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CHICAGO — Subaru of America unveiled its seventh-generation Legacy sedan during the auto show’s press preview days, including a new tagline that plays off the automaker’s overarching “Love” theme.
Subaru has used “Love. It’s What Makes A Subaru A Subaru.” for just over a decade. When the Legacy marketing breaks in the fall, it will include the tagline: “Love. For All The Right Reasons.”
“Obviously there’s a tie-in with the brand, the love campaign,” says David Sullivan, Subaru manager, marketing launch and strategy. “We always like to sort of bring things back to the brand and make sure we are talking about both at the same time. We want the attributes of the brand: safety, longevity, versatility, we always want that to wash over the products that we are talking about at any given time.”
Social and digital will be a focus with the campaign, he says. The marketing will emphasize that the 2020 model-year version of the Legacy (a nameplate which has been around for 30 years) is the safest and quietest, with the largest interior.
“A lot of those themes, we tie back to the brand, but also we’ve heard from customers those are very important shopping consideration aspects in the segment,” Sullivan tells Marketing Daily. “So we are always trying to take things we can say about both and weave them all together. And that’s why ‘Love: For All The Right Reasons” alludes to that this is a family car, it’s got to be capable to do a lot of things very well for a family.”
When the car was tested with consumers, they really loved the interior, he says.
“When you are carting the kids around and trying to get to work or the store or road trips on the weekend, you spend a lot of time inside the car,” Sullivan says. “We took that insight and tried to weave that through a lot of the language. When you have family members inside the car, you want them to be safe. Safety is a really big consideration. And the good thing is it speaks to both the brand image and what we’re trying to talk about with the car.”
Subaru uses psychographic rather than demographics, and the target for the Legacy is someone who already likes sedans.
“We’re not trying to say this is an SUV substitute even thought it can do lots of the things that a crossover or SUV-type vehicle can do,” he says. “At the same time, it’s going to drive more nimbly, it’s going to be comfortable -- and some people just like that sedan body style.”
Despite other automakers pulling away from sedans, it’s still a 1.5 million unit per year segment in the United States -- "a very significant segment in the market,” Sullivan says. “Running away from sedans the way some of our competitors are doing is not a great idea. When we researched this with customers, we had a group of customers that psychographically were just predisposed to like the styling. It’s sleeker, it’s not as bulky, they like the way a sedan drives, and they really didn’t want to replace that with a crossover or SUV.”
Subaru hopes to pick up some of the customers who might have bought one of the sedans that are being eliminated.
“Now we have a turbo model and a more upscale interior,” he says. “We can draft a little bit from our mainstream competitors like Honda or Toyota or VW, and we can also draw from the luxury automakers as well. I was watching the livestream [of the vehicle unveiling] and someone said ‘wow, that looks like a Volvo interior.’”
One focus for the marketing: “We want to get you into the car, we want you to drive it, because when you drive this, you’ll buy it,” Sullivan says. “So a lot of our work will be oriented toward getting people to take a test drive. Compare us, that’s fine. We’ve got more rear seat legroom than anyone else in the class.”


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28th April 2014
This week witnesses a spate of firms come to the market with their latest updates including reports from the still state supported Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland writes Philip Scott.
But first, Wednesday sees the FTSE 250 listed Argos owner Home Retail Group reports its full year results.
After enjoying a 30% share price hike over the past 12 months, the group’s push online is again likely to be underlined, with mobile commerce sales proving a particular feature in recent quarters notes Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers.
He says: “An update with regards to digital concept Argos stores may also be included while news on the planned reduction in the group’s Argos store portfolio could also be forthcoming. Management previously guided towards full year pre-tax profit of between £107m to £111m, a gain of nearly 23% at the upper end year-over-year.”
Prior to the announcement and with concerns growing over its reliance on the highly competitive electrical sales universe, consensus analyst opinion currently denotes a ‘hold’.
GlaxoSmithKline, unveiling its first quarter results on the same day hit the headlines last week, as a result of the M&A activity engulfing the pharmaceuticals sector where it was revealed that the FTSE 100 research giant and Novartis have moved to launch a joint consumer products initiative, something shareholders will be keen to hear more on.
Shares in GSK, down by 2% over the past year are currently viewed as a ‘hold’ by the market but Sheridan Admans, investment research manager at The Share Centre lists them as a ‘buy’.
He says: “Revenues will still be expected to decline as a result of patent losses, but we expect to hear more encouraging news from its R&D and progress on regulatory approvals. Markets will also look out for reaction to the bribery allegations occurring in Eastern Europe and whether the company plan on resuming business quickly in China.”
Wednesday also sees fashion retailer Next delivers its latest interim management statement. With the firm’s stock up 45% in the past 12 months investors will want to hear it can continue its strong performance. Rated a ‘hold’ by market consensus, Admans says: “The company continues to focus on its online business and expand its retail space, while remaining focused on cost saving. An update on how its overseas expansion is progressing will also be watched with interest.”
The latter part of the week sees the banks take centre stage with Lloyds the first to update with its interim management statement on Thursday. Although the business has witnessed its shares soar by 40% in the past year, it has slipped by 8% in last three months but nonetheless analysts are broadly positive with Nomura recently having upgraded its recommendation to a ‘buy’ reflecting the market consensus view, although Citigroup rates them a ‘hold’ as does Admans.
He says: “Although the sector has once again been under pressure, investors will be expecting to hear that the group remains on track with its restructuring plan. Bad debts have been falling and as a result there will be hopes that earnings momentum can be maintained. Comments on the UK economy and housing markets will be other areas to concentrate on, alongside cost cutting and regulatory issues.”
Thursday also sees satellite broadcaster BSkyB, up 5% over 12 months, update with its third quarter numbers. While the broker consensus is neutral, analysts at Berenberg Bank last week reaffirmed the firm’s ‘sell’ rating but Deutsche repeated its own ‘buy’ recommendation. Admans, who calls BSkyB a ‘buy’, says: “Investors have been getting nervous about potential competition and will be keen to see comment on new initiatives in addition to the group’s outlook for the UK consumer.”
On Friday, the still majority state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland reports its first quarter trading update. Unlike Lloyds’ strong performance, RBS shares have only managed to edge ahead by 1% over the past year and are off by 11% over three months. Although last week analysts at Deutsche upgraded their recommendation to a ‘hold’, ahead of the update, and with management still dealing with legacy issues, the consensus analyst opinion currently points towards a ‘sell’.
Bowman says: “The group’s transition back to a UK focused bank is likely to remain the central theme. The company’s resizing from the current seven operating businesses down to three should support ongoing cost reduction. In the wake of further provisions for the mis-selling of products announced at its full year 2013 results, additional provisions appear unlikely, although not out of the question, with the relatively new chief executive still potentially eager to remove possible future bad news.”

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2017 witnessed the explosive growth in the value of Bitcoin and other big cryptocurrencies. In just 12 months, Bitcoin saw a massive price increase by 1,400%. On the other hand, Ethereum’s value jumped an amazing 9,100% and that makes it the second biggest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. Bitcoin Cash is valued at approx. $2,400, Litecoin is 5,600% and DASH is presently valued at $1,103.
These remarkable trends have already drawn significant attention from the media including discussions by traditional financial companies, corporations, regulators and public and some Governments. Since 2017 has been an outstanding year for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, so what could happen in 2018?
Here we are outlining important factors that could easily affect the value of cryptocurrencies in the cryptocurrency exchange development industry.
The continuation of the extreme volatility has characterized the market valuation of the top digital currencies such as: Bitcoin and Ethereum. The value of cryptocurrencies, when measured in dollars, is more likely to swing up and down throughout the year 2018. Although this volatility is enjoyed by a few savvy investors, it makes cryptocurrencies potentially risky for novices. Further, it makes using cryptocurrencies for transactions a challenging task as the prices continue to change.
While dozens of cryptocurrencies are entering the market in 2018, certainly a few are likely to offer enough innovation and differentiation to thrive the popular incumbents. In the cryptocurrency exchange development industry, various people have this notion that there will soon be a period of crypto consolidation in which a certain percentage of cryptocurrencies will fail by the increasing competition spread worldwide. Many of the experts say that most of the new tokens issued have almost no value and some are even fraudulent. No doubt, conducting an ICO offering is quite easy however the number of ICOs will ultimately decline while the number of failed cryptocurrencies is likely to increase as people become more suspicious of betting money on outright scams.
The ever-increasing growth of Bitcoin’s competitors (including Ethereum, Litecoin and DASH) indicate that 2018 is a year for intense competition between established players and new upstarts in the crypto marketplace. So, who could emerge the winner? Well, trust and leadership remain a significant part of the decentralized world of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin’s growth has given rise to internal struggles within the community that are interpreted as healthy. In the meantime, expensive transaction costs and network slowdowns have affected many cryptocurrencies; however, younger entrants might be faster to adopt the interesting new ways that blockchain technology can be deployed to fix these issues.
Mainstream adoption can take various forms. Conventional banks may accept Bitcoin deposits along with storage and financial services. If this happens anytime soon, cryptocurrency derivatives will follow in short order. Actually, some financial players have started testing the waters in this area. As retail stores and other big or small sized businesses begin to accept crypto payments, it is quite possible that some digital currencies could be used as traditional currencies instead of speculative profits but definitely, some points should be addressed at first place. Recent announcements from the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Chicago Mercantile Exchange and NASDAQ have indicated that cryptocurrency future contracts will be one of the hot trends in 2018. If this trend continues, the most trusted digital currencies most likely to play the role in strategic reserves and asset allocation models worldwide.
The creation of derivative markets relating to cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin means that Government regulators will be managing at least some aspect of the market for the first time. The question here arises is how much will Governments get involved in a community that is odds with centralized control. In this year, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission approved a swap execution facility for cryptocurrencies as a prerequisite towards the creation of a futures marketplace. Such kind of Government involvement is expected hand-in-hand with much broader acceptance of cryptocurrency.
Hopefully, you find this information relating to factors affecting cryptocurrencies enlightening one for your big step towards making a big name in the cryptocurrency exchange development domain. Thus, keep your eyes open as cryptocurrency continues to innovate and throw surprises every now and then.
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The @michigantheater is showing Metropolis w/ live organ accompaniment this Tuesday! www.michtheater.…
by Sally Mitani
From the September, 2012 issue
As summer vacation wound down, organizations and companies all over town were collecting school supplies for needy kids.
What's happening in local stores and eateries, and restaurant reviews.


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Economic development creates opportunities to grow state, local and metro areas, which are essential for economic growth, improved quality of life and community development. Employment articles below.
Workers everywhere will be affected by accelerating disruptions to the world of work—yet people in different economic positions will be impacted in very different ways, according to a new report from Foresight Alliance.
VXI Global Solutions, a business processing and information technology outsourcing services provider, will open a call center in College Park, GA in 2016, creating 570 jobs.
New report from The Economist Intelligence Unit identifies "softer" aspects of business expansions, such as finding new employees who support and enhance the brand’s existing culture, as a top concern.
Norway is the most prosperous country, while Singapore is the most successful country economically, according to the 2015 Legatum Prosperity Index™. The report ranks 142 countries across eight categories: the Economy, Entrepreneurship & Opportunity; Governance; Education; Health; Safety & Security; Personal Freedom; and Social Capital.
The percentage of working veterans reporting underemployment or low-paying job increased to 31 percent from 23 percent last year, according to the CareerBuilder Veterans Day Job Forecast.
Americans are confident the U.S. is a global technology leader, and 61% of Americans are willing to relocate for a higher salary, according to new Modis survey.
CEOs remain optimistic about their businesses’ growth, despite greater concerns about the challenging economy, according to the latest Vistage "CEO Confidence Index Survey."
Small and mid-sized business owners nationwide expect to increase hiring and wages for their employees over the next six months, according to the latest PNC Economic Outlook Survey findings.
Singapore has earned the top spot in the eighth annual Expat Explorer country league table, with expatriates praising the city-state’s opportunities for career development, appealing salaries, and an excellent quality of life.
Study cites influence of site selection and space design on employee value proposition.
Majority of CFOs say business analytics know-how mandatory for accounting and finance professionals.
UVa Miller Center's Milstein Commission has released a report on creating manufacturing Jobs; report is first in a series on restoring middle-class jobs.
Nearly one-quarter of respondents of new TD Bank Environmental Attitudes Survey said they would refuse a job if they disagreed with the organization's sustainable impact.
Job security and economic outlook within the manufacturing and logistics sectors on the upswing according to a recent survey from Randstad.
Concern over competitive environment rising; top areas for increased spending include technology (64%), existing facilities (42%) and workforce hiring (40%) in 2014.
CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists release 2014's top occupations and metros for temporary employment growth.
The 10th annual Business Facilities LiveXchange is only a few months away. If your company is planning to expand or relocate its operations, you...
JLL forecasts investment volumes up 10 percent and leasing markets to moderately improve.
Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in November for the 47th consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives.
Grid modernization work expected to create more jobs as smart meter deployment begins.
New survey shows that the percentage of vehicles sold in the U.S. and manufactured in America rose from 50 percent in 2011 to 62 percent in 2012.
The rising tide of jobs in the Lone Star State is an across-the-board phenomenon, as six Texas towns two-step into our top 10.
The top three industries represented included manufacturing (11 companies), back office/business support (10 companies) and logistics (seven companies).
Economic activity in the non-manufacturing sector grew in June for the 42nd consecutive month, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.
Industry employs more than 734,000 workers and generates nearly $355 billion to economy, study finds.
More than 250 companies agreed in 2012 to create 27,620 new jobs in Indiana, exceeding any year on record. From the January/February 2013 issue


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Up to 500 salespeople of Severe Global, the maker of the Rs a hundred-crore Woosh detergents, are out in the industry sporting masks embossed with ‘Woosh’ and ‘Woosh kare khoosh’. These types of masks are also being distributed by Woosh’s salespeople to suppliers they recurrent for their store personnel to wear. Severe Global MD Yogesh Jain stated, “A mask conceals the face. But if a mask has the brand identify on it, it will get a very good recall. The influence has been very good for our brand.”
Woosh, which has been endorsed by actor Kajol, is a mass brand in laundry, competing with the likes of Ghari. The company promises to have a industry share of 15% in Punjab, exactly where the brand is stated to be undertaking perfectly.
Dynamic Conglomerate, which came up with ‘Fingers’, a new-age client electronics brand, is yet another firm that has furnished its workforce in the area with masks displaying the brand identify. “A mask is a prominent position to screen a brand. People today may perhaps pass up out on a emblem or brand identify on your T-shirt or sleeve, but they simply cannot pass up viewing it on a mask. It is definitely a dialogue starter,” stated Dynamic Conglomerate CEO Sandeep Parasrampuria.
Fingers, which was introduced a calendar year ago, offered a single million products in 7 months. Like most other people, the brand strike a Covid-hurdle for the duration of the lockdown, but Parasrampuria stated demand for the product is returning with individuals working from dwelling and building on the net buys. “The problem does not glimpse so terrifying now,” he additional.
In accordance to Samsika Marketing Consultants founder-CMD Jagdeep Kapoor, there are four strengths that occur out of these a system — brand recognition, safety & hygiene, brand recall in the retail industry, and improvement of the salesperson’s self esteem. “A branded mask does the endeavor,” stated Kapoor, who has proposed the branded mask system to all his clients.
It has also been adopted by corporations arranging to start a new product or campaign. Mahak Team CEO & MD S K Jain stated, “We lately introduced a mint variant for our ChocOn brand of sweet and we are working with the mask system as part of our underneath-the-line activity. Considering the fact that the mask is at the eye level, the visibility amongst consumers on viewing the retailer donning our brand of mask is very good.”
AMA Herbal Laboratories, a Lucknow-based organic dyes maker, which is getting into wellbeing, hygiene and immunity booster products, has been able to make sure its workforce stand out in the group of other salespeople when they check out a shop to industry their products, with the masks highlighting the brand identify and the tagline of the company. “The recognition of our product sales individuals is definitely more quickly with the branded masks. This has furnished an edge to our company,” stated the company’s founder-CMD Yawer Ali Shah.


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The global business products (BP) industry this side of the COVID-19 pandemic is looking very different to the one that went into it. Amazon now typically accounts for at least a quarter of manufacturers’ sales and it’s a percentage which is rising rapidly.
For resellers in our sector, the prime focus now is to maximise the opportunities and minimise the risks. But there are things they need to know to allow them to do this effectively:
- What is the current market penetration of Amazon and Amazon Business, and what can resellers still do to respond to this giant?
- Which new product areas have emerged as real opportunities?
- Which new channels/distributors offer potential?
- How important are online marketplaces/platforms and what are the key players at present?
- How have the changes in ownership in 2021 of the former big boxes affected the market and what type of operator (if any) is now in the best position to service the corporate sector?
- What will be the effect on industry players of the ending of government support schemes for businesses initiated during the pandemic (eg the UK’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Employer Retention Tax Credit in the US)?
- Which factors (raw materials, labour, logistics, fuel) will represent the greatest inflationary threat for businesses in 2022 and what responses are planned to adapt to this?
Asking the experts
All of the above questions demand reliable answers from trusted sources. The State of the BP Industry 2021-2022, the ninth edition of Martin Wilde Associates (MWA) and OPI’s annual research study, does just that. It offers insight by asking some of the sharpest minds in the industry – the senior executives running the major BP companies globally – these and many other vital questions.
Based on in-depth and online interviews with these executives in Australia, Benelux, Canada, France, Germany, the UK and the US, the survey will also focus on the crucial KPIs that the COVID crisis has been affecting.
What, for example, were respondents’ overall revenue and margin trends in 2021 and, going forward, what are the expectations for 2022? What share of distributors’ sales were accounted for by jan/san supplies, breakroom/catering products, workwear/PPE and MPS in the same period?
What share of resellers’ sales were via the web in 2021 and how will this percentage evolve in 2022? And what about resellers’ average order values – how have they been and will continue to be impacted? Finally, what was the value of the core office products market in 2021; what will it be in 2022 and where are the growth trends?
The study will report on respondents’ perceptions of the main growth – as well as declining – product categories and channels in 2021 and 2022. It will further detail the 2021 financial performance of the key 15 distributors in our sector in the US, Europe and Australia.
Research for this study, which will be invaluable to the future business strategy of the BP industry’s main protagonists, commences in January 2022, with the report being published in April this year.
The State of the BP Industry 2021-2022 is available for £690 (approx. $900) if ordered before 31 March 2022, and for £950 ($1,250) thereafter. To order your copy, go to www.opi.net/SOTI2022


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24 Hour Fitness sold to private equity, pension fund investors
Private equity and pension fund investors have purchased 24 Hour Fitness USA Inc., the San Ramon-based health club chain said Friday.
24 Hour Fitness said private equity firms AEA Investors, Fitness Capital Partners and Global Leisure Partners joined with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan to acquire the club from Forstmann Little & Co.
Terms of the sale weren't disclosed. But Club Industry, a trade publication, reported the transaction price to be more than $1.9 billion.
Forstmann Little & Co., a private equity firm, bought 24 Hour Fitness for $1.6 billion in 2005 from founder Mark Mastrov. Mastrov is an investor in the Sacramento Kings.
One of the largest fitness chains in the United States, 24 Hour Fitness has nearly 4 million members and more than 400 clubs across the country, including about a dozen in the Sacramento region.
24 Hour Fitness, which is privately held, has annual sales of about $1.3 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Eric Young covers economic development, government, law and the business of sports for the San Francisco Business Times.
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Manufacturers of disciplined forces’ leather products will from next financial year be required to procure hides and skins from local suppliers, President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed. He has also instructed that all boots, leather products and textiles for the disciplined forces be procured from local manufacturers❗
Delivering his Jamhuri Day 🔈speech, the President noted that this was one of the incentives to local industry.
Kenyatta regretted😞 that while Kenyans purchase more than 30 million pairs of 👞shoes yearly, only a small fraction is made locally.
He further called on farmers to take interest in cotton farming to revive the textile industry assuring government’s support to the sector.
To boost the manufacturing sector, the President 🔈said the government will cut the cost of off-peak power:lightning: to heavy industries by half, review work permit regime, protect intellectual property rights and work with the Kenya Revenue Authority as well as the Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Authority to destroy counterfeit products.
To read full article - http://v.duta.us/Ks577AAA


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Retail giant Costco stocks shelves with alcoholic chocolate milk
On sale at Costco: The 40 proof Afult Chocolate Milk is being sold at retail giant Costco for around $15
The drink has gone on sale relatively recently, but is likely to draw the same criticism as its alcoholic friends Cream - the alcoholic whipped cream - and Four Loco.
Adult Chocolate Milk was developed by Newport Beach mother Tracy Reinhardt, who claims she mixed up the liquor in her kitchen after putting her kids to bed one night.
After enjoying the results and spotting the marketing potential, she teamed up with Nikki Halbur, a former classmate from Santa Ana's Mater Dei High School.
Major endorsement: The alcoholic milk's prominence in Costco - America's largest membership warehouse chain - virtually guarantees the brand's success
Together they refined the formula, then started selling and marketing it.
The high-profile spot in Costco is a major coup for the fledgling company.
In December the
Banned: Four Loko - a caffeinated alcoholic drink - was removed from sale
The agency said Phusion Projects, maker of Four Loko, and United Brands Co., maker of Joose, were ordered to remove their products from retail.
The controversial drinks drew national attention after a girl nearly died and nearly a dozen students from Central Washington University were rushed to hospital.
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Title: Vietnam Rises as the Next Chip Making Hub, Attracting Global Players
Word Count: 334
In a significant development for Vietnam’s technology sector, several multinational corporations are eyeing the country as a potential destination for their chip making investments. The Vietnam War, a topic of much contention, may soon be overshadowed by the nation’s emergence as a hub for chip manufacturing.
Renowned tech giants such as Microsoft, Nvidia, Marvell, Amkor, and Synopsys have already expressed their intentions to invest heavily in Vietnam. Microsoft, for instance, has partnered with Vietnam’s Trusting Social to develop an innovative AI solution. This collaboration aims to leverage Trusting Social’s expertise in AI algorithms and Microsoft’s technological prowess.
Similarly, Nvidia has forged strategic alliances with Vietnamese firms to focus on cloud-based artificial intelligence solutions. By combining Vietnam’s growing talent pool with Nvidia’s cutting-edge technology, the partnership aims to drive innovation in AI research and development.
Amkor, on the other hand, has revealed plans to establish a state-of-the-art chip factory in Vietnam. This move is expected to bolster the country’s technological infrastructure while also creating numerous employment opportunities. Additionally, Synopsys has announced its intent to introduce a design and incubation center in Vietnam, further strengthening the nation’s presence in the tech industry.
These recent developments have breathed new life into the Vietnamese tech sector, particularly in the domain of chip manufacturing. Consequently, the stock value of chip companies is undergoing a significant revitalization. Among the listed companies, Microsoft’s chip stocks were the only ones to witness substantial gains in recent times.
Even so, analysts are optimistic about the potential of Amkor, forecasting an average price target of $36. This projected growth indicates that Amkor could potentially scale new heights in the chip-making industry, becoming a force to be reckoned with on par with other industry giants.
While pertinent details regarding these investments and collaborations remain undisclosed, the emergence of Vietnam as a potential chip making hub signifies its growing prominence in the global technology landscape. By attracting such influential companies, Vietnam is poised to become a vital player in the competitive chip manufacturing industry, further bolstering its economic growth and technological development.
Disclaimer: The author does not provide further information regarding the specific arrangements of the partnerships and investments mentioned in this article.
“Devoted bacon guru. Award-winning explorer. Internet junkie. Web lover.”


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E-book return hack comes with a steep price, author says
TikTok trend encourages reading and returning e-books; authors lose royalties
A loophole in Amazon's return policy is costing some authors a pretty penny, after trending on social media.
The TikTok trend has brought attention to Amazon's Kindle return policy and is encouraging people to read and return e-books within the appropriate window so they get their money back.
"Individuals are purchasing books, and they're reading them and then within two weeks returning them," independent author Trevor Wiltzen told CBC Edmonton's Radio Active.
"So, what happens is they're treating Amazon like a library."
Wiltzen is author of the Mabel Davison mystery series and is self-published on Amazon. He said he noticed a change in his sales recently.
In Canada and the United States, customers have seven days to cancel a Kindle book order for a full refund, regardless of whether the book has been read or not. In other countries, customers have up to 14 days. The policy includes audiobooks.
But the trend has been hurting independent and self-published authors, Wiltzen said.
"They think Amazon is a big conglomerate, but Amazon got big that way by de-risking themselves and passing that risk on to the artist," Wiltzen said.
If an author chooses to self-publish on Amazon, depending on the book format, they can get anywhere from 30 to 75 per cent in royalties.
With every book return, even on digital copies, authors are losing out on royalties and delivery fees.
Authors also have to pay a download fee for Amazon. The fee is not refunded back to the author if their book is returned.
Wiltzen said he initially chose Amazon to self-publish because of its international audience.
"I have 17,000 readers from as far away as India or the United Arab Emirates, or Europe or South America," he said.
"The reach is fantastic for us to get our works out there."
And while Wiltzen credits Amazon for helping independent authors get published, he said authors need more support.
"As self-published authors, we need that revenue to continue and publish more books," he said.
Returning books isn't a new trend, it's something publishers have been dealing with for years.
"I don't think it's fair to read a book and then return it and expect to get your money back, because basically, that means publishers and authors are not paid for their work," said Kieran Leblanc, executive director of Book Publishers Association of Alberta.
Alexander Finbow, a publisher with Renegade Arts Canmore Ltd., said book returns highlight a flaw in the system.
When bookstores are unable to sell books, they return them back to the publisher. This system was introduced during the Great Depression and was a way to support bookstores.
"But in reality, it's a system which can be and is often abused by the biggest players in the game, and there can be unforeseen consequences of some of the decisions involved," Finbow said.
He said Amazon is a big player in the publishing industry and it can be hard to get them to change their policies.
"It might take some of the really big authors and publishers just to start putting pressure on Amazon to change," Finbow said.
Other digital services under Amazon, such as Amazon Prime and Amazon Music, do not have a return policy.
In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson said "Amazon aims to provide the best possible experience for customers and authors. We have policies and mechanisms in place to prevent our e-books returns policy from being abused. We're always listening to feedback and we investigate any concerns we receive."
Wiltzen is encouraging readers to support independent authors by promoting them through reviews or word of mouth.


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FILE PHOTO: Attendants are silhouetted in front of Xiaomi’s logo at a venue for the launch ceremony of Xiaomi’s new smart phone Mi Max in Beijing, May 10, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp said on Tuesday it will buy back up to HK$12 billion ($1.53 billion) worth of stock in its biggest equity repurchase, sending its shares up nearly 7%.
The Beijing-based company, which listed its shares in July last year, has lost nearly a third of its market value so far this year. Its growth has slowed sharply as the global smartphone market has shrunk and local competition has increased.
Xiaomi’s market share in China declined by a fifth in the April-June quarter even as that of smartphone giant Huawei Technologies surged by 31%, according to research firm Canalys.
Xiaomi’s stock has also been hit by losses at the Hong Kong stock market, which has plunged since massive anti-government protests started in the city in June. Companies on the city’s exchange have collectively bled $152 billion in value since June.
The stock repurchase news comes less than a week after Xiaomi scrapped an already delayed plan to offer equity in mainland China to attract investors. The company said then it had adequate capital and would focus on business development.
“The board believes that a share repurchase in the present conditions will demonstrate the company’s confidence in its own business outlook and prospects,” Xiaomi said in a stock exchange filing.
Xiaomi’s current financial resources will enable it to implement the repurchase while maintaining a solid financial position, the company said.
Xiaomi shares jumped as much as 6.8% to HK$8.92 on Tuesday.
Reporting by Josh Horwitz; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman
Credit: Source link


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Deansgate House of Fraser building for sale
Acting for a private investor, Savills has brought to the market the iconic department store building, still known locally by many as Kendals, in Manchester with a guide price of £84.5m, reflecting a net initial yield of 5.07%.
The 387,595 sq ft building occupies a 1.64-acre site and is let to House of Fraser at an annual rent of £4.36m. The retailer has 33 years remaining on its lease. The plot comprises two separate buildings linked by basement passages and footbridges.
Oliver Foster, investment director at Savills, said: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire a prime landmark department store investment in Manchester, which as a city is recognised on a global scale for its retail offer. We expect the long unexpired lease term to House of Fraser and attractive yield to generate high levels of interest among investors in both the UK and overseas.”
Designed by local architect JS Beaumont working with Harrods’ house architect Louis David Blanc, the art deco building dates back to 1939 and is among the city’s most recognisable buildings. It was last sold in 2007 by Irish investment vehicle Sloane Capital.


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RIM today said that its next update for its Blackberry Playbook OS 2.0. The senior vice president David J. Smith said that the launch will be delayed for the Blackberry Playbook OS 2.0 until they are confident that it has fully met the expectations of its users, developers and enterprise customers.
Now there are significant implications for this delay. Blackberry Messenger will be deferred to “a subsequent Blackberry Playbook OS release” which is confusing as it could mean v2.0. An alternative is to use the Blackberry Bridge feature which requires the use of a compatible Blackberry handset.
Around 200,000 Playbook tablets have been sold by RIM in the last quarter which is a fraction of what Apple has sold. A number of retailers in the UK had started to cut the price of the Playbook to a mere £239, down from £399 at launch.


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Ford Revises 5-Year Forecast on European Economy Woes
Ford has fared extremely well of late here in the U.S., but according to a recent report, top brass at the Blue Oval are bracing for what may be a dismal outlook in European sales in the coming years. Ford CFO Bob Shanks said the automaker was revising its outlook and business plan to take in to account the financial situation in Europe. "We have to develop a better plan in response to what's going to be a much less favorable external environment. How do we tack to respond to new realities? That's what we're in the process of doing," said Shanks. The European debt crisis has strained sales, leaving Ford with high inventory in some places and tight margins. The automaker expects to lose about half a billion dollars or more this year in Europe. Still, Ford has raked in nearly 30 billion in just the last three quarters, roughly the equivalent of what it lost from 2006 to 2008. Global markets have been uneasy of late, and in Europe worries over fragile economies in Spain and France have had a ripple effect across the continent. "Clearly in Europe, if you go back and look a year ago we didn't envision the type of environment that it looks like we're going to be living in for a while," Shanks added. Ford will revise its planning and present it to the board for confirmation at the end of this year.Source: Automotive News
The first full week of June has come and gone but not without some news from the automotive world.


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Women spend eight years of their life shopping
Last updated at 21:22 27 November 2006
While keeping their families fed and clothed -and indulging in a little retail therapy - the average woman will shop for an astonishing 25,184 hours and 53 minutes over a period of 63 years.
If the average expedition lasted the length of a full working day - from 9am to 5pm - that would be 3,148 days trudging around the shops, or just over eight-and-a-half years.
The poll of 3,000 women, conducted by GE Money, revealed they make an average of 301 shopping trips per year, lasting a total of 399 hours and 46 minutes.
Food shopping can take more than an hour to complete each time. With an average of 84 trips to stock the pantry over a year, that is 94 hours and 55 minutes in the supermarket.
Women also dedicate 90 trips a year to keeping up their appearances - shopping for clothes 30 times, shoes 15 times, accessories 18 times and toiletries 27 times.
A total of 100 hours and 48 minutes is spent hunting for the latest clothing bargains and fashion statements.
A further 40 hours and 30 minutes is spent shopping for footwear, and 29 hours and 31 minutes looking for accessories such as handbags, jewellery and scarves.
Even shopping for more mundane items such as deodorant, shower gel and razors takes women around 17 hours and 33 minutes over one year.
A further 19 trips, or 36 hours and 17 minutes, are used to buy gifts for friends and family.
The poll also showed women will go window shopping 51 times a year, spending 48 hours and 51 minutes just looking for their next purchase.
Stewart Macphail, of GE Money, said: "Women clearly dedicate a lot of time to making sure they find the best deals and the most suitable items for their needs.
"So perhaps the best Christmas present British men could give their wives or girlfriends this year would be to do their fair share of the shopping."
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As the name implies, Android Wear is an Android-based initiative, using Google's mobile operating system and a dedicated software development kit to create a number of different wearables.
You can think of Android Wear as an extension of the experience you may have grown to enjoy with Google Now. And just like with our smartphones, Android Wear will have us talking to our watches. You'll be able to speak to request information as well as reply to information you've already received. Weather info. Chats with friends and family. Direct queries. Direct actions.
Android Wear is starting with smartwatches. Motorola and LG were first out of the gate, announcing the Moto 360 and the LG G Watch. But Motorola for whatever reason didn't get its watch out the door until September. Meanwhile, Samsung swooped in at Google I/O with its fourth wearable in less than a year, the Gear Live. Google has said it's also working with other partners in the Android Wear space, including HTC and ASUS, as well as chip manufacturers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek and Qualcomm. So Android Wear isn't solely a Google endeavor. Even fashion brands like Fossil are in on Android Wear, and other fashion and luxury brands are bound to follow.
It's arguably the best watch running Google's Wear OS today, and it works with iPhone! How does this experience stack up to what we're used to seeing with the Apple Watch?
Google's doing a bit of rebranding to better reflect the company's vision for its line of wearable tech.
While we wait to see what Apple might have up its sleeve for us this year, I decided to see how the Android Wear experience would work for an iPhone owner used to wearing an Apple Watch.
Android Wear 2.0 is now official, and it's clear Google is borrowing from multiple sources with their overhauled platform.
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iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!


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The fallout from robotaxi company Cruise continues, as now General Motors has just filed a lawsuit against San Francisco for $121 million in what it calls unfair taxes and penalties since it acquired Cruise. GM argues that San Francisco charged the company an inflated tax rate because it factored in its Cruise self-driving car division, which GM says is a separate entity.
It all gets a bit muddy, but GM argues that San Francisco has unfairly tied its global revenue to Cruise’s side of the business, tallying up a taxable bill of $3 billion last year alone rather than a more modest figure generated by GM alone, Bloomberg reports. Since 2016, when GM bought Cruise, which is headquartered in San Francisco, GM has paid $108 million in city taxes to San Francisco, plus $13 million in interest. And now the company is suing to get that money back.
GM argues, not counting Cruise, that it has very low sales in San Francisco and practically no personnel, with no physical locations, no manufacturing plants, and no dealerships located there.
In the lawsuit, which was filed with the California Superior Court and the County of San Francisco, GM claims that its operations and revenue models are not shared with Cruise and that the two companies had an arrangement to operate “at arm’s length,” according to Bloomberg.
GM has already been hemorrhaging money from its big bet on Cruise, having lost $1.9 billion on Cruise expenses between January and September this year, in addition to a $732 million loss in the third quarter. Since Cruise’s infamous incident involving a pedestrian, GM has stepped in to take a bigger role in leading the company, with the automaker’s general counsel Craig Glidden now co-president along with Cruise’s Mo Elshenawy.
As for Cruise, the company has been in a nosedive since October 2 when a Cruise robotaxi dragged a San Francisco pedestrian more than 20 feet before braking – the pedestrian was first hit by a human-driving car before being flung into the path of a Cruise vehicle. California’s Department of Motor Vehicles quickly pulled Cruise’s operating permit, with Cruise voluntarily pausing all of its operations nationwide soon thereafter.
Meanwhile, a federal probe and independent investigations also dug up internal documents, which detailed pretty awful details about the vehicle’s algorithm – such as it had trouble identifying children, which wasn’t a secret to company staff.
Cruise is facing a potential $1.5 million in fines and additional sanctions over its failure to disclose details about the accident. So, unfortunately for GM, this headache isn’t going away anytime soon.
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Huawei is looking to launch its next smartphone offering, the Huawei Y9s in India soon. The company has setup a 'Notify Me' page at Amazon for interested people to register interest. It has not revealed the exact date of launch or the pricing details of the device. It will be made available in Midnight Black and Breathing Crystal colour options.
The company claims that its Huawei Y9s will be the most budget-friendly smartphone for millennials, who are just entering the corporate world. With the key feature being a 4,000mAh battery, which will be able to power the device throughout the day.
Huawei Y9s: Specifications
Huawei Y9s sports a 6.59-inch full HD+ display with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels and a 391PPI density. It comes with a 91 percent screen-to-body ratio with no notches or hole-punch cutouts, thanks to the motorised pop-up camera module.
It is powered by the company's own Kirin 710F processor paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage expandable up to 512GB via a microSD card. For security, the device comes with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which unlocks the phone within 0.3 seconds according to the brand.
The device runs Google's Android 9 Pie operating system with the company's own EMUI 9.1 skin on top. It is unknown if the device will come with support for Google services like the Play Store, Gmail, YouTube and more? Or will it not come with them and instead include alternatives like the Huawei App Gallery? Guess, we will just have to wait and see.
Huawei Y9s sports a triple back camera setup, consisting of a 48-megapixel primary sensor paired with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel tertiary sensor. On the front, it features a 16-megapixel sensor for video calls and taking selfies.
All of this will be backed by a 4,000mAh battery with support for fast charging. The company claims that the device can last for around 40 hours on a single charge while calling.


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"Google search algorithm" redirects here. For other search algorithms used by Google, see Google Penguin, Google Panda, and Google Hummingbird. PageRank
Why a Newsroom is the Perfect Google Panda Food
from SalFalko, ago in
In July 2015 google rolled out another major Panda Update to their algorithm. A well-designed online newsroom that acts as the brand’s content hub fulfills all the criteria for the new Panda update.


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Bitcoin Global News (BGN)
May 6, 2019 -- ADVFN Crypto NewsWire -- The blockchain has always been useful for more than just recording transactions and changing the way that we deal with money. Since it is an immutable ledger for recording any sort of information, there has always been a wide amount of interest from companies looking to improve their supply chains.
Time and time again, it has been claimed that the blockchain will be the first technical framework to truly the tracking of products from farm to table or factory to home. Until recently, the problem has been that since such an implementation has only been around for less than ten years, little data exists to back up its’ veracity.
Today, with Pepsi announcing the results of its’ trial usage of the Zilliqa blockchain, it appears that we may have finally entered a time in which blockchain usage will be proven to be profitable. According to CoinDesk, Pepsi recorded a 28% overall increase in overall supply chain performance, though as stated above, the technology was rolled out in limited scale.
If you are wondering how the specifics of this pilot worked out, it all began with automating a microcosm of Pepsi’s supply chain with the Zilliqa blockchain. Before going any further with how this worked out, it’s important to note that the usage of any blockchain network to improve a particular supply chain does not necessarily need to go beyond payments.
In Pepsi’s case, the increase in overall performance came from Zilliqa’s demonstrated ability to process transactions related to Pepsi’s supply chain in real-time. Considering this, it could easily be said that this was nothing more than an institutional test of the blockchain’s core use case.
Even if this was true, however, since the trial was more specifically geared towards how efficiently advertisements could be published, the positive implications of the project did seem to reach beyond how we use currency. In truth, however, perhaps crypto tokens will always be a part of every blockchain implementation and that’s not such a restrictive thing. They’re the reason that the blockchain is able to be more than a simple ledger, in the end.
By: BGN Editorial Staff


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Practical, strong and inexpensive, the small black plastic bags known as polybags are used to protect and transport delicate young seedlings. They are a common sight on any landscaping or restoration project — including those supported by the Environmental Bamboo Foundation.
Recognizing that it was time to make a change and reduce consumption of plastic polybags, in 2021 EBF began collaborating with women’s empowerment organizations in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to produce an environmentally-friendly alternative made of natural fibers. 20 villages in seven districts in Flores are part of EBF’s Bamboo Village program, and last year their goal was to produce 2.8 million bamboo seedlings — a green alternative to the plastic polybags was urgently needed.
NTT has long been home to a rich weaving tradition, and woven textiles play a vital role in cultural life. This meant ripe ground for the production of a viable, biodegradable woven seedling bag made from natural fibers commonly found in Flores.
In Nginamanu Village in Ngada Regency, EBF collaborated with Du Anyam — a social enterprise empowering and improving the health of women in rural areas through the production of beautiful woven products — to guide bamboo farmers in the weaving of polybags made from bamboo fiber.
In Du Village in Sikka Regency, bamboo farmers now weave polybags from the fibers of banana trunks and coconuts, as well as from coconut palm leaves. As part of its push towards biodegradable polybags, EBF is also mapping areas with plentiful natural fiber resources across NTT.
Arief Rabik, President Director of EBF, has emphasized that the environmentally-friendly polybag innovation will eventually be implemented in the 20 villages participating in EBF’s bamboo plantation and reforestation programs across Flores.
“Gradually, we will replace plastic polybags with natural fiber polybags. This year we are aiming for 10 percent of all polybags used to be made from natural fibers,” he said. “The use of natural fibers will also have a positive impact by strengthening the handicraft industry in villages and providing additional economic opportunities for natural fiber weavers.”
About Du Anyam:
Working closely with the talented women artisans of Indonesia, Du Anyam creates wicker products through the most authentic craftsmanship. With the goal of economically empowering and improving the health of these women in rural areas around Indonesia, Du Anyam is a brand built upon the values of its founders.
The three pillars of Du Anyam are: Empower Women, Promote Culture, and Improve Livelihood.


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The demand for chips in the automotive industry is increasing day by day as smart and autonomous driving technologies continue to evolve. In a bid to compete for a share in the market, Intel announced a series of new initiatives aimed at competing with rivals such as Qualcomm and Nvidia.
Firstly, Intel plans to launch its latest edge AI chip for automotive applications. The chip features Intel’s latest AI technology with powerful computing capabilities and energy efficiency to meet vehicle requirements for durability and performance. By working with automakers, Intel hopes to widely apply this chip to future vehicles, bringing smarter and more efficient solutions to the automotive industry.
To further strengthen the layout in the field of automotive semiconductors, Intel also announced that it will acquire the French startup Silicon Mobility, which focuses on the design of the system on a chip for controlling electric vehicle motors and onboard charging systems. Through the acquisition of Silicon Mobility, Intel will have access to more technology and patents, thus enhancing its competitiveness in the field of motor control and electrical conversion.
In addition, Intel also announced a partnership with Chinese automaker Zeekr. It will be the first automaker to use Intel’s on-chip artificial intelligence system to create an augmented living room experience for its vehicles. This means that the future of Zeekr cars will be equipped with AI voice assistants and video conferencing features, bringing car owners a more convenient and intelligent car experience.
However, despite Intel’s foundation and experience in the automotive semiconductor market, Intel still faces challenges from strong competitors such as Qualcomm and Nvidia in this increasingly competitive market. To maintain its leading position, Intel needs to continue to increase investment and innovation efforts to introduce more competitive products and services.
Jack Weast, head of Intel’s automotive business, said, “Intel has done a terrible job of publicizing its success in the automotive sector. We will change that.” He stressed that Intel will continue to increase investment in the field of automotive semiconductors and work with partners to promote the intelligent development of the automotive industry.


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GCC introduced Value Added Tax on January 1, 2018 and everyone is not exactly jumping for joy
Bangalore, January 18, 2018: Kuwait is all set to implement Value-Added Tax this year, but the citizens are not really sure they want it.
Most people in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have paid little or no tax so far. But, now, the Council has decided to introduce VAT.
The representatives of the Member States of the GCC have confirmed the introduction of VAT system by signing a VAT Framework Treaty.
Radhakrishnan Nair, General Manager at Areej International Food stuff and a local resident of Kuwait, said “The taxation system is unlikely to function in Kuwait since the local population has never been taxed before, it is not something that would be easily accepted.”
They know only direct spending and earning, they do not know how taxation works, he said. Since it’s a monarchy, the system of governance is not very transparent and if tax came into play then they would have to be more transparent, he added.
Alok Chugh, Government and Public sector Leader, Middle East and North African (MENA) region at Ernst & Young, said in an interview, “the VAT law is expected to be implemented by January 2018. Accordingly, businesses have only 10 months to prepare for VAT implementation and ensure the contracts have been amended to that effect and the IT systems are updated to ensure compliance with the laws.”
After its implementation, the VAT levied on goods and services will by five per cent which is considerably lower than the VAT charged in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, which is at 19 per cent.
Lekha Kishore, consultant in sales and marketing and a local resident of Dubai said the people in Dubai are aware of the taxation system as they pay road tax, so this is just an addition to what they are already paying.
Muna Al Funzai, a journalist from Kuwait Times said, “VAT will be a matter of concern for business people and will possibly have an impact on the business environment and investments when implemented.”
“VAT is a transparent method for GCC governments to increase their revenue, boost their GDP and maintain their strong economies while continuing to deliver public service,” she added.
Staple food items have been exempted from the VAT, but electronics, automobiles, jewelry and restaurants are among those that will be taxed.


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James Wilks, a former UFC fighter who produced and starred in the critically acclaimed documentary The Game Changers, has founded a new sports nutrition brand called FȲTA.
The first products to launch are protein powders containing EverPro, a plant-based protein made from upcycled American barley. The ingredient is produced by EverGrain, a company that uses proprietary technologies to turn spent brewer’s grain into high-quality ingredients.
“It’s amazing to think that such a high quality protein was being thrown away”
During beer brewing, the carbohydrates in grains are separated from the protein and fiber. While the carbohydrates are used to initiate the fermentation process, the other components are normally sent to landfill or used as livestock feed. However, EverGrain has developed a method to upcycle them.
According to FȲTA, the resulting protein is the most soluble and digestible in the category. It is also said to be the most sustainable protein commercially available at scale, requiring 14 times less land and 34 times less water than whey protein while generating five times fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
“Truly unique product”
FȲTA’s new Elite Plant Protein combines EverPro with lupin beans to create an easy-to-mix plant-based powder. Available in the flavors Café Latte, Creamy Chocolate, and Caramel Vanilla, it contains 30 grams of protein per serving, including all nine essential amino acids.
Elite Plant Protein also contains 3g of fiber and minimal added sugar. In a blind taste test, FȲTA claims the products were preferred 3 to 1 over comparable leading protein powders, with testers especially impressed by their rapid solubility in any liquid.
The launch comes just weeks after it was announced that a Game Changers sequel is in the works. The original documentary — which explores the benefits of a plant-based diet for athletic performance — has been viewed over 100 million times. It has also received accreditations from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
“It’s amazing to think that such a high quality, highly digestible, and highly versatile protein was being thrown away,” said Wilks. “EverGrain’s efforts to upcycle a protein that would otherwise go to waste not only resulted in a truly unique product, but aligns with our mission to create a stronger, healthier population and planet.”


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HOUSTON – It’s a convention all Barbie lovers won’t want to miss. The 2017 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention is happening in Houston and lasts through Saturday.
Since the convention is in Space City, this year’s theme is “Houston to Blast Off With Barbie.” The public is invited to see the collection of rare, one-of-a-kind vintage Barbie dolls and even get a chance to buy some.
“I never stopped playing with Barbie, I got to the age where it was no longer cool to play with Barbie and I started collecting. Houston Doll Society member Dawn Arneymoore said. "She’s always been part of my life.”
Arneymoore is one of 800 collectors form across the nation and all over the world who will be at the convention.
“It is incredible you always think that you have seen it all then every year there’s something new that shows up that you just know that you have to have,” said Arneymoore. “Well a lot of people would tell you that I have a small collection , but I’ve got about 1,600 dolls in my own collection. Everything from vintage to modern and I try to collect all of the limited editions that Mattel resells, they’re my favorites.”
The convention is happening at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Houston. The Houston Doll Society along with National Collectors Convention Steering Committee are hosting the event.
“It is so exciting to have the convention here in Houston, we’ve been planning this for over two years as a local doll club and just thrilled that it’s final here,” said Arneymoore.
On Saturday the general public is invited from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets for adults are $5 and kids under 12 years-old are free.
Some of the Barbie dolls on display will include space traveling Barbie, who has been traveling for 51 years. Mattel launched Miss Astronaut Barbie into space four years after Neil Armstrong walked the moon.
“I don’t collect the Barbie’s, but I can appreciate what she sees in them and the collections that people put together. said Jeff Axe. "I like hearing the history of the Barbie’s.”
Axe and his wife, Leslee have been attending the conventions since 2004. Since then, they have participated in the convention’s fashion show.
“It’s always exciting to work together, it takes about a month to put a costume together maybe even longer and for it to all come together and to see everyone appreciate it because that’s the reward seeing how much they appreciate it” said Jeff Axe.
Axe reproduces the different Barbie outfits and makes them life size for the convention fashion shows. This year he focused on the theme of Blast off with Barbie.
Jeff and Leslee Axe are from Cleveland, Ohio. His wife has collected about 800 dolls.
“I’ve been collecting ever since I was a little girl , she’s always held a huge part in my heart,” said Leslee. “We come to the different conventions every year, it’s an opportunity for us and our family to take a vacation and to see the different areas, and reunite with good friends.”
The Galactic Designer Fashion Show is on Friday. The convention is jammed packed with events for collectors including an Intergalactic Ball Dinner on Saturday.
“Barbie convention is my me-time, so for me it’s a week of getting together with all of my friends,” said Allison Kullenberg. She is a member of the Pink in the Heart of Texas Club in Dallas.
Only collectors were able to go into the raffle room where they could drop raffle tickets in hope of winning vintage and rare Barbie Dolls.
The money will go to Camp For All which is a Houston Charity that helps kids and adults with challenging illnesses and special needs.
Behind the scenes look at the 2017 Barbie Doll Collectors Convention. It's open to the public on Saturday from 10am - 3pm kids under 12 are free.Posted by KPRC2 Sophia Beausoleil on Wednesday, July 19, 2017
2017 National Barbie Doll Collector Convention
DIGITAL DAY: Good morning! Today I get to cover something fun. The 2017 National Barbie Doll Collector Convention is here in Houston at the Hyatt Regency downtown. If you're a Barbie fan or need an activity for the kiddos, this is the place to be. Do you collect Barbie Dolls? Mattel KPRC2 / Click2HoustonPosted by KPRC2 Sophia Beausoleil on Wednesday, July 19, 2017


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Mumbai-based JustDispose will make an assessment of the value of existing hardware
In a bid to woo small and medium businesses (SMBs), Microsoft India has announced a new trade-in scheme, offering them an opportunity to exchange legacy hardware and use the proceeds to buy credit on Microsoft’s cloud service Windows Azure.
Making the announcement on the sidelines of the ongoing two-day Azure Conference here , the company said that currently Mumbai-based JustDispose is the authorised hardware recycle partner for making an assessment of the value of existing hardware. After the assessment is made based on residual value, the SMB can use proceeds to obtain monthly credit based on an upfront initial commitment, the company said.
This is the first time Microsoft has come up with such an offer for any business segment across the global geographies the company operates in, said Karan Bajwa, MD, Microsoft India.
Microsoft had announced that the Azure platform is picking up among businesses in India. Mr. Bajwa said that at the highest tier (the highest level of quality of hardware traded in), credits offered will be enough to pay 50 per cent of the upfront value. He clarified that Microsoft defines as SMB any organisation that has up to 250 PCs.


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Local Strawberries Going for Cheap
To support local growers , Publix Super Markets is selling 4 pints for $5.
Published: Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 6:26 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 6:26 p.m.
LAKELAND | The time is ripe for buying Florida strawberries.
Grocery stores, such as Publix Super Markets, are now selling strawberries at lower prices, helping local growers bounce back after freezing temperatures earlier this year delayed fruit production.
Last year, during the first two weeks of April, Publix sold strawberries for about $3.49 a pint, said Publix spokeswoman Shannon Patten.
Right now, Publix is offering customers a "4 for 5" deal, selling 4 pints of strawberries for $5.
This means consumers can indulge in more berry treats for a lot less. The last time the company offered strawberries for that price was in 2007.
In similar deals, Winn-Dixie is offering 1 pound bags of Florida strawberries on a buy-one-get-one basis with a discount card. The Bartow Walmart Supercenter is offering them for $1.50 a pound, down from $2.50.
Usually, by the first of April, Publix begins buying strawberries from California because of rising temperatures in Florida, which Patten said lowers the quality of the fruit.
"Traditionally this time of year, the strawberry crop is coming from a different part of the country and we would be sourcing strawberries outside of the local area," Patten said.
Colder temperatures in Florida, however, changed company plans.
"We have decided that we're going to delay our Florida exit and support local growers and farmers. They have a lot of fruit and it's a great quality. By doing this really everybody wins," said Patten.
Most of the strawberries selling in Publix stores are from Central Florida, particularly from the Plant City area, which Patten said has many positives, including boosting the local economy and saving on transportation time and costs.
Jerry D'Amore, director of product group at SunnyRidge Farm, which grows strawberries as well as other products, said, "there's a lot being said about strawberries these days.
"The thing that's not an opinion is that the weather has been extremely difficult," he said. "We had to frost protect (the crops) 26 times this year as opposed to four times last year," he said.
While April is generally the end of the strawberry-picking season in Florida, D'Amore said the cold weather delayed the crops that would have already been picked by now.
"The crops are coming on later and heavier," he said, which has depressed the prices as local growers compete not only with each other, but also with the crops in California.
"The price isn't very robust, but it's worth our doing what we're doing," he said.
[ Sarah Stegall can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or 863-802-7547. ]
This story appeared in print on page C6
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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But there is another key reason that Kentucky hemp-derived CBD oil is superior. Kentucky’s hemp farms are situated along the 37th parallel. On the other side of the world, the same latitude line runs through the Hindu Kush mountains. The Hindu Kush is a rugged, rocky region at the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where all indica strains of cannabis originated. That means that Kentucky’s light cycles are same as those in the Hindu Kush, which makes them perfect for cannabis. But while the Hindu Kush is rugged and barren, Kentucky hemp farms are one of the world’s most welcoming agricultural microclimates. That begins to explain why so many CBD brands claim that Kentucky is the home of their hemp crop. But that’s still not the only reason why Kentucky hemp is so special.
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Source : Why is Kentucky Cannabis So Good?
reposted by Cannabis News World


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Majid Al Futtaim opens City Centre Me'aisem, its sixth City Centre mall in the UAE on Tuesday
Update: non-payment by Atlas Jewellery, which has more than 50 branches across the Gulf and in India, said to affect at least 15 banks
Numerous banks lodged complaints with Dubai Police over bounced cheques
Ministry of Energy announces drop in prices for all fuel categories as new policy linked to global levels continues
Airport passengers are only asked to show boarding passes “a few times a year”, it has been claimed
Planned launch of outlets in Mall of the Emirates and Yas Mall has been pushed back by up to two months
Ministry of Economy responds to reports that US firm is receiving exemption from foreign ownership laws to encourage it to open stores in the UAE
More than 20% of people polled say they will increase their public transport use following deregulation of petrol prices
US tech giant reportedly gets green light to open first Middle East stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Operator Abu Dhabi Airports says sales rise nearly 11% to set new half-yearly record
CEO says drivers who have been using the incorrect, higher fuel Octane level do not gain on performance
Majid Al Futtaim says City Centre Me’aisem will open in Dubai's International Media Production Zone
Palm Jumeirah retail complex will house 70 outlets, many of which are currently being fitted out
Gulf Related says mall will feature first Macy's outside the US; slated for completion in March 2018
New report reveals that domestic market drives spending during holy month as international spend slows
RP Group chief Dr Ravi Pillai says visit will further galvanise investments to flow from the...
After slashing spending by $180 billion to deal with one of the worst industry downturns in...
Following deregulation of petrol prices, the rising cost of living is where the greatest challenge...
US president Barack Obama’s recent visit to Kenya drew welcome attention for one of Africa...
How the new chairman of the Libyan Investment Authority is fighting to recoup the ravaged nation...
With the theme 'Creating a Regional Framework for Prosperity and Peace through Public-Private...
King Abdullah II says projects will be delivered via public private partnerships; part of new...
Prominent firms stump up support for new youth unemployment target for WEF’s Regional Business...
Gordon Brown says public-private partnerships needed to drive urgently needed infrastructure...
From my 10 years history in UAE - 2 times I put my friends-partners in jail & they found money to pay for me in 2 to 4 hours! But they now no more my friends... more
There are a lot of words like may, could, and possible in this article. We could get hit by a large meteor and all this would be over. Global warming is... more
Now they charge around Dhs 200 for placing an ad for your car, which is ridiculous. I am sure they are not targeting individuals anymore, it has lost its... more
Will have far more effect on the vast army of tiny LLC's that keep Dubai functioning - frequently by already working employees 7 days and too many hours... more
I fully agree with this rating as I lived there for 10 years before moving to UAE. Now I can easily rate that Bahrain is a better place for an expat to... more
Taking photos liberally of people is highly offensive so much so that in many countries the Privacy Act protects personal information that is held, or... more
You will never walk alone Mahendran...you have touched so many people with your heart, kindness and of course...that unforgetable smile. My heart will... more
According to the UK press, this refers to a story that is around 20 years old... Quiet news day, I guess more


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For the longest time, the oh-so-delicious hazelnut spread Nutella was spouted to be “part of a nutritious breakfast,” which honestly, was music to all our ears. Made from a combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a touch of cocoa, Nutella sounded like the perfect (and yummy) way to start the day. Honestly, who doesn’t love some crusty, toasted bread generously slathered with essentially crack in a jar? Yet in recent years the beloved breakfast staple has been coming under fire for its true health benefits, or should we say, it’s lack thereof.
While people soon started to point out how ads failed to mention the copious amounts of sugar and fat also present, the most damning nail in the coffin for all Nutella lovers was a study released by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in May 2016. Researchers found that one of the main ingredients in Nutella, palm oil, releases potentially carcinogenic chemicals when refined at high temperatures. And as we know, carcinogenic chemicals can increase the risk of cancer, which definitely is no bueño. This, of course, led to a big uproar, including many food producers in Europe promising to do away with palm oil, with even Italy’s largest supermarket chain boycotting any product containing palm oil (which wasn’t great considering Nutella was invented in Italy).
But before you sadly bury your half-empty jar of Nutella in the backyard while shedding a few tears (which would be totally normal), let’s take a closer look at this. The key point of the study is that, if heated above 200 degrees Celsius, palm oil releases a contaminant known as glycidyl fatty esters (GE). Past studies have shown that GE can cause tumors in rats and mice, which is why the EFSA warned there was a potential health risk for both children and anyone who consumes it in high amounts. Yet an EFSA spokesperson also said that “at the moment, there is no scientific evidence” of a link between exposure to GE and cancer in humans, as their conclusions are all based “on available evidence on experimental animals.”
So to break this down, 1) humans are not rats, so while there may be a possibility our bodies would respond in the same way, it isn’t a guarantee, and 2) unless you’re very young or eating copious amounts of Nutella every day, the risk isn’t as high. It’s also important to note here that the EFSA did not call for a ban on palm oil, and that the action of food manufactures and stores alike were all voluntary. And for the hazelnut on top, the confectionery firm Ferrero, who produces the creamy and dreamy spread, told Reuters that they refine their palm oil under the 200 degrees Celsius threshold. While more studies would need to be done to prove this prevents or reduces the amount of GE released, it seems very plausible to believe it would.
In essence, while Nutella may not be the healthiest thing in the world (58% of it is pure sugar), it definitely shouldn’t be ranked among products like cigarettes and alcohol for drastically increasing your risk of cancer. As with most things in life, moderation is key, so a few tablespoons of Nutella here and there should be just fine. Just don’t, ya know, eat half the jar in one sitting.


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- Bed Bath & Beyond has named Avon CFO Gustavo Arnal as its chief financial officer, effective May 4.
- It also has named BJ's Wholesale exec Rafeh Masood as its chief digital officer, effective May 11.
- Gregg Melnick, a current Bed Bath & Beyond exec, has been tapped as its chief stores officer.
- Arlene Hong is set to become chief legal officer, effective May 18. She joins Bed Bath & Beyond from Fullbeauty Brands.
Bed Bath & Beyond continues to bolster its leadership team with fresh faces under recently appointed Chief Executive Mark Tritton, who is working to turn the ailing business around.
The company has tapped Gustavo Arnal as chief financial officer, effective May 4, CNBC has learned. Arnal joins the company from beauty conglomerate Avon, where he served as finance chief. Current Bed Bath & Beyond CFO Robyn D'Elia is set to depart.
It also has named Rafeh Masood as chief digital officer. Masood will join Bed Bath & Beyond on May 11, after leaving his role as chief digital officer at BJ's Wholesale Club.
Gregg Melnick has been tapped as its chief stores officer, also effective May 11. Previously, Melnick was the retailer's interim chief digital officer.
Lastly, Arlene Hong is set to become chief legal officer, effective May 18. She joins Bed Bath & Beyond from Fullbeauty Brands, where she held the same title.
Last December, Tritton, Target's former chief merchant, essentially blew up his executive circle — ousting Bed Bath & Beyond's chief merchandising officer, marketing officer, digital officer, its general counsel and chief administrative officer.
In early March, it named former Walgreens Chief Merchandising Officer Joe Hartsig as its chief merchant, tasked with helping to reinvigorate some of Bed Bath & Beyond's private labels.
Tritton has said a large part of his strategy is focused on refreshing the retailer's owned brands, remodeling stores, and investing more in the beauty and baby categories — with its Harmon Face Values and Buybuy Baby banners.
However, the coronavirus pandemic has forced temporary closures of thousands of retailers' stores across the country, and has put much of Tritton's turnaround plans on pause.
When it reported quarterly earnings, the retailer said earlier this month that its results in 2020 will be "unfavorably impacted" by the Covid-19 crisis. It said it planned to cut back discretionary expenses like business travel and advertising, and costs related to the maintenance of stores sitting dark.
In turn, Bed Bath & Beyond said it would be prioritizing roughly $250 million in essential expenditures in its digital business and rolling out more in-store pickup options.
Tritton told CNBC in a video interview Thursday that the retailer has curbside pickup currently available for customers at 26 Bed Bath & Beyond locations in Texas, and another 26 in Florida. The CEO said it will roll that service out to another 100 locations over the weekend. The demand from customers using this option is up nearly 400%, he said.
"Based on my prior experiences at Target, I knew the value of BOPUS and order pickup," Tritton added.
Still, it remains unclear when Bed Bath & Beyond will reopen its doors to shoppers again. A number of retailers, including Macy's, are planning to reopen dozens of locations as soon as Monday, as some shopping malls start to open their doors again, particularly in the Southeast, where lockdown restrictions have eased.
"Opening our doors is our goal," Tritton said. "But opening our doors in a new way."
The company has temporarily converted roughly 25% of its Bed Bath & Beyond stores and Buybuy Baby locations into regional fulfillment centers, helping it fulfill online orders.
Bed Bath & Beyond shares have fallen more than 63% this year. The retailer has a market cap of about $792.2 million.


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Proposed Ace Hardware location scheduled to open in SG next spring
SUGAR GROVE—The Sugar Grove Village Board on Tuesday discussed the proposed Ace Hardware store that will be located on the corner of Capitol Road and Galena Road. The store will feature an outdoor selling area for seasonal items, an indoor shop, a 2,000-square-foot shop designated for selling premium cat, dog and bird food, and a 1,000 gallon propane tank for filling grills.
Village Planner Michael Ferencak, and Mark Driscoll, president and CEO at DriBar Ace, LLC, were in attendance to answer questions. Driscoll discussed their plans to open the store and details about the landscaping of the property.
“I am still hoping for a spring opening. We should have the financing in place by Nov. 5,” he said. “As far as landscaping, we would also like to have shrubs in portable planters in front of the building. For the front of the store, my intention is to have it designated as a seasonal spot. For instance, we could sell mums in the fall and replace them with Christmas trees in the holiday season.”
Village Board members expressed opinions about the landscape for the outdoor area.
“As far as planters, I support the planter idea. Maybe, we can soften the building landscape by planting trees in the islands in the parking lot. This would help the customer feel a warm feeling and save the business owner some money,” village trustee Kevin Geary said.
Driscoll expressed excitement over the location’s ability to feature select pet food.
“There is a fantastic opportunity to sell premium pet food in this area,” he said. “Right now, residents have to drive to the nearest Petco or PetSmart located on Randall Road or Orchard Road to purchase premium pet food.”
Village trustee Rick Montalto suggested an idea for the Ace Hardware location.
“You should make it a one-stop shop and include grooming, as well,” he said.
Village Board President Sean Michels verbalized his overall happiness about having an Ace Hardware store in the village.
“The plans for the store look very good,” he said. “We do want great commercial stores in our community.”


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It seems that cybercriminals will never run out of clever and duplicitous schemes to defraud individuals and businesses out of their hard-earned money. Malicious online attacks, otherwise known as crimeware, have been on the rise for many years and 2020 was no exception; online attacks soared as cybercriminals took advantage of overwhelmed healthcare providers amidst the emerging coronavirus pandemic.
Another offering that has enabled cybercriminals to scale their attacks, both in sophistication and frequency, is Crimeware-as-a-Service (CaaS). As CaaS continues to grow, healthcare providers must remain vigilant and take every precaution to safeguard their systems against all varieties of online attacks. Crimeware-as-a-Service (CaaS) refers to any computer program or tool that allows criminals to facilitate illegal activities online. Drawing inspiration for its name from Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), CaaS allows cybercriminals with specialized backgrounds to sell their goods and services to other cybercriminals that may lack the know-how but have the funds to initiate an online attack.
What types of CaaS do cybercriminals sell?
Whether it’s email phishing kits, spyware, malware, keyloggers, or browser hijackers, the CaaS economy enables criminals to put their skills to use by allowing bad actors to purchase ready-to-go attack kits. This spells danger for frequent targets of online attacks, such as healthcare organizations storing protected health information (PHI) and other valuable data. Types of CaaS that can be bought online include:
- Ransomware-as-a-Service: Ransomware, one of the most significant threats to email security, is a type of malicious software that holds data hostage until the targeted victim pays a ransom to release it. Most commonly distributed via phishing attacks, ransomware email often comes from seemingly innocuous email addresses. With the availability of DIY ransomware kits on the black market, any cybercriminal can launch a large-scale ransomware attack on an unsuspecting organization.
- Denial-of-service-attack-as-a-Service: A denial-of-service (DoS) attack is when a cybercriminal blocks access to a network, device, or site so that legitimate users cannot access it. DoS attacks are often launched against organizations for the purposes of blackmail, revenge, or to cause financial harm to the victim. DoS attacks offered as a type of CaaS allow hackers to rent their services, often for as little as $7 per hour.
- Phishing-attacks-as-a-service: Email phishing attacks trick victims into revealing passwords, financial details, and other pieces of personal information in order to gain access to online accounts that have valuable data. Cybercriminals can easily purchase phishing kits, the back-end components of a phishing attack, to facilitate their own attacks.
These are just a few types of CaaS available. While CaaS is by no means a new trend (According to the Malicious Code Research Center, CaaS has been noted by law enforcement as a growing problem since 2008), the continued commercialization of cybercriminal activities will undoubtedly continue to cause major problems for healthcare organizations.
The ability for even small-time hackers to purchase or rent the refined services of more experienced cybercriminals should alarm every company and organization. However, there is good news: While new cybercriminals may be joining the CaaS economy at a rapid clip, they’re not selling new attack services. For the most part, the CaaS attacks that cybercriminals are purchasing and launching are familiar to IT security teams. Phishing attacks, spyware, DoS attacks, ransomware, and other types of online threats have been around for a long time. By now, most organizations are aware of how to protect against these threats with the help of services like Paubox Email Suite Plus.
How Paubox Can Protect against CaaS Attacks
The best way to protect your company against CaaS attacks is to start with a good defense. Paubox Email Suite Plus arms healthcare providers with robust inbound security technology to protect customers and employees from email cyberattacks and various types of online scams. Many CaaS attacks rely on human error to succeed. However, Paubox Email Suite Plus mitigates this vulnerability with ExecProtect, which is patented protection that guards against display name spoofing attacks . It also allows patients to receive HIPAA compliant email without the use of a password or portal.
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