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The tragic and dramatic collapse of crypto exchange FTX has reached mass media - I'm sure most of you know it by now. However, a potentially bigger problem is brewing - in the crypto credit space. Major crypto lender Genesis is facing tough times, loaning billions of dollars, halting withdrawals, and more…
Perhaps it's not cause for concern. Anyway, welcome back to What's Brand New!
For those who are new, we bring you the biggest NFT and web3 brand news every week, keeping you well-informed on what’s brand new in the space.
Here's our content in-brief:
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Let's jump right in to today's content!
French luxury goods multinational LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, also known as LVMH, has recently partnered with Web3 galley project Lava NYC to launch DualPower, a horse-themed NFT collection inspired by the famous Indian artist M.F. Husain (nicknamed the "Indian Picasso").
The DualPower NFT collection, which contains 3333 unique NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, was inspired by "Forms Follows Function", an art piece that illustrates the journey of the Arab civilization through horses that run behind a car.
Digital art collectors will appreciate that the Forms Follows Function art piece by M.F. Husain was never released before, in either digital form or print, which adds extra value to the NFTs in the collection.
Minting one of the 3333 DualPower NFTs will cost 0.4 ETH and will be available on EST November 22, 2022, starting at 8:00 AM. LVMH's first NFT drop, called DualFaced, was also inspired by the same artist, contains 10,000 NFTs, and became popular on OpenSea soon after it was released early this year.
German casual and sportswear brand Adidas Originals has announced the launch of a limited-edition virtual wearable NFT collection, which aims to strengthen the company's strategy to expand to the metaverse and the Web3 world.
The collection consists of 16 wearable NFTs included in the Adidas Virtual Gear category, each designed to be worn in the Web3 world by avatars. Each NFT from the new Adidas collection is interoperable with other metaverse projects.
Additionally, three creator-based NFTs are also included in the Adidas wearables collection, as part of an ongoing collaboration with the brand's most early Web3 partners, namely Bored Ape Yacht Club, Punks Comics, and Gmoney.
The 16-piece collection will be available for purchase on the OpenSea NFT marketplace platform on November 16th, 2022. Owners of one of the NFTs from a previous Adidas NFT collection called "Originals: Capsule NFT Collection" will be able to burn the NFT capsule they hold and have it replaced with one of the 16 new wearable NFTs from the new collection.
One of the perks of the new Adidas NFTs is that their owners will be allowed access to a PFP dressing tool, that they can use to dress up one of their Bored Apes, or another NFT from a compatible Web3 project or collection.
Famous scotch brand Johnnie Walke has announced it will launch an NFT collection named "Johnnie Walker Blue Label", in partnership with designer VandyThePink and music collective 88Rising, according to a press release made public on November 18th.
The announcement states that Johnnie Walker fans who own one of the non-fungible tokens will receive unique benefits, such as voting rights for the upcoming bottle design and artwork featured.
The Johnnie Walker Blue Label collection will be launched on November 22, 2022, on the BlockBar NFT marketplace platform, which is run by a company specialized in certified authenticity that works with lux brands from around the world. Once the voting period ends and the new physical bottle is created and available for purchase, each Johnnie Walker bottle will come with a certificate of ownership held securely on the blockchain, which gives the owner the right to redeem an NFT from the collection.
Sophie Kelly, Johnnie Walker's Senior Vice President of whiskies said they are thrilled to push the boundaries into the Web3 world, with an anticipated NFT marketplace collaboration that is the first of a kind for the brand.
LVMH-owned French luxury fashion brand Givenchy has announced the launch of its second NFT capsule collection, in collaboration with streetwear company Bstroy for the design part, and Felt Zine (an artist collective platform) for digital interpretation of the designs.
The Givenchy capsule collection will drop on November 19th, 2022, featuring 360 total NFTS that can be linked to their physical twins from the capsule collection, hence the term phygital products for this type of NFTs.
The price for a physical product ranges from $450 to $520. Customers from USA or Europe who buy a physical piece will receive an email from the company, with details on how to claim their NFT, which will be the digital twin version of their product. Givenchy sees its first collaboration with a Web3 artist as essential, in its efforts to reach and engage the right audience.
Other brands popular brands, such as Prada, Puma, and Gucci, have also launched phygital pieces (physical products linked to NFTs) in the past.
A Luxury NFT collection created by a South African artist living in Las Vegas named Johnathan Schultz, announced on November 17th that it will reward its NFT holders with actual diamonds, in a move that is a first-of-a-kind in the NFT space.
GemSet has revealed that it has 2,500 diamonds ready to be shipped to anyone who holds one of the NFTs from the Gemesis NFT, a 2,500 non-fungible tokens collection that provides access to the upcoming GemSet drop.
To redeem the physical diamond that accompanies each NFT, customers must pass a KYC process to validate their identity and be sure the item will ship to the correct address. Aside from the diamond, other GemSet rewards include more than $200k worth of physical artwork, such as hand-painted pieces with multiple 23kt gold layers and merch created by Johnathan Schultz.
Both the GemSet and Gemesis NFT collections are hand-drawn by the artist, with nostalgic themes inspired by the 90's period, such as movies, old technology, or games. One of the notable art pieces created by Schultz is a recreation of Nelson Mandela's fingerprint, set in 18kt gold and encrusted with diamonds.
Thanks for staying till the end, and we hope you’re now better informed on NFT brand activity this week in the space.
While we're just starting to see the after-effects of the FTX crash, there's always a silver lining. Perhaps we will start to see more transparency from CEXs and crypto funds. This will pass… and so will cheap crypto prices! Anyway, enjoy the world cup (for all you football fans).
Hope to see you IRL at NFT Paris, February 2023! Till next time, coolkidz.
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The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Delhi High Court judge hearing a slew of petitions and counterpetitions filed by Amazon and the Future Group against each other to also hear Amazon’s latest request to prevent Future Retail Ltd (FRL) from selling its stores to Reliance Industries.
“What matters is that this interim application be considered,” said a Supreme Court panel led by Chief Justice NV Ramana.
FRL’s senior lawyer, Harish Salve, asked the court not to issue an order and said he would “assist” in getting the case heard in the high court on a priority basis.
He said the Future Group’s and Amazon’s lawyers would file a joint request with Justice C Hari Shankar to have Amazon’s plea on Reliance’s takeover of hundreds of properties where the Future Group operated its stores heard first.
On Tuesday, the matter will be heard by Justice Hari Shankar of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has asked both Amazon and FRL to provide an update on the case’s outcome by Wednesday.
After the Supreme Court asked the Delhi High Court to hear the petitions again and on merit in February, Justice Hari Shankar is hearing the Amazon-Future Group cases on a fast-track basis. Amazon had attempted to have a Singapore-based arbitral tribunal stay the sale of Future Group’s retail assets to Reliance Retail by enforcing the order.
Meanwhile, Amazon has charged Reliance with “collusion” with FRL in order to transfer 835 FRL stores to Reliance.
“The purported arrangements entered into by FRL with the MDA (Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani) Group constitute a clandestine stratagem to alienate FRL’s retail stores in favour of the MDA Group,” Amazon wrote in a Supreme Court petition filed on Saturday to stop FRL from completing the store transfer process.
Reliance and FRL did not respond to ET’s request for comment until Monday afternoon, when ET went to press.
The properties of Future Group outlets were taken over by Reliance Projects & Property Management, a unit of Reliance Industries, in February for alleged non-payment of rents for more than a year.
After paying individual landlords for the retailer’s unpaid rentals and transferring the leases to its own name, Reliance Projects allowed the Future Group to operate on a “leave and licence” basis from these locations. Reliance has claimed Rs 4,800 crore in unpaid rents in a letter to FRL.

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TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) Police were looking for a stolen 1997 Camaro Monday after the car was stolen at gunpoint from a woman in the parking lot of the Temple Walmart store at 3401 South 31st St.
The carjacker, who was wearing a maroon hooded sweatshirt and sweat pants, approached the woman just before noon in the store parking lot, produced a gun and demanded her wallet and keys.
He drove off in the white block-top Camaro with Texas license LBL00925.
The car's right tail light is missing the cover and there is a Temple College sticker on the rear driver's side window.
Investigators are asking anyone with information to call the Temple Police Department’s non-emergency line at (254) 298-5500.


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remind potential customers were informed via social media today by Google that pre-orders for the Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro open in one month. Another video hands-on of Google’s next mid-range phone has been uploaded on YouTube in the meantime.
The two I/O 2022 devices go on pre-order on Thursday, July 21. Google had stated that the Pixel 6a would be available for purchase on July 28, however the Pixel Buds Pro does not have a release date. Both are most likely to start shipping right before the scheduled release date.
Though it’s likely that current Pixel users will purchase the earbuds, Google is very much bundling the devices as a single purchase. Google is emphasizing active noise cancellation (ANC), Volume EQ, device switching, and the hotword in relation to marketing copy .
The Pixel 6a is incredibly quick and secure and has a fantastic battery and camera thanks to Google Tensor technology. For an immersive listening experience, pair it with the brand-new Pixel Buds Pro.
Another Pixel 6a hands-on video has also been released, this time from Malaysia, where there is a reseller. This one is noteworthy because it demonstrates how we can determine what operating system the 6a is on out of the box: Android 12L April security patch. QPR3 will most certainly receive an upgrade on day one, with Android 13 following soon after.
Additional features of this video :
3:57 A quick test of the under-display fingerprint sensor 7:26 stereo speakers are tested. 10:35 It doesn’t appear like Magic Erasers’ new feature to modify the color of bothersome elements in your shot is online yet. 12:06 703376


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CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – DATE GO Car Wash is pleased to announce the grand opening of their newest location at 6729 Everhart Rd., Corpus Christi, TX. The wash, which will open March 24th, 2022, marks the latest entry in GO’s quickly growing presence in the Lonestar State.
“We’re thrilled to continue our Texas expansion and we look forward to serving customers at our newest Corpus Christi location with the same speed, quality and friendly service that are hallmarks of the GO brand,” said Bill Derwin, CEO of GO Car Wash.
To celebrate the grand opening, GO will be offering free washes during our first 5 days of our grand opening at Everhart Rd. to customers and will be running on-site deals, including $9.99 for the first 3 months of unlimited membership on all plans.
About GO Car Wash
GO Car Wash was founded in 2019 with the goal of building a multi-regional car wash company with clusters throughout growing cities across North America. Headquartered in Gilbert, AZ, GO Car Wash focuses on high-quality exterior express car washes, with a multi-pronged growth strategy of acquisitions, partnerships, and new site buildouts.


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The 2023 crop and livestock budgets for District 3 are posted, and the budgets are available for all districts on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Economics website. Today, we look at the expected costs and returns from the Cow-Calf budgets in the Rolling Plains.
Building a Profitable Ranch Business – Beef Cattle Standard Performance Analysis
One of the most essential responsibilities in our businesses is to ensure the economic sustainability of our companies for the future of our business or future generations. Most ranchers have suffered multiple years of low margins due to market prices below the average total economic cost of production. Even today, with a much better prices outlook than a year ago, breakeven prices are still high for most cow-calf operations.
The Livestock Forage Disaster program sign-up deadline is coming by the end of January. Last year’s drought triggered significant payments in most counties of Texas. Read the article for more information about your county’s program and eligibility. [Read more…] about High Plains Ag Week – 1/11/2023 – Livestock Forage Disaster Program


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SiteOne posts double-digit growth in Q3
|By Kristin Smith-Ely|
CEO Doug Black says team is working through passing on costs from higher inflation to customers.
SiteOne Landscape Supply Inc., Roswell, Georgia, announced earnings for its third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018, posting increases across the board.
Net sales for the third quarter 2018 increased to $578.5 million, or 15 percent, compared to $502.4 million for the prior-year period. Organic daily sales increased 5 percent compared to the prior-year period. Momentum from May and June continued into July, the company notes in a press release. However, market growth decelerated as the quarter progressed and was impacted by wet weather during September. Acquired sales growth was approximately $53.9 million, or 11 percent of the overall growth for the quarter, the company reports.“The SiteOne team delivered double-digit topline growth, expanded our adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margin and generated robust cash flow, despite weather and inflationary headwinds during the quarter,” says Doug Black, SiteOne chairman and CEO. “The combination of hurricane Florence and an overall very wet September delayed our fall season and moderated our organic sales growth to 5 percent from a higher pace in May and June. In addition, we continued to experience rising cost inflation in the quarter and our teams remained focused and disciplined in working with our customers to pass through these higher costs. Given these conditions, we are very pleased to have delivered a strong performance.
He adds, “Further, we continued to execute our acquisition strategy by adding four outstanding companies during the quarter and one more in October. With good underlying market demand and a healthy acquisition pipeline, we remain confident in the opportunities for SiteOne as we continue to execute our strategies and create a company of excellence.”
Gross profit increased to $191 million, or 19 percent, compared to $160.3 million for the prior-year period. Gross margin expanded by 110 bps to 33 percent for the third quarter 2018. The increase in gross margin was due to improved pricing and margin contribution from acquisitions, partially offset by higher material and freight costs.
Selling, general and administrative expenses in the third quarter 2018 increased to $151.8 million from $128.1 million in the same period last year, primarily due to the additional contribution from acquisitions and continued investment in strategic initiatives, including e-Commerce.
Net income for the third quarter 2018 increased to $29.9 million, compared to $16.9 million for the same period in the prior year. The increase in net income for the quarter is attributable to organic sales growth, contribution from acquisitions and a lower tax rate.
Adjusted EBITDA increased to $60.0 million for the third quarter 2018, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $48.4 million for the prior-year period.
“Our fall season has been impacted by hurricanes and wet weather in certain key markets which is preventing our customers from making up the spring shortfall,” Doug Black continues. “Additionally, the short-term dampening effect of significant cost inflation has impeded our gross margin improvement for the full year. As a result, we are updating our 2018 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to be in the range of $175 million to $180 million.
“Looking forward, we see solid underlying market conditions supported by robust customer backlogs and we expect the above average cost inflation to continue. Accordingly, we expect our base business organic sales growth to remain steady and the market growth to extend into 2019. We are well-positioned to improve gross margin while beginning to achieve operating leverage on SG&A – both of which should support good adjusted EBITDA expansion in 2019 and beyond.”
Reconciliation for the forward-looking full-year 2018 Adjusted EBITDA outlook was not provided, as the company does not currently have sufficient data to accurately estimate the variables and individual adjustments for such reconciliation.


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Wednesday, February 2, 2022 - CEO of Bedrock Group LP, Awenate Cobbina, joins Jim to discuss how his career went from White House intern to CEO of a large investment firm with holdings in several retail and consumer-facing companies.
Awenate Cobbina is the CEO of Bedrock Group LP, an investment firm primarily focused on retail and consumer-facing companies, including Detroit-based Shinola. In his current role, Awenate advises all of Bedrock Group LP’s current operating companies and leads new investments.
Previously, Awenate was the Vice President of Public and Business Affairs for Palace Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) and the Detroit Pistons, as well as the Executive Director of the Detroit Pistons Foundation. In those roles, Awenate worked on PS&E’s business deals, including the Pistons move to Detroit, and all aspects of the Foundation, including fundraising, grantmaking, and reporting to the Foundation’s Board.


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According to the 2015 Visa Global Travel Intentions Study, 24 percent of people decided to go it alone on their most recent vacation abroad. This is up from 15 percent in 2013. The survey's respondents were from 25 countries, so the trend isn't confined to one area. It seems that solo travel is gaining ground, especially among first-time travelers, 37 percent of whom decided to go alone. The study also noted not everyone who travels alone is single – people who take solo trips are just as likely to be married or in a partnership and travelling without their spouses.
"Many people seem to think that solo travellers are single people, with many or most looking for love," Priscilla O'Reilly, spokeswoman for Overseas Adventure Travel, told The New York Times. "That's not the case with our travellers."
While solo travel has traditionally come with fees, particularly for experiences that are priced out according to double occupancy, many travel companies are changing their tune as travelling alone becomes more commonplace. These new accommodations may make solo travel even more appealing, according to the Times.


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HAYWARD — As a rank-and-file employee at a big-box electronics chain store, Joaquin Chavez doesn’t have much say about whether his workplace chooses to recycle or not.
But he’s trying to do something about it anyway.
“Every week is a different sale. We take down all the expired tags and put up new tags,” Chavez said, noting the tags are all dumped in the regular trash bins. “I’ve been there almost four years, and one day it just kind of popped in my head: We really do waste a lot of paper.”
Jennifer Swarr is similarly frustrated about her workplace, a local restaurant and bar that recycles some products but throws all of its bottles in the trash.
“I feel like it’s not just a problem where I work, but where everybody works,” Swarr said. “It’s not one workplace. It’s most of them, I would say.”
Both 21-year-olds spoke about their work environment on condition that the businesses not be named. They didn’t want to shame the companies or get themselves or anyone else in trouble.
But as the two youngest members of the city’s newly formed Keep Hayward Clean and Green Task Force, they are striving to find a way to get more Hayward businesses involved in recycling. Both are of a generation reared on lessons about environmental responsibility,and both say they have numerous co-workers and managers who feel the same way.
“I think that people are more aware, but you also have to make it easy for them at the same time,” Swarr said. “I think people are good and they care about the world fundamentally, but we’re also a little bit lazy. Very few people are willing to go out of their way to clean things up.”
Finding a way to get more businesses to recycle could have a major impact on reducing Hayward’s trash output.
According to data from the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, businesses produce 78 percent of the total amount of disposed waste coming from Hayward.
Since businesses, unlike residents, have to arrange for their own recycling services, some participate, while others do not.
Julie McKillop, owner of Neumanali’s restaurant downtown, said she chose to sign up for recycling services with Texas-based Waste Management Inc., the city’s contracted waste hauler, when she opened the restaurant in 2004. It costs her about $50 a month, and the hauler takes care of sorting all the different products.
“We have a bin we fill and pay for it on a regular basis,” McKillop said. “It wasn’t an issue of cost. I just wanted to recycle.”
McKillop said she isn’t sure why others don’t, except she said not everyone thinks about the issue, and some businesses might not have enough room on their property for big recycling containers.
Several businesses hire independent haulers to pick up and compact cardboard and other recyling products, which sometimes saves the businesses on regular trash costs. But a large number of Hayward businesses don’t do any recycling, according to city officials.
Hayward City Manager Jesus Armas claims data show as much of 40 percent of the trash currently generated by Hayward businesses could easily be recycled if businesses participated in recycling programs.
“Right now, we really don’t have much participation on the part of the commercial sector,” Armas said. “Part of the challenge is you have a lot of small businesses that don’t find it economical.”
Armas hopes that will change in June, when Hayward enters into a new seven-year contract with Waste Management Inc.
To pay for an exclusive commercial recycling program, trash collection rates for businesses will increase from about $73 per month to $98. For businesses with large 30-cubic-yard trash bins, the rate will rise from $399 to $547.
The planned rate increase has already caused some consternation in the business community. Rate-increase opponents point to communities that have tried offering free commercial recycling, based on the belief that encouraging greater recycling volume will help pay its own way.
But Armas said the adjusted rates will allow businesses to reduce the size and cost of their garbage containers, since Waste Management will begin taking 100 percent of regular recycled products and 50 percent of organic material from businesses.
One of the biggest customers the new commercial recyling program will affect is the Hayward Unified School District, which Armas said now takes a “hit-or-miss” approach in which, depending on local administration, some schools do more recycling than others.
The state mandated in 2000 that each city divert at least
50 percent of its waste from landfills.
Alameda County also has a goal, but not a mandate, of diverting 75 percent of its waste. At last count, in 2004, the diversion rate for Hayward was 60 percent — close to the 61 percent countywide average.
Karen Smith, the waste management authority’s executive director, said it takes a while to calculate the data and 2005 numbers won’t be available for a couple more weeks. But Hayward’s rate is not expected to change much.
Chavez, who studies at Chabot College and plans on entering an environmental studies program, said he has already contacted city officials and his bosses at work to see what he can do to help.
“I brought it up to my store manager and he said whatever I bring up (to the corporate office), he’ll support me. That’s something,” Chavez said. “It’s just a matter of getting things done rather than complain about it.”
Matt O’Brien can be reached at (510) 293-2473 or email@example.com.


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Microsoft is out with its latest earnings report, and while Wall Street seems to be responding favorably to the news, the company continues to struggle financially in the area we focus most on – the Web.
Specifically, the company’s online division reported a loss of $480 million in the quarter on revenue of $490 million. That’s less revenue than last year, when it pulled in $520 million, and a bigger loss as well versus the $321 shortfall in the first quarter of 2008. Microsoft’s primary plan to reverse this trend is Bing, which it’s in the midst of spending $100 million to promote. There are a few reasons to be optimistic:
Within the next year or so, Bing will become Yahoo’s search engine, giving Microsoft a larger chunk of the search market to monetize.
Bing is the default search engine in IE8, which ships with the just released Windows 7. Don’t underestimate the power of bundling.
Beyond that, CEO Steve Ballmer has said he’s willing to spend 5-10% of his company’s income over the next five years to make search a success for Microsoft. Will it work? Perhaps, but as this latest report shows, the company still has a very long way to go.


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The OGIO 2022 all-elements Woode hybrid golf bags have been released in eight colour schemes, ranging from a conservative all-black model up to the bright red galactic design named ‘Nebula’.
Further organisational elements include a low profile ball silo. Cart bag users will benefit from push car lock-down straps and a padded single strap, while stand bag users can enjoy the double-strap fit disc system for carrying.
The new cart bags have an RRP of £279, while the stand bags cost £260.
To see the full range of OGIO golf bags and travel covers, visit www.eu.ogio.com/golf.


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What I was aiming to point out was: an industrialized, advanced country (and one that relies massively on trade with other countries, both in currencies, finance and real goods) has low chances of just 'starving itself out' of a lengthy dip by putting all public spending on an austerity cure. So many busineses rely on the public and the government as the big customers that cutting down sharp on the budget would also contract the corporate economy. And it robs lots of ordinary citizens of their purchase power too, that's something several people have pointed out in this thread from their own recent experience - that in turn pulls down the amount of goods companies might want to produce, and pulls down taxes. In turn, feeds a further contraction.
What do you mean by, "less politically difficult to pump more dollars into the system than to try to create new jobs at home?"
The government doesn't create jobs, private businesses do. I can tell you for a fact that if already hiring-timid businesses are stunned next year with a higher corporate tax, and already an increasing minimum wage, you'll see even more unemployment. It all comes down to risk management, and a lot of companies are reducing their potential for risks (new hiring) when there are a lot of uncertainties in the business environment. If you're a business owner, and you need to figure out your projected earnings report for next year with this new healthcare law, reducing in treasury stimulus, and just creeping out a tough recession, wouldn't you also be nervous about adding new hires and the liabilities that go with that? Sometimes we need to give the economy time to reconfigure itself back to homeostasis.
Yes, but like Oniya, I think this plays out very differently with large companies than with small ones. Starbuck's, Nike, Apple or Walmart are not going to risk any major losses to their business just because of some raised taxes or even efforts to make it harder for them to move U.S.-located jobs overseas.
At one time it was sort of a deliberate political choice to let production and industry jobs go, to make it much easier for companies to relocate those jobs to Asia, or outsource them to companies there. The idea was that countries like the US, the UK or France should be doing finance, fashion design and advanced service jobs - a kind of "industry" that has next to no need for a supply of raw stuffs - not in the country where the company is listed anyway: lots of fashion clothing basics are made in south Asia - tons of metals, engineers and big factories.I think it's getting clearer that was a long-term fallacy. Any economy needs tech industry and food sector jobs, and we need a large amount of jobs that are not supposed to require a university diploma and investing years of advanced studies and training, work sectors that are able to suck up a large part of young people and immigrant people and offer them a sustainable economy and meaningful jobs long before they reach the fine age of twenty-five or thirty.
With that being said, I have always been opposed to any sort of government backed bond buyback or stimulus program. I agree with Oniya, and sometimes you just have to let the economy struggle before it rises. My favorite part is how people think we are making an economic recovery based on stock market rises, but its largely due to $85 billion a month thrust into the economy. Get ready for another market crash in next 2-3 years. Your idea would be to extract $85 billion per month out of these same Wall Street Companies and firms, and yet expect their performance to be the same?
There are legitimate economic factors at play here, and one cannot simply chalk this up as Republicans being antagonistic, and there needs to be a dialogue where both perspectives are voiced.
In today's economic realms, it seems that it's rarely the guys who made the big mistakes, the key misjudgements prior to a crisis within a business, that end up with a bag of poop and a crippling loss. Look at the banks and mortgages crisis a few years back: the banks and businesses that got hit were not the ones that had really shown bad judgment in key places, it's just that too much of the intoxicated assets had landed with these firms due to a half automated model of decision, sloppy control (though accepted under the table by mid-level bosses: if you want to score you got to place some risky bets) and a fast-lane way of making business. Besides, realy big banks are not allowed to fail: the state decides to pay for them with...yes, taxpayer money, ultimately. We've seen a lot of that in Europe (thankfully less of it where I live, but that's only because Sweden isn't part of the euro currency zone) and some in the U.S. too I believe.
Besides, the 85 million bucks per month that are used for stimulation - I agree they could have been used in a more effective way, but they are not really drawn staright from taxation revenue are they? Not corporate taxation, anyway.


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Over the darknet continued increasing at a rapid drugs on darknet However, results from the Global Drug Survey 2022, on the subject of the consequencesof the 2022. Drug use in the drugs on darknet.. Darknet. Sounds scary, and it kind of is. While this area of the web is also used by. Silk Road sold illegal drugs but great customer service was its hallmark. The original and most notorious dark web drugs bazaar was an. By A ElBahrawy 2022 Cited by 26 Silk Road, the first modern dark marketplace launched in 2022, limited its sales to drugs while other dark marketplaces allow trading of. The Silk Road, described as the Amazon of illegal drugs, appeared on the Dark Web in 2022. The brainchild of a mysterious, libertarian intellectual who. The curated marijuana seized in the consignment was imported from Russia, US, and Canada via Darknet, police said. With this, three darknet drug markets -- DNM India, Dread and The Orient Express -- were shut down. The traffickers used virtual identities with. By buying their gear from dark web marketplaces, so the argument goes, narcotics enthusiasts are less likely to be ripped off, sold dodgy drugs.
How Drugs Are Sold on the Dark Web Federal authorities announced last week several arrests, charges, and guilty pleas from a joint operation. BERLIN -- German investigators on Tuesday shut down a Russian-language darknet marketplace that they dark markets luxembourg say specialized in drug dealing, seizing. When German police took down the dark web marketplace DarkMarket in January, they did more than shutter the largest underground online drug. The emergence of exchanges such as Silk Road on the dark web have facilitated the exchange of illegal drugs across the internet. Silk Road was an online black. Drugs make up two thirds of all offers on the dark web. Whether heroin, LSD or cannabis - these illegal intoxicants can often only be found on a. By Z Li 2022 Cited by 7 The past 10 years have witnessed a spree of anonymous online marketplaces and forums, mostly catering to drugs in anonymous ways and resembling. Dream Market (2022): One of the most popular dark web drug markets at the time, Dream Market specialized in narcotics and stolen data. Drugs on the Dark Net: How Cryptomarkets are Transforming the Global Trade in Illicit Drugs Martin, J. on drugs on darknet. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers.
Together, court documents show, they created a high-tech drug operation using dark-web marketplaces to advertise their drugs, encrypted their. Currently, the drug marketplaces on the dark web dark markets lithuania represent a thin slice of the total illicit drug trade. These marketplaces, however, are. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said investigators found darknet vendors were running fake laboratories in their homes to create fake pills. ITEM TYPE. onion - BitPharma (Darknet Drug Market) BitPharma is a pretty good alternative dark web drug market for drugs, cocaine and weed service. We face new and increasingly dangerous threats as drug traffickers expand into the digital world and use the dark net to sell dangerous drugs. The brains behind a highly sophisticated drug trafficking network was sentenced in federal court in Boston on Friday for making and distributing a variety of. Background on Dark Web Marketplaces Edison Hernandez's Dark Web Vendor Operation The Defendants' Operation of a Door-to-Door Drug Delivery. The emergence of exchanges such as Silk Road on the dark web have facilitated the exchange of illegal drugs across the internet. Silk Road was an online black.
A conversation about how darknet markets, or cryptomarkets, are changing the way that people buy, sell, use, and make drugs dark markets liechtenstein around the. We face new and increasingly dangerous threats as drug traffickers expand into the digital world and use the dark net to sell dangerous drugs. In actuality, these chemicals are most definitely intended for human consumption. These concerns are even greater for those that intentionally access the dark. Darknet markets, Clearnet sites, social media platforms. Drug traffickers also use messenger services and forums to discuss and sell drugs. He told police that he had procured drugs from a Paschim Vihar was imported from Russia, US, and Canada via Darknet, police said. Dark web markets are viewed as one of the crucial sources of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. These drugs are often dark markets latvia produced in China. By V Vlassov 2022 Cited by 1 We use two types of data: 1) Deep Web Black Market drugs on darknet) Official Russian statistical indicators related to drug use. We use Python program. Over the darknet continued increasing at a rapid drugs on darknet However, results from the Global Drug Survey 2022, on the subject of the consequences of the 2022.
On silk road, you can find all types of drugs available on the market and these. Now this is probably the darkest of all the dark dark markets japan web sites listed thus. The contrabands were supplied to schools, colleges, nightclubs, hotels and multinational companies. They sourced curated marijuana from Russia. Be in Deep Web Drug Url Deep Web Markets Dream Market Darknet Link Dream Market Darknet Url Dream Market Darknet Drug Market Drug Markets Dark Web Dream. Fentanyl is a controlled synthetic opioid substance approximately 100 times stronger than heroin. The Darknet constitutes a supply chain where. Before the FBI shut down the notorious illicit drug site Silk Road in 2022, it testified that more than 100 purchases of drugs they made online. In the lawmakers' view, drug dealers use the dark web to traffic illegal drugs, exacerbating the substance use disorder crisis that is. We have found that many criminals have procured synthetic drugs from abroad, especially Scandinavian countries. First, we cannot track who is. Defendant Allegedly Bought Drugs dark markets korea on Dark Web Using Virtual Currency According to allegations contained in the indictment and a previously-.
Dark Market Reddit
Today, over 50 darknet markets like Agora Market and Evolution are thriving on Tor. For security professionals, the problem of combating illicit trade continues to become more complex and the number of online locations to monitor more daunting. I want a solution to have my files sync’d and that I can easily edit from my Android drugs on darknet and save back. The Russian dark web marketplace Hydra has emerged as a hotspot for illegal activity, winning a whopping $ 1. To observe the first effects of Operation Bayonet, we studied the user-base on another underground market: Dream Market. The law enforcement takedowns of the AlphaBay and Hansa marketplaces in 2017 seriously shook up the English-language underground.
“You can get everything you need in just dark markets italy one place. This is for your safety and the safety of your customers.”
Dark Market Sites
This also true as reported about Mike Spann the drugs on darknet CIA para officer killed in our initial jump into Afghanistan in Oct 2011. The macOS family of operating systems accounted for 5 percent of all exploits for vulnerabilities on offer, and the cost ranged drugs on darknet from $2,200 to $5,300. Experienced fraudsters are even using the dark web to create educational resources for novice hackers to learn how to do the same. The vendor shop accepts payments in BTC and Monero (XMR). Contemporary financial markets are rich marvels, offering hedges, insurance, security guarantees, and a seemingly infinite variety of other products to make buying goods and doing business easy. Key Marketing Points: -New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author -Author of Smut and Racing the Sun -Author is a former travel writer and music journalist -Author's Web site: authorkarinahalle. Great, more money for the megacorporations that scooped up all the money during the lockdowns. But crime stopping need not lose out to technology disruptions when law enforcement can employ tools and networks to tackle. Users are given unique order identity number to keep track about their orders. Among the goods advertised for sale were stolen credit card details, illegal drugs, counterfeit money, anonymous SIM cards, and malware. According to Vince O’Brien, member of the National Crime Agency, suppliers have moved fentanyl to this classification as a business decision. An open-source software that can delete information on users’ hard disk drives.


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They have already found the right pan, now only lack a fire. The trend is clear and increasingly filled restaurants are released to the conquest of social networks.
80% of US restaurants have been heavily involved in social media marketing and this medium is the clear leader compared to other more traditional approaches like email marketing or advertising offline. It’s time to stand out from the crowd and find the best ways to dazzle their communities.
According to data collected by Ipsos MediaCT report, “New Channel Effectiveness in Restaurant Marketing Mix”, most US restaurants already on social networks like Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Now they are prioritizing strategies to promote dissemination of offers and events and new product launches and services that should now make way for the development of a brand personality. At the end of the day, consumers flock to social networks to interact with others and entertain.
Not surprisingly, half of consumers expect brands to respond to your comments in an hour as much as Lithium Technologies. While it is true that these times vary from one study to another and depending on the social network that focus, the truth is that not provide answers in a timely manner, and even not having trained staff on the other side to respond, can restaurants to lose many opportunities to meet the concerns and complaints of its customers.
It is true that restaurants are a sector that has its source of income and offline are not many that focus their business on the Internet, but the risk of losing sales for neglecting the social forums is real. 38% of those surveyed by Lithium Technologies claimed that his negative perception of a brand grew when ignoring the feedback given to them on social networks.
Another basic principle that successful restaurants have realized is that they have to entertain their guests. That includes providing positive and original experiences as the treasure hunt which invited his followers in social networks Chipotle Mexican. The prize for correctly will answer the online questionnaire, were free burritos every week for 20 years.
Competition in social networks in the catering sector is growing. Brands must find ways to bring unique value and differentiate your brand over its competitors, either offering a more agile and quick service with online booking, exclusive tastings or interviews with chefs, for example. The question is to find the way for customers to connect in a more personal way with brands and have reason to return to their social profiles and keep abreast of developments in the restaurant.


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Beef from grass-fed cattle contains fewer calories, has higher levels of healthy Omega 3s and tastes much better than conventionally raised beef.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) May 04, 2017
On any given Saturday night in Houston, you’ll find long lines at fast food locations after the local clubs and bars close down. Hungry patrons in their cars wrap around the buildings looking for something to satiate their hunger. Few options exist for those looking for an indulgence that’s both delicious and healthy. That’s where the Elevation Burger at 59 and Kirby comes in.
“We offer organic, grass fed beef and organic chicken, we even grind our own beef in store to preserve freshness,” says Mike Mustafa. “We have something different than other chain establishments that use processed food,” he says. Mustafa was inspired to offer late hours when he noticed that a nearby fast food location was always busy late into the evening. “It just seemed natural to me that people who eat healthy all day long don’t want to throw that away just because they’re hungry late at night. So we decided to change our hours on the weekends to accommodate those folks.”
KIRBY’S Elevation Burger drive thru is open until 4:00 am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to provide the organic beef and chicken option his customers look for, and until midnight the rest of the week. “Our philosophy is 'Ingredients Matter,' and we mean it. We are the largest chain in the country that offers organic, grass fed beef and organic chicken, and we also have veggie and vegan burgers available,” says Mustafa. Elevation Burger’s Fresh Fries are cut on site and are cooked in olive oil, a healthier alternative to frying in vegetable oil.
In addition to the beef and chicken being organic, both are also Halal, thus making Elevation Burger even more inclusive of others. Elevation Burger won Men’s Health “Chain Burger Smack Down” in February 2017, and Business Insider named it one of the 7 chains that will dominate the restaurant industry this year. As more and more Americans push for transparency in their food, this healthy option is quickly moving to the forefront of burger-dom.
In addition to providing a delicious, healthy alternative to fast food burger chains, Elevation Burger also takes its environmental impact seriously. All locations are built and equipped using environmentally sustainable and non-hazardous construction materials. They recycle their waste including the olive oil used in the Fresh Fries. Not only is the beef all organic, it’s also free range and 100% grass fed, resulting in fewer calories, and higher levels of healthy Omega 3s.
“Why should people with late night cravings be limited to unhealthy fast food options,” asks Mustafa. “At Elevation Burger, customers can eat healthier, even at 2:00 am on a Friday night.”
Elevation Burger opened their first location in 2005 and has grown to 59 locations globally. All Elevation Burger locations serve organic, 100% grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic free beef and organic chicken. Mustafa, moved to Houston in 2002 and opened Elevation Burger location at 3819 Kirby Drive in 2012. He and his family are proud to call Houston home.


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- Published: 04 April 2017
Later this month, Sussex Coast College will welcome the Great British Barber Bash crew to Hastings as they put on a barbering master class.
(2 minute read)
Four members of the Great British Barber Bash crew will travel to Hastings on Tuesday 25th April to put on a 3 hour spectacle, demonstrating the latest cuts and styles in barbering.
The team regularly tour up and down the country creating magnificent hair styles for men and women, while putting on an entertaining show in front of a live audience.
Coast restaurant, at the Station Plaza campus, will host the event from 6pm, welcoming students, staff, local barbers, and anyone with interest in the industry.
Before the show kicks off, the Barber Bash team will give an exclusive coaching session to barbering students in the college salon. Students will be able to learn top tips on beard sculpting and styling, advice on cutting techniques, information about grooming products, as well as gaining a whole load of inspiration.
Tickets are on sale from Sussex Coast College Hastings, so if you are interested in coming along please contact Chris Stevens, Head of Barbering at Sussex Coast College Hastings, on 01424 442222 or 07793 092321. Alternatively you can book online at http://greatbritishbarbersbash.co.uk/
Tickets are £25 and should be purchased before the event.
For a flavour of what's in store, check out a recent barber bash:


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A very strong case can be made that we have underestimated the impact Brexit is already having, and will continue to have, on this country, writes Agriculture and Environment Correspondent George Lee.
Barely six months after the British voted to leave the EU, the evidence is stacking up and Britain's decision to pull out is proving far more costly to Ireland than people were led to believe.
The 2017 Review and Outlook from Bord Bia - the State agency responsible for promoting Ireland's food and drink sales abroad - makes that abundantly clear.
And on that score Bord Bia deserves much credit for being prepared to nail its colours to the mast. They are the first State agency to do the necessary calculations to give people a better feel for what has actually been going on.
According to Bord Bia's figures, a total of €570 million of potential exports to the UK were lost last year due to the collapse in the value of sterling caused by the Brexit vote. That is just the potential exports lost in one sector alone.
It doesn't include other parts of the economy like machinery and equipment, chemicals and mineral products, basic and fabricated metal products, transport equipment, or manufacturing - all of which would have been equally affected by the same loss of competitiveness caused by the weaker sterling. Nor does it include service exports, which no doubt have been badly affected too.
Brexit hasn't even happened yet - there have been no border posts imposed, no custom posts, no tariffs, no new structures of any sort like that. There have been no new rules, no new bureaucracy, no new red tape of any kind.
All that has been imposed is uncertainty. And that uncertainty - all on its own - has cost just one sector of our small economy €570 million in potential export sales in a very short period of time.
Imagine, for instance, how much that same uncertainty must already have cost, say, retailers here. Because they too have suffered some very significant leakage as Irish consumers swarmed to Amazon and other internet websites to cash in on cheap sterling since last June.
That is exactly the kind of effect Bord Bia is highlighting, just in a different sector - hundreds of millions more of potential Irish retail sales lost to the UK.
Parcel Motel is the innovative and highly successful Irish parcel delivery business that enables people here to avail of low post and package delivery rates offered by British internet sites.
One operative who works for them told me Parcel Motel's delivery business was up over 80% this winter compared with last year. That was due to Irish consumers spending like crazy on Amazon and other British based websites at Christmas rather than spending in shops at home.
Consumers have saved a fortune into the bargain without having to leave their armchairs.
But Irish retailers have lost. Less VAT was collected. More money and jobs have leaked out of our economy.
Add to that thousands and thousands of cars that were driven over the border by shoppers traveling to Newry, Belfast and Derry in Northern Ireland over Christmas.
What State organisation will be brave enough to put a figure on the losses to the Irish retail sector so far from all of that. And there is no doubt it is all Brexit related.
One shudders to think of the lost trading opportunities since the Brexit referendum in every other sector of the Irish economy. Even in the television sector, for example, revenues were severely hit by the fallout of the UK vote as advertising decision makers in London froze in the face of the uncertainty that resulted.
There cannot be many sectors (if any) that have escaped some significantly negative direct or indirect consequences. Any yet the Brexit process, and the negotiations necessary, have not officially started yet.
Farmers, for example, say Brexit has already cost them €150 million in price cuts, particularly for beef, because of the sterling weakness.
IFA President Joe Healy points to a potential drop of €100 per head on prime beef cattle last autumn with knock effects for store cattle and weanling producers.
He says Brexit has cost just a few mushroom growers €15 million, in many cases wiping out their entire margins. Outcomes like that have a knock on effects in every town and village due to the rural economy's heavy dependence on food and drink exports.
Elsewhere, "Food and Drink Industry Ireland", which is the IBEC group representing the sector, says jobs have already been hit in the companies they represent and that those problems have the potential to get a lot worse.
There has been quite a lot of focus from official organisations and others here on trying to tease out the impact that Brexit might eventually have on the Irish economy.
The ESRI published a so-called "scoping" exercise last November.
Teagasc, the State agriculture and food agency, also gave it a bash a few months earlier. They came out with an estimate of between €200 and €900 million a year in losses for the agricultural and food sector alone under certain fairly tame assumptions, and a lot more in the case of a hard Brexit.
Not knowing whether the British were likely to opt for a hard or a soft Brexit approach was a big problem for both of these reports. On that front, the recent signals emanating from Downing Street in London suggesting that the British government is preparing for a "harder" Brexit option than previously expected are deeply worrying.
This harder Brexit option (we are led to believe) involves a preference in Whitehall for Britain to leave the Single Market and also to leave the EU Customs Union. The implications of that, and the additional sterling weakness that it will prompt, are only going to aggravate the losses we are already suffering, and deepen the damage that will be inflicted.
We do not need to wait the two years for Britain to negotiate its EU exit to know some of the consequences. We are already seeing them every day in many trading sectors, and we are feeling the knock-on effects.
Brexit will be an a economic disaster of sorts for Ireland. In fact it already is.
Ireland is a small open economy. We are heavily dependent and, economically, highly interconnected with our larger neighbour.
If the evidence - and the losses already calculated in our food and drink sector are extrapolated into other sectors of our economy - then Brexit has surely already set back us substantially more than a billion euro in potential exports, and jobs, and investments over the past six months alone.
A harder Brexit will unfortunately mean the losses in potential and the damage to our small open economy are just going to grow and grow.


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New Zealand’s first legal music site DigiRAMA has been attracting a steady volume of sign-ups since it launched Monday (Nov. 1), according to its proprietors. More than 100 subscribers have signed up each day in its first week, says the service’s managing director Shaun Davis, who set up the site with his brother Garth.
Davis says sales of albums and tracks were “above target.” New Zealand has a population of about 4 million, and household Internet penetration of 46%, according to the IFPI.
The download service launched with 30,000 tracks licensed from Warner Music and independents such as Festival Mushroom Records, Global Routes and WildSide Records. Titles are prices from NZ$1.99 ($1.38)-$2.49 ($1.72).
Davis plans to sign up more tracks from major and New Zealand independents in the next few months.
DigiRAMA was set up in part, says Davis, because New Zealand consumers cannot yet buy downloads from Apple Computer’s iTunes Music Store unless they have an American-based credit card. Apple has not yet announced plans to introduce iTunes in the Australasian region, although the Australian operation has been negotiating with local labels over the past year.


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Do You Want to Own This Stock if the Namesake is Cashing Out?
Mark is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
On Feb. 19, Michael Kors Holdings (NYSE: KORS) announced plans for certain selling shareholders to sell up to 28.75 million shares in a secondary offering. The company confirmed the next day the pricing of the offering at $61.50. Should investors stick with a stock if insiders are unloading?
As an investor do you really want to own a stock where the insiders are fleeing the stock after a substantial run? One has to consider whether the stock is fully priced at these levels.
Secondary Offering Details
Selling shareholders are unloading 25 million shares in a secondary offering with the underwriters granted a 30-day option to purchase an additional 3.75 million shares. The secondary priced at $61.50 on Feb. 20 with an expected closing on Feb. 26.
The company, a global luxury lifestyle brand with a multi-channel strategy, announced the offering after the market closed on Feb. 19 when the stock closed at $64.84. It has since dropped to around $59 due to market conditions and primarily the investor concerns over large shareholders cashing out around a potential top.
Major Insiders Selling
Considering the company isn’t selling any shares, the concerns with investors are the size and willingness of insiders to cash out. The company has 200.6 million shares outstanding meaning that this offering entails 14.3% of the outstanding shares being added to the public float. More importantly, the value is over $1.5 billion, which is an abnormally high amount for the markets to absorb. The size places the offering as one of the largest in the last few years, exceeding all but a few initial offerings such as Facebook.
The main sellers are Sportswear Holdings Limited, Michael Kors, and John D. Idol. Sportswear is selling an incredible 19.7 million shares prior to the over-allotment amount and could reduce the ownership stake to 4.3% from 15.6%. Even more importantly is the decision by CCO and namesake, Michael Kors, to unload at least 3 million shares and potentially reduce his stake from only 3.9% to as low as 2.2%. See table below for more details:
Writing on the Handbag
The recent trading action of Coach (NYSE: COH) might be the cause of the large insiders jumping ship. Prior to the secondary announcement, Kors had reached a valuation comparative to that of Coach now. Sure that stock has plunged from nearly $80 to the current price of below $47, but the sellers might realize how fleeting this current valuation could become. Kors still needs to double to reach the revenue base of Coach.
Still as an insider, it would seem that reaching a valuation of where Coach peaked out at over $20 billion would be a likely and attainable goal if the company keeps on the existing path. Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) is worth over $15 billion, providing another example of where the stock could reach in the future.
The stock that went public at the end of 2011 had just hit all-time highs around $65 when the offering was announced. Considering the stock had gained around 160% since the initial trading, one can’t blame insiders for taking profits on a stock that has greatly outperformed the sector large caps. See the chart below:
If Michael Kors is as brilliant of an investor as he is a fashion designer, than investors have no reason to stay in this stock. Naturally the offer's impact to shareholders is limited as the company isn’t selling any stock but the real impact is massive. Not only will the float be considerably higher as the market must absorb $1.5 billion of stock, but now investors will undoubtedly hold back investments on concerns of the negative sign.
The company appears to have more growth so shorting the stock might not be wise, but the upside potential will be limited until the company can prove that this move didn’t signal a top.
Mark Holder and Stone Fox Capital Advisors don't own shares in the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Coach. The Motley Fool owns shares of Coach. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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YAO, Japan—Arkema S.A. has placed a high priority on the growth of its adhesives business, and it isn't just talk.
The firm is investing more capital into its adhesives unit, Bostik S.A., with an acquisition that will enhance its Japanese joint venture. Bostik-Nitta is acquiring the industrial adhesives business of Nitta-Gelatin Inc.—the other partner in the venture.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The business generates annual sales of about $35.4 million.
"It's really an interesting acquisition," said Jeff Merkt, Bostik's senior vice president of global nonwovens. "It gives us a great team in Japan and reinforces our business portfolio by getting us into another market segment, one we participate worldwide in a major way, but we weren't participating in Japan in a significant way."
As part of the deal, Bostik-Nitta will invest in the construction of a new world scale hot melt adhesives plant in Nara, about 18 miles from its existing site in Yao, that will include several production lines. One will be dedicated to adhesives for the nonwoven market for hygiene applications and the other for industrial adhesives markets.
Size, employment and financial details of the new facility were not disclosed. Merkt said the firm has secured the land and is in the final stages of design. The site will become operational in late 2019 with shipments beginning in early 2020.
"This new factory is going to allow us to have a large-scale site in Japan and will be able to produce technologies in Japan that are not produced today for both the industrial and the hygiene business by making the right investments," Merkt said. "With the right forethought and engineering, we feel we can be very productive and it's going to allow us to have the latest technologies produced in Japan."
Bostik and Nitta have operated their JV in Japan since the early 1980s, Merkt said. Nitta-Gelatin produces gelatin, collagen and collagen peptide products for a variety of applications, including food and beverage, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical, and biomedical research and technology.
Merkt said Nitta wants to expand its gelatin operations and were looking to support those investments by moving out of the industrial adhesives business, something it's had for 35 years. Nitta currently produces adhesives to serve both the JV and its own industrial business.
Bostik-Nitta now brings that production under its umbrella, with the Nara site to focus on hot melt production and the Yao site the rest. These include products made from styrenic block copolymers and urethanes.
Merkt said Nitta is in a No. 3 market position in Japan in terms of industrial adhesives and the Japanese market is the third-largest in the world, behind the U.S. and China, respectively. The structure of the JV will remain the same. While the firm did not provide an exact breakdown, Merkt said Bostik owns a majority share.
"It was a natural fit for us to work with a gelatin supplier because they weren't in a competing industry and we found some synergies with raw materials," Merkt said. "We've enjoyed a lot of success in Japan by supporting hygiene customers by both manufacturing in Japan and in the U.S. and Asia. The hygiene industry is very dynamic in Japan. A lot of the producers are market leaders in terms of technology and quality."
The moves support Arkema's strategy to develop its adhesives unit, which it has identified as one of the major drivers of its long-term growth.
Arkema operates in 55 countries with 20,000 employees, reporting annual sales of about $9.8 billion in 2017. So far its reported growth for 2018, as its first quarter sales increased by nearly 1 percent to $2.59 billion and net income jumped 32.7 percent to $232.6 million.
Bostik is a unit within Arkema's High Performance Materials segment. The segment reported a 2.3 percent increase in sales to $1.19 billion for the first quarter of 2018, accounting for 46 percent of Arkema's overall sales.
"We're an important part of the group now," Merkt said. "Arkema's been very supportive of closing on the targets that the leadership team have identified. All of the acquisitions we've made in the last couple of years have been great acquisitions."
Arkema acquired Bostik in 2015. Both used to be units of energy giant Total S.A. and were independently spun off into separate companies. Since then, it has been busy growing Bostik through bolt-on acquisitions. In 2016, Bostik added Den Braven for $543 million. In 2017 it acquired CMP Specialty Products, which at the time generated sales of $15 million, and added XL Brands to expand its U.S. flooring adhesives business in a deal with an enterprise value of $205 million.
"The adhesives industry is very fragmented," Merkt said. "There are opportunities to participate in a fragmented industry that Arkema saw as a polymer producer and an innovation company. And Bostik is a great acquisition for Arkema because it allows them to move downstream. We provide them with different insights into the market and greater opportunities to participate in the consolidation activity that exists within the broader specialty chemical marketplace."


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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid Feb23: reflects identity and diversity in Spanish fashion
• 42 designers presented their 23/24 autumn/winter collections at the five-day event • A reinvented Cibelespacio inspired by the Labyrinth of the Minotaur delighted and entertained fashion fans • Every detail of MBFWMadrid was captured by more than 1,000 journalists and photographers and more than 50 Instagrammers and TikTokers
The official line-up for the 77th MBFWMadrid, organised by IFEMA MADRID with support from Madrid City Council, featured collections by 42 designers: 9 OFF - hosted in a variety of venues throughout Madrid, 22 creators from Thursday to Saturday, and 11 newcomers on the Allianz EGO catwalk, presented their creations at IFEMA MADRID. Expectations were high among the 800 guests invited to each show (including the attentive following of 200 accredited journalists per session) for the autumn/winter 23/24 season.
Collections with identity and diverse models
This fashion week was an event to remember, with the designers’ identities more patent than ever before, and the cast of models a mirror image of society and a banner for diversity. According to Esther García, the casting director at MBFWMadrid, ‘this fashion week was marked by the designers’ identities. Despite all the collections being shown in the same venue, it was clear which garments belonged to each designer. That’s crucial in a country’s fashion industry, where designers need their own clearly defined hallmarks and identities’. Also, in an ode to diversity, L'Oréal Paris presented Walk your worth, a tribute to female empowerment.
The L’Oréal Paris Award for the best collection was handed out on Saturday afternoon. It was won by the firm Isabel Sanchis, while the L’Oréal Paris Award to the best model went to Lorena Guitián.
Early on Sunday, the Allianz EGO Confidence in Fashion prize was awarded to the firm TÍSCAR ESPADAS. The designer from Úbeda will show her designs on the runway at the next edition of the Allianz EGO fashion show, and she will receive a €6,000 prize and professional advice for six months from the University of Design and Technology ESNE. For its part, the emerging firm AITORGOIKOETXEA with a collection entitled "Adarrak" was chosen as the winner of the 21st edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Talent, celebrating ten years supporting and giving exposure to new talent on the national scene.
Expectations were also high from the redesigned Cibelespacio, which offered a range of activities to entertain and interest visitors: from a Labyrinth-of-the-Minotaur-themed gastrobar and Ariadna watching over everything happening in the space, to an area devoted to Drinks&Talks, where designers, influencers and fashion editors gave fascinating 30-minute afterwork-style talks on casual fashion, to courses on street harassment, presentations by elite stylists, prize draws for holidays, performances by DJs, and even the Allianz Showroom where 15 emerging designers showed their available-to-buy collections.
According to Ana Rodríguez, director of MBFWMadrid February 23: ‘we want Cibelespacio to become that social area where you can go with friends to spend an entire day, whether or not you attend the fashion show, and that every experience you have shares fashion as a common thread. That’s what we have done with this new incarnation of Cibelespacio and there’s no question that we’ll keep improving it”.
Visits by Institutions
The 77th edition of MBFWMadrid received significant institutional support. For the first time ever, the catwalk received an unofficial visit from the President of the Government who attended with his wife, Begoña Gómez. In addition, during fashion week, several representatives of the national government visited the shows, such as the Second Vice-President of the Government, Yolanda Díaz; the President of the Congress of Deputies, Meritxell Batet; Miquel Iceta, Minister of Culture and Sports; Pilar Alegría, Minister of Education and Vocational Training; Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism... among other personalities of our country.
The official destination of this edition of MBFWMadrid was Morocco, which helped to spread the word about this fashion week beyond the borders of Europe with its commitment as a sponsor and with its fashion show Morocco, Kingdom of Light, when two of its most international designers showcased this country’s cultural diversity. Maison Artc and Albert Oiknine.
This edition also saw the return of the ICEX international buyers’ and the international press programme with outstanding guests like the editor in chief of L’Officiel Arabia. ¡HOLA! TV was back as the official international media, with a set in the Cibelespacio.
The Allianz EGO catwalk on Sunday was also closed by a Mexican designer, Lorena Saravia, who participated in the Mercedes-Benz Fashion talent exchange.
Enormous media and digital impact
Yet another year, this fashion week has succeeded in attracting media attention, with more than 7,000 news impacts reaching an audience of 5.4 billion. The official hashtag #MBFMadrid made almost 2.5 million impressions in this Fashion Week's social networks. The frenetic activity of this community during the event added 400,000 users to their its followers. These results have been achieved with extensive broadcasting of the event and a record-breaking level of participation in the conversation by the attendees who have shared their experiences of the shows, the front row, celebrities, influencers and well-known fashion personalities, talks, activities, street style and sponsors.
The fashion week digitalisation campaign also took off, thanks to the participation of influencers on Instagram and Tiktok such as @lolalolita, @_riverss, @dulceida, @sofiamoreno, @madame, @mariagdejaime…and many more.
Pilot project #ExperienciasMBFWMadrid
As regards #ExperienciasMBFWMadrid, a pilot project to measure interest in the show as an experiential and cultural event, this was extremely well received. More than 95% of tickets to the shows were snapped up within hours of becoming available on the official website of the event, indicating that society is very much attracted to the fashion world and the opportunity to reach new audiences which would not otherwise be able to see the presentations. The design to create different fashion experiences and make them available to the interested public has been borrowed from other fashion weeks like New York, London, Paris, Miami and Sydney.
This edition of MBFWMadrid had 19 sponsors whose support was essential to its success. The main sponsors were Mercedes-Benz, L’Oréal Paris and Inditex. The others were Allianz, Iberia, Thompson Madrid and Multiópticas; and its collaborators were Dorsia Clínicas, AEG, Community of Madrid, Mar de Frades, Martin Miller’s Gin, Málaga de Moda with the corporate identity of the Provincial Government of Málaga, ESNE Universidad de Diseño y Tecnología, Rowenta, Schweppes GHD, Morocco as the Official Destination and Solán de Cabras.


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Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. addresses some of the 175 attendees at the second annual CalChamber-hosted reception for the consular corps and representatives of California foreign economic partners. More than 50 countries were represented at the May 21 gathering in Sacramento. At right is CalChamber Chair Timothy S. Dubois.
At the consular corps reception are (from left) Hiroshi Haruki, Fujitsu Management Services of America; Governor Brown; and Hideki Oshima, Japan Airlines Col, Ltd.
Michael Rossi (left), senior adviser for jobs and business development, Office of the Governor, answers questions at a May 21 forum hosted by the CalChamber Council for International Trade, chaired by Susan Corrales-Diaz (right).
Forum attendees included nearly 150 industry leaders and representatives of California foreign trading partners.
Leaders of Japanese companies with a California presence mingled with
colleagues and members of the California Chamber of Commerce on
May 21-22 in Sacramento. Representatives of the Japanese Chamber of
Commerce of Northern California and the Japan Business Association of
Southern California visit Sacramento each year to bring attention to the
long-standing economic ties between California and Japan.
For more information, visit www.calchamber.com/japan
At the meeting of the District Export Councils (DEC) of California are (from left): Fred Latuperissa, Tim Murphy, Daniel Ogden, Esq., Paul Oliva, Donald Sovie, Suanne Stirling and Gregory Mignano. For more information, visit www.calchamber.com/DEC
Your one-stop shop for products that answer California and federal labor law and HR questions, alleviate confusion, save you time and money, so you can get back to business. Click on the logo to view our products. Seethe CalChamber Store's selection of forms and checklists in Spanish.
Note: This email is being sent to members of the CalChamber Council for International Trade; CalChamber members with international interests; local, binational and American chambers of commerce abroad; the consular corps; California congressional delegation, selected U.S. and California government officials; and representatives of business and trade associations.
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BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (Jan. 23, 2020) – Rubin Press, vice president of global sales at CONTROLTEK, has published the first part of a series of articles about RFID technology. In his articles, Press uses his technical expertise, developed from years of experience partnering with retailers to implement the technology to improve their operations, to explain how RFID technology works and the endless potential for retail and other industries.
“Rubin has a great understanding of the many possibilities of RFID technology, not just from a sales standpoint but as an innovator,” said Tom Meehan, CFI, chief strategy officer at CONTROLTEK. “Since he has returned to CONTROLTEK, we have met with many clients to learn about their challenges and collaborate with them to come up with new approaches to their problems.”
“RFID is no longer the future, it is the present,” said Press. “From the many benefits in asset protection and inventory management to improving merchandise availability and providing a more seamless customer experience, the technology has endless potential for solutions for loss prevention and other industries. RFID technology is a scalable, omnichannel tool that can help professionals across multiple industries combat their ever-changing environments while meeting and exceeding customer expectations.”
Since 1976 CONTROLTEK has been a global leader in tamper-evident security packaging, helping banks, armored couriers and retailers transport cash safely and securely. The company’s expanding line of inventory protection and visibility solutions also helps retailers protect their merchandise better and run their operations more efficiently. As a second-generation family owned business, with a history of stable growth and a reputation for strong customer focus, CONTROLTEK continues to deliver on its mission every single day: to provide solutions that protect and to always deliver on their promises.
Content and Social Media Manager


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Bloomberg reports that Nintendo investors are beginning to pressure the console and handheld gaming giant to start offering their iconic titles, such as Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda, etc. on Apple's iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad platform.
On July 6, Nintendo shares jumped the most in almost four months after Pokemon Co., a former unit, said it’s developing a game for the iPhone and handsets running on Mountain View, California-based Google Inc.’s Android software. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) sent a note to clients saying the move indicated Nintendo may begin making titles for products outside its proprietary hardware.
Hours later, Nintendo denied any change in strategy, and the shares surrendered gains.
Instead, Nintendo is cutting the price of their thus far disappointed 3DS handheld, and betting on their new Wii U console.
Sega and Atari, who exited the console space years ago, offer a variety of titles on iOS, while Playstation maker Sony has brought PSP-like services to Android devices and Microsoft is building XBox Live into Windows Phone.
Nintendo could likewise try to create their own smartphone or tablet, partner with an existing company (RIM BlackBerry or HP webOS?) or simply start offering titles for existing platforms, like iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
They could even test the waters by releasing only their classic arcade or SNES titles, like the aforementioned Sega and Atari have done. (And what bootleg emulators already offer.)
But it doesn't sound like current management has any plans to do that, any time soon.


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The Recaro Aircraft Seating (Recaro) was selected to outfit IndiGo’s brand-new A320neo and A321neo aircraft from the next year. The BL3710 economy class seat will be installed on 75 Airbus aircraft starting from January 2023.
IndiGo has selected Germany-based Recaro Aircraft Seating to outfit its brand-new A320neo and A321neo aircraft starting the next year. IndiGo will be the first to feature the firm's economy class seats in the Indian sub-continent. Seventy-five Airbuses would get the BL3710 economy class seats from January 2023.
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Recaro is a global supplier of premium aircraft seats for airlines and original equipment manufacturers. Headquartered in Germany, Recaro earned 260 million euros in revenue in 2021.
According to Recaro, the BL3710, which has won Red Dot Design and iF Design awards, has been specifically created for short- and medium-haul flights. The seats weigh less than 10 kg.
Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy & Revenue Officer of IndiGo, said, “As we expand our network, domestically and internationally to cater to the travel demand, the comfortable seats will be key to upgrading the customer experience onboard IndiGo.”
Mark Hiller, CEO at Recaro Aircraft Seating, said the BL3710 was an excellent product that will serve IndiGo for many years. “Our new partnership with IndiGo demonstrates our commitment to not only building a distinct product with a sustainable life cycle but also our comprehensive approach to customer service," Hiller said.


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by the Lanka Monthly Digest(LMD) in the12th annual LMD Most Respected Entities in Sri Lanka rankings released recently. The ranking further ascertains the company’s position as a leading global enterprise with deep local roots.
Unilever emerged as the 4th most respected business entity in Sri Lanka,overall. This marks the 10th consecutive year that the company has been ranked within the top ten. Commenting on Unilever Sri Lanka’s position on its rankings, LMD notes that “Unilever Sri Lanka is recognized by its peers and stakeholders for its corporate culture”.
“It is an honor to be voted amongst the most respected companies in the country and to have emerged as the highest ranked multinational yet again,” said Carl Cruz, Chairman of Unilever Sri Lanka.“A result of the untiring efforts of the extended Unilever Sri Lanka team, this ranking is a symbol of the strong bonds we share with the community. True to our vision of making sustainable living commonplace, we will continue to strive to grow our business, whilst reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact.”
LMD’s Most Respected rankings are based on a survey conceptualized and commissioned by Lanka Monthly Digest (LMD), the leading business publication in the country and conducted by leading research firm Nielsen. This year’s survey covered 800 respondents, managers and above, from listed companies, the LMD 100 (2014 / 2015) and Brands Annual (2015).
Unilever Sri Lanka is one of the biggest FMCG companies in Sri Lanka, with 29 market leading brands in categories such as Home Care, Personal Care and Foods. Established in Sri Lanka in 1938 with brands such as Sunlight, Lux and Pears. Unilever’s corporate purpose is to make sustainable living commonplace, and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan sets out to decouple the company’s growth from environmental impact, while increasing its positive social impact.
The plan has three big goals that by 2020 will help improve people’s health and well-being, reduce the company’s environmental footprint, and enhance livelihoods across its value chain.


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Bloggers can make money, but most keep day jobs
The rise of 'contextual advertising' has created a 21st-century version of royalties.
(Page 2 of 2)
"The vast majority of people are being read by the writer and his mother, or in some cases not even by his mother," quips Sree Sreenivasan, who runs the new-media program at Columbia University.But for some, he says, new opportunities are emerging that are different from the original Web bubble.Skip to next paragraph
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The anecdotal numbers suggest an economic shift based on what Don Tapscott, co-author of "Wikinomics," calls the democratization of the creation of content.
"People can participate in the economy in ways that were once unimaginable. Not just moonlighting, but serious money," says Mr. Tapscott. In the past, writers, musicians, and videomakers needed to prove themselves as "home-run hitters" in order to get distributed and earn significant money. "Now, bunters and single-hitters have a chance to make a living," he says.
The AdSense system allows advertisers to bid on how much they'll pay – in cents per click – to appear on sites with certain keywords. In the case of "Charlie on the MBTA," Vahey has seen ads show up from bus companies – not surprising since he mentions buses frequently. He makes money each time someone clicks on the ads.
With the cost of publishing online close to zero, even small ad money can buoy creative output.
"The definition of 'big enough' has changed. In the old days, [an endeavor] ... had to get an audience of billions to pay for that scarce airtime," says Jeff Jarvis, a new-media expert who makes about $1,000 a month from blogging. "Now, the definition of big enough can be that it covered my costs, [or] it bought me a camera."
He notes with amusement that his son now makes more money from AdSense than from his allowance.
Yet many bloggers and video bloggers are not driven by a desire to get rich. Vahey did not start his blog to make money. And Steve Garfield, one of Boston's earliest video bloggers, doesn't see a YouTube ad model working for him, since he's more interested in forming personal connections.
"I've gotten so much from giving and sharing my videos for free," says Mr. Garfield, whose vblog is at SteveGarfield.com. "I've made so many friends from all over the world."
Still, his approach has yielded some financial benefits, such as free computer equipment, and freelance and consulting work.
It's not uncommon for successful bloggers to parlay their success into consulting. And the top Web entrepreneurs often move away from AdSense to direct relationships with advertisers, says Jeremy Schoemaker, who has a photo of himself holding a check for more than $130,000 from Google. He runs a number of sites, including a ringtones sharing site. [Editor's note: The original version misspelled Mr. Schoemaker's last name.]
AdSense, which he describes as "a great product," does have its limitations. The revenue can be unpredictable, the system encourages visitors to leave a site, and owners do not have enough control over ad content, he says.
Several highly successful bloggers also caution that there's no free lunch. "I worked anything from eight- to 16-hour days over the last three or four years just trying to do this," says Mr. Rowse. "And a lot of people don't see that."


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With the legalization of marijuana scheduled to come into effect on Oct. 17, a Vancouver mom has created an online cannabis guide aimed at women.
Chiarenza says she wants to dispel the stigma many feel about using pot and show it as an alternative to a glass of wine.
“I think women look down on women, especially moms, who use something like that because it’s this idea that it’s a drug and that it’s illegal and that they have this whole stoner mentality.”
Chiarenza says with legalization, people will no longer be limited to what she calls “mystery weed” from a dealer.
She plans on reviewing the different types of pot to help people choose the best cannabis for them.


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Food delivery services have made it easy to avoid a trip to the grocery store, creating a challenge for conventional food retailers that won’t be solved by an enhanced store experience alone.
Services provided by the likes of Uber Eats, Grubhub and Waitr facilitated roughly $5 billion in food sa
Amazon’s fleet of promotional vehicles known as Treasure Trucks has expanded to bring daily deals residents of Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus and Las Vegas.
The program functions like a mobile Blue Light Special, a merchandising initiative Kmart devised in which stores would
Too many retailers are shutting down: 2019 just hit its halfway point, but already the number of planned retail store closings has exceeded the total for all of 2018.
How can retailers prosper rather than shutter? It starts with knowing the pulse of their lifeblood: the ever-changing consumer.


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After reporting slow revenue growth and decreased demand from advertisers, Twitter may be facing a grim future – perhaps even of the MySpace variety.
Earlier this week, the micro-blogging platform also announced in a blog post that they are opening up Moments, the platform’s curated news-feed, to a broader group of creators and one including “influencers, partners, [and] brands”. It shows a greater determination from the company to increase ad revenues.
To gauge current opinion on the struggling social network’s future, we asked our digital marketing colleagues to look into their crystal balls and divine whether Twitter has the capacity to save itself.
Here’s their take on what’s good, what’s bad – and what’s still uncertain:
Lucky for Twitter, it’s still arguably the best platform to distribute news.
In fact, Malcolm Gray, social media manager of entertainment company Live Nation, noted Twitter is the first place many consumers go for breaking news and trends.
“Twitter still punches far above its weight in current events and news,” agreed Christopher Penn, vice president of marketing technology at data-driven PR agency Shift Communications. “In an election year, Twitter receives disproportionate attention, which means greater audience awareness and engagement for everyone.”
However, Matthew Kaskavitch, social media manager and lecturer in the Department of Communication at the University of Colorado Denver, noted Twitter is considering implementing an algorithm instead of showing tweets in reverse chronological order, which would help advertisers, but come at the detriment of user experience.
“Twitter users turn to Twitter for the latest news, particularity when things [websites] are breaking. However, for Twitter to monetize, [it needs] to lure advertisers with the tools needed to target specific audiences and keep people consuming and avoid information overload. Those two things are at odds with each other, which is why Twitter is stuck in a tough spot.”
At the same time, access and engagement is another huge weapon in Twitter’s arsenal.
“No other social media site makes it so easy to get instant access to celebrities, key influencers and fans around the world,” said Liz Kelly, founder of Goody PR and UCLA Extension instructor on new media marketing. “The main lesson is that engagement is the most important thing on Twitter. Twitter could be even more popular if [it] provided users with more listening tools to interact with more likeminded people.”
However, Twitter is a noisy platform, said Eric Quanstrom, CMO of sales prospecting software KiteDesk.
“Once any individual reaches more than a few hundred…followers, the ratio of noise to signal is quite heavy,” he added. “Anyone that has hundreds — let alone thousands or millions — of followers knows they cannot even remotely keep up with the feed.”
And that’s part of the reason Twitter has struggled with advertising, Quanstrom said.
“If you cannot get people to pay attention to their own feed, you cannot reach audiences cost effectively,” he added.
What’s more, according to Tom Siebert of PPC, SEO and content marketing agency Wolfgang Solo, Twitter’s biggest — and mostly unacknowledged — problem is that a lot of its users are “bots and shills.”
“The bot echo chamber during the election season so far has been crazy,” he said. “Most people know it [and] Twitter is losing…credibility for it, but refuses to admit it.”
To wit: Look no further than the recent experience of SNL and Ghostbusters actor Leslie Jones.
“Long term, I think they get increasingly marginalized,” Siebert added. “And it’s such a cesspool of anonymous hate, it’s tough for advertisers to really want to get on board, especially when the ROI is questionable.”
Further, John Turner, CEO of feedback tool UsersThink, noted even basic changes in the product, such as requiring email verification when setting up a new account, could do a lot to stop trolls from setting up new accounts.
But Turner also said Twitter has an onboarding problem and “Twitter seems to be avoiding dealing with either concern, by both adding extra features to [its] product that only confuse things, and by seeming to make no product changes to deal with trolling and harassment.”
As a result, Turner said he thinks Twitter is still a wonderful platform for marketing and interactions and the pseudo-anonymous nature can be beneficial for some users who don’t want to fully represent themselves, but if they don’t do more to help new users and deal with harassment, it will begin to shrink.”
And it is Twitter’s reluctance to change at a pace relative to other networks that might be hindering its progress as well.
“Users always complain that Facebook is changing things, but you’ll notice they’re the ones who have figured it out and are consistently growing and making profit,” Kaskavitch said. “Twitter needs to continue to take calculated and bold action to progress [its] platform forward.”
But Gray noted Twitter retains an advantage over other platforms when it comes to live events.
“Whether it’s a Black Lives Matter protest, a political convention, the NBA finals or The Walking Dead, Twitter is the place for communities to gather and talk about their interests in real time. This is still very important,” he said. “Twitter is also still important for keeping people honest. During the recent police shootings in Dallas, Dallas PD tweeted out a picture of a man who they suspected to be the shooter, but due to videos posted on Twitter during the rally, Twitter users quickly identified that their suspect was on the ground and not the actual shooter. This is still the most powerful way for communities to watch and engage with each other.”
And so it’s perhaps not surprising that live content has been an area of focus for the platform lately. In fact, Twitter has made a big push into live sports in particular, including live streams of upcoming MLB and NHL games, as well as a nightly sports highlights show called “The Rally.” This followed announcements of a streaming partnership with the NFL for Thursday Night Football and a live content partnership with the NBA.
“Twitter’s live sports push is its best chance at staying relevant and gaining market share in video,” said Andreas Goeldi, CTO of video advertising platform Pixability. “Twitter is already the platform for advertisers who want to capture viewer attention during a particular event with a lot of focus and immediacy, so extending this to live video streaming is a logical next step.”
The ability to watch sports on Twitter while also following discussions follows a broader trend in media consumption, added Vassilis Dalakas, Professor of Marketing at Cal State San Marcos.
“We’ll still have TVs and still watch, but I think all those other platforms allowing us to watch is a good idea,” Dalakas said. “The cool thing about Twitter…is we go there for social interaction and watching sports for most of us is a social experience, so this will be like a virtual sports bar.”
Luke Watson, platforms expert at live streaming network Roker Media, agreed Twitter’s focus on sports as a content type that demands real-time attention and commands large-scale audience conversions could help the platform maintain mainstream relevancy, not to mention solve a legit problem for sports fans who are blacked out of watching their favorite teams.
“All of that said, will the strategy work? I think that it will require more than sports content to save Twitter,” Watson said. “This, combined with an overhaul of its core products, may be enough to maintain relevance or even grow, but a complete integration of Periscope, which has remained virtually unchanged since it debuted in March of 2015 despite the launch and continual improvement of competitors, would go a long way toward speeding positive change and restoring the confidence of existing users.”
Brian Shin, CEO of video analytics firm Visible Measures, agreed, saying Twitter needs to create a better viewing experience as “from a consumer perspective, [Twitter] is still kind of a mess, even with Moments.”
For his part, Noel McCann, marketing analyst at short-term housing site HomeSuite, is optimistic, saying the live streams and the removal of the character limit “give marketers an opportunity to create more demographic-focused campaigns.”
This will also improve the effectiveness of outreach to potential customers, thus bringing the platform back up to speed with other platforms, he added.
Further, Penn said Twitter is testing reach and frequency buying, which will permit marketers to control how often their ads are seen.
“This feature, once rolled out to marketers, will let us better control spend on our Twitter ads by capping our ads’ frequency – a long overdue improvement,” he said. “Twitter also continues to push for more video ads. If you’re currently executing video ads on other platforms, expect to port them to Twitter with greater ease.”
In addition, Penn pointed to Twitter’s upcoming transition from its existing tagging solution to a Universal Website tag.
“If you’ve implemented Facebook’s new conversion pixel, you have some idea of what to expect,” he said. “Our advice is to use Google Tag Manager to implement and control these many new tags. Doing so will substantially reduce your marketing technology burden.”
What’s more, Penn said Twitter’s Audience Platform expects to offer new options including cross-device ads later this year.
“Twitter cited a 52 percent lift in purchase intent for consumers who saw ads on multiple devices versus one device,” he added. “Overall, Twitter’s focus on driving down cost-per-engagement to be more comparable with other social networks can only be good news for marketers with increasingly tight budgets as we move into the second half of the year.”


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With all the recent speculation about the possible specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S III, we have almost forgotten to try to guess the date on which it will be finally revealed. Since the Korean company has already ruled out the possibility of presenting it to MWC in Barcelona in late February, a new date can check: Your phone may be revealed during an event March 22 in France.
French media have already received the invitation for the event, including web FrAndroid, which suggests that any announcement during the event will be tied to the operating system Android. The speculations are unleashing: there is a strong possibility that the event has something to do with the Samsung Galaxy S III, but could also be related to the Google TV from Samsung, but it should be the subject of an upcoming private event.
There is also the possibility that the incident of 22 is simply related to the regional launch of a Samsung product, not necessarily the Galaxy S III, but sure we will discover some more details in the days ahead.


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High End Electronics Sales Increasingly Driven By Mobile Gadgets
"People are willing to disproportionately spend for these devices because they are becoming so important to their lives," Best Buy Chief Executive Brian Dunn said in an interview. "We are really positioning the company to be the place where people can come and see the best of the connected world."
That connected world features more iPad's than anyone expected if the analyst group NPD has its numbers right. Based on their estimates, the iPad has cannabilized netbook sales by as much as 50 percent. "It's a very different environment now," said Stephen Baker, the chief electronics analyst for market researcher NPD Group Inc. "The real cool stuff now will be the tablets, e-readers and probably the higher-end digital cameras."
If iPad's have genuinely stolen that much market share from netbooks, we're in for a very interesting show once AMD's Ontario and Intel's next-generation Atom platform both hit the market. Both platforms, particularly AMD's Ontario, should offer much stronger performance than previous netbooks, potentially reversing the industry's losses and iPad defections.