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On July 18, 2023 the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC” or the “Commission”) announced that it has been working with more than 100 federal and state law enforcement partners to crack down on widespread deceptive telemarketing practices. The joint initiative, known as “Operation Stop Spam Calls,” has already resulted in lawsuits against companies that place prerecorded calls, so-called “consent farms” that sell consumer information to said telemarketing companies, and Voice over Internet Protocol (“VOIP”) providers that, it alleges, help facilitate illegal robocalls. The lawsuits brought as part of the Operation allege various violations of the Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR”). Joining the FTC in “Operation Stop Spam Calls” are the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), Attorneys General from all fifty states, as well as the District of Columbia.
Dating back to the enactment of the TSR, the FTC has filed a total of 167 cases alleging illegal telemarketing practices, resulting in over $2 billion in court-ordered judgments. Under the newly-launched “Operation Stop Spam Calls,” the FTC has filed complaints against five companies that it alleges are giants in the illegal telemarketing space. The FTC has already settled four of these lawsuits through consent decrees that include a total of roughly $18.2 million in civil penalties and various injunctive measures. Of significant note, the Operation has effectively outlawed pre-recorded calls and the use of marketing partners lists in telemarketing consent language. Companies involved in the lead generation business will want to pay particular attention to the FTC’s telemarketing lawsuit against Viceroy Media Solutions, LLC (“Viceroy”). A common part of the telemarketing chain, companies selling consumer lead data en masse are a priority target under the new FTC-lead initiative.
The FTC Telemarketing Complaint Against Viceroy
The FTC’s complaint against Viceroy alleges that, together with its sister company and two principals, it operated a “consent farm” enterprise. According to the complaint, Viceroy “us[ed] websites to deceptively collect and aggregate ‘leads’ consisting of consumers’ personal information and purported consent to receive telemarketing robocalls. In turn, Defendants sold these leads to telemarketing clients, who relied on consumers’ purported consent to justify robocalling customers.” Viceroy’s illegal operations, the FTC alleges, resulted in the sale of at least 46,562,557 leads to 37 clients and eventually lead to tens of millions of unwanted robocalls to United States consumers.
In its Complaint, the FTC alleges that Viceroy was engaged in deceptive telemarketing practices because:
1) Viceroy mislead consumers regarding their consent to receive robocalls; and
2) Under the TSR, the seller itself must consent to place robocalls – not an unrelated third-party lead generator like Viceroy.
How Did Viceroy Mislead Consumers?
Viceroy owned, operated, and controlled the domains quick-jobs.com and localjobsindex.com (the “Websites”). Like many lead generating landing pages, the Websites appeared to connect consumers with certain opportunities. In this case, the Websites were designed in a manner to lead consumers to believe that they would find job openings. The FTC alleged that rampant use of “dark patterns” was evident throughout the Websites. Dark patterns, as our readers are aware, are user interfaces that have been carefully crafted to trick users into taking certain actions. In this case, according to the FTC, the Websites’ sequential pop-up windows were designed to mislead consumers into providing lead information and agreeing to receive autodialed calls/texts from third parties under the guise of proceeding to available job listings.
Whether Viceroy sold consumer data to a telemarketer or a lead broker intermediary, the FTC alleged that it was a critical part in the chain of entities involved in illegal telemarketing. By unknowingly providing consent to this “consent farm” in the hopes of obtaining a job opportunity, the FTC alleged, customers eventually received solicitations from life insurance companies, cruise lines, and disability insurance providers. Pursuant to the associated consent decree, the parties settled the Viceroy Complaint for a $913,636 civil penalty, the defendants agreed to refrain from any future practices to help companies place unsolicited telemarketing calls, and various other compliance measures.
Why is the FTC’s Illegal Telemarketing Initiative Important to your Business?
If your company is in the telemarketing industry, “Operation Stop Spam Calls” has major implications for your business. As stated above, the newly-minted initiative has already resulted in the FTC commencing actions against five major players in the telemarketing industry. Whether your company is in the business of acquiring and selling lead information or placing telemarketing calls, you can now assume that it may come under regulatory scrutiny. As such, businesses should retain telemarketing law attorneys that are experienced in advising companies on compliance with various state and federal telemarketing regulations, including the TSR.
If you require assistance with preventing your business from becoming a defendant in an FTC investigation, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.org or call us at (212) 246-0900.
The material contained herein is provided for information purposes only and is not legal advice, nor is it a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney. Each situation is unique, and you should not act or rely on any information contained herein without seeking the advice of an experienced attorney.
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Just outside Stadium Kuala Lumpur in Cheras, food vendors struggle to serve the crowds of customers who have come teeming to their stalls for lunch.
But Juniadi Sudirman, who sells fruits at his stall, doesn't mind the rush.
For him, the circumstances when the Covid-19 pandemic first hit are still fresh in his mind.
Now that the country has begun its transition to the endemic phase, with more sectors and industries allowed to reopen, Juniandi finally dares to breathe a sigh of relief.
But still, times are tough. While he has more customers to tend to today, his income has dropped by about 50% since the onset of the pandemic and the economic constraints it caused.
And recovery for his little stall is still slow despite the country's relative success in keeping the spread of infection in check.
Tens of thousands of traders like Juniandi in the micro, small and medium enterprise (PMKS) sector were heavily affected by the pandemic and the movement control orders (MCOs) imposed in its wake.
Workers throughout the country were told to work from home, while only crucial sectors remained open throughout this time.
But while things are looking up a bit for Juniandi, Siti Alia, who sells chicken rice a short distance away, says the opposite.
For her, business income began to drop after the MCOs were lifted.
"During the MCO, we were so busy tending to all of the orders that came in because customers couldn't go out to eat," she said.
"Now everyone can go out and eat at restaurants, so our customers are few and far in between."
The cash flow of PMKS operators like Alia and Juniandi had frequently featured at meetings of the National Recovery Council (MPN) where concerns were raised about the effect of such problems on the country's recovery process.
It was previously reported that more than 30,000 entrepreneurs and PMKS traders were forced to close shop because of the pandemic.
For this reason, MPN secretariat CEO Sulaiman Mahbob suggested that the government and Bank Negara Malaysia consider extending the moratorium period for PMKS operators.
This was to ensure that such traders could face future uncertainties on better footing, and to increase the sector's contribution to the economy.
Juniandi, for one, said he was glad about the proposal.
"It would be good if they implemented this moratorium," he said.
"I could use the money I have to increase my sales and take my business to the next level."
Before this, he used to run a stall at a night market.
"But because of the pandemic, I can only afford to sell fruits at the side of the road now," he said.
Juniandi was also among those who benefited from the special Prihatin grant issued under the Perikatan Nasional government.
He said the aid had helped save his business from going under even as many of his other friends were forced to throw in the towel.
Alia also welcomed the suggestion, saying she could improve the level of her business and move to a more conducive environment.
"I could use the money for monthly repayments as model to buy a kiosk or a food truck, and expand the variety of food that I sell," she said.
"The money I have right now is only enough for me to pay my own family members. I can't afford to employ other workers.
"A moratorium for PMKS traders like us could help a lot."
The MPN had previously voiced its commitment to presenting initiatives to help restore the economy and the income of local entrepreneurs.
This includes its main recommendation to the government for a focus on the shortage of workers in critical sectors such as construction, plantations and tourism.

domain: news


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Hankook Tire America announced that tire industry veteran Jim Sicking will now serve as the company’s senior director of PCLT (Passenger Car Light Truck) sales. In his new role, Sicking assumes oversight of all replacement tire sales at the company.
Sicking has nearly three decades of sales experience in the automotive industry. He brought more than a decade of tire-industry experience to Hankook when the company hired him as corporate accounts director last May. Now, Hankook has placed all customer relationships under his leadership.
“As our presence in the American tire market grows, Jim provides the expertise necessary to manage our expanding customer portfolio,” said Hankook Tire America Corp. President Hosung Suh. “We are glad he has accepted this exciting challenge.”
“I appreciate this opportunity to help lead passenger and light truck sales at Hankook,” Sicking said. “The quality of our products is surpassed only by the loyalty of our customers, and we are committed to providing them with market-leading service.”
With the move, Hankook aims to deepen its relationships with customers by optimizing its market approach in line with the company’s sales strategies. The move is part of a broader market penetration strategy that includes the opening of the company’s first North American manufacturing plant in Tennessee, which took place last October.
At peak capacity, the company will produce 5.5 million tires per year at the plant – supply that will help the company satisfy growing demand for its products.


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In a recent interview with CNET, The chief executive of Nvidia, Jen-Hsun Huang, has confirmed that the leading chipmaker is working in conjunction with Microsoft on the next generation Surface tablet computer. Microsoft launched the Surface RT to much attention. However, last month the computer giant was forced to write down $900 million worth of stock after demand for the tablet failed to materialize.
Despite this monumental failure of the first Surface RT to make a significant impact on the market, Nvidia is still quite optimistic that Microsoft’s tablet does have a future in the field. Huang criticized the limitations of Windows RT, saying that Outlook would have made his “life complete”.
In reports earlier this year, Microsoft did confirm that it would be introducing Outlook for Windows RT when the eventual update for Microsoft Windows 8.1 would be released. In reference to that, Huang said that he believes Surface RT now has its “killer app”. He then went on to confirm that Nvidia is working with Microsoft on the second generation Surface tablet. “Now we’re going to bring it with the second-generation Surface,” said Huang. “We’re working really hard on it, and we hope that it’s going to be a big success.” Previous speculative reports have hinted that Microsoft is working on a successor to the its original Surface RT tablet. In fact, earlier this year, it was reported that Microsoft is testing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 processor, this is the same that powers the LG G2. The software maker is also believed to be preparing a seven or eight inch Surface tablet to compete in the market with Google’s Nexus 7 and Apple’s iPad mini.
[Image via web-tech]


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SHOW: DATELINE NBC (9:00 PM ET) December 11, 2000, MondayHumane Society claims coats are made with skins of unborn lambs
For many women, a fur coat is the ultimate luxury, the ultimate gift. And at the top of many women’s wish list this year is a hot new fur called Russian broadtail. But is there something about this fashionable fur they’re not telling you? Chris Hansen reports a “Dateline ” Hidden Camera Investigation.
Fur buyer (laughing): “That’s perfect, I think it’s going to be a beautiful combination.”
Saleswoman: “And I love the coat. Turn around, turn around, show them…”
The fur is flying out of the stores this holiday season.
Saleswoman: “It’s just the most gorgeous, don’t you love the flow…”
The look, the feel, the luxury seem irresistible. Sales are up, and it’s once again being seen on the fashion runways and on Hollywood starlets. Shunned by stars just a few short years ago, the fur look is now flaunted by a new set of in-your-face celebrities.
“The MTV generation has embraced it,” says Fur Information Council spokeswoman Diva Lynch. “We had a 15 percent increase in sales in 1999 – I think that all points to the fact that people are wearing fur again.”
And helping to lead the resurgence is a classic fur look that’s become the next new thing: it’s Russian broadtail. Soft, shiny, and sensuous, it’s a fur thin and supple enough to be made into just about any kind of garment, and it’s being seen everywhere.
Designer: “It’s a broadtail, it’s a very small lamb, it’s all hand sewn.”
Stores all over the country are stocked for the holiday season with an estimated quarter of a million sleek broadtail coats, skirts, pants, jackets, vests and trim.
Designer: “It’s a big seller, it’s also high-priced.”
Designer: “The ultimate luxury…
Saleswoman: “La creme de la creme.”
Designer: “More like silk.”
We’re not talking about long and curly sheep’s wool, but the buttery, soft lambs fur that is subtly textured and ridged.
Carlo Teso: (designer in store) “This is the best of the best that you can possibly have.”
Fur has always been controversial, but lamb fur less so than say, mink or fox, because we know that lamb is used for food. The fur is simply left over, and so it’s put to use in clothing. But along with the increase in the popularity of broadtail has been an increase in disturbing rumors about just how broadtail is made.
Some animal rights groups charge that the lambs used for broadtail are just a day or two old – too small to be used for food. And they say it doesn’t stop there. The Humane Society of the U.S. alleges that unborn baby lambs are sometimes taken right from their mothers’ wombs… just to get more of those valuable broadtail pelts.
Zuki: “Nice to meet you.”
Dateline: “Hello, you have beautiful pieces.”
Zuki: “Thank you.”
But if you went shopping as “Dateline” did recently with hidden cameras, you might be told those rumors are preposterous. We went to trunk shows where designers themselves are on site to promote their latest fashions. They work with this fur, they know it. And everywhere we went, we were reassured. Listen as we question this designer, named Zuki, about broadtail.
Dateline: “How old is the baby before it…”
Zuki: “They are not baby. Don’t, don’t go that far.”
Zuki: “They are…”
Dateline: “Oh, she said it was a baby…”
Saleswoman: “…think they’re the young.”
Zuki: “I mean, they’re young. They look, I mean they call them young because they’re really small.”
Dateline: “Well, I also kind of want to know, if I’m gonna wear it, I want to say…”
Zuki: “Well, no, no, no. “It’s a lamb, that, probably somebody in Russia was enjoying those … dinner…”
Saleswoman: “The meat… somebody in Russia was…”
Zuki: “It was- it was- it was a dinner. Many dinners- for many people.”
Zuki: “They are raised [on a] ranch for- for the meat.”
Zuki: “And the pelt is a…”
Dateline: “A by-product.”
Zuki: “Yeah, a by-product.”
So Zuki tells us the lamb is used for food… many dinners, in fact.
At another trunk show, we asked Milan designer Carlo Teso whether unborn lambs are used to make broadtail.
Dateline: “I know it’s like the lamb is pregnant and they take the babies out?”
Teso: “No, no, no. That’s something that they say which is not true.”
So, where are all these supposedly wild rumors coming from?
Swain: “I don’t believe that any consumer with any bit of humanity or conscience could know how this product is made and then wear it.”
Humane Society investigator Rick Swain is the chief investigator for The Humane Society of the United States. Make no mistake, Swain and the Humane Society are anti-fur, and against killing any animal simply for fashion. But whatever your feelings about fur, Swain says this is different – he calls the methods used to produce broadtail barbaric, and says even fur-lovers will be appalled.
Swain: “As cruel and ugly as it is for minks and foxes both, it is nothing approaching this level of cruelty.”
Swain says the truth about Russian broadtail can’t be found in the designer stores or fur salons… you have to go to Russia and Central Asia. That’s where much of the world’s broadtail fur is produced, designed and manufactured. Earlier this year, Swain posed as a buyer for a chain of American stores, and made three trips to the region. And he toured a major broadtail production farm in the the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan.
Swain: “This particular facility is fairly large size. They house approximately 10,500 sheep on this facility.”
Swain and his group were allowed to shoot video openly. Don’t worry though, we won’t show you anything that will make you turn away. But you will get a good sense of what goes on there.
Translator: “This one is no more than 10 days already…”
Swain says he learned that broadtail comes from Karakul sheep, a breed that stores fat in its tail – thus the name, broadtail. Swain says he was struck by the family-like behavior of the animals.
Swain: “The baby lambs stick very close to their mothers. There’s a very strong mothering instinct between the mothers and babies.”
Karkakul lambs produce a very soft and supple coat. But the coat thickens quickly, and after the baby lamb is three days old, it’s coat is too thick and rough to be used as fur. So the lambs are slaughtered – the younger, the better.
Swain: “The one-day-old baby taken from its mother is taken from its mother for the fur, period.”
Hansen: “So in other words, these animals are not being killed for food, and suddenly there is a fur left over, which fine, use it in the furs.”
Swain: “Absolutely not. The only worth, the only value in the animals is their fur.”
But as unpleasant as that may be, Swain says he saw worse.
Swain: “The most valuable broadtail pelts come from baby lambs that are taken from their mothers by killing the mothers anywhere from 30 days before their natural birth date, up to right the day before.”
Why would they do that? Because fetal fur is of higher quality than even day-old fur, and much more valuable. For example, a coat made of three-day-old lamb will bring about $5,000 in an upscale department store, while a full-length broadtail coat made of fur from unborn lambs can cost as much as $25,000. The principal difference in the coats? The quality of the fur.
Zuki: “Even better than a Rolls-Royce, that’s the difference.”
Swain: “A day can make the difference between being valuable and having no value whatsoever. If you cross that three-day mark, its value as a pelt is completely gone.”
But remember, fur from unborn lambs is the most valuable of all. So some lambs don’t even live for a day. Again, we’ll spare you from seeing any of the disturbing video – but “Dateline” did watch it all and Swain did tape the workers beheading the mother ewe, then cutting the unborn fetus from her womb after her death.
Swain: “This is where they’re gonna take the baby.”
Translator: “Thirty days before the natural birth.”
Hansen: “That’s hard to watch.”
Swain: “Yeah, yeah it is. But after seeing something like this, I mean, I don’t believe that any thinking, feeling human being could wear a coat made this way.”
We wondered why they would kill the mother in this process… Swain says breeders allow mothers to have as many lambs as possible, and only kill them for their fetus after they become too old to breed again.
Swain: “What you saw here is illegal – would be illegal here in this country.”
What does the fur industry think of the Humane Society’s charges? We showed Fur Information Council spokeswoman Lynch a 10-minute excerpt of the Humane Society video taken in Uzbekistan.
Diva Lynch: “If there are standards of humane care in those countries and they’re being adhered to that’s the authority. This is not an endangered species, these are bred animals for farm use. You know we are talking about sheep. This is a farmed animal.”
Hansen: “So if it’s OK in Uzbekistan, it should be OK here…”
Lynch: “I’m saying in the United States the product would not be able to brought into this country unless it reached a standard of care. And if the standard of care is… was met, then I don’t see the problem with it.”
Hansen: “The Humane Society says that the methods used to produce Russian broadtail have been kept secret from consumers here in the United States.”
Lynch: “Oh, I absolutely disagree with that. Their spin is to – ‘let’s show shocking video and let’s try to get everyone to see that this is inhumane.’ And we don’t know that. We don’t know that this is inhumane treatment.”
Hansen: “But wait a minute here. You saw on the videotape…”
Hansen: “A mother lamb being beheaded, its unborn baby being taken out to be skinned…”
Lynch: “And I think…”
Hansen: “Is that not by its very definition inhumane?”
Lynch: “We don’t know. We don’t know the condition of that animal. We don’t know whether the animal was sick.
And we don’t know what happened before that videotape and we certainly don’t know what happened afterwards.”
And in a letter to “Dateline,” an attorney for the Fur Council questions the authenticity of the Humane Society video, saying animals are not killed by beheading.
“In Uzbekistan, where animals which are put to death are also used for food…. under Muslim religious practice, slaughtering follows the Jewish ritual which is accomplished by a throat cut severing the jugular vein….”
And as proof, the attorney provided us with a 1991 sworn statement from the chief of the Uzbekistan sheep production union. But Swain insists Karakul sheep are not raised for food, and stands by his tape, which he says captures reality.
Swain: “I was there. I saw it. I smelled it… We walked in in the middle of some of the slaughter process. They weren’t waiting for us to start, they didn’t stop when we left… I’m confident what we saw in Uzbekistan is the way the industry operates.”
Remember the designers we met while shopping for broadtail fur? Zuki declined an interview request, saying the Humane Society has little credibility, and quote: “It is our understanding that all the furs we use are produced humanely, according to veterinary guidelines and government regulations.”
He also said, “It’s absurd to suggest that farmers would kill reproducing animals just to procure a single pelt.”
Designer Carlo Teso wrote that he is not involved in any aspect of fur production: “We simply buy fur in the open market, in compliance with laws and industry regulations governing the trade. Nor do we knowingly use fur made from lamb fetuses.”
But unlike Zuki and the Fur Council, Teso did not dismiss the allegations. He wrote, quote: “The company would back legal initiatives to prohibit production and use of such fur.” And at least one major department store – Bloomingdales – says it’s taking Russian broadtail off the sales floor, while it investigates the charges. The fur industry however, says it’s forging ahead – and predicts that during the cold winter months ahead, the warmth and fashion of fur will continue to be a sales winner.
Rick Swain and the Humane Society helped expose another practice many people found disturbing – dogs and cats in China slaughtered so their fur could be used as trim on toy figurines and coats. Earlier this year, Congress passed, and President Clinton signed, a new law banning the import of any products made from dog or cat fur.


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Blow up a hype balloon and peer into the future via entrails you’ve (worryingly – seek help) strung about, because it’s Apple event time. On 12 September, Apple will reveal all about shiny new devices you’ll immediately want to own.
If you’re in the US and gave Apple a magic eyebrow wiggle, you’ll be seated at ‘their place’ (Apple Park’s Steve Jobs Theater). For everyone else, there’s the live stream, which will start at 7PM in South Africa (10AM US Pacific Time) – and require you use Apple kit or Edge to watch, because Android users are not worthy.
Until then, Stuff has pulled on its best guessing hat to help pen the most perfect* Apple event predictions list on the entire internet.
* Unless some of these are wrong, in which case, just pretend this is satire or something.
iPhone 8? iPhone Pro? Whatever Apple’s next iPhone’s called, you know it’s going to be a bit special. The rumour mill’s been all over it like an iRash, and so we’re well prepared for a wallet-thumping device that’s mostly screen, has an amazing camera, and – gulp – lacks a Home button. Because Apple can’t stop itself removing things from iPhones.
Likelihood rating: Is the sky blue?
IPHONE 7S AND 7S PLUS
Apple usually tick-tocks iPhone releases, with ‘s’ lines every other year. The iPhone 8/Pro/OH GOD MY WALLET throws a spanner in the works, but it’s unthinkable Apple would leave every other iPhone to lag behind its rivals. So expect some modest updates, probably an ‘s’ badge, and for existing 7 models to bump the 6s (and, bar on the SE, headphone jacks) from the line-up.
Likelihood rating: Are Apple earbuds white?
NO NEW IPHONE SE, IPADS OR MACS
Apple’s mini iPhone got spec-bumped earlier this year, and the new iPad Pro launched at WWDC. New and upgraded Macs have been arriving like clockwork too. It’s unlikely we’ll see much of these lines at what’s traditionally an iPhone event, then, unless Apple plans on showing off the iMac Pro again.
Likelihood rating: Are, er… OK, we’re done with the colours thing. Just take this one as read, too.
IOS 11’S RELEASE DATE
Given that it’s in public beta, there aren’t many iOS 11 surprises lurking. Perhaps the new iPhone will get new gestural smarts, but that’s about it. What we don’t yet know is the release date. Tim Cook might do a dramatic pause and then say “today”; if not, expect it to power up your iPad and more besides by the end of September.
Likelihood rating: Cmd+C. Cmd+V.
APPLE TV 4K
A new 4K Apple TV seems likely – although we’re hoping for a bit more. And even if there’s spangly tvOS magic we don’t yet know about (multiple user profiles, please), Apple could blaze through everything to do with Apple TV in a few minutes. It depends whether Apple wants to focus purely on iPhone, really. Well, and whether a new Apple TV’s actually ready.
Likelihood rating: About the same as you grabbing the Siri Remote in the dark and it being the right way up when you try to use it.
APPLE WATCH SERIES 3
Apple Watch is in much the same space as the Apple TV. We know a new one’s on its way – it’s just a question of when. But given that – GPS rumours aside – Apple’s wearable remains more iPhone accessory than standalone unit, the Series 3’s introduction at an event with a shiny new iPhone makes a lot of sense.
Likelihood rating: About the same as you raising your wrist and your Apple Watch’s face lighting up.
LOADS OF PEOPLE TO FREAK OUT ABOUT APPLE PRICES
Rumour has it the flagship iPhone’s going to be properly expensive, starting at $999 (which will translate to close to R14,000 in South Africa). Other iPhones won’t be cheap either. Yet this will come as a huge shock to some people who’ll argue the sky is falling, and Apple is doomed (for the billionth time).
So here’s one prediction we’ll make that will definitely come to pass: that new iPhone’s going to sell like hot cakes, even if it costs around R13k.


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The pandemic has transformed the way consumers are spending money, crippling key industries that usually help the economy churn. But with isolation ending in the near future, will consumer spending go back to normal?
A survey conducted this week by TruePublic, asked surveyors aged 16-35 about how they would spend their money after isolation ends. Some of the results include:
36% won’t attend a movie theatre until a vaccine is available or long after it is available
51% won’t attend large events like Coachella or Comic-Con until a vaccine is available. 38% won’t attend until long after a vaccine is out.
45% won’t attend a sporting event until there is a vaccine available or long after its available.
33% say they shop online more now, and will continue to shop online more even after a vaccine is available
TruePublic is a mobile opinion platform that has the pulse of Young America.
Some complain about joggers panting on passers-by. Others wonder what to do when they overhear drunken partygoers rejecting quarantine measures. Still more question whether people they see in the street are really on “essential” business.
Local social media networks, long places for recipe swaps and restaurant tips, are rapidly becoming sites where neighbors police neighbors during the global coronavirus pandemic.
And as users test the line between civic duty and intrusive surveillance — often trying to shame their peers into obeying social distancing rules — experts worry that a practice once frowned upon is becoming normalized.
“It distresses me greatly to see a few uncaring louts who scoff at the safety rules that are meant for all of us to get through this awful situation,” said one user on a listserv for a wealthy suburb of the capital Washington, which has seen a slew of complaints about people ignoring distancing guidelines.
“I have a suggestion – if you see such behaviors as mentioned above – why not take photos/videos of the offenders? This could discourage their dangerous behaviors,” said another.


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SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Taking aim at Apple Computer's iTunes, Napster Inc. unveiled Thursday a new music service that allows users to download an unlimited number of songs to portable music players for a flat monthly fee.
Napster intends to kick off the portable service's release with a $30-million advertising campaign that will start during Sunday's Super Bowl.
The new service doesn't work with Apple's iTunes, and Chris Gorog, Napster's chief executive and chairman, spared no amount of hyperbole in aiming Napster To Go straight at the No. 1 legally downloadable music service.
Gorog said Napster To Go is "much more exciting" than Apple's iTunes pay-per-song model, and predicted that Napster's service would help turn Apple's iPod into the equivalent of "your father's Oldsmobile" for the digital music player market.
P.J. McNealy, of AmTech Research, called Napster's new service "incrementally positive" and said it's likely to push the company toward profitability.
McNealy added that the $30 million marketing push gives some perspective following Napster's recent $52 million private equity financing deal. "It was not only an opportune moment, it also appears necessary and will carve out approximately 17 percent of Napster's available cash," said McNealy.
But McNealy went on to add that Napster's plans for a Super Bowl commercial to help launch the new service would likely raise some eyebrows because it brings into question the value of such a splash against the number of subscribers the company is adding.
McNealy said that in December, Napster spent $140 to acquire each new customer. McNealy said Napster would have to add 17,000 new subscribers just to pay for its $2.4 million, 30-second Super Bowl spot.
Roxio bought Napster in 2003 and has focused more on its music-service business since. The company took the Napster name last year and sold its digital-media software business to Sonic Solutions SNIC.
Napster's shares rose 68, or almost 8 percent, to close at $9.38, while Apple shed $1.82 to close at $77.81.


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Unicorn companies, privately-held startups with a valuation of $1 billion or more, are celebrated for their rarity and unique status, and the systematic funding challenges Black founders face make these companies even more notable. In Black Tech Effect 2023, The Plug’s latest report analyzing 100 high-growth, Black-led technology companies, we highlighted three companies that have reached unicorn status: Calendly, Chipper Cash and Esusu Financial.
“These founders have broken barriers,” Tayler James, Director of Research at The Plug, said. “They have introduced us to different systems and solutions that we weren’t privy to years prior. They’re setting the standard and the stage to really move the needle for our Black community.”
2021 was a standout year for unicorn company growth with an average of about 10 new companies per week and 145 new companies reaching the status in the fourth quarter of the year alone. Black-led startups felt the residual effects of this meteoric rise: funding to Black entrepreneurs in the U.S. reached nearly $1.8 billion through the first half of 2021. Led by funding to early-stage startups, this surpassed the funding Black founders received in all of 2020.
But this exponential growth was short-lived, with 2022 seeing a slight drop in funding compared to the previous year. U.S. Black founders raised about one percent of the total VC funding in America last year, an estimated $2.254 billion out of the $215.9 billion allocated. Funding disparity stems from a lack of diversity among venture investors and racial bias in assessing risk for Black-led companies.
Still, Black-led tech startups have persevered despite funding challenges. Some have embraced alternative business models to reshape the tech ecosystem. Rather than seeking the elusive unicorn status, several companies are pivoting to the zebra movement where they strive for profit and purpose, to make an impact beyond their shareholders, and for sustainable prosperity.
The Plug celebrates the success of the three featured unicorn companies that are paving the way for other Black founders.
Atlanta-based Calendly was founded in 2013 by Tope Awotona. The platform is the leading scheduling automation software developed to eliminate back-and-forth messaging and coordination. The company, which over 10 million people use to arrange meetings and events, is the latest Black-owned startup to reach unicorn status in January 2021.
Now at a $3 billion+ valuation, Awotona built Calendly after three failed startups. In September 2022 the company grew its reach by acquiring its first company, Prelude, a platform that automates the recruitment process.
Chipper Cash was founded by Ham Serunjogi and Masjid Moujaled in 2018 and is based in San Francisco. The platform allows people to send and receive money across borders with low cross-border rates. Chipper Cash hosts several products including their secure money transfer app.
The Chipper Card, in partnership with Visa, allows global online shopping users to convert local currency from countries on the African continent into bitcoin investments. Employees hail from remote offices in Accra, Cape Town, Lagos, London and San Francisco.
In just four years, the company stands at a $2.2 billion valuation after raising a total of $300 million, with backing from notable investors including Jeff Bezos.
Esusu Financial was founded by Wemimo Abbey in 2016 and is based in New York. The platform reports rent payments to major credit bureaus, allowing tenants to boost and establish credit scores. Additionally, the software helps property owners improve collections, reduce turnover and increase their operating income.
Esusu Financial reached unicorn status in January 2022 after announcing a $130 million Series B led by SoftBank Vision. The fintech company was built to create equitable financial access for everyone, and through a partnership with Fannie Mae, is working to build renter’s credit by incorporating on-time rent payments into credit scores.
The Black Tech Effect also highlights companies in other categories: HBCU Founder, Woman Founder, Veteran Founder, Social Impact, International, Legacy, and Up and Coming. Unicorn Chipper Cash is also identified as up-and-coming and international.


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There is more to economic rebalancing than just shouting about it and it is about a lot more than a selective Treasury definition of productivity.
Last week's Birmingham Post, in referencing the ONS latest City Regions Article from July, highlighted some fairly shocking stats about the area making up the proposed West Midlands Combined Authority.
For example: "On average, an hour's work in the West Midlands creates nine tenths as much economic output...as an hour worked in England as a whole."
Or: "The region has too few people with high-level qualifications. Just 27 per cent of West Midlands residents aged 16-64 have a degree or an equivalent qualification...But across England the figure is 36 per cent while in London it is 49 per cent."
How do we square these stats with strong export growth at +47.4 per cent from 2008 to end 2014 across the Midlands as a whole - demonstrating what can be achieved in a dynamic manufacturing economy?
Strikingly, within this, the West Midlands' exports have grown even more strongly, by 69.4 per cent during the same period – faster than in any other English region.
We all know how important Jaguar Land Rover's performance has been in accounting for a significant proportion of this, largely responsible for the trade surplus the region enjoys with China.
In fact, UKTI states JLR accounts for around 20 per cent of all UK exports to China with Land Rover Evoque playing a key role in delivering growth from just 431 cars sold to China in 2003 to over 77,000 vehicles sold there a decade later in 2013.
It goes without saying that getting our goods to market depends on efficient and effective infrastructure - both physical and virtual.
Yet IPPR, amongst others, have highlighted that 75 per cent of infrastructure spend between now and 2020 is planned for London and South East.
According to HM Treasury's own data (Pesa 2015) on a per capita basis, in the fiscal year 2013/14, expenditure on transport was £199 per head in the East Midlands and £245 in the West Midlands, compared with £511 in London.
MEF state in its Midlands Manifesto – Infrastructure for Growth, May 2015: "Connectivity across and within the region is compromising supply-chain performance across a range of sectors...in part hampered by the lack of comprehension of the regional economy.
"Rail and road links fail to take account of...key centres and clusters of output and their constituent supply chains, including automotive and aerospace, but also key research clusters around the 21 regional universities..."
In addition, some regional economists have highlighted that if you look at output per worker in the Midlands on the basis of those people in-work rather than all residents of working age, then output rises to £35,000 GVA per person, as opposed to the current quoted statistic of £19,000GVA per person.
If ever the time had arrived for the Midlands Engine to get under the skin of these numbers, it is now.
The facts as presented by Westminster about the Midlands (and other UK regions) are insufficiently nuanced and failing to recognise key strengths.
This is making it harder for us to lobby for and secure vital investment required in key areas to drive vital growth and economic rebalancing.
Manufacturing has become much more complex with competitiveness increasingly dependent on regional capacity and capabilities through collaborative supply chains, re-shoring and servitisation, amongst other trends.
According to MEF analysis commissioned by Birmingham City University, the comparative contribution made by manufacturing to regional GVA is more significant than the 15 per cent attributed by the ONS, with the overall impact of manufacturing estimated to be equivalent to 38 per cent GVA in the region, when taking into account production in the broadest context.
Manufacturers are employing branding strategies – not only in B2C markets but in B2B or the increasingly collaborative enterprise to enterprise (E2E) networks making up the Midlands supply chains which have been expanding through accelerating levels of re-shoring, with the Manufacturing Advisory Service reporting in 2013 that one in six manufacturers having been bringing back production driving greater proximity production.
Innovation pathways are more diverse than accepted policy assumptions would suggest - whilst STEM-led innovation is important, so too are design-driven, craft, customer, process and marketing driven innovation pathways, all of which are used, often together, but too often overlooked when addressing challenges around delivering greater productivity, innovation and high value, which in policy terms, are viewed as largely dependent on solutions driven by technology and advanced engineering.
Manufacturers are facing many other emerging trends and challenges in globalized markets.
New technologies, including digitization, have been enabling rapid product development and growing consumer expectations have fuelled demand for new product introductions which have rapidly accelerated over the past decade.
For example, 50 per cent of AGA Rangemaster's revenues in 2014 were composed of products not introduced before 2011.
The new reality is that heightened connectivity demands a combination of 'hard and soft' skills in response to increasing complexity around, for example, the development of user-focused haptics involving the development of attractive interface options for consumers, especially in higher value added consumer markets. Manufacturers focus increasingly on delivering emotional functionality requiring ever greater agility in design, production, communications and brand skills.
Consumers themselves expect products they are able to customize to meet the requirements of their lifestyles, whilst also enabling them to make statements about who they think they are and how they see themselves – not just in higher price points but from very competitive price points. Other ongoing challenges facing manufacturers include developing sustainable sources of energy and materials, whilst the internet has brought increasing fragmentation in terms of routes to market.
The recently published book, Redesigning Manufacturing, suggests there is a need to further rethink many aspects of how we understand manufacturing.
We need to emphasise ecosystems and encourage joined-up thinking, especially throughout education by linking learning into ecosystem actors.
Perhaps, one of the reasons behind the comparatively lower numbers of formal high-level qualifications in the Midlands is due to employers' demand for young people who are able to 'think and do', with this requiring radically different ways of delivering skills and qualifications, with a real need to accelerate higher apprenticeships, genuine parity of esteem for school leavers, careers advice and business engagement throughout the learning process.
Regarding academia current trends suggest an urgent shift away from traditional basic research to a greater emphasis on more applied forms of research.
Mike Wright's 2014 Review of Manufacturing showed that less than one fifth of all research funding was on applied research and this primarily through tax credits and patent assistance.
Within academia fragmentation has been creating a lack of transparency and ease of access to expertise, with the result that industry is unaware of pockets of specialisms they could access, thus constraining collaboration and holding back potential investment.
Business overwhelmingly believes that greater collaboration lies at the heart of the future-proofed economy.
Centres of excellence within universities making clearer to business the degree of technology readiness of research developments and a greater focus on impact measures in assessing applied research would be beneficial in incentivizing greater market focus for academics and driving a 'mind to market' ethos.


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Apple: Psystar clone-maker is working with unnamed collaborators
Although Apple isn't clear on the identities of the accused perpetrators yet, the company went to court this week claiming that Mac clone-maker Psystar isn't working alone in its alleged violations of Apple's IP rights.
After convincing a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit accusing Apple of monopolistic practices, Apple went back to court this week to file an amended complaint charging that "persons other than" Apple's nemesis Psystar are also involved in the clone-maker's alleged trade infringement against Apple.
Apple's amended legal complaint filed this week also adds a claim of violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a US copyright law that criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent digital rights management measures, as well as the act of circumventing a DRM access control.
A pertinent paragraph from Apple's amended complaint follows:
As previously reported in BetaNews, in mid-November, Judge William Alsup upheld Apple's motion to dismiss a suit from Psystar contending that Apple has broken the Sherman Antitrust Act by tying OS X to Apple-labeled hardware and the Clayton Antitrust Act by carrying out monopolistic practices and exclusive dealings.
Psystar filed the countersuit in August after getting hauled into court by Apple on accusations of trade infringement and breach of contract around selling computers that run a version of Mac OS X.
In Apple's amended complaint filed this week, Apple essentially said it believes there are corporations and/or individuals other than Psystar involved in Psystar's alleged legal misdeeds, who might be brought into the case later as defendants after Apple unmasks their identities.
Meanwhile, despite the legal doings, Psystar continues to sell desktop and notebook PCs. At the end of October, Psystar announced that it had beat Apple out the door with a Mac desktop PC featuring an optional Blu-ray drive.


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Rush Street Interactive will broadcast its inaugural Rush Hour sports betting show today from the sportsbook at Rivers Casino Des Plaines, Illinois.
Rush Street has partnered [...]
Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive has launched its BetRivers.com online sportsbook in Illinois.
Launched in partnership with Rivers Casino Des Plaines, which is jointly owned by Rush [...]
New York-listed gaming supplier AGS has partnered Rush Street interactive (RSI) to launch its online slot games with BetRivers.com and PlaySugarHouse.com in Pennsylvania.
The two Rush [...]
Colorado became the 18th US state to regulate sports betting on Friday, with a number of operators going online including BetRivers, BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel.
New York-listed gaming supplier Scientific Games has rolled out its online slot portfolio in Pennsylvania through a partnership with Rush Street Interactive (RSI).
Players at RSI-powered brands BetRivers.com [...]
Rush Street Gaming and Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) will open Illinois’ first retail sportsbook later today at Rivers Casino Des Plaines.
Launched ahead of the NCAA March Madness [...]
Rush Street Interactive has officially opened its new BetRivers branded sportsbook at SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia.
Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive has launched the first mobile sports betting offering in the US state of Indiana under its BetRivers.com brand.
Rush Street Interactive has opened a new retail sportsbook at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh following a $5m investment.
Rush Street Interactive (RSI) has launched a new mobile solution to enable Apple mobile customers in Pennsylvania to place online bets via BetRivers.com.


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Simon Sinek leads a thought-provoking talk about how some of the greatest leaders have inspired those around them, including Martin Luther King, Jr., the Apple founders and the Wright brothers. Sinek believes true inspiration comes from believing in something strongly yourself, and communicating that belief to others — “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”
Happy Chinese New Year!
Seriously, just watch even the first 2
minutes of this…this guy literally chases
this man and then is so angry, he pulls
out his GUN on him?!
It doesn’t end there, he keeps going.
Guns, knives, explosions…
All for what?
Some government agency tells him that
he MUST recover a software?
This video has literally blown me away.
I shouldn’t even call it a “video” – you’ll see
why. It’s the first ever Internet Marketing MOVIE!
I’m going back to watch it again, I recommend
you do the same!
Apple announced its new iPhone 4S model at the event, along with iCloud’s release date and the new Siri assistant feature.
The iPhone 4S will be released on October 14th and will be available for pre-order on October 7th. iCloud and iTunes Match will be available alongside iOS 5 on October 12th.
iOS 5 is the next major revision to Apple’s software for iPhone, iPod, Apple TV and iPad devices. You can see our complete rundown of the iOS announcements back at WWDC here. We’ve also got a closer look at some of the features of iOS like iMessages, Twitter, Setup and Notification Center, iCloud and alerts.
Investors didn’t seem to like the new plan much as we watch AAPL share traded below its 100 DMA where opportunities to be in cheaper from extreme oversold condition.
Base on our patent pending trading strategies, it isnt that diffcult to see where bottoms could be.
Even with the recent price drop, AAPL remains on top of my personal buy list for options trading since they are a class asset of their own. Look around you, how many of your friends have an iWhatever? iPhone launch is big for AAPL, and rumor sprint ordered $20 billion worth already!.
Even if you didnt realize any of this and have zero friends with an iWatever or iPhone from Apple. Our technical research indicates lower risk entry point.
Great entry points today if you were in the virtual trading desk with us.
With our trading methodology, the short term selling of AAPL hit an extreme today, and the 100 DMA held as the bottom of the cycle should hold as it is closer to lowest than it is highest. Watch the next few key release day for potential strength to continue on the upside. Remember, your odds can be higher with a more accurate entry & exit.
Best of luck, and have fun with iphone 4S!
This morning Wall Street Journal released a 40 page insert producted by direct selling news.
Cover story titled “The Ultimate Social Business Model”
Articles in this report include:
* “The Ultimate Social Business Model – Why Now is Prime Time for Direct Selling”
* “Solution to a Shrinking Job Market”
* A financial article “Making Dollars and Sense”
* A list of top publicly-held Direct Selling companies and performance
* “A Truly Global Channel” about the industry’s impact internationally
* “Of the People, By the People” explains how the direct selling model provides high reward opportunity for the average individual
* “The Heart of Direct Selling – The Home” a story on party plans
* DSN Global 100 list of top direct selling companies in the world, with profiles of the Top 25
The insert is available online and to subscribers to the print edition of WSJ. Check it out, help you see where the real opportunity are located.
#44 is Cosway, which just launched in the US last September with plans to roll out 5000 stores in the next 3~5 years. Our local team already have 5+ setup in Southern California, dont miss this ground floor opportunity to get a free store setup in your neighborhood. Connect with me on facebook, I will show you how to get yours setup.
Great video from TED2011.
Eli Pariser makes a great case for why the Internet, as we know it today, is not the information free-for all that we all believe it to be.
Editors, the gatekeepers of the past, have been replaced by algorithms that have been designed to tailor Google search results and Facebook News Feeds to your personal behavior and interests, while leaving out ideas that are uncomfortable but important.


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OpenAI Pauses ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions:
OpenAI recently made headlines as it temporarily halted new registrations for its premium subscription service, ChatGPT Plus. The decision came in the wake of an unexpected surge in usage, just a week after the company’s inaugural developer conference, DevDay.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took to X to announce the temporary pause, explaining that the usage following the conference had “exceeded our capacity.”
Altman expressed the company’s commitment to ensuring a great user experience, stating,”We are pausing new ChatGPT Plus sign-ups for a bit :(. The surge in usage post devday has exceeded our capacity, and we want to make sure everyone has a great experience. You can still sign up to be notified within the app when subs reopen.”
DevDay, which took place on November 6 in San Francisco, brought together approximately 900 developers in Hayes Valley. Beyond being a platform for product launches, the event provided a sneak peek into OpenAI’s future plans, particularly regarding the commercialization of its AI technology.
One of the exciting announcements from OpenAI is the introduction of the GPT Store, akin to an app store for AI. Set to go live later this month, the GPT Store promises a platform where users can explore and access various AI models and applications. This move aligns with OpenAI’s vision to democratize access to AI technology.
In addition to the GPT Store, OpenAI is empowering users with the ability to create their own customized versions of the ChatGPT AI chatbot. This feature allows tailoring the AI for specific needs, opening up new possibilities for personalized and context-aware interactions.
Furthermore, OpenAI is gearing up to launch GPT4 Turbo, a substantial language model that boasts improved usability and affordability for developers. The details about the enhancements and features of GPT4 Turbo are eagerly awaited, promising advancements in natural language processing and understanding.
As OpenAI takes these significant steps forward, there is growing anticipation in the developer community. The company’s decision to sell its AI technology raises questions about the broader implications for the industry and how developers will leverage these advancements in their projects. OpenAI’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions is evident in these announcements, signaling a transformative period in the landscape of AI technology.


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In the wake of controversial Agriculture Bill passed by the Indian government leading to farmers’ protests all over the country, a Punjabi film production house – Rhythm Boyz Entertainment – has removed the songs of all their films from Jio Saavn Digital store owned by Reliance Group.
Farmers believe that the newly passed three Agriculture laws will benefit big corporates like Reliance instead of the actual farmers.
Rhythm Boyz Entertainment owned by singer/actor Amrinder Gill’s brother Karaj Gill has been behind blockbuster Punjabi movies like Bambukat, Angrej, Lahoriye, Chal Mera Putt series, Love Punjab and more.
While the production house has already extended support to the farmers sitting at protest at New Delhi’s Singhu border, its decision to remove all its content from Jio Saavn store has given a new boost to the Farmers movement against the laws.
“Most of the content has already been removed from the Jio Saavn Digital Store and the instructions to remove the rest have already been given. We are extending full unconditional support to our farmer fraternity,” said Karaj Gill, the owner of Rhythm Boyz Entertainment.
It has been almost three weeks now that the farmers, not only from Punjab but others states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are protesting against the new Agriculture laws.
Several Punjabi artistes have shown their unconditional support including Diljit Dosanjh, Ammy Virk, Gippy Grewal, Nimrat Khaira, Sargun Mehta, Tarsem Jassar, Ranjit Bawa and many more.
Earlier the farmers leaders were supposed to have a meeting with the Indian cabinet ministers on 9th December but the meeting was called off as the farmers’ dealers didn’t like the offer made by Home Minister Amit Shah.
Now the issue has reached a deadlock and the farmers are considering to make the protest even more intense and larger.
When Kangana Ranaut, made light of the Farmers’ movement by calling certain people as terrorists, singer/actor Diljit Dosanjh gave her some befitting replies. Dosanjh was well-supported by other Punjabi artistes like Ranjit Bawa, Himanshi Khurana and Gippy Grewal.
According to certain news portals, in return Kangana Ranaut has blocked Himanshi Khurana and Ranjit Bawa from her Twitter profile.


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HCMC – IPP Air Cargo JSC, whose chairman is well-known businessman Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, has proposed the Ministry of Planning and Investment and some other relevant ministries and agencies consider its proposal to establish the IPP Air Cargo airline specializing in cargo transport.
The airline will operate both in Vietnam and abroad, the local media reported.
IPP Air Cargo JSC is an arm of Imex Pan Pacific—a retailer that makes up nearly 70% of Vietnam’s luxury items market and a large shareholder of Southern Airports Services JSC and Cam Ranh International Terminal Company.
IPP Air Cargo airline has a total investment of VND2.4 trillion, including 30% of IPP Air Cargo JSC’s equity and 70% mobilized.
IPP Air Cargo expects to transport some 115,000 tons of cargo and generate revenue of US$71 million in the first year of operation. It hopes to earn profits from the fourth year.
Vietnam has yet to have a cargo transport airline. Meanwhile, more than 80% of Vietnam’s imports and exports transported by air have been conducted by foreign airlines.
Since the Covid-19 outbreak, many Vietnamese air carriers have used aircraft transporting passengers to transport cargo to earn more revenue.


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Podcasts by Joseph Martin on April 1, 2019
A perfectly normal podcast for a perfectly normal 1st of April.
Columns by Alex Jedraszczak on July 20, 2018
There's no Ace Attorney game this year, so you'll have to read the article to find out what our Game of the Year was!
News Posts by John Rizzi on June 11, 2018
A quick recap of Microsoft's E3 2018 Press Conference.


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Get QuoteSearch Site
Holiday sales aren't looking so jolly overall this year, but some individual brands could have a merry season, with Skechers (SKX) even getting a lift from football legend Joe Montana. Iconix Brand Group (ICON), Wolverine World Wide (WWW), Steven Madden (SHOO) and Skechers are top consumer stocks ...
Don’t ignore small-cap stocks. Sometimes, they’re the ones that deliver the strongest profit growth with innovative products and services.
Screen results as of
6:03 PM Eastern, Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Most viewed stocks over past 24 hours:
Most followed stocks on subscribers' stock lists:


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Failing bosses still win rewards
Chief executive pay remains wildly out of line with company performance, five years after the Government introduced regulations that it promised would create a clear link between directors' rewards and shareholders' returns.
Research for Financial Mail shows that more than 40 out of 56 bosses of FTSE 100 companies failed to deliver any shareholder value in the past five years. Yet they pocketed an average of £10.7m.
Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of advertising group WPP, was most out of line. He earned a total of £55m, even though WPP lost value.
Remarkably, some of the most highly regarded bosses in British business - Jean-Pierre Garnier of drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline, Sir Fred Goodwin of Royal Bank of Scotland, Tesco's Sir Terry Leahy and Lord Browne of BP - received huge pay packages while their shareholders saw little benefit.
The study, by Patterson Associates, looked at shareholder returns and pitted them against chief executives' compensation.
Over five years only 56 companies survived in the FTSE 100. They were then benchmarked against a minimum annual return of ten per cent and divided into winners and losers.
The figures were based on the companies' Directors' Remuneration Regulation Reports (DRRR), the rules introduced by the Government in 2002 in an attempt to stamp out 'fat cat' pay in the boardroom.
Simon Patterson, managing director of the consultancy, said: 'There was absolutely no relationship between pay and performance - a shocking indictment of carefully constructed incentive programmes that have clearly not worked.'
But he said some chief executives had been 'incredibly good value' over the past five years. BHP Billiton, Imperial Tobacco, British American Tobacco and SABMiller led the field.
But the Department of Trade and Industry stands by the rules, insisting that so far the results have been positive.
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Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One will be available in the United States, Canada, the UK and 10 other countries on the 22nd November 2013, one week after the launch of the PlayStation 4.
This will coincide with the major third party titles availability, which means Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4 and Skylanders: Swap Force will be available, along with first party games Forza Motorsport 5, Killer Instinct, Lococycle, and Ryse: Son of Rome. Dead Rising 3 is also expected to be available on day one.
Xbox One gets November 22 launch date in North America, UK
04 September 2013 | By Jonah A. Falcon


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Portland, Ore. — AudioSource continues to reinvent itself.
Until late 2011, the audio specialty company positioned itself exclusively in the market for value-priced but high-quality component amplifiers, architectural speakers and custom-installation accessories, such as in-wall volume controls. Then the company expanded into active soundbars and expanded its distribution beyond the custom-install channel. Now the company has begun shipping the first in a planned series of Bluetooth speakers, with additional models to be shown to dealers beginning in 60 days with shipments in early 2014.
Plans are also in the works to replace AudioSource’s current three soundbars with Bluetooth-equipped models in the summer, offer a compact soundbar product for game consoles sometime this year, and enter wireless multi-room audio at some point.
AudioSource, a 35-year-old audio brand, expanded beyond legacy audio components to enter “growth-oriented product categories” and change the brand’s demographics, which skewed to males who were 45 years of age or older, said CEO Tom O’Mara. Soundbars, he said, expand the brand to women and younger consumers, as do Bluetooth speakers.
As the company added soundbars, it also added distribution outside install channels, signing up such retailers as P.C. Richard, Fred Meyer, Badcock and Moore, and NATM’s Electronics Express to achieve a brick-and-mortar storefront count of more than 2,000, O’Mara said. AudioSource also sells on Amazon.
Company sales rose 60 percent in 2012 because of the addition of soundbars to the line and expanded distribution beyond custom-install channels, O’Mara said.
By year’s end, because of the launch of its first Bluetooth speaker, the company will boast placement in 5,000 to 7,000 storefronts as the company looks to bring the device to campus bookstores, sporting-goods stores, military exchanges, office-supply stores, hardware chains, FYE and the Wireless Zone franchise chain of more than 400 outlets. With soundbars, the company’s distribution had been focused on traditional CE channels such as CE and A/V specialists and appliance/electronics stores.
Though the Bluetooth speaker market is crowded, O’Mara admitted, the market “needs a value-oriented quality audio brand” offering a unique product. “There are a lot of rectangles out there,” he said, so the company opted to launch the $39-suggested Sound Pop, a 3-inch-round water-resistant speaker with silicone shell and suction cup that sticks to non-porous surfaces such as showers, car windows, boats and hot tubs. The speaker, which doubles as a hands-free speakerphone, features Bluetooth 4.0 to offer HD Voice and noise cancellation, Bluetooth AVRCP to control track up/down and volume on the Bluetooth-equipped music source, single 1.5-inch driver, 3-watt Class D amp, DSP to flatten frequency response and an eight-hour lithium-ion battery.
The next wave of four to five Bluetooth speakers will range in price up to $249 and will include mostly portable models but also an AC-only model.
The company’s next three soundbars will be priced the same as the current models at a suggested $99 to $349 but will add Bluetooth, higher power output, new cosmetics, a remote volume control for the subwoofer output, a smaller profile with less height and depth, and other enhancements.
The new soundbars will continue to offer Sonic Emotion’s audio technology, which Sonic Emotion promotes as delivering a large surround sweet spot that reaches everyone in a room. The technology uses “wave field synthesis to create a field of sonic waves resulting in the illusion of sounds originating from all around,” Sonic Emotions contended. “Listeners are surrounded in immersive, balanced audio regardless of their positioning, device location, and room dimensions.”
The current soundbars feature digital coaxial and optical inputs, analog stereo inputs, six full-range drivers, two built-in subs and a subwoofer output.
The company’s current audio components consist of architectural speakers priced at $59/pair to $149/pair, two-channel amps starting at $99, and a 12-channel multi-room amp at $799.
The brand, owned by privately held Peak Audio Group, was among a trio of audio companies owned by Peak predecessor Rodan from 2006 through 2009, when Rodan sold off Phoenix Gold’s home and car audio business to Aamp of America and sold Carver to a Taiwan-based company. Rodan changed its name to Peak and began to focus solely on the AudioSource brand.


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Have you seen a runway show lately? Did you happen to watch the US Open of tennis? The world has gone fluorescent mad with sportswear and fashion – completely embracing hyper-bright colors that add fun and excitement to events.
For print service providers who are considering using solutions like Roland DG’s new new dye-sublimation fluorescent inks, the following post discusses this trend and offers some inspirational examples of fashion items and sportswear.
Professional tennis player Sara Errani of Italy in action at the US Open 2015 at National Tennis Center in New York – rocking bright fluorescent colors instead of traditional whites.
Every decade seems to revisit fluorescent colors. In the 80’s it ruled new wave fashion and sportswear, in the 90’s it was huge with hip-hop and rave culture and now, in 2016, it’s back in a big way. The need for neon in fashion reflects people’s longing for brighter colors as an antidote for difficult times – fluorescent as anti-depressant.
Fluorescent colors are like pop music and energy. They represent a transition from the simple colors, strict lines and shapes of the last few years to a rebirth of color and a resurgence of unstructured style that rebels against design subtlety.
Fluorescent Fashion Collections
Designers like Astrid Andersen, Raul Peneranda, Tahir Sultan and even fashion heavyweights like Michael Kors have recently produced collections, showcasing fluorescent color as a key color – as seen in the following examples:
Image courtesy of thebestfashionblog.comPopular Indo-Kuwaiti fashion designer, Tahir Sultan presented his new Spring-Summer 2015 collection with bright fluorescents.
Image courtesy of Anton OparinRaul Peneranda presents his new collection that included pieces with fluorescent brilliance at this year’s New York Fashion Week
This trend is also being reflected in the ready-wear fashion and accessories market with high street stores like Target and Forever 21 creating stylish fluorescent pants, ties, shorts, handbags, jewelry and footwear. Large online retailers, such as boohoo.com are also supplying beautifully stylish neon fashion pieces.
Image courtesy of styledarlingdaily.comYellow neon accessories from Prabal Gurung, Target, American Eagle Outfitters, and Forever 21
Image courtesy of boohoo.comA loose and comfortably stylish summer dress from online retailer, boohoo.com that perfectly combines bright fluorescent color with decorative patterns
Youthful Fluorescent Appeal
Fluorescent fashion has always been popular with the youth market but it’s all grown-up now, appealing to adult trendsetters and adding super stylish touches to outfits. It takes the fun and childlike aspects of youth fashion and co-opts them to fit into the sophisticated adult world of fashion.
Image courtesy of balenciaga.comHightop lambskin sneakers from Balenciaga combine youthful fluorescent fashion concepts with high fashion style
Fluorescent sportswear has not seen such a renaissance since the 1990’s when Andre Agassi was running round the court in fluorescent pink shirt with matching neon headband to hold down his signature locks. Fluorescent adds color and dynamism to sportswear. It also represents a practical solution for sports coverage in which spectators can easily see the players.
With such an array of bright colors on display, it’s impossible not to notice all the professional jerseys and kits are now sporting fluorescent colors. This trend can be seen in soccer, NFL Football, tennis, beach volleyball, ice hockey, active wear, winter sports and just about everything else.
Image courtesy of Fansided.comBelgium rider, Greg van Avermaet celebrates winning the gold medal at Rio 2016 while wearing a cool fluorescent blue cycling jersey created by Bioracer Speedwear with a Roland DG dye-sublimation printer.
Image courtesy of Larry MaurerSeattle Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson sporting the neon seahawks uniform with bright green fluorescent highlights.
Swimwear has always utilized the radiant color of fluorescent to add fun and sunshine to swimwear. The new fluorescent trend has further made neon a fashion essential for swimwear design. From the runway to the high street, to the Internet, fluorescent is big in bikinis.
Image courtesy of Anton OparinAn example of designer swim apparel showcased at the Maaji Swimwear fashion show for Miami Swim Week, 2015 – it shows a new fluorescent style that's made for a sophisticated fashion market
- As the fashion and sports worlds embrace fluorescent colors, textile decorators can add fluorescent inks to their dye-sublimation output. By combining Roland DG’s Texart dye-sublimation printers with Texart fluorescent inks, you can create your own stylish fluorescent fashions.


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25th September, Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad-based pharma major Cadila Pharmaceutical was honoured with the prestigious “Brand Leadership Award” and “Best Employer Award” by CMO ASIA on Wednesday. The award was handed over at a glittering ceremony in Ahmedabad on 25th September, 2019.
The ‘Gujarat Best Brand Awards’ are independent brand recognition exercise to recognize brands and marketers who have achieved extraordinary success from innovative and effective marketing practices in Gujarat. The award is based not only on financial valuation, but also on consumer preferences. The event was purely conducted on merit recognizing an organization’s outstanding brand building & marketing initiatives.
“We constantly work towards making quality and affordable medicines. Being recognized for our authentic brands comes as an encouragement to us.” Cadila Pharmaceuticals said in a release.
This recognition comes recently after Cadila Pharmaceuticals won multiple awards at TISS LeapVault Summit and awards for its Learning and development initiatives and the ObserveNow Future of Workplace Award for their employee friendly futuristic workplace. Cadila was recently also awarded as the Best Warehouse Workforce Award and WorldStar Packaging Award.
Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is one of the largest privately-held pharmaceutical companies. Over the past six decades, we have been developing and manufacturing affordable medicines for patients around the world. Its innovation-led drug discovery processes ensure the health and well-being of people around the world. Being a care-focused, research-driven company, we are committed to complying with the highest ethical standard in clinical research and medical practice.


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The retail technology landscape has changed significantly, as the path-to-purchase has largely shifted from an in-store to an online transaction. That doesn’t mean, however, that the brick-n-mortar transaction is gone. In fact, 50% of consumers still prefer to purchase in stores, due to the enhanced customer experience. Yet the majority (85%) will have already researched their options before setting foot in the store.
For that reason, technology tools that touch the customer during or at the point of purchase–no matter the environment–must address the needs of today’s savvier shopper while helping retailers deliver a great experience. Retail technology brands that can demonstrate they are part of the solution will see this convert to sales.


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The Future of Mobile Wallets
– Jan Marc Kuelper, SVP, Enterprise Sales, North America, Paysafe
The rise in consumer adoption of mobile wallets is at a defining moment, how should businesses respond?
The growth of mobile wallets has been a defining trend of the payments industry in recent years. . Globally, we have seen consumers adopt mobile wallets like Google Pay or Apple Pay, where a customer registers their bank card details to a smartphone which are then tokenised to create a simple and secure payment method stored within the device, as an alternative to traditional card payments for both online and in-store payments. According to one report mobile wallets usage jumped 29% in the U.S. in 2020, to 40% of all smartphone users over the age of 14. Overall, more than half of U.S. consumers are using some form of contactless payment method, which includes contactless credit and debit cards, demonstrating the deeper appetite for more seamless payment methods.
And there are unmistakeable benefits of mobile wallets that make them enticing to consumers:
- Speed & Simplicity – Payments can be made through a single-step process that doesn’t require multi-factor authentication
- Ease of use – Stored card details means consumers don’t need to remember long card number details, or bring a physical wallet with them when shopping in-store
- Protection– Mobile wallets payments are verified using biometrics, which is more secure than memorising passwords. Card details are more strongly protected and unlike traditional debit and credit cards the payment method cannot be used if physically stolen
The driving forces behind consumer adoption
As well as the more obvious benefits, there are a number of influences which are propelling the growth of mobile wallets.
Worldwide adoption of smartphones
Owning a smartphone and access to the internet is the major obstruction to mass migration to mobile wallets from debit and credit cards, or (more likely in developing countries) cash. But this has become less of an issue in recent years as smartphone penetration has steadily increased, and this trend is expected to continue. Global smartphone users have increased from just 3.67 billion people in 2016 to 6.38 billion people in 2021 (80.6% of the global population, and 89.7% of all mobile phone users), and is predicted to reach 7.33 billion people by 2025.
The rise of mCommerce
Not only do more consumers around the globe now own a smartphone, they are increasingly using them as a device to access digital commerce. In the U.S. this translates into 79% of consumers using their smartphone to make at least one online purchase in the past six months. Globally, mCommerce now dominates the digital commerce landscape; the percentage of all online transactions that takes place on a mobile device has risen from just over 50% in 2016 to 72.9% in 2021. This figure values the total global mCommerce market at $3.56 trillion this year.
The effects of COVID-19
As we have seen with many pre-existing payments trends in the payments landscape, the pandemic has acted as a catalyst making the need for businesses to adapt a much more pressing Most notably for mobile wallets, rapid growth of contactless adoption as consumers and businesses veered away from using cash in the early stages of the pandemic resulted in the growth of mobile wallets and contactless cards. When we asked consumers in May 2021, 74% told us that they were now making regular contactless payments in stores. The usage of mobile wallets grew online during the pandemic as well. In the same research, a third (32%) of consumers told us that they were using digital wallets including Apple Pay and Google Pay more regularly due to the pandemic, and 23% said they used the payment method for the first time since the start of the outbreak.
The impact of the pandemic extends beyond the regions we surveyed, including Asia where mobile wallet adoption has exploded. According to research carried out earlier this year, mobile wallet penetration in Thailand is 93.7%, and other countries in the region are not far behind. To put this into perspective, the same research estimates mobile wallet adoption in the UK and U.S. is 36.5% and 42.8% respectively.
How are businesses responding?
The consumer adoption of mobile wallets must be supported by businesses buying into the trend and offering mobile wallets as a payment method in their stores and online checkouts. For businesses, there are clear benefits for meeting consumer demand:
- Improved conversion rate
- Quick checkout
- Expanded payment options
- Higher security
- Consumer data protection
- Global reach
- Lower chargeback rates
And that is what we are seeing. According to our latest research Lost in Transaction: Finding competitive advantage at the checkout, businesses are optimistic into offering mobile wallets and the growth we have already seen is only going to accelerate in 2022.
We asked 900 small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across Europe, North America, and Latin America to tell us about their plans for developing their online checkouts in the next 12 months, and mobile wallets will play an important role in the evolution.
On the whole, 41% of online SMBs told us that they already offered mobile wallets in their online checkout, and this expansion is being driven by the U.S. (51%), UK (47%), and Germany (47%). And a further 36% of businesses told us that they are planning to integrate mobile wallets into their checkouts within the next year. Less than a quarter (23%) of all businesses currently have no plans to integrate mobile wallets into their online checkouts. Of those that already accept mobile wallets, more than half (54%) have seen an increase in the percentage of their overall checkout transactions being made via a mobile wallet.
What comes next?
Over two thirds (68%) of online SMBs say that COVID-19 has impacted the way consumers are paying, and more than half (52%) say they are actively being asked by their customers to offer more payment options. It’s therefore no surprise that 61% are accelerating their plans to improve their checkout experience, and integrating mobile wallets to meet consumer demand is going to play a huge role here. SMBs that aren’t thinking about offering mobile wallets already may find themselves becoming uncompetitive in the next 12 months.
Companies In This Post
- U.S. Faster Payments Council Releases Report on QR Codes’ Role in Last Mile Adoption of Faster Payments at the Point-of-Sale Read more
- Strategic Growth Specialist Launches New Consultancy, Lagom Consulting Read more
- CoGo Voted Winner at IFGS Pitch 360 Read more
- Juan Bernal is Named New Group Chief Investment Officer at MAPFRE Read more
- Ivorypay Announces Strategic Partnership With Tether to Boost Crypto Payments in Africa Read more


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With so many significant lawsuits that were filed and legal developments that took place this year outside of the U.S. (Note: We covered American lawsuits at length here), these international occurrences have earned their own list for 2017. From Christian Louboutin’s efforts to claim a monopoly over the red sole across the globe and Conde Nast’s parent company suffering a significant setback over its rights in the word “Vogue” to Dubai working overtime to cut down on fakes in furtherance of its play for fashion capital status and Gucci being the latest brand to come under the microscope of the Italian tax authority for allegedly failing to pay over a billion dollars in taxes, here is a look at some of the biggest international lawsuits and legal developments of 2017 …
1. The French “Photoshop Law” is in Effect … Now What? Retouched imagery from a number of the fashion industry’s leading brands – those based in the world’s fashion capital – will look a bit different from now on. Following from a bill that was first introduced eight years ago in France, fashion photos must – as of Sunday – bear a notification if they have been digitally altered to make a model’s silhouette “narrower or wider.” –– And speaking of model-related laws, Israeli Lawmakers are Pushing for Stricter Penalties for Fashion Entities that Flout its Model Health Law.
2. After Abercrombie, EU Court Rules on Ban on Headscarves in the Workplace. Roughly two years after the Supreme Court’s decision that Abercrombie & Fitch wrongfully discriminated against a Muslim woman for denying her a job because she wore a headscarf and that did not fall within its “Look Policy,” the expression of one’s cultural identity in the workplace remains a hot topic. The highly-watched case centered on whether Samantha Elauf, then aged 17, was required to ask for a religious accommodation in order for the company to be sued under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
3. Vogue Loses Trademark Battle, Court Says “Vogue” is a Descriptive Term. Vogue has lost a trademark fight to prevent a similarly named lifestyle brand from trading on its famed reputation. The Bombay High Court recently dismissed a trademark infringement lawsuit that Vogue’s parent company, Advance Magazine Publishers, filed against Just Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd. – an Indian brand that owns the watch, jewelry, and fragrance licenses to an array of fashion brands, such as Calvin Klein, Diesel, DKNY, and Paco Rabbane, in India. Advance argued that Just Lifestyle’s use of the name “JUST IN VOGUE” in connection with retail stores and sales services is in blatant violation of its Vogue trademarks.
4. Christian Louboutin Continues its Global Quest for Control. From a win before the High Court in India just this past week to positive progress in its fight against fellow footwear brand Van Haren to a final loss before the Federal Supreme Court in Switzerland, Louboutin was handed mixed results this year in its efforts to monopolize the red sole.
5. The European Union’s Top Court Sides with Coty, Says “Ok” to Online Sales Ban. “A supplier of luxury goods can prohibit its authorized distributors from selling those goods on a third-party internet platform such as Amazon,” the European Court of Justice held in a landmark ruling this month. “Such a prohibition is appropriate and does not, in principle, go beyond what is necessary to preserve the luxury image of the goods.”
6. Trump Authorizes Investigation of Intellectual Property “Theft” by the Chinese. U.S. President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum in August authorizing an investigation into China’s alleged “theft” of American intellectual property. According to the memo, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is being tasked with determining whether or not to investigate any potential trade practices by China “that force U.S. companies operating in China to turn over intellectual property.”
7. Gucci Probed by Italian Authorities Over a Reported $1.5 Billion in Unpaid Taxes. Gucci is being probed as part of an investigation by Milan financial authorities as a result of suspected tax evasion. Italian tax police visited the Milan and Florence offices of the fashion company brand in connection with Gucci potentially paying “taxes on profits generated by sales in Italy in another country with a more favorable tax regime.” The company is said to have boasted 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in unpaid taxes beginning in 2010.
8. Luxury Brands Amp Up Fight Against Fakes and Gray Market Goods in India. While India is a fast growing market for high-end luxury brands, it is also a paradise for creators and consumers of infringing goods. In a study conducted in 2014 by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India and KPMG, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory services firm, the growing prevalence of counterfeit and grey market goods in the Indian market are serious impediments to the growth of the industry.
9. Dubai Authorities Seize $72 Million in Counterfeits in Play for Fashion Capital Status. Dubai is indisputably the luxury goods center of the Middle East. The burgeoning market – which boasts upscale malls and its own version of Fashion Week – is not without its setbacks, namely, a plentiful supply of counterfeit goods. In 2017, alone, more than Dh280 million ($72.2 million) in counterfeit goods were taken off the streets of Dubai as authorities continue in their attempts to tackle a global trade that damages legitimate businesses and fuels organized crime and terrorism.
10. European Union Aims to Cut Down on Fakes with New “Watch List” Initiative. The European Commission will initiate efforts to identify the countries and online marketplaces that serve as the most significant producers and havens for counterfeit and otherwise infringing goods in its fight against the multi-billion euro counterfeit trade. According to the European Commission, its “Watch List” efforts are being put forth in an attempt to cut down on the roughly €85 billion worth of counterfeit goods that enter into the European Union each year.


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Oxe Diesel Outboards to Be Built in U.S.
Oxe Marine AB’s line of diesel outboards will be built in the U.S. starting early next year. The Sweden-based company has inked a deal with Outdoor Network Manufacturing for production of its 125- to 200-hp outboards to start in January of 2021. The company’s largest offering — a 300-hp outboard — will be added to the production line at a later date. At the time of this writing, a manufacturing facility site has yet to be chosen. According to ONM chairman and founder Tom D’Azevedo, the company has narrowed to search to locations in Florida or Georgia.


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Fiat SpA and its U.S. unit Chrysler will launch Jeep vehicles in India in the third quarter of 2013, the brand's head said, as the Italian carmaker tries to reboot its Indian venture with an entry into the country's fast-growing SUV segment.
The off-road pick-ups and luxury SUVs will be the first vehicles from the Chrysler stable launched in India, where Fiat has failed to crack the highly-competitive low-cost segment, and recently split with local sales partner Tata Motors.
"Our goal is to reach 5 percent market share in the foreseeable future," Mike Manley, Chrysler's President and Chief Executive Officer for the Jeep brand told reporters.
"We will bring out new products and try to reach that goal. Asia Pacific is the biggest growth market for us," he said.
Fiat, which took control of Chrysler in 2009, lags behind European and U.S. competitors in high-growth Asian markets, despite first entering India in the 1950s.
The carmaker sold just 4,717 cars in India during the six months to September, giving it a market share of 0.4 percent. It sells its Punto hatchback and Linea sedan in the country.
Jeep vehicles are sold in 120 countries across the world, but not in India, Asia's third-biggest car market.
The carmaker will launch two international Jeep models in India next year, and later, two local models. It plans to sell Jeep through 32 dealers in 25 cities across India, said Enrico Atanasio, Managing Director of Fiat Group Automobiles India.
Jeep will compete with Tata and market leader Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd in India, where demand for SUVs has soared over the past year, helped by generous government subsidies on diesel fuel.
In the first half of the current financial year that began in April, passenger utility vehicle sales rose 55.8 percent year-on-year, while car sales shrank 0.3 percent.
India's car sales are expected to grow by 1 percent to 3 percent in the financial year that ends in March, according to industry body the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, as high interest rates, sluggish economic growth and rising fuel prices deter buyers.
Fiat ended a six-year distribution and marketing deal with Tata in May after sales underperformed expectations.


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The Nordic Heritage Museum will go “Mad Men” this May with the eye-catching and interactive exhibition Danish Modern: Design for Living. On view from May 16 through August 31, the exhibit will highlight the unique furnishing designed and made in Denmark during the 1950s and 1960s.
Dozens of vintage pieces from the period will be on display by designers such as Paoul Henningsen, Arne Jacobsen, Niels Otto Møller, Borge Mogensen, and Hans Wegner. Wegner will be featured with his most popular designs including the Round Chair, later known simply as “the Chair” after it gained wide popularity in televised presidential debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
"Yes, you may even sit in some of the chairs! You can see for yourself how a successful balance of form and function has kept these chairs in production for over 50 years,” says Lizette Gradén, chief curator at the Nordic Heritage Museum.
In addition to furniture, table settings, light fixtures, home electronics, toys, and jewelry will be included in the exhibition, as well as examples of advertisements and marketing campaigns that helped introduce Danish design to American consumers. Visitors can also listen to six contemporary Danish designers describe their work in relation to the question “What makes design Danish?”
“Perhaps because of the Scandinavian impact on the Pacific Northwest, Seattle was particularly susceptible to the market of Danish Modern Design, evident through the Scan|Design store in downtown Bellevue in 1964, (later expanded into Scan|Design Furniture, Inc.) and other companies who helped furnish the many midcentury homes on the West Coast,” says Gradén. Danish Modern: Design for Living was organized by The Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn, Iowa.
Exhibition–Related Programs at the Museum
Danish Modern: Design in Theory, a lecture by Mark Mussari: Thursday, May 15, 4:00 pm
Member Preview: Thursday, May 15, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
PechaKucha Night: Scandinavian Design: Thursday, June 5, 7:00 p.m.
PechaKucha Night Seattle returns to the Museum, this time focusing on Scandinavian Design, inspired by the Danish Modern exhibit now on view. First formed in Tokyo in 2003, this 20x20 format features simple presentations of 20 images shown for 20 seconds accompanying presenters’ talks. These informal and fun gatherings have since spread around the world.
Stay tuned to the Nordic Heritage Museum website at www.nordicmuseum.org as more events are announced for the run of the exhibition.


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XI'AN, CHINA — Better quality plastic materials can improve productivity in India's drip irrigation industry, helping to overcome challenges that have kept the water-saving agricultural systems from being more widely used.
At least that's according to resin supplier Borouge Pte Ltd., which told a plastic conference recently that better materials can lower energy costs for drip tubing makers and reduce some of the manufacturing and quality problems that happen now from mixing different grades of polyethylene and masterbatch material, a common practice in the drip irrigation industry.
The company has developed a single grade of linear low density polyethylene, using its bimodal technology, that meets processing requirements for a wide variety of applications in the industry, said Chanchal Dasgupta, the Mumbai-based application marketing manager for pipe for Abu Dhabi-based Borouge, a joint venture of Vienna, Austria-based Borealis and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.
"We would like to show our value proposition and show the customer that by using a more expensive material you are saving money," Dasgupta said. "That takes a bit of time. It has been successful with several large customers. Whatever we are producing we are able to sell in a short time."
He spoke in a presentation and interview at the 2013 International Plastic Pipe Exchange Conference, held Sept. 5-6 in Xi'an, China.
Drip irrigation systems, also called micro irrigation, use small plastic tubes and dispensing systems to deliver precise amounts of water directly to plants, rather than flooding a field under more traditional irrigation methods.
Drip advocates say they can reduce water use 30-75 percent compared with traditional flood irrigation.
But such drip systems can cost several times as much as sprinklers, a tough initial investment for some of the country's farmers, 80 percent of whom are small landholders with less than two hectares of soil under cultivation, Dasgupta said.
"Though the capacity of drip pipe manufacturing in India has grown very well over the past 15 years, the adoption has not been as strong as hoped," Borouge said in its paper. "The rate of adoption is still a long way short of full potential."
According to the Global Water Policy Project, India last year led the world last year in land under cultivation with micro irrigation, with nearly 2 million hectares, or about 5 million acres. But Borouge said the Ministry of Agriculture estimates the full potential for drip systems in India is 27 million hectares.
It said India has 17 percent of the world's population but only four percent of global water resources.
Dasgupta said Borouge is working with India's largest drip irrigation equipment suppliers and major international brands that sell into the country.


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The delivery of ‘Love Packages’ initiated by the Cyprus Red Cross was, once again, successfully carried out this year. For yet another year, Lidl Cyprus, in the framework of its corporate responsibility, joined forces with the Cyprus Red Cross in support of this important social initiative. Specifically, the company proceeded in offering products worth €10,000, which arrived at the homes of 200 families across the island.
This year’s ‘Love Packages’ were reinforced in order to warm the hearts of our fellow human beings, putting smiles on people’s faces and offering hope. The social offer program entitled ‘Love Packages’ materialised by the Cyprus Red Cross is constantly evolving so that, in the midst of the pandemic, it can safely offer food and basic necessities to vulnerable social groups.
Lidl Cyprus has strengthened this year’s Christmas dinner table with the availability of the following long-lasting items:
- Lentils, beans, tuna
- Cereals, cookies, sugar, long-life milk, coffee, rusks, wafers, jams
- Spaghetti, rice, oatmeal, vegetable broths
- Stationery and personal hygiene items
Since 2016, Lidl Cyprus has been cooperating with the Cyprus Red Cross and has offered more than €150,000 in cash and product donations. The company’s commitment is to continue to support the multifaceted work of the Association by supporting actions that promote social prosperity and the substantial strengthening of our fellow human beings.
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