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Apple starts a display R&D center in TaiwanApple opened a production laboratory in northern Taiwan where engineers are developing new display technologies, according to people with knowledge of the facility.
The Apple building in Longtan has at least 50 engineers and other workers creating new screens for devices including iPhones and iPads, the people said, asking not to be identified because the details aren’t public. Apple has recruited from local display maker AU Optronics and Qualcomm, which used to own the building, the people said.
Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman for Apple in Cupertino, California, declined to comment.
Apple began operating the lab this year as it aims to make products thinner, lighter, brighter and more energy-efficient. Engineers are developing more-advanced versions of the liquid- crystal displays currently used in iPhones, iPads and Mac personal computers, the people said. Apple also is keen to move to organic light-emitting diodes, which are even thinner and don’t require a backlight, they said.
Making its iPhones and iPads slimmer and longer-lasting with each generation has been a hallmark of Apple, helping drive $178 billion in annual sales from the two product categories.
By working directly on the development of display technologies, Apple can reduce reliance on the technology developed by suppliers such as Samsung Electronics, LG Display, Sharp and Japan Display.
Instead, the company can develop the production processes in-house and outsource to smaller manufacturers such as Taiwan’s AU Optronics or Innolux Corporation.
Shares of AU Optronics surged as much as 8.1 percent in Taipei and Innolux jumped as much as 4.6 percent. Japan Display dropped 3 percent in Tokyo, heading for the lowest close since October, and Sharp fell 1.6 percent.
Apple does the bulk of its research at its headquarters in Cupertino and outsources the manufacturing of almost all devices and components to suppliers such as Foxconn Technology Group and Japan Display.
The iPhone maker also employs scientists and engineers globally to develop materials and manufacturing technologies.
Apple continues looking for engineers to work at its display panel facilities, according to job postings on LinkedIn’s website.
Tucked in a corner of Longtan Science Park, between a forest and the building site for a new biotechnology factory, the structure shows no outward indications of belonging to the world’s most valuable company.
Fifty kilometers (31 miles) from downtown Taipei and within an hour’s drive of the Foxconn headquarters, the white-tiled factory displays no corporate signage, a stark contrast to neighboring plants emblazoned with 3-foot-tall logos for Leotek Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and AU Optronics.
A short driveway, a half-dozen steps and sliding glass doors lead to a counter and a receptionist in front of an Apple logo on the wall.
That sign, and an iMac displaying Apple’s standard visitor registration screen, are the only visible indicators Apple resides here. BLOOMBERG


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Indigo Consulting retains Asian Paints’ digital biz
The win comes following a multi-agency pitch in which at least 10 agencies are known to have taken part
Indigo Consulting has retained the digital account of Asian Paints. The win comes on the back of a multi-agency pitch in which at least 10 agencies are known to have participated.
In view of its new identity and positioning, Asian Paints had invited presentations from various digital agencies to take its new positioning forward on digital media. Indigo Consulting, which has been working with Asian Paints since 2007 across web, mobile, social and search, won the pitch after three rounds, with two agencies making it to the final round.
Commenting on the appointment, Satish Kulkarni, General Manager - Marketing, Asian Paints said, “Asian Paints, in its endeavour to provide a better brand experience to the customer, is keen to inspire customers and partner them through their home painting process, which is an essential part of creating their own beautiful home. Therefore, we required an agency who understands our customers and helps us convert consumer insights into a rich web usage experience across screens. Indigo Consulting brought on board the ability to best match consumer insight to consumer experience design, and execution capabilities. We are delighted to continue our successful relationship with Indigo Consulting.”
The renewed mandate will see the agency continue to be involved with the brand to spearhead its digital initiatives across web, mobile and social media, while also exploring integrated customer experiences leveraging cloud computing.
On retaining the business, Vikas Tandon, Managing Director, Indigo Consulting said, “This is indeed a special win for us. The pitch underscores the importance of not taking any relationship for granted. Asian Paints has been a very important client, and a wonderful brand to work with, and we are delighted that they have reaffirmed their faith in us. We look forward to continuing our efforts in making Asian Paints a world leading brand in the online world too.”
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SHANGHAI - Still three weeks away from China's 24-hour festival of consumerism known as Singles' Day, or Double 11, e-commerce behemoth Alibaba on Thursday launched pre-sale activities on its Tmall site.More than 140,000 brands, 60,000 of them international ones, are slated to participate in this year’s Singles' Day festival, with more than 15 million products part of the associated promotions.In line with Alibaba's much touted "New Retail" strategy, online to offline retailing, or O2O, will form a larger part of Singles' Day than ever before, with 1 million stores set to utilize O2O options.According to Alibaba, more than 1,000 brands across various categories will convert over 100,000 physical locations into “smart stores” featuring shopping tours, virtual fitting rooms, virtual payments, deliveries and more.An augmented reality game (comparable to Pokemon Go) called “Catch the Cat” will encourage consumers to earn special promotion coupons and prizes when they find and scan Tmall's mascot (a cat) using Taobao's mobile app. The Tmall cat will be featured in thousands of retail stores including Starbucks and KFCs and other key shopping locations across China.As well as bringing international brands to Chinese consumers, Alibaba is also planning special promotions on 100 Chinese brands to overseas consumers - largely Chinese citizens living in other parts of Asia and the world, a population Alibaba estimates at 100 million.In order to cope with logistical demands, Alibaba's Cainiao Network will have three million logistical personnel on hand to cope with the influx of orders expected over the Singles' Day period.Last year's Singles' Day activities saw Alibaba sell nearly $18 billion worth of products and services, a 32 percent increase on 2015. Though the year-on-year growth in gross merchandise value for Singles' Day is slowing, Alibaba continues to beat performance expectations. In first quarter 2017 results, the company posted a 56 percent rise in revenue, largely on the strength of its core e-commerce business.
Breaking: @cushnieetochs’ co-founders @carlycushnie and @ochsmichelle are parting ways. After a 10-year run, Ochs is leaving the brand. Get the full story on WWD.com – link in bio. #wwdnews #wwdfashion
@maybelline’s Kanako Takase had snow bunnies in mind when creating the beauty look for @philipppleininternational. Playing off of the bedazzled snowboards in the collection, Takase mixed two highlighters together for a luminous sheen. #wwdbeauty #nyfw (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
“There’s a huge gap between the old way of doing things and today. It takes the youth to help evolve that. You have to count on the kids today to help lead you into the future. A lot of these retailers are stuck in the past. Communication is the biggest thing,” said @ronniefieg of @kith on the youth’s role in retail. On Monday night, Jeff Staple moderated a keynote session with Fieg and @syresmith at Assembly - a series of workshops, talks and keynotes addressing topics or issues in the apparel industry. Head to WWD.com to read more advice from Fieg and what Smith thinks of his dad @willsmith’s Instagram account and sustainability (📷: @weston.wells)
@joansmalls closed the @michaelkors fall 2018 show in black sequined pants and a varsity T printed with 19 on the front and 81 on the back. 1981 – the year Kors went into business. #wwdfashion #nfyw (📷: @giovanni_giannoni_photo)
“You think your life is going to be a certain way, and nothing you thought would happen ends up happening. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be designing clothes and working with Mickey Drexler, and building something I’m deeply proud of,” said Jenna Lyons. Nine months after leaving @jcrew, Lyons is exploring the meaning of happiness. Read the interview, where Lyons talks about reinvention and more on WWD.com – link in bio. #wwdfashion (📷: Farrell) #jennalyons #jcrew


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As far as dramatic and turbulent events within specific companies in the FX industry are concerned, the difficult path which UK-based spread betting-to- foreign exchange firm London Capital Group (LCG:L) has trodden over the last few years ranks among one of the most closely followed.
Whilst many of its peers within the world’s largest financial center prospered and flourished, LCG made sustained losses, causing it to become a takeover target, and attracting three potential suitors in March 2013, namely GAIN Capital, Cantor Fitzgerald and City Index, all of which bowed out leaving the ailing firm’s future in limbo…. until now.
Today, in an exclusive interview with LeapRate, new owner and one of the FX industry’s most prominent leaders, Charles-Henri Sabet, explained his plans for the future of LCG, and its entire ground-up rejuvenation.
Mr. Sabet first addressed the question which is likely to be on the minds of a great many senior industry figures, explaining his rationale behind his taking the helm at LCG in a transaction which injected £17 million into the firm. “London Capital is a great name which caught my attention and then it was a simple calculation of price versus opportunity ,” enthused Mr. Sabet.
“The company is London-listed but at the time was trading at an historic low. There is always room to turnaround management which we will do. In terms of corporate vision, LCG in its current state is a clear UK spread betting firm. 90% of business is spread betting, and 10% of its business is represented by FX Agency activity which includes selling platforms such as EBS or Currenex” Mr. Sabet explained to LeapRate.
“To go a step further and take the company into the future, the idea is for it to be transformed entirely and become a real online trading player – across borders and platforms. To offer trading beyond the UK, we will focus first and foremost on FX. We need to be recognized in new countries, therefore we would primary player in FX to start with” explained Mr. Sabet. “How to do this is being carefully considered we will start retail FX, which will be offered across a number of platforms” he confirmed.
Speaking with regard to the firm’s recent interest in specialist firm Algoweb, Mr. Sabet indicated that the purpose of this is to receive liquidity and distribute it to any customer that LCG wants, across both retail and institutional sectors. “We are able to offer a prime of prime facility to clients whose requirement is on a level slightly higher than that of standard retail customers” stated Mr. Sabet.
As the company begins to grow in its new form, Mr. Sabet confirmed that once a noticeable growth has been achieved in FX, the firm will be able to align the product and also be able to be a premium provider of equities, indices, and other key asset classes.
One of the keys to future success is ensuring the right key personnel are on board. Working closely alongside Mr. Sabet is another top FX industry professional, ex-FXCM Managing Director Francois Nembrini. After a career within the upper echelons of the world’s largest retail FX brokerage, Mr. Nembrini joins LCG as Global Head of Sales & Trading.
As far as commercial strategy is concerned, Mr. Nembrini detailed to LeapRate today that “In terms of market environment, the new strategy will work. The core is to centralize all activity and technological facets in one place. The recent on-boarding of Algoweb and Smarttrade allows to plug liquidity into any area we want, which in turn allows LCG to roll out a multi-asset solution.”
“What we have seen in the last couple of years is an entry opportunity into the mid-market. Banks have pulled back while demand from trading customers remains strong. As the fortunes of the big banks have contracted, bank trading has suffered which in turn has created credit restrictions and inflexible trading terms. Meanwhile a lot of excellent bank traders have been let go by those same major banks as they are being forced to pull back from or entirely out of some markets, . Traders are looking for non-bank alternatives that are reliable and provide competitive pricing and so we are able to step in and plug that gap in the market, employing the same quality people that were at the big banks, used to offering a quality product. We want to bring into the market an institutional service to all our customers” continued Mr. Nembrini.
With regard to other developments which reflect LCG’s newfound direction toward leading edge technology, Mr. Nembrini explained to LeapRate that “LCG will offer a very comprehensive voice business run by Peter Wells, whose provenance includes 28 years at British electronic trading conglomerate ICAP, alongside a former head of spot at a major league international bank Between them, they will create a voice service that will provide an all-encompassing service to all institutional high net worth and retail clients.”
Mr. Nembrini concluded by explaining that “LCG wants to give quality research, distribute pricing across many places so that retail clients can get the platform that they want and need, meanwhile giving institutional style multi-platform environment with centralized booking thus providing a prime brokerage style service to all customers.”
Citing reasons for why none of the aforementioned approaches for LCG materialised in the early part of last year when first showed interest, it has been confirmed that those firms wanted to buy the customers of LCG. No firm seems to have wanted to take on the actual company, and no entity demonstrated an interest in upgrading the technology and infrastructure. This is what LCG’s forte is – the potential to become a technological leader and major international force from its London base.
LeapRate posed the question as to why it wouldn’t have been easier to simply start a new company rather than go to the trouble of taking on existing firm in the doldrums which may involve an overhaul of the entire firm’s corporate structure, Mr. Sabet’s astute business acumen was quite clear in his answer: “When you start from scratch, you need to make a licence application and then hire key people before doing anything else. All of the key people are already placed in key positions across other companies. I would find it difficult to attract them by asking them to come with me, resign from their existing, perfectly good positions, and then tell them that they will start working with a brand new, unknown company in one year’s time. This is not motivating at all!” Mr Sabet pointed out.
He continued to explain that “By the time you find the premises, and decide on business model, then complete the bureaucracy, it then takes between 12 to 15 months to see the first client. I would rather take a company which is experiencing a difficult situation and revitalise it. LCG still made over $20 million revenue for the first nine months of this year – it’s better to work with this. I admit that this approach represents a different way, especially in this case, however I liked the name, it has fantastic potential.”
“It is time for a change and so inevitably under new leadership much of the previous management team is moving on to make way for the new while there remains a core of high performers, all keen to stay on and be part of the new chapter in our growth. We have a good brand proposition, and the top calibre executives that have joined us since our transaction was completed really proves that the challenge is worthwhile. Francois is probably one of the top people in the industry worldwide, and he did not hesitate to come on board. Nicola Berardi, after helping during this acquisition is now out board advisor. He was the former CFO at Synthesis Bank, which I sold in 2007.”
On parting, Mr. Sabet’s enthusiastic and bright view of LCG’s future was explained as he cited a “great opportunity here. The latest figures lay down in raw numbers the results of operations under former management, now we can make a clean start with a fresh set of numbers.”


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A Watson Wyatt Worldwide news release said its survey also found that rewarding salespeople with more incentive- and stock-based pay can make a big difference as well.
In its survey, Watson Wyatt found that salespeople at financially high-performing companies spend 40% more time each year with their best potential customers and an additional three to four hours each week in high-value sales activities than salespeople at low-performing companies.
Not only that, they spend 30% less time on administrative duties than their counterparts at low-performing companies.
“It may seem fundamental, but the way sales professionals allocate their time is critical – even a couple more hours per week on these key activities can make a real difference,” said John Bremen, director of Watson Wyatt’s sales force effectiveness consulting practice, in the news release.
High-performing companies also provide their sales forces with greater earnings potential through variable pay based on their sales performance, according to the survey.
Salespeople at high-performing companies receive approximately 40% more of their total cash compensation in the form of variable pay than sales professionals at low-performing companies (38% of total compensation versus 27%). Additionally, twice as many sales professionals at high-performing companies receive stock, stock options and other equity pay than sales professionals at low-performing companies (36% versus 18%), the survey found.
The survey also found that salespeople at high-performing companies tend to be believers in their companies and have more favorable views of their companies’ products and internal support. For example, 83% of sales professionals at high-performing companies believe their product and service lineup is among the best offered in the market versus 57% at low-performing employers.
High-performing companies experienced faster sales growth and superior financial performance compared to their industry peers. The results are based on a survey of 841 sales professionals at 500 companies with large sales forces.
The report can be purchased here .
« FASB Issues Draft Regarding Accounting for Compensated Absenses


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Bloomberg spent $200 million on TV ads
By MixDex Article may include affiliate links
According to Advertising Analytics, Bloomberg’s campaign, which was entirely self funded, spent $198 million on broadcast ads in weeks before Super Tuesday.
That figure doesn’t include digital ad spends on social media or video sites.
Bloomberg refused to accept any campaign donations.
Bloomberg made much of his fortune from Bloomberg terminals, but also founded a media conglomerate that had to announce special rules for its coverage of the campaign.


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USA: Now it's six years of cheap-rate loans on most GM vehicles - report
General Motors on Friday further expanded customer incentives, offering six-year loans at a rate of 1.9% on most vehicles to boost sluggish US sales, Reuters said, adding that the new incentives come on top of GM's zero-percent financing offer on five-year loans on most cars and trucks announced earlier this month. Up to now, GM had only offered six-year loans on a few models, like the Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire small cars, and the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma compact pickup trucks, the news agency said.
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The brand new 2013 Nissan GTR was get its new engine which powered 560 Horse Power. As like oldest one, this 2013 Nissan GTR gets better and better every year and will no exception fot this one. As we know the first version of GTR was launched in 2007 at the Tokyo Motor Show delivered a total of 473 HP. The 2012 models was got impressive 530 HP and things aren’t slowing down for the Japanese automaker which prepare the next model year (2012 in Japan, 2013 in USA) will deliver an impressive 2013 Nissan GTR 560 HP.
Behind Audi completely new ideology behind this electric R8 and the normal gasoline version, they serious about bringing this Audi R8 E-Tron to the market. And after the E-tron Detroit Show car, Audi has brought us the e-tron technology platform based on the 2013 Audi R8 E-Tron. The supercar form of R8 was made an easier job for the Audi engineers to develop an electric version of this Audi R8 E-Tron. Mid-engine design of the 2013 Audi R8 with E-Tron technologies provides the perfect location to store heavy batteries without distorting the weight balance that Audi wanted to achieve.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu the first global version of the popular mid-size Chevy, has finally been revealed in 2011 New York Auto Show. 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was revealed one day before at 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu concept will take all of modernism of car design include exterior and interior of the car. Like 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T in New York 2011 Auto Show, the Chevy got many eyes look on its beautiful modern design style. The new Malibu is 4.5 inches smaller in wheelbase at 107.8 inches, and it’s 191.3 inches long–but an inch wider.
2012 Subaru Impreza was release the first debut at New York 2011 Auto Show with despite initial fears the design of the new small car. 2012 Subaru Impreza is also 30 percent more fuel efficient than the model it replaces, making the new 2012 range the most fuel efficient all-wheel drive car on the market. 2012 Subaru Impreza is the roomiest Impreza ever, as well as being lighter and quicker than its predecessor. Like 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Show Off at New York Auto Show, subaru impreza give their full concept in this auto show.
From the exclusive blockbuster movies at hollywood and have appeared in a growing number of them that involve superheroes, from the Batman Dark Knight Rises a Lamborghini Aventador become a new Batmobile. The supercar hollywood movies has strated from Iron Man that trend when Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., was seen riding the Audi R8 a few years back. That trend made another superheroes movie adapted the supercars like Audy R8 Spyder on Iron Man 2. Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 was used on Transformers: Dark of the Moon and The Dark Knight.
Related Auto Show & Car Showoff for 2013 roomiest suvs at AutoCarShowOff.com
The future volkswagen beetle was revealed on New York 2011 auto show which become another icon that gone under the knife and emerged, well, only slightly differently iconic. The future volkswagen beetle was made superficially slight by its producers. This future volkswagen beetle was revealed simultaneously in New York, Berlin and Shanghai. Just like 2011 [...]
After old schools BMW 3-Series when the day of announcement it was 25 years ago. This 2014 BMW M3 was appeared on four different generations and evolved from a 2.3 liter inline-four cylinder engine with 200 HP to an impressive V8 hitting 420 HP. 2014 BMW M3 maybe not the best sport cars out there, [...]
Big Black One is a project which tune up the 2011 Mercedes Benz CLS 500 which tuning to full breadth of what the CLS is capable. This Black Mercedes Benz CLS 500 was take attentions of tuning addicted which tuned by Kicherer, a German tuning company. With the unique codename this Big Black One Mercedes [...]
After last year of Peugeot RCZ Asphalt and this year with the new 2011 Peugeot RCZ Asphalt LE, and what the differents of both of it? This brand new car is only limited into 75 units for right hand drive at UK and the goal is 500 unit at end of this year. The price [...]
There is no replacement or displacement for V8 car engine, but in modern times and with new fuel efficiency laws taking hold, turbocharging points the way forward. Todays, most of automaker is scrambling to create turbocharged alternatives to larger displacement engines. This 2011 Mercedes Benz CL550 4Matic with Twin Turbo V8s, not offering some sort [...]
Minagi compact crossover concept was released for new 2012 Mazda CX5 since 2011 Geneva Motor Show. But in that time is only the concept of this awesome 2012 Mazda CX5 which has been hinting at production of its attractive. At New York 2011 Auto Show Mazda was finally released the true car named 2012 Mazda [...]
The new 2012 Subaru FT86 will be revealed on Tokyo Auto Show according to topspeed informations. This new 2012 Subaru FT86 will be unveiled its new details actually in this later year and will be expected a longer than average life cycle for the car and is looking at variant packages. 2012 Subaru FT86 is [...]
Although Lamborghini was prepare to replace the Gallardo with the more powerful car rumored named Cabrera in 2013 SR Auto Group was not finish to presents you tons of tuning packages for the Lamborghini Gallardo. This 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo was very exciting to review with its pure black design like an Devastator. Of course SR [...]
The stealthy upgrade of the 2011 Ford Focus RS which developed by Anderson Germany was stabbed their own program by another German Company for the American hot hatch. MR Car Design was developed the another 2011 Ford Focus RS design which to be the latest in a long line of performance kits for the Focus [...]
Most people searching the official pricing of 2012 Audi TT RS in U.S. And now it finally come with official price from Audi which finally released U.S. pricing on the company’s 2012 TT RS. This 2012 Audi TT RS which powered by 360-horsepower coupe engine has planning on handing over $56,850*(*plus any applicable destination charges). [...]


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Italian appliance maker Merloni Elettrodomestici is expected to post on Wednesday a FY 02 net profit of EUR 101 million (U.S. $109.5 million), up 38.4 percent versus. 2001, based on a consensus of three analysts' forecasts.
Revenues are seen at EUR 2.46 billion ($2.67 billion), 24.9 percent higher than in 2001, and EBITDA of +24 percent up year-on-year to EUR300M.
Eyes are on the details of company's expansion into dryers, which analysts see enhancing growth momentum. (Dow Jones)
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Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
Support diversity in the workplace by bidding on your favorite gear
Boulder, Colorado — May 15, 2014 — The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) is excited to announce the launch of the Third Annual Spring Auction. Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to visit the online auction to support workplace diversity while getting great deals on their favorite clothing and gear. Act fast, the auction closes on May 21 at 12:00p.m. sharp (mountain standard time)!
The auction is 100% online and is open to everyone!
Auction Link: http://ow.ly/wN7aM
Supporters can bid on great items such a K2 snowboard package, six-day river rafting trip, bicycles, camping gear, performance wear and more. Companies who support OIWC’s mission of inclusion and diversity in the workplace have generously donated more than 80 items to ensure there is something for everyone in the auction. “The online auction is one of my favorite fundraisers,” says Hillary Harding, Development Director of the OIWC. “It is a great way for all outdoor enthusiasts to buy quality gear while supporting many of the programs that OIWC offers women including educational sessions, mentor programs and advocacy.”
The Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition is a nonprofit member association that provides professional development, education and leadership programming that promotes women’s advancement. OIWC is the trusted resource for best practices and industry models around gender equity, respect and inclusion and is the only national organization dedicated to workplace equity, diversity and inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in the Outdoor, Snow, Bike and Run industries. To learn more about corporate or individual membership, visit www.oiwc.org.
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Late yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 17/03/2020) saw our prime minister Boris give his second address to the nation live on TV. The focus was on financial measures to support the economy, including supporting individuals, families and businesses.
Less than one week since the budget, the government reiterated its message that it stands behind businesses and will do whatever it takes to support businesses and individuals to keep them afloat during these troubled times, pledging £330bn in funding.
With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, and with the impact of Government advice issued on Monday already being felt within the economy, including temporary layoffs and some well-known high street retailers filing for administration, the Government acknowledge that they must respond with a matter of urgency.
Within the rescue package available to businesses Rishi Sunak pledged that from Monday of next week any business that needs access to cash would be able to apply for a government backed loan under attractive terms.
SME’s will be able to apply for a loan of up to £5m through the new business interruption loan scheme with no interest payable for the first six months.
Businesses within retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, irrespective of their ratable value will pay no business rates this year. Within these sectors, businesses with a ratable value of less than £51k will also be able to apply for an additional cash grant of up to £25k per business.
To support cash flow, small businesses can apply for a grant of up to £10k.
For individuals in financial difficulty due to the coronavirus, mortgage lenders will be offering a three month payment holiday. Following this announcement there has been an outcry that it should also include a payment holiday for people in the rental market.
In addition, SSP will be paid from day 1 of any sickness absence relating to coronavirus. This will be formally approved within the bill being passed by parliament on Thursday of this week.
The chancellor outlined he is currently in talks with trade unions and business groups and will do everything he can to keep people healthy and financially secure. It is expected that further announcements will be made in the coming days outlining the government’s next steps.


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BRADENTON -- A Bradenton woman who invented and sewed custom patient scrubs for her husband during his seven-month stay in Manatee Memorial Hospital is about to sell commercial versions of her invention to a wider market.
Nancy Hart, a 20-year Manatee County resident, recently worked out a manufacturing partnership between her company, Patient Scrubs, and North Carolina-based medical textiles manufacturer Hinson & Hale Medical Technologies.
A new generation of the scrubs, which are designed to fully cover patients while allowing convenient access for medical staff and devices, goes on sale this month.
Having a manufacturer based in the United States will make it easier to get Patient Scrubs to market, Hart says. Orders will have a lead time of just a few days. Previously, the garments were made in India. The manufacturer there took up to five months to deliver.
Hart said she prefers to have her product made in the U.S. because it helps boost the textile industry.
"We need to give people here jobs," she said.
Hart characterizes the past 11 years as a development period for her scrubs. She designed her first set of scrubs to spare her husband, Robert, the embarrassment of wearing an open-backed patient gown during a months-long hospital stay in 2003. She later wore them herself as a patient while being treated for breast cancer in 2009.
"I got tired of seeing people without their dignity," she said.
Similar in appearance to the scrubs hospital staff wear except that the bottoms come as shorts, Patient Scrubs are built with snap closures that allow access to any part of a patient's body. They can even be removed without having a patient stand.
Patient Scrubs first went on the market in 2008. Hart said she has sold several thousand sets since then, but she has yet to make direct sales to any Bradenton-area hospitals.
The newest designs come with ports that allow medical professionals to run medical telemetry equipment, heart monitors and drains through the garments. At the same time, the scrubs can be closed to the point where they can be worn comfortably outdoors, Hart said.
The scrubs will be made with Hinson & Hale's proprietary polyester fabric. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as surgical wrappers and towels, the fabric is marketed as being quick to dry and optimally washed in bleach. Previously, the scrubs were made from a cotton-polyester blend.
Under the partnership, Patient Scrubs will also market a line of scrubs for medical professionals. All the company's products will be available on the Patient Scrubs website, patientscrubs.com. Hunt will also market to hospitals for direct purchase.
Even with the switch to U.S. manufacturing, the prices of the scrubs will drop. Hart said some full sets of her company's scrubs will sell for "about half" of what she currently charges. A set of Patient Scrubs now runs about $52.
Patient Scrubs is a small company, funded by Hart and "a few shareholders." Hart runs the company between her homes in Bradenton and Johnson City, Tenn.
She said she will do her early marketing for the scrubs in Manatee County.
Glenn Clarke, president and chief executive officer of Hinson & Hale, said the partnership with Patient Scrubs gives both companies an opportunity to grow in a new market. While Hinson & Hale has manufactured operating room scrubs since 2005, Clarke said scrubs for patients puts his company into "a new side" of the market.
"I think we're both trying to grow our businesses," Clarke said.
In addition to making its products domestically, Hinson & Hale produces all its fabric and garment components in the United States. The 20-person workforce at the Wilkesboro, N.C. Hinson & Hale manufacturing plant will start making Patient Scrubs products next week.
Matt M. Johnson, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7027, or on Twitter @MattAtBradenton.


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The U.S. Postal Service is hemorrhaging money big time, and this week announced a plan to cut Saturday delivery to avoid potential insolvency. According to reports the postal service expects to stop delivering and collecting letters and other first-class mail on Saturdays beginning August 5th.
This massive change may have serious implications on legal notice statutes which rely on USPS mail delivery, and is particularly relevant to the lien and bond claim notices sent under state mechanics lien laws.
How The Postal Service’s Saturday Delivery Decision May Impact Your Mechanics Lien Rights
If you are a reader of this blog you know about preliminary notice requirements. To preserve your company’s right to file a mechanics lien or bond claim, a timely preliminary notice must be filed in most circumstances. These preliminary notices are almost exclusively delivered by U.S. Postal mail. It’s obvious that a change in how the USPS operates will have an impact on the sending and delivery of these notices.
The USPS has been enveloped with turmoil for quite some time now, and so this is not the first time we’ve written about these situations. An previous article relevant to this situation is “Preliminary Notice Deadlines May Be Impacted By Slower First Class Mail Delivery,” which was published last year when the organization announced that mail may take longer than usual in most cities.
Ending Saturday delivery presents an interesting problem for legal notice situations such as the requirement to send preliminary notices.
Preliminary notice statutes consider compliance effective at either the time a notice is placed into the mail or the time when the notice is received. In either case, removing Saturday delivery and collection is going to impact the amount of time you have to get these notices processed.
In those states where compliance is effective at the time a notice is placed into the mail, the inability to mail these notices on a Saturday means that your preliminary notice period may be cut by two days (Saturday & Sunday) instead of just the standard one-day. Three-day weekends will cut into your notice period by three days.
In those states where compliance is effective at the time of receipt, the removal of Saturday delivery means your delivery date could be pushed back an extra day.
While seemingly insignificant, this single day can make a big difference – especially when a notice statute requires notice within just 8 days (like Oregon) or 10 days (like Louisiana).


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"It's got a part-time CEO. I could swing that," the "Mad Money" host said.
On the surface, Cramer found a lot to like about Twitter when it reported. The one line in the release that destroyed everything for him was "revenue came in at the low end of our guidance because brand marketers did not increase spending as quickly as expected in the first quarter."
Cramer now considers Twitter to be a serial over-promise-and-under-deliver company in a market that is unforgiving. Therefore, Cramer found Twitter impossible to value, because investors now want to pay less for a company that can't do what it promises.
"I think Twitter is worth $3 or $4 less than where it is currently trading, and at that level it might get interesting on a takeover basis," Cramer
Read more from Mad Money with Jim Cramer
What would Cramer do to fix the company if he took over as CEO?
He would first go to California Institute of Technology, M.I.T and Stanford and hire three top computer scientists from each. Then he would have them sit down with various senior citizens who are inexperienced with social media and see what problems they have using it.
Cramer thinks if Twitter can solve problems for them, it can solve problems for everyone. Both the advertisers and users will then follow.
"Memo to Twitter — you know I am right. Just go do it. And stop claiming what a great value proposition you are for advertisers; simply give us some real examples of companies that love your platform and have made money by advertising on it," Cramer said.


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The social network introduces a function that allows users to see less of their former romantic partner, instead of unfriending them.
A pair of "backyard" astrophotographers have collaborated to produce a stunning image of our nearest galactic neighbour.
Dictionary.com says Ebola outbreaks, privacy concerns and horrific acts of violence influenced its decision to make "Exposure" the Word of the Year.
Join CNET for live coverage of HTC's event on Wednesday at 1 p.m. PT. Our live blog will bring you updates, photos and running commentary.
Learn how to set up your kit just right and use slow shutter speeds to take surreal long-exposure photographs.
With roughly 17,000 visitors paying to attend the island state's recent GameStart Asia gaming expo, the future of gaming in the region looks set to soar.
A drug tested on mice as a potential preventative against Alzheimer's disease had a range of unexpected anti-ageing effects.
Breaking up is hard to do, but Facebook wants to help. Bridget Carey offers other ways to ease the pain, including Adele's latest album, which could make history with CD shipments. What year is it?
Co-founder and former CEO of Kakao, developer of South Korea's most popular messenging app, will be leaving the company on Saturday.
With tech called quantum dots, InVisage promises to surpass the limits of today's image sensors and vastly improve digital photos and videos. The first devices with its technology should arrive in early 2016.


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People are spending more time on YouTube and that means ad buyers are spending more cash to reach them. It also just so happens that a growing number of viewers are paying to avoid those commercials and even to watch non-YouTube programming. That's the picture parent company Alphabet is painting with its fourth-quarter earnings report.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, told investors on the scheduled conference call that the company has decided to disclose certain data points for the first time. When it comes to YouTube, we're learning that YouTube Music and YouTube Premium have garnered a combined base of over 20 million subscribers while YouTube TV now has a total of 2 million customers.
YouTube Music and YouTube Premium both offer ad-free listening and viewing experiences along with extra features such as background play and video downloads. These programs began under the name of YouTube Music Key in 2014. In the past year, the company has been able to push these services into more regions with almost 50 new markets in the past year. It also opened up lower-cost options to some of those markets such as student pricing and prepaid memberships.
On the other hand, YouTube's over-the-top TV service has had to compete in a crowded U.S. market since it debuted in 2017. It slowly added regional and national channels to its skinny roster, suffered outages early on, and has had to hike subscription prices twice. By the end of its first 7 months, YouTube TV reportedly had just 300,000 subscribers. Google has been directing efforts towards marketing and partnering with ISPs to offer YouTube TV in promotional bundles.
Whether or not either program is making good money, YouTube is still growing ad revenue — up 26% year-on-year to $15 billion for the whole year.
- YouTube (27:47)


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A do-it-yourself house humidifier is being marketed nationally by Comfort Enterprises of Leola, Pa., a division of the 30-year-old Herrmidifier Co. Inc. in Lancaster, Pa.
Called Good-Bye-Dry, the product is designed to be installed into any forced warm air heating system. It is being sold for about $69.95, according to executive vice president Roger Dickinson. Outlets include home centers, hardware stores and other related businesses catering to homeowner needs.
Dickinson said that new install-it-yourself humidifier is different from other Herrmidifier models because its plumbing connections are made in the factory. He said that the buyer does have to attach one self-piercing valve to any water pipe and also cut a hole in the heating system's hot air ductwork, onto which the humidifier is placed. He said that reports from buyers on warranty cards indicate that they were able to install their humidifers in about an hour.
Dickinson said that a federal study showed recently that homes with humidification systems experience energy use savings of 5 to 15 percent when compared with homes without humidification.
Dickinson's pamplet on humidity and central home humidifiers is available by sending a stamped, self-addressed envolpe to Roger Dickinson, Comfort Enterprises, Box 323, Leola, Pa. 17540.
Dickinson is one of the seven men who bought the Herrmidifier company three years ago from founder Paul Herr.


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Last year, Superstar and X-Factor abilities were added to the Madden franchise. These new abilities, when equipped to a player, gave a special in-game boost to a specific player when a certain objective was met. Both are returning to Madden 21, including Madden Ultimate Team, but the amount of abilities you can active during a game has changed. That’s thanks to a new mechanic that has been added to MUT, entitled Ability Caps.
In a Madden 21 Gridiron Notes article on August 18, the Madden development team discussed this new feature. Simply put, Ability Caps are the caps, or the limits, that will decide how many active abilities you can have during a game. Last year, in Madden 20, MUT players could choose three players on offense and defense (six total) that could have an ability active.
This year, there will be a 10 point Ability Point (AP) limit at the start of the year. The Madden devs stated that there will be times during Madden 21’s life cycle where the AP limit will increase. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that each ability’s AP cost will differ based upon the player archetype. For example, the Hot Route Master ability will cost 2 AP for a Field General QB, but 4 AP for a Scrambling QB.
As far as X-Factors go, the standard from last year will remain the same. Players will still be able to have three X-Factor players on offense and defense (six total). However, there will be no AP cost for default X-Factor abilities. If new X-Factor variations are released, though, with different triggers and/or knockdowns, those new modified abilities may come with an AP cost.
Lastly, the Madden devs noted that each card will have a maximum of five abilities active during a game. The number of abilities that a card can have active will depend on this tier list:
- 80 OVR: Tier 1 Ability Slot
- 85 OVR: Tier 2 Ability Slot
- 90 OVR: Tier 3 Ability Slot
- 98 OVR: Tier 3 Ability Slot
- 99 OVR: Tier 3 Ability Slot


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Danone’s Dumex brand is “extremely shocked" by allegations on Chinese state television that it bribed hospital staff to give its milk powder to new-born babies and will investigate immediately, the French food group said.
China Central Television (CCTV) earlier cited an unidentified former Dumex sales manager as saying the company had paid medical staff at a city hospital in Tianjin to promote its products.
Chinese authorities have been cracking down on graft in various industries, notably the pharmaceutical sector.
They imposed a record fine in August on a number of local and foreign-owned milk powder firms, including Danone, for price fixing.
CCTV cited the former sales manager said that every year the brand would give several hundred thousand yuan in “gifts” to the hospital.
“Dumex China pays great attention to and is extremely shocked by the CCTV report... We will immediately launch an investigation,” Dumex said in a statement yesterday.
“Dumex Baby Food strictly adheres to Chinese laws and regulations.”
Danone said in July it was co-operating with China's top planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission, and it had reduced the sales prices of its main products by between 5 percent and 20 percent.
Corruption in China’s healthcare industry is widespread, fuelled in part by low base salaries for doctors at the country’s 13 500 public hospitals. – Reuters


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Few companies have had as much trouble going from privately-owned to publicly-traded as WeWork has faced in recent weeks. After Adam Neumann, the co-founder and CEO of WeWork, stepped down from his position in the company on Tuesday citing increased pressure and stress over the failed IPO, tales of the company’s troubles have only expanded. Viral tweets showing major changes and cutbacks on member perks are circulating social media while the company rapidly liquidates many of its assets and cuts employees that worked closely with Neumann in hopes of one day filing its initial public offering once again.
The company first announced its $47 billion valuation back in January, but that quickly plummeted over the course of the following 9 months as the company approached the public sphere. By September, that valuation was hardly at $20 billion, with some media outlets claiming that the company is only valued at around $10 billion, according to Forbes. SoftBank, the company’s largest investor, holds around 29% of its total shares. Many investors worry that the company’s spending habits put a major risk in its potential to see success as a public company. Neumann, who helped turn the co-working chain into one of the biggest of its kind in the entire world, was at the heart of those spending concerns before stepping down.
It comes as no surprise that WeWork is scrambling to distance itself and and its reputation from Neumann’s reign as CEO. Hours after it was announced that Neumann would be stepping down, effective immediately, The Information revealed that the company has put three of its other businesses up for sale to liquidate assets. The move aims to help the company raise funds quickly, while cutting its costs and diminishing its overall responsibility in order to focus on the success of its biggest company, WeWork. Managed By Q, Meetup, and Conductor have all been put up for sale this week, showing that WeWork’s new co-CEO’s—Artie Minson and Sebastian Gunningham—are serious about shaping up the company’s reputation and valuation.
Bye Bye Private Jet
Neumann’s private Gulfstream G650 that WeWork purchased for $60 million in 2018, and was used regularly by Neumann and his family as a personal plane, is among the other assets being sold off by the new CEO’s. The private jet played a major role in the increasing distrust from investors, as it reflected Neumann’s questionable spending habits with company money. According to Business Insider, many within the company grew frustrated over the company’s outlandish spending on frivolous luxuries while salaries remained the same and spending budgets were cut.
Other reports claim that the company is looking to layoff as many as 5,000 employees to further cut costs. That amount would total about a third of its workforce, raising questions of whether or not the company could survive that big of a change. This is less than surprising, considering WeWork is a company founded on the idea that one should “make a life, not just a living,” as its Instagram bio reads. But while the company was busy expanding its locations rapidly, enticing potential new customers with lavish parties and member perks that were, largely, unnecessary, it was burning cash faster than it could earn it.
Could The Company Have Expanded Too Quickly?
While the company was boasting about having opened over 500 locations around the world in just a decade, its employees and members were taking to Twitter to talk about its misgivings. The Financial Times reported that the company is having to cut back on its new locations, halting lease agreements to slow its rapid spending. Members have, most recently, been discussing the fact that the free, self-serve snack bar has been abruptly shut down, raising red flags over the company’s future. This proves that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Upon touring a brand new WeWork location in Salt Lake City earlier this year—which, at the time, did not even have its walls constructed—I was asked how quickly I could sign up for a membership before being sent to the tour’s official after party. The latter of which was held at the Energy Solutions Arena across the street, where the Utah Jazz play. The party was WeWork’s way of enticing new members with flashy perks. Guests had the opportunity to snag some free WeWork swag, get dinner in the private, underground VIP room, and shoot hoops at the stadium that the company rented out for the event during a playoff game, which was screened on the jumbo-tron. I invited two friends and told the representatives that they were colleagues of mine.
In the new WeWork office, however, guests were asked to “visualize” what the open-air office space would eventually look like. We were shuffled through the empty warehouse space (which did have good lighting, I will admit), asked to step over exposed electrical wires, and told that prices start at just $300/month for a “first come first serve” seat at a kitchen counter—all while wearing the hard hat that was required for entry. Employees giving the tour seemed unaware that the building even had a parking garage, asking guests what competing office spaces in the area charged for the same type of service.
My male partner, who simply came along for the ride, was approached with enthusiasm as a prospective member that was there with his girlfriend—but the fresh-out-of-college salesmen were surprised to find that I was the one inquiring about the new office space instead. When I said I would have to consider the membership and get back to them, I was offered a discounted rate at the company’s second Salt Lake location that would begin construction later in the year—located just a block away from this one.


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Sponsored by Everlytic Everlytic recently opened submissions to the first-ever You Mailed It Email Awards – an opportunity for South African marketers to showcase…
The eCommerce MoneyAfrica Plenary session commenced yesterday with many insightful talks on ecommerce and fintech. Google SA’s country director, Luke McKend, and principal analyst at Forrester, James McCormick, spoke on the importance of mobile systems and digital intelligence for SMEs and corporates.
“It’s about the process, it’s about making sure your businesses can speak to each other, it’s about making sure you have the logistics right. All the big hard stuff, it’s about getting that right,” said McKend.
He further stretched his point by explaining the importance of the relationship between mobile and financial systems.
“I’m doing all these different things with my phone. There are all these apps[…] if you think about how you transact with financial services, of the top ten sites in SA, four are banks. That just speaks to how comfortable South Africans have become with using their phones and being online.”
Mckend also commented on the many smartphone users in our country, citing that there are more than 22-million users and that it’ll increase by 20% this year alone.
He also touched on the importance of mobile and IoT.
“How are we as businesses understanding our customers in the new world of mobile, IoT, and these different types of digital touchpoints we’re going to have in the world not too long from now? These things I’ll say are kind of threats and opportunities that’ll be a reality by 2020.”
These increasing values can open up many more doors for SMEs and innovation, they could serve as incredible opportunities especially for those looking to get into the mobile space. This potential grows ever larger as McKend stated that by 2020 there will be an estimated 35-million smartphone users.
SMEs can innovate more by utilising mobile and digital intelligence
If startups could harness the potential of mobile and incorporate that with innovative search traffic methods, their brands and products will gain more exposure.
“Search traffic has grown from 2014 to 2016 by 25% in the e-commerce space, we’re looking at sub-level searches that really describe what people want to buy,” said McKend. “From 2012 I think to 2014 it had grown by 37%, in Nigeria what’s interesting is that it’s actually accelerated[…] 49% year-on-year,” McKend continued.
Once you’ve understood the systems your customers are operating on it makes it easier for you to innovate and give them a tailored experience.
McCormick used an analogy of a university looking to build a pathway to express his point.
A university chancellor wanted to build a pathway for his students but the builder had no way of knowing where to build. The Chancellor said to wait a semester and mark the worn grass which students use to get to class. That’s where the path will be built.
“That’s where experience and insights meet. It’s about listening to the customer and learning from our customer and then innovating,” said McCormick.
“If your CEO is not worried about digital intelligence or being insights driven, then perhaps they need to be educated or you need to change it. I know it’s slightly controversial but that’s where we need to get to,” he said.
So how then does one become good at digital intelligence?
“To be good at this we need to be combining our systems of insight, our systems of understanding our customers and our business or our systems of engagement[…]” McCormick concluded.


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- Klarna research reveals that a third of UK adults (32%) feel too uncomfortable to talk about money with peers, despite 44% worrying regularly about money
- A fifth (21%) have never discussed personal finances with friends or family, with 34% feeling too awkward to bring up the topic
- New data from Klarna coincides with the digital launch of its taboo-breaking and fun Money Talks card game after 16,000 people registered for the original card game
- Accessible to everyone, the game combines questions around money habits with a fun twist to help break the stigma around money
London, 17th February 2022: Klarna, the leading global banking, payments and shopping service that helps consumers save time, money, make informed decisions and manage their cashflow, has today launched the digital version of its successful Money Talks card game to help break down the barriers around money discussions.
New research from Klarna, coinciding with the digital launch of the conversation-starting Money Talks game, highlights the stark number of UK adults avoiding talking about money. It found that over a fifth of adults (21%) have never discussed money with a friend or family member and it doesn’t get any easier as people get older either, with 27% of over 55s admitting to have never discussed money issues with those closest to them.
The research further reveals the top five barriers to discussing personal finances with family and friends. Awkwardness tops the list (34%), closely followed by feeling discussing money would be an invasion of privacy (30%). Other barriers to financial discussion include the potential for making the other person feel uncomfortable (26%), potential for judgment from others (26%) and the pressures of comparing against peers (19%). Only by opening up the conversation in a comfortable and enjoyable environment, can these barriers be broken.
Informed by the Social Vulnerability Scale, which is proven to foster closeness in conversation through mutual vulnerability, Klarna’s Money Talks digital card game seeks to unlock open and honest financial discussions between players in a positive and fun way. With data showing that over two in five of UK adults (44%) worry regularly about money, the game aims to create an inclusive environment to discuss personal finances. Reflecting the Scale, the game comprises three levels and a wildcard round, with each level touching on a different theme including relationships, personal habits, mindsets and financial basics and is accessible to everyone.
Alex Marsh, Head of Klarna UK said: “As the old adage goes: ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’, but too often there are barriers in the way preventing people from discussing financial matters with family and friends. As humans, we’re inclined to bottle up our financial fears for a number of reasons and this new data offers a snapshot of why that is.
Klarna is committed to educating our users about responsible spending and encouraging financial wellness. Following the positive feedback from consumers around the Money Talks card game last year, we wanted to ensure as many people as possible could get their hands on the game so we have now created a digital version in order to spark conversation about money. By launching this digital version of the game, we hope to reach a wider audience and generate greater awareness around the importance of discussing financial matters.``
The digital version of the Money Talks game can be accessed online at www.klarnamoneytalks.com.
Note to Editors:
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2055 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20th - 21st January 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
We make shopping smooth. With Klarna consumers can buy now and pay later, so they can get what they love today. Klarna’s offering to consumers and retailers include payments, social shopping, and personal finances. Over 250,000 retail partners, including H&M, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and AliExpress have enabled Klarna’s innovative shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna is one of the most highly valued private fintechs globally with a valuation of $45.6 billion. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 5,000 employees and is active in 20 countries. For more information, visit klarna.com.
Klarna has been backed by Sequoia Capital since 2010 and more recently, Dragoneer, Bestseller Group, Permira, Visa, Atomico, Ant Group and Silver Lake, HMI Capital, TCV, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Merian Chrysalis Investment Company Limited, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock amongst others.


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A growing number of socially conscious people are becoming more aware of the impact factory farming is having on animals, humans & the environment. Documentaries such as “What the Health”, “Earthlings” and “Food INC” shed light on the factory farming industry. While “What the Health” focuses more on the impact that eating meat, eggs and dairy has on overall health & the way that adopting a vegan diet can not only heal, but reverse many chronic ailments, “Earthlings” and “Food INC” focus on the cruelty of factory farming, and how the demand for animal meat and byproducts has created far crueler farming methods to accommodate a massive demand by an ever-increasing population. For someone who is an inherent animal lover, there can be no “humane” method of killing an animal.
Thanks to social media, there is an increasing trend towards animal activism and Veganism. Animal activists and organizations such as PETA are sharing behind the scenes footage from factory farms and slaughterhouses and are exposing this cruel industry. One such activist is James Aspey, an Australian, who has made it his sole mission in life to spread the word of love and compassion towards every animal and to expose the dairy and meat industries for their cruelty to animals & impact on human health and the environment. He continues to travel around the world to educate and spread his message. James took a 1-year vow of silence, cycled 5000km, got tattooed for 25 hours and has given 150 speeches – all in aid of animals.
Veganism has become a healthy lifestyle choice. In the modern world, farm animals are pumped full of unhealthy hormones, overbred and subjected to extreme abuse. They have merely become a human commodity, rather than sentient beings who feel pain and emotion. We have lost touch with our connection to the land and animals.
According to Ecowatch.com – A growing number of organic consumers, natural health advocates, and climate hawks are taking a more comprehensive look at the fundamental causes of global warming. And its led them to this sobering conclusion: our modern energy, chemical and genetically modified organism (GMO) intensive industrial food and farming systems are the major cause of man-made global warming. We need to address the environmental impact of factory farming.
Veganism helps sustain the planet. Our natural resources are diminishing at a rapid pace – the ocean, the ozone, our rainforests and our water supply. Humans are dying every day of chronic diseases and most can be prevented by adopting a vegan diet, meditating and cutting out stress.


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We never wrote that 80nm GPU would be scrapped, but we did state that it would be quickly surplanted by a 65nm part.
Now it seems our old chum Fudzilla has been converted to our point of view and we can now finally go out and say what 65nm R600 is and what will happen with this chip.
In short, AMD's CPU manufacturing strategy will be introduced to the world of GPUs. This should result in more affordable and better performing parts. Even though AMD is not using its own manufacturing facilities or facilities that use AMD's own procedure called APM, some elements of it will be used to get flexible manufacturing with GPUs as well.
First, R600 is going to be more affordable than any GPU part after Radeon 9700Pro and 9800Pro. AMD wants to undercut current high-end price bracket by $100-150, so expect an 8800GTX performing part for the price of 8800GTS. This is not all.
The company is getting the 65nm part on line as soon as possible, as this will enable savings in power well within the 60-100 Watt range, depending on what part are we talking about.
As we already wrote months ago, AMD developed four completely different PCBs and the company wants to cover every possible demand from its partners. We have talked with mid- and high-ranked executives and they told us that AMD plans to bring its customer centric mantra to every aspect of business.
This also means redefining the way graphics and chipset wars are fought. And we have to say that we cannot wait to see the slaughter-fest between AMD, Intel, and Nvidia in 2009. Somehow, we feel that AMD is the best-positioned company, especially if the flexibility that we were told about actually ends up implemented across the board.
If 65nm high-end GPUs end up on boards for $300, $350, to $400 a new era will begin indeed. Some of our AMD sources claim that most price brackets are achievable, the only real limit is yield. If AMD gets great yields from the 65nm R650, company will ship not hundreds of thousands of high-end chips, but rather millions and millions of these chips, bringing prices down and redefining its GPU sales profile. µ
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It becomes Mindshift Capital’s ninth investment from its inaugural fund, which spans across the U.S., Middle East, and Asia.
Dubai-based venture capital (VC) firm Mindshift Capital has pumped an undisclosed sum into the U.S. live-streaming workout platform, FORTË.
Led by an all-female team of investment advisors, Mindshift Capital focuses on post-seed, early-stage companies with a goal of bridging the funding gap for female entrepreneurs in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.
The latest move becomes Mindshift Capital’s ninth investment from its inaugural fund which spans across the U.S., the Middle East, and Asia. The addition of FORTË exhibits further growth for the firm’s first fund in securing investments in international companies, and demonstrates the collaborative and far-reaching scope of the VC firm’s team.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, many brick and mortar gyms were hit hard, forced to close the physical shutters and go online, perhaps permanently. Before the outbreak, the online fitness market was already valued in excess of $5 billion and has seen exponential growth over the last year in terms of downloads, availability, and revenue. Integral to this growth are tech enablers like FORTË who provide a turnkey solution for live streaming.
A technology and subscription-based platform, FORTË, founded in 2015 by Lauren Foundos, works to digitise the experience of gyms and boutique fitness studios by offering live and on-demand virtual sessions led by leading fitness experts. It installs hardware and software into workout studios, so all classes can be livestreamed on the platform, currently available across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. With a portfolio boasting clients like YMCA, UFC, NFL, Goodlife Fitness, Heartcore, and Under Armour, the platform has made impressive gains in the fitness world.
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Campos Coffee will commemorate its 20th anniversary on 1 July. To celebrate, the company is hosting a birthday bash at its flagship café in Newtown on 2 July.
The annual coffee movement CafeSmart, under the umbrella of StreetSmart, will take place from 1 to 7 August, uniting roasters, cafés, and coffee lovers to help fight homelessness and support those at risk in their local area.
United Supplies has launched an End of Financial Year Sale for its espresso machine equipment and grinders.
Paradox Coffee Roasters has launched an End of Financial Year Sale for its coffee products.
Carmen Clemente of Italy has been crowned the 2022 World Latte Art Champion at the World Coffee Championships, which took place from 23 to 25 June in Milan.
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has announced 10 Best New Product Award winners at World of Coffee 2022 in Milan, Italy.
Luna An of Ona Coffee has won Veneziano Coffee Roasters’ inaugural Barista Battle competition. Lucy Lee of Little Nooky come second and independent barista James Kim placed third.
Barista Attitude is presenting its new Tempesta espresso machine at World of Coffee (WoC) in Milan from 23 to 25 June.
Victor Vu of Ona Coffee has made it through to the Semi Finals of the World Latte Art Championships at World of Coffee in Milan.


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Today, San Francisco-based tech and logistics company Yerdle announced the closing of a $20 million Series C investment round with participation from Three Cairns Group, Commerce Ventures, DGNL and other existing investors.
Andy Ruben, founder of Yerdle, told WWD the company has raised money to “further establish branded resale as a category for brands and retailers looking to capture their fair share of massive customer shift,” meaning hiring is a priority, specifically for its engineering and warehouse operations.
At a time when marketplaces can’t be beat, retailers have joined them — as is the case with J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus and Macy’s, among others, linking with resale marketplaces.
“Third-party marketplaces are winning because the customer is asking for it. When brands are doing this — they will win,” reiterated Ruben, crediting how the apparel resale market is projected to exceed $40 billion by 2022, according to a recent equity report from Wells Fargo.
Considered a pioneer in the scalable business-to-business resale solutions space, Yerdle powers the resale platforms of Arc’Teryx, Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, Taylor Stitch and REI and will continue to target new growth in the luxury, contemporary fashion and outdoor apparel markets with the funds raised.
As for the next few months, Ruben said Yerdle is focused on “storytelling,” providing customers with not only validity (knowing they purchased goods approved by the brand) but the fuller scope of ownership during their purchase experience.
Ruben, in a way, shakes his head in disbelief over the perceived opportunity for fashion brands, still largely untapped. And looking ahead, Ruben believes, “In 2029, we’ll be having the same conversation about supply.”
When players across the industry are invested in the resale market, the competition will be more readily differentiated by take-back programs, item credits and other incentive-based loyalty programs — to get goods back from the customers.
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Donna debuts in Bed Bath & Beyond
April 4, 2008,
New York – Donna Karan Home has expanded its distribution to Bed Bath & Beyond with a DKNY assortment that currently includes a solid color quilted coverlet set, a towel and rug duo, and three duvet styles with coordinating sheet sets.
Discussing the new distribution channel for the designer, which is being sold in Bed Bath & Beyond under the DKNY brand, Patsy Pollack, president of Donna Karan Home told HTT, “Our customers understand how narrowly distributed the brand is, and they are fully aware that DKNY has expanded its distribution.”
Currently on the Bed Bath floor as seen in the Upper East Side Manhattan store are DKNY Chrysanthemum quilts and coordinates, the Urban Pique towel and StepOut bath rug and three fashion beds.
The change in distribution is part of the previously announced repositioning of the DKNY program, Pollack explained, to embrace not just distribution but a design approach that is younger, fresher and more modern, as well as lower pricing and streamlined putups.
Regarding pricing, Pollack explained, “We are a MSRP [manufacturer’s suggest retail price] business and this has not changed. We are a high/low business and we don’t control when retailers can be on sale or not on sale.”
Corporately, Donna Karan is developing another brand, DKNYC, on the apparel side of the business that reportedly will be exclusive to Macy’s. “It is not on the drawing board for home,” said Pollack, “but it may be.”
In home, Donna Karan New York includes Collection which is fashion-driven, and the solid color Essentials line. Pure DKNY is a separate program not sold outside Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s, Pollack added.
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John Griffiths from property consultants GBR Phoenix Beard, chairman of BOMF
, said it was encouraging.
BOMF predicts that the shortage will be triggered by a number of coinciding lease expiries and break events, leaving exceedingly limited capacity for those businesses looking to move in 2014-16.
This lead-in will have a definite impact on the immediate decision-making process for major occupiers, according to BOMF.
The launch event at Opus also saw Drivers Jonas Deloitte's Philippa Pickavance hand over the chairmanship of BOMF
to Jones Lang Lasalle's Jan Thompson who paid tribute to his predecessor for steering the group through the challenging economic period.
What's even more impressive, however, is that over the last 12 months transactions have breached the 1 million sq ft mark for the first time since the BOMF
stats have been produced (2007).


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Software giant Microsoft joins Apple, as it cross the $2 trillion threshold to become only the second company to reach that milestone
Microsoft has become only the third company in the world to be valued at $2 trillion (£1.43 trillion), after a share rise on Wednesday pushed it over the two trillion dollar mark.
The first company to ever reach the $2 trillion level was state-backed Saudi Aramco when it listed its shares in December 2019. That said, its market valuation has now slipped back down to $1.88 trillion.
Then in August 2020 Apple became the first American company to cross the $2 trillion threshold, and actually stay there. Apple’s market capitalisation as of Wednesday morning is $2.23 trillion.
Microsoft has now joined the $2 trillion club, during trading on Tuesday. Its stock on Tuesday climbed 1.1 percent to $265.51.
This means that only two US-based firms, who are technology giants, now occupy the $2 trillion zone.
Microsoft had reached a market valuation of $1 trillion two years ago, back in April 2019.
Since then Microsoft’s value has steadily increased, after quarterly sales rose 19 percent to $41.7 billion for the three months ended 31 March.
All of this has been good news for the wallet of CEO Satya Nadella.
In October 2019 for example, it was revealed that Nadella had netted a 65 percent pay rise, after he brought home nearly $43 million.
Nadella’s total compensation then rose 3 percent to $44.32 million during the company’s fiscal year 2020 that ended in June this year.
But it should be remembered that Apple and Microsoft may not be the only members of the exclusive $2 trillion club in the coming years.
Two other big name tech firms, namely Amazon and Google (Alphabet) are not far behind.
Amazon’s market cap hit $1.77 trillion on Tuesday, and Google parent Alphabet’s reached $1.67 trillion.


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Indian home textile company, Welspun has announced its third quarter results. During the quarter, total income of the company increased by 17.2 percent year-on-year to Rs. 16,574 million as against Rs. 14,143 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2018.
Wel-Trak products contributed 3 percent to revenues.
Notably, a patented, end-to-end traceability process called Wel-Trak is an industry-defining procedure which ensures that customers can trace the origin of the cotton raw materials all through the supply chain from farm to the retail shelf.
During the nine months ended December, capex was Rs. 5,634 million. For fiscal 2019, capex is expected to be Rs. 9 billion.
“We continue to maintain our focus on the domestic market and building a strong B2C presence. Our new initiatives such as flooring solutions, advanced textiles, e-commerce and hospitality are contributing towards sustainable growth. Branding, innovation and sustainability continue to be the cornerstones of our differentiation strategy,” BK Goenka, chairman, Welspun Group, said.
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Consumer comfort fell last week for the first time in more than a month, ending its best quarter since the last U.S. recession began almost seven years ago on a sour note.
The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index fell to 36.4 in the week ending June 29, after posting gains through most of last month, from 37.1 in the prior period. The gauge averaged 35.8 from April through June, the highest quarterly reading since the last three months of 2007.
With the number of Americans hitting the road for the Fourth of July holiday weekend projected to be the highest since 2007, elevated gasoline prices will probably continue to weigh on Americans’ moods. At the same time, the biggest employment gains in eight years will give households the wherewithal to boost spending, giving the economy a lift.
“The major risk to the improvement in consumer confidence at the point is rising food and gasoline prices,” said Joseph Brusuelas, a senior economist at Bloomberg LP in New York. “While the price of food is likely to continue rising, the major focal point with respect to near-term confidence and household consumption will be if the price of gasoline peaks the week of the July 4 holiday, as it traditionally does, or continues to rise due to geopolitical tensions in the middle east.”
Employment and housing figures have buoyed confidence. The Labor Department’s payrolls data today showed employment climbed by 288,000 in June, exceeding the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. The jobless rate unexpectedly dropped to 6.1 percent, the lowest in almost six years.
“While, the June jobs report is very encouraging, average hourly earnings remains flat at roughly 2 percent,” blunting some of the optimism, Brusuelas said.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed above 17,000 for the first time on the improving labor market. The Standard % Poor’s 500 Index climbed 0.3 percent to 1,980.81 at 9:40 a.m. in New York.
In the final week of the quarter, Americans were a little more downcast across the board. Each of the three components of the comfort index slipped. Americans’ view of the buying climate lost 1.7 points, dropping for the first time in five weeks to 31, while their assessment of personal finances decreased to 50.9 from 51.1.
The gauge for the state of the economy was little changed at 27.3, losing 0.1 points from the week before, which was the best reading since August.
The quarter ended on a high note for automakers. Sales of cars and light trucks climbed to a 16.9 million annualized rate last month, the most since July 2006, industry figures showed this week.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) surprised investors with a 1 percent sales gain from a year earlier after analysts projected a decrease. Demand at Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F), Chrysler Group LLC and Nissan Motor Co. (TYO:7201) also beat estimates.
Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Ford’s chief economist, is projecting sales will remain strong as the worst of the increase in fuel costs is probably over.
“The economy is improving, likely to be on pretty good footing over the course of the second half,” she said during a July 1 teleconference. The outlook “does look very promising.”
Last week’s comfort index positioned part-time worker confidence at its highest since March 2008. Full-timers lost a little ground for a second week after reaching a one-year high in mid-June.
Confidence among men climbed to an eight-week high, while women’s sentiment fell to a five-week low. Older Americans reported their best sentiment reading since mid-December, and the outlook of those earning between $15,000 and $25,000 rose to an eight-week high.
Since May, the Bloomberg Comfort Index has been presented on a scale of zero to 100 rather than the previous minus 100 to 100, with the midpoint shifting to 50 from zero. The change is also reflected in the gauge’s components. It doesn’t affect the measures’ relationship to each other or their correlation with other economic indicators. Historical data have been revised and analysis of trends, values and other variables also have not been affected.


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AOL Takes Fight Against Identity Theft to Court, Files Lawsuits Against Three Major Phishing Gangs
February 28, 2006, To help battle the rising tide of email phishing scams, devious email hoaxes, and complex identity theft on the Internet, AOL has filed three civil lawsuits against several major phishing gangs today, as part of AOL’s wide-ranging efforts to protect the email safety and security of AOL’s members.
The lawsuits are the first by a major ISP to cite Virginia’s first-in-the-nation anti-phishing statute, adopted in July 2005. The lawsuits also cite applicable Federal laws, including the Federal Lanham Act (trademark law), and the Federal Computer Fraud & Abuse Act (antispam). AOL is seeking total damage awards of $18 million.
AOL’s lawsuits allege that these phishing gangs – some believed to operate from abroad - victimized AOL and CompuServe members through emails that attempted to trick and lure them to fake Websites of legitimate online companies, for the purpose of fooling them into giving up their personal identifying information, such as AOL screen names, passwords, and credit card information.
“Phishing scams have grown more sophisticated and more dangerous to consumers,” said Curtis Lu, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. “At AOL, we are using every legal and technical means at our disposal to drive phishers from the AOL service, not only to protect our members, but to make the Internet a better, safer place for all consumers. The phishers targeted in our lawsuits spoof a variety of prominent internet brands, including AOL. We are going to continue to play our part in protecting the sanctity and integrity of the email experience of the web – and today’s actions are a part of our ongoing, successful, and comprehensive antispam and anti-identity theft work.”
The AOL Anti-Phishing Lawsuits
The three lawsuits, filed in Alexandria, Virginia’s U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, target aggressive and complex identity thieves who sent official-looking emails to AOL members in an attempt to trick and lure them to websites that mimicked the appearance and feel of official AOL or CompuServe websites. (See sample screen shots at links below.) Once directed to one of these fake websites, AOL and CompuServe members were encouraged to enter their screen names, passwords, billing and other financial information. These phishers could then use this information to traffic in stolen identities, to compromise credit cards and personal identities of innocent internet users – and then interfere with their online experience, and for some – to steal their identities and assets. According to the lawsuits, these phishing groups used vast resources and creativity to intricately design hundreds and hundreds of fake websites to mislead consumers. AOL has stored tens of thousands of examples of phish emails transmitted by these gangs.
The Serious and Ongoing Threat of Phishing
Phishing is a growing online threat as scammers adapt and refine their fraudulent efforts to trick consumers into giving up personal information. The IRS, for example, is warning of widespread phishing emails as tax filing deadlines near. The Anti-Phishing Working Group (www.apwg.org) found almost 50,000 phishing websites created last year – and more than 7,000 in December alone (see chart). A 2005 survey of personal computers by AOL and the National Cyber Security Alliance found that 1 of every 4 home computer users are hit by phishing attacks each month.
AOL: At the Forefront of Protecting Internet Users & Fighting Internet Miscreants
AOL has fought the scourge of spamming and phishing on a number of fronts – from lawsuits to advanced technology to certified mail programs. Every day, for example, AOL blocks an average 1.5 billion spam emails from reaching member inboxes, thereby catching most phishing emails. AOL also blocks 80% of all incoming email from the internet as spam at the gateway. Even with spam complaints down on the AOL service by more than 75% since its peak in late 2003, antispam filters blocked over 500 billion spam emails from reaching members in 2005, as announced in December. AOL has also launched a program that blocks delivery of emails with web links to known phishing sites. Web links in emails from unknown senders are disabled by default, to add another layer of protection for members. AOL also blocks access to known phishing sites for members who use either the AOL software or the AOL Explorer browser to access the Web. In Fall 2005, AOL announced partnerships with leading anti-phishing companies MarkMonitor and Cyveillance, and an expanded agreement with existing partner Cyota, to provide AOL members multiple layers of invisible protection against phishing attacks.
And, in October 2005, AOL and Yahoo! announced plans to implement a Goodmail Systems program known as ’CertifiedEmail’ to make it even more difficult for phishers and spammers to deceive consumers into believing their emails are legitimate.
* * Editor’s Note: Please find thumbnail sketches of the three lawsuits http://corp.aol.com/press/phish_summary.shtml; please find screenshots of some of the phishing attacks, scams, and hoaxes AOL is fighting against http://corp.aol.com/press/phish_screenshots.shtml; please find PDF copies of the three filed legal complaints http://corp.aol.com/press/phish_complaints.shtml; and please find a one page overview chart of AOL’s antiphishing activities to date http://corp.aol.com/press/phish_overview.shtml.
About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate a leading network of Web brands and the largest Internet access subscription service in the United States. Brands include the AOL® service, the AOL.com® website, and the AIM®, MapQuest®, Moviefone®, Netscape®, CompuServe® and ICQ® services. America Online offers a range of digital services including the TotalTalk® voice service. The company also has operations in Canada and Europe. America Online, Inc. is based in Dulles, Virginia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX)
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- AOL Corporate Communications
- America Online, Inc.
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How to protect yourself when shopping secondhand online
Think twice before handing over your hard-earned cash. Photo: Getty
If your budget is buckling under the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, shopping secondhand can help, especially when it comes to big-ticket household items such as fridges, couches and TVs.
In many ways, the internet has made perusing the secondhand market easier than ever, with platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree popular options.
But shopping for secondhand items online through largely community-run platforms comes with risks, so The New Daily went to the experts to find out more.
Why do people shop secondhand?
Macquarie University professor of consumer psychology and marketing Jana Bowden said consumer purchasing behaviour is rapidly changing as inflationary pressures inflate household bills and threaten job security.
Now many shoppers look to secondhand markets as the first port of call.
She said according to eBay, non-new sales categories are expected to boom from $575 billion to $750 billion globally in 2025.
This is 50 per cent faster than the rate of buying new products.
“Buying secondhand … gives consumers the option to keep shopping, without the guilt and bill shock that comes with buying products at full price,” Bowden said.
“But thrifting also offers entertainment and connection – many thrifters meet one another in the process of exchange, and that’s fulfilling in itself.”
What are the risks of online thrifting?
Facebook is the No.1 choice for thrifters, but a UK survey found one in six people had been scammed while using Facebook Marketplace, Bowden said.
Scamwatch data doesn’t show how much money is lost on specific platforms.
But the organisation found Australians reported losing $7.7 billion to classified scams last year, and a further $739,078 in January and February this year; most of these scams occurred through social networking.
Typical consumer protections don’t apply when you buy from a private seller, meaning buying secondhand via online marketplaces is usually a case of ‘buyer beware’.
“It can be a trap for naive first timers. The old adage applies – if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is,” Bowden said.
“So the best advice is to stop, think and protect.”
How do you minimise risks?
Queensland University of Technology consumer and retail expert Gary Mortimer said when perusing online secondhand marketplaces, try and look into the history of sellers.
This means seeing if they have good ratings from previous buyers, and possibly a history of selling similar products.
You should avoid providing your home address and credit card details, and always inspect items in person before handing over money.
“Always make sure that … you inspect the product, you test the product and then you exchange cash [or pay via online banking] there,” Mortimer said.
“For safety reasons, you might choose to bring a friend or family member with you.
“I’d also ask for a written receipt to make sure that you are actually taking title of those goods and that [the seller] sign that receipt to say the purchase has taken place.”
Mortimer said you should also be more cautious when it comes to buying electronics such as computers or smartphones in case they’re locked to a particular telco provider or represent a potential hazard.
He said consumer electronics should always be tested by a certified electrician before being plugging into your household system.
Liam Kennedy, content producer with consumer advocacy organisation Choice, recommended giving rechargeable battery-operated products such as a stick vacuums an “extended” test run.
“Their battery life can degrade over time … so if it runs on a rechargeable battery, give it a good go to make sure it doesn’t drain from 100 to empty really quickly,” he said.
When it comes to whitegoods such as fridges and washing machines, he said it’s important to check door seals are intact, and to plug in the devices to see if they make any unusual noises or movements.
Kennedy said before buying, you should also check to see if a product has been recalled; you can do so by visiting the Product Safety Australia website.


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Cyber Crime in the Shipping Industry – Update
A recent article in the shipping industry newspaper TradeWinds highlights the growing risk of cybercrime in the shipping industry. Firm principal J. Stephen Simms is quoted in the article and provides general advice to prevent becoming a victim of cybercrime. The full article is available on the Tradewinds website (subscription required).
A PDF version of the article can be downloaded here.


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Small businesses, via the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), have mounted a Supreme Court challenge against burdensome debit card interchange fees. The case, Corner Post Inc., v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, supported by an amicus brief filed by the NFIB, represents a significant step forward in addressing one of the most pressing issues faced by small businesses nationwide.
This legal challenge has its roots in a much broader issue: the ability of new businesses to contest challenging agency regulations, such as those governing debit card fees. According to the NFIB, multiple federal courts have misinterpreted the law in a way that prevents new businesses from challenging these burdensome regulations.
Card fees have long been a contentious issue for small businesses, often representing one of the largest operating costs. Beth Milito, Executive Director of NFIB’s Small Business Legal Center, emphasized the severity of this issue, stating: “Card fees are a significant financial burden for small businesses. These fees often represent one of the largest operating costs for small businesses.”
The case comes as a beacon of hope for many small businesses that have long been grappling with the financial strain imposed by high interchange fees. Milito further shared her optimism about the Supreme Court’s role in this case, stating, “We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will grant review and provide clarity for when new businesses can challenge harmful agency actions.”
The NFIB Small Business Legal Center, a robust advocate for the rights of small business owners, is currently involved in over 40 cases across federal and state courts in the U.S., including the Supreme Court. This active legal involvement marks a determined effort to protect and uphold the rights of small businesses across the nation.
This Supreme Court challenge serves as a critical reminder to small business owners about the significance of their collective voice in advocating for fairer business operating conditions. The outcome of this case could set a vital precedent for new businesses looking to challenge restrictive agency regulations in the future.
The challenge to debit card interchange fees further underscores the necessity for small businesses to stay informed about developments in the legal landscape. Understanding the potential implications of this case could guide small businesses in their future decision-making processes and help them navigate the often complex world of regulatory compliance.
This legal battle sends a clear message to small business owners nationwide: Burdensome regulations can and should be challenged. The voice of small businesses is powerful, and when unified, can effect real change in the business landscape. With the backing of organizations like the NFIB, small businesses are taking a stand, setting the stage for a more equitable and supportive business environment.
This article, “Small Businesses Rally Against Debit Card Interchange Fees” was first published on Small Business Trends


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These 5-star reviews speak for themselves.
Shopping for a swimsuit is difficult enough as it is – flimsy ties, saggy butts, monokinis in general – but add in a DD cup and it's freaking impossible. Before you spend hours in a cramped department store changing room, skim through this list, because I've already done the legwork (read: boob work) for you.
I tracked down the cutest suits what big-boobed people swear by. So if you've got a D cup, a G cup, or anything in between, keep on reading. Here are the best supportive swimsuits for big busts that look cute, too.
Tim: "Twitter users were quick to point out that Trump hasn’t been on a roll with his support lately. Last month, he attended a Washington Nationals game during the World Series only to see the home team lose. A last-minute rally for Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) last week fell short and he was apparently defeated by state Attorney General Andy Beshear. And on Saturday, Trump attended an Alabama football game ― and the home team lost." Further confirmation that Donald Trump is a living curse.