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Schulich Startups ‘BeTimeful’ Launches on Product Hunt
How many times have you gone to social media for something specific only to end up down a 30-minute rabbit hole? After being distracted by YouTube’s recommendation videos every time they watched a tutorial for their studies, Daniyal Dehleh (BBA’21) and Arshal Madan (iBBA’21) co-founded BeTimeful to remove distracting features automatically once a person is in study or work mode.
Daniyal is a self-taught programmer who has received a Machine Learning Certificate from Stanford University. At BeTimeful, he leads product development and team management. Arshal Madan previously interned at Amazon and Dell in Operations and Finance, respectively. At BeTimeful, he leads their product management and B2C Marketing efforts while managing day-to-day operations.
The average person spends nearly two hours a day using social media, which amounts to five years and four months over their lifetime. BeTimeful’s mission is to prevent social media companies from maximizing their profits at the expense of their user’s time, mental health, and productivity. To this date, their Chrome extension has saved 750 hours in online distraction and is trending live on Product Hunt.
“Daniyal and Arshal are persistent founders that are committed to solving online distractions,” said Chris Carder, Schulich Executive Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “This product hunt launch represents a great step in their journey.”
BeTimeful was also a Finalist at Schulich Startup Night 15. Daniyal was also awarded The Peterson Family Gold Medal & Scholarship in Entrepreneurial Studies.


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In the coming weeks, thousands of tiny white rooms on campuses throughout the country will be welcoming their newest residents and their carloads of stuff.
Freshman orientation for the Class of 2016 has actually been in full throttle for months at big-box stores (both brick and mortar and online), at specialty sites such as Etsy, on Facebook pages, Twitter feeds and on Pinterest boards. Incoming students have been stockpiling decorating ideas — along with Ramen noodle soup.
Although the shaky economy has students and their families rattled about college loan debt and living expenses, they will spend an average of $907.22 this year on everything from comforters to hand-held vacuums, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. That is up from $808.71 in 2011.
“Students want to make their rooms less utilitarian and more like home,” says Sarah Daniels, Catholic University of America’s director of residence life.
While college-issue furniture for an average 225-square-foot dorm room is usually a bed, desk, chair and dresser, trending design topics on dorm blogs include wall decals, felt pillows, monogrammed dry-erase boards and tiki bars. Some students, maybe weaned on a steady diet of HGTV, have faux-fur throws and paisley bean bag chairs on the brain.
“For the past 10 years, students have wanted their rooms to look like they came right out of the pages of a design catalogue,” says Maggie Burkhart Evans, James Madison University’s director of residence life. “They have shown up with lounge chairs and futons and crammed them into their rooms.”
But, Evans says, word is getting out that colleges can’t provide storage space for unwanted furniture: What’s in the room stays in the room.
Students are best served sticking to accessories that personalize or organize, such as pillows, bins, lamps or storage ottomans. They can use social media to plan shopping. Target’s Ustyler online service allows to students design their own virtual dorm room and then share it with roommates through Facebook, Twitter, blogs and Pinterest.
Twitter feeds from university housing offices also can be a great resource. Some schools also maintain dorm idea Pinterest boards.
“I recommend that students get online and follow their housing office’s Facebook page or Twitter feed. They are often putting out ideas and tips and information and students are posting them as well,” says Evans.
Interestingly enough, overbuying at warehouse and big-box stores continues to be a problem for freshmen, who arrive with cases of laundry detergent and stacks of bottled water.
“At home you don’t buy enough shampoo for a year,” says Seth Weinshel, George Washington University’s director of housing, so “don’t do it for college.” He says some students try to get everything in advance when parents are still footing the bill.
“Resist the urge to stock up for the whole semester,” Evans says. “Just bring what you need for the first month and reassess.”

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New restaurants have been taking Antioch, Ill. by storm. Places like Rivalry Alehouse, El Sureno and Casa Ruiz have opened up to the public, and people love it. Jersey Mike’s Subs announced it would be coming to Antioch, and garnered the residents of Antioch’s attention. These new restaurants get people out of their houses and out into town to eat and spend time with their friends and family.
“I think new restaurants are good for the town,” junior Anthony Sachetti said. “We can still get out and enjoy time with family.”
El Sureno is a restaurant on North Lake Bluff Road that serves authentic Mexican food. The restaurant has an interior that represents Mexican culture. El Surano opened on Aug. 25 and has been doing well since the start, getting several positive reviews on platforms like Facebook and Yelp.
”I think it’s a really nice place to go with family and friends and such a nice layout inside,” junior Emmy Zamudio said. “I think the food was really good, and It’s all authentic.”
Rivalry Alehouse at 945 Main St. in Antioch is a German and Irish restaurant that serves classic German and Irish cuisine, along with other food items from different parts of the world. Rivalry Alehouse also opened in late August and has been busy since. The restaurant offers live entertainment for its customers every Friday and Saturday.
”I think Rivalry is a great addition for the town,” senior Thomas Van Sickle said. “It’s in a nice little spot right next to the movie theater, and it’s great for the community. The upstairs section is a great spot to sit, and the food is great. I had the steak and it was amazing.”
Fast food restaurant Jersey Mike’s Subs is taking the spot of GameStop next to Popeyes. The opening date has not yet been announced, but many are speculating on the possibilities of the new addition.
Casa Ruiz on 932 Main St. is another option if one is hungry for authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant opened its doors on Sept. 5, and has been doing well, getting many good reviews online. The restaurant serves classic Mexican dishes. Casa Ruiz also has an inside that goes hand-in-hand with their cuisine.
Antioch has been put back on the map with some new great additions. These new places offer residents a chance to try different dishes from all over the world, giving people more options to change up their routine.


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Billionaire Carl Icahn bought 306,846 more shares of Herbalife on Aug. 31, according to a Friday filing.
Marks & Spencer has offered thousands of long-term staff increased compensation amid pressure to backtrack on planned pay cuts.
Wal-Mart is eliminating 7,000 positions in its back offices across the U.S., the company confirmed Thursday.
The accountancy watchdog has dropped an investigation into the former Tesco chief financial officer Laurie McIlwee, nearly two years after an accounting scandal emerged at the supermarket.
As of Friday, the number of lawsuits accusing Starbucks of deceiving its customers by serving them too much ice or too much foam has fallen by one. Ordering a cold drink means it will be served with ice, according to US district judge Percy Anderson.
Barnes & Noble CEO Ronald D. Boire, who had been at the helm of the retailer for less than a year, has been shown the door.
BHP Billiton, the world’s biggest miner, has reported a record loss of $6.4bn (£4.9bn) following a fatal dam disaster in Brazil, a slump in the price of commodities, and a bet on fracking in the US.
The bosses of Britain’s largest public companies earned an average of £5.5m last year, and have enjoyed a 10% pay rise while wages in the rest of the economy lag far behind.
Shell has sought to reassure shareholders about its blockbuster takeover of BG Group by announcing an extra $1bn (£650m) of cost savings aimed at making the $70bn deal work in the face of persistently low oil prices.
Bottling company Coca-Cola HBC has returned to growth in established markets for the first time in five years after its soft drinks sold well in Italy and Greece.
Production for the latest Ford Mustang has been pushed up two years, reports Mashable.
Barack Obama’s derailment of Pfizer’s $160bn (£114bn) merger with Allergan sparked immediate speculation on Wednesday that the US drugs company would turn its attention to another big pharmaceutical takeover.
McDonald’s has said it will open eight new outlets in Victoria, just a week after the fast food giant expressed concern over its performance in Australia.
“Got chased by a mob of taxi drivers who threw rocks,” tweeted the singer Courtney Love from Charles de Gaulle airport.
Workers crying at their desks.
Shoppers are set to benefit from their favourite fruit, vegetables and salad staying fresher for longer, under an initiative by the UK’s biggest supermarket to slash food waste.
Howard Schultz will step down as Starbucks chief executive – again.
The creator of the Big Mac, one of the most popular fast foods in the world, has died aged 98. Jim Delligatti was a McDonald’s franchisee who came up with the idea in 1967 because he said customers wanted a bigger sandwich.
The financial reporting watchdog will investigate accountancy firm Grant Thornton for signing off on an arrangement between Sports Direct, majority-owned by Mike Ashley, and a delivery firm owned by his brother.


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The Leading Physicians of the World
New York, NY (PRWEB) September 14, 2009
The International Association of Healthcare Professionals (IAHCP)] has recently launched their new brainchild, The International Association of Dermatologists (IAD).
The International Association of Dermatologists will follow in IAHCP's footsteps guiding consumers to top physicians in each specialty. Each year, The International Association of Healthcare Professionals publishes the crème de la crème of the healthcare industry in their directory, "The Leading Physicians of the World." It is an extreme honor for those selected, and an invaluable consumer resource.
With top dermatologists recently added to IAHCP's directory, "The Leading Physicians of the World" is now a one stop reference for patients shopping for the best doctors. With the rising costs of office visits, co-pays and medication, consumers want to get it right the first time and sometimes a friendly word of mouth is just not good enough.
The International Association of Dermatologists selects the world's best dermatologists through extensive market research. A wide range of dermatologists will be selected, specializing in pediatric dermatology, dermatologic surgery, general dermatology, and cosmetic dermatology. Whether on has a suspicious looking mole, or would like to get rid of those bothersome wrinkles, The International Association of Dermatologists will put patients in the hands of the top physicians in their area.
Those selected physicians full professional biographies will be featured in the upcoming edition of "The Leading Physicians of the World".Consumers will also be able to view their contact information, services, and insurance coverage online, helping them make the perfect choice.
Also look out for upcoming information on The International Association of Dermatologists in the JAAD and The Dermatology Times.


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Samsung may build $17 billion chip plant in Texas
Samsung has been searching for a prime location to set up a new multi-billion-dollar chip production plant for a while now, and it's most certainly happening in the United States. The company already has one semiconductor chip foundry in th U.S., based in Austin, Texas.
The Korean tech giant has already been reported to be considering Florida, Arizona, Austin, and even New York at different times for the new project, but Samsung didn't end up sticking to any of those locations for the 17-billion plant.
The Wall Street Journal. While nothing has been set in stone, the city has already been offering the company powerful incentives in terms of tax breaks. And we're talking huge tax breaks—namely 92.5% for the first decade, which will slowly decrease over time after that.Now, we seem to have evidence that Samsung's most recent target location falls in Taylor, Texas, according to a report by
When interviewed, a Samsung spokeswoman said that “A final decision has not yet been made regarding the location." Samsung had chosen Williamson County in Austin, Texas, for its first chip plant for the stable water and electricity sources available there, as well as similar financial incentives on offer.
And having already considered Austin once more previously for its second plant, it seems reasonable to say that Samsung definitely seems rather inclined to begin construction in Texas. The Texan Governor, Greg Abbott, is already expected to make a big "economic announcement" at an event today (November 23), at 5PM local time—reinforcing people's suspicions that it will be about Samsung's new chip plant.
The company has already confirmed to state officials that the new project will create about 1,800 jobs in the area, and plans to begin eking out chips in 2024 at the latest, once the location is chosen. We'll update the article if tonight's announcement in Texas does bring news of an official location for Samsung's second U.S.-based chip foundry.


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Track going US enthusiasts have been longing for this day.
As of this month, fans of Caterham and its iconic Seven will officially be able to get their hands on one thanks to a company called Superperformance. If you aren't familiar, Superperformance is a distributor who also offers high-end Shelby Cobra and Ford GT40 replicas. Due to increased interest and demand, Caterham and Superperformance have now inked a deal that will see the importation and sales of a range of Seven variants from the UK, including the Seven 480 and 620 R.
The cars will be shipped stateside in part-built form and will be sold as a rolling chassis via Superperformance's nationwide dealer network. Customers can then complete the build of their cars themselves according to their needs. Building the Seven yourself is also part of the whole experience. "The US market has always been a difficult one for us, thanks to the stringent federal homologation rules. But we know there is an appetite for our particular brand of lightweight and performance," according to Caterham Group CEO, Graham Macdonald.


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“Black Friday” Trout Return
Each week we round-up the top fishing news from the Northwest and beyond. Do you have a news tip? E-mail us at news /at/ salmonuniversity.com.
Steelhead License Plate Proposed
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has proposed a special “steelhead” license plate to generate revenue. Under existing rules for adoption of specialized license plates, the proposing agency must demonstrate a public intent to purchase at least 3,500 plates. The plates would be priced at $54 to $72 (in addition) to regular license fees, and persons interested in being one of the 3,500 motorists who “intend to purchase” can declare their intent online. According to the WDFW, submitting an online declaration of intent is not an obligation to buy a plate.
“This is a great opportunity for people to show their appreciation for Washington’s native steelhead and to support efforts to help conserve these iconic fish,” said Kelly Cunningham, deputy assistant director of WDFW’s Fish Program in a written statement.
The steelhead was designated the Washington state fish in 1969 by an act of the legislature.
WDFW Announces “Black Friday” Specials
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will be stocking more than a dozen Washington lakes with large trout for its traditional “Black Friday Trout Opener.” Most of the targeted lakes will be closed November 23 through November 26 to facilitate the stocking efforts, the Enumclaw Courier-Herald reports.
“In response to high interest in last year’s Black Friday stocking efforts in southwest Washington, we have expanded the program to include lakes in the Puget Sound region and in eastern Washington,” said Larry Phillips, WDFW inland fish program manager. “This is a great opportunity to skip the malls, avoid the stress, and enjoy a fun day on the water with family and friends.”
A full list of the “Black Friday” lakes is available on the WDFW web site.
Garmin Launches Striker-series Fishfinders
This week, Garmin announced the debut of their Striker series, a new line of fishfinders with CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP DownVü and SideVü technology that come standard with a built-in high-sensitivity GPS receiver.
“The Striker series is the entry-level solution for anglers who want the best sonar available at an affordable price,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “CHIRP is the sonar technology our customers want, and thanks to the addition of the Striker series, it’s now available across our entire product line. Striker also adds GPS, so anglers can get back to their favorite fishing spots next week, next month or next year.”
According to the company, the Striker series will be available in 3.5-inch, 5-inch or 7-inch color displays that feature a new rugged design and keyed interface that’s built to withstand the harsh marine environment. All models are equipped with a built-in high-sensitivity GPS antenna and waypoint map, so marking and navigating to favorite fishing spots and other areas of interest like brush piles, stumps and docks, is quick and easy. When trolling, the high-sensitivity GPS provides an update once per second. Users can also share waypoint data across multiple Striker units, as well as all echoMAPTM series devices.
Garmin reports its Striker fishfinders will be available in December 2015, with suggested retail prices ranging from $119.99 to $499.99.
B.C. Anglers Catch Unusual “Albino” Sturgeon
A fishing charter operating on British Columbia’ Fraser River landed a rare, albino sturgeon last month, The Province reports. Chilliwack angler Chad Helmer took the eleven-foot fish following a two-and-a-half hour fight.
Helmers described the fish as an albino, with white skin and pale yellow markings, instead of a sturgeon’s normal grey colouring. Helmer’s family has caught thousands of fish on the Fraser River over the last four decades, he said, and never seen an “albino” sturgeon like this one.


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Airlines have, across domestic sectors, jacked up Fares to an all-time high in what is seen as a change in pricing strategy which, industry analysts say, is a sign of cartelisation since all airlines are at it.
With no airline announcing a flash sale, fares remain high till March-end. Fares on popular sectors like Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Bangalore, Delhi-Chennai are all double the normal fares. Travel trade says that cheaper fares are available only on bookings done 30 days in advance.
“Flight fares for major domestic sectors are facing an all-time high with routes such as Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Chennai recording an average increase of 70% as compared to the same time last year.
“Flight fares to and from Delhi to cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune have also seen an average increase of 30%,” Aloke Bajpai, CEO and co-founder, ixigo, a travel portal said. Read More
The post Airlines jack up fares on Popular Routes appeared first on Defenceaviationpost.com.


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Microsoft Teases All-New Xbox Bundles and Accessories at Gamescom
Microsoft is bringing all-new 'bells and whistles' to Gamescom Germany next month, according to a teasing Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, as per Engadget.
The snippet should excite Xbox fans, who are promised "all-new Xbox hardware and accessories." However, Hryb quickly refuted his earlier tweet. In a follow-up to the tweet teasing an all-new Xbox with better hardware, Larry Hryb quickly corrected his tweet and said that his earlier tweet was supposed to say "new bundles and accessory"-perhaps, just in time for November, when the holiday shopping season kicks in.
It would have been nice to play an Xbox with stronger hardware, but at least, the most people can hope for are new controllers and a redesign of the Xbox One. The Elite controller, for instance, was teased via leaked images. It reportedly had new hair-trigger locks as well as improved thumbstick tensions, a USB-C connector that's magnetic, and redesigned, better grips.
All that and more will be revealed at the Gamescom in Germany.
The Microsoft booth at Gamescome is the live stream to watch, according to Polygon. An episode of Microsoft's "Inside Xbox" will show the booth, the details, and Microsoft's general appearance and revelations during the gaming event.
While there won't be new hardware to look out for, viewers can look out for notable announcements like new-looking Xbox consoles. It teased these next-gen consoles during their appearance at the E3 this 2018. Speculations point toward the Xbox One S and Xbox One X, or variations and bundles featuring the already-existing consoles.
Another likely possibility will be the Xbox One S will get a slightly cheaper variant or the One X gets a storage of 1TB. Still, nothing is finalized or confirmed until Microsoft's show, happening during the Gamescom on August 21.
WinRumors' Tom Warren also took to Twitter, blasting Microsoft for its social media debacle or, at least, a preview of it. It's nothing new according to Warren's tweet; last month, Microsoft also stealth edited their post during the ICE, but it appears that they're either too excited for their own good, or the information is mixed up somewhere along the way.


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Honor to announce the upcoming Honor 20 series on 21st May 2019 in London
XDA Portal Team last edited by
After the successful launch of the Honor View20, Huawei's Honor sub-brand is gearing up to launch its next device. Honor has sent out invites for its next event where the company will announce the Honor 20 series.
How good are you at math?...Read full article


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,Sime Darby Plantation in Sg Buloh. With the continued impact of labour shortages on Malaysia’s CPO production as well as tight global vegetable oil inventory levels, the group expects prices to remain firm.
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KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Plantation Bhd posted stronger earnings in the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 at RM617mil due to higher realised crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel (PK) prices, as well as an increase in fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production.
In a statement on Wednesday, it said net profit increased by 63% from RM378mil a year ago. Net profit increased by 9.8% from the RM562mil in the first quarter.
It declared an interim dividend of 7.9 sen per share which will go ex on Oct 27.
Sime Plantation’s revenue rose by 37% to RM4.41bil from RM3.21bil. Earnings per share were nine sen compared with 5.5 sen.
“Higher year-on-year palm prices and oil extraction rate (OER) have more than compensated for the marginally lower FFB production,” it said.
For the first half (1H21) its net profit increased by 39% to RM1.18bil from RM846mil in the previous corresponding period. Its revenue increased by 29% to RM8.08bil from RM6.26bil.
The group recorded a higher profit before interest and tax (PBIT) despite a reduction in profits from disposal of non-core assets (1HFY21: RM125mil versus 1H20:RM459mil).SimePlant2Q-table-Aug21
Sime Plantation said the group’s PBIT for its upstream segment more than doubled to RM1.33bil in 1H21 from RM604mil a year ago.
Underpinning the increases were high CPO and PK prices realised which averaged at RM3,422 and RM2,312 per tonne respectively.
Furthermore, the group’s FFB production increased by 2% on-year, driven by improved production in its Indonesia operations.
Sime Darby Oils, the group’s downstream segment, also doubled its PBIT to RM253mil from RM113mil primarily due to improved sales volumes and margins in Asia Pacific.
Sime Plantation chairman, Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas said the group is on track to achieve its financial targets for the financial year 2021, despite
the challenges posed by the pandemic and the national level lockdown.
He said the group has set up three industrial vaccination centres (PPVIN) for the plantation industry in the Sarawak and Selangor.
“More than 10,500 workers will be inoculated in these centres. We are also looking at setting up more centres in our operations across the country,” he said.
Sime Plantation group managing director, Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha said the
group has performed well, despite the numerous challenges of the current
environment, ranging from labour shortages to the Withhold Release Order imposed by the US Customs and Border Protection on its Malaysian products.


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Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) is set to report its fiscal fourth-quarter financial results after the markets close on Thursday. With this earnings report on the table, investors have a few questions for Starbucks. While Starbucks has lagged the markets, many investors are wondering if this coffee giant has expanded too much and if it is time for a pullback, or if these earnings are the turnaround that Starbucks is waiting for.
So far in 2017, Starbucks shares have remained relatively flat, compared to the S&P 500, which is up roughly 15% year to date. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock is up only 5%, still being outpaced by the broad markets.
As for the earnings, Thomson Reuters has consensus estimates of $0.55 in earnings per share (EPS) and $5.8 billion in revenue. In the same period of last year, Starbucks reported EPS of $0.56 and $5.71 billion in revenue.
Over the past three years, the total number of coffee purveyors has risen to about 3,000, an increase of 400 chains, among those with at least 10 stores. That total does not include Starbucks, which has opened nearly twice that number in the same period to reach a total of some 14,000 U.S. stores. The Starbucks store count has increased by an average of 6% a year since 2012, while the rest of the industry is growing at a rate of 8%.
Is Starbucks in trouble? Not according to a new study from Morgan Stanley cited by eMarketer. The Seattle-based company has 30 times the number of stores as its closest specialty coffee rival, Caribou Coffee, which had 405 stores at the end of 2016.
Including independent coffee stores and chains with fewer than 10 stores, which together account for another 15,000 outlets, the total U.S. coffee store count has slipped in the past two years. Zeroing in on the 900 independent and micro-chain roasters operating about 1,700 stores, Morgan Stanley’s study concluded that the number of brands has “dropped significantly” since 2013.
Starbucks actually benefits from the proliferation of coffee stores because category growth raises awareness of specialty coffee shops. The company is busy developing its high-end Reserve brand to take advantage of interest in that part of the market.
A few analysts weighed in on Starbucks ahead of the earnings report:
- Mizhuo has a Buy rating with a $75 price target.
- OTR Global has a Positive rating.
- Piper Jaffray has a Buy rating with a $70 price target.
- Cowen has an Outperform rating and a $62 price target.
- Deutsche Bank has a Buy rating with a $67 price target.
- BMO Capital Markets has a Hold rating.
- Morgan Stanley has an Overweight rating with a $62 target.
- Stifel has a Hold rating and a $58 price target.
Shares of Starbucks were last seen at $55.00, with a consensus analyst price target of $63.98 and a 52-week range of $50.84 to $64.87.


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Mobile Internet is catching up with Indian users at a rate which Desktop internet has not been able to match yet. According to a recent report, the Indian youth finds mobile Internet as one of their favorite pastimes.
Given the massive growth of Mobile users in the country, The National Payment Corporation of India is launching an instant mobile payment service (IMPS) that will enable retail customers of seven banks to enjoy inter-bank funds transfers – 24 hours a day & 7 days a week.
Soon, Long queues of customers at bank branches to transfer money may become a thing of the past. If IMPS catches up with the users like Facebook did, then in the long run, customers may not have to worry at all for change to pay auto/ taxi fare and the neighbourhood vegetable vendor. The mobile phone will take care of everything.
As of now the seven banks which will be able to provide it’s customers with IMPS are State Bank of India, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and YES Bank.
Apart from these 7 banks, 22 more banks are in the preliminary phase of getting ready to provide their customers with the IMPS. Utmost care has been taken to make sure that the mobile banking application runs on all handsets – be it low-end or high-end.
Image Courtesy Varunverma.org


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(NBC) - Are you getting enough vitamin D? New research says you're probably not.
Dr. Katherine Sherif followed 800 women for five years, checking their vitamin D levels.
"Of those 800 women only two women had optimal levels of vitamin D," said Dr. Sherif.
Sherif says that shows just how hard it is to get vitamin D, a vitamin she says she believes in so much, she takes it herself every day without fail.
"It's been known for a long time that vitamin D has remarkable properties," said Sherif. "There's a strong association between low levels of vitamin D and high rates of breast, colon, prostate and ovarian cancer."
Other studies link low levels of vitamin D to the development of high blood pressure, muscle weakness, pain and rickets. Having enough vitamin D has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve the immune system, asthma in children as well bone health.
Nicknamed the sunshine vitamin, because we absorb D from the sun, it's found naturally in very few foods.
Doctors say 15 to 20 minutes in the sun with the face, chest and arms exposed can be enough, but the very real fear of skin cancer has many using sun block, which also blocks the D.
Sherif recommends taking a vitamin D supplement. She recommends 2,000 units a day for adults and 1000 units a day for children, and she says don't think your kids are getting enough by drinking milk.
"Milk does not contain enough vitamin D for children to meet their daily requirements," she explained.


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Acquire to Hire: This New York Manufacturer Sees Buying Shops as the Best Way to Add Staff
Designatronics’ CEO says, “We can access a few million dollars more business” with each skilled machining employee who can perform complex setups and other sophisticated work from day one.
This photo needs more people. Sophisticated machine tools still need skilled personnel to realize their full potential. Photo: Designatronics.
“We are below our fighting weight by about 50 people,” Mr. Kufner says. While current manufacturing staffing is 170, the amount of business opportunity the company sees could be met with a staff of 220. Finding that many more skilled manufacturing employees in and around the company’s area is a tall order, in part because people with these skills already have good jobs. So Designatronics is willing to buy their jobs for the chance to welcome them in.
I spoke to Mr. Kufner about this motive for acquisition. The analytical case that brought him to this conclusion provides one of clearest pictures I’ve heard in a while of the predicament manufacturing employers face.
With more skilled machining employees, Designatronics could capitalize on more of the business opportunity it sees. At present, the company is perhaps 50 people below its optimal staff, and the company is looking to acquire machining businesses as a way to fill this need. Photo: Designatronics.
The employees Designatronics needs are missing largely from the second and third shifts, he says. The company has invested to automate, in the last three years adding at least eight more CNC turning centers capable of single-setup production from DMG MORI and Miyano, as well as part collection automation from Royal Products. But it’s not enough, he says. Automated systems need a skilled person performing setup, and Designatronics’ mix of work tends to rule out any machine running all the way through an unattended shift. Even after automation, the company still needs skilled people. So how to find them?
Hiring recent technical school graduates would seem a natural choice, but he says any new hire such as this still needs considerable training. “It’s probably five years before this person is experienced enough for full-scale setups on machines like ours,” he says. And that training time is an opportunity cost. “By our calculations, we could access a few million dollars more business if we can have someone hit the ground now instead.”
So then, how to find someone who is ready now? Not via job postings, he says. Only 1-2% of people answering the ads are viable candidates. The effort to filter and vet imposes high cost. Recruiters reduce the filtering, but add cost of their own. However, “If we can buy a small shop, then — yes, we’ll get equipment, and yes, we’ll get customers — but we will also get staff that will equate to millions of dollars of business we wouldn’t have been able to take on.”
There have been no takers yet. In some cases, shops approached as potential acquisitions have instead become suppliers. This is a good outcome, just not the best, because Designatronics would rather do its work in house. But the supplier relationship can build trust that might lead to acquisition later.
It has to be the right shop, Mr. Kufner says — one where personnel are skilled with machines and machining similar to his company’s. But plenty of shops fit this description, many run by owners nearing retirement. When the time is right for some of these shops, he hopes they’ll see Designtronics’ need as their opportunity.
This shop discovered the most profitable thing it could do with certain RFQs is to prevent them from ever reaching the quoting team.
How will you deal with the problem of employees being distracted by devices? This shop implemented a cellphone ban last year. The shop owner says the pain passes, but the benefits last.
The current crisis is a reckoning. Right now, the challenge is saving livings. But once we are free to look ahead, let’s learn the lessons and prepare ourselves better for the next crisis that comes.


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Last year in July, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk posted a tweet about the new project which is still in the development stage. The project we are talking about is Tesla Model Y that is going to be the crossover version of the current Model 3. Ever since that, we have got nothing but rumors about the new electric car, and some of those were fueled by Elon Musk himself. However, nothing has been confirmed so far, and the Model Y is not even on Tesla’s official website.
According to some reports, the Model Y has already reached the advanced development stage, and some people believe that the production of this model could start in 2018. Once again, Musk didn’t announce it, and these are just rumors. This doesn’t stop us to research and speculate on what to expect from the Tesla Model Y.
This is not hard to guess, but the Model Y will have an autonomous driving system like any other Tesla. The only difference is that it will be fully autonomous, unlike the semi-autonomous Autopilot that is available in current models. The new system will be priced at $8,000, and it will come with all of the Enhanced Autopilot features. The Level 5 autonomy depends on software validation and regulatory approval, so we are not sure when the company plans to implement it.
Tesla’s solar roof technology is also something we are looking forward to on the new Model Y, considering that this feature is already used on current models. According to Musk, the solar glass on the vehicle will be net positive, which means that more energy will be created than used. In October 2015, Musk tweeted that the new Model Y will resemble the Model X when it comes to the falcon-wing doors. The tweet was later deleted.
So it is still an open question whether the Model Y will have the falcon-wing doors or not. Considering that the owners were not quite pleased with these doors on the Model X, they probably won’t be used on the Model Y. Another reason for removal of these is the fact that they are far more expensive than the regular option. The best way to solve this issue is to offer the falcon-wing doors as an option and those people who like it can add them easily.
In terms of range, the Model Y should beat Chevy’s electric SUV, and it should come with a heads-up dashboard display giving it an edge in another segment. The Models 3 interior still hasn’t been fully unveiled, and this is the reason we cannot even speculate what the one on the Model Y will look like.
Model Y Price
The price is also unknown, which is reasonable since the car is still in the development process. However, we believe that the Model Y will be more expensive than Model 3 which is priced at $35,000. One thing is for sure – we are going to see an exciting Model Y.


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Volume 78 / Number 1 - June 4 - 10, 2008
West and East Village, Chelsea, Soho, Noho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Lower East Side, Since 1933
New, improved Charlies finds a home on Avenue C
Villager photo by Maggie Koopmans
With some help from his loyal customers, Bill Johnson was able to find a new home for his beloved Cheap Charlies store. As The Villager previously reported, a rent increase, two months ago, forced Johnson out of his storefront space on 14th St. between Avenues A and B, where his business had been a fixture for 41 years. His new store, The New Charlies Inc., about 500 square feet, is on Avenue C between 10th and 11th Sts. The grand opening was two weeks ago. I have your paper to thank, Johnson told The Villager last week. Everyone who read the article helped us look for the space. Johnson said that in the new space, which is one-third smaller, hes concentrating on selling books for the neighborhood such as school textbooks for subjects like math, books on carpentry, how to make things, and a lot of books on American history, on the presidents. All his books are 75 percent off retail. He also has greeting cards, but has dropped dishes.


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When it comes to the royal family, the name that is heard most often these days is Kate Middleton. Over the past year, the brunette beauty has been seen on red carpets, at charity events and in various countries throughout the world. However, most recently, another member of Britain’s most well-known clan has made a splash in the gossip columns.
Princess Beatrice, the cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry showed off her toned figure at the British Fashion Awards in London on November 27. She looked radiant in a feminine blue and silver dress and black pumps.
But, Beatrice revealed that she didn’t try to lose weight because she knew she had an important event coming up. She made the decision to after a rather unflattering picture of her surfaced in the British tabloids.
“I could probably do with losing the odd pound though, so perhaps it’s the kick I need,” the 24 year old said in a statement. “It was such an unflattering bikini and I’ve got one that’s so much nicer, so I could have kicked myself for wearing it.”
Just how exactly did Beatrice shed that extra weight? By running and eat lots of fruits and veggies. Her mother, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, was once a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers and told news sources that seeing her daughter get healthy has motivated her to want to do the same.
Although it’s no secret that the public can be cruel, especially when it comes to a person’s physical features, you can give your enemies something to turn green with envy about by donning the latest designer accessories and designer handbags sold on Dellamoda.com.


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In the second half of 2018, St James’s Place UK Plc, received 898 complaints across its pension and investment products, with 87% upheld, compared with 924 complaints in the first half of 2018. However, the percentage of complaints upheld remained unchanged at 87%.
SJP’s wealth management arm was on the receiving end of 661 complaints, down slightly from 678 in H1 2018, with 29.5% of these upheld.
An overall decrease
Overall there was a 5% decrease in complaints made about regulated financial services companies in the second half of 2018, according to the regulator’s data.
The number of complaints fell to 3.91 million from 4.13 million in H1 2018, and it is the first drop since firms were required to change the way they report customer grievances in 2016.
Some 3,181 firms reported receiving one or more complaints during H2 18.
Of them, 231 companies reported receiving 500 or more customer criticisms, accounting for almost 98% of all complaints reported.
Gero Decker, chief executive and co-founder of business management firm Signavio, said: “Customer experience is the new battleground for the financial services sector.
“By embracing the customer journey as a strategic and creative imperative, firms can drive digital transformation, optimise operations and stay competitive.”
According to FCA data, 54 out of the 3,181 firms listed received complaints about investments, with Phoenix Group subsidiary Abbey Life Assurance receiving the most complaints per 1,000 policies in force.
|Firm Name||Group||Complaints per 1,000 policies in force|
|Abbey Life Assurance||Phoenix Group||17.9|
|Sun Life Assurance (UK)||Sun Life Financial||11.68|
|Retail Money Market||Retail Money Market||10.49|
This was a big change from H1 18, where the Phoenix Group had taken the top three slots with Phoenix Life Assurance receiving 45.8 complaints per 1,000 policies in force.
A company spokesperson told Portfolio Adviser‘s sister title International Adviser: “Improving customer outcomes is a key focus for the Phoenix Group and in the second half of 2018, new complaint volumes have reduced by 3%.
“Ensuring customers receive the right outcomes from their complaints is the most important complaints measure to us and our latest Financial Ombudsman Service overturn rate was 18%, which is well below the average for our industry of 28%.”
Decumulation and pensions
Data from the watchdog revealed that 39 firms received complaints about decumulation and pensions, with independent retail stockbroker The Share Centre receiving the most complaints per 1,000 policies for the second six-month period in a row.
|Firm Name||Firm Group||Complaints per 1,000 policies in force|
|The Share Centre||Share||12.92|
|Vitality Corporate Services||Rand Merchant Investment Holdings||12.35|
|Financial Administration Services||Fidelity International||8.67|
|Halifax Share Dealing||Lloyds Banking Group||8.6|
International Adviser contacted The Share Centre for a comment about the data, which reflects another significant reduction in the number of occasions customers lodged formal grievances against it – but no response was received ahead of publication.
Christopher Woolard, executive director of strategy and competition at the FCA, said: “It is encouraging to see that complaint figures have dropped, and firms are dealing with complaints more quickly.
“We expect firms to continue to focus on ensuring their customers are well served and that they respond quickly where consumers complain.”
Top customer objections
Payment protection insurance (PPI) continues to be the most complained about product, making up 40% of all complaints.
This, however, was a decrease of 8% to 1.58 million from 1.72 million in the first half of the year.
The drop was attributed to a change in reporting, which allowed firms to exclude any PPI complaints from their data where it was established that the complainant had not purchased a PPI policy from the firm.
Current accounts were the second most complained about product, but recorded a decrease of 13% from H1 18 to 691,395.
Credit cards complaints came third with a 10% increase to 386,195 in H2 18.


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Dempewolf Ford sold to Toyota of Bowling Green owner
HENDERSON, Ky. - Dempewolf Ford is going out of business after 50 years serving the Tri-state, but a Ford dealership will remain here.
While a statement issued Monday by owner Tommy Dempewolf didn't include information about the new owner of the dealership on U.S. 41-North in Henderson, Toyota of Bowling Green owner David Stumbo confirmed through a staffer that he will be the new owner.
The change in ownership will be effective June 1.
The new name of the dealership will reportedly be Henderson Ford, according to a source in management at Dempewolf who said staffing and daily management is expected to remain the same.
According to the Dempewolf statement, "The Dempewolf family has owned and operated a Ford dealership in Henderson since 1968.
"Tommy Dempewolf has been associated with Dempewolf Ford in the capacity of employee, manager, and owner for over fifty years and has finally decided to retire from the automobile business.
"Tommy’s father Carl, his sister Karen, his son C. Tom, and his daughter Kristin have all been part of the history of Dempewolf. In choosing the right person to sell the dealership to there was careful consideration given to the subsequent owner’s attention to customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and sense of community importance.
Monday's announcement concluded with a statement directly from Tommy Dempewolf:
“It has always been our mission to provide to our customers an atmosphere of appreciation for giving us the opportunity to serve their automotive needs. This commitment will continue with the new ownership. The Dempewolf family would like to thank all of our customers in the Tri State who have trusted us for their automotive needs. We are also grateful for all of the employees and vendors who have helped make Dempewolf Ford a success for over fifty years.”
Taylor-Dempewolf Ford was incorporated in October 1968 under the ownership of Roy M. Taylor and Carl C. Dempewolf.
In July of 1973 Carl Dempewolf purchased Mr. Taylor's interest and in July of 1974 the dealership was renamed Dempewolf Ford Inc.
In August of 1982 the Lincoln-Mercury franchise was purchased from Galloway Motors. In February of 1988 Tommy Dempewolf purchased the dealership from his father, Carl.
In April of 1989 ground was broken for the new dealership at 2530 U.S. Hwy 41 North and in February of 1990 the move was made from the North Green Street location to the new facility.
After 30 years as a Mercury dealer, the franchise was terminated by Ford Motor Company as part of a national plan.
At the end of 2011, the Lincoln franchise was sold back to Ford as a part of a restructuring of that franchise.


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In 2021, 21 percent of retailers in the UK terminated their contracts with suppliers, as consumer behaviour continues to show a preference for more sustainable and ethical practices.
New research from the UK shows that 21 percent of retailers have abandoned their suppliers due to a lack of sustainable practices. More than €8.3 billion ($13.1 billion) worth of contracts has been terminated, as the suppliers failed to meet ethical and sustainable standards.
This should come as no surprise, given how many younger consumers said they would abandon a retailer if they didn’t align with their values.
In 2020, we explained the influence that Gen Z has over the future of retail. A Voxburner report from 2020 research found that 23 percent of Gen Z shoppers have boycotted a brand entirely if the retailer doesn’t follow an action or a cause that they believe in or follow.
Now it seems that retailers are taking notice. Over 50 percent of decision-makers in retail said that sustainability is more important in 2022 than two years ago. Nearly half (49 percent) say the same about ethical standards.
“We are seeing a marked acceleration and shift among retailers towards prioritising sustainable and ethical standards in every part of their business operations,” shared Karen Johnson, the Head of Retail and Wholesale at Barclays Corporate Banking. “That is now starting to take its toll on retail suppliers with billions of pounds worth of contracts being cancelled every year.”
So, what drove the retailers to terminate these relationships with suppliers? According to the report, 39 percent of retailers said they abandoned these suppliers due to using unsustainable materials. Thirty-seven said they did the same due to unfair working hours. The absence of membership to an organisation or trade body that monitors ethical and sustainable standards was the reason why 32 percent of retailers terminated their contracts.
This goes to show how important consumer behaviour and the sentiment is for retailers moving forward, and the rise that suppliers can face if they don’t adjust to changing expectations.
“[These terminations are] being driven by increasing consumer demand and will rise even further as Gen Z enter the workplace and begin to earn their own money,” said Johnson. “Retailers must continue to monitor and improve their ethical and sustainability standards if they are to appeal strongly to younger demographics.”
The e-commerce landscape is changing. With a Power Retail Switched On membership, you get access to current e-commerce revenue and forecasting, traffic levels, average conversion rate, payment preferences and more!


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If you watch 60 Minutes, you may have seen “What Happens When You Swipe Your Card” that aired on November 26. The piece examined recent security breaches where cybercriminals stole tens of millions of customer credit card numbers from major retailers including Target, Home Depot and Michaels Stores. Dave Dewalt, CEO at FireEye, provided insights about why the breaches occurred and how to prevent them at other companies. It’s a story in which Bradford Networks is deeply involved and passionate about. Thanks, Dave, for helping spread the word!
As the piece explained, these colossal breaches would typically start with a mundane event, one of thousands or millions that occur on large networks over the course of a day. For example, the Target breach began when hackers stole the login credentials of a heating contractor to get onto the network. They were then able to surreptitiously load their malware onto thousands of checkout terminals in nearly every store, capturing customer credit card information and sending it out of the country. Target didn’t discover the breach for months — not until security expert Brian Krebs broke the news on his blog.
Why couldn’t Target find it earlier? It certainly wasn’t from lack of trying; their approach to network security just wasn’t able to handle today’s complex threats. While Target, Home Depot and other companies all had multiple security systems in place, the systems didn’t talk to each other, and hints that something might be wrong were lost in a flood of routine status messages. That’s why companies often learn they’ve been breached from an outsider like Brian or from one of the intelligence agencies.
Dave explained that today the notion of cybersecurity is really a misnomer — 97% of companies are getting breached and that the average time to detect a breach is 229 days. “Breaches are inevitable — it’s the life we live in today. The key: don’t let them access the information that’s really important, don’t let them get out, detect it sooner, respond sooner, and ultimately that exposure is very small.”
As Dave pointed out, today’s cyber criminals are so cunning in finding vulnerabilities that you’re almost certain to get hacked at some point. When a breach occurs, you need to identify it and neutralize it as quickly as possible to minimize the impact. With today’s advanced threats, this means correlating many relevant data points in real time to understand what’s happening on your network, make informed decisions and take effective action in seconds, not after weeks or months.
FireEye is partnering with Bradford Networks to bring this vision to life. FireEye’s Threat Analytics Platform™ is now integrated with Bradford Network’s Network Sentry offering to detect today’s advanced threats and block them immediately. Network Sentry/RTR’s live inventory of network connections identifies all devices on the network, who is using them, where they are located and what they’re doing. It correlates this real-time information about device activity with incident information from FireEye and takes action automatically according to rules that you define. For example, if FireEye detects that command and control information has suddenly started flowing to a server in Maldova, it reports the IP address to Network Sentry/RTR which identifies the compromised device, takes it off the network and alerts the right people.
If Target, Home Depot and other victims had followed this approach, the breach would have been identified and contained in a few seconds, before any significant damage was done. It would have been a non-event rather than a huge blow to their reputation and a major financial hit.
Now you see why top cybersecurity companies like FireEye, Palo Alto and Fortinet have chosen Bradford Networks as a technology partner. Our vendor-agnostic solutions play a key role in detecting and containing today’s advanced threats while protecting enterprises, customers and employees alike.


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Shuman Farms, Reidsville, Ga., announced big changes to the look, feel and sustainability of its organic packaging. The use of a different netting and thinner film and plastic enables the new consumer bags to reduce packaging by 38% while still maintaining the structural integrity of the packaging.
“The revamp of our organic packaging is just the beginning of an overall initiative to increase sustainability across all of our RealSweet brand products,” says John Shuman, president. “Innovative marketing is a part of our core values, and we believe that innovation should lead to more sustainable offerings at retail following trends of consumer and retailer demand.”
The goal of this new initiative is to reduce plastic usage, educate consumers on the recyclability of onion packaging and address shopper concerns about food waste. Like the rest of the RealSweet brand line of consumer bags, the redesigned organic packaging reduces shrink by design, allowing good airflow around the onions to keep them fresh.


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Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV's Fixer Upper have just shared some exciting news! They will be throwing another Magnolia Silobration this October. This will be the second annual event that the couple has thrown since their Silo marketplace opened up last year.
The official Magnolia Instagram page announced the weekend-long event today, July 27.
"Have you heard the news? #SILOBRATION is coming BACK this October! This event will be a new spin on last year's party and will be open for everyone! Mark October 6th-8th in your calendar and click the link in our profile to find more information about the weekend."
Chip shared his excitement on his Instagram as well, exclaiming, "We're hosting a second #Silobration this October! We can't wait to celebrate ONE YEAR of being over at the Silos property with you!"
The Silos are just one of many off-shoots of the couple's famous home renovation and design business. The Magnolia Silos are located in Waco, Texas and offer a place for people who love the Gaines' signature style to shop and relax.
In addition to shopping, you can choose numerous food trucks to eat from, enjoy plenty of games to play on their over-sized lawn and even taste delicious treats from their brand new on-site bakery. And if that's not enough, you can also tour the actual silos and the property's gardens.


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As first noted by Contrast founder David Barnard, Apple just slashed the affiliate commission on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac apps and In-App Purchases from the previous seven percent rate down to 2.5 percent globally.
“Beginning May 1, 2017, commissions for all apps and in-app content will be reduced from seven percent to 2.5 percent globally,” Apple told iTunes Affiliate Program members via email.
All other iTunes content types, including music, movies, electronic books and TV subscriptions, shall remain at the current seven percent commission rate in all markets.
“We will also continue to pay affiliate commissions on Apple Music memberships so there are many ways to earn commissions with the program,” reads Apple’s message.
Apple’s Affiliate Resources webpage has received a facelift with optimized navigation, a new Getting Started guide on becoming an affiliate partner, an updated Program Overview section providing information on the commission raters, reporting, creating links and more.


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Dahua’s megapixel IP solution has been installed to increase security at the Arabian Centre, an 80,000m2 shopping and entertainment venue in Dubai.
The company supplied 342 units of its 2MP Eco-Savvy network cameras, with different models applied to different applications.
The 3MP PTZ domeshave a wider view to allow a broader surveillance area, making the camera more efficient.
The whole system runs on Dahua Smart PSS (CMS software) to allow centralised control and management.
Dahua claims its Megapixel IP solution stands out from other brands, and offers a complete video solution, including megapixel networkcameras, storage devices and a central management system.
In addition, Dahua’s network WDR functions use in-house algorithms for better image performance, especially given the heat and humidity of Dubai. With all-year bright sunshine, WDR is said to be especially suited to camera installation at entrances and exits.
In terms of storage, 22 units of 32-channel network video recorders are used with 2TB Seagate hard disks to guarantee large-volume storage..
Preetham Moras, sales manager of local distributor Gulf Detection said: “This is Dahua’s first high-end case in Dubai, and the mall Board didn’t have an open attitude to a Chinese brand. They used to like some other Korean brands, but they soon changed their minds after serious and rigid testing of Dahua’s NVR.”
Steve Wang, Middle East sales manager for Dahua Technology said: “This shows that Dahua’s branding is based on its product performance and quality, with the brand becoming more enhanced in the region.”


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Realme Narzo 30 collection launch in India has been teased by Flipkart. The web market has created a microsite to trace on the arrival of the brand new Realme Narzo telephones. Flipkart has additionally made a video teaser that seems to offer us a glimpse of the Realme Narzo 30 Professional 5G. Individually, Realme India and Europe CEO Madhav Sheth has tweeted a picture that reveals the again, in addition to the retail field, of the Realme Narzo 30 Professional 5G for the primary time. The Chinese language firm is predicted to initially launch the Realme Narzo 30 Professional 5G and the Realme Narzo 30A, whereas the vanilla Realme Narzo 30 might debut at a later stage.
Accessible at present by way of the Flipkart cellular app and web site, the microsite shows two telephones and clearly says, “Narzo 30 Collection Coming Quickly!” Though the web market does not reveal any specs of the upcoming fashions, it asks prospects to return again on February 18. This means that extra particulars in regards to the new telephones might be revealed within the coming days.
Flipkart has additionally made a teaser video that offers us a fast look at one of many upcoming Realme Narzo telephones. It appears to be the Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G, which might be a rebranded Realme Q2 that debuted in China in October and was launched within the UK as Realme 7 5G in November.
The video initially reveals two telephones from the entrance that each seem to have a hole-punch show design. It then rapidly strikes ahead to point out us the again of certainly one of them that has a gradient end and a multi-camera setup, together with the Narzo branding.
Along with the teaser launched by Flipkart, Realme India and Europe CEO Madhav Sheth has tweeted a picture that reveals the again of the Realme Narzo 30 Professional 5G. It appears equivalent to the telephone that appeared within the video launched by Flipkart. The telephone additionally seems to have a triple rear digicam setup, which is predicted to incorporate a 48-megapixel main sensor and an LED flash module.
The picture posted by Sheth additionally reveals the retail packing containers of the Realme Narzo 30 Professional 5G. The corporate earlier this month had asked customers to decide on the design of the retail field of the Realme Narzo 30 collection from just a few choices.
The Realme Narzo 30 collection launch in India is but to be confirmed by the corporate. Nonetheless, it’s tipped to happen by the end of February. The corporate can be rumoured to launch gaming equipment alongside its new Narzo-series smartphones.
What would be the most enjoyable tech launch of 2021? We mentioned this on Orbital, our weekly expertise podcast, which you’ll subscribe to by way of Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or simply hit the play button beneath.


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Most deaths occurred in middle- to low-income countries, the Harvard researchers noted. The findings are surprising because this problem is often though of this as a problem only in high-income countries. These latest findings do not prove that sugary drinks kill people. They only show a correlation between high consumption and deaths from heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.
Recently, a judge struck down Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s controversial limit on large sweetened sodas and other sugary beverages, one day before the rule was to go into effect. Bloomberg said he would appeal the decision and defended his plan, which would have limited the size of sugary drinks sold at restaurants, food carts and theaters to 16 ounces.
But that’s not the only type of measure officials can take. Others could include taxing sugar-added drinks, or limiting advertising of the beverages to children. But “anti-soda” moves are a tough sell — not only because the beverage industry and many consumers resist. It’s also hard to pin ill health effects on one component of people’s diets, even if it’s a nutritionally dubious one.Sugary beverage consumption is often paired with other unhealthy food choices or behaviors. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, are the result of many factors, not just excess sugar intake. Therefore, everyone should be limiting added sugar — from drinks and food. We just do not need added sugar that is empty calories.
Overall, they estimate that upwards of 180,000 deaths were “attributable to” sugary drink consumption in 2010. That included more than 130,000 from diabetes, about 45,000 from heart disease and stroke, and 4,600 from various cancers.
As for sugary drink intake, young Cuban men beat the rest of the world: Men younger than 45 typically downed more than five servings per day. And in general, Latin America and the Caribbean had the most deaths linked to sugar-sweetened drinks.
It’s difficult to blame deaths on high-sugar drinks alone. But the findings highlight one important, and simple, move that people can make to improve their diets. Sodas are not the only culprit. Often, these fruit juices that people think are healthy are loaded with sugar.
One of the big concerns in the sugary-drink “war” is that many children and teenagers are downing huge amounts of liquid calories. Because this study focused on deaths from chronic diseases, it says nothing about the potential health effects on kids across the globe.


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Japanese Economic system Sees Restoration From Pandemic Stoop | Enterprise Information
BY YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business writer
TOKYO (AP) – The Japanese economy grew at an annual rate of 12.7% from October through December. This was the second quarter in a row that the slump caused by the coronavirus pandemic recovered.
The third largest economy in the world recorded growth in consumption, government spending and exports in the last quarter of last year compared to the previous quarter, the cabinet said.
Japan’s seasonally adjusted gross domestic product had grown at a dramatic annual rate of 22.9% from July to September.
GDP is the total value of a nation’s products and services. The annualized rate shows what the increase or decrease would have been if the same pace had continued for a year.
The outlook for the future seems relatively good as trade resumes and vaccines are introduced in countries that are Japan’s main trading partners, such as the US and other Asian countries.
For the 2020 calendar year, the Japanese economy fell 4.8%, the first year of contraction in 11 years. According to preliminary data, the economy grew by 3% from October to December compared to the previous quarter.
Japan never had a lockdown on COVID-19 as it tried to keep business going while encouraging work from home and social distancing.
In Tokyo and some other urban areas where clusters of infection have emerged, a so-called state of emergency is in place, with restaurants and other shops closing at 8 p.m.
Junichi Makino, chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities, said that while the first quarter of this year could see a setback due to the state of emergency, a gradual recovery is expected as overseas economies return to normal and the emergency likely ends next month .
“With the coronavirus pandemic contained, the state of emergency end and the vaccine rolled out, the Japanese economy is expected to recover and normalize again from April-June,” Makino said.
Japan’s larger macroeconomic problems such as falling wages and falling international competitiveness, which have led to stagnation in recent decades, remain.
Social changes that take time would be required to address these issues, e.g. B. Encouraging overseas investment and establishing education to promote entrepreneurship.
Naoya Oshikubo, Senior Economist at SuMi TRUST or Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management, notes an element of “revenge consumption” in the GDP data.
That means shoppers are trying to make up for “lost time” by buying more from staying home and not buying as much for long periods of time because of the pandemic, he said.
Government programs to boost spending, including last year’s “GoTo” discount campaign, which ran temporarily when coronavirus cases rose, also helped boost GDP. The data also showed a recovery in machinery investment.
A vaccine rollout in Japan has not yet started, but is set to begin with medical professionals this week. Japan has recorded far fewer such deaths than the US and some other countries, with around 6,900 COVID-19 deaths.
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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The COVID-19 pandemic continues to change our way of life, including how audiences perceive company brands and marketing. Based on recent facts and research, this article will help you to tune your branding to make it more effective during the age of COVID-19.
How COVID-19 has affected major brands
FutureBrand, a trusted brand-transformation consultancy, conducted a survey during quarantine, putting a spotlight on the values cherished by the consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to their research, companies that perform excellently are companies that:
"Take big brands in distinctive directions and that act with genuine authenticity and personality"
"Are prepared to think unconventionally to do the right thing"
"Really think beyond profit, not just say it"
"Prioritize customers and their needs even if it means forging a different path to rival firms"
"Are focused in on sectors that will be fundamental to human life in the future"
"Care about their own people as intently as their customers, including a firm commitment to diversity and inclusion"
"Realize the true value of an open culture that fosters a happy and productive workforce"
"Embrace innovation, change, and agility to maintain resilience in the face of fast-moving, sector-specific, national, and international events"
The sectors studied were the Consumer Goods & Services, Technology, Healthcare, Financial, and Industrials, Telco, Oil & Gas. Some of the sectors benefited from the pandemic by improving their brand images while other sectors suffered due to long-standing brand perception issues, even among sectors that suffered, individual companies managed to rise up in ranking.
Even the companies that fell down places in the ranking aren't all lost either; in some aspects, they saw massive improvements due to their actions. Some of the companies listed in the charts are the following:
One of the new entrants to the Top 100 charts is AstraZeneca, currently conducting trials of a potential vaccine against COVID-19. In contrast, the biggest loser in the charts is Gilead Sciences, the producer of Remdesivir, currently under trials as a potential antiviral against COVID-19. It suffered from the bad press due to its decisions to sell the drug exclusively to the US Government and to ramp up its price.
Royal Dutch Shell, one of the biggest multinational companies involved in fossil fuel exploration and trade, was the biggest winner in the charts, moving 59 steps up. This is partly due to its expansion to the renewable energy industry and its pledge to become a net-zero carbon company. However, SINOPEC, a Chinese company also engaged in fossil fuel exploration and trade, dropped off the charts.
Apple is the number one company in the charts. Apple managed to maintain its brand perception that it inherited from the time of Steve Jobs. Facebook, on the other hand, fell to number 37 from its peak at number 11 in 2004. Facebook suffered from data privacy scandals, the most prominent being its connections with Cambridge Analytica.
The most important lesson from the FutureBrand Top 100 Charts is that the financial well-being of a company is tied to its brand perception, but financial well-being does not assure a good brand perception.
These results point out to changes in brand perception among consumers, including us. You probably agree with the points raised above; I do as well! We can learn more by considering another survey conducted on brand perception...
How COVID-19 pandemic affected consumer trust
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the trust of brands? Edelman produced a report titled Trust and the COVID-19 Pandemic to tackle this issue. The observations can be summarized into three ideas:
1. The consumers are watching how brands present themselves during the global pandemic.
Consumers are willing to support brands that respond well to the crisis and punish brands that don’t. Here are specific stats:
65% said, “How well a brand responds to this crisis will have a huge impact on my likelihood to buy that brand in the future.”
33% said, “I have convinced other people to stop using a brand that I felt was not acting appropriately in response to the pandemic.”
37% said, “I have recently started using a new brand because of the innovative or compassionate way they have responded to the virus outbreak.”
71% said, “Brands and companies that I see placing their profits before people during this crisis will lose my trust forever.”
2. Businesses should take responsibility to help the people during the pandemic.
Consumers do not believe that businesses should prioritize profit above everything else, but instead, be a good partner in improving the quality of human life. Here are specific stats:
78% of the respondents say that businesses have a responsibility to ensure their employees are protected from the virus in the workplace and do not spread the virus into the community.
90% of the respondents believe that brands must do everything they can to protect the well-being and financial security of their employees and their suppliers, even if it means suffering big financial losses until the pandemic ends.
86% of the respondents argue that brands should be a safety net, stepping in where they are needed and able, to fill gaps in the government’s response to the virus.
89% of the respondents want brands to offer free or lower-priced products to health workers, high-risk individuals, and those whose jobs have been affected.
3. Brands should ensure their ads strike the right tones.
The COVID-19 crisis holds a special challenge to the mental and psychological well-being of the consumers, and so the right message will help them cope during the crisis. Here are specific stats:
84% of the respondents think brands should use social media channels to facilitate a sense of community and offer social support to people.
57% of the respondents want brands to stop any advertising or marketing that is humorous or too lighthearted in tone.
42% of the respondents believe brands should avoid escapist advertising showing people gathered together using their products and having a good time.
Do these ideas resonate with you? We are part of this change in brand perception, already occurring for years due to increased awareness of environmental and human issues, further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. What can we do to ride on this wave of change in brand perception today?
How brands can adapt to the effects of COVID-19: a summary
Even with the global economy hitting the rocks during the pandemic, this has been the golden moment for some companies to improve the perception of their brands. Even if you have a small business, you don’t have to make grand plans to get this done. You can do the following to help boost your brand today:
Identify your audience through consumer surveys, helping you gauge their needs and wants, and how your brand is perceived. If you are venturing into eCommerce, our guide to eCommerce niches can help you get started.
Keep your audience by maintaining a positive connection with them. Social media sites are now used to keep the connection alive. Use it well!
Venture into social causes by identifying the most cherished causes by your audience. Besides venturing to causes relevant to the audience, you should also include doing actions that will help your audience survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leverage user-generated content related to the brand, primarily customer reviews, to further boost your connection with your audience.
Keep your feet on the ground by continuously conducting surveys and listening to your audience through social media channels.
You can learn more about improving your brand perception in 2020 from these articles:


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Finding ways to use big data to help small shops
from The New York Times
A wealth of information that some call big data is becoming increasingly available to small businesses. Such information was once available only to big corporations with vast computing power and deep information technology departments — and more recently to online start-up companies with data-mining capabilities. In 2010, just 1.7 percent of small businesses were using business intelligence software, according to a survey of companies with fewer than 100 employees conducted by IDC. By last year, 9.2 percent had adopted such tools. Tools that help small businesses address customer feedback — not just by pooling and parsing emails to customer service reps but also by monitoring Facebook feeds, Twitter comments and Yelp posts to help quell brush fires promptly.
7701 Las Colinas Blvd., Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063


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According to the China Daily news service, China’s drone industry’s output value of the domestic drone market is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan (USD14.8 billion) this year.
“China, a key civil drones industrial base in the world, witnessed rapid growth last year, financial media outlet Yicai reported,” said the report. “Data showed there were more than 12,000 drone enterprises, with a total output value topping 87 billion yuan. In Shenzhen alone, there are over 1,500 drone makers, and the output value reached nearly 60 billion yuan. Consumption-type drones accounted for 70 per cent of the global total, while industrial-type drones grasped a 50 per cent market share.”
Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China showed that by the end of 2021, there are 781,000 registered drone users, and the number of registered drones totalled 832,000. The world congress predicted that by 2024 domestic drone market is expected to be worth 160 billion yuan, including 45 billion yuan in geographical mapping, 36 billion yuan in agriculture, forestry and plant protection, 30 billion yuan in logistics and express delivery services, 26 billion yuan in powerline inspection and 23 billion yuan in security guard.
The government is putting more efforts to support a batch of leading companies to develop drone logistics, and release more low-attitude airspace resources.Li Jian, former deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference


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LIVE FROM THE HEADLINES
Proposed Legislation Would Allow Consumers to Sue Cell Phone Spammers
Aired June 16, 2003 - 19:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Moving on, want to talk about spam a little bit. Not the kind you eat, unfortunately.
Spam is already a major new nuisance to e-mail users. Could become a big problem for cell phone customers, as well. Front Bridge Technologies estimates that currently a little less than 10 percent of the 1 billion text messages sent each month is spam. That percentage is on the rise.
A New Jersey representative, Rush Holt, wants to keep that from happening. He's introduced legislation in Congress that would allow cell phone users to sue their spammers, $500 for each unsolicited text message, up to $1,500 if a judge so decides. Congressman Holt joins us now from Washington.
Congressman, thank you for being with us.
REP. RUSH HOLT (D), NEW JERSEY: Good to be with you, Anderson.
COOPER: First of all, let's get a sense of A) How big a problem this is already here in the United States? And also overseas, where I understand it's much worse?
HOLT: Well, overseas it is a big problem. It first came to my attention a couple of years ago when someone I know in New Jersey, his phone rang, it wasn't his wife, wasn't his daughter, it was somebody selling some Internet services. I looked into it and discovered this is a problem that is growing. Right now in Japan, 30 million spam messages per day.
COOPER: Thirty million per day?
HOLT: Per day. And that tsunami is heading toward the United States. Because most of the cell phones that are sold nowadays receive text messages or are capable of receiving text messages.
COOPER: And of course, the irritating thing for consumers is that they are paying for this. When you receive a text message, you have to pay.
HOLT: That's the key point. That's why this is really unfair to consumers. It not only ties up their phone, but it actually in many cases, costs them for the air time that a marketer uses to send a message that the recipient doesn't want.
COOPER: At this point, how are they getting our cell phone numbers? Do you know?
HOLT: You know, they are very resourceful in getting cell phone numbers. They look at lists, you know. However marketers do it. Just as they get our e-mail addresses, just as they get their -- our home addresses.
It's just that, you know, it hasn't become a big business yet because not enough Americans use the cell phones with text messaging. But it is coming up month by month.
COOPER: Congressman, I want to read you a statement from Mobile Marketing Association, where they say, "The Mobile Marketing Association is investigating the creation of national opt-in and opt- out databases that give consumers choice and control of the information they choose to receive."
Basically what they're saying is they want to set up these things where you can log onto a web site and say, "I want to get promotional information about a new record coming out." And then basically, you opt into the system.
Is that going to be allowed under the legislation that you would like to propose?
HOLT: A cell phone owner can sign up for any program that she or he wants, receiving text messaging or not.
My legislation would put the power in the hands of the cell phone owner, who could, if upon receiving unwanted messages, text messaging, could write to the offender, and then if that continues, take them to court and collect money. And I think that would put a stop to it.
COOPER: All right. We'll be tracking this progress of this very closely. Congressman Rush Holt, thanks for joining us.
HOLT: Thank you, Anderson.
COOPER: Well, using a cell phone can be costly even without that unwanted spam. Wireless telephone service can often be 20 percent higher than the advertised prices. I know that's true in my case.
Why? Well, phone companies are disguising costs to look like government imposed fees and the governments are tacking on taxes that also push up the cost.
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On November 30, 2010, the U.S. Senate passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, the goal of which is to keep unsafe foods from reaching American consumers. The bill will significantly expand the regulatory powers of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the bill’s successful passage into law is not yet assured.
A significant problem with the Senate’s version of the bill is that it grants the FDA the power to collect fines from food producers and importers that do not comply with recalls or do not pass inspections. The U.S. Constitution, however, states that such revenue-raising measures must originate in the House.
In 2009, the House of Representatives passed its more stringent version of the legislation. The Senate's version, for example, also includes an amendment exempting small farmers and those who sell food at farm stands and farmers' markets.
As the “lame duck” 111th Congress nears its end on January 3, 2011, President Obama has appealed to the House to act quickly, and House Democratic leaders are considering how to fix the problem. One solution might be for the House to pass the Senate’s bill and then send it back to the Senate for approval a second time.
Both versions of the legislation will:
- Give the FDA the power to demand immediate food recalls;
- Require the FDA to regularly inspect food-processing plants and farms, particularly for foods considered at high risk for contamination;
- Grant the FDA access to internal records at farms and food-production facilities;
- Require food processors to have written plans for safely manufacturing foods and to conduct routine testing;
- Allow the FDA to set standards for how imported fruits and vegetables are grown abroad and to inspect foreign processing plants; and
- Require importers to verify that foods grown or processed abroad meet safety standards.


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With a background in rights at Wiley, Random House/Fodor’s, Hyperion/Disney, and FSG, Kris Kliemann comes to IPR License as a veteran in publishing rights based in New York City.
Ahead of the 32nd International Publishers Association Congress in India, we look at the big issues speakers will address, including geo-political issues affecting publishing.
‘The development of a vibrant international industry network,’ the Frankfurter Buchmesse Fellowship Program, will see fellows from France, Colombia, USA, UK, the Netherlands, Japan, and Italy visit Milan’s Tempo di Libri in March.
How is the political climate in the United States is affecting the sales of socially relevant books? One Canadian publisher says the ‘Trump bump’ is real.
The Italian culture minister says the agreement with the Frankfurter Buchmesse ‘affirms the worldwide appreciation of our creative industry and effectively shows its vitality, cultural strength, and economic value.’
In France, a new exhibition on Arab comics launches at the Angoulême Comics Festival. And in the States, Scholastic’s new nonfiction imprint will tackle history and social issues for children.
Some publishing players in the UK are protesting the Man Booker Prize for Fiction’s eligibility rules, saying that the Booker should reimpose a ‘ban on American writers.’
‘The Power of Reading’ is the message to Taiwan’s consumer base at this year’s Taipei International Book Exhibition, while Frankfurter Buchmesse’s professional program there examines changes in business, markets, and sales.
To counter the dominance of international fiction in South Africa, Jacana Media’s imprint Storied is raising money to publish and promote diverse, local fiction authors.
With roughly 25 awards on the list, the British Book Awards—the ‘Nibbies’—are selected by a sizable jury of industry players. The deadline for entries is February 9.


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A recent survey found that millennials preferred lifestyle changes to treat acute or chronic pain from computer and smartphone use over taking opioid medications. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 30 (UPI) -- A recent survey found that millennials prefer lifestyles changes, such as exercise, over taking opioid-based medications for acute and chronic pain management.
Millennials are the next generation expected to experience chronic pain thanks to spending their days hunched over computers, smartphones, tablets and spending free time playing sports.
Nearly 75 percent of millennials surveyed reported having acute pain, and nearly 60 percent reported having chronic pain.
The survey, which was commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, or ASA, found that millennials prefer to treat pain with lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, quitting smoking and losing weight, rather than taking prescription opioid medication.
"It's encouraging that millennials see the value of opting for safer and often more effective methods of managing pain," Dr. Jeffrey Plagenhoef, ASA president, said in a press release. "But clearly they are in need of further education when it comes to opioids and chronic pain because using the drugs initially to treat pain can turn into a lifelong struggle with addiction."
The survey found that millennials were half as likely as baby boomers to turn to opioids to manage pain, and one in five millennials regret ever using opioids.
The survey showed one in 10 millennials obtained opioids inappropriately through other household member's prescriptions, compared to 3 percent of Generation Xers, 1 percent of baby boomers and none the silent generation.
Approximately 30 percent of millennials surveyed said it was okay to take an opioid without a prescription compared to 20 percent of Gen Xers, 12 percent of baby boomers and 3 percent of the silent generation.
The survey showed one in five millennials reported being unaware of the best way to safely dispose of opioids.
"Chronic pain does not have to be an automatic response to aging," Plagenhoef said. "Healthy lifestyle changes such as exercising, proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight can keep millennials from dealing with some of the chronic pain their parents and grandparents are experiencing."


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Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, disclosed to the media that attempts are being made to further simplify GST in future. To make life easier for GST registered businesses in India the government is making necessary efforts. Ever since GST implementation there are reports of problems with the taxation system.
Government to take action on GST simplification and improvement. The finance minister stated that errors and lapses in filing returns are being identified. The improvement in the online filing of GST is an ongoing process and actions are being taken in continuity in this regard.
The Government plans on a single monthly return instead of current filing of GSTR1 and GSTR3B. Businesses with annual turnover less than 5 crore may file quarterly returns soon. Further, government plans on introducing a fully automated GST Refund system to ease working capital issues for exporters.
Currently, businesses need to raise a separate e-way bill and furnish the same details while filing GSTR1. Government plans on a central system for entering invoice details. This will tackle fake invoice issue and also multiple invoice entering in different portals.
India Ease of Doing Business Ranking
India has managed to improve by 14 places in the World Bank’s report of Ease of Doing Business 2020. It now ranks 63rd out of 190 countries and strives to get in the top 50 countries in the coming years. It is an essential step in a business and therefore special efforts need to be taken. India improved its position from 142nd to 63rd on the index in five years and seeks to progress further.
Efficient implementation of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) helped in improving India’s business ranking. Further, she mentioned the role of states in upgrading parameters like providing electricity and registering property. The country did well on paying taxes like GST, registering property and trading across borders. However, its performance on getting credit, protecting minority investors and enforcing contracts in mediocre.
Impact on MSMEs
MSMEs are facing many issues due to complications in filing GST returns. Many companies reported issues relating to input tax credit. Further, working capital issues due to late refund of GST is further taking a toll on MSMEs.
Chief Economic Advisor, Krishnamurthy Subramanian, stated that the banks’ present approach to provide credit has improved the credit access to MSME’s. According to reports, one lakh MSMEs have been issued loans of Rs 5500 crore. Similarly, a loan worth Rs 4600 crore (three lakh loans) has been directed to the agriculture sector. In total Rs 80,000 crore loans have been sanctioned, 43% of which is a new term loan.


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WEDNESDAY 19 DEC 2018 10:41 AM
GEMMA FITCHETT APPOINTED AS MARKETING AND PR MANAGER FOR CONNECTIONS
Former marketing manager for Quintessentially Travel will drive brand forward and develop new opportunities for community of leaders
Connections, the global networking platform for senior decision makers, has announced the appointment of Gemma Fitchett, who will leave Quintessentially Travel to become the new Connections, PR and marketing manager in January 2019.
The creation of this new position within the Connections team marks an exciting phase for the company which has witnessed significant growth as a result of successfully launching an event series for one new industry sector per year since inception.
Fitchett says, “Since launching in 2014, Micaela Giacobbe and her specialist team have reinvented the world of networking on a truly personalised level. I’m thrilled to be joining Connections at such an exciting time of growth. 2019 is going to be a significant year for the company and I’m looking forward to driving the brand forward and developing new opportunities for our community of leaders.”
Fitchett, who brings a wealth of experience from her former role at the award-winning division of Quintessentially, will also be responsible for managing a number of new Connections initiatives, which will be rolled out over the course of 2019 and beyond.
Micaela Giacobbe, director of commercial events at Connections adds, “The fact that Connections is now appointing a marketing manager is huge news for Connections, and a testament of how much we are growing. We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming Gemma to Connections and we are extremely excited about the experience, fresh thinking and passion that she will add to our team."


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) – Coca-Cola Co. releases its second-quarter results before the opening bell Tuesday. This is what investors are looking for:
Earnings: Coca-Cola KO, -1.29% the nation’s biggest non-alcoholic beverage company by market-cap and a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average since 1987, is expected to report earnings of 63 cents a share for the three months ended June 30, matching its per-share earnings a year earlier, according to a FactSet survey of Wall Street analysts.
Revenue: Analysts are looking for second-quarter sales of $12.83 billion, nearly a 0.7% improvement from $12.75 billion year ago. Bear in mind, however, that Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent summed up the year-ago results at the time as “below our expectations,” with worldwide volume growth up a mere 1%.
Stock reaction: Coca-Cola’s share price is up has hit analysts’ earnings targets on the nose for each of its four previous quarters, which makes it both reliable and a little boring. Its share price has been a bit boring as well, up 3% from where it was trading 12 months ago while the Dow industrials index is up nearly 10%.
To add a little life to its earnings, Coke has built up a 16% stake in Keurig Green Mountain Inc. US:GMCR , joining forces with the coffee brewer to develop a dispenser and supplies for the burgeoning DIY cold-drink sector.
So far, Keurig investors have been the primary beneficiaries of this venture, with the company’s share price up 64% over the past 12 months. Investors are waiting for some of this to trickle up to Coke’s share price, and will be paying close attention to any updates on the partnership. Among the scenarios circulating on Wall Street is that Coke, already Keurig’s largest shareholder, could at some point buy the company outright.
Meanwhile, Coke is contending with relatively flat sales in North American market, which analysts expect will account for sales of about $5.82 billion, or 45%, of second-quarter sales. Changing demographics, rival sports drinks and a greater emphasis on health are widely blamed for Coke’s struggles to boost sales at home.
That means sales growth in the traditional beverages market probably is going to have to be overseas, especially in the European and Pacific markets.
Analysts are looking for second-quarter sales in Europe to hit $1.65 billion while Pacific market sales are expected to reach $1.56 billion.