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Cherry juice good for sleepIncreases levels of melatonin
Drinking cherry juice can improve both the quality and duration of sleep, a study has found.
Researchers from Northumbria University found that people who regularly drink Montomorency cherry juice get an extra 25 minutes a night of sleep.
They also found that the tart cherry juice "significantly increases" the levels of melatonin in the body, the hormone which regulates sleep as well as improving sleep quality.
The findings could benefit people who have difficulty sleeping due to insomnia, shift work or jet lag, said the researchers.
In the study, 20 healthy volunteers drank a 30ml serving of either tart cherry juice or a placebo juice twice a day for seven days.
Urine samples were collected from all the study participants before and during the investigation to determine levels of melatonin, a naturally occurring compound that heavily influences the human sleep-wake cycle.
During the study the participants wore an actigraphy watch sensor which monitored their sleep and wake cycles and kept a daily diary on their sleeping patterns.
The researchers found that when participants drank cherry juice for a week there was a significant increase in their urinary melatonin (15-16%) as compared to the control condition and placebo drink samples.
The actigraphy measurements of participants who consumed the cherry juice saw an increase of around 15 minutes in the time spent in bed, 25 minutes in their total sleep time and a 5-6 per cent increase in their 'sleep efficiency', a global measure of sleep quality.
Cherry juice drinkers reported less daytime napping time compared to their normal sleeping habits before the study and the napping times of the placebo group.
According to Dr Glyn Howatson, who led the research, this is the first study to show direct evidence that supplementing your diet with a tart Montomorency cherry juice concentrate leads to an increase in circulating melatonin and provides improvements in sleep amongst healthy adults.
Dr Howatson, an exercise physiologist, said: "We were initially interested in the application of tart cherries in recovery from strenuous exercise. Sleep forms a critical component in that recovery process, which is often forgotten.
"These results show that tart cherry juice can be used to facilitate sleep in healthy adults and, excitingly, has the potential to be applied as a natural intervention, not only to athletes, but to other populations with insomnia and general disturbed sleep from shift work or jet lag."
Study co-author Dr Jason Ellis, director of the Centre for Sleep Research at the university, said: "Although melatonin is available over the counter in other countries, it is not freely available in the UK.
"What makes these findings exciting is that the melatonin contained in tart cherry juice is sufficient to elicit a healthy sleep response.
"What’s more, these results provide us with more evidence surrounding the relationship between how we sleep and what we consume."
The study findings are to be published this week in the online edition of the European Journal of Nutrition.
This article was published on Wed 2 November 2011
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No more Music 'N' More
THE changing face of Australia's retail sector has finally taken its toll on another long established Toowoomba business.
Gardentown Music 'N More owner Trevor Roberts said that after 18 years operating in the Toowoomba CBD, increasing lease prices and powerful competition were just some of the factors forcing him to shut the doors on his family-run business.
He said ever since the proposed QIC redevelopment of the CBD shopping precinct was announced, lease holders in Gardentown have only been offered month by month or short-term leases once their current lease had expired.
"The short-term leases have really made a lot of retailers anxious about their future in the centre," Mr Roberts said.
"We are currently paying $60,000 per year and I know some stores of similar size are paying double that at Grand Central, and we are still struggling to make ends meet."
Music 'N More, which has had a few name changes over the years, first opened in Market Plaza 18 years ago.
Now occupying the store's old home is its biggest competitor.
"Since JB Hifi has moved in across the road we have definitely noticed a huge impact on our sales," Mr Roberts said.
"Most people who I talk to in the industry are amazed that I've been open for this long with JB Hifi less than 100 metres away."
Mr Roberts' son Shane, who helps run the business, said online sales in the past 12 months still weren't enough to save the store.
"We opened up an online store just over 12 months ago, but for a smaller store it is very cut throat," he said.
"People shop online for bargains and even though we have the same buying power as some of the bigger chains, we can't offer the same discounts as they can.
"A lot of our larger competitors are able to take a loss by reducing prices on popular products to entice people to come in store and make further purchases.
"It has reached the point where it's easier to shut the doors then to try and compete."
The Roberts family will roll down the doors for the last time on their business on Australia Day, 2012.

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- Nifty’s is a challenge combining NFTs and social media
- The challenge will use expertise developed by MEME Protocol
- Mark Cuban and Joe Lubin had been among the many buyers in Nifty’s pre-seed spherical
New NFT platform Nifty’s attracts outstanding buyers
NFTs are most likely the largest pattern within the crypto neighborhood for the time being, and the expertise has additionally made its technique to extra mainstream circles. And whereas established NFT platforms like Nifty Gateway and OpenSea are reaping the advantages (OpenSea simply raised a $23 million funding spherical), new gamers are getting into the market as properly.
One such new participant is Nifty’s, an organization making a platform that mixes gathering NFTs and social media. In line with the workforce, their platform is designed to make NFTs accessible to everybody, and join manufacturers and creators issuing NFTs with their audience. Nifty’s will launch “later this spring”.
Nifty’s will use expertise developed by MEME Protocol, a challenge that has created a platform for NFTs that makes use of ideas from decentralized finance. By staking belongings, customers can earn collectible NFTs that reference in style memes. The co-founders of MEME protocol are additionally co-founders of Nifty’s, and the corporate has purchased 78.2 MEME tokens (about $244,000 on the time of writing). MEME holders will get pleasure from particular perks associated to the Nifty’s platform, for instance early entry to new merchandise and unique NFTs.
Nifty’s has attracted some outstanding backers for its pre-seed funding spherical that was announced on Tuesday. This contains Mark Cuban, the investor who’s maybe most well-known for proudly owning the Dallas Mavericks NBA workforce and his position on the investment-themed actuality present Shark Tank.
Right here’s what Cuban needed to say on investing in Nifty’s:
“Nifty’s supplies precisely what the digital collectibles area wants subsequent because it evolves into far more than a artistic market – specifically neighborhood and social engagement. As an NBA workforce proprietor I noticed how Jeff leveraged expertise to dramatically enhance fan engagement on a worldwide foundation, and am thrilled to be concerned in constructing this neighborhood on the middle of the NFT ecosystem.”
The spherical additionally included Ethereum co-founder and ConsenSys CEO Joe Lubin and nameless Ethereum whale “0xb1”.
The challenge itself is led by Jeff Marsilio, who beforehand served as Senior Vice President of New Media on the NBA. Notably, Marsilio performed a job within the NBA licensing NBA Prime Shot, the favored collectibles platform that makes use of NFTs.


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According to a tweet published by Asheesh Birla on August 5, SVP Product at Ripple, the company was exploring the possibility of launching the implementation of xRapid as an ILP connector. However, the team is not ready to engage in this development, since all efforts are focused on xRapid.
It functions as a ilp connector but not specifically one today. It’s something we want to look at in early next year but we have our hands full with xrapid customers right now so focused on that.
— Asheesh Birla (@ashgoblue) August 5, 2019
“It functions as a ILP connector but not specifically one today. It’s something we want to look at in early next year but we have our hands full with xrapid customers right now so focused on that,” posted Asheesh on Twitter.
The team does not deny immersion in the implementation of xRapid as an ILP connector in the future.
The Changes in Cryptocurrency Space
Launched in Ripple in October 2015, the ILP protocol was able to interest traditional financial institutions in operating with a wide range of distributed, shared databases and blockchain in particular. That time the banks were more cautious about the blockchain and were just starting to research applications.
Ripple has helped banks to create a wide range of products, relying on their technology of distributed ledgers, and not on their national currency.
Here is what the InterLedger protocol to come up with the goods. Ripple innovation can connect banks, mobile payment platforms, exchanges, clearinghouses, and various ledgers. Ethereum, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, or any other are among them. InterLedger or ILP is a set of public protocols for sending payments on different ledgers.
Like routers on the Internet, connectors send packages of money through independent payment networks. Open architecture and a minimum protocol provide compatibility with any value transfer system. InterLedger is independent of any one company, blockchain or currency.
It becomes clear that ILP is something that will ultimately benefit from a largely fragmented blockchain. To date, there are more than 2000 blockchain projects, each one has different use cases and value suggestions.
However, it is this differentiation that reduces this value. However, through the solution linking them concerning interoperability, we will have one huge relevant network.
Despite the barriers, XRP’s tech development keeps evolving, moving forward as they strive to make the Ripple goal possible. However, mass acceptance continues to evade them.
Ripple is working hard to change this state of things by introducing products that help financial institutions around the world simplify their clients’ local and cross-border transactions, making them faster, cheaper and more convenient.
The launch of ILP could make it easier for financial institutions to act with cryptocurrencies and fiat. At the same time, this step, which will be crucial for the cryptocurrency market, will become widespread in the coming years.


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Build your own seamless purchase experience at Commerceweek, February 28-29. Gain strategies for consumer retention with immersive touchpoints, AI innovation and storytelling. Register now at 35% off.
Pinterest may be a social media newcomer, but, apparently, it’s already beating Twitter and Facebook when it comes to trust among women in the U.S.
According to BlogHer’s annual study on women and social media, when asked whether they trusted different social media sources, 81 percent of women representing the general U.S. population said they trusted blogs and Pinterest, while 67 percent said they trusted Facebook and 73 percent said they trusted Twitter. (The questions were asked of those who indicated that they used each of the social media services.)


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Business Excellence Awards
Applications are now being accepted for the 14th Annual Business Excellence Awar ...
Michelle Girasole has been named senior director of smooth sailing at North Star Marketing, where she will lead the company’s account management team as it delivers client campaigns. Girasole has 10 years of corporate marketing experience in addition to 10 years experience owning her own marketing firm. She holds a B.S. in marketing and an M.B.A. from the University of Rhode Island. •


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Hand sanitisers sold in Johannesburg contained traces of toxic ingredients
A new study has revealed that many hand sanitiser brands sold in Johannesburg in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic contained traces of toxic ingredients and less alcohol than required.
The study was published in Scientific Reports this month and was conducted by researchers from the National Health Laboratory Service national institute for occupational health.
It was prompted by media reports that many alcohol-based hand sanitisers were substandard and some contained potentially toxic ingredients.
The researchers set out to identify hand sanitisers without the recommended alcohol concentration of at least 70% propanol or 60% ethanol, and those that contained toxic ingredients.
The World Health Organisation recommended the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, in the absence of soap and water, to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“Unfortunately, many hand sanitisers in SA have not been verified to meet the regulators’ recommendations or that they are manufactured under the stipulated regulatory conditions,” the researchers said.
“In addition, the regulator [SA Bureau of Standards] lacks verifiable information to ascertain the methods being used to prepare hand sanitisers at homes and to determine if these sanitisers are safe for use on human skin.”
The researchers collected 94 samples of hand sanitiser from shops and street vendors between March and June 2020.
“While more (56%) brands of hand sanitiser in this study contained the recommended concentration of alcohol, there were also many (44%) substandard and possibly subpotent preparations,” the study found.
“The study also found that only 30% (10 gels and 9 liquids) of the analysed hand sanitisers contained 80% alcohol.
“Even though alcohol concentrations higher than 80% are known to be less potent against bacteria because proteins are not easily denatured in the absence of water, this bodes well for disinfection against SARS-CoV-2 as ethanol at 80% is highly effective against enveloped viruses.”
Researchers also established that some hand sanitisers contained toxic ingredients. “This is worrying because even if a hand sanitiser contains enough alcohol as recommended or contains ingredients that enhance its virucidal activity in case of low alcohol content ... the presence of toxic ingredients renders the preparation harmful and unfit for human use,” they said.
“It is for this reason that it is recommended that all consumers (workplaces and the public in general) be aware of untrustworthy brands of hand sanitiser supplying substandard and possibly subpotent sanitiser preparations or sanitisers with toxic ingredients.”
Unscrupulous manufacturers in SA misled the public by labelling their products as “SABS approved”, the researchers said.
“Unknowingly, using a hand sanitiser with no virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 may give one a false sense of security, while those using sanitisers containing toxic ingredients are likely to suffer from the associated risks,” according to the study.
“For example, exposure to methanol through both ingestion and transdermal absorption, if left untreated, can be extremely dangerous, leading to significant disability and death.
“Even if toxic substances are just traces, the typical frequent use of hand sanitiser products throughout the day can result in very high total exposure with consequent adverse health effects.”
SA, like other countries, had relaxed legislation to enable “local businesses to rapidly-produce alcohol-based hand sanitisers to meet the great surge in demand for hand sanitisation products during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak”.
“The SA public is also advised to remain alert to media reports that continually keep surfacing about hand sanitiser brands in violation of the SABS guidelines, by producing sanitiser preparations that are subpotent or contain toxic substances.”
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Teatrix and Paramount+ Join Streaming WarBy Sofía Hanna | Thu, 01/21/2021 - 17:35
The streaming competition keeps escalating, especially now that the habit of consuming streaming content has increased since the quarantine started. Added to the already existing competitors, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus, to mention some of them, new players are entering the game: Paramount+ and Teatrix.
Paramount+ will be the new ViacomCBS streaming service joining the company’s regular channels CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures. On Mar. 4, the platform will be officially released and it will be available in the US, Latin America and Canada. It will be available in other countries starting on Mar. 25, as reported by Forbes.
Something unique about this streaming service is that it will be open to giving rights to certain films and network series to third parties. The main idea from ViacomCBS is to deliver “live sports, breaking news and a mountain of entertainment,” according to Penske Business Media.
Teatrix is another recent arrival, although it is dedicated to streaming plays. Given the cultural sector has had to pause its usual schedule, the theater industry has had to come up with other ways to keep performing arts alive. This platform was officially released in Mexico on Nov. 1, 2020. Only two months of being in the market, it has already reached 2,000 subscribers with over 80 plays available. Teatrix already existed in Argentina since 2015 and its arrival in Mexico represented an investment of MX$20 million (US$100,000), as mentioned by Forbes.
“It is a totally new form of entertainment. Above all, the most important thing for us is that Teatrix pays royalties to actors, composers, directors and producers. There is a way to continue maintaining the value chain of the performing arts,” Oscar Carnicero, Owner of the theater La Teatrería, told Forbes.
As previously mentioned in an MBN article, the pandemic blew a tough hit to the theater industry. Businesses worldwide are fighting to be considered a priority but culture has been relegated. “Many producers are leaving the theaters because they can no longer pay the bills. The economic hit will be even worse from now on,” Theater Producer Alejandro Gou told La Jornada.
Having a streaming platform that promotes artists and at the same time gives them royalties for their work could be the start of a solution to the problem previously stated. However, for Gou, it is not enough. “These (streaming platforms) are just a band-aid for a huge wound,” he said. As stated by MBN, theater companies are still asking the government for support, which could be similar to what the restaurant sector receives or through a 100 percent subsidy on the Public Show Tax, according to Gou.
For audiences at home, the streaming war rages on, with competition coming from movie and series streamers, as well as theater.


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What you need to know
- Microsoft has announced that tabs are coming to Notepad.
- It's available today in preview for Insiders in the Dev Channel.
- The update adds tabs to the top of the Notepad app.
After a screenshot leaked on Christmas Day, Microsoft has now officially confirmed that tabs will be coming to the Notepad app soon, with a preview available for Insiders in the Dev Channel rolling out today. The new version of Notepad features a familiar tabs interface that runs along the top of the app, allowing you to open multiple .txt files under on window.
Dave Grochocki, principle program lead on Windows' inbox apps announced the following:
With this update, we are introducing support for multiple tabs—a top requested feature from the community—where you will be able to create, manage, and organize multiple files in a single Notepad window! You can also continue to work with files across multiple windows by dragging a tab out into its own window, and a new app setting lets you customize whether files open in new tabs or a new window by default.
Microsoft does warn that this new preview version of Notepad might be a little buggy, especially around keyboard shortcuts and performance. The company says it plans to address these issues over the coming weeks, before the app launches officially for the rest of the world.
Insiders will need to install version 11.2212.33.0 of the Notepad app to gain access to the new tabs feature, which should be rolling out for Dev Channel users in the Microsoft Store now.
For now, tabs in Notepad are here for Dev Channel users, and it's pretty awesome to see Microsoft adding tabs to other apps. Last year, Microsoft finally added tabs to File Explorer, after users spent years asking for it. Now we want to know which apps Microsoft will add tabs to next.
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RUMOR: Apple to Open Mini Stores Inside Target This Year
Posted on January 6, 2012 by kelly maddox
Apple will be opening new mini stores in select Target locations later this year, according to AppleInsider. They claim a source familiar with Apple’s plans say the company plans to begin opening Apple-branded areas within 25 Target store locations which can’t support a standalone Apple Store.
This would be similar to the mini Apple stores currently at over 600 Best Buy locations.


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words // Brandon Richard
As a new Oregon Ducks Air Jordan PE surfaces, so does sad but inevitable news of student athletes getting in trouble for selling team gear.
Earlier today, the University of Oregon announced that men's basketball players Ben Carter and Dominic Artis violated NCAA rules by selling team-issued apparel over the past year. Selling team apparel is a violation of NCAA bylaw 126.96.36.199, which prohibits student athletes from receiving extra benefits.
According to reports, the violations were discovered through internal monitoring and investigated with the cooperation of the players, who were then declared ineligible and have applied for reinstatement.
DuckTerritory.com confirms that Artis, Carter and three former players sold exclusive basketball shoes, likely exclusive Air Jordans that fetch up to $5,000.
Each player will be withheld from participating in a yet to be determined number of games to start the season and must donate the value of the apparel to charity.


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Pink+Dolphin x HBK Collab Video[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sgI1oXB3rA&w=640&h=360]
Pink+Dolphin Clothing and Bay Area collective HBK celebrated their collaboration launch Of IAMSU’s '$uzy 6 $peed' mixtape last weekend. The two-day event spanned Northern and Southern California as Day 1 kicked off with an IamSu, HBK meet-and-greet at the Pink+Dolphin store in Los Angeles. Day 2 of the event saw Pink+Dolphin and HBK making their way up north to True in SF. Day 2 of the event served as a homecoming for Pink+Dolphin Clothing, a Bay Area based brand, and the company was thrilled by the strong turn out. Fans were presented with hard copies of IamSu's latest mixtape, and had the chance to purchase Pink Dolphin’s exclusive $uzy 6 $peed Capsule Collection. Watch the video recap of IAMSU and the HBK Gang as they teamed up with Pink Dolphin for two energetic in-store releases.


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News tagged ‘google drive’
Thursday, 21 Feb 2013
Google has announced the new preview feature in Google Drive. Users can now quickly and easily browse through more than 30 file types in Google Drive without having to open them.
Friday, 7 Dec 2012
Google has just announced that it’s no longer accepting new signups for the free edition of Google Apps. Luckily, if you’re already using it, today’s announcement has no impact on you, unless you wish to add more than 10 users.
Thursday, 29 Nov 2012
It's odd that the Google Drive mobile apps for Android and iOS didn't allow you to edit spreadsheets, but Google has rectified that with the latest version of the apps. Hit the link to find out what other changes the updated apps bring.
Tuesday, 11 Sep 2012
The lackluster Google Drive app for iOS finally receives a justified update today, one that includes features such as document creation, editing and management.
Wednesday, 29 Aug 2012
Microsoft has released the official SkyDrive app for Android devices.
Wednesday, 25 Apr 2012
Google hops onto the cloud storage bandwagon with Google Drive, which offers 5GB free storage and supports over 30 types of documents including Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. It is available now for PC, Mac and Android, and will come soon to the iPhone and iPad.


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Bolzano Artisan Meats shuts down following dispute with state of Wisconsin
Bolzano Artisan Meats has shut down its Milwaukee business following a dispute with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
The company said in an email newsletter that it’s closing its Holton Street plant for good, although it hopes to relaunch someday.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection temporarily suspended Bolzano’s license because it had changed its production process without verifying the change with the state, according to the agency. That followed a USDA recall of 5,700 pounds of Bolzano salami because it was labeled as federally inspected, when Bolzano was actually a state-licensed plant.
Bolzano was open for five years and was one of the founding members of the Wisconsin Artisan Food Producers Association. In the email, the owners said they will be “teaching classes, making podcasts, working on political issues that affect artisan food processors, or just sharing our passion for good farming and great eating with all of you” now that the business is closed.
Associate Editor Stacy Vogel Davis covers retail and tourism for the Milwaukee Business Journal. She also covers restaurant news through her Table Talk blog on The Business Journal website and column in the weekly edition.
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Home services is ever growing, the economy is doing real well so well that some homes get sold within 24 hours. With the rise in home sales comes home repairs. Some of the most costly repairs many homeowners do are bath and kitchen remodels that can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Carpet cleaning businesses like Appleton Carpet Cleaning have reported a huge growth in revenue and sales this year alone. If you were ever thinking of starting a home based service cleaning business. Carpet cleaning is a great industry to get into.
Another huge industry to invest in is remodeling, many of these contractors are booked 6 months out. Now is the time!


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Agenda Long Beach
05 Jul. 2013
Agenda Long Beach to support indie retailersAlthough the action sports it specializes in tend to be solo activities, the Agenda show is learning that there is power in teamwork. A member of the Modern Assembly cooperation of trade shows in Las Vegas in August, Agenda has also just announced an endorsement with the Board Retailers Association, or BRA, for its next Long Beach edition on July 25-26.
It will work with the 10-year-old non-profit trade association that represents more than 500 sports retailers across the US to support independent retailers who shop the show.
"Supporting the independent retailers is at the core of the Agenda business model. It’s a natural collaboration for Agenda and BRA to unite for the greater good of our Industry,” says Mike Carter, Agenda’s vice president of sales and marketing. “The relationship will give us the opportunity to further focus on the needs of the independent retailers and brands.”
"I'm excited to see BRA and Agenda joining together to promote the continued importance of specialty retail in our industry,” says Bruce Cromartie, founder of BC Surf & Sport. “Agenda-Long Beach is the premier show on the West Coast, and an important venue for all our members to attend."
BRA has not endorsed a West Coast show since the Action Sports Retailer (ASR) show folded in 2010. To celebrate the partnership, BRA and Agenda will host a private event for BRA members, brand leaders and independent retailers after the show’s first day, July 25.
Agenda’s next New York edition begins this Wednesday, July 10 and runs through July 11.
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PSU office helps with business disaster loan process in Joplin
The effects of the Joplin tornado on small businesses have been great, they're ongoing and they touch more businesses than people may realize, according to Kathryn Richard, director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pittsburg State University. Members of the PSU SBDC staff are working with their counterparts in Joplin this week to help small business owners with SBA disaster aid.
June 15, 2011 12:00AM
Cindy Triplett and Kathryn Richard, SBDC at PSU, examine loan application information at the Newman Innovation Center in Joplin.
The effects of the Joplin tornado on small businesses have been great, they're ongoing and they touch more businesses than people may realize, according to Kathryn Richard, director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pittsburg State University.
"Just because a business wasn't destroyed or damaged in the tornado doesn't mean it wasn't affected," Richard said. "Many businesses have seen their markets change dramatically as a result of the tornado and it may be many months before it resembles anything like normal."
Richard and her colleagues at PSU's SBDC, Cindy Triplett and Tom Byler, are working with their counterparts at the Small Business and Technology Development Center in Joplin this week to help business owners through the process of applying for low-interest disaster loans offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Kansans are no strangers to disasters. Richard helped after the Greensburg tornado and again after flooding across large parts of southeast Kansas.
"We've each worked disasters before," Richard said, "but each situation is different."
What set the Joplin tornado apart, Richard said, was its sheer magnitude.
"Because of the size of the tornado and the number of businesses affected, we knew it would put a strain on the resources of the Joplin office, so we offered to help."
Richard said the loans the SBA offers for damage are better understood than those for economic injury. Economic injury loans, she explained, are designed to help businesses that have suffered economic loss as a result of a disaster, even though they suffered no physical damage.
A hypothetical example could be a company that had as its major client a manufacturer destroyed in the tornado.
"Suddenly, the market has changed," Richard said. "It may be many months before the manufacturer can rebuild and business once again flows to the other, undamaged company. That's where an Economic Injury Disaster Loan might be a good option for a qualifying business."
Richard said businesses need not be in Joplin to qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. The area in which the SBA is offering injury disaster loans includes Cherokee and Crawford counties in Kansas, Delaware and Ottawa counties in Oklahoma, and Benton and several other counties in Arkansas.
Richard said business owners interested in either physical disaster loans or economic injury disaster loans should go to the Newman Innovation Center at 320 E. 4th street in Joplin. The center is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Richard said the deadline to apply for physical disaster loans in July 8 and the deadline for economic injury disaster loans is late this year.


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July 22, 2022 - 12:21 PM 260 views
1. The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) analysts provide a concise summary of the major developments reported this week from New Zealand.
“This week, we learned that annual CPI inflation in New Zealand reached 7.3 percent in Q2, exceeding both our own projection of 7.1 percent and the May MPS forecast from the RBNZ of 7.0 percent.”
"The spike in domestic and core inflation indexes was the actual news in the CPI statistics. Core inflation measures range from 4.8 percent to 6.1 percent, and annual non-tradable inflation reached a new record high of 6.3 percent. We updated our OCR forecast because the domestic inflation pulse is stronger and more enduring than we had anticipated. By year's end, we now anticipate the OCR to reach its peak at 4% (up from 3.5%.”
"In response to Q2's results, we revised our inflation predictions. While headline inflation may have peaked in Q2, it is likely to continue to be very high for a while. Only at the end of next year, according to our predictions, will inflation fall below the 3 percent mark. For the RBNZ, there is still work to be done.
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Technology retailer TigerDirect has announced that it is now accepting bitcoin payments via its Canadian e-commerce portal TigerDirect.ca and on all of its tablet and mobile websites.
TigerDirect is partnering with BitPay for the Canadian rollout, according to a statement from the company.
Steven Leeds, TigerDirect’s marketing director, told CoinDesk the demand was high for bitcoin payments from Canadian customers:
All of the site's customers can also now make purchases in bitcoin through the retailer's tablet and mobile websites.
Leeds added: "This is new for the US and Canada, we've rolled [bitcoin payments] out across all of our other platforms".
Positive community response
The news about the company’s decision to bring bitcoin to its Canadian service went public during a reddit Ask Me Anything session held by TigerDirect today. Prior to the start of the Q&A session, several community members quickly asked whether the company was planning such a move.
The highest-rated question on the reddit AMA addressed the query, and was eventually updated with TigerDirect’s jubilant answer: “HOW DOES RIGHT NOW SOUND??” The response elicited excitement from participating community members.
One user suggested that bitcoin integration would enable Canada’s technology enthusiasts to acquire mining parts more easily when paying with digital currency, rather than driving into the US to pick up their hardware.
TigerDirect strengthens bitcoin support
Notably, the move to accept bitcoin on more of its offerings confirms an earlier suggestion that the company was actively considering bitcoin integration for its Canadian operations.
TigerDirect first hinted in April that it was looking into adding bitcoin payments for its Canadian customers. At the time, a temporary website header suggested that the company’s TigerDirect.ca portal would begin taking bitcoin payments by encouraging customers to "stay tuned".
When asked whether the company had more in store for digital currencies, Leeds suggested that TigerDirect has a "long-term roadmap" in regards to bitcoin, stating:
Leeds concluded: "The customer wants it and we plan on delivering".
Disclaimer: CoinDesk founder Shakil Khan is an investor in BitPay
Image via TigerDirect.ca
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(Promo) Advertising and promotion agencies are preparing to deal with a new Connecticut sales tax to be imposed on advertising services beginning April 1.
Advertising services related to the development of media advertising or cooperative direct mail advertising, such as layout, art direction, graphic design, mechanical preparation and production supervision, will be subject to 3% sales and use taxes. Sales of nonmedia advertising services and direct mail advertising services, other than cooperative direct mail, will be taxed at 6%.
“Administratively it’s going to become a nightmare to disseminate what is taxable and what is not taxable,” says Jim Plattner, senior vice president /chief financial officer for J Brown/LMC Group in Stamford, CT. “From our clients’ perspective, their budgets are locked and really tight. They can’t go back and say, ‘I need another 3% or 6% on top of everything else because Connecticut changed its sales tax laws.’ The client may say, ‘We’re going to have to reduce our spending by that amount to cover you having to charge us the sales tax.’ That will really hurt us.”
Howard Steinberg, CEO of Source Marketing, Westport, CT, agrees: “In a time of increasing budget pressures and bottom-line intensity, here comes another factor that will place some downward influence on marketing spend.” The American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), along with the Association of National Advertisers, is continuing efforts to repeal or ameliorate the tax. Concern is growing that other states will adopt similar measures. The tax law was passed as part of a budget deficit bill in February as a short-term fix to help reduce the state’s $500 million deficit.


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Samsung looked to regain the trust of its customers as it revealed late Sunday that two separate battery issues caused one of its best-selling smartphones to catch fire and explode this past fall.
The second round of fires, which affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones, were caused by several manufacturing issues, including inadequate welding at the battery manufacturer, as the company raced to produce those new phones.
“We are committed to earning the trust of our customers through innovation that redefines what is possible in safety, and as a gateway to unlimited possibilities and incredible new experiences,” DJ Koh, Samsung's president of its Mobile Communications Business, said in a statement. The company said 96 percent of Galaxy Note 7 phones have been returned.
On stage during a news conference in Seoul, Koh was quick to point out that several of the phone’s key design features — including its iris scanner, fast-charging feature and USB-C port — had not caused the fires.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which administered the recall in the United States, declined to comment on the report. At least 96 fires have been reported in the United States — including a car fire in Florida that brought widespread attention to the problem. The phones are banned by the Federal Aviation Administration. The phones are so volatile that airline staff were instructed to announce that ban at the start of every flight — a requirement that was lifted Jan. 10.
The report was compiled by Samsung and third-party researchers it hired to work on the investigation. The issues disclosed Sunday ultimately led the company to issue two recalls for its flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, and to stop making the device altogether. Samsung recalled about 2.5 million phones.
The recall was damaging for the company, which reported its lowest profits in years in the quarter immediately after the recall. Sales numbers also indicate that it lost ground to its smartphone rival Apple over the crucial 2016 holiday season. Analysts have estimated that Samsung may have lost as much as $10 billion because of the recall, in costs and lost sales. Samsung will report earnings this week.
Samsung officials said they “have taken several corrective actions to ensure this never happens again, including the implementation of a multi-layer safety measures protocol at the product planning stage, and an 8-Point Battery Safety Check.”
The extra safety checks add several new tests for Samsung and its manufacturers. The company said it will increase the rigor and frequency of visual tests — including an X-ray — to look for problems in the shape and size of its batteries. Both battery manufacturers and Samsung will disassemble the batteries as part of these checks, to avoid issues such as the welding problems that cause the second round of fires.
Samsung also hired researchers to look at its manufacturing processes; those researchers reported that the company's factories met all international safety standards.


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[Available in Canada] Samsung Galaxy S9 Android 10 (One UI 2.0) update: Here's the global rollout status
New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….
Original story (published on February 01, 2020) follows:
Samsung last month started rolling out the stable Galaxy S9 Android 10 update in the U.S and Europe. This is unlike Samsung, which usually begins rolling out OS upgrades in Europe first before the U.S. joins in later on.
This unusual initial rollout of the OS doesn’t seem to have affected the rollout in other markets, though. Matter of fact, it appears the typical Exynos-first and Snapdragon-later approach is taking shape once again, with more regions in Europe continuing to receive the OS.
For the uninitiated, the time it takes between Samsung making a software update available and when it actually hits your device is affected by your region and whether your device is unlocked or carrier-locked.
Historically, as noted earlier, Exynos models get updates ahead of Snapdragon variants, primarily because the latter are mostly sold in North America with carrier-locked status while the former are sold globally as unlocked devices.
In short, the fact that the Galaxy S9 Android 10 firmware has to go through T-Mobile for certification (and the addition of bloatware) is the reason you haven’t received the OTA while those on unlocked variants have. The story is the same for other carrier-branded S9 and S9+ models.
Apparently, the update will begin rolling out on AT&T and Verizon this February, which is when most S9 users will receive the new OS.
To give you a better idea of who has received it, below is a list of countries across the globe where the Galaxy S9 Android 10 update has been released based on reports by Redditors who have received the OTA and the available firmware (via SamFrew):
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
As it stands, countries like Argentina and Brazil can expect the update to arrive in April 2020, which is still a long way to go.
We will keep an eye on the developments around the S9 One UI 2.0 update rollout and update this article as and when the OS spreads out to more regions across the globe. Meanwhile, you may check out this post on how to install the S9 Android 10 update manually right now.
Update 1 (February 04, 2020)
U.S. unlocked Galaxy S9 and S9+ are now receiving their Android 10 updates as build DTA5.
On the other hand, the OS is expected to arrive on Sprint variants this month before making its way to Canada in March 2020. Details here.
Update 2 (February 07, 2020)
Folks in the LATAM region are also receiving the update to Android 10 on their Galaxy S9 and S9+ units. The update is arriving as build number DTA7 and bundles January 2020 security patch.
Update 3 (February 11, 2020)
Samsung is now rolling out Android 10 to multiple Galaxy S9 and S9+ units in more regions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The update’s build number remains unchanged from the original version released last month – DTAA.
So far, wider rollout in the U.S. (carrier variants) and Canada is still in the waiting. Also, folks in Korea and China are still waiting for their One UI 2.0 update to arrive, perhaps before the end of this month.
Update 4 (February 13, 2020)
Finally, owners of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in Samsungs home country of South Korea are receiving the stable update to One UI 2.0. The OTA is arriving as build number DTAB and weighs in at over 1.7GB, tagging along January 2020 security patches.
Update 5 (February 18, 2020)
More regions across Europe are now receiving Android 10 on the Galaxy S9 and S9+, namely Austria, Greece, Macedonia, Slovakia, Czech, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, and France.
Apart from Europe, folks in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia as well as Australia are also receiving the new update.
Galaxy S9 Android 10 update in now live for unlocked phones in Australia.
Update 6 (February 24, 2020)
The S9 is also receiving the One UI 2.0 OTA in Poland as build DTB4 and bundles the latest February security patch.
Update 7 (February 26, 2020)
Pakistan is now receiving the Android 10 update on the Galaxy S9 and S9+ as build DTB4 and bundles the latest February security patches.
Update 8 (February 27, 2020)
T-Mobile has temporarily paused the recently released Galaxy S9 Android 10 update until further notice. See the full details here.
Update 9 (February 29, 2020)
One UI for Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ and Note 9 devices will be released on March 09 in Canada. Complete coverage here.
Update 10 (March 07, 2020)
Samsung Galaxy S9 devices in Singapore are now getting the One UI 2.0 update.
Update 11 (March 09, 2020)
Canada’s TELUS, Rogers and Fido will begin rolling out the stable One UI 2.0 update based on Android 10 to the Galaxy S9, S9+ and even the Note 9 as from today, March 9. Matter of fact, the update is already rolling out. See the full story here.
PiunikaWeb started as purely an investigative tech journalism website with main focus on ‘breaking’ or ‘exclusive’ news. In no time, our stories got picked up by the likes of Forbes, Foxnews, Gizmodo, TechCrunch, Engadget, The Verge, Macrumors, and many others. Want to know more about us? Head here.


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According to foodservice consultancy Technomic, consumers are also being driven to excess by cultural moralizing over nutrition. That is, as expanding waistlines make more headlines (in Canada, 62 per cent of people are considered overweight, with a quarter qualifying as obese), proselytizing over healthy eating has led many folks to do the opposite.
From the Winnipeg Free Press, HT: Mom.
Sorting out causality on this one would be tough; I don't know how you'd instrument around that places with more nanny messages are likely the places with worse eating habits ex ante. But fun nevertheless.
And the deep-fried butter discussed in the article does sound tempting....


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SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today said a new survey showed that more than 80 percent of organizations no longer use the calendar to time their enterprise software solution purchases.
The results of the survey, conducted by Futurum Research and sponsored by SAP, identify industry shifts in business-to-business (B2B) buyer expectations and preferences.
“B2B buying is at a turning point,” said Sharon Ruddock, head, SAP Digital Commerce group, SAP. “Companies are moving away from traditional enterprise-buying habits in search of speed, transparency and simplicity on digital channels. SAP is ensuring our customers experience the most convenient, frictionless buying process as they engage in digital commerce on the online marketplaces SAP offers. With our digital resources, including SAP Store, SAP App Center and SAP.com, customers can easily discover, try and buy software solutions online.”
About 1,000 B2B decision-makers from small to enterprise-level companies across 11 major industries responded to the survey. Notable findings include:
Strategic business initiatives are driving the shift towards digital B2B buying.
- Almost half (49 percent) of the respondents cited moving to the cloud as the leading motivation in their shift to digital buying.
- Supporting the needs of digital transformation efforts is also driving this change in buyer behavior, with 48 percent indicating the importance of shifting to digital purchasing.
- Cutting costs and operational efficiency play a large role. Over 43 percent and 36 percent, respectively, highlighted these factors as key motivations for the move to online buying.
Customers want more transparency and freedom in their buying process.
- Nearly 90 percent of respondents said they consider product trials to be an important feature in their digital buying process.
- Eighty-five percent of businesses rated one-on-one online product and video product demos as very important when digitally buying enterprise software solutions.
- Four out of five organizations noted that paid proofs of concept are important factors in making their digital purchasing decisions.
B2B customers are motivated by the ease and pace of B2C shopping.
- Two-thirds of respondents cited time and resource efficiency as a primary reason for making enterprise software purchases online. About 45 percent cited convenience.
- Forty-three percent noted operational speed as a principal motivator. About 37 percent named simplicity and less friction as top motivators.
“Consumers have become accustomed to simple online one-click buying in their personal lives, and now business purchasers want that level of simplicity and convenience to translate to their professional lives as well,” said Daniel Newman, CEO, Futurum Research. “Enterprise software providers must adhere to this consumerization of B2B sales or risk losing out on deals as a result of outdated and lengthy purchase cycles. Committing to this evolution, SAP is leading the charge in digital buying, giving customers the assets they need to purchase software simply, the way they prefer – online.”


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3D printing is a technology that we will only continue to see an expansion of uses for. Starting out several decades ago as a means for rapid prototyping, the technology has suddenly become available to just about anyone. We are no longer inhibited by large price tags and huge machines, which only the world’s largest corporations previously had access too. Now, just about anyone can gain access to the technology, either through services such as Shapeways, Sculpteo, and 3DHubs, or by purchasing their own desktop 3D printers themselves. Even libraries, universities and an ever growing list of high schools are beginning to provide access to these machines to the general public.
One of these universities is UC Berkeley, and recently on April 4th and 5th, they held their first ever 3D Printing Designathon, asking students to design and 3D print a prototype to improve the life of UC Berkeley students. Held at the school’s Sutardja Dai Hall, the event was hosted by several design oriented organizations at the university, including the 3D Modeling Club, Design Engineering Collaborative, and Design Council.
“With over 70 initial participants, the event started at noon on Saturday and lasted 24 hours,” representatives at Berkeley tell 3DPrint.com. “Corporate sponsors for the event included Autodesk, Sculpteo, MadeSolid, and Type A Machines. In addition, Brad Kohlenberg, Business Development Engineer from Made In Space, gave a presentation on 3D Printing and the exciting new frontiers it presents.”
By 10:00 AM the following morning, 14 different teams had finished their designs and were prepared to present for the 3D Print Designathon showcase. The judging panel included Autodesk CEO Carl Bass, Brade Kohlenberg of Made In Space, Ricardo Corona of MadeSolid, Bryan Allen from Type A Machines and Glenn Katz of Autodesk.
Participants also took part in voting, as they were asked to choose their favorite project from among their peers’ designs. Once all the votes were cast, they were tallied up and the winners were announced. As for the winners, two teams tied among the judge’s vote, with Team Eggman and Team Nice Guys taking home the prizes. Team Fennec Fox took home the prize for the popular peer vote.
Team Eggman won for their 3D printed “Berni”, which was a customizable attachment that transforms glass bottles into furniture legs, while Team Nice Guys won with their “Compact Storage Solutions”, which were a set of Ferris-wheel shelves and a bunk bed desk that helps maximize storage space in cramped dorm rooms. Team Fennec Fox presented their 3D printed “Lattice Light”, which is a decorative awning that provides light at night.
The winners from all three teams took home a 3D printing credit for Sculpteo as well as a free tour of Autodesk’s famed Pier 9 Workshop in San Francisco. You can see images of some of the other designs below, which included the following from the listed teams:
Various Fried Cephalopods – Cup Holder
Shppr – Built-in external hard drive and battery cellphone case
Oski – Bike Lights
Cake N Bake – Volcano Bubbler
WACEC – Computer Suction Lock
Rack City – The Kitchen Rack
Sensual Engineering Squad – SpaceFunnel9000 Drink Pourer
Golden Bears – Ideal Lecture Hall Seat
CalBand-Pass Filter – Desclip and Desclamp
RAT – GOOB (Get Out Of Bed!) Alarm
Triangle – Triangle Light
The turnout was significant, proving that these students really have a passion for a technology which they will most likely become quite acquainted to, using it in the workforce in the near future. The event was so successful that UC Berkeley plans on hosting another 3D Printing Designathon in the Fall semester, in collaboration with the newly formed Jacobs Institute of Design at the school.
What do you think about these designs? Which were your favorites? Discuss in the UC Berkeley 3D Printing Designathon forum thread on 3DPB.com.
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Online sales growing at fastest rate in three years as high street suffers
Web sales growth in December accelerated to 19.2%, the fastest rate for more than three years
Friday 10 January 2014
More Britons than ever did their Christmas shopping online this year with almost one in five non-food purchases made over the internet.
Web sales growth in December accelerated to 19.2%, the fastest rate for more than three years, while overall UK retail sales grew by just 0.4% on a like-for-like basis.
The data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) survey carried out by KPMG showed online trade represented 18.6% of total non-food sales in December, up from 16.5% the year before.
BRC director general Helen Dickinson said: "More of us clicked into Christmas than ever before, with online non-food sales growth putting in its best performance since March 2010 and accounting for nearly 20% of spending.
"The surge in the use of tablets and smartphones last year, together with the ever-faster delivery times achieved by an increasing number of retailers, has provided a new spur of growth to online shopping."
The news follows a string of poor Christmas trading figures from high street stalwarts such as Debenhams, M&S, Tesco and Morrisons.
Across the wider non-food sector, like-for-like sales in the last quarter were up 1.5% while a decline in food revenues accelerated to 0.6% indicating the pressure on beleaguered major supermarkets as squeezed shoppers turned to their discounter rivals.
Ms Dickinson said the retail figures came in the context of a year of "encouraging but fragile recovery", adding: "This is a respectable result overall. While confidence levels were higher than the previous year, this wasn't always matched by more money in pockets."
David McCorquodale, KPMG head of retail, said: "Whilst store sales continue to flatline, online sales remain the main driver of growth for the sector, contributing nearly three quarters of the uptick in non-food sales in the last quarter of 2013.
"The winners this Christmas were those retailers with slick multichannel operations, who could offer consumers the flexibility to shop how, and when, they wanted to."
In clothing, online sales represented 21.2% of sales in December, up from 18% in 2012, while furniture and flooring products bought on the internet represented nearly a third of all sales, at 32.4% - though this was down a little on 32.6% last year.
The figure for electrical goods and toys was 14.4%, up from last year's 11.9% but a fall on the 15.5% who shopped online for these goods in November.
This was attributed to consumers searching early on the web for in-demand Christmas products such as video game consoles to try to get hold of them before they went out of stock.
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China’s motion control market falls nearly 20 percent in 2012
Revenue from sales of motion controls in 2012 fell to $2.2 billion, down 19 percent from $2.7 billion in 2011.
China’s market for motion control devices plunged by nearly 20 percent in 2012, as the country’s economic slowdown impacted multiple markets that use the devices, including appliances, automotive and housing.
Revenue from sales of motion controls in 2012 fell to $2.2 billion, down 19 percent from $2.7 billion in 2011, according to a report entitled “The Chinese Market for Motion Controls – 2013 Edition” from IMS Research – now part of IHS Inc.
The decline interrupted the robust growth of the market. However, revenue will return to growth this year and by 2016 will reach $3.1 billion, up 44 percent from 2012, as presented in the attached figure.
“The phase-out of stimulus policies had a major negative impact on purchases of home appliances and motor vehicles in 2012,” observed Wilmer Zhou, senior analyst for IHS. “Combined with a slowdown in the housing segment, these events spurred a major decline in the sales of motion controls, which are used in a broad range of industries. But as these markets return to growth from 2013 through 2016, China’s market for motion controls will regain its former vigor and enjoy rapid expansion.”
Motion control involves the management of the position or velocity of machines using some type of device, such as servos and electric motors.
A multinational market
Japanese companies continued to lead China’s market for motion controls in 2012, with a slightly lower 45 percent share. The share held by European and American suppliers remained stable, accounting for 30 percent of the market. Meanwhile, Taiwanese and Korean suppliers increased their share to approximately 10 percent.
In comparison, local Chinese companies were negatively impacted in 2012 even though they achieved amazing growth in 2010 and had a good year in 2011. Chinese manufacturers accounted for just 15 percent of the market in 2012, compared to 19 percent in 2011.
The Chinese, however, have positive prospects in store. “The competitive landscape in the motion control market of China in changing, with domestic suppliers expected to gain share at the expense of the Japanese firms in the coming years,” Zhou said.
Made in Japan
Japanese companies have been in the Chinese market for a long time and wield great influence, and Chinese customers are also very familiar with Japanese motion control products. Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Yaskawa and Sanyo, for instance, have a very large customer base, especially among small- and medium-sized machinery manufacturers. But as Taiwanese and local Chinese companies scramble to wrest markets away, Japanese manufacturers will see their share decline, even though they will still lead the market.
Not quiet on the Western front
For their part, European and American motion control companies have dominated the high-end, high-priced market for a considerable period. As a result, both Japanese and local Chinese manufacturers will be unable to shake the position of Western companies even over the long term, IHS believes.
Moreover, European and American companies have defined their products and markets well. For instance, Siemens is positioned to serve the high-end CNC machine-tool industry and large-scale projects; LUST and B&R perform well in dedicated applications; Danaher (Kollmorgen) and Parker focus on electronics, packaging and other customized markets; Lenze specializes on high-end textile machinery and material handling machinery; and Bosch Rexroth is very strong in the printing and packaging industries.
And even though European and American firms are encountering some difficulties entering the low-end market because they have different customer bases, sales networks and business models, that should not become a concern, Zhou noted. “With the industry upgrading and developing high-end equipment, the demand for high-end motion-control products will increase. Such a development will allow the market share of European and American companies to remain stable,” he said.
Chinese motor suppliers go into overdrive
From 2008 to 2012, many local Chinese suppliers of motor drives, stepper motors and induction motors entered the field of motion controls. Relying on low cost and better customer relationships, companies like Euston, Inovance, Modrol, Mege, Dorna, Maxsine and Huada were able to break through the motion control market.
Still, the gains won’t be come easy. While local suppliers will capture more and more market share from Japanese manufacturers in the long term, the process will be slow, beset with turmoil and many twists and turns. In light of a changing market, for instance, the GSK and KDN business rose rapidly in 2010 but decreased sharply in 2012.
– Edited by CFE Media, Control Engineering, Plant Engineering. See additional automation and control research.


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Chart-topping rockers Imagine Dragons ‘Evolve’ at Hersheypark Stadium on June 16
From a press release:
Today, multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning rock band Imagine Dragons released a new single, “Next to Me,” and revealed the summer dates of their Evolve Tour, which returns on June 5 in Hartford, Connecticut and will hit Boston, Toronto, New York, and Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey on Saturday, June 16 at 7 p.m.
Tickets, which are $30.10, $44.60, $54.60, $64.60, $94.60, and $130.60 (processing fees apply), go on sale next Saturday, March 3 at 10 a.m. and will be available at the Giant Center box office (550 Hersheypark Dr., Hershey), online at hersheyentertainment.com and ticketmaster.com, and by phone at 717-534-3911 or 800-745-3000.
Fans can register starting now through Sunday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. for free access to the Ticketmaster Verified Fan pre-sale, which will allow vetted fans to purchase tickets before the general public starting Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. through Friday, March 2 at 10 p.m.
Imagine Dragons has once again partnered with CID Entertainment to offer VIP packages on tour. All three VIP packages include the option of a premium reserved or general admission pit ticket with early venue entry for prime concert viewing. VIP packages include access to the “Evolve” pre-party where fans can interact with Imagine Dragons show sets and memorabilia, including the band’s taiko drum used during their live performances of “Radioactive.”
“Next to Me,” produced by Alex Da Kid and released via KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records, is the first new music released from Imagine Dragons since “Evolve,” the band’s 2017 platinum-selling third album. As the biggest rock album of 2017, “Evolve” has sold over 1.3 million albums in the United States with over four billion streams globally.
Known for hit singles “It’s Time,” “Demons,” “Believer,” “Thunder,” and “Radioactive” (which holds the record for most weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart), the Las Vegas group has won five Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, one Grammy Award, and one World Music Award during their meteoric rise to fame over the last decade.
Produced by Live Nation, Imagine Dragons’ Evolve Tour will feature special guest Grace VanderWaal throughout the North American leg. The 14-year-old singer/songwriter rose to fame on “America’s Got Talent” with her signature ukulele sound and released her first full-length album “Just the Beginning” in late 2017. Imagine Dragons sold out their initial run of the Evolve Tour in 2017, with support from Grouplove and K.Flay.
Also this summer, HBO Documentary Films will release the Live Nation Productions documentary “Believer,” which follows Imagine Dragons’ frontman Dan Reynolds as he takes on a new mission to explore how the Mormon church treats its LGBTQ members.


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Mega shopping malls appear to be the new crowning glory of Nairobi and other major capital cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Over the last decade, Nairobi has experienced a major boom in the construction of mega shopping malls, each presenting a more sophisticated style than the ones before.
According to a recent report by Knight Frank, a leading property agent in the UK, Nairobi ranks top among five capital cities in sub-Saharan Africa with the largest shopping mall development pipelines. Other major cities included in the survey are Windhoek, Gaborone, Lagos, Dar es Salaam, Luanda and Maputo.
The report, which was published in February 2016, ranks the Kenyan capital city Nairobi as the largest shopping center market in the sub-Saharan region, excluding South Africa. According to Knight Frank, Nairobi has about 400,000 square meters of existing shopping mall space, with the newly-opened Garden City Mall (in Nairobi) being the largest and most modern shopping mall in sub-Saharan Africa.
The report places Windhoek and Gaborone as the second and third largest shopping markets adding that the two rather small cities have more shopping center space than much larger capital cities such as Kinshasa and Lagos.
New Shopping Trend in Nairobi
Although Nairobi has had shopping malls since the early 80s, there appears to be a renewed appetite for larger malls with more sophisticated architectural designs. Also, new projects are presenting new trends such as mixed-use development as opposed to the traditional pure-retail design.
Modern shopping malls in Nairobi merge different key facilities such as retail shops, health amenities, offices and entertainment joints.
Knight Frank’s Retail Portfolio Manager in Kenya Mr. Ashmi Shah was quoted in the report saying:
Developers of Nairobi’s modern malls are building new city hubs where people can live, work, shop and play. All on the same site, in locations near key transport links.
Currently, there are over 24 shopping malls in Nairobi and more are still coming up.
While the Kenyan retail market is currently dominated by local players, the report indicates a growing interest among key international retail groups who enter the Kenyan market either through partnerships with locals or franchise arrangements.


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NEW DELHI: FMCG firm Emami Ltd today reported 26.98 per cent decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 134.12 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, on account of amortization of Kesh King intangibles.
The Kolkata-based company had reported a net profit of Rs 183.70 crore in the October-December period year-ago.
However, net sales of the company during the period under review was up 13.90 per cent to Rs 788.53 crore as against Rs 692.26 crore of the same period last fiscal, Emami said in a regulatory filing.
"Sales were impacted due to delayed winters as Emami's winter portfolio contributes nearly 40 per cent of the domestic sales during the quarter. Further, lower rural wage growth, muted increase in minimum support prices and an overall sluggish consumer sentiment kept rural consumption demand in check," the company said.
It further added its profit after tax "was lesser compared with the corresponding period of previous year because of amortization of Kesh King intangibles by Rs 62 crore and Rs 137 crore for the third quarter and nine months respectively."
Emami had acquired Kesh King and allied brands in June for Rs 1,684 crore, which was funded through a mix of internal accruals and debt.
Shares of Emami closed 1.79 per cent up, at Rs 1,011.80 on BSE.
A hearing of the arbitration took place at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre on October 16 after Amazon had slapped a legal notice on Future Group, alleging that the retailer's Rs 24,713 crore asset sale to Reliance Industries (RIL) violated an agreement with the e-commerce giant.
In a letter to Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said, "We are of the considered opinion that direct selling is an integral part of the retail trade like other verticals including big retail, small retail, e-commerce and self employed groups."


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As consumers focus on their sleep, retailers have an opportunity to boost sales of king-size mattresses and sleep accessories
The bedding industry has experienced a Covid-19 bounce, with sales surging as consumers hunker down at home and focus on making themselves more comfortable in their nests.
This is an opportunity for mattress retailers to sell more mattresses, especially king-size models, and to sell a range of sleep accessories, as research conducted by the Better Sleep Council clearly demonstrates. More on those opportunities later in this column.
In this issue, I dig into two critical issues facing the industry these days: The value of better sleep and the impact that the pandemic is having on consumers’ attitudes and behavior. Those issues are intertwined.
It’s axiomatic that sleep is one of the three legs of the health stool. The other legs, of course, are diet and exercise. But the latest round of comprehensive research conducted for the BSC, the consumer education arm of the International Sleep Products Association, demonstrates, perhaps surprisingly, that the three legs of that stool are not equal.
The BSC research found that 79% of consumers say sleep is the most important factor for their health and well-being. A healthy diet is No. 4 on that list, cited by 64% of consumers, while physical exercise is No. 5, cited by 62% of consumers.
It is interesting that sleep ranks even higher than regular medical checkups, cited by 69% of consumers, and stress management, cited by 65% of consumers.
The primacy of sleep to health provides an enormous benefit to the bedding industry, which literally makes the key products — mattresses and sleep accessories — that are critical to a good night’s sleep.
As the BSC research illustrates, consumers are giving sleep its due in their health regimens. And yet, we continue to see retail ads full of overly aggressive prices, while better sleep messages are relegated to the small print, if they appear at all.
The pandemic gives us a chance to change this dynamic.
An important BSC research finding notes that consumers under stay-at-home orders are nearly four times more likely than others to say they are getting more than enough sleep. That indicates those consumers understand that getting more sleep is a key way they can take personal responsibility to fight the pandemic.
In this climate, consumers should be especially receptive to better sleep messages, which is why retailers must make those messages a regular part of their advertising campaigns.
The Covid-19 climate offers specific opportunities for mattress retailers. One is in the up-sizing arena. Consumers under quarantine or stay-at-home orders are far more likely than others to plan to buy a king-size mattress. That is not surprising; a larger mattress offers more comfort for sleepers. Retailers would benefit from sharing that messaging in their ads.
Similarly, the pandemic brings opportunities for sleep accessory sales.
It’s significant that consumers under quarantine or stay-at-home orders are more likely to purchase all types of sleep accessories — from pillows, sheets, mattress pads and mattress protectors to comforters, mattress toppers, bed covers and even decorative pillows, according to the BSC research.
As I note in the Retail Playbook that accompanies my stories in this issue on the BSC research (see page 21), the findings lay out clear paths to success for mattress retailers: Talk about better sleep, bigger beds and sleep accessories.
There’s an interesting debate in the industry about how long the Covid-19 bounce might benefit the bedding industry. A return to more normal times, some say, could take the focus off the home that has been bolstering the home furnishings industry.
But consumers clearly understand the importance of sleep, and sleep does not go out of fashion. It
is always a winning move for mattress retailers to tout better sleep messages.


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Pew internet and american life project online dating what type of rock is used for relative dating
And some 11 percent of people who started a long-term relationship in the past decade say they met their partner online.
But it seems many who use online services may be holding back about it.
From flirting to breaking up, social media and mobile phones are woven into teens’ romantic lives.
This report details how teens are using technology and the internet to shape and mold their romantic relationships.
Those who have actually used the services are more confident; 43% think that the activity involves risk, while 52% do not see the activity as dangerous.
In a separate question, 6% of online daters say that dating websites do an “excellent” job of protecting people’s personal information, while 32% say they do a “good” job.
Some 11 percent of people who started a long-term relationship in the past decade say they met their partner online.
Even so, only 10 percent of Americans say they've tried online dating.
These are among the key findings of a national survey of dating and relationships in the digital era, the first dedicated study of this subject by the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project since 2005.
Technology is a source of support and communication as well as tension, and couples say it has both good and bad impacts on their relationships.
Nearly 60 percent of Internet users say online dating is a good way to meet people, but only 1 in 10 admits to having used online or mobile dating services, according to a poll published Monday by Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project.
In a new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, there are two central findings that illustrate how important the internet has become for those seeking romance in 21 Century America: First, among the relatively small and active cohort of 10 million internet users who say they are currently single and looking for romantic partners, 74% say they have used the internet in one way or another to further their romantic interests.
Second, there is relatively broad public contact with the online dating world because significant numbers of Americans personally know others who have tried and succeeded at online dating.


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Acer updates select laptops with the latest from Intel and NVIDIA
Four laptops will ship with NVIDIA’s latest GPUs and 9th-gen Intel.
MSI is also upgrading its gaming laptops with Intel's new CPUs
It also revealed a 17-inch version of the P65 Creator, and added some other upgrades.
Lenovo's latest gaming laptops pack 9th-gen Intel Core CPUs
Some Legion models are also getting processor and GPU bumps.
Intel's 9th-gen laptop CPUs also reach up to 5GHz
They'll power the next generation of gaming laptops.
Intel's 9th Gen mobile Core processors will launch before July
The chips could lead to more powerful laptops for games and creators.


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ICCC commissioner and CEO Paulus Ain declared yesterday that certain prams and strollers that do not meet standards were considered unsafe because they expose babies to a number of hazards, including death.
“This assessment is based on the ICCC’s 2014 February survey results benchmarked against the current Australian and New Zealand standard for prams and strollers (AS\NZS 2088:2000),” Ain said.
Based on the survey finding, the Commission has gazetted its intention to ban these unsafe products.
However, at this stage the Commission’s decision is only an intention as this is the first stage of the process before a product is placed under interim ban.
“We are now, as required by the law, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to comment on the intention to ban as following the consultations; a final decision will be made whether to impose an interim ban on the prams and strollers.”
Ain added that when a decision is made to impose an interim ban, suppliers and retail outlets sourcing and selling prams and strollers will be required to comply with the product safety requirements set out in the Commission’s gazettal notices.
“The ICCC will not hesitate to prosecute businesses selling banned products to ensure consumers are protected and businesses abide by the law.”
Offenders of the interim ban will be charged under section 108 (1) of the ICCC Act and be fined a maximum of K100,000 or face two years of imprisonment.


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August 18, 2008
July Airport Passenger Volume Up 1.3%
According to news.gov.hk: July saw a 1.3% year-on-year rise in Hong Kong International Airport's passenger volume, to 4.5 million,the Airport Authority says. The small growth in passenger volume was attributable to the rise in transfer traffic related to North American and Australasian destinations. Cargo throughput grew 0.7% to 317,000 tonnes, and air-traffic movementrose2.1% to 25,895. While transshipments raised the cargo throughput, both cargo imports and exports recorded falls. "Airports and airlines worldwide are feeling the effects of surging fuel prices and economic uncertainties, conditions we expect will likely continue. Airlines have started to reduce flight frequencies to contain losses," the authority's Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui said. "As a result, we anticipate a more difficult operating environment and slower growth for all categories of air traffic for the remainder of the year." For the 12 months ended in July, passenger and cargo throughput reached 49.5 million and 3.9 million tonnes, up 7.3% and 6.5% on a year earlier. Air traffic movements also grew 5%, to 302,510.
Originally published by Info-Prod Strategic Business Information.(c) 2008 Info-Prod Research (Middle East). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.


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It’s a happy new year for Aethon, maker of the TUG, a mobile robot that transports and delivers supplies in hospitals. The Pittsburgh company reports that it grew its customer base for TUG in 2013 with 21 new sites. It just announced a new $3 million investment from Mitsui USA, augmenting an initial $4 million investment in 2012. And late last year, Aethon unveiled a new product, MedEx Tube Track, a patent-pending system that secures and tracks deliveries sent through the pneumatic tube systems used to deliver medications in hospitals.
With new venture capital, Pittsburgh’s Aethon grows its market for healthcare logistics


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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – (WTAJ) — Comic Swap in downtown State College will be hosting Free Comic Book Day this Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm.
While it is free comic book day, there are specific comics that Comic Swap will be giving away.
“We have already secured thousands of comics to be specifically printed to only be given out that day, some of them are exclusive material, some of them tie into what’s going on right now to give a certain type of reader an actual incentive to come in on that day.”
-John McComas, Manager of Comic Swap
Free Comic Book Day has been around since 2003, and Comic Swap has been participating in every year since then.
Comic Swap has been in State College since 1976. Manager John McComas is expecting a big turnout.


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Golf Pride has unveiled four new grip models for 2019, including a “Plus 4” Tour Velvet that’s built up with 4-wraps worth of rubber under the bottom hand, a Z-cord Align grip that adds to the Align lineup, new grips (MCC Plus 4 and Tour Velvet 360) that have Arccos sensors built into the butt end, and a new Tour SNSR grip shape that has less curve on the top portion of the grip.
The grips will launch on March 1, according to Golf Pride.
Grant Griffiths Golf is proud to partner with Arccos and offer all students discount pricing on grips with built in Arccos sensors. With the addition of 'Arccos Link', you won't need your phone anymore to track each shot on the course. The data will upload once you've completed your round, and our coaching platform will connect your data for intelligent feedback and improved golf lessons. We'll know where you're struggling on the course, so we can lower your scores.


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AHMEDABAD: After registering negative growth soon after the goods and services tax (GST) rollout in last July, the Indian pharmaceutical market has finally achieved double-digit monthly growth after 18 months. The pharma industry’s monthly growth reached 10.8% this May. The pharma market had last seen monthly growth rates of 14.2% in November 2016.
The pharma industry sales grew to Rs 10,583 crore in May 2018 from Rs 9,549 crore in the same month last year. “The market finally shows a double-digit growth of 10.8% for the month of May-18,” states a report by AIOCD AWACS, the market research wing of the All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD). The report covers the top 100 pharmaceutical companies - domestic and multinationals - in India. Gujarat accounts for more than 30% of pharma production in India.
The respiratory segment grew by 15.4% and dermatology registered a growth of 14.4%. Sales of central nervous system, cardio and major chronic therapy like anti-diabetes clocked a growth rate of 11.2%, 13% and 14.1%, respectively in May.
“GST has been one factor responsible for a relatively low growth as the transition to the new tax regime brought down the industry's peak growth from 13%-14% to 6%-7%. Over time, the impact of GST on the industry reduced and steady growth has been reported, which has reached adouble-digit figure,” said Ameesh Masurekar, director, AIOCD AWACS.
“GST did impact sales as bulk purchases fell significantly, as chemists and stockists reduced inventories significantly,” said Jashvant Patel, chairman of the Gujarat State Federation of Chemists and Druggists Associations. According to industry players, even before GST, pharma sales had been somewhat subdued due to demonetization, which was announced in November 2016.
“The double-digit growth in May is a clear sign of the market showing signs of revival from the impact of the transition to the new tax regime,” added Masurekar. “Now, the overall economy is doing much better currently. There is a genuine increase in demand, especially of wellness products. Exports are expected to pick up. It is a very good sign for the industry,” said Viranchi Shah, chairman of the Gujarat State Board, Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA).
FICCI is advocating for the 'Illegally operating E-Pharmacies' and giving them the false impression and narrative that they are operating legally and in compliance with the laws of our country, despite the High Court of Delhi having banned their operations. This misadventure from FICCI proves that they do not believe in the process of laws and Courts in our country, shared AIOCD in their letter.
The Union Health Ministry stated in Parliament today that there is a 71 per cent increase in medical colleges from 387 before 2014 to 660 as of now. Indicated that 101,043 seats are currently available, up from 51,348 in 2014, of which 52,778 are in government medical institutions and the remaining 48,265 are in private medical colleges.


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By the time back-to-school ads for Staples are running in your local newspaper, Tesla will be preparing the launch of its highly anticipated Model X fully battery electric SUV (technically, it's a CUV, or crossover utility vehicle). This full-size model, which will offer performance rivaling that of Porsche's respected Cayenne, will feature unique Falcon Wing doors (the term "gull wing" apparently wasn't disruptive enough) and seating for seven adults---plus ample room for luggage, golf clubs, and antique furniture.
Last week, Georgia eliminated the state's $5,000 electric car (EV) tax credit---the biggest state-based tax credit in the nation---and replaced it with a $200 annual EV tax (more than drivers of gasoline-powered cars pay). The law, which goes into effect July 1, does so amidst the protests of environmentalists and electric car advocates.
Progressive Solutions Ignored
A leading consulting and research firm in Mountain View, California, Frost & Sullivan, has released its prediction for 2015 electric car sales. The group believes that about 480,000 battery electric vehicles (EVs) will be sold worldwide by the end of the year.
The company estimates that 320,000 EVs were sold globally in 2014, meaning that the prediction for 2015 would equal a 50 percent increase in sales. While this is certainly impressive growth and reflects the slow process of mass adoption among consumers, it's important to put these numbers in perspective.
Don't believe us that fuel economy isn't the number one buying factor? Here is the proof.
Monthly Truck Sales
One of the tell-tale signs on consumer behavior is monthly truck sales. Historically truck sales rise throughout the year and due to various market conditions. For example, gasoline prices have been often tied to new truck sales. When gasoline prices are low, consumers buy more trucks than when it is high.


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- Restaurants have faced many hardships in the last few years – and most recently are being faced with rising costs and a decline of consumer traffic due inflation. It is more crucial than ever for restaurants to take advantage of unique solutions to help offset rising costs and low traffic. Some ways restaurants can “play to win” are by…
- Simplifying their menu (in this case, less is more)
- Optimizing their pricing (ensuring they are being as profitable as can be)
- Optimizing their communications with consumers
Source: QSR Magazine. Read the full article here.
- According to recent research, one-third of respondents are still eating more fresh produce than they were prior to the pandemic. Furthermore, most of those respondents are reducing meat and opting for a flexitarian type of lifestyle. It’s safe to say that the vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian trends are here to stay beyond the pandemic.
Source: Restaurant Business Online. Read the full article here.
- In a recent interview with FoodDive, Julie Nash, senior program director of Food and Forests at Ceres, shared some insights regarding how companies can address energy-related emissions that are associated with their operations, transportation, and waste. Nash shared that “To address the energy used to process food — one of the key emission drivers in the food sector’s direct operations — companies should commit to sourcing 100% renewable energy through initiatives such as the RE100, a group of influential companies that are adopting 100% renewable energy.”
Source: FoodDive. Read the full article here.


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SHANGHAI–China’s explosive growth has made it home to the world’s fastest growing brands, expanding at a pace nearly 8 times faster than overall global rate, new research from Brand Finance shows.
“The country’s impressive portfolio of high-performing brands has claimed 9 spots among the top 10 brands with the largest increase in brand value over the last decade,” the report said.
The combined brand value of Chinese brands in the Brand Finance Global 500 ranking of the world’s most valuable brands has risen 1,100 percent increase from $111 billion in 2010 to $1,334 billion in 2020.
“This is by far faster than brand value growth recorded by brands from any other country, with – for instance – the United States seeing a 177 percent and Japan a 94 percent increase, and nearly eight times faster than the overall growth of brand value within the Brand Finance Global 500 ranking – 143 percent,” it said.
The most valuable Chinese brands are financial institutions ICBC and Ping An, which sit in the first two spots, followed by phone maker Huawei. The top end of the ranking is dominated by finance, tech, utilities and telecommunications–it’s not until the 74th spot that a clothing and sportswear brand, Anta, appears–but ecommerce giants made a strong showing.
WeChat was ranked seventh, while its parent group Tencent was tenth. Taobao ranked 13th, TMall was 15th, and B2B site Alibaba.com was 22nd, with the report noting that Alibaba.com had grown a staggering 4,029 percent over last 10 years. NetEase was 30th and JD.com came in 31st, while Pinduoduo was ranked 122nd. Tik-Tok-owner Bytedance appeared for the first time on the list this year.
By geography, the key areas of Beijing, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Hong Kong contributed the most brand value to this year’s Brand Finance China 500. But Beijing remained in a league of its own with its 100 brands in the ranking reaching a cumulative brand value of $787.2 billion, equating to 42 percent of total brand value. China’s southern hub, the Greater Bay Area, is increasing its share, however.
“The number of brands in the Brand Finance China 500 2020 ranking coming from the Greater Bay Area, which includes Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau have increased from 135 brands in 2019 to 138 brands in 2020, with a total value of $532.6 billion, which accounts for more than a quarter of the total brand value in the table. The great performance of the region demonstrates the success of China’s Reform and Opening-Up policy on Shenzhen’s 40th anniversary,” the report said.
Property developer Joy City, with an estimated brand value of $2.7 billion stood out in particular as the real estate sector’s and Beijing’s strongest brand. The company has a solid reputation across China for being trendy and forward thinking and in May last year, the brand launched Le Joy Hotel, the group’s first hotel brand, further expanding its portfolio of properties.
“As with all real estate brands across the sector, Joy City will have to learn and grow from the repercussions of and trends borne out of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Scott Chen, managing director at Brand Finance China, commented. “With a large chunk of the brand’s revenue hailing from its shopping mall business, Joy City will have to be ready to tackle the challenges of the steep rise in demand for online shopping and prolonged social distancing rules, which will no doubt have implications for the popularity of malls in general.”
Other notable mall developers include Vanke, Greenland, China Resources, Longfor Properties, Poly Real Estate, Evergrande, Dalian Wanda, Sun Hung Kai Properties, and New World Development. Fashion brands that made the ranking include Heilan Home, Bosideng, Li Ning, 361 Degrees, Peacebird, Metersbonwe, La Chapelle and Staccato. Beauty companies Pechoin and Chando also feature.
The Brand Finance survey is not the only piece of data reflecting China’s rise. For the second year in a row, the nation has dominated the Fortune Global 500 list, accounting for 133 of the top 500 global companies by revenue, with the U.S. in second with 121.
“While many of the leading Chinese companies on the list – Sinopec Group, State Grid Corporation of China, China National Petroleum – primarily operate within their domestic market, their growing revenues in 2019 highlight the size of China’s fast-growing market,” Lux Research senior analyst Yuang-Sheng Yu said.
“Other companies, such as Tencent, Huawei, and Alibaba, are also quickly reaching the international market, and this will likely be a continuing trend as the country attempts to transform itself into the world’s leading provider of advanced technologies and higher-value-added products and services across several key industries.”


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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Vector Manufacturing, Ltd., a maker of 12-volt portable power products, has signed a licensing deal with Black & Decker Corp., granting Vector an exclusive trademark license for a number of portable power products, including its battery chargers and power inverters, the company said in a recent release.
The licensing agreement grants Vector exclusive rights to manufacture, market and sell battery chargers, jump-starters, power inverters, portable spotlights, flashlights and lanterns under the Black & Decker brand in the United States and Canada.
“With the Black & Decker brand and Vector’s already successful penetration in the automotive, marine and hardware national retailer markets, we will continue to expand the reach of our portable power product lines,” said Michael Krieger, Vector’s founder, president and CEO.
Vector will launch a new premium line of Black & Decker branded products in 2005.
“Black & Decker is excited to enter this partnership with Vector Manufacturing. Both of our companies have set their sights on bringing quality standards and the most relevant innovations to consumer products,” said Carolyn Martin, director of licensing and new business development at Black & Decker.
Vector Manufacturing, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., markets more than 150 products, including thermo-electric coolers, portable DC refrigerators, car care electronic appliances, and consumer electronic products.
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