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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. USA, and ZURICH, Switzerland, Sept. 29, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — eAgile Inc., a global leader in radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies, announces a partnership with Heinlein Plastik-Technik GmbH to bring RFID smart packaging solutions to the European cap and closure marketplace. eSeal is the first turnkey solution engineered to integrate the benefits […]
Tag Archives | Electronics
LONDON, U.K., Sept. 26, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Scientists from London-based UltraCap Ltd. are in the final stages of developing a “green” solid state battery for electric vehicles that they claim will be 40 times lighter than current Lithium-Ion batteries. UltraCap founders, Professor Vladimir Krstic and Nico Van Dongen, say their new battery, the UltraCapacitor, […]
DUNCAN, S.C., Sept. 19, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — ACE Solutions – a leader in Automotive Dealership Management System equipment – in conjunction with manufacturer AMT Datasouth Corp, announces new capability of the powerful ACE 7450 flat-bed printer that allows for the printing of barcodes on the DMV form, enabling automatic document archiving to the electronic […]
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 29, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — SecuGen, a world leading optical fingerprint device and technology vendor, is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the Hamster Pro Duo SC/PIV, a dual mode fingerprint and smart card authentication device.
PHOENIX, Ariz., July 18, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — According to I.C. Medical, Inc., smoke from surgical procedures, often called “plume,” is a carcinogen that contains toxic chemicals, viable bacteria, viruses, and mutagenic substances. Exposure to plume poses risk to the health of surgeons, nurses, OR staff, as well as patients.
WATERLOO, Canada, June 6, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — RoweBots, a leading supplier of RTOS solutions for wearables and IoT devices, announces the immediate availability of VehicleOS, an RTOS specifically for connected vehicle applications. VehicleOS is focused on delivering the precise set of features that automobile, truck, trailer and other vehicle OEM developers need to make […]
WATERLOO, Canada, June 6, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — RoweBots, a leading supplier of RTOS solutions for wearables and Internet of Things devices, announces WearableOS, a special variant of the Unison(TM) RTOS. WearableOS is focused on delivering the precise set of features that wearable OEM developers need. Wearables have unique requirements that are not found in […]
WATERLOO, Canada, June 6, 2016 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — RoweBots Limited, a leading supplier of tiny, embedded, Linux-compatible real-time operating system (RTOS) products, today announced, for the first time, the availability of its Unison(TM) OS software components for NXP I.MX. These components provide out of the box support for embedded applications with deterministic response and tiny […]
CAMARILLO, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — AMT Datasouth Corporation (www.AMTdatasouth.com) is pleased to introduce its new Accel 7450 serial-dot-matrix (SDM) printer. The Accel 7450 features the latest technology in motors, drivers and electronics. The Accel 7450 is the successor to the very successful Accel 6300 and 7350 series printers. The Accel 7450 sets a new standard […]
WATERLOO, Ontario (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — RoweBots Research Inc., the leading supplier of tiny, embedded, Linux-compatible real-time operating system (RTOS) products, today announced the availability of its Unison(TM) OS on the Embedded Software Store. The online information and e-Commerce-based website founded jointly by Avnet Electronics Marketing, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) and ARM, will […]
INDIANA, Pa. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Zen-tinel, a national manufacturer and distributor of mobile surveillance systems, has developed a new stop-arm camera to identify drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Today, EnviroIngenuity’s Urban Hydroponic Vertical Farming Division announced the completion of Laguna Beach’s first solar-powered, hydroponic vertical farm. It is located on the private Bluebird Canyon Family Farm property, the first urban organic farm in Laguna Beach with a view of the Pacific.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today, EnviroIngenuity’s Urban Hydroponic Vertical Farming Division announced the completion of Laguna Beach’s first solar-powered, hydroponic vertical farm. It is located on the private Bluebird Canyon Family Farm property, the first urban organic farm in Laguna Beach with a view of the Pacific.
ATLANTA, Ga. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — OxBlue, a leader in the construction camera industry, announced today an incentive program for existing clients to maximize the value they receive from their OxBlue construction camera service. ‘We want to ensure that our clients have access to the right construction webcam system for the projects they are building today,’ […]
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Quik Pod(R), by Fromm Works Inc., allows Dad to be included in every photo and video without asking strangers for help. Just in time for Father’s Day get the man in your life the world’s first handheld extendable monopod for smartphones.
CHARDON, Ohio, May 10, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — e2b calibration, a division of e2b teknologies, announced today that they have implemented Anytime Assets into their internal calibration system, allowing customers to track their calibrated assets. Anytime Assets is a cloud-based inventory tracking software that enables users to remotely track their calibrated assets from any location […]
ATLANTA, Ga., May 9, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — OxBlue, a leader in the construction camera industry, announced today an expansion of its construction camera interfaces for mobile devices available at http://m.oxblue.com .
DALLAS, Texas, May 1, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Hill PHOENIX will showcase several new products at the 2012 FMI show April 30-May 3 at the Dallas Convention Center. Bringing together more than 25,000 industry-shaping professionals from 90 countries, FMI is the food retail industry’s most-attended conference and exposition in North America. As one of 1,200+ […]
SANTA CLARA, Calif. /California Newswire/ — SecuGen, the world’s leading optical fingerprint device vendor, is pleased to announce the availability of biometric identity management and fraud prevention for SAP system users with the combination of SecuGen Hamster Plus and Hamster IV fingerprint readers and bioLock software from realtime North America Inc.
ATLANTA, Ga., April 26, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — OxBlue(R), pioneers in the construction camera industry, released today several case studies demonstrating the benefits clients have experienced with the OxBlue construction camera systems. ‘Construction cameras have supported this industry for some time,’ stated Chandler McCormack, President of OxBlue.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. /California Newswire/ — SecuGen and BridgePoint Systems are collaborating to introduce the new TrustPoint 3-Factor Biometric Reader, BridgePoint’s flexible solution. The new Reader offers a variety of security options including biometric, PIN and optional PKI challenge-response authentication for increasing or decreasing the level of security, depending on the user’s requirements. Continue reading […]
ISELIN, N.J., March 19, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Lightway Solar America, Inc. (Lightway), the U.S. subsidiary of Lightway Green New Energy Co., Ltd., announced the execution of a Supply Agreement with G&S Solar (G&S) to provide thirty-four megawatts (34 MW) of multicrystalline solar modules. The Agreement requires G&S to purchase over 122,000 panels from Lightway […]
FOLSOM, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Hill PHOENIX, a designer and manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment, and Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market are pleased to announce the grand opening of a new GreenChill Platinum Award-winning Fresh & Easy store in Folsom, California. Continue reading →
NORTHBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 27, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Protium Technologies, Inc. has announced today that it is now shipping the P6020, a 20 MHz-6 GHz digitized tuner, and that the company has signed an agreement with Marlborough Communications Limited (MCL) in Surrey, England, to serve as the distributor in the U.K.
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 17, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Evolve Security, an IP-focused security distributor based in Portland, Oregon, today announced a distribution partnership with Smartvue, a leading manufacturer of IP video surveillance solutions.
FREMONT, Calif. /California Newswire/ — TeamF1, Inc., the leader in embedded networking and security software solutions for wired and wireless applications, today announced that D-Link, the end-to-end networking solutions provider for businesses, selected TeamF1’s embedded software for their complete family of Unified Services Routers, including the recently launched DSR-250/250N wired and wireless services routers.
FREMONT, Calif. /California Newswire/ — TeamF1, Inc., the leader in embedded networking and security software solutions for wired and wireless applications, today announced it will support the new state-of-the art OCTEON(R) III MIPS64(R) family of 1 – 48 core multicore processors from Cavium, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAVM), a leading provider of semiconductor products that enable intelligent […]
RENO, Nev., Jan. 5, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Smart Fog, Inc. announced this week that its top seller – a commercial and industrial humidifier – the ES100 – is 90 percent more energy efficient that steam for building and duct-mount applications.
CULVER CITY, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Saturday, January 14, 2012, 12 Noon, Haas Entertainment will be unveiling its state-of-the-art 3D video projection system in time for the end of the football postseason playoffs. Haas Entertainment will also be showcasing the latest in home automation controls from Crestron for your iPad. The public and media […]
TORONTO, Ontario, Dec. 6, 2011 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Take your own self-image underwater with the new rugged, waterproof handheld tripod, the Quik Pod(R) DSLR (www.quikpod.com/dslr.asp), and a GoPro, Contour or similar waterproof camera. From Fromm Works Inc., the all terrain Quik Pod DSLR extends to 53-inches and weighs only 9 ounces.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — iBroken, Inc., the Apple(R) iPhone, iPod and iPad repair company, is proud to announce the launch of its new mobile repair truck division along with a new company website. Based out of Simi Valley, CA, iBroken has expanded operations at its office/warehouse facility and now has the first mobile […]
CARSON, Calif. /California Newswire/ — DocMagic, Inc., a leading provider of document production and compliance technologies, announced that it has opened up the use of its eSign platform to anyone and everyone at no cost. DocMagic eSign provides for the secure capture of electronic signatures for all documents stored in the PDF file format. Documents […]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. /Florida Newswire/ — The leading Internet provider of paper rolls and other point-of-sale (POS) supplies, POSPaper, announced this week that it is opening two additional distribution centers in Dallas and Chicago. They are expected to open in mid-November of this year.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 12, 2011 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — SecuGen, the world’s leading optical fingerprint device vendor, is pleased to announce that the FBI has certified the SecuGen Hamster IV(TM) v2 fingerprint reader as meeting Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Single Finger Capture Device Specifications. The Hamster IV v2 is the successor to the widely deployed […]
WATERLOO, Canada, Oct. 11, 2011 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — RoweBots Inc., the leading supplier of tiny embedded Linux compatible RTOS products, today announced the launch and release of Unison(TM), Version 5.2 and the open source version of Unison Version 4.2. These two ultra-tiny embedded-Linux compatible RTOSs open a broad set of Stellaris applications to FREE Linux […]
BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 30, 2011 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — CB Jones International President Craig Jones announced today that the company is now offering the 4 MCU flight management computer (FMC part number 176200-01-01) at significant savings over original equipment manufacturer (OEM) pricing. Most significantly, multiple FMCs are ready for immediate delivery on a first come, first […]
VIENNA, Ohio, Sept. 23, 2011 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Litco International’s (www.litco.com/litkit) One Kit Fit® alternative to bolting a frontload or top loading washing machine drum in place during transit is now available to moving professionals through a nationwide network of distributors.
ELKHART, Ind. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — TCL picks DEHCO Commercial to distribute its line of LCD TVs to the health care industry. Dehco Commercial has combined their HC20 technology with LCD TV’s made by TCL. The result is a pillow-speaker-ready (Intertek listed) TV system priced 30 to 40 percent below what is typically spent on health […]
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — SecuGen, the world’s leading optical fingerprint device vendor, is pleased to announce the availability of the SDA03M-WR, SDA04M-WR and SDA04-WR, water resistant OEM fingerprint modules intended for integration into IP-65 rated access control units and other devices made for outdoor use. The sensor components of these fingerprint modules are […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Hospitals find they can pay less at time of acquisition, save money while in use and cut their replacement costs by as much as one third with ETL Listed LED TV products now available from Imagenable, LLC.
NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — After several years of intensive technical development, Protium Technologies, Inc. is shipping the P6010 tuner, an advanced yet inexpensive component from the company’s growing SIGINT receiver product line. The SDR/FPGA-based modular design covers the 20-6,000 MHz frequency range in a small brick package specifically designed for cost-sensitive tactical applications.
AUSTIN, Texas (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Music Computing, Inc. today announced their brand new line of keyboard workstations for both gigging musicians and any size recording studio, are now shipping. The StudioBLADE and iKeyDOCK are complete, portable production stations, which either include a built-in Windows 7 64-bit PC with touch-screen and DAW software and virtual software […]
DALLAS, Texas (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Roemtech, LLC announces its new PlenumAmp PMA-245H for release in July 2010. Designed and approved for above ceiling use, this plenum rated amplifier/mixer uses Roemtech’s exclusive HummBuster technology to remove random noise that can enter classroom audio systems. The PMA-245H is intended for commercial and educational environments providing clear, crisp […]
WATERLOO, Canada (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — RoweBots Research Inc. announces and releases the DSPnano(TM) Operating System Version 3, achieving a significant milestone in shrinking intelligence into small and powerful microcontrollers and digital signal controllers. Motor control, ADPCM and color graphics along with other advanced networking applications and a Linux(TM) or POSIX compatible application are cost effective […]
NEWBURY PARK, Calif. (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — CyberTouch is pleased to announce its release of a complete line of touch screen monitors compatible with the Extron Annotator. Ranging in sizes from 6.4 to 52 inches, CyberTouch|AV’s line of touch screen monitors are offered in desktop/wall-mount (Orion), panel-mount / flush-mount (Eclipse) and open-frame (Sola) styles. All of […]
DALLAS, Texas (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Roemtech, LLC has announced the availability of their new Plenum Classroom Amplifier, model PlenumAmp PMA-245. It is designed and approved for above ceiling installations allowing end users to have a more powerful amplifier system that is easily concealed. Commercial and educational environments with data projectors need an amplifier that provides […]
AUBURN, Maine (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The new Dual Action Cleaning Pen, designed to remove stubborn adhesive build up from thermal print heads, is being released today by KICTeam. Using the same convenient marker-style design currently found with the EZ Thermal Printer Cleaning Pen, this new pen has two separate marker nibs to perform two very […]
AUBURN, Maine, May 18 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — A new Cleaning Card for the JCM Global DBV Series Bill Validators is being launched today through KICTeam, the world leader in the manufacture of cleaning cards. Designed for the DBV 300, 301, 302, 303 Bill Validators, this cleaning card, featuring Waffletechnology™ incorporates a tension release waffle pattern. […]


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WSWA is committed to responsible distribution of alcohol and prevention of underage drinking.
Recently, the United Kingdom has experienced a wave of public health and safety incidents related to counterfeit or adulterated alcohol. Media reports have indicated that officials have identified as much as £1.2 billion (GBP) in uncollected tax revenue lost each year in the illegal market. In addition, consumers in the U.K. have consistently encountered adulterated or counterfeit product sold outside legal distribution channels, including fake products causing death or serious illness.
While there have been significant decreases in the number of alcohol related crashes, fatalities and injuries in the last two decades, the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) remains steadfast in its commitment to fighting drunk driving.
The annual Fall Membership Meeting (FMM) is WSWA’s primary annual governance meeting where Board members start determining next year’s agenda and provide direction on legislative, legal and regulatory matters. FMM also offers members the opportunity to network with fellow wholesalers and state association executives as well as engage with a host of interesting speakers. A full agenda can be found here. For more information, contact Kari Langerman.
The Winter State Policy Conference provides an opportunity for wholesaler state association leaders to discuss the political and legal issues facing wholesalers across the country. By comparing notes and discussing strategy, the meeting increases the effectiveness of state associations and allows wholesalers to speak with a unified voice. The meeting also allows WSWA staff to receive input from state associations leaders that is then used in the implementation of national legislative and legal strategy. The 2015 Winter State Policy Conference will be held at the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, N.M. For more information, contact Kari Langerman.
The WSWA Convention & Exposition is where distributors seek out new and exciting beverage products for U.S. consumers, meet with existing portfolio partners and look for services to enhance internal operations. This event will provide you with THE opportunities you need to introduce new products or simply grow your brands, products or services in the U.S. marketplace.
U.S.-Style Three Tier System Could Address Beverage Alcohol Challenges in U.K, WSWA Says
The nation’s nearly 6,000 wine and spirits wholesaler locations are the crucial part of the responsible and efficient distribution system that delivers adults the widest variety of products available anywhere in the world in a manner that controls access for of-age consumers, delivers tax revenue to local, state and federal governments, and ensures product safety and consumer protection.
The UK should consider adopting a similar structure to the US' three-tier alcohol system to tackle alcohol duty fraud, a trade group has recommended.
The WSWA Educational Foundation today announced it has awarded 40 scholarships to college-going dependents of member wholesalers for the 2015-2016 school year.
The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) announced today the recent addition of three new staff members.
Group Will Promote Social Responsibility and Key Economic Benefits from all Sectors of Hospitality Industry

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A carbon fiber truck bed sounds silly and extravagant but it's really super-tough, super-light and super-resistant to the elements.
Yep, we are now living in an era where trucks have hyper-durable carbon fiber beds and it's great.
Tesla and GM will see their incentives boosted, too, even though they're already in the phase-out period.
The focus will be on the eventual rollout of SAE Level 4 and 5 self-driving cars.
The latest luxury truck from GMC has a lot going for it, including a six-way tailgate.
GM will work to make the Bolt affordable at the dealer level, but won't change the sticker price.
Every car on this list is the best of its kind, from pure electric to hybrid.
The new light-duty diesel is due this summer for the cost of the gas-powered 6.2-liter V8.
Picture a world where using your car's infotainment system has never been so delicious.
The investment will create 400 additional jobs at the Lake Orion facility.
Several companies have petitioned the regulatory organization for exemptions to current federal vehicle safety standards.
The GM-funded self-driving car startup will double its current workforce this year in advance of launching its autonomous taxi program.
Sublime suburban chariot
High on style and technology, the 2019 Volvo XC90 is an incredibly satisfying everyday crossover.


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By the end of December 2021, when all the deals are signed and the money is wired, middle-market M&A will have had a record-breaking year. There were a handful of factors that pushed the deal activity to unprecedented levels, including the pent-up activity from a depressed COVID year, the potential tax changes anticipated to be effective starting in 2022, an abundance of capital looking for investment opportunities, strong economic growth, and the continued low interest rate environment. The 2021 deal activity was so strong that it has overwhelmed many service providers (i.e. lawyers, accountants, etc). More importantly, many equity funds had to turn down attractive deal opportunities as they reached their capacity level as a result of the excessive volume. If you talk to seasoned M&A professionals, most will tell you that 2021 was as intense of a deal year as they have seen.
The factors contributing to a robust M&A environment in 2021 are also why we believe 2022 will be a better year to sell your business. The key factors which will drive a better environment for sellers in 2022 include:
- Tax Selling Will Lessen Supply – As we get more clarity regarding U.S. tax changes, it appears that any changes to the tax rates in the U.S. will be significantly less than anticipated in 2021. The prospect of significant changes to the tax code drove many business owners to sell in 2021 to avoid higher potential tax obligations. This supply of tax-motivated selling should lessen significantly in 2022, reducing the number of deals available to potential buyers.
- Lower Supply Will Drive More Buyers To Your Deal – Given the reduction of tax-driven deals, we believe the frenzied deal activity in 2021 will moderate into 2022. This will allow potential acquirers to have the time and capacity to review your selling material and react accordingly. In 2021, the buyer base was not able to fully participate in many deals. This will help broaden the interest in a quality company looking to sell in 2022.
- Abundant Capital and Low Rates – Capital is still abundantly available and looking for opportunities. At the same time, interest rates remain low. This will continue to drive demand. As we enter 2022, there is a record level of private equity capital looking to be placed. As of June 2021, that uninvested amount of capital (money raised by private equity, but yet to be invested) in the U.S. hit a record high of $829 billion. This money will be placed within a 2 to 3 year period. The abundant capital with low rates will continue to drive strong multiples for M&A deals for 2022.
- Availability Of Service Providers – While this might not appear to be a big issue, M&A deals were taking longer to get done during 2021. This is partly to do with the inability to get 3rd party service providers to free up time without lead time. Getting a “pre-sale” quality of earnings was not easy during the past year. Many firms had a 4 to 6 week wait time to perform these services. Lawyers were overwhelmed with deals, financing sources were backlogged, and other service providers were delayed. All of this extended the time in the market for many deals, which is not an ideal situation. With 2022 seeing some moderation to this frenzy, many of these delays will be lessened.
- Economic Activity Is Still Accelerating – While predicting the economy is never an easy game, it appears that 2022 will have an accelerating economic environment. While some of this is a continuation of the rebound from the COVID slowdown, the other key benefit is the easing of the supply chain. As it stands, many businesses are running at lower levels of activity and have no inventory to utilize. As supply chain issues ease, the supply of products will grow. Combine that with the need to replenish inventory, and it will create a strong economic pull. This will help the overall M&A market and multiples, which tend to do better in strong economic environments.
While many businesses rushed to get to an exit in 2021, we believe that businesses that make the move in 2022 will reap significant benefits. These benefits will include higher multiples, more buyers pursuing a deal, and a more efficient deal process. Based on the economic environment and the other factors, 2022 appears to be a great seller’s market.


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Development hell does not always have to indicate length-sometimes, the development of a game may be sideways in a short period of time. For example, the publisher Paradox Interactive’s “Vampire: Fancy Dress Party-Lineage 2” was announced in 2019, and has since been almost cancelled, transferred to multiple developers, and so on.
when Lineage 2 announced in 2019, The surrounding is full of excitement. After all, this is a 15-year sequel. After the announcement of “Bloodline 2”, things seemed to be going well.The trailer it received shows Bruja Clan, this Wenzhen Clan, Full story video, And more. Paradox Interactive announced in 2020 that Bloodlines 2 will land on Xbox Series X, Then, the publisher announced that it would target Game console 5 as well as.
This is a lot about Lineage 2, right? There is no doubt that this game is being released smoothly.Well, in August 2020, Paradox and then developer Hardsuit Labs announced Lineage 2 was postponed to 2021. Let’s call this moment in the sequel development timeline the moment of entering hell.
Soon after that delay, the game’s chief narrative designer Brian Mitsoda and its creative director Ka’ai Cluney announced that they No longer working on the project at Hardsuit LabsTwo months later, Paradox Interactive announced that Cara Ellison, the senior narrative designer of Bloodlines 2, had left Hardsuit Labs.
Fast forward to February 2021, Paradox Interactive announces the dismissal of Hardsuit Labs Started with the development of Bloodlines 2. A month later, Hardsuit Labs layoffs. according to Computer game playerLater, Paradox Interactive chose another studio to produce “Bloodline 2”, the studio has not yet been officially named, and the “Bloodline” sequel was postponed “indefinitely”.
There is no news about the development progress of Bloodlines 2, but hey, Paradox Interactive announces “Vampire: Fancy Dress Party for Blood”, A sort of Battle Royale is set in the same universe as the bloodline Game and publish it to Early Access, so this is very concise.


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The Age, Melbourne
Crean spruiks free trade in Pacific
28 February 2008
The tiny island nations of the south Pacific should have high ambitions heading into free trade negotiations with Australia, Trade Minister Simon Crean says.
Mr Crean said nations like Fiji and Vanuatu had nothing to fear despite concerns any deal would lean heavily in favour of the Pacific powerhouses New Zealand and Australia.
No firm date has yet been set for the start of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) negotiations.
"The opportunity is emerging to bring the development and economic integration benefits of trade liberalisation to our Pacific neighbours through the ’PACER Plus’ discussions on a new and comprehensive free trade agreement between ourselves and New Zealand and Pacific island countries," Mr Crean said in a speech to the Lowy Institute.
A report by the Washington DC-based Nathan Associates says some of the island nations could lose as much as $US10 million ($A10.6 million) in annual revenue if tariff walls are knocked down by PACER.
"The success of the trans-Tasman closer economic relations (CER) experiment should encourage us to set high shared ambitions for boosting island countries’ trade opportunities in very practical ways," Mr Crean said.
"Given our responsibilities in the region, it is incumbent on Australia and New Zealand - the CER side of the discussions - to do everything we can to make these talks succeed."
Mr Crean admitted he and New Zealand counterpart Phil Goff would need to do some hard work persuading the Pacific nations of the benefits of trade liberalisation.
"A key element of this will be our spelling out clearly and persuasively why stronger trade links and their quantifiable benefits are vital to the Pacific region’s future prosperity," Mr Crean said.
"It will take time to lay the groundwork in capacity-building and structural adjustments so that island countries - with very diverse trading interests - are all in a position to benefit from such a process.
"But unless we start, and start with vision, Pacific island countries will continue to fall behind other developing countries and regions and miss out on the brighter future to which their people rightly aspire."
© 2008 AAP


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Originally published December 16 2011
California regulators frame Organic Pastures and force raw milk shut down over fabricated E. Coli scare
by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
(NaturalNews) It has been nearly a month since the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) swooped in like vultures on Organic Pastures Dairy in Fresno, Calif., and demanded that the farm recall and stop selling all of its raw milk products immediately and indefinitely. Five children in four nearby counties had developed E. Coli, and officials automatically blamed it on the farm's raw milk without so much as a shred of evidence proving this to be true. Nearly a month later, the state's own tests have now determined that Organic Pastures raw milk was not the culprit.
USA Today reported back on November 20, 2011, that the five children were all infected with the O157:H7 strain of E. Coli, which is believed to be contracted through food that has been contaminated with tainted fecal matter. Since all of the children's families had allegedly purchased Organic Pastures raw milk at some point, authorities automatically blamed those products for the outbreak, and immediately ordered a full recall and quarantine of every product the company produces.
This unsubstantiated, knee-jerk reaction on behalf of the State of California is hardly surprising, as both it and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been on a crusade to destroy raw milk for decades. But what might be surprising to some is how easily these government agencies were able to target Organic Pastures without first providing a single, credible piece of evidence linking the dairy's milk to the outbreak.
Organic Pastures employs a rigorous food safety protocol called "RAMP" (Risk Analysis & Management Program) that "voluntarily goes far beyond what is required by the CA DHS (California Department of Health Services), USDA (US Department of Agriculture), FDA or CDFA to assure that [their] raw milk is delicious and very safe." If you review the document outlining the dairy's step-by-step safety process for yourself, you will see that it is near-impossible for Organic Pastures dairy products to become tainted with E. Coli, let alone make it out the door to customers if it somehow ever does (http://www.organicpastures.com/pdfs/2010-4-2...).
But none of this matters to state regulators, which arbitrarily and immediately shut down Organic Pastures dairy before even testing the milk and verifying whether or not it was tainted. So for nearly a month now, Organic Pastures has had to sit and wait for these tests, which should have been conducted before any type of recall or quarantine, to be conducted -- and all results, of course, have turned up negative for E. Coli (http://organicpastures.com/pdfs/Recall%20Lab...).
Government assault against Organic Pastures an act of domestic terrorismThe government's reactionary approach to "food safety" issues involving raw milk are neither scientific nor rational. One would think that, in order to declare a food product unsafe, it might be a good idea to test it first. But when raw milk is involved, regulators always assume the worst, which typically results in a bout of hysterical and overbearing tyranny against the parties involved.
What the CDFA has done to Organic Pastures is nothing short of domestic terrorism. There was never any evidence that Organic Pastures milk products were in any way unsafe or tainted, and yet authorities appear to be doing everything in their power to keep the company from resuming production, which could eventually put it out of business.
"This is yet another example of the government engaging in outrageous acts of economic terrorism against farmers and food producers," commented Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, on the matter.
To follow the ongoing issue as it progresses, visit:
Sources for this article include:
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Ubisoft has announced that update 1.3 for Tom Clancy’s The Division is being deployed today. The full notes have also been released showing you the improvements that have been made.
In addition to the new update being deployed for PS4 owners of Tom Clancy’s The Division, some maintenance is being done in the early hours of July 5th. The maintenance is 3 hours so expect some downtime.
Here are the things that have been implemented: Deployment of Content Update 1.3 for all PlayStation 4 players. This does not enable the content of Expansion I: Underground which is scheduled for release on August 2nd.
Fixed a bug where High Value Target NPCs were capped at level 30 maximum. This will also fix the issue where they were not dropping any Target Intel.
Fixed a bug where players that died after defeating the final encounter would be able to repeat it and gain loots again. Fixed instances of server instability that could lead to players being disconnected from the game.
The Underground DLC is already available for PC and Xbox One owners of The Division. As stated above, you have to wait one more month for the DLC to drop if you own the game on PS4.


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Nuke Burgers: The Meat Industry's Solution to E.Coli Is the Big Zap Attack
Like most patriotic Americans, I love a good cheeseburger, oozing juice and fresh from the grill on a summer's afternoon. Praise the Lord and pass the catsup! But would I want to die for one? Would you? In recent years, outbreaks of virulent food poisoning caused by Escherichia coli 0157:H7, a mutant form of the E. coli found in the guts of all mammals, have put that question on the national agenda. One answer offered by a coterie of government and private researchers, meat industry lobbyists and nuclear power advocates is to zap meat with radiation. That's right: They say they'll make your food safer by nuking it. Ferrying pre-packaged meat past cobalt-60 or cesium-137 -- or exposing it to an accelerated electron beam equivalent to millions of chest X-rays -- kills bugs like E. coli, campylobacter, salmonella, listeria monocytogenes and others by tearing apart the molecular structure of their DNA. Sounds scary? Don't worry, proponents purr. The meat never touches the radioactive material, nor does the process make the meat radioactive. They claim that decades of study, and feeding irradiated food to astronauts, proves that the food is nutritious and safer to eat than non-irradiated food. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), they point out, have already approved the irradiation of dry herbs and spices, pork, fruits and vegetables and poultry. And concerns about potential environmental or worker safety hazards from widescale use of irradiation to fight food contamination are pooh-poohed with glowing assurances that the existing medical irradiation industry -- which sterilizes medical instruments and uses the same technology that would be used on meat -- has a "spotless" record. But the industry's record is far from spotless. One corporate president went to jail. Workers have ended up in hospitals. Equipment has malfunctioned. And radioactive garbage has contaminated plants and gotten into the environment. Some of the most egregious violators of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) safety rules are the same firms that have submitted petitions to the FDA for the approval of food irradiation (by law, irradiation is considered a "food additive" subject to FDA regulation). The hollow assurances of the industry's safety cast irradiation champions' other claims of wholesomeness in a dubious light. Food & Water, Inc., a Vermont-based environmental and nutrition advocacy group, charges that the FDA and the USDA have abdicated their consumer protection role to become cheerleaders for irradiation. "The USDA is charged with promoting meat products but they're also supposed to be doing oversight. That's a huge conflict of interest," says Food & Water director Michael Colby. "They're in charge of policing this technology but with the other hand they're promoting it." "Basically, we don't endorse it, we permit it -- based on the FDA's assessment that it is safe to irradiate food," says USDA spokesperson Stephen Lombardi. Don't endorse it? The agency supplies operating funds for an electron-beam irradiator at Iowa State University. It puts out pamphlets presenting a rosy picture of irradiation. And -- along with an irradiation company with a history of NRC safety violations -- the USDA petitioned its sister agency, the FDA, to approve the irradiation of poultry before the USDA itself approved the process. The push to irradiate food to kill bacteria and, in the case of fruits and vegetables, insects and other pests, isn't new. Food irradiation originated as a component of President Dwight Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" program, the government's attempt to put a cheerful demeanor on the threatening face of the nuclear weapons establishment. Most research money came from the Army and the Atomic Energy Commission (now the NRC) until 1980. At that point, the USDA, which is responsible for the safety of the country's food supply, took over. The International Atomic Energy Agency has played a key role in hyping the process in global forums. And pro-nuclear agencies have funded most food irradiation research. "The pressure for food irradiation comes from the DOE [Department of Energy], the USDA, the existing fledgling irradiation industry and its brothers and sisters in the larger nuke industry, and the American Meat Institute. You add it all up and you've got an iron triangle of industry, government and trade association," Colby says. "That's a formidable opponent to a public that opposes irradiation but we've beaten them back, held them off for 10 years." Indeed, the technology is not yet widely used. Consumer wariness and high-profile pressure from Food & Water -- threatened boycotts, radio ads, ads in food industry trade magazines and demonstrations outside stores and plants -- have given most food companies and supermarket chains the willies. But while they haven't cast their lot with irradiation today, many companies and trade associations are hedging their bets for tomorrow by funding consumer research into how shoppers might be convinced to buy nukeburgers and bankrolling organizations like the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), which produces a steady drumbeat of pro-irradiation issue papers. Permission to irradiate red meat -- beef -- is the Holy Grail for which the irradiation industry is crusading; a petition has been before the FDA since August 1994. The only plant constructed specifically to irradiate foods, the Food Technology Services (FTS) facility in Mulberry, Florida, has been limping along the past several years irradiating spices. A hoped-for bonanza of Florida produce to irradiate has never materialized due to fear of consumer outcry. Poultry irradiation is hung up on FDA approval of the packaging tray (meats are processed in their consumer packaging to stave off recontamination). FTS, formerly known as Vindicator, has survived through cash infusions from Nordion International, Inc., its Canadian supplier of cobalt-60 and irradiation equipment. "The irradiation industry will be established processing meats," says Harley Everett, FTS's executive vice president. "Irradiating fruits and vegetables extends shelf life. That makes money but it doesn't save lives." Providing the red meat petition is approved by the FDA, Dennis Olson, a researcher at Iowa State University who oversees the electron beam irradiator, says two likely factors will determine the success of the food irradiation industry: another large outbreak of E. coli poisoning and the extent of the resulting liability damages companies would have to pay. "In our day and age of litigation and huge damages, companies don't want to expose themselves to that kind of threat," Olson says. "That may be enough to have them go to irradiation." "We don't think anyone questions that there is a problem with contamination of meat, and it's getting worse. But we differ as to what to do about it," says Michael Colby. "We don't think zapping is the solution. It just creates additional problems." Opponents of food irradiation, such as Food & Water, and skeptics -- including the consumer group the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and Safe Tables Our Priority (STOP, an E. coli poisoning victims advocacy group) -- charge that irradiation of red meat is a shortcut, an attempt to avoid cleaning up the food production process. Inadequate plant sanitation and antiquated and under-staffed inspection processes, they say, are to blame for problems. "Irradiation is an end-of-the-line technique to improve food safety that doesn't address the underlying question of why these products become contaminated in the first place," says Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food safety for CSPI. "I don't believe consumers want feces on their meat or poultry products." "I challenge you to find fecal matter on beef," counters Janet Riley, a spokesperson for the American Meat Institute (AMI), the chief lobbying arm for the meat and poultry industry. "The USDA has a zero tolerance policy. You have to trim any visible contamination." But, as Rainer Mueller, president of STOP, notes, E. coli 0157:H7 can cause illness with only 10 cells. "There's no way an inspector can see E. coli cells," declares Mueller, whose 13-year-old son Eric died of E. coli poisoning from a tainted cheeseburger in 1993. CSPI's Smith DeWaal notes, "If you have cases of E. coli in beef products there has been some manure contact at some point to get there. It may be an insignificant or small amount." According to Riley, AMI is "supportive" of meat irradiation, but "we don't see it as the be-all, end-all of food safety either." She says that -- contrary to charges that irradiation is a substitute for cleaning up farms, feedlots, slaughterhouses, and processing plants -- the meat industry is pursuing safety from farm to table. "Have you seen a plant?" she asks me. (I haven't.) "They're like operating rooms. I'm amazed at the precautions they take, it's incredible. The problem is the visual images people have of processing plants are visions of yesteryear." If meat processors are so clean then why do they need irradiation? Ironically, the analogy that Iowa State's Dennis Olson uses is also to operating rooms. "Even in hospital operating rooms people get infections," Olson says. "You're never going to have processing plants like operating rooms. There's bacteria everywhere." While AMI roots for irradiation, some meat processors have doubts that go beyond issues of consumer acceptance. Gary Michaelson, a spokesperson for International Beef Processors, Inc. (IBP), says the company does not irradiate its product and has no plans to do so. "We contracted for an evaluation with outside laboratories and it showed that current irradiation procedures affect meat flavor and color stability," Michaelson says. CSPI and STOP have no official position on irradiation, but Food & Water's Colby blasts it as a "radical and dangerous technology." Food & Water's specific concerns:*The bombardment of foods with enormous amounts of ionizing radiation -- more than enough to kill human beings -- disrupts the molecular structure and creates "radiolytic products," new chemicals formed as a result of the irradiation process. Some of these are known carcinogens. *Irradiation significantly depletes some key nutrients and vitamins. *Wide-scale use of irradiation to process food would be an environmental and worker safety disaster. That radiolytic products exist isn't in dispute, only whether they are significant. Food & Water says the creation of toxic chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde and formic acid presents a potential health risk -- including cancer -- that has not been sufficiently researched. A hotly disputed study conducted in India in the 1970s found significant numbers of intrauterine deaths and depression in immune response in rats and mice fed freshly irradiated wheat. There was also an increase in polyploid cells, a chromosomal abnormality, in the bone marrow of rats and mice and the blood of children and monkeys fed freshly irradiated wheat. Similar results were not obtained from non-irradiated wheat or irradiated wheat that had been stored for three months prior to feeding. One of the researchers, Dr. Vijaylaxmi, a geneticist now at the University of Texas, "strongly suspects there are radiolytic products which are problematic in these studies." "In regard to polyploid cells, we do not know the significance of these cells so we expressed a note of caution, but scientific studies have shown that they are associated with cancer -- whether polyploid cells cause cancer or cancer produces polyploid cells, we don't know," Dr. Vijaylaxmi says. "But we do know the significance of intrauterine death and depressed immune response and I would consider that a strong factor in whether one chooses to eat irradiated food. If the choice was given to me, I wouldn't eat irradiated food." Radiation proponents dismiss concerns over radiolytic products, equating them with similar changes that occur from cooking. They contend that, in fact, studies prove irradiated food is safe. Olson, the Iowa State University researcher, says the FDA "didn't find anything that would suggest an unsafe condition." "While Food & Water tries to take the debate to the public, where they need to go if they have credible evidence is the FDA," Olson argues. "They can scare people by saying it produces benzene and benzene is carcinogenic and they can debate it in the newspapers but the real judge is the FDA." How the FDA has performed in its role as a judge, though, is a point of contention. From the late 1960s, when the FDA rescinded its approval of an Army petition to irradiate bacon because the agency concluded the data didn't prove the process was safe, until the early 1980s, FDA skepticism stalled growth of food irradiation. But in 1980, the FDA executed a turnaround and, following the lead of a committee organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency, declared food irradiated up to a dose of 100,000 rads safe and in need of no further testing. In short order, the FDA gave thumbs-up to the irradiation of herbs and spices (1983), pork (1985) and -- petitioning itself! -- fruits and vegetables (1986). Out of 441 studies of the effects of food irradiation, the FDA concluded that "only five... were considered by agency reviewers to be properly conducted, fully adequate by 1980 toxicological standards, and able to stand alone in the support of safety." Dr. Donald Louria, chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the New Jersey Medical School, reviewed the five studies cited by the FDA. His conclusion? "The FDA studies did not document safety." Writing in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in 1990, Louria stated that two studies were methodologically flawed (and one of those two suggested an adverse effect on older animals) and in a third FDA-cited study, "animals fed a diet of irradiated food experienced weight loss and miscarriage." According to Louria, the other two studies appeared to be conducted adequately but dealt with food irradiated at doses lower than the FDA allows. Louria acknowledges that "a lot of good scientists are for [irradiation]" but he is adamant that more testing is needed. "People in the industry will not settle the issues," he states. "They should do a chromosome study on people given irradiated food." Louria thinks it's likely such tests would show irradiated food to be harmless, "but they won't do it." Louria also believes irradiation advocates have been dismissive of concerns over vitamin loss in irradiated foods. Studies by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have documented nutrient depletion in a host of irradiated foods. Thiamin content, for example, is particularly vulnerable to radiation. As in the case of radiolytic products, irradiation's defenders point out that nutrients are lost in other processes, including cooking. However, irradiation is not a substitute for cooking. Furthermore, an ARS study on bacon indicated that "when irradiated bacon was fried, a greater amount of thiamin was lost than would be predicted if the loss was strictly additive." Louria wants all irradiated foods to be tested for vitamin content before and after the recommended irradiation dose and the results printed on the package's label. "They want to sell to everybody -- young kids, people in poverty who may already be vitamin-deficient," he argues. "It shouldn't be let into the marketplace without this information and these tests." Faced with the claims of dueling scientists, how is the layperson to know whom to believe? In the case of food irradiation, the questions of environmental contamination and worker safety may be the best yardstick by which to decide the issue. Irradiation advocates respond to such questions with honeyed paeans to the safety record of the existing medical irradiation industry. The analogy makes sense. Not only is the technology for food irradiation the same as that used to sterilize medical instruments -- cobalt-60 and, less frequently, cesium-137 gamma radiation exposure or electron-beam irradiation -- but, in fact, it is primarily medical irradiation companies that are seeking approval for the irradiation of food in a bid to open new markets. Janet Riley of the American Meat Institute says she has heard of no accidents or safety concerns associated with medical irradiation. Harley Everett of Food Technology Services declares, "Irradiation with cobalt has a spotless environmental record in this country." A pro-irradiation report by CAST, "Radiation Pasteurization of Food," states, "Many commercial irradiation plants exist in the United States and they have established an excellent safety record." Question number seven in a USDA pamphlet, "Ten Most Commonly Asked Questions About Food Irradiation," asks "will my risks of radiation exposure increase significantly if I live next to an irradiator?" The pamphlet's answer? No, because "the use and transportation of radioactive materials... is closely monitored by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, state agencies and the Department of Transportation."


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Clintons is seeking approval from landlords for a restructuring of hundreds of its shops, while a string have been earmarked for closure. It is said to have warned landlords that it will have to close 66 of its 332 shops across the country and is calling for cheaper rents on more than 200 stores.
The restructuring plan would involve a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), a controversial scheme that allows companies to continue trading while pushing through closures and rent cuts in a bid to prevent insolvency.
The arrangement was outlined in meetings with landlords towards the end of last week.
If they agree, the new deal would see rents linked to each store's performance, with Clintons only paying full rates on 60 of its stores.
It will need a majority of its landlords to consent to the agreement, while the chain's backers are said to be prepared to put the company into administration if the CVA is not passed.
The retailer, which employs around 2,500 staff, is holding survival talks with landlords
Clintons recorded a loss of £14.2 million in 2018, down from £19.4 million the year before.
The Sunday Telegraph has seen restructuring documents that said: “Approximately 90 of the company’s stores are currently loss-making with the business forecasting that sales will continue to decline.”
A Clintons spokesman refused to comment on the paper's report but said: “Discussions are continuing with our landlords but no decisions have been made.”
A landlord told the BBC that although there was a meeting with the retailer last week, very few details of the restructuring plan were given. More talks are expected this week.
Clinton's, previously known as Clinton's Cards, was founded in 1968 by Don Lewin, a chimney sweep's son from east London.
Although it is one of the UK's main greetings card retailers, it has struggled for several years and in 2012 was bought up its main supplier American Greetings, which is controlled by the Weiss family.
The family are said to be waiting to see how talks proceed before making a continued financial commitment to the company.
The news of Clintons' struggles comes after figures revealed Britain's high streets had suffered their worst October on record for customer visits.
Last week, baby goods chain Mothercare announced its UK operation was going into administration, closing all 79 of its stores and putting 2,500 jobs at risk.
Other High Street names that have gone under include Poundworld and Maplin, while Debenhams, Homebase and Carpetright have been forced into restructuring.
Some of Britain's major shops are calling for the next Chancellor to launch a review of business rates, slamming the "unfair" tax that punishes businesses that operate in traditional stores instead of online.
The bosses of Sainsbury’s, Ikea UK, Primark and Halfords claim retailers will go under if urgent changes are not made.
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Music Industry Analysis
On a daily basis, Music Biz collects studies and data on business and consumer trends effecting the music industry. We compile this music industry analysis from a plethora of media outlets and data providers and filter out the noise to deliver directly to you the actionable insights your business needs to succeed.
Get this compilation of music industry analysis delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for our daily website feed.
June 26, 2019 – The Smart Audio Report from NPR and Edison Research, Spring 2019
New research in The Smart Audio Report series from Edison Research reveals how smart speaker user behavior and perceptions are evolving, as owners ‘settle in’ with their devices and the market matures out of its introductory phase. According to the Spring 2019 survey, seven out of 10 smart speaker owners use their device daily despite common concerns around security and privacy, while those same factors are leading reasons non-owners have not acquired a device. “We are starting to see more pragmatic usage of these devices,” said Tom Webster,... Read More
June 25, 2019 – The Music Industry Signs a Pledge Against Fake Streams
Streaming manipulation – the practice of artificially inflating stream counts to produce false listening data – is the music industry’s hot-button issue at the moment. Last Thursday, an assortment of music publishers, record labels, royalty-collection societies and other groups signed a code of conduct condemning fake streams and pledging to work together to eradicate them, marking the industry’s first collective agreement on the issue. The document was two years in the making, shepherded in part by the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP),... Read More
June 21, 2019 – Nielsen Audio Today 2019 Report: How America Listens
Radio specializes in boosting ad campaigns because it primarily reaches consumers during the day and away from home, when they’re on the go and closest to the point of purchase. This is a powerful advertising proposition, especially when you consider the impact of a captive audience in the car, where most of radio’s out-of-home listening happens. Increasing traffic and commute times aren’t likely to diminish anytime soon. This means radio will continue to reach a large segment of Americans when they’re on the move,... Read More
June 19, 2019 – Here’s How Tech Is Amping Up The Summer Music Scene
Music always plays a prominent part in most people’s lives, but its role during the summer is particularly special. From massive festivals with top-name recording artists to road trip playlists to travel to top hotspots with legendary nightclubs, music is absolutely key during this time of the year. But music’s intersection with technology is making for some particularly hot new trends that are setting a high bar for innovation while also driving bottom-line in business. Click here to read more.... Read More
June 10, 2019 – Merch Madness: How Artists Are Using Designer Duds and Nutritional Supplements to Battle for No. 1
To sell music these days, artists and labels are in an arms race to sweeten the deal — with lots and lots of stuff. A few weeks before the release of Tyler, The Creator’s latest album, IGOR (Columbia Records), his team launched a campaign to drive first-week sales. It began with a bundle of goodies, the Vote IGOR Pack, that included a t-shirt, lawn sign, button, vinyl sticker and coupon for a digital album download, all for $40.... Read More
June 7, 2019 – Average US Time Spent with Mobile in 2019 Has Increased
For the first time ever, U.S. consumers will spend more time using their mobile devices than watching TV, with smartphone use dominating that time spent. Consumers’ use of smartphones will continue to make up the majority of their media consumption, but we predict that use will plateau by 2020, as consumers become increasingly uneasy about overuse of mobile devices. “We’ve expected that mobile would overtake TV for a while, but seeing it happen is still surprising,”... Read More
June 6, 2019 – Paid Music Subscriber Totals Will Reach 1 Billion By 2030, Says Updated Goldman Sachs Report
The U.S. recorded music market is still growing — faster than top researchers originally thought. Goldman Sachs analysts are raising previously-reported industry forecasts by an average of 4 percent over the next decade, now predicting the industry to grow into a $45 billion beast with a paid streaming population of 1.15 billion by 2030. In its 2017 dossier, the research team led by Lisa Yang originally projected the industry to pull in $44 billion annually by then,... Read More
June 5, 2019 – Sheet Happens: One of Music’s Oldest Businesses Is Growing in the Digital Age
Today — thanks to online stores like Musicnotes, digital subscription services and music-notation formats for tablets and phones — sheet-music sales are booming. They generated $240 million in global revenue in 2018, according to Musicnotes — a tiny fraction of the overall publishing business. But the sheet-music sector is growing quickly: The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has said that sales were up 7 percent in 2017 compared with the previous year. “I don’t believe we have a ceiling,... Read More
June 4, 2019 – Third Annual Podcast Ad Revenue Study by IAB and PwC Reports Significant Growth
The third annual Podcast Revenue Report by IAB and PwC confirms solid and increasing growth in the U.S. podcast advertising marketplace. The report, which surveyed top US revenue producing podcast companies on various data points, reports continued growth trends at the individual publisher level. The report adds an independent market sizing element, which echoes the pattern of increasing marketwide revenues into 2021 and beyond. This year’s report finds marketers spent $479 million to advertise on podcasts in the U.S.,... Read More
June 4, 2019 – Will Listeners Switch to Music Services from Their Smart Speaker Brands?
Smart speakers present a potentially valuable new option for music services to reach listeners. The space poses a particular interest for tech firms operating in both hardware and software, since they can create brand loyalty within audiences who will buy their devices and then continue to provide revenue as subscription listeners. For instance, Amazon and Google, two of the market leaders in the United States and globally, have launched free or low-cost access to music on their smart speakers.... Read More


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Pepsi-Cola Company Update
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PepsiCo has agreed to sell a controlling stake in its Tropicana and Naked juice brands to French private equity firm PAI Partners for $3.3 billion, as it seeks to focus on calorie-free beverages and products that it claims are better for the environment, such as SodaStream.
PAI also has a joint venture with Nestlé to own the Häagen-Dazs and Mövenpick ice cream brands, and will purchase a 61% stake in a new company that owns the rights to the juice brand. Pepsi will own the remaining 39%.
Pepsi CEO Ramon Laguarta said in a statement that the deal will “liberate” Pepsi, focusing on growth in other areas, such as healthier snacks, zero-calorie beverages and SodaStream products. It bought SodaStream, it made a device to carbonate water, $3.2 billion deal In 2018.
Frédéric Stévenin, managing partner of PAI, told the Financial Times that Tropicana and Naked are the “right and wrong parties” who are turning to healthier products.
“Due to the sugar content, the growth of the juice category has slowed in the past few years,” he said. “Juice contains a lot of natural sugar, but it also has benefits in terms of vitamins and fiber.”
However, he said that as consumers eat breakfast at home and try to boost their immune systems with vitamin C-rich products, sales have risen during the pandemic. This may bring “motivation” to the brand, he said.
PepsiCo said that the juice business’s net income in 2020 will be approximately US$3 billion.
The company said PepsiCo will use the proceeds from the sale to “strengthen its balance sheet.”
Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, initiated the transition to a healthier portfolio, which was continued by her successor, Laguarta.
As young consumers increasingly choose healthier alternatives, large consumer brands such as Pepsi and its rival Coca-Cola are seeking to reduce products with higher sugar content.
However, the American consumer group has also been turning its attention to expanding its energy drink product portfolio. Pepsi last year acquired Rockstar Energy Beverages for US$3.85 billion, stably adding a fast-growing brand to its existing energy drinks, including Mountain Dew Kickstart, Game Fuel and AMP.
PAI manages a private equity fund of approximately 15 billion euros and will acquire the business from its seventh private equity fund, a 5.1 billion euro fund.


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The Story behind why our founder Mat Beeche started Shoe String. Giving startups a platform to let people know about what they are doing.
Mat attempted to be an actor until he was told he was too fat for the part of the Red Power Ranger. He is the founder of Startup Daily and lecturer of Media Entrepreneurship for Macleay College in Sydney and Melbourne.
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- Cricketer Steve Smith has turned a $100,000 startup investment into $12 million under News & Analysis
- WeWork reveals an astonishing $2.4 billion annual loss as it pushes to an IPO under News & Analysis
- Antler Australia just put $1.2 million into 12 startups in its first Sydney accelerator under News & Analysis
- Atlassian became a A$50 billion company last week, just as the tech giant revealed bigger operating losses under News & Analysis
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Be careful with your Audi turbos and other cars this festive season – research has just revealed that 42 per cent of motorists will put their Christmas shopping at risk by leaving it in the car.
With the average person expected to spend £623 on Christmas this year (£387 on presents and the rest on food and drink), M&S Bank is now warning Brits that if their car is underinsured they could miss out and ruin the Christmas holidays for themselves.
Head of products with the organisation Paul Stokes said: “With shopping for the festive season well under way, it’s an exciting time of year for many. However, this also means that, unfortunately, the car can become a target for opportunistic thieves, so it’s important that shoppers make sure they’ve got adequate cover in place to insure their Christmas shopping, should the worst happen.”
Advice from the bank includes keeping bags covered and locked in the boot of the car, locking away mobiles and GPS devices, closing all windows and sunroofs, and always locking the car when you leave it.
You should get in touch with your insurer as well to see what you’re covered for as standard and what you’re not. It may be a bit more expensive changing your policy but it could be worth it in the long run if your car is broken into and all your Christmas presents stolen.
If possible, try not to leave gifts in your car at all. Once they’re purchased, head home rather than leaving them in the vehicle. Or shop online to avoid the problem entirely.


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Buzz Ad Agency certified as a women-owned business
MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - Buzz Ad Agency, based in Marquette, was recently certified as a woman-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
Buzz is a full-service marketing and advertising agency that began in September 2021. The company said there was a lot of work put into being certified as a women-led agency.
“When you apply to be certified there’s a lot of documentation to prove that you’re not only owned by at least 51% women but also managed and operated; all your major decisions are made by women in your team,” said owner Tammy Benda.
The agency says the certification is a great opportunity for them to grow and inspire other women entrepreneurs.
Copyright 2022 WLUC. All rights reserved.


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Back at the end of September at the BlackBerry Developer’s Conference, Research in Motion confirmed a rumor started by a company VP stating that QNX, the operating system that will make it’s RIM debut on the BlackBerry Playbook, would eventually replace the BlackBerry OS on BlackBerry devices. The big question in everyone’s mind is how long it will take for this to become the case, and, and if RIM will release a new wave a BlackBerry devices that run possibly an update to BlackBerry 6, or, maybe even BlackBerry 7.
BlackBerry 6 is really just hitting the scene
BlackBerry 6 is really just starting to get its legs under it. It is now offered out of the box on the BlackBerry Torch, the BlackBerry Style, and the BlackBerry Bold 9780 and we know that the BlackBerry Bold 9650, Bold 9700, Curve 3G, and Pearl 3G will eventually be upgradable to BlackBerry 6. One would have to imagine that any unknown, but, soon to be released BlackBerry devices would also run BlackBerry 6, however, the only real rumor of a new BlackBerry anywhere close to being released is the BlackBerry Storm 9570, for which there are as many rumors stating that this device has been scrapped as there are stating that it is coming.
A better question to ask
I can’t fathom that there is a QNX based BlackBerry coming anytime before we are well in to the second half of 2011, and, thus, it seems likely that there will be new BlackBerry devices out before then. Maybe a better question to ask is if the next wave of BlackBerry devices will be seen as lame ducks until a QNX based lineup hits the shelves?


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Twitter recently announced that "photos just got more social," introducing a new feature that lets people tag you in pictures. You can tag up to 10 people in an image, and users will receive notifications when they're tagged in photos.
But not everyone wants to be tagged. Whether it's for reasons of privacy or vanity, there's nothing wrong with not wanting your name displayed next to every photo of you on the internet. So, here's how to disable the new feature on your Twitter account.
Go to Twitter on your computer and login to your account. Click on cog icon in the top right corner and choose Settings from the drop-down menu.
Then go to Security and privacy on the left.
Under Privacy, select Do not allow people to tag me in photos if you want to disable tagging altogether.
You can also choose Only allow people I follow to tag me in photos if you just want to limit the feature.
Now, just scroll down and Save the changes and you're all set.
If you're on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, just go to your Me tab, hit the cog icon, and tap on Settings. Then, select which account you want to disable photo-tagging for.
On the next page, tap on Photo tagging under the Privacy section, then make sure it's turned off (not green).
For most Android devices, this process will be pretty much the same. Just hit the three-dot icon in the top-right and hit Settings, then select your preferred Twitter account.
Then just scroll down to the Other section and tap on Who can tag me in photos, then select Off and you're done.
What do you think about Twitter's new photo tagging feature? Fun, or just plain annoying? Let us know in the comments.


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Medical products company Medline Industries has selected GT Nexus to provide an enhanced global logistics management platform. Delivered as a cloud-based technology service, the platform will allow Medline to further automate and manage its multi-million dollar logistics spend with its global partners.
Medline manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centres, home care dealers and agencies. With multiple manufacturing sites and suppliers worldwide, Medline manufactures many of the products it sells and delivers direct to the marketplace. Medline sells in every state and in more than 20 countries.
“With the growth of our global supply chain operation, the time had come to further enhance the way we run our logistics network,” said Mike Collins, vice president of inbound transportation and logistics at Medline. “GT Nexus is the market leader in providing the spend management technology we need and all of our partners were already on the platform. We get all of the enhanced technology, in the cloud. The overall value proposition was very attractive to us.”
Medline will interact with its partner network to procure services and manage contracts for ocean transportation. All of Medline’s carrier partners are already active on GT Nexus supporting other large shippers and using existing information and process standards. This allows Medline to roll out and get results quickly.
The annual BNP Paribas Cash Management University kicked off on Thursday morning with treasury professionals congregating in Paris from across Europe.
APIs may be a solution to MT940 challenges, says Karen Fagan, treasury operation manager, for British television company, ITV.
Kicking off the first day of the Singapore Fintech Festival, issues with cryptocurrencies were addressed by MIT media labs director, Joi Ito, and panels of technology leaders discussed how they’re using data analytics.
Sibos 2017 day two highlights: Brexit and banking, and why ‘data is the new oil’ in financial services
How nation first politics can impact global financial organisations It’s clear that data and regulation are the two key topics that are ... read more


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Gastronomy meets art in the new edition of ‘Caminada. Das Magazin’
The 4th edition of ‘Caminada. Das Magazin’ hits the shelves today, Friday 18 November 2022. The new edition blends the latest food trends with some cultural inspiration from across Europe, as well featuring exclusive interviews and the latest influences in design and lifestyle.


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The following is a note found on Facebook.
Random ideas on what makes money money
by Kermit Kefafel, Friday, January 29, 2016
Is money a public or private good? It is a private good imbued with public interest. The public goods that attach to money are the safety of the banking system and price stability, as conventionally promised by a central bank.
What are cryptocurrencies? They act as substitutes for the use of cash in untraceable transactions, the idea of Bitcoin. You can even buy bitcoins at your local 7-Eleven.
The market for Bitcoin has lately been shaken with the arrest of one of its principals; there is talk that it could collapse. Will other cryptocurrencies have the same problems?
I suspect that for a cryptocurrency to become viable, it must hurdle the trust problem — its users and holders must be assured that its supply and valuation are, in some sense, sacrosanct. That its price could bubble up and down like a financial asset is a negative. Even fiat-currency central banks pay some kind of lip service to exchange stability under the current system of floating exchange rates.
Because of the public-goods aspect of money, a stateless currency requires an enforcement mechanism that is private but viable. Does such an enforcement mechanism exist?
Or, are cryptocurrencies just another Ponzi scheme?
For reference, see Lawrence White’s article in the Cato Journal.
The central bank (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) has issued an advisory regarding the lack of regulation on virtual currencies.
A recent assessment predicts continued growth of Bitcoin in the Philippines.


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Briefing Papers Endorse Online Strategy
13 March, 2000
BRIEFING PAPERS ENDORSE ONLINE STRATEGY
The Minister for Information Technology Paul Swain has today released Ministry for Economic Development briefing papers which support the government's online strategy.
Paul Swain said the Ministry's advice supports the government's plans to bring the ecommerce issue to the forefront of New Zealand's economic activity.
"The Government is going to establish an active partnership with local government, community and industry to transform New Zealand into an information economy," Paul Swain said.
"Our ecommerce strategy is part of the policy mix that will provide the vision and leadership New Zealand needs to transform itself from a commodity dependent, export based economy to one that adds value through knowledge and information.
"The papers emphasise the key role ecommerce will play in the future of an inclusive, innovative economy which will benefit all New Zealanders.
"In the middle of this year we will hold an ecommerce summit where the government will present a draft of its ecommerce strategy for discussion.
"It is vital that we receive proper feedback on the ecommerce strategy from the people who are actually out there working in the ecommerce environment," he said.
Mr Swain has also today released a paper from the Ministry of Justice outlining the need to address the legal framework required to facilitate ecommerce and to deal with electronic crime.
"Ecommerce covers a broad spectrum of activities and has the potential to expand New Zealand's economic base. But for New Zealanders to reap the benefits it requires an active response from the government," Mr Swain said.
For further information please
Kerry Lamont – Press Secretary


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Electrical appliances are a staple in homes across Britain.
But one company is hoping to change that by selling them for electricity, rather than to power homes.
The company, Electra, said it will begin selling electricity to homes on Monday.
Its chief executive, Matthew Frew, said he wanted to make electricity a more attractive option for people to invest in.
“It is going to be a bit of a shock,” Mr Frew said.
“I’m actually shocked that people have decided to pay for electricity.”
Electricity is a very low cost energy product and people are really excited about it.
“Electra has a really good track record of success and customers have been very enthusiastic.”
Electra’s electricity is sold through electricity retailers in Britain.
It is also selling to consumers via a range of retail outlets, including home and business, and through the internet.
Electricity prices have fallen significantly since the financial crisis.
In December, it was selling for about $US60 a kilowatt-hour.
But the current price of electricity is about $15 a kilawatt-hours, down from more than $20 a kilobawatt in 2015.
The electric car company, PlugShare, is also making electricity available for purchase through its online store, but Mr Frick said the company’s electricity had been on sale for almost two months.
“PlugShare is the only electric car retailer that actually provides the electricity,” he said.
Electric cars are a growing segment of the market and have become a lucrative alternative to traditional petrol-powered vehicles.
Mr Frew has said plug-in electric cars are not going to replace the car but will allow people to live their lives with less petrol and emissions.
He said the electric car industry needed to grow rapidly.
“I don’t think that it will be possible to compete with the petrol cars and diesel cars on the market,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
Topics:electric-vehicle,energy-and-utilities,electronics-and.energy-environmental-competition,business-economics-and_finance,home-and -office,cabinet-office,government-and,government,parliament,britain,united-kingdom,australiaMore stories from Victoria


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INCHEON, South Korea – The General Motors Korea Design Center here has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the first automotive facility in South Korea and GM’s seventh worldwide to achieve LEED certification.
Elements of the facility’s environmental design include:
According to the building council, LEED-certified buildings are designed to have healthier, cleaner indoor environmental quality, which means health benefits for occupants.
“Green buildings with increased ventilation and better lighting support the health and productivity of employees,” said Doug Ravas, General Motors senior manager, global facilities. “With seven LEED-certified facilities, GM is demonstrating its long-term commitment to its employees and the environment.”
Worldwide, GM pursues green building design and construction practices on all projects. Whether constructing new facilities or upgrading existing ones, it uses LEED design and engineering guidelines for resource efficiency, conservation and sustainable materials.
The $40 million GM Korea Design Center opened in April 2014. It houses exterior and interior vehicle styling, digital design and studio engineering operations that support GM’s global vehicle programs.
The GM Korea Design Center joins these GM facilities in receiving LEED certification: GM China Advanced Technical Center (Silver), GM China Headquarters (Gold), GM Enterprise Data Center in the U.S. (Gold), Joinville Engine Plant in Brazil (Gold), Lansing Delta Township Plant in the U.S. (Gold) and Milford Proving Ground Administration Building in the U.S. (Gold)
About General Motors Co.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 31 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
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- Growth in e-commerce shopping for healthy and natural products is on the rise, but consumers still rely on local grocery stores, according to research from New Hope Network, in partnership with NMI.
- The study created five general consumer profiles based on consumers' age, lifestyle and values. The well being group, who are proactive and early adopters for healthy products, makes up 26% of shoppers in this space and is the largest group. They spend more than any other group in the channel. Millennials make up 49% of this group, while baby boomers are only a third — but baby boomers spend more. Other profiles include eat, drink and be merry consumers — who don't place a higher premium on healthy items; fence-sitters — who want to be healthy but can't always commit; magic bullets — who want quick solutions; and food actives — representing the mainstream healthy crowd.
- The largest group of consumers said that in the last three months, they'd shopped for healthy and natural products at a traditional grocery store (81%). Other places that consumers said they'd shopped for items in the category include mass merchandisers (73%), drug stores or pharmacies (55%), warehouse or club stores (43%) and online (39%).
Retailers have been chasing millennial consumers for years now, trying to crack their often cryptic, digitally driven codes. It’s an intriguing lot, to be sure. Some of the 22 to 37 year olds have yet to reach their peak spending influence, they’re vastly diverse and their preferences are sure to stick around.
But baby boomers still have tremendous spending power. That’s why it’s wise for retailers to take either a comprehensive approach in reaching across demographics or shift the focus from age to values. On paper, NMI’s take makes plenty of sense: Focus on the proactive, early adopting “leader group” — the well beings — and leverage their enthusiasm in the hopes that it will influence the fence sitter and magic bullet groups to purchase more natural products.
In practice, however, it may be a bit trickier to ignore clear generational differences. Though a 21-year-old can be motivated by health as much as a 65-year-old, that could very well be their only similarity.
Millennials are appealing not only because of their future spending potential, but also because they are socially and digitally savvy. Their social media prowess can make or break a brand in one post, while their e-commerce dexterity can drive higher sales opportunities. But to ignore older generations is dangerous, especially for pricier items.
Retailers could start bridging this gap by simply creating an online presence. This is a critical step to appeal to multiple demographics, as online and brick-and-mortar complement each other, allowing for a spectrum of convenience and in-person opportunity. Younger consumers may not like being required to travel to a store during its hours of operation and parking. But older ones may not want to spend much time online because they can’t physically see or try products online and may have to pay for delivery.
But considering four out of five shoppers went to a grocery store for these products, it is important to retain that business. Grocery stores can foster a sense of community by doing things like hosting walking clubs, offering kid-friendly programs or sending newsletters. Bridging the gap may come down to not just providing a variety of products, but creating experiences as well. Research indicates that the millennial generation craves experiences from their brands, which could be traced to the advent of social media. Boomers didn’t grow up with the same experiential opportunities, but it doesn’t mean they don’t want them now.


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US Cellular to launch Moto X on August 26?
Few days ago, we saw Eric Schmidt playing around with the Moto X and also Larry Page said that he is excited about it as well. Recently, a detailed video was leaked which gave us a complete walk through of the upcoming Motorola smartphone. In other words, it is a device which is leaked a lot of times before its official release and now here’s another one. According to this memo page leaked by AndroidCentral, Moto X will be landing at US Cellular on August 26.
So if Google is planning to announce it on July 24, then it means we will see the Moto X in market somewhere in later August. Are you planning to grab the upcoming Motorola/Google flagship? Tell us about it in the comment box below.
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So you’re a Google Voice user and you’re dying to try out the new Hangouts Dialer experience, eh? You’re going to need to make sure you’ve got the most recent
One of the bigger names to join the Open Handset Alliance this week was Sony Ericsson. They are one of the last of the major handset makers, save for Nokia,
Samsung Electronics is proud to announce that ChatON now has a global subscriber base of over 100 million users. The service was launched in October 2011, hitting the 50 million


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Transfix and project44, both transportation solution providers, announced a multi-year strategic partnership. Together, the two industry leaders will jointly innovate on new transformative capabilities for the logistics industry, reflecting their mutual commitment to deliver technology solutions that empower both shippers and carriers.
“We are constantly looking for ways to reimagine freight and bring innovation to our end-to-end digital supply chain solution; project44 likewise understands and shares our vision for the future of freight. We are together aligned on the critical importance of creating transparency and efficiency through technology and data -- our partnership will be game changing for the transportation industry and our mutual clients,” said Lily Shen, CEO and president at Transfix.
The partnership launched with an integration enabling improved freight visibility -- more critical than ever as shippers navigate rapidly fluctuating demand, heightened customer expectations, and evolving COVID-19-driven supply chain challenges.
“We’ve always been focused on solutions that work for the entire transportation and logistics ecosystem. Which is why it’s crucial we partner with providers like Transfix, known for both its innovations in freight and its unique network of high quality, trusted carriers,” said project44 founder and CEO, Jett McCandless. “With our initial ELD integration, we are solving a key pain point in the industry -- for both shippers and carriers -- that’s only been exacerbated by the pandemic. This is only the beginning, with many impactful joint solutions on the horizon.”
This initial integration enhances Transfix’s mobile app-based shipment tracking technology with ELD-based visibility powered by project44. Now, Transfix shippers benefit from more robust tracking data that leverages project44’s machine learning for predictive ETAs -- enabling firms to more efficiently manage their supply chain. For Transfix core carriers, the p44 integration enables fleets to track via ELD and dispatchers to simply confirm which trucks are assigned to which shipments -- eliminating manual tracking errors, reducing the lift for drivers, and offering a much more efficient process, all while better serving the nation’s top shippers.
The partnership comes on the heels of a recent wave of innovation for both companies. Most recently, Transfix launched its Core Carrier Program program as well as Fleet Planner, a novel software solution for carriers that provides dispatchers with a one-stop-shop for managing fleets. In addition to broadening its visibility integrations and offerings for carriers, project44 has added air freight and groupage visibility, as well as expanded global ocean coverage to become the only visibility company to provide one seamless global and multimodal experience. The company has also added collaboration, automation and predictive insights capabilities across its platform.


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Black Gold Online Offers First Race Reveal for Industrial Buvants
Following last week’s sudden reveal of Black Gold Online’s unique F2P business model, it seems Snail Games is ready to start getting serious about revealing information about their upcoming steampunk versus nature faction focused action MMORPG. And sure enough today it begins with the reveal of the Buvants, the race most akin to humans and primarily responsible for the beginning of the Isenhorst faction’s industrial revolution.
The Buvants represent an incredibly open-minded faction that sided quickly with the dwarves after being cast out from the Eastern lands of Eriandir for defying nature as their leader, Hoka, crushed it to make way for his Black Gold-powered steam machinations. Now well established with powerful machines of war in hand, the Buvants are recognized as the rulers of Isenhorst and greatest threat to the old ways.
The Buvant race will allow players access to the Inquisitor, Mystic, and Tech Adept classes. They typically stand between 5’7” and 6’6”, resemble humans, and typically dress in Neo-Victorian Era fashion akin to what you might run into at a steampunk booth at Comic Con.
For more information on the Buvants, check out the official Snail Games post here!
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French company announces $11.5M expansion in Portage
Excerpted from Wisconsin State Journal
By Dee J. Hall
A global plastics company announced Thursday an $11.5 million expansion of its plant in Portage, aided in part by $700,000 in state tax credits.
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for the 48,000-square-foot expansion, which is expected to add 42 jobs to its 300-member Portage workforce.
Saint-Gobain vice president Marco Corrales said the company, which is celebrating 350 years in business, currently operates in 64 countries. It opened its Portage plant in 2001, he said, and has been growing by about 10 jobs a year.
The expansion is expected to be completed in early 2016.
Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, with more than 4,000 employees, is present in 16 countries in North America, Europe and Asia and operates 45 manufacturing sites including Portage.
Paris-based parent company Saint-Gobain Corp. is one of the top 100 largest industrial companies in the world with 43.2 billion (euros) in sales and 193,000 employees in 64 countries.


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The South African wine industry (Vinpro) has warned against further alcohol restrictions, which it says have given rise to a major illicit market and caused significant damage to legitimate businesses.
Because this illicit market is outside the government’s regulatory reach and operates uncontrolled, it leads to devastating consequences from a health and economic perspective, the group said.
“The liquor industry is already heavily regulated. We urge the government to stop these crisis-driven Covid-19 related prohibitions on wine which have promoted the development of parallel illicit markets, plunging our industry into a financial abyss and reducing much-needed government revenue,” Vinpro said.
“We want the government to combat illicit alcohol trade and create fair and open competition in the domestic market by enforcing the laws that already exist.”
Vinpro said that the wine industry had suffered irreparable damage through the Covid-19 pandemic – from a large number of small and medium wine businesses, particularly in the wine tourism sector, to wine grape producers and cellars, which include several black-owned enterprises – with 28,000 jobs already lost.
“We require urgent financial support and relief in order for these businesses to recover and rebuild and provide livelihoods,” it said.
Policy certainty needed
Vinpro said that the wine industry is different from other alcohol industries due to its tourism destinations attracting thousands of local and international visitors to the various wine regions and generating significant revenue for the economy and because it is a unique asset to the country.
The wine industry has built and continuously maintains a strong brand reputation for South Africa on the global stage, where we export to 132 countries.
Because wine is a cyclical product, the government must engage effectively and timeously with the industry on liquor-related policies and legislation to ensure a more conducive trading environment, it said.
“We ask for a clear taxation methodology as agreed with Treasury for wine-related products and an annual excise adjustment of below CPIX as the excise rate is already above the target incidence rate for wine and brandy. A clear policy framework with regard to beneficiation and inclusive growth in terms of access to existing and new water resources is also non-negotiable,” it said.
Fourth wave and another ban
The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA) has also warned that the government could introduce another alcohol ban in South Africa should a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections hit the country over the December holiday period.
The association, which includes the Craft Brewers Association, Heineken South Africa and South African Breweries (SAB), is concerned that another ban over a critical period could further damage the industry and lead to job losses.
The group has written to Trade, Industry and Competition minister Ebrahim Patel requesting his urgent intervention at a Cabinet-level to ensure that “irrational alcohol bans are no longer imposed, especially over the festive season, which is a critical time for the local industry”.
The previous four bans saw the beer industry losing 161 days of trade since March last year, putting just over 240,000 jobs at risk, with a tax revenue loss of R34.2 billion and R10.2 billion lost in excise revenue.
“No government funding or relief has been provided to assist our sector throughout this crisis, which has resulted in many small businesses being forced to close their doors permanently, including 27 craft breweries,” BASA said.


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Entries in 'PES 2015' (7)
It sounds as if the PC version of PES 2015 won’t be the same beast as the PS4 and Xbox One game.
The inclusion of microtransactions in PES 2015’s Master League mode is nothing other than a time saving exercise for those with some spare cash.
Konami has lifted the lid on the upcoming PES 2015, revealing what are described as plenty of major changes.
The first video showing Konami's PES 2015 has been released.
As sure as night follows day, Konami has dropped the first hint at PES 2015 is on the way.
The head of Konami Europe says the next Pro Evolution Soccer is ‘totally changed’.
Konami has confirmed that PES 2015 will be released on PS4.


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Frustrating Black Ops 4 Scorestreak bug is back in Cold War 2 years later
A bug with the Gunship Scorestreak many Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 players will remember all too well has now also appeared in Black Ops Cold War.
Although Modern Warfare (2019) had a brand new engine, both BO4 and BOCW use updated versions of the . Due to this, we’ve already seen some assets from Black Ops 4 appear in Cold War, but now a frustrating bug with the Gunship Scorestreak has also reappeared.
With each new Call of Duty being released yearly, developers have limited time to get the game ready for launch. Bugs and glitches always make their way into the full-release, and this has understandably also been the case this year with developers working through a pandemic.
A bug that first appeared in 2018’s Black Ops 4 is making the Gunship Scorestreak unusable in Cold War multiplayer.
Gunship Scorestreak broken
Shortly after taking control of the Gunship, your Operator will put the laptop away, taking away your hard-earned streak. This Scorestreak costs 10,000 points, making it the most difficult streak to earn. Earning the Gunship is a real achievement which makes this glitch all the more frustrating.
The bug was highlighted by Reddit user Pony_Baloney, who had also reported the exact same problem in Black Ops 4 two years ago.
“I submitted this bug report several times throughout 2018,” they explained on December 29. “As a long-time COD player it’s honestly disappointing to see a glitch from three year-old code still completely unchanged.”
“Especially in this game when earning a Gunship is ridiculously hard,” they concluded.
In Pony_Baloney’s previous post, they said the glitch often happens when several Gunships have been launched in the same match. In the clip they uploaded alongside the post, they shoot down another Gunship before launching their own, so this appears to remain true in Cold War.
Treyarch devs are keeping players up-to-date on BOCW issues they are aware of through their Trello board, but this Scorestreak bug isn’t on the list. However, it’s worth checking the board again after the festive season.
Image Credit: Treyarch
Video Credit: Pony_Baloney