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The Costa Brava Girona Convention Bureau brought attention to the offer on the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees as an alternative business tourism destination to large European cities, at the Mood Serrano venue in Madrid.
Directors of organising agencies and representatives of companies and associations with head offices in Madrid interacted with the 20 representatives of accommodation, service companies and activity organisers from the Girona province, who specialise in business tourism and who participated at the event.
During the meeting, they took part in creative proposals with the main thread following a love story on the Costa Brava, showing different aspects of the destination’s MICE offer.
They enjoyed a sensorial experience through gastronomy, participating in a tapas workshop, they discovered the secrets of cocktails and tried out their artistic skills by writing the lyrics to a habanera and shooting a film.
During the cocktail-evening meal, attendants tasted diverse gastronomic proposals prepared using Girona Excel·lent products and served with DO Empordà wines.
The event was attended by Ramon Ramos, the general director of the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board, and by Domènec Espadalé, the president of the Girona Chamber of Commerce.
Afterwork Costa Brava was part of the Costa Brava Week organised by the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board, a set of meetings aimed at travel agents, digital influencers and journalists from Madrid and its catchment area.


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This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
A recently conducted market survey has revealed that Target Corp. is still struggling in order to win over Canadian shoppers regardless of the pompous launch of the U.S. discount retailer’s Canadian expansion in March. Target Corp. opened its stores in Canada this spring, broadening expectations of a new shopping experience. However, a new customer satisfaction survey discovered that Canadians are not very much impressed, highlighting that the store faces problems including shortage of inventory and poor relative pricing since the launch.
The survey conducted by Forum Research Inc. on Aug. 14 ranked Target as the least liked store among its competitors that constituted of 1,578 randomly surveyed Canadians aging 18 years and older. The survey showed that only 27% of Target customers were “very satisfied” with Target stores, while Costco Wholesale Corp. was ranked highest with 62% of respondents alleging to be very satisfied with their shopping experience at its outlets. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was ranked second, followed by Hudson’s Bay Co.
On the contrary, Target seems unmoved by the findings of the poll. A spokesperson for Target Corp. mentioned in an e-mail that “in terms of this particular survey, we are not surprised as our early research indicated that new entrants often have low customer satisfaction survey scores as they ramp up.” It was explained that “it is very early days still – we have only had stores open for about five months and in only five provinces- so we continue to fine tune and make enhancements.”

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Samsung may consider canceling the Galaxy S21 FE release. The company would have reported this to DDAIly. Samsung, among other things, had omitted the Unpacked event in October, where the smartphone will be presented.
“We have a Galaxy Unpacked offer for the Galaxy S21 FEwhich was scheduled to take place in mid-October, has been canceled,” a Samsung spokesperson reportedly said. Central South Korean DDAIly. “We are also reviewing the smartphone version itself.” With this, the company suggests that the smartphone may not come out at all.
DDaily writes that a global chip shortage, which means fewer high-end smartphone chipsets, is the main reason. According to previous rumors, the smartphone will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. The same soc is used in the recently released Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and some regional variants of the current Galaxy S21 devices. Samsung prefers to focus on those other devices, as DDaily reports that sales of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 are particularly good.
Samsung introduced the first FE smartphone last year, in its form Galaxy S20 FE. This smartphone was more expensive than the regular Galaxy S20 and also had Qualcomm Snapdragon soc in Europe. Other European S20 devices had an Exynos chip from Samsung itself.
Offers and possible specifications of the Galaxy S21 FE have already appeared. The smartphone has already appeared in Chinese testing agency Tenaaindicating that their release was imminent. Sources previously mentioned that the smartphone will be launched in August, but Samsung had previously postponed this release internally before the release itself was questioned.
Previously published offers of Samsung Galaxy S21 Fan Edition. photos by OnLeaks
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By John Eckstein, Astor Investment Management
Our proprietary Astor Economic Index® is still showing strong growth in the US economy. The index is currently in the middle of a fairly narrow range it has been in during 2018. The economy has thus far proved itself resilient to escalating trade tensions.
Various of the regional federal reserve banks produce nowcasting estimates as an exercise in real-time understanding of the economy. While the New York fed’s nowcasting estimate of 2.2% Q3 growth is only modestly above potential growth, both the Atlanta and St. Louis models are showing Q3 growth with between 4 – 4.5% annualized.
The labor market continues to impress with jobs added at a faster pace than is required to keep up with the natural growth of the labor force.
The good news has spread to fatter pay packets for workers in recent months. For example, the year over year change in average hourly earnings set a high for the recovery in September, catching up with another measure of wages from the from the National Compensation Survey. Of course, this is coming at a time when inflation has increased so not all of that is a real gain for workers. I would like to see wages further outstrip inflation to give the consumer some optimism.


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Tesla Gains on Report It’s Already Sold Out for the Quarter
(Bloomberg) -- Tesla Inc. shares rose in early trading after the blog Electrek reported production capacity for the second quarter is already sold out.
The electric-car maker has communicated the level of demand for its vehicles to employees, Electrek said, citing unnamed sources. The author of the post has disclosed in the past he is a Tesla shareholder. The stock pared a 2.9% gain to trade up 1.2% before the start of regular trading.
Tesla sold a record of almost 185,000 vehicles in the first three months of the year despite having issues rolling out new versions of the Model S and X. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has said he expects to start delivering S sedans with an updated interior, battery pack and drive units as soon as this month.
©2021 Bloomberg L.P.


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A group of volunteers, inspired by U.S.-based charity Enabling The Future, are extending a literal hand to children with missing limbs. Robotel (Robotic Hand) Association, founded by Zeynep Karagöz and her friends, design and print mechanical hands for them using 3D printers.
Karagöz, a graduate of the Department of Architecture at Istanbul’s Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, joined forces with two friends to use the new technology “to touch people’s lives.” She first printed a robotic hand in 2014 for 18-year-old Mehmet Ali Toprak, who lost four fingers in an accident while working for a printing company. When she saw a growing demand for robotic arms, she and others started Robotel in Istanbul in 2017.
“I found out about Enabling The Future in 2014. They were designing mechanical hands for children by tapping into 3D technology. It was custom-made and low cost. That was what I wanted to do here in Turkey,” she told Anadolu Agency (AA) Monday. When Karagöz and other volunteers published the process of fitting Toprak with a new hand, they saw a growing demand for the custom-made limbs. “The first request was from (central province of) Konya. The family of the amputee could not travel to Istanbul, and we could not go there either. Then, we decided to start a network of volunteers across the country, using social media. In time, we created a map of volunteers, and Robotel's network spread nationwide,” she said.
Yağmur Karaaslan, who was born with a deformed right hand, was the first child to receive a robotic hand in 2016. More artificial hands were produced as people found out about the charity. Robotel was awarded for its charity work in 2017 by Sabancı Foundation.
“Everyone can be a volunteer for our association, whether you are a designer or own a 3D printer or not. You can be a volunteer by simply informing others about what we do. It is a simple task. You can take the amputee’s measurements for a robotic hand and help him or her to fit it after it is printed,” Karagöz says.
Children born with organ deformities cannot have prosthetic limb implants until the age of 18 but robotic hands offer them an opportunity to help them carry out daily activities, like playing, riding a bicycle or eating. “Our printouts do not allow undertaking complicated tasks, but they can play ball, ride a bicycle and eat with them. It makes a big difference in their lives,” Karagöz says. The children also love the hands as they can choose the color or have their favorite characters printed on them. “We give them different hands with different themes like an Iron Man hand or hands in red or pink,” she said.
Though the production of hands has its limitations. Hands are unavailable for children under the age of 6 due to their limited motor skills, hence, proper use of limbs, even though it is mechanical, is difficult to develop. The hands come in two models: one is fitted to the wrist and the other to the elbow, on the existing joints of amputees. Printing a hand takes up to 27 hours. They are printed in parts and joined together by volunteers. The printed hands are occasionally replaced with new ones based on the child’s growth.


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On Thursday night, sitting courtside at the Toronto Raptors prank, Drake gave us a teaser look at the upcoming Nike NOCTA Zoom Flight 95.
Inspired by the nike air force 1 valentines day 2010 calendar 2017 – which returns this year, a basketball shoe made famous by Jason Kidd during the mid-1990s. Drake’s version features a Black and/or White higher with carbon fiber-inspired detailing on the each side. The new transcript nods to the Zoom Flight 95 with several circular cutouts along the White midsole. An irritable translucent outsole completes the disregarding.
Grab a better look over, and confront the gold huarache sneakers for sale to possibly release later this year. Stay tuned for updates.
Release Date: TBA
UPDATE 4/23: Drake secret a sanction colorway of his upcoming NOCTA Zoom Flight 95 in White. Stay tuned for more updates to come.
Photos: Nick DePaula


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Thanksgiving is next week, and I always look forward to spending the holiday with my family (especially now that I have grandchildren to spoil). I’m very thankful for my family and the joy they bring me.
Another thing I’m thankful for is the role North Carolina farmers play in putting food on our tables. Our state leads the country in the production of sweet potatoes, we are second in the production of hogs and turkeys, and third in cucumbers for pickling. We also rank high in the production of eggs, apples and pecans. (You can see the rankings here.)
When you sit down for your Thanksgiving meal, chances are pretty good that you’ll be enjoying some food produced right here in the state. Statistics say that one out of every seven turkeys cooked at Thanksgiving will come from North Carolina. We also supply enough pork products for one out of every four families in America, and one out of every 13 eggs comes from North Carolina.
As consumers, we all have a lot to be thankful for when it comes to our agricultural community. We are fortunate to live in an agriculture-rich state that produces so many different commodities. Our farmers also contribute mightily to our state’s $70 billion agribusiness industry, which plays a critical role in our state’s economy.
Gov. Bev Perdue has proclaimed today as “Thank a Farmer Day” in North Carolina. A great way to thank our farmers is to support them by shopping at farmers markets or looking for the Got to Be NC logo at your local grocery store. It’s something we should do not only during the holiday season, but year-round.
Here’s hoping you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!


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Catching Up With Matt Young
Just a few months ago, Electrolux Global Brand Licensing (EGBL) announced that it would be staking its claim in the U.S. licensing arena, with a focus on brand extensions. One of the most recent extensions involves the AEG brand and “green” products. Founded in Germany in 1883, AEG’s reputation spans a wide spectrum of products, from appliances to power tools to toys. Matt Young, head of EGBL, explains how three licensees are using the AEG brand name to bring high-quality, eco-friendly products to the U.S.


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People say that the holiday shopping season starts earlier every year. Retail brands on Facebook should take note.
New data from Facebook Strategic Preferred Marketing Developer Marin Software shows that while brands traditionally go heavy on advertising in December, the most ROI-friendly activity happens two weeks before Thanksgiving — when people click on more Facebook ads.
Marin Software published a report outlining best practices this holiday season for Facebook advertisers: budget around user behavior, start early and sequence ad messaging, target based on intent and making sure ad campaigns are mobile-ready.
Marin’s Director of Product Marketing, Dan Morris, talked with Inside Facebook about strategies for the holiday season:
Advertisers are betting big in December. They’re investing heavily in advertising mid-December through Christmas. However, Facebook consumers may not be using Facebook to interact with ads during that same time period. We made the joke internally that, go figure, maybe Facebook users, instead of clicking on ads, they want to be sitting down and talking with friends and family. Consumers are starting to begin their shopping earlier and earlier every year.
Here’s a look at ad spend charts on Facebook for the past two holiday seasons:
Marin’s data shows that brands have been buying Facebook ads when CTR has usually been the lowest. The study suggests that marketers start their holiday ad campaigns roughly two weeks before Thanksgiving with top-of-the-funnel holiday shopping messaging, bringing awareness to top products. Marin cited a study Google conducted, showing that 30 percent of consumers will start shopping before Halloween.
Brands should also go heavy on advertising right after New Year’s Day, Marin suggests, when consumers have gift cards and are looking to spend holiday cash.
By starting earlier than the competition, Marin suggests that brands can sequence their holiday ad messages to lead consumers down the funnel.
The study also pointed out the power of retargeting, noting that an average of 98 percent of shopping website traffic doesn’t convert on the first visit. Marin says that brands should use several targeting measures, such as search intent-based targeting, behavioral targeting, demographic-based targeting and CRM-based targeting.
Marin’s study explained how demographic-based targeting can help with holiday shopping advertising:
From an advertising standpoint Facebook is considered to be one of the most effective channels for reaching users based on demographic characteristics like age, gender, education, income and interests. However, advertisers many times base their demographic targeting on Facebook on assumptions about their target rather than real buyer data. As a first step, retail advertisers should mine their customer databases and determine the demographic characteristics of last year’s holiday buyers. Use this information as a starting point for building out your campaigns. In addition, retailers can use DMP’s like BlueKai and Aggregate Knowledge to determine high LTV audiences based on data that goes outside of Facebook’s “walled garden” of Facebook-only data.
Lastly, marketers should embrace mobile this holiday season. According to Deloitte, 68 percent of shoppers were forecasted to use their smartphones during the holiday season (and 63 percent of tablet owners said likewise). As evidenced by the re-launch of Atlas, Facebook is becoming more and more powerful in terms of cross-device advertising.
Marin’s study recommends that brands use call to action buttons, deep linking and high-quality video to their advantage. Additionally, as images are always at a premium in Facebook’s News Feed, Marin noted that brands should avoid stock images in favor of more native pictures.
Morris talked with Inside Facebook about the mobile holiday push:
When you’re thinking about your Facebook campaign or your search campaign or your cross-channel campaign, think of mobile as a starting point. Make sure that you’re not looking at mobile in just a silo. If you’re getting a lot of clicks and a lot of CTR, awesome, but if your conversion rate is wrong, some narrow-minded advertisers might say, “Jeez, I’m going to take money away from mobile.” The same person, especially through Facebook, would be retargeted across devices now. Through the Website Custom Audiences pixel, you can actually target users who have come to your website through a Facebook ad on mobile, and retarget the same person on desktop when they’re ready to buy.
Readers: If you’re an advertiser, do you plan to start holiday campaigns earlier than last year?
Top image courtesy of Shutterstock.


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According to the Apple investor relations page, Apple’s very own CEO, Tim Cook, will be speaking at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference tomorrow at around 10:15am EST. From the site:
Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference
Apple CEO Tim Cook will speak on February 12, 2013
at approximately 7:15 a.m. PT/10:15 a.m. ET.
Listen to the Audio Webcast
That link takes you to a page that Apple has set up in order for anyone to be able to listen in on the talk if you are interested. He spoke last year at the conference, which was one of his first public speaking since being named Apple CEO.
What do you think? Will you be listening in? Wondering what the talk will consist of? Let us know in the comments, or tweet me @TiP_Kyle.


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RealNetworks buys Sony mobile-download venture
Seattle's RealNetworks Inc. said Wednesday it has bought SonyNetServices, of Salzburg, Austria, for about $9 million in cash.
The purchased entity, a joint venture between Sony DADC and Sony Europe, lets cellular providers offer music services to subscribers, apparently with no assistance from an outside company.
RealNetworks said the purchase is part of its strategy to build a presence in digital entertainment delivery on mobile devices, such as cell phones and personal digital assistants.
The buy follows RealNetworks' purchase in October of mobile entertainment provider WiderThan Co. RealNetworks paid $350 milllion through a tender offer for that South Korean provider of ring-back tones and other mobile entertainment services.
In a federal filing Wednesday, RealNetworks said it expects its purchase of SonyNetServices to generate additional revenue of $1 million in the current quarter and about $7 million in additional revenue over all of 2007.


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Samsung has retained its pole position in ABI Research’s tablet vendor Competitive Assessment. In the analysis of 23 leading tablet vendors, ABI Research ranked companies on several criteria for product implementation and vendor innovation. The Korean giant prevailed in the innovation category and finished second in the implementation strategy.
Close behind Samsung in second place is Apple. Clearly dominating in shipment volume, Apple has been a strong contender in the tablet ecosystem. Apple places number one in implementation strategy but comes in close second for innovation. The two leading tablet makers have managed to stay ahead of other tablet OEM vendors.
In third place is Lenovo, which has done a great job of expanding its tablet portfolio by marketing to a large audience range and providing unique user interfaces.
The three leading tablet vendors continue to lead the way with Samsung and Apple maintaining a substantial lead over competitors.
In 2013, the top three vendors for tablet market share were Apple, Samsung and Amazon. Apple’s iPad walked away in first spot with 45 percent shipment share of tablets. Samsung was the next closest vendor with 23 percent shipment share for the 12-month period and Amazon rounded out the top three with 6.5 percent share of the tablet shipments.
“Our assessment provides a strong portrayal of what elements contribute to a tablet vendor’s success in an extremely volatile market. Samsung and Apple maintain a strong lead over other vendors, but competition is heating up and the market could change drastically over the next year as price and value become stronger criteria for purchases,” said Stephanie Van Vactor, Research Analyst of ABI Research.


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Swift Playgrounds has been around for quite a while on the iPad, but now, it’s on the Mac too as a Mac Catalyst app.
Swift Playgrounds teaches coding concepts and the Swift programming language. Until today, the app, which includes lessons designed to teach Swift alongside a coding environment, was an iPad exclusive. Now, however, anyone interested in learning Swift can move from the iPad to the Mac and back again.
Specifically, Apple says its Developer Technical Support team advised the BlueMail team to make changes to how it package its Mac app in order to resolve a security and privacy warnings issue related to the app creating a new binary with a bundle ID that changes on each launch.
Apple says that BlueMail finally submitted a revised version of its app with an updated binary respecting Gatekeeper on February 7, two days after its open letter to developers. Apple says its App Review team found that the previous issues had been addressed, allowing it to return to the Mac App Store as of Monday.
It’s one thing to tell someone about sustainability, but it’s another thing entirely to show them.
And that’s exactly what Arcadia Earth aims to do. The New York City pop-up features 15 high-tech (and highly photogenic) rooms that let visitors feel, smell, hear and see their way through a lesson in environmental awareness.
Tapping out messages in FlickType is extremely fast because the app uses a QWERTY layout, so your finger already knows where every key is. Behind the scenes, the app does a lot of work to figure out which letter you’re intending to tap, then strings those letters together to form the word it believes you wrote. In my testing, FlickType did an excellent job deciphering what I wanted to say.
Popular email client Spark for iOS and Mac is out with an update today that brings a few new neat features including a Send Again feature that’s sure to save time.
The streamers need to be where the writers, producers and other creative talent live and work. Apple craves content for its new Apple TV+ streaming service as it pushes beyond iPhones into digital services and subscriptions. Amazon says its massive spending on movies and shows helps draw consumers to its Prime subscription plan and encourages current members to renew. HBO, a pioneer in its own right with “The Sopranos,” which fired the starting gun on the “prestige TV” race in 1999, has to keep up.
The purpose of the investigation is to help the FTC “deepen its understanding” of the acquisition strategy of companies like Apple. The FTC will put a particular focus on looking for potential anticompetitive acquisitions made by the companies.
“Shipments will be affected, but it’s too early to give an exact number. We might still have a chance to make it with overtime, but we also need to monitor consumer sentiment to come for the end products,” the source added.
The reference was to electronics, including smartphones.
Just one computer used to all the computing I need for the entire day. But now, I have a phone, a tablet, and a laptop, and I still wish for more. Maybe because Apple demonstrated that there is a different right tool for different jobs, and suddenly, you long for different computers at different jobs?
Thanks for reading.


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Plessey samples electric potential sensor
It could be highly disruptive in the marketplace and is a key part of Plessey’s rebuilding strategy.The first Electric Potential Integrated Circuit (EPIC) sensors are optimized for use as an ECG sensor and provide a resolution as good as or better than conventional electrodes and without the cost of replacement or contact gels.
The technology functions as an ultra-high input impedance sensor that acts as contactless digital voltmeter to measure tiny changes in the electric field down to a resolution of millivolts, the company said. The EPIC technology is so sensitive that it can detect changes at a distance and even through a solid wall.
This ease of detection even through clothes or at a distance means that new ways of taking ECG measurements are being investigated by customers. For example, the EPIC sensors could be built into stretchers for immediate monitoring of patients heart rate and respiratory action or built into clothing to monitor stress levels in emergency response personnel such as firemen.
"The first EPIC products are designed for ECG applications for health and patient monitoring as well as fitness and wellness applications," said Derek Rye, Plessey’s marketing manager, in a statement.
"The next release products available later in this quarter will be optimized for movement sensing where applications range from security, to automotive, to safety through to gesture recognition applications. The gesture recognition capability has been picked up for controller-less gaming and the remote control of electronic consumer products like televisions, monitors and computers. We are working on end applications where the potential volumes are in millions per month. This is all very exciting for the company."


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As major blockbuster drugs come off patent, the scramble among generics to capture these new markets is just beginning. We can expect the U.S. market to experience continued change and consolidation with cost cutting remaining at the top of the priority list for big pharma. We can also expect emerging market drug powerhouses to try and gain market share as these blockbusters come off patent. Pressure to be competitive in these new market opportunities is creating a sort of perfect storm.
Six years ago, when we first started discussing the impact of emerging markets, we focused on whether offshore manufacturers could make the leap in quality understanding and sensibility, to be able to compete in U.S. and Europe.
The maturation of these markets has answered that question to some extent, although there is still uncertainty as to how completely these operations can commit to meeting the FDA’s standards. Now I have to ask whether U.S. drug manufacturers would drop their quality commitment to the same level as these overseas manufacturers in the quest for profitability and business competitiveness
So far 2012 promises to continue 2011’s trend of high profile pharmaceutical operations failing the most basic elements of the GMPs. The McNeil and Genzyme consent decrees continue as these organizations move to reestablish their reputation for high quality. The recent voluntary recall by Novartis for mixed tablets and a breakdown in their complaint handling system reveals an organization that has lost its way in terms of quality. Are these events the result of a more aggressive FDA attempting to demonstrate it is still relevant? Much has been made of the discussions to scale back the agency, to reduce its budget and rely on industry self-policing and regional enforcement. Such recall events speak volumes to the contrary.
Perhaps the most disturbing regulatory action has been the recent consent decree issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) to Ranbaxy regarding data integrity. The consent decree signed between the Indian generics manufacturer and the DOJ serves as a warning shot for companies supplying to the U.S. market that FDA findings of falsified information in applications or cGMP records will have substantial consequences.
The decree includes provisions requiring Ranbaxy to thoroughly investigate—with independent expert oversight—the integrity of its submissions and manufacturing operations. Before the FDA will review applications from the implicated Indian facilities, Ranbaxy will have to identify how the problems occurred and remove the employees responsible, put in place the systems, procedures and hiring practices needed to prevent recurrence, forfeit 180-day exclusivity for some pending applications and withdraw any applications containing untrue statements or misleading omissions.
In addition, they will have to pay stringent monetary penalties for any applications found by the FDA to contain untrue statements, and meet all relevant provisions going forward. Ranbaxy has stated that they have set aside $500 Million for potential litigation as a downstream consequence of the violations1.
Is Ranbaxy’s behavior purely a case of negligence or are there other contributing factors to what has become a very disturbing trend in our industry?
Few can argue that consolidation creates chaos before it creates order. Shareholder focus from Merger and Acquisition is always on the payback period. As companies sort through the organizational redundancies and deal with the merger of disparate cultures, the likelihood that quality issues will arise is significant. But these are the realities of our business and our marketplace. What can be done to stop the slide in quality?
I think the answer has been in front of us for many years but we have refused to embrace it. The basic principles of business dictate that we need to make a quality product as efficiently as possible so we can sell it for a fair margin.
Granted, Congress and government want to squeeze that margin in the name of Public Pricing Protection, but I don’t think this protection means that we want bad drugs at a good price! Today the World Health Organization (WHO) says counterfeit drugs kill approximately 2,000 people a day and that 1 out of 4 drugs sold in the developing countries is counterfeit. It is an industry that is expected to grow to over $205 billion dollars this year2. Equating counterfeit drugs with poor quality systems may be a stretch, but the underlying risk to the public is not that different. At a recent industry event, FDA’s Richard Friedman, Associate Director of the Office of Product Quality, described an urgent need for pharma to modernize the way it controls manufacturing processes and assesses quality risks.
This doesn’t mean we need to spend more money or add more people. We need to change our thinking in terms of how we ensure quality. Other industries have done this well. When margins shrink in the marketplace the companies that can maximize yield, maintain high quality and be price-competitive hold their own.
We have spent years talking about Six Sigma, lean manufacturing, Quality by Design and the application of risk management tools but only in the context of applying the tools, not in the underlying principles behind them. One metric that has struggled to get a foothold in our industry has been the concept of Cost-of-Poor-Quality (COPQ).
COPQ qualifies what the true cost is in infrastructure, resources and loss of market share from a quality event. At one client that makes over-the-counter (OTC) drugs we calculated that the COPQ for their top three drugs alone was over $100 million. Accepting the concept that process understanding as a surrogate for inspection and testing must be mandatory to be competitive is still foreign to many in our industry.
As Generic drugs make up 78 percent of the prescriptions in the U.S. today—and that figure only looks to increase—it is extraordinary to imagine the development data for many of these products consists of a single characterization lot, and testing a small-scale bioequivalency lot before moving to commercial manufacturing. There is little or no opportunity to gain any understanding of what drives process stability and product performance before moving to the commercial operation. In many cases it takes an FDA warning letter to get management’s attention that things must change.
I believe as an industry we can be very competitive with the emerging markets if we apply the principles of ICH Q8, 9 10 and operational excellence as a foundation for our approach to product development and quality. Differentiating ourselves on quality and measuring key metrics such as COPQ can crystalize the true risk of doing a job poorly. Regardless, we must stem this tide of complacency and restore the concept of integrity to our quality and operating philosophy if we hope to compete in the world market.
1. Ranbaxy Consent Decree Fires FDA Warning Shot for Ex-US Pharma on Data Integrity, IPQ, Jan 2012
2. Fighting Counterfeit pharmaceuticals: A primer, Healthcare packaging Jan 2012
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The attempts of the data breach were discovered to have occurred in one of the systems of Currys PC World and Dixons Travel stores.
However, the company is downplaying the threat to its customers, emphasizing the lack of evidence for any breach of the cards.
Dixons Carphone chief executive, Alex Baldock says: “We are extremely disappointed and sorry for any upset this may cause. The protection of our data has to be at the heart of our business, and we’ve fallen short here.”
A formal investigation is underway and the matters have been informed to the police, FCA and the Information Commissioner’s Office.


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Apple has yet to provide a specific launch date for the Apple Watch, leaving its early 2015 timeframe and internal memo revealing a spring launch after Chinese New Year as the only information to go by in terms of a release date. A new report by Taiwan-based DigiTimes, however, suggests that the Apple Watch could launch sooner rather than later next year.
According to DigiTimes, which has a hit-and-miss track record at reporting on Apple’s future product plans, chipmakers in Apple’s overseas supply chain are reportedly gearing up to begin production of the Apple Watch. The report, citing industry sources, claims that between 30 to 40 million units of the upcoming wearable device have been ordered.
A previous supply chain rumor claimed that Apple supplier Quanta Computer would begin Apple Watch production in January 2015, possibly just in time for a Valentine’s Day release. While it was originally considered to be unlikely that the smartwatch would be ready in time for Valentine’s Day, the supply chain ramping up production this month makes a February launch more realistic.
French website iGen.fr reported last week that the steel Apple Watch will start at $500 alongside a gold model that will retail for between $4,000 and $5,000. Apple previously claimed at its September event that the Apple Watch would start at $349, which likely applies to the entry-level Apple Watch Sport, but did not disclose further pricing information.
The report also backed up the Valentine’s Day launch date for the Apple Watch.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Before the 2008 economic meltdown, demand was reasonably stable and companies could look at trends and seasonality to forecast future sales, says Chase, chief of industry consulting at SAS. Since the crisis, demand has become extremely volatile and trends have been disrupted, rendering old forecasting methods insufficient, he says.
Companies are compensating by using more robust analytics to mine big data, Chase says. Big data includes both structured data, such as that captured at point of sale, and unstructured data, such as that shared between consumers over the internet and in social media.
Additionally, companies are looking at both descriptive and predictive data. "Descriptive data is used for reporting purposes, to look backward to see what happened in the past and to make year-over-year or month-over-month comparisons," he says. "Predictive data uses advanced math to predict what will happen, based on what has happened in the past. The power of analytics is in the predictive data," he says.
SAP customer Nestle provides a good example, he says. Nestle uses the SAS demand planning and optimization solution along with an SAP enterprise system. "SAS is SAP certified and is a strategic alliance partner with SAP," says Chase.
A division of Nestle that sells ice cream and frozen pizza does about 90 percent of its business around promotions, Chase explains. "Our system calculates, based on prior promotions, the incremental unit lift that an individual promotion will generate. We then take it a step further. Based on the pricing, we can tell whether or not the promotion will be profitable," he says.
Most sales promotions are designed to gain market share rather than make a profit, but companies are learning that this approach often just rewards loyal customers, says Chase. "If we help a company find an offering that generates revenue and profit, they can shape demand by running that promotion in specific weeks. Our system predicts sales in the weeks when they run the promotion and tells them how much incremental demand and profit will occur."
The idea behind demand sensing and shaping is to understand what products consumers are buying and then align supply and demand faster - and with less working capital, less waste and lower inventory costs, he says. "Companies increasingly are trying to figure out what influences consumers to buy their products. In addition to the traditional demand signals of trend and seasonality, they are looking at how things like price, advertising, in-store merchandising, promotions and even economic factors influence buying patterns," says Chase.
Fortunately, he says, technology is available today that allows information to be gathered and analyzed on a grand scale. "The bottom line is that domain knowledge and experience and judgment are no longer enough," he says. "Demand driven forecasting is all about the technology and analytic capability that allows you to look at demand signals, measure them mathematically and run "˜what if' scenarios to see how to shape demand."
To view the video in its entirety, click here
Keywords: Supply chain, it supply chain, supply chain management, it supply chain management, supply chain management it, supply management, supply chain management scm, inventory management, inventory management it, logistics & supply chain, supply chain solutions, logistics it solutions, supply chain planning, supply chain systems
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: WestBridge Capital
, an India-focused investment fund, has picked up a controlling stake of about 65% in salon chain Enrich buying out JM Financial’s private equity fund, the sole institutional investor
in the company.
The Rs 150-crore fundraise by Enrich Salons & Academy will be through a mix of primary and secondary capital, valuing the company at around Rs 230 crore. JM Financial’s fund held a 44% stake in Enrich and had invested Rs 25 crore in the chain in 2011. That’s the only external capital raised by the salon chain.
At the time, the company operated largely in Mumbai and had12 salons. JM is expected to have registered a triple return on its investment. Now, Enrich runs 63 company owned and operated salons across six cities.
Enrich founder & director Vikram Bhatt
said for the year ending March 31, 2018, the salon chain clocked Rs161crore in revenues and Rs 16.5 crore of positive ebitda. “We will add 25 to 30 salons per year to organically reach 150 salons in three years. But we will primarily focus on existing geographies that we have presence in,” he said.


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Restaurant Week GR runs from Aug. 10-21, featuring more than 60 restaurants who will be embracing the theme of "Taste the City". Beginning back in 2010, 15 new restaurants are added into the mix this year. Chef Glen Forgie, executive chef for RedWater Restaurant Group, shared what they'll be offering at Cork Wine & Grill located at Watermark Country Club.
This is a great opportunity for guests to eat affordable, unique dishes, many touting locally grown produce and meats. For $28, patrons can either enjoy a three course meal for one or a three course meal for two people at that same cost.


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U.S. median rental prices increased 5.5% year over year for an average of $1,527 in May, exceeding pre-pandemic figures and putting rents at their highest level in two years, according to realtor.com’s Monthly Rental Report. Meanwhile, after months of record highs, lumber prices have finally begun falling, with futures for July delivery down 41% since May’s record high, their biggest ever weekly loss, Bloomberg reports. Still, demand for housing remains strong as ever, with mortgage and refinance applications up from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending June 12:
- New Listings increased 9.5% to 1,894
- Pending Sales increased 4.6% to 1,531
- Inventory decreased 42.4% to 6,109
For the month of April:
- Median Sales Price increased 16.6% to $343,750
- Days on Market decreased 41.5% to 24
- Percent of Original List Price Received increased 4.4% to 104.0%
- Months Supply of Homes For Sale decreased 54.5% to 1.0
All comparisons are to 2020
Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.


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Driving relevance means driving growth. Join global brands and industry thought leaders at Brandweek, Sept. 11–14 in Miami, for actionable takeaways to better your marketing. 50% off passes ends April 10.
With the Olympics underway, retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods has released a wide-ranging campaign that continues its message of empowering women athletes in local communities across America.
Created by agency Anomaly, “There She Is” features several women as they participate in their chosen sports set to the classic Bert Parks song of the same name.
The one-minute spot will run across television and social media platforms from June 25 with media planning and buying handled by Haworth and social media activity from AdParlor.


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Written by Staff Writer at CNN Nara Sugiyama
Photographer Nobuo Mikohashi spent a year traveling across Japan to find the most beautiful food stalls in the land. An expert in striking photography, he has captured the freshest produce and delicacies, then turned them into striking works of art.
For three years, Matsuhashi has been traveling across Nara, a city of about half a million people about 180 miles north of Tokyo, capturing images of the city’s so-called “grilling rack,” where local chefs prepare delicious, charcoal-grilled fare.
He photographed every stall in the area that sells grilled food and a selection of sweets, small-scale cooking trucks and beyond.
Hoping to give his photos a bit of a social message, he turned his camera towards the city’s majestic North Korean deer, known as shikji. Since they are native to Japan, most restaurants don’t sell animal products, so they prefer to walk across the street and eat out of cups of coffee.
The North Korean deer arrive for feeding at a Japanese animal feed shop in Nara, November 4, 2016. YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
“I took photos of all kinds of grilled meat and sweets but it seems like the most delicate part of the whole process is when they eat these deer berries, where when the deer eat a large amount of berries, the hair and lungs of the deer get scraped away by the fats, meaning it is very delicate and delicate, very creamy,” he told CNN in a phone interview.
Matsuhashi finds the berries delicious, since he gets his own goat to tend to the pasture, but he’s interested in the deer’s diet because they aren’t eaten in Japanese cuisine.
“I thought maybe these deer berries are supposed to be used to make carbonated drinks in Japanese restaurants, but I haven’t seen any such items available for sale at any of the small-scale markets or from small stores and I don’t know how it’s been cultivated,” he said.
But Matsuhashi does agree that it is natural for deer to feast on berries:
“These berries are actually a lot more nutritious and are high in electrolytes and I don’t think the deer should consume them to drinking tea and soda alone. I think they should be eaten because it is a lot more healthful for the deer.”
“And if the deer are not eating the berries, that’s actually a bad thing — so please go eat the Japanese deer berries for sure and continue to support the Japanese deer,” he added.


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A collection of news and information related to McDonald's published by this site and its partners.
Displaying items 1-12 of 99 » View petoskeynews.com items only1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next >
PETOSKEY -- The world's largest hamburger chain soon will rejoin the list of restaurant choices available in Petoskey. The local McDonald's fast-food outlet will open at 6 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, following a project to reconstruct its building along U.S. 31...
NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (AP) — Beef Products Inc. sued ABC News, Inc. for defamation Thursday over its coverage of a meat product that critics dub "pink slime," claiming the network damaged the company by misleading consumers into believing it is...
PETOSKEY -- Through much of September and October, Petoskey residents and visitors craving a Big Mac will face more of a trip than usual to purchase one of the hamburgers. The local McDonald's restaurant, located on U.S. 31 North in Bear Creek Township,...
Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys as Scouts, but controversy likely to persist GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — After lengthy and wrenching debate, local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have voted to open their ranks to openly gay...
Reports: Initial jobless claims for week ended May 18, 7:30 a.m.; PMI manufacturing flash index for May, 7:58 a.m.; FHFA housing price index for March, 8 a.m.; New home sales for April, 9 a.m.; Mortgage rates for week ended May 23, 9 a.m.; Natural gas...
Reports: MBA mortgage index for week ended May 4, 6:30 a.m.; Crude inventories for week ended May 4, 9:30 a.m. Local earnings: CF Industries Holdings Inc., Groupon Inc., Manitex International Inc., Middleby Corp., MYR Group Inc., Nanosphere Inc.,...
Tribune staff reportMcDonald's Corp. reported a steeper-than-expected drop in April comparable sales, citing tough economic conditions around the world. Sales at restaurants open a least a year declined 0.6 percent from April 2012, the Oak Brook-based hamburger giant said...
Tribune reportThe Dow Jones industrial average closed above 15,000 for the first time Tuesday, hitting a new all-time high on strong economic news overseas. The average finished at 15,056.20, up about 87 points or 0.6 percent. The Dow first climbed above the...
Tags: Caterpillar Inc.
The bustling fast-food restaurant on Chicago's Far South Side where Maria Torres works is the type of business that could be a proving ground for immigration reforms being considered in Congress. Torres, 52, who cooks and cleans at the restaurant, said...
DETROIT (AP) — A judge on Wednesday finalized a $700,000 settlement between McDonald's Corp. and members of Michigan's Muslim community over claims a suburban Detroit restaurant falsely advertised its food as prepared according to Islamic law....
Here in Chicago, where locals intuitively know a wink and a nod might have as many different meanings as Tom Skilling has descriptions for precipitation, we should well understand the difficulties faced by companies looking to do business in emerging...
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — McDonald's and one of its franchise owners agreed to pay $700,000 to members of the Muslim community to settle allegations a Detroit-area restaurant falsely advertised its food as being prepared according to Islamic dietary...
Nov 1, 2012 |Story| Petoskey News
Sep 14, 2012 |Story| Petoskey News
Aug 29, 2012 |Story| Petoskey News
May 24, 2013 |Story| AP Member Choice Limited
May 23, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
May 8, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
May 8, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
May 7, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
May 5, 2013 |Story| Chicago Tribune
Apr 17, 2013 |Story| WSBT-TV
Mar 10, 2013 |Column| Chicago Tribune
Jan 21, 2013 |Story| WSBT-TV
Original site for McDonald's topic gallery.


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By Russ Britt
If you’ve seen those commercials where a lady in an apron stands atop a double-decker bus preaching the virtues of colon health, you better enjoy them while you can.
The U.S. Justice Department is taking the company behind those commercials, German-based Bayer AG /quotes/zigman/560388/delayed DE:BAYN , to task for what it says are false claims regarding the over-the-counter product, Phillips’ Colon Health.
Justice officials allege that Bayer, by claiming in its so-called “Colon Lady” commercials that the product “defends against” constipation, diarrhea and gas and bloating, is also implying that its product can prevents, treat and cure those conditions, though Bayer has no reliable evidence to support those claims. Prosecutors are seeking a civil contempt citation against the company.
In an extensive company statement, Bayer says it is “extremely disappointed” in the motion and “strongly disagrees” with the Justice Department’s contention.
“Probiotic bacteria, including the three species used in Phillips’ Colon Health, have a long and well-documented safety record, complemented by volumes of human clinical studies on their digestive benefits. It is this research upon which Bayer has legitimately based all of our claims, which include the fact that the product will ‘promote overall digestive health’ and “help defend against occasional constipation, diarrhea, and gas and bloating,” Bayer said in a statement.
“It is important to note that Bayer never made any claims suggesting that Phillips’ Colon Health should be used to mitigate, prevent or treat any disease,” the company went on to say.
Bayer says the Federal Trade Commission is calling for the company to conduct tests that are similar to those for a prescription drug. The company says they’re not necessary for a dietary supplement, like Phillips’ Colon Health.
Justice officials point to a 2007 court order that prohibits Bayer from making unsubstantiated claims for dietary supplements it sells. That order was handed down after the department found Bayer claimed its One-A-Day WeightSmart multivitamin had the ability to prevent weight gain without sufficient evidence. The company ended up paying $3.2 million in penalties.
“Bayer is required to abide by a longstanding court order to back up claims it makes about the products it sells,” Assistant Attorney General Stuart F. Delery said in a prepared statement. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate companies that seek to gain an unfair advantage over their competitors by promoting to consumers unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of their products.”
Bayer countered by saying it paid the penalty without admitting wrongdoing in order to resolve the 2007 complaint and says it now has reliable evidence to support the claims it makes regarding Phillips’ Colon Health.
More must-read health coverage from MarketWatch:


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This week, ViewSonic announced that it will showcase its huge 105inch interactive display at ISE 2023, which will be held in Spain from January 31 to February 3, 2023. currently includes 55inch, 65inch, 75inch and 86inch displays.
After accelerating digital collaboration over the years, ViewSonic is committed to delivering innovative visual solutions for every type of workspace, from individual work to corporate workspaces,” said Bonnie Cheng, ViewSonic COO. At ISE 2023, we are excited to introduce interactive and wireless presentation capabilities using our latest technologies. The goal is to improve the efficiency and productivity of the team, whether they gather in the same workspace or are connected to other offices around the world.
Interactive display 5K
“The company will showcase its largest interactive display, a 105inch 5K viewing panel, and showcase its new video conferencing presentation display. In addition, the show will feature the company’s latest widescreen displays, including AllinOne LED displays and Luminous Superior Series lampless projectors, allowing attendees to experience seamless hybrid conference room experiences.
“To showcase the possibilities of productive modern workspaces, ViewSonic will showcase the upcoming 105inch 21:9 widescreen 5K ViewBoard as well as the 86inch 4K ViewBoard. These ViewBoards come with a powerful multimedia soundbar that delivers compelling audiovisual effects for more efficient communication. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the latest 75inch 4K presentation display, which offers enhanced video conferencing capabilities. With the allinone conferencing camera, realistic audio is captured through voice tracking, making it ideal for hybrid group meetings.”
ISE 2023 Booth No. 2Q600, Hall 2, Fira Barcelona Gran Via, Spain
Headings: Displays news, Breaking news
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Disclosure: Some of our articles contain affiliate links. If you buy something from one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.


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7/24/2018 -- Retro Tuesday: Hangman Cellar Release
OFFICIAL BREWERY EVENT FROM Lonerider Brewing Company
Visit Official Event Site
2013 Hangman (Barley Wine, 11.0% ABV) is being released from the Lonerider Cellar July 24th.As we approach our 10 year anniversary, we are looking back at the beers we love from our past. Hangman Barleywine is being pulled from our cellar to share with the outlaws that have always been with us and the ones who've just found us. A 2013 vintage, this 22oz. bomber is extremely limited and will be sold on a first-come basis: NO PRE-SALES.
Stavi's Sandwiches food truck will be at the brewery for the release.
Event listing posted on July 17, 2018 4:49PM


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In the times when the world economy is going through the major crisis, India has lit a torch of hope with their ambitious growth targets. The Indian government is being specifically supportive to campaigns like Make In India and Digital India to further their economic growth.
Amidst all this, the new launched GST (Goods and Services) tax is another bold step which is expected to bring some stimulant to the economic growth. The government has pinned a lot of hopes with the transformation of the base of the indirect taxation in the country to ensure the free flow of goods and services.
It is expected that GST will bring down the cascading effects of taxation and India will inspire other nations with their bold move in the years to come. All the world economies are expecting GST to be a milestone decision with the perspective of boosting the Indian Economy. But, exactly how it is going to change the economic scenario for the country? Let’s find out!
How will GST impact the Indian Economy?
- The introduction of GST will reduce the tax burden on the producers and will also foster the growth with more production rate.
- The previous tax structure was fuelled with myriad tax clauses that prevented manufacturers from producing goods to their full potential. GST will eliminate this problem of limited production by providing the tax credit facility to the manufacturers.
- Earlier, different types of tax barriers like toll plazas were imposed while transporting the goods. These tax barriers lead to wastage of unpreserved items, which in return became a penalty for manufacturers in the form of extra buffer stock and warehousing cost to meet the demand. Implementation of the single tax system i.e. GST will eliminate these kinds of unnecessary road blocks.
- GST will bring more transparency to the taxation system as the end consumer will become aware of what taxes they are charges and on what basis.
- Extending the tax base with GST will significantly add to the government revenue.
- Producers will now be able to get a tax credit for the taxes they have paid throughout the goods and services chain. This is expected to encourage manufacturers to purchase raw material only from the registered dealers and will also bring more suppliers and vendors under the tax slab.
- With the introduction of GST, there will be no excise duty applicable on exports, which will increase the Indian economy’s competitiveness in the international markets as the cost of transactions will be lower.
- Less tax compliance and simplified fiscal policies will encourage people to adapt to new tax system actively.
- GST will bring down the manufacturing cost with a low burden of taxes on the small scale manufacturers. Hence, the prices of consumer goods will ultimately fall.
- GST will lower the burden on the common man as they will pay less for the same commodity which was earlier costlier to them because of too many taxes.
- The demand and consumption of goods will increase. Increased demand means increased production.
- There will be a control over the black money circulation as the traders and shopkeepers will be checked periodically for their transactions.
Will GST Mean a Brighter Economy?
The introduction of GST is being touted as a very noteworthy move for indirect tax reforms in the Indian economy. The Centre has taken a bold step by merging a large number of central and state taxes into GST. It is expected that GST will double the taxation and will also become easier for the industries to imply.
As for the end consumer, the main benefit will come in the form of the reduction in their overall tax burden for the goods and services they are availing. GST will make India a competitive sphere in the international markets.
Now that it has been imposed, the taxation system will bring sustainable growth to the Indian economy.


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Conflict results in delay of business Fast Pitch event
JANESVILLE—Scheduling conflicts have pushed the annual Rock and Walworth County Fast Pitch Competition into next year.
The competition had been scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2, at UW-Whitewater.
James Otterstein, Rock County's economic development manager, said the competition likely will be rescheduled for late next spring.
The annual competition allows entrepreneurs to pitch business ideas to a panel of business owners. The competition is also open to students, and cash prizes are awarded to winners.
For more information, visit rockcountyalliance.com and click within the Business Resources section.


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SDCC is back (yay! It’s about time.) and 100% Soft, the folks behind the beloved and slightly infamous Dumpster Fire, are starting to reveals their Comic-Con plans. In fact, it turns out that Truck Torrence’s brand is taking their continuing collaboration with Marvel to the next level with what appears to be a series of toys featuring iconic Marvel heroes and villains.
While the teaser don’t reveal too much, the one on the left certainly appears to be Captain America and the one in the center could be Loki with his horned helmet. From the silhouettes, the series looks to feature mini busts similar in style to 100% Soft’s Marvel emoji and enamel pin designs. We’re looking forward to the full reveal.


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Most people celebrate their birthdays by getting their friends together for a meal, or throwing a party complete with cake and presents.
But a nurse decided to mark her birthday in a different way - by buying food and drinks for strangers instead.
Anne, who turned 33 on Monday, came to Singapore from the Philippines seven years ago.
For her special day, she took leave from the hospital where she works and gave away food and drinks to buskers, tissue-paper sellers and foreign workers, evening daily Lianhe Wanbao reported yesterday.
Anne's heartwarming deed came to light when a Wanbao reporter spotted her giving out packets of chicken rice at Yishun MRT Station on Monday.
Speaking to the Chinese daily, Anne said: "Singapore has given me countless opportunities and taught me so much, so I want to give back."
She gave out 12 packets of chicken rice at three MRT stations: Yishun, Novena and Toa Payoh.
She said: "I always rush through the MRT station and seldom slow down to care about these people. So I'm buying chicken rice as a treat for them and to celebrate my birthday together."
Anne was accompanied by her friend, Gretel, who had also taken leave for the occasion and gave a thumbs up for Anne's unusual birthday celebration.
They were out between noon and 5pm, first giving out rice at train stations and then distributing soft drinks to foreign workers in Clarke Quay.
One of those who received a free rice packet was 83-year-old tissue-paper peddler Eddie, who has been plying his trade at Yishun MRT Station for six years.
It was his first time receiving chicken rice from a stranger, he said. When he first took the packet from Anne, he was incredulous but broke into a smile when he heard her story.
Said Eddie: "The people at the train station come and go. The fact that Anne can slow down and show her concern makes me feel very thankful."
Another tissue-paper seller, 43-year-old Xie Chuncheng, ate the rice happily and said: "I don't know why, but this packet of chicken rice tastes especially nice."
The packets that Anne bought cost $4 each, even though a nearby stall was selling chicken rice for $2.50 per packet.
When asked why she had bought the more expensive option, Anne said: "Because I like this stall's chicken rice. If I give what I like to others, it's more sincere. I hope it will touch their hearts."
Get MyPaper for more stories.


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The first ad for the 2013 model of the Nexus 7 was pretty perfect: combining a nervous nerdy kid and a common fear somehow made for an incredibly effective way to show off Google's combination of hardware and services. These two new ads aren't quite so good as "Fear Less," but they combine the same nearly universal sentiments with tablet-focused features.
The first uses a student to show off Google Now's auto-populating cards, Google Play Music, Google's contextual search, and the new textbook rental features.
In a post on the Android Developers Blog earlier today, Google has given us yet another indicator of upcoming changes to the Android platform. When KitKat launches, it will finally introduce a public API for the last remaining functions texting apps could not achieve without diving into private APIs. Developers are often advised to stay away from private APIs since they can change with each new version and may not be kept consistent across different OEMs.
If you're the sort who already worries Google has too much of your personal information, this is not for you. For everyone else, Google is reportedly developing a new opt-in data collection service that will reward users for passing additional mobile usage data back to Mountain View. The so-called Mobile Meter app is expected to come to both Android and iOS.
Android already provides Google with various bits of data like location and search activity.
The KitKat leaks are in full force now and are starting to show up almost daily. Today's offering comes from ZDNet, where they've gotten hands on with some purported screenshots of Android 4.4 running on the 2013 Nexus 7 – most of which simply confirm things we've already seen. There are, however, a couple of new things present here, like the About Easter egg and a few shots that show off the updated clock app.
The concept of shared data plans are nothing new, but not every carrier out there offers one. Yet as more people get their first smartphones, mobile providers want a way to keep the entire family tied to one carrier and to limit how much strain they're putting on the network. So the nation's fifth-largest carrier, US Cellular, has decided to introduce its own shared data plan, driving a stake into the heart of its previous unlimited data plan in the process.
Getting through the airport has become an increasingly annoying ordeal over the last decade, and the last thing you need is an app making it worse. The old American Airlines app had a pretty awful UI and lacking performance. With the update to 3.0, the AA app is instantly not terrible.
It's been leaked more than a few times, but early this morning HTC finally took the rather large wraps off the One max. The new phone is essentially a supersized version of the HTC One stretched out to a massive 5.9 inches. HTC hasn't been sitting on its hands for the last few months: the One max (little "m") also includes an oh-so-trendy fingerprint scanner beneath the camera.
From a hardware perspective, the One max and the older One have quite a lot in common indeed.
Samsung made its rumored curved display smartphone official last week – it curves sideways and it's called the Galaxy Round. However, Samsung's South Korean smartphone competitor LG is supposed to be prepping a curved phone as well. Some newly leaked press renders show what is apparently the LG G Flex in all its shapely glory. As expected, it curves the opposite way and curves a lot.
Like Samsung's phone, the G Flex is expected to have a curved AMOLED screen rather than just curved glass like past devices.
For a very long time, the Facebook app on Android was atrocious, and it's still not great. The folks at Facebook are trying, though. After starting a Play Store beta program not long ago, the social network is now setting up an alpha channel to test the newest (and potentially most unstable) features. Want in?
The alpha program will be run in a very similar way to the beta program. You'll have to sign up for the Play Store testing program and the app will update as new builds are released.


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Koura launches next generation low GWP refrigerants
Koura, a Boston, MA-based developer, manufacturer and supplier of fluoroproducts, has launched Klea 473A, the first of its next generation low GWP refrigerants. The launch follows proposed classification of Klea 473A as an A1 refrigerant by the ASHRAE SSPC34 committee.
The refrigerant is designed to achieve high performance with a lower global warming potential (GWP) in ultra-low temperature cooling applications such as high value cold chains, vaccine storage, climate test chambers, transportation and other medical uses.
Dave Smith, downstream business director at Koura said, “The launch of Klea 473A is an exciting milestone in our next generation refrigerant program, which aims to develop a new portfolio of sustainable, energy efficient, low GWP refrigerant solutions for a variety of heating, cooling and refrigeration applications.”


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|By PR Newswire||
|April 21, 2014 04:31 PM EDT||
SHANGHAI, April 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL), a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, will showcase its latest innovations at Chinaplas 2014, one of the world's largest plastics industry exhibitions. New technologies to be displayed are the result of close collaboration with customers to help them reach new markets, achieve sustainability goals and improve profitability.
"Inspired by our customers, we are featuring advanced solutions that help solve the toughest issues in material selection, distribution, manufacturing, colorants and design at this important event," said Mark Crist, vice president of Asia and vice president of Global Key Accounts, PolyOne Corporation. "Our material science and formulation expertise enables customers to improve their performance and gain competitive advantage globally."
PolyOne technologies on display at Chinaplas will include:
Authentication and Anti-Counterfeiting Solutions: Percept™ Authentication Technologies present a full-spectrum portfolio of formulations and consultative services that employ covert, overt and forensic techniques. With these solutions, manufacturers can reduce potential risks and loss of revenue from counterfeits in consumer goods, medical devices, packaging, and consumer electronics markets.
Metal-to-Polymer Conversion for Electrical Applications: LubriOne™ PEEK Solutions for electrical power tool applications offer innovative options for replacing metal that also help customers to improve performance, reduce production cost and simplify product maintenance.
Differentiating with Color: InVisiOSM Color Inspiration 2015, a collection of six insightful color directions for designers, brands and marketing managers, adds dimension to trend indicators by capturing visual effects and textural influences as well.
Dual Light Barrier for Packaging: OnCap™ Light Shield additive effectively absorbs both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light from clear packages to protect light-sensitive substances, such as food and pharmaceuticals, from degradation. In addition, this specialty solution improves color stability and maintains polymer clarity.
Food-Safe TPE: Versaflex™ thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) enables consumer products manufacturers to replace a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) silicone material with a softer, child-friendly TPE material, while maintaining strict compliance with food contact regulations in Japan and China.
Vinyl Engineered Performance: Geon™ Vinyl solutions are formulated to provide high flow for easier processing and can be customized in a wide range of bright and metallic-look colors. This material portfolio also delivers excellent flame, chemical, and UV light resistance, making it a cost-effective replacement for various engineered polymers and metal in applications such as laundry consoles, circuit board housings, medical equipment, and LED lighting.
Regarded as one of the most influential plastics exhibitions in the world, Chinaplas is held annually and has helped to accelerate the growth of plastics-intensive markets in Asia for the past 30 years.
PolyOne Corporation, with 2013 revenues of $3.8 billion, is a premier provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions. The company is dedicated to serving customers in diverse industries around the globe, by creating value through collaboration, innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Guided by its Core Values, Sustainability Promise and No Surprises PledgeSM, PolyOne is committed to its customers, employees, communities and shareholders through ethical, sustainable and fiscally responsible principles. For more information, visit www.polyone.com.
To access PolyOne's news library online, please go to www.polyone.com/news.
SOURCE PolyOne Corporation
In his session at 18th Cloud Expo, Sagi Brody, Chief Technology Officer at Webair Internet Development Inc., will focus on real world deployments of DDoS mitigation strategies in every layer of the network. He will give an overview of methods to prevent these attacks and best practices on how to provide protection in complex cloud platforms. He will also outline what we have found in our experience managing and running thousands of Linux and Unix managed service platforms and what specifically c...
May. 3, 2016 05:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,236
We're entering the post-smartphone era, where wearable gadgets from watches and fitness bands to glasses and health aids will power the next technological revolution. With mass adoption of wearable devices comes a new data ecosystem that must be protected. Wearables open new pathways that facilitate the tracking, sharing and storing of consumers’ personal health, location and daily activity data. Consumers have some idea of the data these devices capture, but most don’t realize how revealing and...
May. 3, 2016 05:45 PM EDT Reads: 186
Peak 10, Inc., has announced the implementation of IT service management, a business process alignment initiative based on the widely adopted Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework. The implementation of IT service management enhances Peak 10’s current service-minded approach to IT delivery by propelling the company to deliver higher levels of personalized and prompt service. The majority of Peak 10’s operations employees have been trained and certified in the ITIL frame...
May. 3, 2016 05:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,084
Many private cloud projects were built to deliver self-service access to development and test resources. While those clouds delivered faster access to resources, they lacked visibility, control and security needed for production deployments. In their session at 18th Cloud Expo, Steve Anderson, Product Manager at BMC Software, and Rick Lefort, Principal Technical Marketing Consultant at BMC Software, will discuss how a cloud designed for production operations not only helps accelerate developer...
May. 3, 2016 05:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,205
SYS-CON Events announced today the Docker Meets Kubernetes – Intro into the Kubernetes World, being held June 9, 2016, in conjunction with 18th Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo, at the Javits Center in New York, NY. Register for 'Docker Meets Kubernetes Workshop' Here! This workshop led by Sebastian Scheele, co-founder of Loodse, introduces participants to Kubernetes (container orchestration). Through a combination of instructor-led presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on labs, participants learn ...
May. 3, 2016 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 168
trust and privacy in their ecosystem. Assurance and protection of device identity, secure data encryption and authentication are the key security challenges organizations are trying to address when integrating IoT devices. This holds true for IoT applications in a wide range of industries, for example, healthcare, consumer devices, and manufacturing. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Lancen LaChance, vice president of product management, IoT solutions at GlobalSign, will teach IoT developers how t...
May. 3, 2016 05:00 PM EDT Reads: 215
SYS-CON Events announced today that Ericsson has been named “Gold Sponsor” of SYS-CON's @ThingsExpo, which will take place on June 7-9, 2016, at the Javits Center in New York, New York. Ericsson is a world leader in the rapidly changing environment of communications technology – providing equipment, software and services to enable transformation through mobility. Some 40 percent of global mobile traffic runs through networks we have supplied. More than 1 billion subscribers around the world re...
May. 3, 2016 04:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,244
In the world of DevOps there are ‘known good practices’ – aka ‘patterns’ – and ‘known bad practices’ – aka ‘anti-patterns.' Many of these patterns and anti-patterns have been developed from real world experience, especially by the early adopters of DevOps theory; but many are more feasible in theory than in practice, especially for more recent entrants to the DevOps scene. In this power panel at @DevOpsSummit at 18th Cloud Expo, moderated by DevOps Conference Chair Andi Mann, panelists will dis...
May. 3, 2016 04:15 PM EDT Reads: 833
A critical component of any IoT project is the back-end systems that capture data from remote IoT devices and structure it in a way to answer useful questions. Traditional data warehouse and analytical systems are mature technologies that can be used to handle large data sets, but they are not well suited to many IoT-scale products and the need for real-time insights. At Fuze, we have developed a backend platform as part of our mobility-oriented cloud service that uses Big Data-based approache...
May. 3, 2016 04:15 PM EDT Reads: 226
Increasing IoT connectivity is forcing enterprises to find elegant solutions to organize and visualize all incoming data from these connected devices with re-configurable dashboard widgets to effectively allow rapid decision-making for everything from immediate actions in tactical situations to strategic analysis and reporting. In his session at 18th Cloud Expo, Shikhir Singh, Senior Developer Relations Manager at Sencha, will discuss how to create HTML5 dashboards that interact with IoT devic...
May. 3, 2016 04:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,277
The increasing popularity of the Internet of Things necessitates that our physical and cognitive relationship with wearable technology will change rapidly in the near future. This advent means logging has become a thing of the past. Before, it was on us to track our own data, but now that data is automatically available. What does this mean for mHealth and the "connected" body? In her session at @ThingsExpo, Lisa Calkins, CEO and co-founder of Amadeus Consulting, will discuss the impact of wea...
May. 3, 2016 04:00 PM EDT Reads: 990
There is an ever-growing explosion of new devices that are connected to the Internet using “cloud” solutions. This rapid growth is creating a massive new demand for efficient access to data. And it’s not just about connecting to that data anymore. This new demand is bringing new issues and challenges and it is important for companies to scale for the coming growth. And with that scaling comes the need for greater security, gathering and data analysis, storage, connectivity and, of course, the...
May. 3, 2016 03:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,068
We’ve worked with dozens of early adopters across numerous industries and will debunk common misperceptions, which starts with understanding that many of the connected products we’ll use over the next 5 years are already products, they’re just not yet connected. With an IoT product, time-in-market provides much more essential feedback than ever before. Innovation comes from what you do with the data that the connected product provides in order to enhance the customer experience and optimize busi...
May. 3, 2016 03:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,167
Artificial Intelligence has the potential to massively disrupt IoT. In his session at 18th Cloud Expo, AJ Abdallat, CEO of Beyond AI, will discuss what the five main drivers are in Artificial Intelligence that could shape the future of the Internet of Things. AJ Abdallat is CEO of Beyond AI. He has over 20 years of management experience in the fields of artificial intelligence, sensors, instruments, devices and software for telecommunications, life sciences, environmental monitoring, process...
May. 3, 2016 03:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,161
The IETF draft standard for M2M certificates is a security solution specifically designed for the demanding needs of IoT/M2M applications. In his session at @ThingsExpo, Brian Romansky, VP of Strategic Technology at TrustPoint Innovation, will explain how M2M certificates can efficiently enable confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity on highly constrained devices.
May. 3, 2016 03:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,058


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Google Denies Crippling Edge to Chrome's Advantage
Google has denied allegations that it deliberately sabotaged Microsoft Edge performance in YouTube.
Ex-Microsoft Intern: Google Deliberately Crippled Edge Browser
Google may have already started using its browser dominance to disadvantage its competitors. That's no kind of good sign, even if you prefer Chrome to any other browser.
Confirmed: Microsoft Will Move to Chromium-Based Edge Browser
Microsoft has wasted no time confirming the recent rumors: the Edge browser is dead. All hail the new Edge based on Google's open-source Chromium code.
Report: Microsoft Will Scrap Edge for Chromium-Based Browser
Microsoft's revamped Edge browser remains but a tiny sliver of the browser market. The situation is so dire that Redmond is reportedly throwing in the towel on Edge as it currently exists.
Microsoft Frantically Downplays Plan to Put Ads in Windows Email App
Microsoft got caught testing the idea of putting ads into the Windows 10 Email client. Someone, somewhere, thought this was a good idea.
Microsoft Backs Down, Won't Warn Users Away From Using Chrome, Firefox
Microsoft has changed its tune on the warnings it wanted to introduce when users installed Chrome or Firefox. It won't be warning users when the new update drops, though it may give such warnings in the future.
Windows 10 Now Warns Users Not to Install Chrome or Firefox
Microsoft's latest version of Windows will warn you about installing harmful, dangerous applications. Like Chrome. And Firefox. Say hello to the new 'begware' model of software distribution.
Microsoft Releases Defender Extension for Chrome
Just add it to Chrome, and you have what Microsoft assures everyone are more effective safe browsing tools.
Intel Inside: Apple's Next iPhone May Ditch Qualcomm Altogether
Qualcomm's legal fight with Apple could result in the company losing the iPhone altogether. Intel certainly hopes so.
Google Rolls Out New Chrome Security Feature to Combat Microsoft
Google has rolled out a major new enterprise security feature in Chrome called site isolation. It's a stronger version of the browser's existing sandboxing feature.


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The Google store is coming to new countries today. In addition to the likes of the US, Canada, the UK, Germany and others, the Google store will become available in Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Starting soon users in those markets will be able to purchase Google hardware like the Pixel phones, the Home smart speakers, Chrome OS laptops and more.
Check out the source link below to see all the countries the Google store is available in.
That's why we need to zip up Bro... They see us as nothing.
What about Ukraine?
all these other countries stores don't mean anything, useless anyway. only na store gets everything. unless they have the same access as na store, it's useless


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Novartis Says It Hired Over 1,600 Amid Job Cuts Speculation In India
Novartis counters speculation around pandemic-related staff cutbacks in India, saying that it actually upped the number of hires across its operations since January 2020. A senior executive separately provides a buoyant outlook for the Swiss firm’s global services operations in Hyderabad, which has added a significant number of new roles.
You may also be interested in...
More foreign pharma firms, this time Sanofi and GSK, are reorganizing sales and marketing efforts accompanied by layoffs in India. Scrip talks to experts about what’s driving the right-sizing and the wider trend.
Novartis India hands over sales and distribution of certain established brands, accounting for 50% of the 2020-2021 product revenues, to Dr Reddy’s as more foreign firms opt to leverage ground strengths of local players. Does it represent a wider trend where foreign firms are re-calibrating operations in India to focus energies on specialty and patented products?
Novartis and Takeda’s R&D efforts saw an impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, but both Lutz Hegemann and Andrew Plump believe that when the next pandemic hits, the industry and regulators will be better prepared for it.


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14 October 2015: Singapore moves on "haze-free" supply chain for wood and paper trader and makers. Supermarkets pull products.
Editor's note: APP has been in spotlight, but expects to meet pulp demand without clearing more forest, refer to write-up of independent assessment by TFT on associated Greenpeace approach: http://news.mongabay.com/2014/09/app-can-meet-projected-pulp-demand-without-clearing-more-forest/
Another 20 firms sign 'haze-free' declaration - NTUC FairPrice's staff removing Asia Pulp and Paper (APP)-related products from shelves at the supermarket chain's outlet at Nex mall in Serangoon on Oct 7, 2015. NTUC FairPrice's staff removing Asia Pulp and Paper (APP)-related products from shelves at the supermarket chain's outlet at Nex mall in Serangoon on Oct 7, 2015. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Published Oct 13, 2015, 5:00 am SGT Twenty more firms have declared that their products are free of raw materials from Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), which is under investigation over its connection to the haze. This brings the number of firms that have signed the Singapore Environment Council's (SEC) declaration form to 38. The latest firms to sign are those that sell wood-related products under the SEC's green label scheme. The online declaration form was sent to 210 firms in the wood-related product trade last weekend, said the SEC and the Consumers Association of Singapore in a joint statement yesterday. It was sent to companies earlier this month, including major supermarket chain FairPrice and APP's exclusive distributor here, Universal Sovereign Trading. The move led several retail chains to pull APP products off their shelves.....SMF secretary-general Lam Joon Khoi told The Straits Times yesterday that the SEC approached the federation two weeks ago with the idea. The appeals were sent out last week and responses are trickling in. He said: "It's not something that we expect them to change overnight, but at least we have started the journey. "We really need to tighten the screws and increase the pressure to encourage firms to buy from more sustainable companies. "Some have said this will increase their costs. But my point to them is that we already pay a high price for the effects of the haze....Last month, the National Environment Agency served APP a legal notice to supply information on its subsidiaries in Singapore and in Indonesia. Six other Indonesian firms have been sent a notice asking them to take measures to extinguish fires on their land, not to start new ones, and submit action plans on how they will prevent future fires. The sixth firm, PT Bumi Andalas Permai, was sent the notice yesterday..... http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/another-20-firms-sign-haze-free-declaration
More firms on board for 'haze-free' declaration Oct 8, 2015, 5:00 am SGT - Jessica Lim Consumer Correspondent - Apart from wood, paper makers, SEC plans to work with others such as palm oil industry....There are other complications, said SEC's head of eco-certification Kavickumar Muruganathan. Retailers here typically obtain the rights to sell a product from distributors, which then arrange with overseas manufacturers to import the stock. "Manufacturers might own plantations, but some strike deals with landowners on the side to use their land. Some also ask other suppliers to sell the fruit to them on an ad hoc basis if demand spikes," he said, adding that errant firms pay farmers to use their land for oil palm. On paper, the land is owned by the farmer and the firm is not implicated. There is also no map of land ownership available, making the task of pinpointing the owners of a plantation difficult. However, Nanyang Technological University's Professor Ang Peng Hwa, who co-founded the Haze Elimination Act on Team volunteer group, urged retailers to stop "putting up a smokescreen". "It is true it can be difficult. But retailers have to ask suppliers to show them certification," said Prof Ang. "Consumers also have a role to play to demand higher standards."....
Haze fallout: NTUC FairPrice, Sheng Siong withdraw all APP paper products - Additionally, Cold Storage says it has suspended further purchase of APP-related products while Watsons Singapore has confirmed that it does not stock such brands as Paseo, Jolly and Nice. UPDATED: 09 Oct 2015 21:23 http://prrt.co/sa/1?url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/haze-fallout-ntuc/2175070.html
Singapore and Malaysia Wheeze as Indonesia Goodwill Hammered by Haze - The strongest El Nino in two decades may prolong the dry weather, meaning the haze could remain for some time yet by Pooi Koon Chong October 7, 2015 — 9:53 AM HKT http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-07/singapore-and-malaysia-wheeze-as-indonesia-goodwill-hammered-by-haze


text: A new exhibit featuring the artwork of Barry McGee just landed in Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art. When you go view the San Francisco-based artist’s works, make sure you don’t leave empty handed. No we’re not telling you to pull off a heist; instead you can take home wearable works of art thanks to a collaboration with The Hill-Side. The accessories maker has produced a collection of three bandanas featuring Barry McGee’s artwork. Rock them however you want, just don’t hang them on the wall. Visit the ICA store to purchase.


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California, Hawaii Governors Veto Online Sales Tax
Online retailers, led by Amazon and Overstock, are resisting state legislators' efforts to raise revenue with online sales taxes.
The seesaw battle between online retailers and states over sales tax collection swung in favor of the retailers as governors in California and Hawaii used their veto power to block pending legislation to tax sales affiliates in their respective states.
In Hawaii, Governor Linda Lingle vetoed legislation that called for retailers to collect Hawaii's 4% tax while California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would veto similar legislation if it was passed by the state's legislature.
Various state legislatures have been seeking to raise revenue by taxing online sales, but online retailers, including Amazon and Overstock, have resisted the move. The taxes generally are aimed at retailers with marketing affiliates in the states.
Overstock said it would reverse its earlier decision to drop its affiliates in the Golden State after it learned Governor Schwarzenegger had vowed to veto pending legislation calling for the sales taxes.
Citing Governor Schwarzenegger's commitment to levy no new taxes, Overstock's chairman and CEO Patrick Byrne said, "This is a business-friendly, consumer-friendly, and citizen-friendly stand. We much hope that legislators of other states now toying with the enactment of similar anti-consumer legislation will follow the California lead."
As for Amazon, it said it would reinstate its Hawaii affiliates as long as Governor Lingle's veto remained in force.
The online sales tax legislation has bounced from state to state recently with North Carolina and Rhode Island legislatures recently approving the taxation of online retailers' affiliates. Rhode Island's tax legislation is in force while North Carolina's legislation awaits the governor's signature.
How Enterprises Are Attacking the IT Security EnterpriseTo learn more about what organizations are doing to tackle attacks and threats we surveyed a group of 300 IT and infosec professionals to find out what their biggest IT security challenges are and what they're doing to defend against today's threats. Download the report to see what they're saying.
Digital Transformation Myths & TruthsTransformation is on every IT organization's to-do list, but effectively transforming IT means a major shift in technology as well as business models and culture. In this IT Trend Report, we examine some of the misconceptions of digital transformation and look at steps you can take to succeed technically and culturally.


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Filling Shopko's retail void
Douglas retailers pick up slack from store closing
July 11, 2019
DOUGLAS — Shopko closed its doors June 18, but local retailers say they’re already ahead of the game, expanding choices and inventory.
Shopko announced in March the closing all of their stores nationwide, to which Douglas’ business owners responded: You don’t need to shop outside of town...


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Malcolm Scott,the KBSA corporate chair, spells out what major manufacturers in the KBB and electrical industries are doing to cut down on emissions, energy usage and waste to improve their sustainability.
Across everything we do, the issue of sustainability has become much more topical. With the rise in climate change awareness, the question now being asked is, are we meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs?
The new energy labelling on domestic appliances is a very visible sign that sustainability is impacting the kitchen channel and will continue to do so. Manufacturers have been set very onerous targets to redesign appliances to become ever more energy-efficient.
The new scheme is much more user-friendly, giving consumers very clear guidance about sustainability. Labels now cover much more than just energy. On dishwashers and laundry, water use per cycle is highlighted to drive down water use. Innovation is driving efficiency with manufacturers developing highly efficient heat-pump technology to recycle heat within appliances and reduce overall energy use. Low energy lighting on all appliances has become standard. Alongside this, ever tighter packaging and waste disposal measures and WEEE ‘end-of-life’ recycling schemes are reducing the carbon footprint of our industry.
The Ikea ‘buy back’ initiative introduces recycling into mainstream retailing with consumers encouraged to sell items of used Ikea furniture that are still in good condition when buying new items from Ikea. This may be a little ‘gimmicky’, but it sets a trend that others will follow.
KBSA members have been working with second-hand kitchen specialist businesses for some time to encourage reuse of ex-display kitchens and the like. Larger manufacturers, like Symphony Furniture, have been working hard to reduce carbon emissions within their operations, Symphony has reduced emissions across its whole business by over 27% in recent years and is working towards a target of using 100% ‘green energy’ throughout the business by 2028.
Many other leading kitchen industry manufacturers are working within the framework of the United Nations 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Whirlpool Group has a ‘no place for waste’ policy across its whole business, which seeks to improve efficiency throughout the business. In the past 15 years, it has reduced emissions across the business by 60%. The Franke 2019 Group Sustainability Report, states that within the group, carbon emissions were reduced by 10.1% during that year. Alongside a policy of building ‘on-site’ renewable energy resources, BSH Group has a global long-term target of reducing carbon emissions by a further 15%. Electrolux Group has managed to cut carbon emissions across its global business by 70% since 2015 and continues to push for further reductions. In 2018, Cosentino increased its use of recycled water across its operations by 53%, is now recycling over 30% of its own waste and reduced carbon emissions by 7%. Clearly, manufacturers are working hard to attain sustainability.
B&Q has managed to achieve a carbon output reduction of 31% since 2016. Ikea has embarked on a programme of making spare parts more readily available to its customers, so that furniture can be regularly repaired to prolong its useful life, alongside a carbon emission reduction programme that has reduced its emissions by 15.5% over four years.
Wren has a consumer carbon emission calculator on its website to enable its customers to work out how they can reduce their personal carbon footprint, alongside very detailed guidance on the carbon emissions generated by a standard domestic kitchen to show consumers which appliances produce the most CO2.
By designing kitchens that have improved food storage, designers can do their bit as food waste is a major contributor to global emissions. More efficient use of refrigeration and storage could reduce the need for landfill sites and for supply chain shipping.
The kitchen industry is working to improve sustainability and considerable progress has already been made.


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AB Inbev, the parent company of Budweiser, has reached a deal to acquire SABMiller for $107 billion, a merger which will result in the production of a third of the world’s hobo piss.
Budweiser and Miller are the two leading brand
s of American Light Beer, and are not commonly appreciated by self-respecting individuals.
“We hope that this merger will allow the company to continue providing shit-quality beer to insecure frat-guys with small penises,” one AB Inbev spokesperson commented.
Historically, these two companies have been rivals, fighting for their place on the beer pong table in the basements of high-school dropouts. However, the companies determined that competing was ineffective, as no one with an IQ over 65 gives a shit about either product.
When asked how such a shitty product could be so popular, Carlos Brito, CEO of AB Inbev, stated “There’s no shortage of lacrosse players and inbred hillbillies willing to buy bullshit by the case. Let’s just hope these losers keep these pathetic standards.”
The resulting size of this company raises a variety of regulatory issues with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is better equipped for dealing with companies that generate toxic waste.
The Spokesperson from Miller declined to comment.


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Businesses need to be thinking about the future as fast as possible, and this includes online business, a leading expert in information technology said.
The key to an efficient business, he said, is to have an effective business plan, develop the right team, and keep it up to date, especially in digital and mobile technology.
When a business starts, the plan needs to be in place.
If the plan is not in place, the business is going to fail.
The key is to plan the business from the very beginning and to keep it updated, even if you have to cut corners, said Biju Nair, professor at IIT Kharagpur and author of ‘A Business Plan for Digital Success’.
The best businesses are ones that focus on the future and not on the past, said Nair.
He said the best way to keep pace with changing technologies is to think about how to adapt to the times, especially digital.
To prepare, companies should spend time on the latest information and information management tools, Nair said.
It is also good to know the latest technology, such as mobile phones, which will help you with the job.
It is not the same as the old fashioned way of building a business plan where you have a business manager or a secretary, he added.
Businesses need a business strategy, a long-term plan to develop and maintain a business.
This can be a good thing.
However, they should not just think about the short-term, Nairs said.
The company needs to think long-run and how it can be used for long- term growth and growth for the company.
Read more:How to find the right person for your job: IITKharagpur’s Bijra NairWhat you need to know about online job ads: ITTKharagpa’s Bipin Nair