seemed to confirm many investors' fears that the devastation brought on by recent hurricanes, as well as the record-high energy prices that followed, have hit the consumer and will slow the economy.
There was scant reaction to news that the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago's index stood at 60.5%, up from August's 49.2%.
November crude futures closed down 55 cents at $66.24 a barrel, down 4.6% for September. Natural-gas futures ended 1.9% lower at $13.921 per million British thermal units. See full story.
Natural-gas futures tallied an 80% gain for the quarter, while crude prices climbed almost 13%
The benchmark 10-year Treasury note ended down 9/32 at 99-11/32 with a yield $TNX of 4.192%. The personal income and spending report showed an increase in a key measure of inflation, but also revealed a post-Katrina slump in income and spending, which tempered the inflation reading. See full story.
The dollar was higher, after hitting two-month highs earlier in the week. The U.S. currency last was up 0.4% at 113.54 yen, while the euro fell 0.01% to $1.2021. See full story.
Gold for December delivery closed $4.40 lower at $471.40 an ounce. However, the contract closed 7.6% higher on the month and up 6.4% for the quarter. See full story.
Stocks on the move
Dow component Boeing
Tobacco stocks were in focus after Canada's Supreme Court ruled that the country's provinces may sue the industry for smoking-related health risks. Altria Group Inc.
Deutsche Bank cut health- and hygiene-product maker Kimberly-Clark Corp.
Shares of credit-card firm Capital One Financial Corp.


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E3's first event kicks off soon enough, and EA's press conference begins in just a few hours. The publisher has already promised more information on the next title in its infamous FPS series, Battlefield: Hardline, and to keep fans' attention once Microsoft is finished, EA has released a new teaser for the game in the form of a live-action trailer.
It's finally here. We've compiled a schedule and links to livestreams of each planned press conference, so you won't miss a thing.
Ultra Street Fighter 4 is finally available, and alongside of the five "new" characters, developer Capcom has been beefing up the dozens of other fighters as well. Capcom has been releasing videos detailing the various changes Ultra brings to the original roster. Here, we'll be looking at hundred hand slapping sumo, E. Honda
It all comes down to this. From 16 players when the vote for Madden NFL 15's cover began in May, we're down to the final two: Seattle Seahawks Cornerback Richard Sherman, and Carolina Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton. And if you haven't cast your vote yet, today's your last day to do so.
Ground Zeroes serves as the appetizer to the main course that is the Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. As such, we always knew it's going to be the bigger game, but I don't think anyone knew how big. During an episode of the "Kojima Station" webcast, MGS creator Hideo Kojima showed up with The Phantom Pain's map, to illustrate to the fans just how big the game will be.
Publisher EA had said they wouldn't formally unveil Battlefield: Hardline until next week's E3, and yet, information just seems to keep "leaking." A new trailer is out, showing that the game is set to release on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC platforms this fall.
Microsoft's removal of the Kinect from the Xbox One was a move championed by many, but the results may not be exactly what Microsoft had been hoping for. Is it too little too late?
Spotted on the Sony PSN Store- pre-order the game and download it early so it's ready to go on launch day!
He may not make the cover, but it seems like EA Sports wants to make Colin Kaepernick a star anyway. At least, a bigger one than he is now. The first screenshot for Madden NFL 15 was released today, featuring none other than the San Francisco 49ers quarterback.
Capcom announced only today that the once Xbox One exclusive Dead Rising 3 was on the way to PC, and if you planned on getting it when the game drops later this summer, good news, because the minimum and recommended specs have been provided.
As good as the newly announced Mortal Kombat X looks, a roster of two ain't good for much more than tango. Thankfully, we know that at least two more fighters will be joining the party, and will be announced next week when this year's E3 kicks off.
Still looking to get your Pokémon fix, but can't make out to the US National Championships in Indianapolis? No worries, Twitch has you covered. For the first time ever, the streaming platform is turning its attention to the infamous pocket monsters, and will be broadcasting the Championships live.
While it may not be the new Hitman to redeem some of Absolution's lesser points, publisher Square Enix has announced another chapter for 47, another mobile title dubbed Hitman: Sniper.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is set to make a show at this year's E3, but MGS guru Hideo Kojima is giving fans a sneak peek before things kick off next week, and you can check it out right here.
Weapons and tech have long since been the focus of the series, but developer Sledgehammer Games is working on more than just that. There's a new piece of character art out that shows how hard the studio is working on characters' faces to boot.


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Parks Associates offers some interesting insights to the preferences of smartphone buyers. Those with higher incomes are more likely to buy an iPhone 5 and it appears that hardly anyone likes shared data plans while many think 4G LTE is important.
Research shows that people prefer unlimited to limited sharing. According to Parks and Associates latest study, 40% of those surveyed would prefer to switch carriers then to share data. A series of consumer surveys over the last 12 months—showed that consumers want the unlimited data plan back. When asked about new shared data plans the top reason people don't like them is the cost.
50% of subscribers surveyed said they would not voluntarily adopt a shared data plan are chiefly concerned about cost and one-fifth said they do not understand the plan. Only 10% said the would adopt a shared data plan if it is the only way to stay with the current carrier.
Parks Associates also found that nearly 50% of U.S. smartphone users consider 4G/LTE access as very important when choosing a mobile service provider.
On the iPhone 5 front, the iPhone is showing signs of popularity. 34% of U.S. smartphone shoppers from households with an annual income of $50,000-$75,000, surveyed in July 2012, plan to purchase an iPhone. The same percentage plan to buy a Google Android phone, whereas last year, only 24% planned to purchase an iPhone versus 39% in favor of an Android phone.


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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced fraud charges against a Brooklyn individual and two of his entities who allegedly engaged in a fraudulent scheme to sell digital securities to investors and to manipulate the market for those securities.
The agency is looking to freeze at least $8 million of the $14.8 million the defendants raised in 2017 and 2018.
Reginald “Reggie” Middleton and two entities he controls, Veritaseum, Inc. and Veritaseum, LLC (collectively Veritaseum) are accused of marketing and selling securities called “VERI” tokens, while misleading investors via multiple material misrepresentations and omissions.
The defendants allegedly “misled investors about their prior business venture and the use of offering proceeds, touted oversized — but fictitious — investor demand for VERI, and claimed to have a product ready to generate revenue when no such product existed. The complaint further alleges that Middleton manipulated the price of the VERI tokens trading on an unregistered digital asset platform. The complaint also alleges that Middleton recently moved a significant amount of investor assets and then dissipated a portion of those assets, transferring them to Middleton’s personal account” according to an SEC press release.
Middleton and Veritaseum have been accused of violating the registration and antifraud provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. In addition, Middleton allegedly violated the antifraud provisions due to the trading.
And crypto scammers stole a record $14.76 million from Australians between January and July this year.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) revealed that many of the scams use social media platforms, fake celebrity endorsements or online trading platforms attract prospective investors.
“People need to update their idea of what a scam is so that we are less vulnerable. Scammers are professional businesses dedicated to ripping us off. They have call centers with convincing scripts, staff training programs, and corporate performance indicators their ‘employees’ need to meet,” said ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard in a press release.


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The hit game Minecraft will block the use of NFTs and blockchain technology on its servers.
Microsoft’s game will also ban the creation of NFT projects based on its assets.
Minecraft is one of the most popular games in the worldand publisher Microsoft’s sandbox-style affair has only grown since its initial launch in 2009. But developer Mojang doesn’t want to see its bulk hit used in conjunction with NFT projects, and notified the public that Minecraft would soon ban the use of the technology.
The Microsoft-owned studio today shared a news article regarding upcoming changes to its Minecraft usage guidelines, and they all relate to NFTs. Minecraft will soon be banned block chain tech on game servers, which are independently managed by fans and creators, and it will also ban the use of Minecraft images to create NFT projects.
“To ensure Minecraft players have a safe and inclusive experience, blockchain technologies are not permitted to be integrated into our client and server applications, and Minecraft game content such as worlds, skins, personality or other mods cannot be used by blockchain technology to create a rare digital asset,” the post read.
Mojang currently allows Minecraft server operators to charge money to access their personalized online experiences, but the studio considers NFTs to be against “the spirit of Minecraft.” This is due to NFT rarity patterns, according to the studio, which may limit players’ ability to access features on certain servers.
“The speculative pricing and investment mentality around NFTs distracts attention from the game and encourages profit making, which we believe is incompatible with the long-term joy and success of our players,” adds the message.
Mojang noted that some independent Minecraft servers allow the use of NFTs that represent in-game items or offer NFT rewards to players. Additionally, there are projects that have turned Minecraft assets into NFT collectibles, such as the Polygon based NFT worldswhich sells virtual land that can be used on a custom Minecraft server.
According to data from CryptoSlam, NFT Worlds has generated nearly $163 million in NFT trading volume to date. In a tweet todayNFT Worlds co-founder ArkDev noted that the team is trying to figure out how to proceed in the wake of Minecraft’s impending rules change.
“We are working to determine to what extent this [affect] us and also have potential worst-case pivots planned that allow us to continue,” he wrote. “We’re not leaving.”
What the hell @Minecraft ? The reasoning behind the ad is the dumbest and most old-school I’ve ever seen.
On the NFT Worlds Discord server, the team noted past interactions with Minecraft developers and suggested a “pivot” for the project was a possibility.
“We are as blind as you are,” the post read. “We’ve spoken with Minecraft’s IP department a number of times in the past. They never made it clear that anything we were doing was going to be regulated/restricted (other than the existing EULA elements, which we adhered to during the entire project, such as our stance on in-game advertising/IP).”
“I know this is of extreme concern in the community, and it is for us as well,” the NFT Worlds post continues. “But we are currently [considering] all options, and will do our best to find another option in the future, even if it is a pivot.”
Minecraft has banned NFTs.
This is a great sign of adoption. Just as banning books makes them more popular, the Web2 backlash against NFTs will set the stage for viral growth. https://t.co/2bkb7PznOF
Notable figures from the crypto industry commented on the news. Chris Dixon, general partner of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, tweeted“Good reminder of why you shouldn’t rely on company-owned companies (Web2) networks. They change the rules on developers on a whim.”
An NFT is a blockchain token which represents the property of an element. They are often used for digital goods such as artwork, profile pictures, collectibles, and video game items. The NFT market has grown significantly over the course of 2021, eventually generating $25 billion in transaction volume.
Although the Minecraft team currently has no intention of integrating blockchain technology, Mojang wrote that it may reconsider its position in the future.
“We will also pay close attention to how blockchain technology evolves over time to ensure the above principles are retained and whether this will enable more secure experiences or other practical and inclusive applications in games. “, notes the post.
No timeline has been set for the impending NFT-related rule change. In April, a number of Mojang developers independently started a petition ask game creators to pledge not to use NFTs. The petition didn’t gain much traction though: there were only 72 signatories in the first week, and only 430 in total as of July 11, by the website.
Interestingly, Microsoft actually has released official NFTs related to Minecraft. In February 2021, just as the NFT market was starting to heat up, the company partnered with blockchain gaming company Enjin to provide free NFTs as part of a tie-in with International Day of Women and Girls. in science. These NFTs could be used on Enjin’s MyMetaverse server for Minecraft.
It’s currently unclear whether Microsoft will still allow Enjin’s plugin, which allows servers to enable NFT-based stuff, to work after the rule change. Decrypt contacted representatives of Microsoft’s Xbox division for comment, but did not immediately respond.
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Following last night's presentation of the new iPhone 11 by Apple CEO Tim Cook, the release date and prices have been published in Israel.
Istore will begin selling the smartphone device on September 26 and says that prices will be similar to the new models launched last September. iPhone 11 prices will begin at NIS 3,500 with the PRO model prices beginning at NIS 4,700.
The iPhone 11 will also be launched by iDigital on September 26 and presumably other retail chains will offer the new models from a similar date.
The iPhone 11 has a 6.1 inch screen and will come in six colors (purple, white, green, yellow, black and red) with two cameras and an improved quality battery to ensure a longer life. There will be an emphasis on face recognition technology. Prices in the US of the basic iPhone 11 model will start at $700.
The more elaborate PRO model has a 6.5 inch screen and will come in four colors (grey, green, white and gold). The model includes three cameras, an improved battery and facial recognition working from three angles. Prices in the US start from $1,000 with an extra $100 for the Max model.
Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on September 11, 2019
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2019


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New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) There was absolute chaos outside a liquor store in Delhi on Tuesday as police resorted to lathicharge in order to maintain the social distancing norms amid the Covid-19 Lockdown3.0.
Similar scenes of chaos were witnessed on Monday outside liquor shops all over the country.
With the sale of liquor has been capped at 9 litres and 1 beer case for one customer, people packed in a serpentine queue here outside a wine and beer shop in Karol Bagh area refused to heed any advisory, pushing each other, tripping over one another to claim there bottles of liquor.
Delhi Police constables tried to keep them apart, requested to maintain distance of a metre. But when the tipplers did not pay heed, the police men had to raise their sticks and bring order.
People in rural areas have shown more regard for Covid norms, while many urban areas have failed.
The Delhi government on Monday said it will impose a ‘special corona fee’ on alcohol sale which will be 70 per cent of the MRP.
In an official order issued late on Monday night, the Finance Department has imposed the fee, applicable from Tuesday. “70 per cent of the maximum retail price on all categories of liquor sold through retail licencees for consumption off the premises,” the Finance Department order signed by the Deputy Secretary reads, describing the fee.
According to a Delhi government official, about 150 liquor shops have been allowed to open in accordance with the latest lockdown relaxations given by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
There are around 850 liquor shops in the city, including those run by government agencies and private individuals.
In the order that allowed these shops to be reopened, the Delhi government instructed all shop in- charges and other staff to report at their respective shops at 7 am sharp from Monday onwards.


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THE GREAT SWINDLE
Never before has it been clearer that our social and economic future will be disastrous. The trend is not our friend. Most recently our loose money and credit policies created an unsustainable boom that turned into a bust. Attempts to reignite the boom aren’t working and the failure of welfarism in Europe threatens to capsize world economies.
It’s hard to comprehend the mess we’re in. Almost half the people are on some kind of government dole. A significant percentage have character issues that render them unemployable.
Entitlement costs are out of control. The big spenders aim to spend more. The welfare state is marching towards bankruptcy and oblivion.
As government deficits rise and the economy stalls money creation will rise dramatically. An economic collapse will be postponed by issuing new money out of thin air. Inevitably this form of counterfeiting will cause goods and services to become shockingly expensive. Since our spending sins are so outrageous the inflationary consequences will be agonizing.
No one ever explained the damage that inflation does like the great Libertarian writer for Newsweek and the New York Times, Henry Hazlitt (1894 – 1993). He wrote, “When the Federal Reserve banks buy government notes or bonds in the open market, they pay for them, directly or indirectly, by creating money. This is what is known as ‘monetizing’ the public debt. Inflation goes on as long as this goes on.”
The consequences are dire indeed. “Inflation must always end in a crisis and a slump, and worse than the slump itself may be the public delusion that the slump has been caused, not by the previous inflating, but by the inherent defects of a free market.”
Hazlitt warned, “It is harmful because it depreciates the value of the monetary unit, raises everybody’s cost of living, imposes what is in effect a tax on the poorest…wipes out the value of past savings, discourages future savings, redistributes wealth and income wantonly, encourages and rewards speculation and gambling at the expense of thrift and work, undermines confidence in the justice of a free enterprise system, and corrupts public and private morals.”
He continued, “A period of inflation is almost inevitably also a period when demagogy and antibusiness mentality are rampant. If implacable enemies of the country had deliberately set out to undermine and destroy the incentives of the middle classes to work and save, they could hardly have contrived a more effective set of weapons than the present combination of inflation, subsidies, handouts, and confiscatory taxes that our own politicians have imposed upon us.”
Mr. Hazlitt explained further, “In a free enterprise system, with an honest and stable money, there is dominantly a close link between effort and productivity on the one hand, and economic reward on the other. Inflation severs this link. Reward comes to depend less and less on effort and production, and more and more on successful gambling and luck.”


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Brussels, 17th July 2018. Celcaa, Copa and Cogeca and FoodDrinkEurope welcome the signature today of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement which took place during the EU-Japan Summit in Tokyo, Japan.
The EU agri-food partners see this agreement as an important step towards reinforcing the relations with one of our key trade partners, based on shared commitment to progressive rules-based trade liberalisation and cooperation to achieve mutual benefits. It is now esseential that after the signature of the EPA, the European Parliament supports the swift and successful ratification of the agreement.
Press release is available here.


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Yokota’s upgraded Airman’s Attic filled with deals
May 30, 2006
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The Airman’s Attic is under new direction.
The Yokota Top 3 organization assumed responsibility this past winter and performed a minor upgrade of the store with fresh paint and new racks to enhance access. The Family Support Center previously operated it using volunteers.
The volunteer-driven facility on Yokota’s west side provides used clothes, electronics and other merchandise to community members at no cost.
“It’s a great community initiative and service to our base,” said Chief Master Sgt. Cathy Barker, the 374th Airlift Wing’s command chief master sergeant. “It continues to give back.”
The Tokyo American Club recently shipped about 11,000 pounds in donations to the store, she said.
The batch included a sofa, flat-screen computer, home theater system, 32-inch television and queen-size mattress.
The Airman’s Attic normally is open to all status-of-forces-agreement personnel, Barker said, but a one-day giveaway was held in mid-May for servicemembers ranked E-5 and below. Customers could grab one big-ticket item and also fill a bag with smaller goods.
Among the more popular items available: baby gear, strollers, toys, books, kitchenware, videos, compact discs and clothes.
The store averages about 55 customers a day, up roughly 15 from Feb. 1, when the Yokota Top 3 took over, said Master Sgt. Ray Ortiz of the 730th Air Mobility Squadron, who helps manage the Airman’s Attic.
He says selections can change dramatically.
“You never know what’s going to be here. That’s why you’ve got to make it a regular stop,” he explained.
Jenice Leonard said she’s followed that advice since arriving at Yokota five years ago.
She and her husband are the foster parents of two Japanese children.
“I’m so loyal to this place,” Leonard said. “We haven’t bought any outfits in four years. We always come to the Airman’s Attic. Also, I always bring things back.”
The facility is a give-and-take operation, Barker said. Officials, however, don’t want it to become a collection point for people’s castoffs and undesirables.
“We’re looking for quality donations that our airmen can put to good use,” she said.
Airman’s Attic volunteers always are needed, organization members said. If interested, e-mail Ortiz at firstname.lastname@example.org or phone DSN 225-2728.
Airman’s Attic hours
Hours of operation for the Airman’s Attic at Yokota Air Base, Japan:
Tuesday: 5-7 p.m. for servicemembers ranked E-5 and below only
Thursday: 5-7 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to noon
Telephone: DSN 225-2728


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Creative director Tomas Maier of Bottega Veneta is stepping down after 17 years in the role
Kering has announced.
The German designer was named creative director of Bottega Veneta in 2001. Once he took over, Bottega Veneta surpassesd $1 billon in sales back in 2012. At that time, it became the second-largest luxury label right after Gucci and Keiring’s fastest-growing.
But in recent years, Bottega Veneta has failed to perform as well. It’s unclear at the moment of his sudden decision. Stay tuned to Urban and Stylish as the story delvelops.


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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for collaboration with multinational stakeholders towards developing Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Director-General of the agency, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call at the 2023 NITDA/Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) stakeholders engagements forum, on Tuesday, in Lagos.
Kashifu appealed to the stakeholders to imbibe a sense of responsibility to pay their levies on time.
Stakeholders’ support, he said, “is crucial to the nation’s digital economy”.
He said that the multistakeholders support is crucial to NITDA task of promoting and supporting enabling environment for Nigeria to develop, create and capture value from the digital economy.
“Looking at the ecosystem, we believe that we cannot succeed in isolation.
“The ecosystem has five stakeholders with you as the most critical one.
“NITDA is embracing emerging technologies, developing policies and creating an enabling environment for startups and entrepreneurs to survive.
“We believe that with you all, we can build a more prosperous country that can compete globally.
‘’We believe in team work and, together, nothing is impossible.
“We can work together and create a prosperous ecosystem for all,’’ the DG said.
Kashifu while commenting on NITDA disposition for collaboration highlightes the benefits of collaboration.
These include building a global talent factory and completing the secretariat for the implementation of startup act.
It also include achieving 98 per cent digital literacy by the year 3030.
There is a need for your support to complete the secretariat in March and implement the Startup Act into law, which will enhance cash inflow into the country.
He, however, highlighted some challenges facing NITDA to include limited infrastructure, skill shortage, limited market access and early-stage funding.
The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Muhammed Nami said that NITDA is funded through payment of one per cent of profit before tax of companies and enterprises among others.
Represented by Mr Kabir Abba, Group Head General Tax Operation Group, Nami described FIRS as a key partner with NITDA.
He said that in 2022, FIRS collected and remitted about N168.85 billion on behalf of the NITDA from 2008 to December 2022.
FIRS, he said, is continuously implementing initiatives driven by the use of Information Technology.
“Many of such initiatives have been successfully implemented, especially the recently introduced Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate (ETCC).
The Executive Chairman said that FIRS also introduced the TaxproMax solution, which has enhanced compliance and collection of taxes.
Nami said FIRS has deployed technology to ease the burden of tax payment compliance.
Last year, the chairman sai FIRS collected N10.1 trillion revenue, as against N6.4 trillion collected in 2021.


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Greek current account swings to
surplus in October on cheaper oil
reuters.com, 21 December 2015
Greece's current account recorded a surplus in October compared to a deficit in the same month a year earlier,
mainly due to a smaller balance of goods deficit as a result of cheaper oil, the Bank of Greece said on Monday.
"The balance of goods deficit shrank by 721 million euros year-on-year, mainly as a result of the lower net oil
import bill, owing to the fall in oil prices," the central bank said.
The data showed the surplus reached 314 million euros versus a deficit of 456 million euros in October 2014. Tourism
revenues dropped slightly to 961 million euros from 1.0 billion euros in the same month last year.
Last year Greece posted a current account surplus of 1.66 billion euros, up from 1.09 billion euros in 2013, helped
by higher tourism revenues - its biggest foreign currency earner.


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The bagel sensation Rosenberg's Bagels & Delicatessen is going to have a gluteny friend next door by early next year. A new bakery, The Rolling Pin, is the brainchild of Rosenberg's current pastry chef, Jay Thomas. If all goes as planned — which doesn't always happen when opening a new business in a building that has sat empty for more than 30 years — the European themed bakery will open its doors early 2016.
Thomas joined Joshua Pollack at Rosenberg's when it opened back in August last year with the goal of opening a new bakery in the area. Thomas had too much experience for the position at his bagel shop, said Pollack, having worked at the Brown Palace and Inverness Hotel and Conference Center and taught at Johnson & Wales University. But Thomas has the idea of opening his own place in mind and saw an opportunity to learn from Pollack's oncoming success. Plus he lives a few blocks away and was looking for a lifestyle change. "They say until you can live your dream help someone live theirs. So I was helping with his,” Thomas said, referring to Pollack.
As Rosenberg's popularity grew — or in fact never dwindled after its immediate success — it's been hard for Thomas to find time to make the Jewish and European pastries sold at the bagel shop. He's been working midnight until "whenever they kick me out," usually around 8 a.m. said Thomas. And Rosenberg's needs more baking space to begin catering, which has been put on hold until it can find more space.
“We need more space not just to serve the customers that we’re getting on the weekend but we really want to expand into catering. And we'll be able to have bialys every day and start making bagel balls," Pollack said. But although Rosenberg's will use the space, Pollack made clear this isn't a Rosenberg's expansion. And the two places won't be competing; Pollack said he'll be his first wholesale account.
There's a lot of history associated with this new bakery. Thomas recently found out his great great grandmother was a pie baker in Wisconsin, and the name of the bakery — The Rolling Pin — is in memory of his grandmother who had a one-handled rolling pin that she'd joke was just fine for baking. “It’s in my blood, I was always supposed to be a pastry chef," Thomas said.
The location, which has been vacant for 35 years said Thomas, was formerly the Fairbanks Hotel and Café. It's also been a convenience store and thrift shop. “I've wanted to start a bakery over 30 years," Thomas said. "I love Colorado and Denver history, so this is a great place to put the bakery.” He also will have pie tins from the local Puritan Pie Company, which though closed, still has its engraved signage on a building at 26th and Champa Streets.
Thomas isn't alone in the endeavor; he'll be joined by business partner Michael Martinez, a cake decorator who learned his craft at the Emily Griffith Opportunity School. Martinez is the business brain behind the operation, having owned his own businesses in Colorado and Florida for the past 25 years.
Thomas hopes to open up shop in time for the holidays, but is setting his sights on early 2016, anticipating delays while the landlord renovates the old building.
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You're sitting courtside, close enough to that glossy NBA hardwood floor to high-five your favorite player. Look left, look right at the roaring crowd, and bask in the knowledge that your seat should normally cost thousands of dollars.
But you're not in a maxed-out arena. Instead, the experience is taking place in the sun-bathed lobby of NextVR's Laguna Beach, Calif., office, where you feel like you're watching a basketball game from inside your television.
This is the new wave of virtual reality. Not the clunky, pixelated virtual reality of yore, but one of live-streamed sports events, 360-degree news segments and interactive movie trailers in high definition that industry insiders say will deliver dazzling moments. So you can bet that old-school media heavies -- already beset by cord-cutting woes and the rise of streaming-entertainment leaders Netflix (NFLX) and Amazon (AMZN) -- want in on the action, which Digi-Capital estimates could be a $30 billion market by 2020.
And despite no guarantees that virtual reality will have staying power as a new medium, the threat of losing more tech-savvy millennial viewers seems very real, giving Walt Disney (DIS), Comcast (CMCSA), Time Warner (TWX) and others a serious case of FOMO -- a Fear Of Missing Out.
"It's kind of the perfect storm for VR to be rising at the time it is, because as you know, the media companies are all scrambling to figure out how do you get the millennials, the younger generation," NextVR Executive Chairman Brad Allen told IBD in an interview.
Virtual reality has already gained traction in video games, with players heartily embracing goggle-based interactive gaming. Hardware is on sale now. Facebook (FB)-owned Oculus and Sony's (SNE) PlayStation were among those showing off their wares at the VR-dominated E3 conference in June. But aside from video games, there is still little to watch with all that fancy VR gear. Enter big media.
Comcast, Time Warner Dive In
Comcast Ventures and Time Warner Investments were among those that contributed to last year's $30.5 million funding round for NextVR. The live VR broadcaster also recently inked deals with 21st Century Fox's (FOXA) Fox Sports and Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) as it looks to bring Daytona 500 races and A-list concerts to viewers who can't make it to those venues in person.
In addition to NextVR, Comcast has plunked down millions of dollars in VR startups, such as cinematic content creator Felix & Paul Studios, communication platform AltspaceVR, and VR/mixed-reality company Spaces. Come August, Comcast-owned NBC will offer viewers 85 hours of immersive, Zika-free Olympics coverage via the Samsung Gear VR headset.
If the scramble to throw money at VR is any indication, big media is taking it seriously. And while other new formats like 3D TV have come and gone, VR looks less like a passing fad and should stick around, according to Piper Jaffray analyst Stan Meyers.
"It's not just going from HDTV to 4K TV," he said in an interview. "It's not an incremental change. It's more a transformational change, so I think (big media is) trying to be at the forefront of innovation."
Watching TV in virtual reality is indeed light years away from a regular flat-screen experience. For one thing, it doesn't necessitate a TV, but a headset like Google Cardboard plus a smartphone app like Within or Jaunt. And the potential for nabbing a viewer's full attention is appealing, particularly at a time when young people are inclined to consume content on more than one screen at a time.
Strap on a headset and disappear into VR segments from Disney's ABC News in which users can, say, wander through isolationist North Korea or watch a family of elephants lumber through the grasslands in Africa.
In one video, ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff plays tour guide outside a replica Eiffel Tower on the outskirts of Shanghai. Glance to the sky, and there's the so-called Eiffel, one-third the size of the real thing and enshrouded in a mix of fog and pollution. To the immediate right is a pile of black sooty stuff, beyond which lies grass and the hazy outline of a few buildings.
The video is technically a 360-degree experience and not what some would call "true VR," in which users are able to move freely through the virtual space. Panoramic videos, such as ABC's, keep viewers rooted to the ground. In fact, much of what is termed cinematic virtual reality doesn't allow for mobility. You also can't talk to Woodruff or pet an elephant through some VR version of yourself, but that's not to say that such a capability won't exist somewhere in the future.
Regardless, the technology is impressive, and the hardware projections alone are encouraging for those hoping the market will grow. Market tracker IDC projects sales of 9.6 million VR units and $2.3 billion in hardware revenue for the year, thanks to headsets from HTC, Oculus, Samsung and Sony, with sales ballooning to 64.8 million units and $15 billion by 2020.
Disney's Virtual Hopes, Cable Reality
To be sure, the U.S. pay-TV market, which Deloitte estimates will hit $170 billion this year, dwarfs VR. But alarm over the subscription TV environment, spurred by flagging subscriber figures at Disney's ESPN, sent media stocks into a downward spiral last August and made the need to adapt to a digital-first entertainment landscape ever more pressing.
Not long after the summer panic, it was announced that Disney had led a $65 million round of funding in Jaunt, a maker of cinematic VR recording equipment that also has an interest in content distribution. The startup's goal is to deliver VR to paying customers.
"What we like to say is ... we're trying to be the Netflix of VR," Jaunt Chief Business Officer David Anderman told IBD.
His aim is for viewers to shell out for "premium, professionally produced content" in much the same way that viewers subscribe to over-the-top streaming services.
Like Next VR, Jaunt is focusing on sports, music and travel, plus news and documentaries. And Anderman said even gamers, who are among the early adopters in VR, are more interested in travel and adventure cinematic content than they are in games.
"People try it, they have the ... 'holy crap' moment," he said. "They can't believe the content they're seeing."
And in April, Nokia said it had forged an agreement with Walt Disney Studios to provide the company with VR cameras and software.
The current array of content available is still somewhat spotty, though, and less often a standalone product than a marketing supplement for another show or movie.
For example, embedded in Disney's "Star Wars" app is "Jakku Spy," a string of VR transmissions to the sandy planet from the Resistance, designed to pump up enthusiasm last year for its long-awaited seventh installment of the hallowed Lucasfilm franchise.
Meanwhile, shows like ABC's "Quantico" and USA Network's "Mr. Robot" have shot scenes in VR, and Syfy International is producing five exclusively VR episodes of "Halycon" that can be viewed through the Oculus Rift, in addition to 10 episodes for the linear TV network. (Both USA and Syfy are owned by Comcast's NBCUniversal.)
Like media peers Discovery Communications (DISCA) and Lions Gate (LGF), Time Warner has also used a taste of VR to lure moviegoers back to theaters, such as Warner Brothers' VR trailer for its summer horror flick "The Conjuring 2."
But some viewers, while enthusiastic about VR, are not always sure what to make of big media's efforts so far. Available on gaming platform Steam is Disney Movies VR, a collection of immersive experiences available to HTC Vive users. The hodgepodge includes VR scenes from "The Jungle Book," as well as a 360-degree, red-carpet movie premiere that user reviews deemed "underwhelming" and "painfully boring."
"Generally, all the studios are experimenting with the medium," said Piper Jaffray's Meyers. "I think they're looking forward to VR being sort of the next medium to tell stories. However, I still think we're very early on. The filmmaking process, the storytelling process using VR is very limited at this point, so it becomes more of an experience."
Imax Gears Up For VR
It will be a while -- at least five to seven years away, says Meyers -- before audiences will be able to plop down into a theater seat and watch a full 90-minute to two-hour movie in VR. But exhibitors are already prepping themselves for VR-happy moviegoers anyway.
Imax (IMAX) has struck deals with Alphabet (GOOGL) unit Google to develop a cinema-grade VR camera, and through a partnership with VR content creator Starbreeze, plans to offer a "premium VR experience" in malls and multiplexes.
"A lot of Hollywood is waking up to the reality that VR is gonna be huge, " says Hrish Lotlikar, co-founder and chief business development officer of The Rogue Initiative.
The VR entertainment company, which boasts alums from Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks Animation (DWA) and elsewhere, recently struck a deal with Michael Bay of "Transformers" fame to create VR content in the director's signature action-heavy style.
Content aside, there are several technical kinks that still need to be worked out.
Capturing a moving, immersive environment while guiding viewers through a static narrative can be a difficult thing, and the entertainment industry is still in an "experimental phase" with the technology, said Meyers.
Then there's the sheer cost of the hardware, not to mention the physical limitations of essentially being blinded to the real world by a bulky headset, which could turn off people who prefer the relative ease of augmented reality experiences like "Pokemon Go."
But assuming that the industry can get it right, potential money grabs lay waiting. And as Hollywood works its way up the VR learning curve for feature-length content, other VR opportunities beckon. Hungry audiences abroad, for instance, might be willing to shell out for tickets for a Steph Curry virtual reality experience.
"I don't think (VR is) ever going to replace going to an event ... but a lot of times people can't get there," said NextVR's Allen. "The NBA has 300 million fans in China. ... Now all of a sudden, you have a virtual ticket, and there's a courtside seat that a million people could be sitting in, virtually."


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Published on March 2nd, 2021 📆 | 3714 Views ⚑0
Quotient Technology to Present at UBS Global Consumer and Retail Virtual Conference
Quotient Technology Inc. (NYSE: QUOT), the leading digital media and promotions technology company that creates cohesive omnichannel brand-building and
sales-driving opportunities to deliver valuable outcomes for advertisers, retailers and consumers, today announced that it will present at the UBS Global Consumer and Retail Virtual Conference on
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. PT.
A webcast of the presentation will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company website at http://investors.quotient.com under the Events and Presentations menu.


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The value of micro cap stock for Mindspeed Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MSPD) was up by more than a quarter of its total value on Wednesday after the semiconductor manufacturer provided a fourth quarter guidance that got investors' attention.
According to The Associated Press, the chipmaker's fourth-quarter revenue forecast topped Wall Street estimates, as the company now expects revenue to fall between $35 million to $36 million, compared with a previous estimate of $33.5 million to $35.5 million. This was also higher than analysts polled by FactSet expected, who called for revenue of $34.5 million.
The media outlet stated CEO Raouf Y. Halim said the improved forecast comes from improved demand for its high-performance analog and VoIP products. Its wireline division, which covers the company's traditional phone line wing, also looks to be stabilizing, he said.
Investors will now tune in on November 5, when the company will report its fourth-quarter earnings, to find out if the higher guidance was too lofty a goal or an accurate demand estimate.
As of 3:56 p.m. on Wednesday, September 12, Mindspeed's stock was up 26.6 percent to $3.24.


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Sade Samuel is a pioneer of sorts. In the aftermath of disaster and throughout a raging pandemic, she has grown a delivery service, the first of its kind operating in Dominica, into a successful enterprise.
Qwick Delivery, first launched in 2017, now partners with thirty local businesses and is quickly increasing its clientele in Roseau and environs. What started as mainly a food delivery service now includes the delivery of propane gas and groceries.
The budding entrepreneur says her business idea sprung from an aversion to standing in queue.
“I was standing in line for food one day and thought to myself ‘I could be way more productive if I didn’t have to waste a quarter of my day in lines.’ The thought lingered in my head for a few days, then I decided to solve this problem not only for myself, but also for the people of Dominica,” she recounts.
She quit her job and started making deliveries in a beat-up 1999 Nissan B13 with no air-conditioning. With no staff and only the occasional help of friends and family, Samuel was averaging eight deliveries a day. By the time the pandemic hit in 2020, Qwick Delivery had grown to five employees and has increased its fleet of scooters and vehicles, which can be seen criss crossing town on delivery runs, seven days a week.
“It has been the hardest yet most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life,” Samuel tells eMAGE DM.
“Starting a business that has never been done, invites a lot of unsolicited opinions about you and your life choices from both friends and family. The hardest part was drowning out the negative opinions and believing in the dream.
“I thought I could either succeed or fail and either way I’d gain experience and learn something new. I didn’t know how it was going to play out, but I thought if it were to fail I’d rather it failed in my twenties,” the 26-year-old says.
She credits consistent and quality service as well as a strong social media presence for the company’s quick growth. Its ability to withstand the shock of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has already set it apart from its competitors, she believes.
“We have already been tried and tested. We relaunched after Hurricane Maria and we never closed during Covid,” she notes, adding the company would now look to expand its reach in the local market with the launch of a new customer app.
“In an effort to serve our customers better and introduce the wider population to Qwick Delivery, we are working on our digital platform and expanding our serviceable area. With that comes challenges but we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and we are hoping to make a major announcement pretty soon,” she teases.
Photography: Media Linx
Make up: Jorjanna Albert, Jay’s Faces
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During E3 2018 we saw a new cinematic trailer for Beyond Good and Evil 2. But that’s not all Ubisoft brought to the convention.
Also shown behind closed doors at E3 was a pre-Alpha gameplay demo. Now Ubisoft is offering everyone a peek at the demo that was shown. They’ve released a condensed gameplay update video, which shares glimpses of the action which was shown in the E3 demo, and also did a livestream sharing much more gameplay action.
You can find more info on Beyond Good and Evil 2 and check out the gameplay videos below.
Ubisoft has released the latest video update for Beyond Good and Evil 2, the long-awaited follow-up to 2003’s Beyond Good and Evil.
The video shares new gameplay footage, including some of the various ways to navigate the world (on foot, by jetpack, in a ship) and some peeks at combat. You can find this new video below, along with a second previously released video in case you missed it and more info on the game.
Perhaps the best moment of E3 2017 came after the reveal of the latest trailer for the long-awaited sequel Beyond Good and Evil 2—which was itself one of the best things we saw out of this year’s E3 convention.
After the trailer was shown Michel Ancel, the creator and director of the incredible 2003 original (as well as the creator of the Rayman series), walked out to the stage accompanied by narrative director Gabrielle Shrager. Ancel has been fighting to make this game for so long (over a decade now—parts of it have been built in the past, we’ve seen trailers for it before, but it has struggled to find life), and once the new trailer had been debuted and he came out to the applauding crowd, emotions overtook him. You could see quite clearly how much it all meant to him.
Since that time, more goodies related to the game have been released, including our first peek at early gameplay and more info from those hard at work on building it. You can see the video of Ancel’s emotional appearance as well as the gameplay video and more below.
A sequel to the classic 2003 action-adventure game Beyond Good & Evil has been in the works for…well, a long time now. So long that most fans simply roll their eyes at yet another promise of something that will likely never come.
But however unlikely Beyond Good & Evil 2 might seem, talk of a new game has arrived once again. And from an important source. Michel Ancel, designer of the original game, says the sequel is in pre-production once again. He also released a bit of concept art, which can be seen below.


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In an attempt to limit the amount of vehicles stolen due to vulnerabilities in their keyless entry systems, Ford has introduced a new security upgrade for its Fiesta and Focus vehicles.
The new keyless entry devices have now been fitted with a sleep mode, which after 40 seconds of the fob being stationary or inactive is turned on so that any exterior signals that would normally trick the device into thinking it was near its respective vehicle can’t take effect.
Many thefts of cars with keyless entry use ‘relay box’ equipment that extends the signal emitted by current fobs to unlock the vehicle. This measure would mean thieves would have to work much faster and are more likely to get caught if they tried.
Ford say that its fobs only work within a two-metre radius of its vehicles anyway, but this solution would limit the risk of vehicles being ‘hacked’ into.
On picking up the fob, it would come out of sleep mode and reactivate so that users could get in their vehicles.
Fiesta models are already being delivered with said technology, while Focus models will be provided with them from next month.See Available Ford deals
Those wanting security upgrades on their current car can get a new keyless fob – with Fiesta options costing £65 and Focus fobs costing £72. An additional payment for 0.9 hours’ worth of labour would also be required.
Ford security specialist Simon Hurr said: “The online availability of devices which have no place in public hands has long been a problem for Ford, our industry and crime fighters.
“We are pleased to respond with a simple but effective solution – swiftly implemented to help protect owners of our top-selling cars.”


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On Friday, Jan. 20, Carroll County Memorial Hospital along with Carroll County Area Technology Center’s HOSA will hold a uniform sale from 6 a.m.- 4 p.m., with 10 percent of the proceeds going to Carroll County Area Technology Center’s Health Occupation Students of America.
Get scrubs and accessories at discounted prices and show your support to our future nurses.
For more information call Tonya at (502) 732-4479, Madell at (502) 968-2262 or Lisa at (502) 732-4321.
Kroger Relay for Life Cutie Pie contest will be held Jan. 15 to Feb. 14. Children up to age 3 are eligible. Trophies will be awarded to winners in first, second and third place for both boys and girls. Bring in child’s photo with name, age and parents’ phone number. Kroger shoppers can vote for their favorite cutie by dropping money into cups that correspond with each photo. Winners will be announced Feb. 15. Photos may be picked up after that date. All proceeds raised will benefit Relay for Life. For more information, call (502) 347-9742.
When we had our Ghent Woman’s Club meeting and Christmas get-together in early December, we were asked to tell what some of our Christmas memories were and what we would be doing for Christmas. Since our theme was “Christmas Memories,” it was a wonderful evening of reminiscing for all of us. We discussed our family’s holiday meal traditions, as well. We had such a good time.
Several locations around Carrollton will have tickets available for the Carrollton Rotary Club’s winter ball, according to project chairman Nick Marsh.
Credit card purchases may be made at the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce office. Other locations include the gift shop or the administration office at Carroll County Memorial Hospital, US Bank, United Citizens Bank, First National Bank, Carrollton Federal Bank and Monk and Marsh Attorneys.


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Rocker Jon Bon Jovi has agreed to ditch leather from his clothing line - and use a plant-based alternative instead.
Animal rights charity PETA encouraged the star, who launched his Hart N Dagger line last November, to make the move.
The $275 jeans will have a small leather alternative patch on the waistband, instead of real animal hide.
A spokesperson for PETA said: "After learning from PETA that the throats of cows used for leather are routinely slit at slaughterhouses while the animals are still conscious, Hart N Dagger—owned by rocker Jon Bon Jovi—acted swiftly to replace all the animal skins used in its clothing line with innovative and trendy vegan versions instead.
"A box of delicious cow-shaped vegan chocolates is on its way to thank the company for its compassionate decision."
PETA Executive Vice President, Tracy Reiman, added: "Animals are no longer livin’ on a prayer, thanks to Jon Bon Jovi.
"Every day, PETA hears from shoppers who are looking for vegan-friendly retailers, and Hart N Dagger now fits the bill by agreeing to use only high-quality vegan leather on its denim. And compassionate consumers are applauding the move.”
PETA is continuing to campaign to encourage a number of other retailers to make the switch to cruelty-free fabrics, including Lucky Brand, True Religion and Levi’s.
Bon Jovi did not comment on whether he would stop wearing leather himself.
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Google trend bitcoin
Also, we show how bitcoin hourly trading volume can be forecast by using hourly number of tweets about bitcoin and Google Trends data about bitcoin. We
Therefore we receive and 28 Nov 2017 Synopsis. Google Trends shows search for 'Bitcoin Bubble' hit its highest level ( 100) early Tuesday. By RAHUL 10 Jan 2020 We are now less than five months away from the third halving in Bitcoin's decade long history. 30 Nov 2018 Google Trends bases its statistics on the number of searches related to a given word. During 2017, the term “Bitcoin Price” was one of the most Bitcoin.
O recente aumento foi impulsionado, principalmente, pelos países africanos Nigéria, Gana e África do Sul, seguidos por Áustria e Suíça. Além da busca […] Os dados do Google Trends mostram que as pesquisas por “Bitcoin” atingiram um pico anual, enquanto o preço do BTC subia para US$ 19.400. O preço do Bitcoin estendeu sua alta em direção a um novo recorde de todos os tempos em 25 de novembro, com o preço subindo para US$ 19.412 na sessão de negociação da manhã.Desempenho diário do mercado de … 25/01/2021 Dados do Google Trends revelaram que o termo de pesquisa “comprar bitcoin” tem aumentado no último mês, paralelamente ao aumento do preço do Bitcoin. O gráfico revela, que o interesse em Bitcoin tem aumentado desde de 3 de abril, atingindo uma pontuação máxima de 100 no Google Trends.
Throughout 2019 and early 2020, one sign analysts used to decipher if a bull market had started or not, was to look toward Google Trends and compare the blips to past instances of Bitcoin fever. Only over the last few months as the cryptocurrency began uptrending hard, even last night trending on Twitter after pushing beyond $40,000 per BTC.
In the video above, Coin Talk podcast hosts Aaron Lammer and Jay Caspian Kang say yesbut they have some caveats. (In further conversation, they compare How can you get started with bitcoin?
Explore search interest for blockchain, bitcoin by time, location and popularity on Google Trends You are using unsupported browser. Some features may not work correctly. Upgrade to a modern
Many companies featured on Money advertise with us. Opinions are our own, but compensation and in-depth research d Google Trends a powerful tool to identify both global Google search popularity, and the interests of people in your own community. Here's how to take advantage of Google search data. Google Trends is a powerful research tool you can use to Google Trends is a handy source of search volume information, but it can also be used as a moneymaking tool. If you strive to make money via the Google Adsense affiliate program, then Google Trends should definitely be on your list of bookm In this guide, we teach you how to buy Bitcoin for the first time, from finding the right wallets and exchanges to spending Bitcoin in a smart, efficient way. Bitcoin is in the news today more than ever. Thanks to skyrocketing prices and ro Bitcoin is one kind of digital currency or cryptocurrency, a medium of exchange that exists exclusively online.
Past 12 months Past 12 months Past hour Past 4 hours Past day Past 7 days Past 30 days Explore interesses de pesquisa para bitcoin por hora, local e popularidade no Google Trends 25/11/2020 Explore search interest for bitcoin, ethereum by time, location and popularity on Google Trends Os dados do Google Trends mostram que, entre 2009 (data da criação do Bitcoin) e abril de 2017 (começo da incrível alta do preço do Bitcoin), as pesquisas mundiais por Bitcoin nunca ultrapassaram a das ações.
An Adam and Eve breakout indicates the end of a downtrend | Source: Google Trends In technical analysis, the breakout marks the trend reversal for the search term. Dec 01, 2020 · The Google search trend for the terms “bitcoin” and “cryptocurrency” began spiking again in November but still remain below their peak in 2017. Search trends have historically had a strong correlation with the price. So it is not surprising to see it spike as bitcoin has surged to a new record high price. Dec 04, 2013 · Evolution of both pairs – Google Trends (weekly) and Wikipedia (daily) with corresponding BitCoin prices – is illustrated in Fig. 2.Obviously, the daily series of Wikipedia entries provides a Dec 01, 2017 · The P-Value is 0 (or close to 0) and the Coefficient is 69.89, meaning that one value increase in the Google Trend Score will make the Bitcoin Price increase about 69.89 USD. In less than 48 hours, Bitcoin price has gone parabolic and risen by $1,700 and over 22%, touching nearly $9,500 before falling back to refuel. However, it isn’t just Bitcoin price that’s gone parabolic.
However, it isn’t just Bitcoin price that’s gone parabolic. Google Search Trends for the term “Bitcoin halving” has also spiked considerably, and could be partially what’s driving this epic rally. Jan 25, 2021 · Google searches for Bitcoin have surged in Argentina in the past weeks. They are now twice as high as they were during 2017's famous bull run. The country is burdened by inflation, economic debt, and a falling currency, causing many people to consider Bitcoin as an alternative asset. Google trends for the search term “Bitcoin” in the US is around February 2018 levels while at January 2018 levels worldwide and is projected to climb to December 2017 levels. “Widespread bitcoin euphoria is now here.
5 t+ søgninger. Seventeen.com. 6. Chelsea. We compared trends of price with.
Индекс 27 Sep 2020 Bitcoin continues to hover over $10000 but it seems the lack of volatility has resulted in less retail interest and Google search volume. Результаты поиска по фразе 'bitcoin google trends| Bityard.com Free Bonus' 13 Jan 2021 This according to information that was compiled from Google Trends, which compared searches with the keyword "Bitcoin" against searches for eden Google arama sayılarının paylaşıldığı Dünya geneli Google Trends “Bitcoin ” aramaları ile Bitcoin/USD fiyatlarındaki değişim arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek 25 Jan 2021 Google searches for Bitcoin have surged in Argentina in the past weeks. Argentina's Google Trend searches for #Bitcoin going ballistic 28 Nov 2017 Google Trends shows search for 'Bitcoin Bubble hit its highest level (100) early Tuesday.kryptování výpůjček
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Google trends for the search term “Bitcoin” in the US is around February 2018 levels while at January 2018 levels worldwide and is projected to climb to December 2017 levels. “Widespread bitcoin euphoria is now here. Have to thank central banks & governments. Without their stimuli, the top would likely be close.
Google Trends: Argentina’s Bitcoin Interest Is Twice As Strong As 2017 The Latin American country continues to be in a permanent economic crisis, accompanied by rising unemployment, high inflation and a depreciation of the national currency. Jan 18, 2021 · For the first time since the last major cryptocurrency bull run in 2017, the Google search term trend results for ‘buying gold’ and ‘buying Bitcoin’ are skewed heavily in favor of Bitcoin.


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It was a beautiful moment.
The Apple CEO took to Twitter Monday morning to post a picture of himself writing on an iPad. In the original tweet, Cook wrote a simple “hello” for his followers to enjoy. It’s placement on a blank white surface, however, made it prime memeing material. In no time, alternate versions of the picture were all over Twitter.
Things continued in due internet course. The meme momentarily blew up, dominating Twitter for a few short hours before diminishing into obscurity. It would likely have faded into the historical dredges of internet trends if Cook hadn’t brought it back around.
In another early morning tweet three days later, Cook tweeted the same picture with two minor changes. This time, the iPad had a sketched picture of Apple AirPods in place of the original “hello.” On top of that, a subtle AirPod could be seen in his left ear.
He meme’d his own meme. Cook morphed into an internet god awash with memeable relevance, in other words, and Twitter was quick to notice.
People tweeted stick figures, dickbutts, and messages. One person replied with an excellent depiction of Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
First thing that came to mind when I saw the Tim Cook meme pic.twitter.com/HUqlRq2bFX— Nik (@nicokont) March 20, 2019
Of course, a few people had to throw in some “subscribe to PewDiePie” memes.
One person even trolled Cook, writing “I love Samsung” on the blank template.
It was a brilliant marketing move by Cook. Sure, people are more focused on the meme than the AirPods he plugged, but the conversation is still revolving around Apple and AirPods. Eventually, the ouroboros of a meme must end, however, or everything funny about it is lost. Hopefully, Cook figures that out before he re-memes his re-memed meme—and ruins it forever.
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Nahila Bonfiglio reports on geek culture and gaming. Her work has also appeared on KUT's Texas Standard (Austin), KPAC-FM (San Antonio), and the Daily Texan.


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Katherine McNamara has an exciting new role in ABC Family's new show Shadowhunters, and she has an equally cool new hair makeover to go along with it! The actress actually returned to her natural strawberry blonde hair color for the part, and she documented her hair dying process with cute Instagram pics.
"Going back to my roots this morning and into the Fray... #SHADOWHUNTERS #ByeByeBlonde," she shared on Instagram, along with her final blonde hair selfie.
Then, she shared a cool pic while processing her color, teasing her new hair hue by filtering the photo in black and white.
Kat finally revealed her new hair color in a beautiful selfie, and we're in love with the shade of red!
What do you think of Katherine's latest red hair color? Sound off by voting in our poll below!


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U.S. hotel demand and average daily rate on a nominal basis will near full recovery of 2019 levels in 2022, while nominal revenue per available room will fully recover by 2023, according to the latest forecast from STR and Tourism Economics, released Monday at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. The firms previously estimated a full RevPAR recovery by 2024.
When inflation is taken into consideration, however, real ADR and RevPAR won’t recover until 2025, STR president Amanda Hite said. She added that inflation is at its highest rate since the early 1990s, and though she expects it to start to cool in the coming months, “it will be out there all of next year,” and it is built into the new forecast.
Still, ADR potency was one of the drivers of the stronger forecast. “ADR growth has been so much stronger than anticipated,” Hite said. “In my time at STR, 16 years now, August was the first time we ever revised an ADR forecast up,” referring to STR’s upwardly revised previous forecast.
[Report continues below chart.]
Sustained demand also played a factor in the revised forecast. Hite said there was concern there might be a decline in demand after summer with people going back to offices, kids going back to school and the delta variant surging. “But demand stayed strong since the summer,” she said. “It’s been really positive to see room demand average about 93 percent of our 2019 levels.”
STR and Tourism Economics now project 2021 occupancy will reach 57.1 percent compared with a 54.7 percent forecast in August. Anticipated ADR was bumped up from $115.50 to $123, while RevPAR is expected to end the year at $70 compared with a previous estimate of $63.16.
Hite added that, with leisure travel fueling the rebound, weekend demand is back at 2019 levels. Shoulder days—Sunday and Thursday—also are near 2019 levels. There is “still a ways to go on weekdays,” she said, citing STR’s index score for October weekday demand of 87—a score of 100 would equal 2019—”but in my book, that was really positive,” because the index for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday demand in September was only 82.
“It’s a really positive sign we’ve started to see that group meetings and business travelers are back on the road, and certainly have the most room to grow in those segments moving forward,” Hite said.
Another sign of returning group and business transient is from the upper-upscale tier, which more frequently caters to those travel segments than do most lower tiers. “Almost half of the hotels in the upper-upscale segment have occupancies of 60 percent or more,” Hite said. “This is the segment that has been lagging, so it is a really encouraging sign as we move forward to 2022. … It’s a big piece of the puzzle for recovery.”
Further, group demand is at about 60 percent of 2019 levels. “It’s coming back,” Hite said. “That is the sign we were really hoping for and concerned about in October.” She explained that late September through October is conference season, but some large group meetings canceled after Labor Day because of the delta variant,. “But group demand has remained consistent for the last four months at 60 percent, even with the cancellations from the delta variant.”
There are no deals at all, and it’s just a function of demand. There are people willing to pay, and the business is there. There is not any way to cut any deals with hotels.”
– STR’s Amanda Hite
With higher demand across all segments, rising ADRs and the high rate of inflation, Hite said that the costs for hotels to operate continue to rise, meaning pricing will be tough for corporate travel managers and meetings managers.
“Hotel owners are still digging out of a hole, not just next year but for the next four years,” she said. “There is only upward pressure on rates. There are no deals at all, and it’s just a function of demand. There are people willing to pay, and the business is there. There is not any way to cut any deals with hotels.”


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London, 3rd March 2015, UK – The Metapack Group, the leading provider of eCommerce technology for retailers’ delivery services, has been unveiled as one of the top 50 best-performing technology companies in the UK at the inaugural Megabuyte50 awards last night, taking 20th place.
The awards aim to identify the best-performing UK-based, privately owned mid-market technology companies. Megabuyte is the technology sector’s leading provider of corporate and financial intelligence on 1,500 public and private companies across Europe.
The announcement confirms Metapack’s excellence in financial performance, with more than 50 percent annual growth for the past five consecutive years. In a statement from Megabuyte, Metapack was described as benefiting from general growth in the eCommerce market alongside a strong response to other new market drivers. These include customer expectations for a higher level of customer service and an increased variety of industry options; factors which have driven Metapack to deliver this top-quartile growth.
Metapack’s CEO and founder Patrick Wall commented: “This award is a great testament to our team’s commitment to driving growth in the retail industry. We’re very pleased to be recognised alongside some of the UK’s most prominent technology companies in this listing and we’re looking forward to continued growth in the future.”
Founded in 1999, Metapack’s mission is to make eCommerce delivery more cost effective, convenient and enjoyable by offering greater flexibility and choice to consumers and making it easier for retailers to provide exceptional delivery services. Metapack’s highly configurable SaaS platform connects shippers with parcel carriers, as well as a wide range of alternative delivery, collection and returns services to enable businesses to gain a holistic view of all delivery operations.
Backed by Index Ventures and former Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy, the Metapack Group works with 80% of the UK’s leading retailers, including Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, House of Fraser, ASOS and B&Q. In September 2014 the company was featured in the Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100 list of fastest growing British companies and announced the acquisition of US shipping vendor ABOL Software. For more information, visit www.metapack.com


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AUS/US: Treasury Wine Estates writedown "frustrating" - regional head
TWE released its FY results yesterday
Treasury Wine Estate's costly inventory writedown in the US is “frustrating”, a regional head of the company has admitted to just-drinks.
However, TWE's MD for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Andrew Carter, said the company has taken “the right and brave decision” to destroy out-of-date stock after over-ambitious forecasts for new products. The AUD154.7m (US$139.7m) writedown pushed TWE's full-profits, released yesterday, down by 53%.
“When you have old and aged wine in a distributor network, you have to tackle that. You can't build brands with old-aged wine,” Carter said in an interview with just-drinks.
He added: “It's frustrating for all of us... The Americas challenges are well documented - they go back over a period of time and I think we've taken the right and brave decision to address and issue that has been there for a while.”
TWE announced in July it will clear “excess, aged and deteriorating” stock in the US.
Carter yesterday also said TWE has seen some signs of a wine slowdown in China because of gifting restrictions that have already hit spirits sales. But he added that Asia's FY performance was still strong, with a 20% volumes lift driven by “unprecedented levels of demand” (volumes +39%) for Penfolds in Hong Kong & China.
Strong UK sales at the end of the financial year (volumes +14%), along with the start of a recovery in Nordic countries, have also given Carter confidence for Europe going forward, he said.
Treasury Wine Estates has faced serious challenges since its spin-off from Foster’s Group in 2011. The US, which was a key component of its turnaround plan, has thus far failed to pay dividends. In 20...
With recent claims that China has become the world's biggest consumer of red wine, Chris Losh considers what wine producers can learn from the current travails facing international spirits companies i...
Global Wine industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market share, market size (value and volume 2008-12, and forecast to 2017). The profile also ...
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31 July, 2023: What is Amazon India’s ‘I have space’ store? This innovative initiative partners with local businesses to enhance delivery services and boost earning opportunities. Keep reading to learn more!
Amazon India has made a groundbreaking announcement on 28th july about the launch of its very first 'floating space' store situated on the renowned Dal Lake in Srinagar.
This unique store concept, known as 'I Have Space,' is part of Amazon India's dedication to ensuring dependable and convenient delivery services for its customers while also supporting small businesses by creating fresh ways for earning opportunities.
What is Amazon India’s ‘I Have Space’ initiative?
In 2015, Amazon India launched the innovative 'I Have Space' program to assist local stores in expanding their reach. Through this initiative, Amazon collaborates with local store owners, providing them with an opportunity to increase their regular income and attract more customers to their shops.
Currently, over 13,000 local stores in 65 different cities participate in the program. They deliver Amazon products to customers within a 2 to 4-kilometer radius of their stores, contributing to their additional earnings. On average, these store partners handle 20 to 30 package deliveries daily and receive a fixed fee per delivery. Some of these stores also function as pick-up points, receiving deliveries on behalf of customers.
The 'I Have Space' program has a wide coverage, including cities like Amritsar, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Kota, Vadodara, Nasik, and many others, in addition to large metros. It plays a crucial role in managing significant volumes of Amazon Logistics in the cities where it operates and has proven instrumental in supporting sellers to rapidly grow their businesses.
The partnership which made the floating ‘I Have Space’ possible
Murtaza Khan Kashi, the owner of the houseboat 'Selec Town' in Srinagar, has partnered with Amazon as their 'I Have Space' associate. His role is to provide daily package deliveries to customers residing on and around Dal Lake and Nigeen Lake, addressing the challenges they previously faced.
Houseboat- A houseboat is a unique type of boat that serves as a floating home. It is like a house on water, with living spaces, bedrooms, a kitchen, and sometimes even bathrooms.
Before this service, these customers had to use shikaras or rely on nearby shops to collect their packages. Now, with Selec Town's involvement, Murtaza will ensure safe and timely deliveries right to the doorstep of their houseboats.
Karuna Shankar Pande, the Director of Amazon Logistics in India, expressed excitement about this milestone, as it marks the first-ever floating 'I Have Space' store on Dal Lake. This development allows Amazon to offer reliable, efficient, and faster deliveries to customers throughout Srinagar, reaffirming their commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for individuals and enhancing their delivery network with new capabilities.
Murtaza, the owner of a houseboat in Srinagar, shared that his primary business relies on seasonal income from tourists, making it challenging for his family due to high maintenance costs. To address this, he sought additional income opportunities and found Amazon's 'I Have Space' program. This initiative enables local store owners like him to earn extra income by delivering packages to Amazon customers, offering a solution to his financial concerns.


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I spent two days in Phoenix this week at the CFSI Emerge Conference. This an annual event put on by CFSI (now called the Financial Health Network) focused on financial health. There were several excellent sessions but the one that I keep thinking about was one about employer innovation in financial wellness. The speakers were Peter Hazlehurst, the Head of Payments and Risk at Uber and Shawn Leavitt, the SVP of Total Rewards at Comcast.
What was fascinating to me was how much financial services is a central part of their businesses, particularly in the case of Uber. They were one of the first companies to make payments frictionless and invisible and they continue to break new ground when it comes to financial services.
Let’s start with small dollar lending. Uber issues drivers a debit card where they can receive their earnings but they can also go negative on the balance of that card up to $100. So, when a driver has a zero balance on their card they can still go and fill up with gas before they start their shift. What is also really innovative is that Uber allows for almost real time earnings. Drivers can request their balance be sent to their debit card up to five times a day.
For some drivers they literally have no money. So, when they wake up in the morning they desperately need to earn money from Uber to survive. So they will drive for a couple hours and then be able to afford breakfast, a few more hours then lunch and more hours in the afternoon and they can feed their family at dinner. This real time payment is powered by Visa Direct as they can push money to a debit card for very low cost. This could become a model for many other industries as employees and contractors demand payment quickly for work already done.
What was most interesting is when Peter Hazlehurst said that Uber wants to make a dollar earned at Uber 20% – 30% more valuable. While he didn’t say exactly how Uber would do that one way is through the delivery of more valuable financial services. For example, he said that some Uber drivers have poor credit and often overdraw their bank accounts. They often send money they have earned through Western Union to their family in another country. Now, he didn’t say Uber would be developing services to satisfy these needs but you can clearly see where they might go here.
This is something that Brett King talked about in his latest book, Banking 4.0. He said that banking will become an embedded function in a banking as a service model. This means that companies like Uber can provide banking services, in partnership with an actual bank (Uber’s Visa debit card is issued by GoBank), but the bank operates in the background. We are seeing this with the recently announced T-Mobile Money where a bank account is offered in partnership with BankMobile.
The context of the discussion at Emerge was around financial wellness facilitated by employers. Comcast said they want to personalize payroll at the individual level. They have piloted an emergency loan program that had significant uptake. An employee might have a credit score of 540 and not be able to get a loan beyond a payday lender. But there is no reason why Comcast shouldn’t give a long time employee a $1,000 loan at 6% and have them pay it back through a payroll deduction.
The trend here is that large companies like Uber and Comcast will offer more and more financial services as time goes on. By controlling the financial side of any interaction with their customers or employees they can boost brand loyalty, drive more business or increase employee retention. Or maybe do all three. Banking as a service is only going to grow from here.
Peter Renton is the chairman and co-founder of Fintech Nexus, the world’s first and largest digital media and events company focused on fintech. Peter has been writing about fintech since 2010 and he is the author and creator of the Fintech One-on-One Podcast, the first and longest-running fintech interview series. Peter has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The New York Times, CNBC, CNN, Fortune, NPR, Fox Business News, the Financial Times, and dozens of other publications.


text: Arlington, VA- The nation’s leading food companies agreed to use uniform nutrition standards for the products they advertise to children, and during 2014 – the first full year under the new standards – they virtually always met those commitments. The news comes from the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), a voluntary advertising self-regulation program that is administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB). This program was established for responsible food companies to change what foods they advertised to children because of concerns about childhood obesity.The Report on Compliance and Progress During 2014, issued today, summarizes CFBAI’s progress and compliance assessment based on comprehensive independent monitoring and review of the children’s food advertising landscape. The 17 companies that participated in CFBAI in 2014 are among the nation’s leading consumer packaged goods companies and quick-serve restaurants, and represent the majority of food advertising on children’s programming.“Last year marked the first full year that CFBAI’s category-specific uniform nutrition criteria were in effect, resulting in more improvements to foods that are being advertised to children,” said Elaine D. Kolish, CFBAI director and vice president of CBBB. “Those changes, along with the hundreds of changes made earlier and since then, mean that today the foods CFBAI participants advertise to children are markedly better nutritionally than when CFBAI started nine years ago.”“Meaningful, transparent and accountable self-regulation works,” Kolish noted. “We’re particularly proud of the fact that the amount of advertising for foods with fruits, vegetables, whole grains or dairy is steadily increasing. CFBAI is not just about reducing the sugar, salt or saturated fat content of foods.”The Report notes that last year CFBAI monitored more than 4,000 ads on children’s media. “Overall compliance was outstanding,” said CFBAI’s deputy director, Maureen Enright, who oversees compliance monitoring. “Occasionally, we found that an ad for a food that did not meet CFBAI’s nutrition criteria had aired on child-directed programming or in digital media, and each time our participant promptly addressed the issue. The companies work hard to maintain systems and procedures to ensure their ad buys on children’s media are only for foods that meet CFBAI’s nutrition criteria.”About the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising InitiativeBBB launched the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative in 2006 to shift the mix of advertising messaging directed at children to encourage healthier dietary choices and healthier lifestyles. CFBAI’s participants currently are The American Licorice Company; Burger King Corporation; Campbell Soup Company; The Coca-Cola Company; ConAgra Foods, Inc.; The Dannon Company, Inc.; Ferrero USA, Inc.; General Mills Inc.; The Hershey Company; Kellogg Company; The Kraft Heinz Company; Mars, Incorporated; McDonald’s USA, LLC; Mondelēz Global LLC; Nestlé USA; PepsiCo, Inc.; Post Foods, LLC; and Unilever United States. For more information about CFBAI, visit www.bbb.org/kids_food.About BBBFor more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2014, people turned to BBB more than 165 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 4.7 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for 113 local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as home to its national programs on dispute resolution, advertising review, and industry self-regulation.


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WEDNESDAY, APR. 25:
Catlin opens China office
Catlin Group Limited announced that it has been granted approval by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission to open and operate a wholly owned representative office in Beijing.
The establishment of a representative office in Beijing further increases Catlin’s commitment to the insurance and reinsurance market in China.
Whilst no business will be underwritten from the Beijing representative office, its establishment will allow Catlin to liaise more closely with relevant departments of the Chinese government and insurance industry organisations, as well as conduct market research regarding insurance and reinsurance in China.
AF Smith launched its new web site (www.afsmith.bm) last week.
Tim Smith, A. F. Smith CEO, said: “We feel our new web site is very indicative of our company’s commitment to innovation and staying up to date. We are extremely proud of it, its new features and the new branding look.”
The web site features an enhanced online ordering system for office supplies as we build on a process that customers have been using successfully for many years.
As an Apple Authorized Reseller, www.afsmith.bm features an online Apple Store where customers can order a comprehensive range of Apple products and accessories, from iPads, iPods and iMacs to cases and covers.
The Fairmont Southampton announced Charles Clarke has been appointed to the post of assistant executive housekeeper.
Nelda Simons, regional director for human resources, said, “To meet the demands of our guests and to maintain the standards that one comes to expect from a Fairmont hotel, we are committed to selecting, training and recognizing Bermuda’s best.
“Charles Clarke possesses wide and extensive work experience and is making a career change, returning once again to the hospitality industry.
“We know that he will make a major contribution towards our continuing efforts to raise customer service levels and attract more visitors to Bermuda.”
Mr. Clarke will assist with the management and coordination of housekeeping operations in the guest rooms, public spaces and employee areas of The Fairmont Southampton.


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Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country are implementing a new service called “mum’s valet” to make it easier for customers with young children to order and eat at Chick-fil-A.
The service enables parents with kids to order their food at the drive-thru — while the children are safely strapped in the car — then come inside where a Chick-fil-A employee will have a table ready for them with however many high chairs they need, and serve them their food.
Chick-fil-A’s restaurant operators came up with the idea for “mum’s valet,” after noticing how hectic the food ordering process can be for parents of young kids, David Farmer, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of menu strategy and development, told Business Insider.
Parents are often seen in the restaurants’ ordering lines wrangling multiple kids — either trying to hold them or prevent them from wandering around the restaurant.
“Mum’s valet” allows parents to skip that process, and get some help from an employee when they enter the restaurant. Restaurants that offer the service will promote it on signs at the drive-thru.
Farmer said “mum’s valet” is part of Chick-fil-A’s renewed focus on “taking the stress out,” or making its restaurants a more relaxing experience for customers.
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