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May 18, 2015 1:08:28 pm
Google has begun testing the ‘buy button’ on its Search Results page, which will help shoppers directly buy from the sponsored ad that appears first in the page.
According to a report published in The Wall Street Journal, Google will roll out the button in coming weeks. Once users click on the button, they will be directed to another page hosted by Google with details of the product. This page will also allow for payment facilities and will store a user’s credit card information for future visit.
In short, this is Google’s attempt at bypassing e-commerce giants like Amazon, etc and could ensure that you don’t even leave the search page. The Verge adds that the feature is currently being tested out on mobile version of the Google Search only as more and more consumers are turning to mobile to buy products.
Of course the service, when it is rolled-out will be a US-first one and according to the WSJ report, Google has already tied up several retailers for the products although not everyone is happy with Google’s new approach.
The report highlights how retailers are worried that Google will take over their place as the marketplace while they will be reduced to ‘backend order-takers.’ The worry is that in such a scenario buyers will identify Google as the go-to place for shopping, not the retailer.
How Google’s ‘buy button’ plan plays out will also depend on anti-competition laws. In April, the European Union began its case against Google for abusing its dominant position especially with regard to the Google Shopping page. One of the charges that EU’s anti-competition watchdog has brought against Google is that Google’s Shopping Page results always come first in the page, which EU says is a violation of its anti-competitive laws.
With a new buy button getting tested and an ‘Order’ button for food being rolled-out in the US, what is clear is that Google aims to expand beyond the traditional search engine role in a very serious way.
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Selling the flag
Can Keith Reinhard persuade the world to love American business?
IN A long career in advertising, Keith Reinhard's talent has been to find and promote the hitherto unknown virtues of products. In a memorable “You deserve a break today” campaign for McDonald's, it was the fact that people hungered for a better experience, not a better hamburger. In the “Like a good neighbour, State Farm is there” campaign, it was that car-insurance buyers wanted reassurance even more than a good price. Now, the chairman of DDB Worldwide is taking on the ultimate challenge: selling to the world the hidden virtues of America.
“I love American brands, but they are losing friends around the world and it is vital to the interests of America to change this,” Mr Reinhard told a packed meeting of business students at Yale University on February 23rd. His basic argument is that something is amiss in the perception of America abroad, that this perception is economically damaging, that it must be changed and that it can be changed.
Last month, Mr Reinhard, along with many other senior executives in America's advertising industry and a few academics, formally incorporated Business for Diplomatic Action, a group aimed at finding a business-oriented solution to America's image problems. The seeds were sown after the terrorism of September 11th 2001, when Mr Reinhard heard George Bush speculate in a speech about the causes of loathing for America that existed around the world. It was a question, Mr Reinhard believed, that deserved the same kind of consumer research that he provided to his clients. Indeed, he thought, many of his American-based multinational clients could easily find themselves suffering from America's tarnished image.
His fears were soon reinforced by a study by DDB's researchers in 17 countries, which told a by-now familiar story. America, and American business, was viewed as arrogant and indifferent toward others' cultures; exploitative, in that it extracted more than it provided; corrupting, in how it valued materialism above all else; and willing to sacrifice almost anything in an effort to generate profits. Mr Reinhard commissioned more research. Street interviews were taped of individuals railing about American values. A survey of global brands last June by Roper ASW, a polling agency, showed a sharp drop in support for American brands. An updated survey, less at risk of being distorted by instant reactions to the war in Iraq, will be released in April at a summit-dinner for corporate bosses planned by Mr Reinhard. The results are not expected to be more upbeat.
Business for Diplomatic Action is the latest in a long series of attempts to do something about America's lousy image abroad. For instance, shortly after September 11th, Charlotte Beers, one of Mr Reinhard's peers on Madison Avenue, was confirmed as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy. She produced a $15m advertising campaign displaying Muslims who had successfully integrated into America. This changed few minds, not least because target countries mostly declined to show the campaign. Ms Beers quietly departed. The State Department then blew $4m on launching Hi, an Arabic language publication, aimed at young Arabs, that avoided polarising matters such as politics in favour of such inclusive themes as the, er, growing interest of Americans in Arabic poetry.
These failures do not daunt Mr Reinhard, who blames the involvement of the government. “Our experience is that when we try to do something with the government, it just turns into a pile of paper,” he says. A private-sector initiative has important advantages, he says: better contacts, less bureaucracy and, perhaps most importantly, a longer time horizon in which to act.
Nor, judging by his career, is Mr Reinhard easily daunted. He had a difficult time breaking into advertising, only landing a first full-time job at 29. In the 1980s, he led a merger of two big agencies that succeeded despite many doubts. His management style is notorious. He enthusiastically repeats the firm's mantra (a twist on Franklin Roosevelt's great freedoms): employees should have freedom from fear and freedom to fail—at least one of which he may taste in his latest project. For even if the unpopularity of America abroad is bad for business—and the growing global sales of many top American brands, even in the Middle-East, are at odds with the surveys—what can be done about it?
After much debate, Mr Reinhard's group has decided not to produce (yet) an advertisement to promote the virtues of America. It has also stopped using the term, “Brand America”, fearing that it was too redolent of sales and spin. Instead, it is brainstorming about how to address three of the four main criticisms that it says foreigners have of America: the threat that global brands pose for local firms which lack equivalent marketing and managerial resources; the perception that America cares only about America; and the threat that American popular culture poses to local cultures and religions. (The fourth, foreign policy, is not something business can solve, says Mr Reinhard.)
So far, big ideas are proving elusive. The group may publish online guides to behaving well abroad. Those firms that do a good job of this have been reluctant to share their techniques, says Mr Reinhard. They should do so. He also plans a “Day America listens”, during which American bosses will, he hopes, gather together to listen to the concerns of focus groups convened around the world. But unless he comes up with something more compelling, firms may find their own solutions, far removed from Mr Reinhard's collective ideal. Two examples came up at this week's meeting in Yale. Budweiser has been running hugely popular ads in Britain which wittily portray American men as crass and stupid. (How unfair!) And in Bahrain, it was alleged, Pepsi has gained market share by portraying Coca-Cola as the American soft drink and Pepsi as its local rival.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline "Selling the flag"
From the February 28th 2004 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the edition
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On September 11, the US Customs and Border Protection seized 2,000 Earbuds shipped from Hong Kong to Nevada. The earbuds are made by a well known Chinese company called OnePlus. The agency claimed they were actually counterfeit Apple AirPods. But they were in packaging identified as being a OnePlus product and they were of a different design than the Apple product. Nevertheless, the CBP bragged at how they were protecting Americans from dangers each and every day.
Many who read the CBP statement thought it must be a mistake, because counterfeit products usually look much the same and often use the name on the package and product of the company that they are counterfeiting, to cause confusion in the marketplace. In this case there was no attempt to cause confusion. But, no, the CBP continued to brag at how good a job they were doing to protect us from these nasty counterfeiters.
In a press release, CBP said, “Upon examining the shipment in question, a CBP import specialist determined that the subject earbuds appeared to violate Apple’s configuration trademark. Apple has configuration trademarks on their brand of earbuds, and has recorded those trademarks with CBP,” the spokesperson said. Configuration trademarks cover the general appearance of a product, if you were wondering. “Based on that determination, CBP officers at JFK Airport have seized the shipment under 19 USC 1526 (e).”
But, in reality, this is nonsense, because the products are not indistinguishable from each other.
In a report on The Verge, “The CBP spokesperson also tried to address the common response that many people have had to this incident: couldn’t their officers tell that the OnePlus Buds were a genuine product (and not a “counterfeit” posing as AirPods) just by looking at the box and branding? “CBP’s seizure of the earbuds in question is unrelated to the images or language on the box. A company does not have to put an ‘Apple’ wordmark or design on their products to violate these trademarks.”
“OnePlus will have many opportunities through the adjudication process to provide evidence that their product does not violate the relevant recorded trademarks,” according to the CBP spokesperson.”
OnePlus has so far made no comment on the seizure or the CBP statement, and Apple has not objected to the import of these products. In fact, there are dozens of brands of earpods that look more like Apple AirPods than the OnePlus. OnePlus has a full line of well-reviewed products that are carried by major retailers around the world.
But, as we’ve come to see, this administration has many officials that run their agencies with little competence and often do it illegally. CBP is one example that has become a thug-like operation under Trump. It’s part of the DHS, lead by Chad Wolf, who, a judge ruled, was appointed illegally.
According to a CNN report, A federal judge in Maryland has ruled that Chad Wolf is likely unlawfully serving as acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and temporarily barred the Trump administration from enforcing new asylum restrictions on members of two immigration advocacy groups.
Judge Paula Xinis, in a 69-page ruling issued Friday, wrote that the two groups are “likely to demonstrate (former acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin) McAleenan’s appointment was invalid under the agency’s applicable order of succession, and so he lacked the authority to amend the order of succession to ensure Wolf’s installation as Acting Secretary.”
And now a Department of Homeland Security official filed a whistle-blower complaint accusing Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of Homeland Security, of ordering him to suppress intelligence on Russian election interference and white supremacist violence, in part because it “made the president look bad.”
Wolf has made a name for himself as the person involved in a host of issues including the caging of immigrant children, civil unrest, the coronavirus pandemic response, interfering in the Russian investigation, preventing NY residents from getting a Global Entry Card, and deploying federal troops to Portland, contrary to wishes of the mayor. This incident fits his profile, as we continue to see more corruption and lawlessness by an agency that’s supposed to protect us, but is being used for political purposes.


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Mosaic Co (MOS.N)
* Mosaic Co - Due to Hurricane Irma, company expects approximately 250,000 to 350,000 tonnes of lower production in month of September
CHICAGO, Sept 11 Hurricane Irma stripped oranges from trees and prompted Tyson Foods Inc to shut meat plants in Florida and Georgia on Monday to keep workers safe.
Sept 7 Fertilizer companies Agrium Inc and Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc said on Thursday they were notified by regulators in India and China to divest Potash's offshore interests for their merger approval.
* Mosaic announces quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:
U.S. fertilizer producer CF Industries Holdings Inc reported a 93.6 percent fall in quarterly profit on Wednesday and said it expects nitrogen pricing to be challenged through 2017 and into 2018.
Aug 2 U.S. fertilizer producer CF Industries Holdings Inc reported a 93.6 percent fall in quarterly profit on Wednesday and said it expects nitrogen pricing to be challenged through 2017 and into 2018.
U.S. fertilizer producer Mosaic Co on Tuesday forecast slower phosphate sales and weaker prices for the current quarter, causing shares to plunge as much as 9 percent.
Aug 1 Mosaic Co CEO Joc O'Rourke said on Tuesday:
* Q2 earnings per share view $0.23 -- Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S
Aug 1 U.S. fertilizer company Mosaic Co on Tuesday reported a quarterly profit that topped analysts' expectations as it sold higher volumes of phosphate and potash, helping offset lower prices.


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The New York State Thruway Authority will continue to offer free coffee and hot tea to travelers at all 27 travel plazas along the Thruway.
Hot drinks will be available from 11 p.m. New Year's Eve through 7 a.m. New Year's morning.
Authorities say it is a 47-year tradition to promote safe and alert driving.
Governor Cuomo also announced that road construction will be suspended during peak holiday travel times over the next two weekends.
"With the busy travel season approaching, New York is once again taking proactive steps to ease traffic conditions across the state by suspending all unnecessary construction," Governor Cuomo said.
Most road work will be suspended from 6 a.m. Friday, December 29th through 6 a.m. Tuesday, January 2nd.


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The Samsung Galaxy Fold is out but the South Korean tech giant is facing some challenges. Displays of some review units have been breaking, causing Samsung to recall them. Employee training and market launch have been postponed as well. Rumor has it launch will be moved to September, a few months after the Huawei Mate X 5G is released. We’re anticipating for Samsung to offer an official solution to the foldable phone problem before it turns into a fiasco reminiscent of the Galaxy Note 7.
Now we’ve got news of a possible release date. Instead of September as earlier mentioned, the launch is pushed back to June 13. One redditor shared the
bad good news that his order will be shipped later than expected.
That’s good news, right? Samsung must already know how to fix the display so a June launch is on the horizon. That’s less than two months from now so that may be enough time.
Samsung Galaxy Fold units are being recalled from the press. The launch has been postponed while training and launch in China have been canceled as well.
We’ve been interested in the Galaxy Fold since 2016 when we first heard that Samsung was working on a flexible display. The Samsung Galaxy Fold disassembly showed us the foldable and hinge mechanism which actually made an impression.
In the US, AT&T will release the smartphone with a premium price. We just remembered the Galaxy Fold’s pre-order was closed a couple of weeks ago. No update on the European release though.
We won’t get to hold a Samsung Galaxy Fold but you can watch the unboxing video HERE. We’ve been wondering how fast its 5G connectivity will be compared to the Huawei Mate X 5G.
That folding test video we saw before is now a mystery to us because the commercial units are breaking. We’ll be watching this space for updates.


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Pete Rose. Will Rose's coming book be filled with tired, hackneyed stories that we've all heard before? Probably. Will he admit that he bet on baseball? Maybe. Will he make millions of dollars? Undoubtedly.
New Boeing CEO and GE Aircraft Engines alum Harry Stonecipher. Kudos on your new job. Now all you have to do is turn around a company and an industry awash in scandal and red ink. Starting this quarter. Best of luck.
Shareholders of Multi-Color Corp. After years of suffering, they've watched the shares double in value this year. That, plus a 3-for-2 stock split, makes the Rewind's account happy.
Castellini Co. The Wilder produce company sued for shipping onions to Pittsburgh restaurants that got caught ina hepatitis scare. The charges may or may not stick, but either way, it's not good news for a food firm.
Delta Air Lines and its pilots. The company apparently is pushing a 30 percent pay cut, pilots offering 9 percent. For both, it's pay now or pay later.
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE - SORT OF
The U.S. Department of Transportation is now requiring airlines to report why flights are delayed. Because the results are reported two months later, this will not be of great comfort to Cincinnati travelers stuck in the holding area, 43 minutes late and counting.
THE CRYSTAL BALL
More "local" news originating from outside of Cincinnati. Viewers will get a dose of this when WSTR-TV starts its nightly newscast this week, with weather and other features coming from Sinclair Broadcast Group's "News Central" in Baltimore. Rewind predicts: If you love your time with local personalities such as Denny Janson or Tim Hedrick, this is a trend you won't want other stations to follow.
CFO in spotlight, off hot seat
LaSalle bets on rebound
Look Who's Talking: MARVIN LEWIS
Queen City rewind
Ex-CEO's mansion imperiled
Shutting down a business is tricky
Lessons from a pioneer
Buying wine here is a social occasion
Vineyard owners develop taste for business despite hardships
Tristate business notes


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At the 2017 Emmys, the Stranger Things cast made it clear they were a fashion force to be reckoned with, showing up in looks by designers like Balmain and Calvin Klein by Appointment. Well, this stylish group of tweens achieved a new level of legitimacy in the eyes of the industry: They got a shout-out on the runway at Paris Fashion Week.
Among the metallic dresses and floral blouses Nicolas Ghesquière sent down the Louis Vuitton spring 2018 was a single Stranger Things T-shirt—layered over a flowery top and pink pants. It wasn't just the only graphic tee featured on the runway, but it was also the only reference to the hit Netflix series in the entire collection.
The black top features an eighties-movie poster-style illustration of the show's young stars, as well as the series title in its signature eerie red font. Sadly, though, Eleven didn't make the cut on this graphic. But we know that Ghesquière is a fan: He met with the Stranger Things crew last September, when they paid the designer a visit at Louis Vuitton HQ.
"I met the kids last season, and we had a very good time," Ghesquière told Vogue backstage at today's spring 2018 show. "We spoke and we thought it was very funny, maybe, to do a little citation of the series that is coming out soon in the show. It’s always great to have a little accident like that in the styling, like if the girl has kept her T-shirt from backstage in a way, and so Stranger Things…. I think it was one of the most-wanted clothes backstage by the girls.”
There's no word yet on when we can shop the T-shirts (let alone how much the Louis Vuitton take on the merch will cost). But we can at least guess from this tee that Ghesquière is just as excited for Stranger Things' return to Netflix as we are. New binge-watching outfit goals?


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Data-driven marketing agency Columbus has promoted John-Paul MacCormick to general manager of NSW.
Since joining Columbus in 2013, MacCormick has held multiple leadership roles within the agency including group client partner, national operations director and most recently, national commercial director, overseeing the commercial growth of the agency.
As general manager NSW, MacCormick is charged with strategic market growth, ensuring his team continue to deliver data-driven marketing strategies with tangible business results for clients.
MacCormick will report to national managing director, Mitchell McBeath.
McBeath said of the appointment: “Having worked with John-Paul for five years now, he is an outstanding talent and we couldn’t be more delighted to promote him to lead the NSW team.
“John-Paul was the clear standout a search of local and global candidates with his demonstrated people, client and commercial acumen.
“His proven track record of driving growth for key brands within Australia was second to none and I’m excited to see how he continues this in his new role.”
MacCormick added: “I am thrilled to lead the NSW team, who are some of the most talented people in the industry.
“After five years at Columbus, I have been lucky to be a part of significant change and growth, both at Columbus and across the industry.
“I look forward to driving our market-leading talent to further unlock value for our clients with our data-driven marketing and technology solutions”.
Sustainable soap brand Single Use Ain’t Sexy has been greeted with a huge influx of support after raising over half a million dollars in funding via a crowdfunding campaign. The brand has launched itself into the ‘green economy’ by calling on the Australian public to financially back them and their mission to get Aussies to […]
Queer Artist Ryan James Caruthers has publically slammed software company Unfold after it asked to use the artist’s work for free as part of its Pride Month social media campaign. Caruthers took to Instagram to show screenshots of the conversation he had with Unfold after it asked the artist to share 12 of his images […]
After relaunching in September last year, TWOOBS has become a ‘kinda’ shoe brand by also focusing on making the world a ‘kinder’ place and creating more consumer-conscious shopping. The vegan shoe brand founded by sisters Jess and Stef Dadon changed its marketing approach last year and stopped using social media to push sales the old-fashioned […]
Highly experienced tourism marketer Kelly Ryan has been appointed to lead the marketing efforts at Visit Sunshine Coast (VSC). During the past 12 years, Ryan has supported Canberra’s tourism industry in senior marketing roles, including as director of strategy and insights as well as director of marketing at VisitCanberra. Most recently, Ryan has been working […]
GHO Sydney has developed a new educational platform for Family Planning NSW to help parents and carers of children with disabilities navigate the changes to their bodies, emotions and social interactions. The project, ‘Planet Puberty’, was made possible through funding from the federal government’s Department of Social Services, and was co-designed with people with disability […]
JCDecaux today announced conservation organisation, Bush Heritage Australia, as its major charity partner for 2021. The partnership is part of a series of ‘social impact’ initiatives the business is launching this year, under the banner of JCDecauxHEART. JCDecauxHEART focuses on three areas of social impact: health and mental health, environmental sustainability, and enriching urban communities. […]
Shameless Media’s Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald’s latest podcast, The Books That Changed My Life, will launch exclusively on LiSTNR on Tuesday, 15 June. Throughout the series Michelle and Zara will talk with guests including Kevin Kwan, Laura Henshaw, Jock Zonfrillo, Susan Carland, Hamish Blake and Delta Goodrem about the books that have had a profound impact […]
In celebration of Pride Month, cult streetwear brand Champion has announced an Australia-and New Zealand-first Pride range, Champions of Pride, and ongoing partnership with the Queer Sporting Alliance. Championing a cause, celebrating community, and aiming to create real change, the capsule collection proudly heroes the Pride colours in a selection of signature Champion tees, iconic […]
Following the successful deployment of BankiFi’s technology platform at The Co-operative Bank in the UK, BankiFi has appointed Lloyd Parata to lead their expansion into the Australian Financial Services market. BankiFi’s technology platform ensures banks remain relevant by offering SMEs an innovative solution to operate their business, whilst avoiding common challenges like late payment. Parata, […]
Mars Wrigley 5 Gum has partnered with Twitch to launch Team CLUTCH, a team of Twitch streamers who will assemble on for three live squad streams tackling popular games like Fortnite while embodying the brand’s ethos of ‘life happens in 5’. This partnership builds on 5 Gum’s 2020 Twitch activation, and is set to create […]


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Apple (AAPL 0.23%) kicked off the online version of its Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) on Monday with the widely anticipated shift away from the Intel (INTC -2.00%) chips used by the Mac computer in favor of Apple's own processor. The Apple Silicon chip will offer many of the same features and capabilities that are already available on the iPhone and iPad, including the secure enclave and on-device machine learning, to the Mac.
iOS 14, the iPhone operating system, was the beneficiary of several notable upgrades, including changes to the home screen. It will allow users to choose from widgets, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, that can be added to the home screen to highlight most used apps. Apple also introduced the App Library, which will automatically organize apps by category to make them easier to find. It will also offer picture-in-picture capability for video for the first time. CarKey will allow users to wirelessly unlock their car.
Siri is also getting an upgrade, becoming less intrusive, appearing in a small pop up rather than taking over the entire screen. The digital assistant can also send audio messages and offers a new translate option in 11 languages, while providing side-by-side conversations in landscape mode. Apple said Siri has been responding to more than 25 billion requests per month.
Apple will also bring new capabilities to the Apple Watch with WatchOS 7, including sleep tracking and a hand-washing timer.
Some of the biggest upgrades came in the form of MacOS Big Sur. The new operating system will offer the biggest redesign since the introduction of MacOS X, according to CEO Tim Cook. This includes the introduction of the control center, a new notification center, and the integration of Maps. It will also include the redesign of Mail, Notes, Photos, and iWork.


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As a part of its annual Black Friday initiative, Google has unveiled its newest showcase of Black-owned businesses and products, known as “Black-Owned Friday”, which is designed to encourage consumers to purchase from smaller, native manufacturers inside their procuring course of.
Now in its fourth yr, Google’s “Black-owned Friday” program goals to assist shine a lightweight on Black-owned and operated companies, and filter a few of the Black Friday spending in direction of these firms.
As defined by Google:
“Black-owned Friday, created by Google in partnership with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., is all about celebrating Black-owned companies and inspiring everybody to look, store and help Black-owned.”
This system comes with its personal mini-site, in addition to a brand new music video from actor Keke Palmer, who’s partnered with Google on a reimagining of the 90s pop basic “100% Pure Love” by Crystal Waters.
The mini-site features a showcase of merchandise from Black-owned companies, a lot of that are additionally featured within the shoppable video clip above.
There’s additionally a devoted search instrument that will help you discover native companies to help, together with a set of ideas and insights to assist Black-owned manufacturers maximize their seasonal promotions.
It’s initiative, which goals to offer extra particular focus for smaller manufacturers throughout the big-name rush that’ll hit retailers on Friday.
If Google might help to redistribute a few of that site visitors to those SMBs, that’s a constructive transfer, whereas highlighting Black-owned organizations might assist to broaden their attain and gross sales potential within the vacation push.
You may study extra about Google’s “Black-Owned Friday” program here.


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Pepsi has tested a new NFC shopper marketing solution developed by logistics optimisation solutions provider Rehrig Pacific that uses NFC chips and QR codes on display trays to “increase the opportunity for consumer interaction, at the point of sale, without increased merchandising or delivery costs”. The pilot at the Pepsi Bottling branch in Burnsville, Minneapolis resulted in a 48% click-through conversion rate, 2.8% engagement rate and 1.34% response rate. A full case study is available here (PDF).
- Apple Pay targets US retail and transport expansion
- Pakistan bank offers mobile ATM cash withdrawals
- Samsung Pay set for 2017 UK launch
- Canadian bank replaces NFC SIM-based service with HCE
- Android Pay launches in Ireland


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January 8, 2008
Apollo closes $1 billion investment in NCL
NCL Corporation ("NCL"), parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line and NCL America, reports the closing of a $1 billion cash equity investment by private equity group Apollo Management, LP ("Apollo") in NCL.
NCL says the infusion strengthens its balance sheet and will enable it to make significant investments in a number of key areas, in addition to funding continued expansion of what is already the youngest fleet in the industry.
The company recently announced a major enhancement to its on-board product fleet wide, that will include an increased investment in food of $50 million over the next two years, and an upgrading of stateroom bedding and amenities across the fleet. The company also announced a new travel agent program that includes major changes to the way NCL does business and is designed to strengthen its relationships with travel partners. Both programs will be implemented within the first half of this year, and are part of the preparation for NCL's next large step forward, the introduction of the "F3" concept ships in 2010, under construction now in France at a cost of over $1.1 billion per ship.
Concurrent with the new investment, the company has bolstered its senior management team with the addition of two key executives, one to the position of EVP and CFO and the other who will spearhead a new strategic planning and business development initiative. NCL is also building on its successful brand identity campaign with increased investment in consumer marketing, including the launch of a series of six new television commercials that will air nationwide beginning today.
"With the Apollo investment, NCL is now in the strongest financial condition we have ever enjoyed in our 41-year history," said NCL Corporation's President and CEO Colin Veitch. "With both Star Cruises and Apollo as dedicated and supportive shareholders, and with a fleet that has just become the youngest in the industry, we will take our vision of innovation to new and exciting levels."
Steve Martinez, partner at Apollo Management, noted, "NCL has the youngest, most distinctive fleet in the industry, along with its innovative Freestyle Cruising that delivers an experience that is vastly different from the traditional cruise product. Given this and the upcoming introduction of its F3 concept ships, we see NCL as having sizeable growth potential. We are pleased to solidify this partnership with Star Cruises and the existing management team of NCL, so that we can work together to propel this company forward."
As of closing, Apollo, through its affiliates NCL Investment Ltd. and NCL Investment II Ltd., has become a 50 percent owner of NCL. Star Cruises ("Star"), NCL's previous sole shareholder, has retained all of its existing shares in NCL and, like Apollo, is a 50 percent owner. Apollo will name a majority of the NCL board of directors with certain consent rights retained by Star.
"We welcome Apollo as we embark on the next phase of growth in NCL's history," said Star Cruises Chairman and CEO Tan Sri KT Lim. "We are extremely proud of what we have achieved to date with NCL, but we are even more optimistic about what the future holds for the company now that Apollo has joined us. NCL is well positioned for continued success in 2008 and beyond."


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Magnis Energy Technologies will source active-anode material for the electric vehicle giant from a proposed facility in the United States.
The binding off-take agreement with Tesla will comprise a three-year deal beginning February 2025, with a minimum of 17,500 tonnes per annum of anode-active material used to manufacture lithium-ion batteries.
As the deal is conditional, it must secure a final location by June 30, 2023, and begin pilot production by March 31, 2024. Tesla can also choose to double the amount of anode-active material, to 35,000 tonnes per annum.
Tesla has previously inked deals with Australia’s own BHP, Syrah Resources, Liontown Resources and Piedmont Lithium to supply critical battery resources.
At last year’s electric vehicle summit in Canberra, the Australian chairwoman of Tesla, Robyn Denholm, said she’s “quite excited about this topic.”
“I actually think that electric vehicle battery technology is the biggest and best economic opportunity for Australia in a century,” she said.
“If you look at the bill of materials in terms of what goes into batteries, Australia has them all – and there aren’t many other countries in the world that do. We also have a core competency in this area, which is in mining. So whether it’s lithium or any of the different elements that go into a battery, we know how to do that.
“[In 2021], Tesla bought a billion dollars worth of minerals. And 70 per cent of those came from Australia, but we sent them off-shore to be refined, and no value was added.
“A fraction of that comes back to Australia because of the way we’ve gone about the supply chain. What we need to do is to get the resolve to actually go up the food chain in terms of electric vehicles and batteries. We are very, very early in that whole cycle, but that supply chain will start to be locked in for the next decade and for after that pretty soon.”
Ford signed a non-binding off-take agreement with Lake Resources in early 2022, while Volkswagen and Stellantis have teamed up with German-Australian lithium supplier Vulcan in the past 18 months.
In addition, Australia and South Korea have signed a deal for co-operation on clean energy technology and critical materials for electric vehicles from brands including Hyundai, Kia and Ssangyong.
Currently, the majority of steel used in Hyundai Motor Group vehicles is supplied from the Pilbara region in Western Australia.
“I was very pleased as well to hear about the [Federal] Government’s policy to actually look at battery technology as being an industry that we want to invest in as a country,” added Denholm.
“And it is not just up to Government, it needs to be public-private partnerships because we have the know-how, we have the technology, we just need the will to actually move forward. It is a very real opportunity for Australia to actually participate in that and become an energy power.”
Extracted in full from: Electric car giant Tesla signs deal with Australian mining company (whichcar.com.au)


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Holiday Marketplace at The Coeur d'Alene Resort this weekend
Ornaments, like the one seen here, will be on display and ready for purchase during The Coeur d'Alene Resorts's Holiday Marketplace this weekend.
Staff Writer | November 25, 2020 1:06 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — Twenty vendors will be on site in The Coeur d'Alene Resort this weekend during the inaugural Holiday Marketplace.
Guests will find everything from skin care products and jewelry to handicrafts, cake balls, sea glass, birdhouses, wreaths, handmade leather items and more. Concessions and festive cocktails will also add to the magic.
“There’s definitely a good variety,” Resort marketing director Amy VanSickle said Tuesday.
She said because so many events have become virtual this year, "we really wanted to offer a small opportunity to feature local craftsmen and local vendors."
"It’s a really great way to promote shopping locally and help those local vendors out," VanSickle said.
Ornament-making stations will be set up for kids, depending on availability.
The Holiday Marketplace will be held in the convention center. Admission is free and open to a limited number of guests with COVID safety measures in place.
Friday — noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday — 9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday — 9 a.m. — 3 p.m.


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While LVMH readies its Rihanna-driven fashion label, the brand is also preparing to beef up its hospitality offerings with a new luxury hotel in London. The forthcoming location will fall under the company’s Cheval brand of accommodations, as reported by Business of Fashion.
“The future of luxury will not only be in luxury goods, as it’s been for many years, but also in luxury experiences, and we want to be in both segments,” stated LVMH chief executive officer, Bernard Arnault, to BoF.
In addition to Cheval Blanc, LVMH already operates the chain of Bulgari Hotels. The French luxury conglomerate acquired high-end hospitality company Belmond Ltd in December 2018, further boosting its portfolio in the sector.
The hotel is expected to open in 2022 on Grafton Street in Mayfair, a posh area known for its aristocratic history. There will also be a restaurant, spa and potentially a Celine flagship store housed in the building.
For more in fashion and travel news, check out Equinox Hotels’ first campaign in advance of its summer 2019 launch.


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Target (TGT) and Kohl’s (KSS) raise the bar in their retail competition.
Shortly after Kohl’s talks with Franchise Group ended (FRG) about a potential takeover, Kohl’s launched its new program called Discover @ Kohls.
Discover @ Kohls is a section of the retailer’s floor that will feature new collections featuring youth-neutral clothing and lines that portray inclusivity and positivity. These fashion lines will also include women-owned businesses, and the fashion lines will change seasonally.
The new fashion engine will also give back. In Discover @ Kohl’s, the change in fashion will also introduce new projects in the retailer’s commitment to giving back. The first charitable initiative is through the Gorongosa Coffee Co. The coffee company works with the Gorongosa community in Mozambique, Africa to help bring sustainable solutions to the environment. The coffee company donates 100% of profits to this cause.
Kohl’s is also bringing back the retro Levi’s (LEVI) SilverTab denim line. The 1990s jeans collection will only be available for a limited time. The addition of this range is in hopes of bringing Gen X consumers into stores to experience the new “old” clothes. Maybe nostalgia will provide a boost for Levi’s and Kohl’s.
Target had a quarter of declining sales coupled with the challenge of being overstocked with items that weren’t selling well. It didn’t take long for Target to find new ways to create buzz in its available fashion lines. Target recently expanded its partnership with Tabitha Brown, New York Times bestselling author, actress and social media fashion influencer.
Target and Brown had already teamed up in other categories in May, and the expansion of the Brown collection will bring brighter, more vibrant colors to Target aisles. Additional items Target will carry are swimwear, clothing, accessories, homewares, kitchenware and more. Targeted shoppers will see the Brown collection throughout the store.
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Kohl’s new fashion trends promote diversity and inclusion
Kohl’s recently announced a new fashion line called Sonoma Collection, an exclusive fashion line from Kohl that celebrates cultures and diversity. The first cultures celebrated in the Sonoma collection are the Hispanic and Latin American cultures.
Other cultures that will be featured in the Sonoma Collection will be Lunar New Year, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month and Veterans Day. These collections will focus on ways to express and celebrate different cultures.
The collective future is now
Target has announced its new Future Collective fashion line developed from a partnership between Target and fashion influencers. The fashion line will be owned by Target, which will keep the price in line with target consumers. The goal of the Future Collective is to have a rotating line of diverse new fashions offered by Target.
Target’s first launch of Future Collective is with partner Kahlana Barfield Brown, a fashion and beauty influencer who has worked with Target in the past. Barfield Brown previously worked with Target on the Black Beyond Measure campaign, which featured the history of black colleges and universities. A former InStyle beauty editor, Brown’s style is described as edgy streetwear.
The new fashion line, which will launch on September 11, includes clothing and accessories for all seasons that portray Barfield Brown’s distinct taste. Versatile garments will have bold colors and patterns and come in denim, jumpsuits, blazers, jackets and pants. The garments will be available in sizes ranging from XXS to 4X. Of the 120 items in the collection, most will be available at prices below $35.
Target will announce other fashion influencer partners for future installments of the Future Collective, but the list of other influencers has not yet been made public.


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NEW YORK — Leaper Footwear filed a lawsuit on Oct. 1 in a federal court in Utah against Nike Inc. and Apple Inc. for alleged patent infringement. According to the complaint, Leaper alleged that Nike and Apple violated its trademark for footwear that measures the performance of a person, such as running speed or distance traveled. Leaper said in the court document that it pitched the idea to Nike regarding its patented technology in 2000, but Nike at the time said it had no interest. Leaper alleged in the lawsuit that the Nike and Apple joint “Nike + iPod Sport Kit” infringes on its patent. The Sport Kit is a wireless system that allows Nike footwear to communicate with an iPod Nano music player, the court document said. “Nike is aware of the plaintiff’s claim but will not comment upon the merits at this time. With over 30 million miles already logged by runners using Nike +, we remain focused on improving the experience for all those who visit the site and use the product,” said a company spokesman. Apple did not return calls for comment by press time.
Burberry Ltd. and Wolff Shoe Co. are involved in legal disputes in two separate federal districts over use of a plaid design on shoes. Both parties have been disputing the issue since 2003. Wolff Shoes filed an action in a federal court in St. Louis Sept. 25 seeking declaratory judgment that its plaid does not infringe on Burberry’s trademark. Burberry Ltd. subsequently filed its own lawsuit Sept. 28 against Wolff Shoe Co. in a Manhattan federal court for alleged trademark infringement of its check design. Burberry claimed the Wolff pattern infringes on its own signature check design. The Burberry lawsuit’s allegations include federal and state trademark and trade dress infringement, false designation of origin, dilution, likelihood of injury to business reputation, unfair competition and unjust enrichment. Burberry asked the court for an injunction, damages and trial costs.
Karam Prasad, who does business as Bishop of Seventh, and Caché Inc. reached a settlement in a lawsuit over use of a back pocket design for jeans. According to legal documents filed in a Manhattan federal court on Sept. 26, the two parties agreed to a final judgment granting a consent injunction. Under the terms of the judgment Caché was permanently enjoined from infringing on Bishop of Seventh’s Besom Pocket Stretch Jean design. The action was dismissed with prejudice and both parties will bear their own trial costs. No financial settlement was outlined in the judgment.
This story first appeared in the October 8, 2007 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
Cartier, a division of Richemont North America Inc., and Cartier International N.V. won a final judgment on consent in a lawsuit against Bidz.com, David Zinberg, Nisimov Watch Co. and Alon Nisimov. According to legal documents, the parties agreed to a settlement. The monetary terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Under the stipulations of the judgment, the defendants are prohibited from infringing on Cartier’s Tank Divan trade dress and other designs. The judgment was entered on Sept. 19 by a Manhattan federal district court.


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Strawless Ocean’s #STOPSUCKING is a new campaign by Lonely Whale Foundation to encourage people to stop using plastic straws – most of which end up in the oceans, polluting the water and killing marine life.
Through Strawless Ocean, the Lonely Whale Foundation is aiming to reduce the use of plastic straws, encouraging bars and restaurants to switch to sustainable plastic straw alternatives, like paper straws, and encouraging consumers to use reusable straws.
In the US alone, people use around 500 million plastic straws every day. While many plastic straws can be recycled, most are not recyclable. Like the plastic bag and soda can rings, straws fall under the category of “single-use plastics”,
The Sucker Punch #STOPSUCKING promotional video – which features the legendary Daisy Age(rs) De La Soul, Brooklyn Decker, The Skins, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Radkey, as well as actor and Lonely Whale Foundation c0-founder, Adrian Grenier – is a fun way of conveying a simple message. Celebrities are shown drinking out of plastic cups using plastic straws while an octopus tentacle whacks them, knocking their drinks and straws.
Strawless Ocean chose to use compostable plastic cups and compostable plastic straws in the making of the campaign video.
Adrian Grenier, founder of Strawless Ocean and co-founder of Lonely Whale Foundation, said: “We already know that plastic bags and soda can rings are bad for the environment and end up in the ocean. Few people realise that straws are among the top 10 items found during beach clean ups and can do so much harm to seabirds, turtles and other marine creatures.
“The devastation of plastic pollution is not who we are as a global community. Now is the time for us to reflect on our own beauty, our power to affect our environment through individual action. It starts with the plastic straw.”
Strawless Ocean are encouraging people to get involved by uploading images with them using paper or reusable straws on social media as a way to demonstrate their pledge to a strawless ocean. They also encourage consumers to be active in suggesting their favourite restaurants and bars make the switch to paper straws, and saying no to plastic straws at the counter and explaining why.
While the Lonely Whale Foundation isn’t “anti-straw” as such, acknowledging that many people with disabilities require them for assistance, rather they advocate that “we [Lonely Whale Foundation] just want to get people to stop sucking out of environmentally damaging single-use plastic straws”.
Strawless Ocean is currently working with disability groups on straw tests to see which straws may be the best for individuals with physical challenges.
Rosalind Medea is Life & Soul Magazine’s Chief. She is a writer who specialises in sustainable life & style, music, entertainments and wellbeing. Rosalind also works as a spiritual life coach and intuitive advisor helping people to become who they truly are and manifest their heart & soul’s desires into their lives: www.rosalindmedea.com


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The three finalists in the review were revealed to be GSD&M, Chicago-based Cramer-Krasselt and Los Angeles-based David & Goliath. Incumbent agency Y&R Chicago participated in the initial stages of the review, which included six agencies but was not selected as a finalist, Hilton Garden Inn & Hampton Hotels Vice President, Global Brand Marketing Judy Christa-Cathey told AdAge. Y&R Chicago remains on the Hilton roster, however, via its recently-won DoubleTree duties.
Christa-Cathey explained that the brand chose GSD&M because it “wanted an agency that had a clear understanding of the Hampton Inn brand and what makes it special,” also citing the agency’s “strong consumer insights and strategy, fresh creative and problem-solving skills.”
A new campaign is expected in early 2015, which will be aimed at millenials and “celebrating Hampton’s culture and hospitality.” Hampton Inn spent approximately $23 million on national measured media last year, according to Kantar Media.


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Last July, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, along with the heads of Google, Amazon, and Apple, spent a long day fielding heated questions from members of the House Antitrust Subcommittee. Did he realize at the time that the most immediate threat to his company's business model would come not from Congress, but from one of the other executives at the hearing?
If he didn't then, he does now. On Thursday morning, Apple CEO Tim Cook gave a speech explaining his company's upcoming privacy changes, which will ban apps from sharing iPhone user behavior with third parties unless users give explicit consent. And he made plain that these new policies were designed at least in part with Facebook in mind. Speaking as part of a conference convened for International Data Privacy Day, Cook excoriated the social media business model, which is based on monitoring people's behavior in order to target ads to them.
"The fact is that an interconnected ecosystem of companies and data brokers, of purveyors of fake news and peddlers of division, of trackers and hucksters just looking to make a quick buck, is more present in our lives than it has ever been," he said. "Technology does not need vast troves of personal data, stitched together across dozens of websites and apps, in order to succeed." Cook didn't mention Facebook by name, but he didn't need to. It was perfectly clear who he had in mind when he posed rhetorical questions like "What are the consequences of seeing thousands of users join extremist groups, and then perpetuating an algorithm that recommends even more?" It sounded like something out of the documentary The Social Dilemma —in fact, Cook used that exact phrase at one point.
The two companies have traded barbs over privacy for years, with Cook remarking in 2018, "If our customer was our product, we could make a ton of money. We've elected not to do that." But Thursday's speech was more than mere corporate trash talk. Apple's new App Tracking Transparency framework , which was first announced last summer, takes direct aim at any company that makes money by following users across the internet. Beginning sometime this spring, every iOS app that wants to "track" a user—that is, share their behavior and data with other apps, websites, or data brokers—has to first get their express permission. (There are small exceptions, like sharing data for fraud prevention and security purposes.) Just about everyone expects the vast majority of users to opt out.
That would be bad news for Facebook. The company makes a lot of its money by providing what it calls " look-alike audiences ." Advertisers upload lists of their existing customers, and then Facebook generates a matching list of users who resemble those customers, based on demographic and behavioral data, and so are likely to respond to an ad. To do that effectively, it has to be able to tie a given user's identity to everything they do across the web, using things like device identifiers and email addresses. It won't be able to do that for iPhone users who opt out of tracking. As a result, advertisers will probably be less willing to pay. Some analysts have predicted that the immediate impact of the shift could reduce Facebook's revenue by more than 10 percent.
The company has accordingly launched a public relations offensive against Apple's changes. In December it took out full-page ads in major newspapers declaring that it was "standing up to Apple for small businesses," arguing that merchants will have a harder time reaching the right customers if they can't target them based on their behavioral data. Another ad warned that apps would have to start charging fees, which would "change the internet as we know it—for the worse." In an earnings call on Wednesday, Zuckerberg dialed up the attack on Apple even further, devoting far more attention to it than he did to any of the lawsuits his company is facing from state and federal agencies. "Apple has every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work, which they regularly do to preference their own," he said. "Apple may say that they’re doing this to help people, but the moves clearly track their competitive interests." It was a thinly veiled accusation that Apple has violated antitrust laws. (Indeed, after the earnings call, The Information reported that Facebook is considering filing a civil antitrust suit.)
Zuckerberg is certainly right about one thing: Apple is using its dominant position in the mobile phone market to unilaterally impose a major change to how user data is tracked and shared online. Establishing an "opt in" regime, in which privacy is the default and users have to give affirmative consent to share their data, has long been a dream of privacy activists. Few people are willing to take the trouble of opting out of every individual site or app they use, let alone the ones they don't know are tracking them. Opt-in is considered so politically and even legally difficult to achieve, however, that even California's newly enacted privacy law , the most ambitious in the nation, doesn't go that far. And yet Apple, a private company, can flip a switch and achieve what no US government regulator has—at least when it comes to the roughly half of the US mobile market that it controls. (Internationally, Google's Android operating system is much more prevalent.)
- Google to boost Android encryption, joining Apple
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- All the crazy-ambitious products Facebook’s working on besides its social network
- Apple is nearly a trillion dollar company — here’s how it boosted its value by more than 50% with a great 2017
- Google and Facebook are destined to wage a decade-long war for the future
- The unpredictable and dramatic story of Jay Z’s Tidal, the music service trying to fight Apple and Spotify
- Tim Cook says in email to Apple employees that he is ‘deeply dismayed’ the Trump administration is ending DACA
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Facebook and Apple Are Beefing Over the Future of the Internet have 1232 words, post on www.wired.com at January 1, 2021. This is cached page on Konitono.News. If you want remove this page, please contact us.


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America’s Homeowners: On Storm Watch
Whether global warming is truly beginning to intensify storms that wreak havoc from border to border and coast to coast – or we simply have more immediate and extensive TV news coverage that magnifies devastating natural disasters – the end result is still the same: America’s homeowners have taken notice and they are responding.
In recent years, the number of homes that actually have put together a basic “survival kit” of some sort – with water, food, candles, extra batteries, etc. – has soared. So have the sales of residential backup generators, all in the interest of one’s being self-sufficient for a limited period of time after a natural disaster strikes and isolates its victims.
But these measures pale next to the new and emerging drive now underway to seriously prepare one’s home – well in advance – for all sorts of “heavy weather” that is sure to come.
The Need for Storm-Resistant Products
Residential storm damage begins with strong winds that attack the integrity of roofing, windows and both entry and garage doors. As winds increase, and driving rain is added to the equation, building products begin to fail and pervasive water begins to make its way in.
Still stronger winds, say as in a category three, four or five hurricane with winds ranging from 111 to 155-plus mph rip away exterior products. Adding flying debris to the equation and homes are left seriously exposed, damaged and vulnerable to major devastation and its occupants at risk.
But just like in the movies, when things are looking most foreboding, the cavalry always charges in “to save the day” – and America’s building products manufacturers are now responding with an ever-increasing array of ways and means for homeowners to defend themselves (and their homes) against the wrath of natural disasters.
Leading the Charge
All types of residential “heavy-weather” storm products are seeing a dramatic increase in both acceptance and usage. These range from a variety of inventive window covering products to complete interior “fortified storm safe rooms” lined with the very same material used in bullet-proof vests.
New storm-oriented products also include specially-designed nails and fasteners with “hurricane-strength” holding power; stronger and more impact-resistant wood sheathing and tougher exterior siding products; and a number of do-it-yourself, easy-to-install kits that strengthen existing garage doors against being blown-in by severe winds.
Yet, of the many protective measures now being offered to homeowners, those that covered and protected window openings were an early and instinctive choice and were initially most popular – and to this day, many inventive “cover-up” systems are still being engineered and introduced almost daily.
These range from “quick-install” protective covers (either heavy solid sheets or clear “see-through” tough hybrid plastics) to “shutters” of all types – up to and including motorized roll-up metal units, with rain and/or high wind sensors, that go (or roll) into action to protect windows, whether or not the owner is home. However, all of these window “covering” products are simply alternatives to the purchase and installation of numerous sheets of plywood, which is often in short supply in last-minute or short-notice situations. Rather today, homeowners and building product manufacturers alike are thinking way beyond simply “boarding-up” when heavy weather threatens. They are now investing in real “built-in” everyday protection – that not only offers peace of mind for one’s home and family, but in many cases also offers insurance benefits and energy-efficiency too.
Strengthening the Exterior Envelope
Today, a number of truly “storm-resistant” products are being offered to fend off intrusive heavy weather. They start with much tougher roofing products, which stay in place during severe winds. A strong, durable roof is a home’s first line of defense during a major storm or hurricane. The majority of storm related damage is not caused by actual structural failure, but rather by water being driven in – which, in turn, can and often does lead to serious mold problems.
Next is the drive to toughen-up –– rather than cover up — the number one weak-spot in every home: fragile windows. A variety of impact-resistant glass configurations are now available with combinations of various protective materials and technologies, such as one pane of tempered glass and one pane of impact-resistant laminated glass. A durable inner layer, sandwiched between pieces of the laminated glass, prevents the glass from being shattered by flying debris — much like car windshields. The glass may fracture but it will not break out of its frame.
In addition to “impact-resistant” double-strength tempered and laminated glass, tougher and better engineered window frames and sashes are being offered –with strong seals to keep nasty weather out – and upgrade hardware that, when all put together, makes once highly-vulnerable conventional windows now a good defense against whatever Mother Nature decides to throw your way.
Entry and patio doors have also been vastly upgraded and engineered to better fend off severe weather. Added protection and new storm-resistant features now include composite materials such as fiberglass that adds strength, impact-resistance and eliminates wood rot; numerous design and engineering improvements that create a better and stronger seal between the door and frame to reduce all air, wind and water penetration; stronger “sweep” designs to better seal the bottom of the door; tougher upgraded hardware and more of it; and durable impact-resistant glass (as noted earlier for windows).
These new “heavy weather resistant” windows and doors can stand-up to the fiercest storms and will protect a home and its contents from damage and those inside from possible injury. In fact, some of these new storm-resistant products have even caught the attention of the National Association of Mold Inspectors and are NAMI-certified, tested and approved as “mold fighters” – an important seal of approval.
Closing the Door (and Windows) on Nasty Weather
Whether it’s in response to global warming or simply better TV news coverage, America’s homeowners are truly on a personal “storm watch.” Today, rather than being resigned to repeated “boarding-up and cleaning up,” homeowners are instead actively “gearing-up” with an exciting array of specially designed “always in place” heavy weather products, engineered with built-in durability and true storm resistance for greater peace of mind. And every day, America’s homeowners are becoming better prepared, more self-sufficient and better protected.
Are you and your home ready to weather the next big storm?
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The 2018 Mercedes X Class has recently been spotted on the public roads of Spain. Its heavy camouflage did not deter experts to come up with informed conclusions. It definitely looked interesting, having some similarities to other pickup trucks in the market.
The 2018 Mercedes X Class looks like a Nissan Navara-based pickup truck. This bit of visual spotting provides valuable information on what this upcoming pickup can do. The production vehicle may well represent the ones to be seen in showrooms.
Its covered up headlights faintly suggest an oval-shaped lights seen on the likes of GLE, E- and C-Class. The central grille does look similar to the concept. The test mule comes with 10-inch alloy wheels.
The X Class sports a body-on-frame platform similar to the NP300 Navara. The interior also has been spotted having rotary dial and touchpad controller system found in the latest Mercedes models. It also boasts of a large infotainment system screen.
— Europa (@europasheffield) May 16, 2017
The 2018 Mercedes X Class is reported to come powered by turbocharged V-6 diesel mated to an automatic transmission. It looks like it is a powerful off-roader coming in with spring dampers and live rear-axle.
Discerning customers are also able to choose between a front- or an all-wheel drive. The range topping model may come hooked up to 4Matic set-up. It is expected to come stylish and sporty, taking cues from AMG.
The 2018 Mercedes X Class is rumored to be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. However, it may be readily viewed online in few weeks. Unfortunately, the X Class will not make its way to the US.
The 2018 Mercedes X Class may well be one of the best-selling pickup trucks in Europe upon official release. It will be made by Nissan in Spain and by Renault in Argentina. Any developments on the 2018 X Class will immediately be reported.


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Jun 18th, 2013 by newsroom
SiteWit, a automated search engine marketing service for SMBs, has raised over $1.5 million to close its Series A round of financing. Stage1Ventures is a proud investor in this round.
"I believe SiteWit has a unique opportunity to grow tremendously by helping small and medium sized businesses worldwide significantly increase revenues," says Jon Gordon.
“We are pleased with the capital commitment and confidence expressed by Stage1Venture investors and our other recent investors,” stated Ricardo Lasa, CEO of SiteWit. “With these investments and our focus on the SME market we have the ability to become the leader in this space.”
Additional information can be found in the peHUB article, or on the SiteWit blog.
Jun 10th, 2013 by newsroom
Marxent Labs a stage1ventures portfolio company, recently showcased several augmented reality app examples in a YouTube highlight reel. This reel shows how retail customers have used Marxent Labs technology to engage customers in a unique way. The Marxent Labs video can be viewed here.
Jun 4th, 2013 by newsroom
PureCars, a stage1ventures portfolio company, was recently featured in a cover story by Digital Dealer, a retail automotive industry news provider. "From Search Engine to Showroom" describes PureCars unique approach towards helping dealers rise above the clutter and help them "win the click" in the changing world of online car sales. The complete article can be found on the Digital Dealer website.
Apr 23rd, 2013 by newsroom
PureCars, a stage1ventures portfolio company, was recently interviewed by CBT News, a retail automotive industry news provider. The video interview can be viewed on the PureCars website.


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The electric car manufacturer Tesla achieved a delivery record in the past quarter. A total of 310,048 vehicles were delivered in the first three months of the year, the US group announced on Saturday evening. Production came to a standstill in the face of global supply chain problems and the temporary halt to production at the Shanghai plant. The quarter was extremely difficult, Tesla boss Elon Musk wrote on Twitter.
In the final quarter of 2021, Tesla delivered 308,600 cars. That was the sixth delivery record in a row. In 2021 as a whole, Tesla had increased its deliveries by 87 percent to around 936,000.


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The mainstream press has been abuzz in recent days regarding the findings of a recent study suggesting that early-onset, persistent cannabis exposure by those under age 18 could potentially pose adverse effects on intelligence quotient.
Yet, absent from the media’s discussion of the study — a discussion that has even included some fairly critical reviews of the study’s methodology (See here and here for just two examples.) — is any talk of the role that marijuana prohibition plays in inadvertently steering young people toward cannabis, an issue I address in depth in a column published today and excerpted below:
Pot & IQ: A Flawed Debate[excerpt] Even if one is to accept the study’s findings at face value, it’s hard to see how concerns regarding the potential impact of cannabis on the developing adolescent brain are any way a persuasive argument in support of present day marijuana prohibition. After all, virtually no one wants kids as young as 12 or 13 years of age consuming a mood-altering substance like cannabis. Yet, under cannabis criminalization – a policy that prohibits its use for people of all ages and compels all consumers to acquire the product on the black market instead of from licensed businesses – teens are more likely to have easy access to pot, not less.
… Specifically, a June 2012 study by the Centers for Disease Control reported that more teens are smoking pot than cigarettes.
Not so coincidentally, teens’ declining use of cigarettes has run parallel to increased state and federal efforts to penalize those licensed businesses that improperly sell to minors and to educate the public about the health risks associated with tobacco. Ditto for booze.
In short, it’s legalization, regulation, and public education – coupled with the imposition and enforcement of appropriate age restrictions – that most effectively keeps mind-altering substances out of the hands of children and reduces the likelihood of their abuse.
Isn’t it about time we took this same approach for pot?
You can read the full essay and comment on it here.


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FSB extends online sportsbook deal with BetLion in Africa2nd September 2020 8:58 am GMT
Sports betting supplier FSB has agreed a new four-year deal to provide its online sportsbook technology to Africa-facing operator BetLion.
BetLion has renewed its technology partnership with FSB after an initial two-year deal generated strong growth for the operator in its key markets of Kenya and Zambia.
“We are delighted to have extended our relationship with BetLion for another four years,” said FSB chief executive David McDowell. “They have enjoyed incredible growth since launching with us in 2017 and we look forward to more success in partnership with them.”
BetLion CEO Oliver Bates said: “Extending our partnership with FSB was an easy decision to make as their technologies and services are market leading. Beyond this, it is clear they understand the potential of the African market and are focused on delivering a product that can evolve quickly within this rapidly changing market.
“Their unique platform has allowed us to enter markets across the continent with the FSB product together with our own proprietary technologies. We look forward to continuing to grow alongside them.”


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Asda, Britain’s second-biggest food retailer and owned by U.S. giant Wal-Mart, says it will no longer charge women more for bigger bras in its George fashion range.
“We’re putting an end once and for all to one of the last prejudices — that of the bigger-busted woman,” said brand director Fiona Lambert in a statement.
“From now on, all bras at George will be exactly the same price from A cup through to F cup.”
I think it’s a good idea; the additional amount of fabric and construction materials is little, especially when compared to production, packaging, distribution, and marketing costs, and the extra can can be properly ‘padded’ across all cups, large and small.
See the George line here.


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Do tumbling retail sales mean a recession is imminent?
Why we shouldn't be too terribly worried — yet
Think young people are hostile to capitalism now? Just wait for the next recession.
The 2020 Democrats are totally missing what's wrong with the American economy
China is giving the U.S. a taste of its own medicine
The refreshing simplicity of Aldi
Why the IRS audits the poor
Trump's trade war takes on the EU
The coffee farmer crisis
Why corporate America can't fight China alone
Why Democrats should be cautious about public banking
Does Trump want his trade war to end?


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Convertir crypto monnaie en euro
Prices for bitcoin cash before the Bitcoin Cash network split into two new chains. Since then, hashpower has been the Bitcoin Cash blockchain was mined by AntPool. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorialcookiesand do DCG equity in the form has been updated which vest over a multi-year. CoinDesk for are not allowed to purchase stock outright in have mined multiple consecutive blocks.
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The leader in news and issue tokens - and DeFi applications - natively on Bitcoin - which has spurred a collection of digital artwork and journalistic standards and abides by in recent weeks.


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Twitter influencers in Nigeria now receive payments for their tweets through the platform’s new Ads Revenue Sharing program. Initiated by CEO Elon Musk, this initiative shares a portion of Twitter’s advertising income with influential creators to incentivise Premium subscriptions.
On Monday, several Nigerian influencers like Desmond Oris awoke to credits from Twitter ranging from $251 to $500. To qualify, users must have a Premium subscription, over 500 followers, and at least 15 million post impressions in the last three months. Oris, who started influencer marketing in June 2022, was pleasantly surprised. “Many of us were skeptical at first about Musk’s claims,” he admitted.
Launched in February 2023, revenue sharing aims to boost Premium sign-ups. Twitter sent initial payouts in July, apologising recently for payment delays due to high registration volumes. Musk’s strategy seems to work, with users globally sharing payment confirmation.
For influencer Victoria Gwaza with nearly 20,000 followers, this news motivated her to obtain the coveted blue verification checkmark finally. “The checkmark has great perks like tweet editing, and I want the payments too. I’ll subscribe today since my card issues are fixed,” she said. Gwaza feels Twitter payouts also increase influencer marketing rates. “With guaranteed income, I can charge brands more fairly versus the past lowball offers.”
However, some express concerns over increased toxicity. User Falmata worries minorities will bear the brunt of hateful behaviour. “People will recklessly spread misinformation for followers and engagement to get paid. Verified badges can even be hidden now.”
While Premium users must apply and eligibility isn’t guaranteed, the process is easy, according to Oris. “Just enable ‘Creator Ads Revenue Sharing’ in monetisation settings.”
Though long-term sustainability is uncertain, Musk’s strategy has undeniably driven Premium subscriptions upward for now.


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The recent Las Vegas Market showcased a movement toward warmer colors – a response to the long-standing gray trend – while natural materials such as wood and marble as well as texture remain important.
The call for color also continues, as people want hues that make them happy. Harounian Rugs Intl. showcased jewel tones in its Lola knotted collection, for example. At Charleston Forge, its new partnership with Ethos Design Collective launched with furniture items from 10 designers and including a range of powder-coated colors such as merlot, red and yellow. Several lighting collections used iridescent glass, such as the Genesis and Ophelia fixtures from Mitzi, which projects a rainbow effect on the wall.
Green was another hue that got a lot of attention at market, from soft spa hues to forest. “There’s a lot of call for it,” said Cameron Feizy at Feizy, which included green options in its new hand-knotted Branson and the hand-tufted Lorrain rug groups. Moe’s Home Collection debuted the Castle chair in an olive-green leather.
Norwalk President Caroline Hipple sees the move toward warmer hues as a response to ubiquitous gray. “A lot of fabrics are using some gray with other colors to warm it up,” such as raspberry, emerald and caramel, she said.
And while many people may say they are tired of boucle, it’s not done, added Hipple. “Boucle is more core than trend at this point,” she said, as it has a refined hygge feel. “Texture is very important.”
At Pacific Green, texture abounded in a number of new coverings, such as salt-and-pepper sheepskin and white Mongolian wool, on its furniture frames.
Another continuing hit at market: nature. “Anything that is or resembles natural materials does really well,” said Scott Doyle, national sales manager of Uttermost.
At Phillips Collection that included large tables with teak wood bases topped with glass, while Moe’s Home Collection used black marble to top its round Tower dining table. At Revelation by Uttermost, introductions included the Jewel Pull Up accent table with a quartz crystal top, and a crystal point sculpture.
Wood continues to do well, particularly wood that looks weathered and aged, “like it was found somewhere,” said Rishi Hara of Union Home.
A related theme was sustainability. Porter Designs showcased its Good Earth sustainable upholstery and leather furniture, for example, which was made with repurposed foam and wood waste and recycled steel and water bottles, and packaged with biodegradable plastic wrap and recycled/recyclable cardboard.
Animal patterns also dotted the market. Harounian Rugs showed its new Wild Life rug collection, which included a few designs with worn zebra patterns. Global Views’ Harlow chair and rug from creative director George Sellers had a zebra pattern he sketched.
New furniture items included Pacific Green’s 14-foot wine wall, which can be assembled in 20 minutes, said Eric Dickstein, CEO. “It’s a new approach to case goods.” Essentials for Living debuted its largest outdoor dining table ever, Big Sur, at 94 inches, as well as a large swivel sofa chair (called Lourne and 57 inches wide), its first sleeper sofa and a new black finish, to contract with its lighter hues.
There’s a call for more eye-catching, unique pieces. “People are focusing on the main room with a statement piece,” said Doyle at Uttermost, and that included taller lamps and uniquely shaped mirrors.
“You have to be a little provocative, otherwise you’re invisible in this industry,” said Dixon Bartlett, chief creative officer, Norwalk Furniture. “A good room or home should have a punctuation point.”
Companies also looked to step up their products with more detail. Pacific Coast Lighting, for example, is upgrading its shades to differentiate itself and that includes using more trims, said Rick Spicer, vice president, sales and marketing.


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For the first time, brand name clothing manufacturers operating in Bangladesh have compiled and published a list of the 1,566 factories they are using to produce fast fashions.
In the aftermath of the Rana Plaza collapse that killed 1,129 people nearly six months ago, 90 brand name clothing manufacturers — such as H&M, Primark and Joe Fresh — signed a legally binding agreement to improve safety in the factories they operate in.
The Accord on Fire and Safety in Bangladesh brings 90 brands, global unions and non-governmental organizations together with the promise to start holding regular inspections of all their suppliers’ factories, make those reports public and finance repairs to unsafe work places.
The list of approximately 1,566 factories includes more than 2 million employees and now those employees are covered by the accord’s safety net, says Tom Grinter, a spokesperson for IndustriALL, a global union that is working with the brands under the leadership of the International Labour Organization to implement the accord.
It is the most comprehensive list of Bangladesh factories ever put together, containing specifics on how many floors are in each building, how many garment manufacturers are operating in the structure, the number of workers, and the complete names and addresses of each firm.
Most of this information has never been disclosed before in the complex and secretive world of the fast fashion industry.
“This is one of the factors that has created the problem worldwide — the secrecy of the supply chain,” Grinter said.
For years, North American and European fashion brands have used garment factories in Bangladesh due to the cheap labour and the factories’ ability to quickly turn around orders that can keep up with changing fashion demands.
Companies may have contracts to produce clothes in one factory, but that factory may then contract out some of the work in order so the garments can be produced faster. Those subcontractors can send work out again to other factories.
Before recent garment fires and disasters in Bangladesh, such as Rana and the Tazreen Fashions factory fire that killed 112 people last November, some western companies claimed sometimes they were not aware of who was actually producing their products, Grinter said.
“Companies in the west say they didn’t even know they were sourcing at, Tazreen, for example, or someplace else ...” he said in an interview. “One of the goals of the new era, under the accord, is to have more transparency and openness. It is a big step forward.”
However, the brands did not wish to publicize which of the 1,566 factories they use.
Regardless, this level of transparency is a welcome change for the garment industry and it will prompt safety improvements, said Bob Jeffcott, policy analyst at the Maquila Solidarity Network, a Toronto-based labour and women’s rights organization that works to improve wages and conditions of workers throughout the world.
The next time there is a fire, collapse or an industrial accident, there will be a list of 1,566 factories available that describes how many companies were operating in the building and how many employees were present. About $77 million in compensation for the survivors and families of those who died in the Rana disaster is being sought.
As part of the accord, in the next few weeks, specially trained inspectors will be conducting reviews of the factories and the brands will be responsible for any safety upgrades.
Once inspections are complete, reports will be shared among companies and that will be an incentive for suppliers to improve their practices, noted Jeffcott.
Consumers can do their part by checking which companies have signed the accord, he added. Shoppers can soon be confident that clothes they buy from accord brands will no longer be coming from unsafe sweatshops.
“The companies that are part of the accord are part of a serious program and those that aren’t, are not,” Jeffcott said. Even if you don’t know which company is using which factory — if you want to make shopping decisions you can do so, based on who is involved in this program and who is not.”
Only one Canadian company, Loblaw, the owner of Joe Fresh, has signed the accord and only five U.S. firms have joined. Most North American firms, such as the Hudson Bay Co., have formed an alliance with Walmart and the Gap.
Last week, the Guardian newspaper reported retailers Primark, Tesco and Debenhams (firms that have all signed the accord) pulled out of using Liberty Fashion Wears in Dhaka, as the owner refused to make safety improvements to the building.
But the owner of the factory, Mozemmel Huq, told the Guardian that he had a report from engineers and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association that it was declared safe.


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A Fife travel firm that had sales of £1 million in 2019 says it will be lucky to make £20,000 this year.
Kirkcady-based Best of Scotland Holidays specialises in tailored luxury tours, predominantly for American visitors.
Duncan Dewar has built the business over the last 38 years to have an extensive customer base and five staff.
From a seven-figure turnover two years ago, last year the tour operator had income of just £9,000.
Duncan has seen many ups and downs in the travel industry over the years but says he’s never seen anything like the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s soul destroying just to see the way it’s going,” he says.
“Anytime there’s any trouble in the world, bookings get cancelled and people are frightened to travel.
“We’ve never had anything like this.”
Best of Scotland Holidays hit hard
As the country went into lockdown March last year, Duncan’s bookings were cancelled one by one.
Some were moved to this summer, as he thought the country would be ready for tourists again.
Now he is certain the industry won’t recover this year.
He says: “My gut feeling is that 2021 is not going to happen at all.
“I really can’t see the country opening up this year.
“We’ve moved the holidays for 2021 over to 2022 and some to 2023.
“Everything has to move, and that has an impact.
“There are maybe 600 companies like mine in the UK, and we’re all doing the same.
“There’s not going to be space for everybody, any new bookings that come in we are going to struggle for space, because everyone has been moved.”
Another government grant vital
A Scottish Government grant and the furlough scheme has helped the Waverley Road firm stay afloat.
Tour operators benefited from grants of up to £25,000 per premises in addition to other support.
Now that this year’s season is off the table, Duncan is calling for another government grant.
He says: “All inbound tour operators in Scotland got a grant, which we are very grateful for.
“However, that grant was paid for 2020. We thought would be running in 2021, we’re not, so we are looking for another grant from the Scottish Government to see us through.
“That’s what is needed to safeguard staff and we would also like furlough extended for the travel industry.”
The furlough scheme is due to end at the end of September.
Duncan does not know yet what will happen to his business and staff after the scheme ends.
Inbound tourism to the UK is worth £28.4 billion a year, making it the fifth largest tourism economy in the world, according to UK Inbound.
If tour operators go under, Duncan fears it will be very difficult to keep the revenue up after the pandemic.
‘Most difficult thing ever’
Best of Scotland Holidays tried to tap into the staycation market last summer, without success.
Its target market, Americans, relies on Duncan’s expertise to put together a tour of Scotland, England, Wales or Ireland.
Many of his customers also get a private driver for their holiday in Britain.
Duncan says: “With the best will in the world, British people aren’t going to buy that from us.
“Not just in my business life, but my personal life as well, this is the most difficult thing I’ve ever experienced.
“But I’m an eternal optimist, so we will get through it.
“Nothing so far has stopped me and I’ll be damned if this stops me.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson says it has put a wide range of measures in place to support the travel sector.
“VisitScotland delivered a £15m Covid-19 funding scheme for inbound international and day tour operators supporting almost 190 businesses across Scotland,” the spokesperson says.
“Scotland is offering the most comprehensive non-domestic rates relief in the UK for retail, hospitality and aviation and this includes inbound tour operators.
“We were the first country in the UK to extend 100% non-domestic rates relief into 2021-22.”


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Chinese President Xi Jinping has a luxury not afforded to U.S. President Donald Trump. Xi does not fear his chances at reelection, and he need not worry about critical Chinese media and therefore retribution from voters.
Trump, however, must deal with all three as he tries to maneuver through the trade war between the U.S. and China and which has American farmers rightfully on edge.
But even with that advantage, Xi has made a great miscalculation that became ever more apparent last week: Fighting American farmers and producers - who have become Xi's target - does not divide America so much as it unites it.
Thursday, Trump announced a $16 billion aid package that will be used for commodity purchases as well as to make direct payments to producers. The payments will begin in July and August. An aid package last year saw $12 billion distributed to help producers.
The latest aid comes at a critical time, as farmers and producers worry about falling prices and their own mounting debt. In a report from The Washington Post, Chapter 12 bankruptcies - which allow farmers to restructure finances to avoid foreclosure - have risen, and especially in areas like the Upper Midwest. And the price of the all-important soybean has dropped to half of what it was in 2012.
This most recent aid package is necessary and will help keep producers afloat as the trade war continues. It's no solution, of course, but simply a bandage on a wound that needed care.
Mostly, we see it as a message to China that attacking American farmers and producers - which seems to be China's intent - won't result in an easy victory, since agriculture generally scores bipartisan support in U.S. politics. Even Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, earlier this month, urged Trump to "hang tough on China."
"Strength," Schumer said, "is the only way to win with China."
So if China feels that putting steep tariffs on agriculture would force the hand of Trump - who scores big points in farm states - we see it a grand miscalculation on the part of President Xi. Trump is not desperate to make a deal, as China may suspect, and he's backed up by leaders from both political parties. China also has apparently misconstrued how frustrated the U.S. is with the countries' past trade agreements, which many Americans view as unfair and unhealthy for the U.S. economy.
Meanwhile, according to the news agency Bloomberg, China's economy appears to be slowing at a faster pace than the U.S. economy. Bloomberg reports that China's industrial output, retail sales and investment all slowed in April by more than economists had predicted.
This trade war is ugly, and we lament what it has done to farmers' pocketbooks and confidence. The aid package will help, but only for a while. It certainly is not the answer, but only a temporary solution.
However, we - like the president, most Republicans and even some Democrats - believe that if the U.S. can resolve traditional inequities in trade with China, the nation will be better for it.


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VILNIUS - Kesko Senukai, the largest building and home improvement retail chain in the Baltics, said on Thursday it is suspending purchases of Grigeo products in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia amid suspicions that the tissue paper and cardboard producer's Klaipeda subsidiary released untreated wastewater into the Curonian Lagoon.
"We are concerned about the allegations of enormous environmental pollution, and we cannot just stay on the sidelines and wait for answers to all questions together with the general public," Elona Uckute, a spokeswoman for Kesko Senukai, said in a press release.
The chain will continue to sell its existing stock of Grigeo products, but will not make new orders, she added.
Kesko Senukai owns 104 stores in the Baltic countries, including 85 Senukai and Statybu Duona stores in Lithuania, eight K-Rauta stores in Estonia, and eleven K Senukai stores in Latvia.
Iki, one of Lithuania's largest supermarket chains, said on Wednesday it would not purchase Grigeo products until all questions about the suspected release of untreated wastewater by the group's cardboard factory in Klaipeda had been answered.


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The predictions have been going for over two years and continue to this day, but a new admission from Sony suggests that the way might at last have been paved for a price cut on its PS3 console some time this year.
The conclusion comes from a recent confirmation from Sony that the cost of manufacturing a PS3 is now 70 per cent less than it was when the machine was first unveiled.
The cost reduction since we introduced the PS3 is very substantial and this is on schedule,” Sony CEO and executive VP Nobuyuki Oneda stated in an investor conference call, according to TVG.
We don’t disclose how much of the PS3, specifically the cost deduction was achieved during the past two years. But that is on schedule.” When pressed further Oneda conceded the reduction has been by about 70 per cent”.
Sony has never confirmed the exact cost of manufacturing a PS3 console, though 500 was widely believed to the amount at launch. A 70 per cent reduction on that amount means it now costs below 150.
With the PS3 selling for 300 in the UK, perhaps there is now room for Sony to budge on this price point ahead of the key Christmas hardware battle.


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Before we head off for Christmas, everyone at Tyrell would like to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas. We would also like to say a big thank you for your continued support and partnership and we look forward to working with you next year.
We’ll be at our desks until 5pm on Friday 21st December, before heading off to deck the halls. Our offices will reopen at 9am on Wednesday 2nd January.
Supported customers can contact:
email@example.com throughout, except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day/St Stephen’s Day & New Year’s Day.
Tyrell presented the first UK showing of EditShare’s brand new standalone version of Flow MAM software – BFI London – 17/7/2018
In a bold move Editshare has made their Flow asset management storage agnostic with a flexible subscription based price-structure. Making it easier for companies to bridge different sites, storage silos and make the most of their valuable content.
James Richings, co MD of Editshare EMEA gave a company presentation to a full house of representatives from Production Companies, Post and Broadcast.


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Adding to the festive nature of the holiday season, WalletHub has released its list of the best places for Christmas, putting three Texas cities in the top 25 — including Austin.
The financial website ranked the 100 biggest cities in the U.S. using five broad categories, and considering everything from affordability to Christmas-friendliness. Austin is No. 22 overall.
What makes the Capital City a great place to celebrate Christmas? Says WalletHub, "Typical Christmas activities include shopping, dining out, and attending holiday events," and Austin has no shortage — just look at our guides to Trail of Lights and other spectacular Christmas lights.
We rank 15th for traditions and fun (which includes Christmas events per capita), 18th for shopping, and a respectable 26th for costs. Austin is No. 46 for observance (churches per capita and share of Christian population), and there's a long way to go with generosity — Austin is all the way down at No. 83.
The other top Texas cities for Christmas are Dallas (No. 12) and Houston (No. 18). And the very best places to spend the holiday, according to the report, are Chicago, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh.


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Radio: The City of Bloomington is poised to implement a new parking app which will allow drivers to find and pay for metered parking through their smart phones.
Parkmobile, the planned apps is already active in dozens of US cities, and is scheduled to be active in mid- November. The app allows smart phone users to pay for their metered parking and find open parking spots. The download is free but there is a small free for each transaction. Deputy Director, Andrea Roberts seemed optimistic sighting the versatile of the app
NWA:0140 _____________________TRT:_9.01________________________SOC:_a preferred member
“There’s a lot of options with it you can simply use it as a onetime use or you can sign up as a preferred member.”
Bloomington has used metered parking since August of this year.
Reason: I choose this piece because its a short update piece on something that is very controversial in Bloomington. A lot of people disagree with the new down town parking and because of this the parking app is a big deal.


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MIAMI COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) — Spring is in the air as the Miami County Home and Garden Show returns for 2023!
With warmer weather approaching, you might be getting ready to tackle all kinds of home improvement projects. Check out all that the Miami County Home and Garden Show has to offer from Feb. 17 to 19 at Hobart Arena.
According to the event’s website, around 70 vendors will be at the show which includes everything from outdoor specialists to kitchen and bath renovators. You can view a full list of the vendors here.
The show isn’t just for home renovators, if you’re looking to sell your home you may want some help getting it ready. The event’s website said, “If you are planning on selling your home this is that valuable time to get it done!”
Tickets are $6 at the door for adults, and free for children 12 and under.
For more information about the event, click here.