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We don’t know everything on the horizon for social this year, but in the few quick days in 2016, we’ve already seen some exciting improvements and opportunities.
New Twitter Ad Format
One of the larger struggles with social advertising is getting users to not only view the ad, but to interact with the content. Twitter announced on January 5th, that they will be introducing a new ad format, to be called “Conversational Ads”. These will include polls, hashtags, and new ways to retweet, all designed to get the users to actively interact with the brands that are most relevant to them.
Lifetime has already gotten the opportunity to test this feature:
As seen in the snapshot above, users can now easily interact in many ways. The old features are still there, such as follow, and hashtag linking, but even more options are available to the user.
Snapchat has been consuming the social space for the last two years, but it has been very difficult for advertisers to get in this key space. First, there were no opportunities. Then, in 2015 Snapchat release its “Discover” and “Live” portions of the platform, which allowed advertisers in the untapped space. This came at a massive premium, leaving the majority left hanging.
Following in the footsteps of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, Snapchat is planning to open up their API, allowing for more ad types and active call-to-actions.
Snapchat has yet to release an official statement, but digital teams everywhere are anxious for this potential opportunity.


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Speaking to FoodNavigator-USA in the final part of our series on the energy shot market, spokeswoman Elaine Lutz said: “The best performance measure is our continued growth in sales. We have grown to nine million bottles each week, up from seven million in 2010; a demonstrable endorsement of our product’s popularity and effectiveness.”
She was tight-lipped about whether bosses at brand owner Living Essentials planned to extend 5-Hour Energy into new formats such as strips, chews or other products, but said there was still strong growth potential for the original shot format.
“We have seen competitors come and go in a variety of sizes, forms and formulations, but still project ongoing upside for our original shot product.
“We believe that as we inform more of America’s adults about our product, and they see for themselves the benefits it has to offer, our growth will continue in the shot market.”
She rejected suggestions made by the boss of Monster Energy recently that “there is a sort of a limitation on how many people are going to try or be regular energy shot users” compared with consumers of energy drinks.
Busy, active or working adults
The target audience for energy shots was potentially larger than that of energy drinks, she suggested. “We’re targeting busy, active or working adults who use our product when they have a hectic morning, experience an afternoon lull ( the 2:30 feeling), or just want an extra boost.
“At this point we believe our market penetration still has a lot of upside potential as only a relatively small percentage of the adults in the US choose 5-Hour Energy.”
While the firm had seen “waves of competitors enter and leave the market” since 2004, 5-Hour had continued to grow, she noted. “We have a great advantage in being the original energy shot and making a product that works.
“5-Hour Energy is a clinically tested dietary supplement. Its proprietary blend of amino acids, nutrients and caffeine, together with B vitamins, provides a boost in energy and a feeling of alertness without a sudden drop in energy later.”
Who drinks energy shots?
While smaller players have attempted to attract younger consumers, 5-hour Energy’s success has been in large part down to its ability to appeal to office workers and older consumers trying to stay alert, say experts.
Speaking to FoodNavigator-USA last month, Euromonitor drinks analyst Richard Haffner said: “Energy drinks and shots are appealing to different groups. Energy drinks are about rebelliousness, and are associated with extreme sports, young people, and young men in particular. They are all about a social scene.
“Shots appeal to a wider group including older people, women and professionals, the office audience, and are not about being rebellious, but conformity: staying alert, working harder. Drinking one is not a social activity; it’s more of a solitary thing.”
Figures supplied to FoodNavigator-USA by SymphonyIRI reveal that 5-Hour Energy now accounts for nine out of every $10 spent in the burgeoning energy shots category.
According to SymphonyIRI, sales of 5-hour Energy surged 35.78% to $924.448m in the 52 weeks ending August 7 (covering supermarkets, drugstores, gas/c-stores and mass market retailers excluding Walmart), giving it an 88.04% share of the market.
Sales of brand extension 5-hour Energy Extra Strength jumped 91.47% to $13.626m or 1.3% of the market, taking their combined share to 89.34%.
As 5-hour has a strong presence in Walmart, its total retail sales over the period would have easily broken the $1bn barrier were Walmart’s figures included in the data.
Most shots brands clocked up sales in the $1-4m range, representing a tiny fraction of the overall market, which was up 27.2% to $1.05bn.

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We received word that there will be another denim-inspired Nike LeBron 10 EXT to follow the blue/pink colorway. It looks like a black denim version will also make it to retailers as well. This LeBron 10 features a black denim upper and is complemented with red accents from the midsole and Dynamic Flywire.
It’s said that these are scheduled to hit retailers on May 17th. Stick with TSG for the latest updates. via kicksclusive


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Though we won’t be selling tickets to the Great Canadian Beer Festival, we know that it’s an event that many of our customers look forward to. So, we wanted to help spread the word about how and when tickets can be purchased. The two-day event will take place Friday and Saturday, September 9 and 10, and tickets can only be purchased online via ETIX (so says the GCBF website).
Tickets are the same as last year: Friday is $33.60 with HST and Saturday is $39.20 with HST. There is a $3 charge from ETIX plus $1 for credit card fees. There is a four ticket maximum.
Tickets may be purchased by Visa/MC only – no debit or paypal. Tickets will go on sale at 9am on July 23, and will no doubt sell out very quickly.


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Remembering The Father Of The Compact Disc
STEVE INSKEEP, host:
And today's last word in business goes out to the father of the CD - former Sony president Norio Ohga, who died over the weekend at the age of 81.
Ohga was the head of Sony when the company introduced the compact disc to the world - three decades ago, when people listened to music on LPs and cassette tapes. Ohga believed that CDs had better sound quality, and he knew what he was talking about.
In addition to being one of Japan's most important business leaders, he was also a baritone opera singer who occasionally conducted the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
And when Sony was developing the CD, Ohga insisted that it store 75 minutes of audio because he wanted to be able to hear all of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony without interruption.
And that's the business news on MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Fielmann plans to accelerate the opening of stores in Italy from 2023, with 20 additional stores annually compared with 10 currently. In an interview with the daily Corriere della Sera, Marc Fielmann, the CEO of the German eyewear retailer and the son of the founder, Günther, said that the company ...
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Amazon made big news last month after announcing it would seek ways to address soaring health care costs for its own employees. But the online shopping titan is already focusing its industry-disrupting power on the broader health care sector.
The retailer has rolled out a line of private-label over-the-counter medicines and is building a business selling a wide array of medical supplies to doctors, dentists and hospitals.
Amazon says the efforts are part of its strategy to enhance the shopping experience for businesses and consumers. But its forays into the health care field are being closely watched, especially after it announced last month that it is working with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase to better control costs and reduce spending on the health insurance they offer for the 840,000 people who work for them. Some industry watchers also speculate that the firm may try its hand at selling prescription drugs in the near future, though they warn this would be a big lift since the drug industry is so highly regulated.
Healthcare is “opaque with respect to pricing and how much players are compensated along the supply chain, so entrance by an e-commerce giant like Amazon could be a game changer,” S&P Global analysts wrote in a recent report titled “U.S. Healthcare is ‘prime’ for change by Amazon and others.”
The company won’t comment on rumors. However, it acknowledges that it is becoming a bigger player in over-the-counter medicines. Amazon has long sold Tylenol, Band-Aids, and thermometers on its website. But last summer, it quietly launched a line of private-label medicines manufactured exclusively for Amazon by Dublin-based Perrigo.
The Basic Care line, which has its own page within the Amazon site, offers a range of products, including ibuprofen, allergy medicine, laxatives, hair regrowth treatments, and nicotine gum.
Prices for many items are significantly cheaper than traditional pharmacies, such as CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid—even Walmart, analysts at Raymond James said in a December report. For instance, Basic Care ibuprofen cost $7.50 for 500 tablets, while Walmart charged $8.23 and Walgreens $15.49. A bottle of Basic Care laxatives cost $7.39, compared to $8.04 at Walmart and $11.99 at CVS.
Private label items typically provide much higher profits than brand name products—to the tune of two to three times the margin, said Elliot Wilbur, a research analyst at Raymond James. But one hurdle Amazon faces with some of its Basic Care line is that consumers aren’t willing to wait 24 to 48 hours to get their cold or pain medicine when they are in need, he said. Instead, many will prefer to run to the store.
Still, Amazon is likely to be a bigger disruptor in the over-the-counter market than it would be if it starts selling prescription drugs, which is much more highly regulated and complex, said Shannan Murphy, director at S&P Global. The company can use its expertise in ordering and delivering commodity products to get non-prescription medicines to consumers quickly, she said.
Amazon is also trying to convince the medical community to buy commonly used products—such as rubber gloves, syringes, gauze, surgical gowns, stethoscopes, and dental bibs—from its AmazonBusiness site, which launched three years ago. It brought on Chris Holt, who has long worked in the healthcare supply chain field, to lead the healthcare initiative. In addition to employing a sales team, the division has been attending industry conferences and events to raise its profile.
While this business line isn’t as complex as pharmaceuticals, it still required Amazon to get licenses in various states before it could sell certain medical supplies. This set off a flurry of speculation that the company was moving one step closer to selling prescription drugs, but an Amazon spokesperson clarified that the licenses were for products, not medication.
Amazon is betting that those who buy supplies for medical practices—as well as for educational and government offices—will be comfortable shopping online. Its business site offers additional functions, such as allowing multiple users on a single account, requiring approvals from supervisors and enforcing spending limits. But it also allows users to quickly compare prices for a variety of vendors.
This venture also has its risks, analysts said. Doctors and dentists often have their preferred providers and aren’t as sensitive to prices, Murphy said. Also, medical offices and hospitals can never afford to be out of stock, which is why they tend to stick with the suppliers that have worked well for them. Amazon, however, is well known for testing markets and exiting them if the efforts aren’t successful.


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LONDON — Re/Done is adding menswear to its repertoire.
The cool Los Angeles-based label known for giving vintage Levi’s denim a new life has two big singular visions for 2023: to launch men’s successfully and maintain a steady pace of business in the current climate crisis, said Jamie Mazur on Zoom, cofounder of Re/Done with Sean Barron.
The idea to venture into the men’s market had started pre-COVID-19, but the operation was paused to focus on the rest of the business as the world went into lockdown.
“We’ve done so many different projects within Re/Done, so this is the first time I’ve actually felt like I actually get to really focus on it,” said Mazur, whose men’s collection launches Tuesday.
The brand’s ethos of upcycled, recycled and deadstock fabrics will continue into the men’s category that includes knitwear using upcycled Hanes T-shirts and double V sweatshirts; shirting made from vintage Japanese textiles; and straight, slim and loose denim styles inspired by the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘90s.
The concept of Re/Done is all about reconstructing old Levi’s into new styles, which is what inspired Mazur to start the brand. Re/Done has upcycled nearly 200,000 pairs of Levi’s.
“When we first started Re/Done, I would buy vintage Levi’s and tailor them myself and then I noticed girls were doing it and girlfriends of mine that were stylists were doing it too,” said Mazur, explaining that the reason he started the label was to make what he was doing for himself “available to men and women.”
When Mazur began Re/Done with Barron, the women’s category came first for the sake of the business. Mazur believed, “if you’re going to make money in fashion you’re going to make women’s clothes. Now it’s a different beast because men’s fashion is just as important,” he said.
Working with Levi’s and Hanes T-shirts has always felt quite “masculine” to Mazur, which is why he’s never felt out of place when creating clothes for Re/Done.
“We have had a lot of skinny men buying women’s jeans over the years,” said Mazur. He’s often met with questions from customers whose boyfriends have asked when Re/Done will launch menswear.
Mazur is candid about not overachieving in 2023 because of the cost-of-living crisis happening right now — he’s happy being fixed on Re/Done’s current success and homing in on the men’s launch.
“We’re pausing doing anything anywhere just to maintain [what] we have and if things change in the next year we’re going to get back on opening stores,” said Mazur, whose ambitions are still in high spirits about opening a store in London after the warm welcome they encountered in their Chiltern Street pop-up store.
In July 2022, Re/Done opened a retail store in the 7th Arrondissement of Paris, in the heart of Saint-Germain as part of its expansion. International markets account for 40 percent of the brand’s site traffic, wholesale represents 55 percent of the business, while direct-to-consumer on e-commerce and brick-and-mortar is 45 percent of the business.
The label will be celebrating its 10th anniversary next year — over the years, Mazur’s biggest challenge has been launching ready-to-wear because “it’s really hard to take something and make something new out of it that you actually want to wear or resonate with people. Our goal was always to just continue to upcycle and be sustainable.”


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Remember the very funny unveiling of the Cybertruck a few weeks ago? You know, the one when Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the vehicle’s designer whacked the truck with a sledgehammer and broke the armored-glass window?
Someone is now driving one around, and it’s reportedly Musk himself who is showing off the truck on the streets of Los Angeles.
Like the Nov. 21 unveiling event, a few things went wrong for Musk and his newest product that is expected to be made available to the general public in 2021.
He hit a traffic pylon
Twitter videos showed Musk pulling the Cybertruck out of a parking lot and hitting a traffic pylon.
— GuruLeaks (@Guruleaks1) December 8, 2019
Tech Decisions hasn’t been in the truck, so we can’t say for sure, but there must be some considerable blind spots on the vehicle, given its … um … unique configuration.
The body roll
In the same video of Musk pulling out of the parking lot, he takes a left turn and there appears to get some body roll, according to Tech Crunch.
That’s despite the truck’s wheels being wider than the fenders, which isn’t allowed under U.S. vehicle regulations.
The truck also appears to now have an exterior mirror on the driver’s side, which is also a requirement. Photos posted to Twitter show a manufacturer’s place on the truck, which seems to answer the question, “How is this thing street legal?”
He ran a red light
While hitting a traffic cone and showing a considerable amount of body roll, Musk ran a red light and came a little too close to other vehicles traveling on the road.
Imagine almost colliding with that beastly Blade Runner-esque after a night out.
We can’t say for sure what Musk consumed inside that trendy Japanese restaurant, but we can definitely say that Sake is served in many Japanese restaurants and that it’s very good.
Musk is also reportedly planning to get into the alcohol business himself, as his company filed to trademark a new brand of tequila called “Teslaquila.” However, that business venture has yet to come to fruition.


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The agency is moving out of the licensing model. Henceforth, Famous Innovations will in no way be associated with StrawberryFrog, globally.
Sixteen months after the launch of StrawberryFrog in India, the agency has gone independent.
The agency had launched its India operations in November 2012, with Raj Kamble at the helm of affairs.
Arun Raman and Kamal Mandal are named head of strategy and CFO, respectively.
Kamble says that in India, the agency is moving out of the licensing model of using a global brand name. He adds, "The last 16 months have been amazing at the agency. We have won nine out of the 11 businesses we pitched for, and I am very positive about the team we have built. Our true strength is our passionate team and nothing should stop us from investing in our people and in our work."
He clarifies that following this name change, Famous Innovations will in no way be associated with StrawberryFrog globally.
Famous Innovations will continue with its own roster of clients including Raymond, Titan Industries, SAB Miller, Lakme Lever, Vadilal ice-creams, Spykar, MassMutual USA, Total Environment and Piramal.
"We are at an exciting phase of our journey and I believe the work we have on the table with Mahindra, Xylys by Titan and Raymond will make our clients proud," Kamble adds.
About the new name, Raman says, "Innovation is in our DNA. Our new name captures our spirit perfectly - making our client brands famous through our innovative solutions." Raman had joined StrawberryFrog in August 2013, to head the agency's strategic planning function. Before joining StrawberryFrog, he was EVP, strategic planning at Lowe India.


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CHEYENNE, Wyo., Feb. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The team at WoopShop is pleased to announce its partnership with Cainiao Smart Logistics Network. The move is expected to trigger improved sales and customer service across the board. Cainiao Smart Logistics comes highly recommended by Alibaba and will now be looking to extend its services to WoopShop.
In a statement, Cainiao president Lin Wan said, "Logistics is no longer an afterthought. Today, logistics has become a game-changer and key differentiator that sets one business apart from another." He continued by saying, "Our investment to establish a global smart logistics network, including international shipping routes and warehousing facilities, will provide businesses with greater operational efficiency, cost savings, transparency and accuracy in their supply chain management."
Unlike Alibaba, WoopShop is a large eCommerce platform that offers customers a delightful shopping experience with a wide range of products. On the flip side, Alibaba is a marketplace for sellers and vendors. WoopShop sells only genuine products manufactured by WoopShop and sold directly to consumers at attainable prices. All WoopShop products are tested by an in-house quality control team to ensure that customers get the best every time. The company also sells quality products from other brands after passing them through its rigorous quality control process.
The global online shopping industry has continued to grow over the years. The ravaging covid-19 pandemic has seemingly driven the growth of the market as more people resort to shopping over the internet to adhere to the safety protocols put in place by the government. Consequently, there has been an increase in the number of online retail outlets. Unfortunately, many of such platforms do not particularly satisfy the shopping needs of users, especially in the areas of comprehensiveness, user-friendliness, and affordability. However, WoopShop seems to have found the formula to offer a mix of all these features and deliver it to customers.
With a presence in more than 200 countries worldwide and Cainiao Smart Logistics in its corner, WoopShop is expected to see an increase in delivery speed to Europe and other countries. WoopShop supports all international languages and currencies, with a wide range of payment options available to ensure convenient shopping for customers worldwide. Away from business, WoopShop has earned a lot of praise for its self-appointed social responsibility to support developing African countries and put a smile on the face of its people.
Speaking on the partnership with Cainiao Smart Logistics, a spokesperson for WoopShop said, "We are happy to have secured the services of Cainiao. Alibaba relies on them to do their heavy lifting, so we are confident about their capabilities. With logistics now regarded as the bedrock of any business, we can say that our customers can expect improved services across the board."
For more information about WoopShop and how to leverage the platform to enjoy a fantastic shopping experience, please visit - https://woopshop.com/. WoopShop can also be found across social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Haythem Chtioui, HAWAFI GROUP, +1 888.886.9552, [email protected]


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Full profile →'">
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
Sears Holdings managed to post a smaller quarterly loss, helped by reduced costs. Still, Sears, the company controlled by hedge fund manager Eddie Lampert, left investors little else to extend hopes of a deft turnaround.
The loss narrowed to $132 million, $1.25 a share, from $146 million, $1.37 a share, a year earlier. Analysts believed the loss would be $97 million. Sales fell 6.6% to $9.5 billion.
In a bid to staunch a five consecutive years of declining sales, Sears has moved to lower costs and inventory. Reducing costs by $300 million in the second quarter allowed gross margin to expand to 26.7% from 25.7%. Meantime, domestic inventories levels fell by $512 million.
That did little to boost sales, though. Sales at established locations fell 3.7%. The fall includes a 2.9% slide at the company's namesake stores in the U.S. and a 4.7% fall at Kmart stores. Declining electronics prices and decreased demand for lawn and garden items contributed to Kmart's troubles.
Part of Sears' plan includes boosting liquidity and divesting assets. Sears plans to spinoff a stake in its Canada division, as well as its Hometown, Outlet and hardware stores. It has already sold 11 stores to General Growth Properties for $270 million. All told, Sears has boosted its liquidity by $1.2 billion.
Sears offered new details on the spinoff of its Hometown, Outlet and hardware stores. It now expects that deal to raise $446.5 in gross proceeds, roughly the mid-point of an earlier forecast.
Meantime, Sears has closed roughly 100 stores, shuttering both Sears and Kmart locations.
To simply break-even, Sears would need to generate more than $1 billion in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, Credit Suisse's Gary Balter estimates. Analysts see Sears able to generate only half that this year. "Given the productivity challenges, the likelihood that J.C. Penney has changed its promotional stance by next year, and the negative impact of closing some of the better-profit stores, we view (the $1 billion EBITDA goal) as improbable," Balter says.
Despite the spinoffs, and the likelihood that Lands End will be the next brand to be sold, Balter remains doubtful about Lampert's ability to right Sears' direction. "This still looks like it will end poorly," says Balter, who rates Sears as Underperform.
Cash has fallen to $738 million from $754 million in January, after Sears paid down $231 million in long-term debt. Some $3.3 billion in total debt remains, down from $3.5 billion a year ago. Sears has $2.1 billion under two credit facilities.
Reach Abram Brown at email@example.com.


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More than a third of businesses (35%) said that the heightened cost of energy is their greatest concern, as high inflation bites globally, according to a survey from working capital solutions business Taulia. The research, carried out amongst more than 500 senior financial decision makers at large companies in the US, UK, Singapore and Germany, found that while energy costs are most pronounced in Europe, they remain a key concern in all regions.
What were the findings of Taulia’s survey?
Two in five businesses in the UK (41%) and Germany (39%) said energy costs were inflationary pressures having the greatest impact on their business, though almost a third (31%) of US decision makers and just over a quarter (27%) in Singapore agreed.
The research found that four in five (83%) are concerned about the effects of inflation on their business, citing the cost of raw materials (29%), increased supplier (28%) and labor costs (26%) as key concerns. Inflation concern is most pronounced in the US, where over nine in ten (93%) said that the impact of inflation was a worry. This resonated globally, with nearly nine in ten (87%) agreeing in the UK and over four in five (83%) in Singapore.
What do the findings mean for global businesses?
Cedric Bru, CEO, Taulia, said:“While the higher price of energy is most pronounced in Europe, it is a leading inflationary concern for businesses everywhere. The danger that higher energy prices will affect the cost of production and doing business is real and present in all markets.”
“In order to mitigate the consequences of higher prices and avoid supply chain logjams, it is incumbent upon leaders to ensure they have the financial facilities in place that allow them to smooth over this protracted period and keep the lights on until calm is restored.”


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UPDATE: Along with India, the OnePlus 6T Thunder Purple color variant will also be launched in the United States and the UK. It seems that the new color option will eventually be available in every country where OnePlus sells its devices.
Last month, OnePlus announced its latest flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 6T. The device went on sale in India earlier this month in two color options — Midnight Black and Mirror Black. Now, the company seems all set to launch a third color variant in India — OnePlus 6T Thunder Purple.
The teaser posted by OnePlus India on Twitter says: “Elegance infused with the brilliance of thunderstorms. #ThunderPurple is coming.” The OnePlus 6T Thunder Purple color was introduced when the phone was officially launched in China last week.
While the company has confirmed that the new color variant will launch in India, OnePlus has not yet revealed the availability information. However, we expect the company to reveal more details in the coming days. As for the pricing, it will be pricing similar to the existing models in India.
Currently, the base model of OnePlus 6T with 6GB RAM costs Rs. 37,999 (approx. $521) while the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model is priced at Rs. 41,999 (~$576). The top-end model with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage is priced at Rs. 45,999, which roughly converts to $631.
The OnePlus 6T features a 6.41-inch Optic AMOLED Full HD+ display and carries support for features such as Adaptive brightness, screen calibration, and reading mode. The display offers 19.5:9 aspect ratio and comes with a “waterdrop” notch instead of the regular notch.
It comes with an optical in-display fingerprint sensor which the company calls “Screen Unlock” and claims to be the fastest-performing implementation of such technology yet. Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor with either 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB/256GB of internal storage.
The phone has a 16MP + 20MP rear camera and a 16MP front-facing camera. It comes with an impressive set of features such as Nightscape mode, which helps deliver impressive low-light photography; intelligent scene recognition, which detects objects in the frame and automatically adjusts settings; Studio Lighting for stunning portrait shots; among others.
The phone runs on OxygenOS 9.0, which is based on Android 9 Pie operating system and is powered by 3,700mAh battery that comes equipped with support for fast charging.
Check out the OnePlus 6T Thunder Purple color variant in our hands-on article here.


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Inside Klein Tools' Texas Manufacturing HQ
Klein opens new heat treating plant and prepares to break ground for more.
Mansfield, TX is a city of 60,000 roughly midway between Fort Worth and Dallas, just south of Arlington. Based in part on its thriving employment base, climate and low cost of living, Mansfield was ranked number 30 on Money Magazine's 2012 list of America's best small cities. These attributes, combined with the state’s strong pro-business environment, enabled Mansfield to make a successful bid to become the new home of Klein Tool’s manufacturing headquarters. Klein Tools now owns 100 acres in Mansfield and has two plants here, with more on the way. The company has a family connection here too: company president Thomas Klein got his B.A. degree at Texas Christian University in nearby Fort Worth.
Klein Tools' Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center in Mansfield, TX is the company's new base of manufacturing operations.
On Thursday, April 10, Klein officially cut the ribbon on its new heat-treating facility. Contractor Supply attended the event and toured both facilities — the Mansfield pliers production plant and the shiny new heat-treating plant, which is just now coming on-line.
Top photo: vice president of marketing Greg Palese (seen standing slghtly in front of Klein's family members and plant managers) addresses a gathering of press and local dignitaries at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Klein Tools' new Mansfield, TX heat treating plant.
Above: Klein family members prepare to cut the ribbon — actually a Klein fish tape, with Klein tools, naturally. From left to right: David Klein, associate product manager; Michael Klein II, director of advanced manufacturing; Thomas R. Klein, president; Mathias Klein III, chairman; Derek Klein, lead manufacturing coordinator and Megan Klein, associate marketing manager.
Greg Palese, vice president of marketing, welcomed us with a brief presentation and a few comments about Klein Tools’ ongoing commitment to manufacturing in the United States.
“Klein Tools manufactures more SKUs of tools used in electrical applications here in the United States than any of our competitors,” Palese stated. “Like most global companies, we do source some products abroad, but Klein Tools makes 14 times more products here in the United States than we do in any other country.”
"Klein Tools has invested more than $200 million in U.S. operations since 2006. Over the past 10 years, the vast majority of our investments have been to expand our manufacturing capabilities in the USA."
— Thomas R. Klein, president, Klein Tools
Thomas R. Klein, company president, then briefly discussed Klein’s selection process for choosing to base its new headquarters in Mansfield and discussed the interplay between the company’s administrative headquarters in Lincolnshire, Illinois, and its plastics injection molding plant in Michigan and packaging plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Klein Tools chose Mansfield in part because of incentives from The Texas Enterprise Fund, which was created to entice businesses to relocate to Texas.
“Klein Tools has invested more than $200 million in U.S. operations since 2006,” Thomas Klein said, and noted that the Mansfield facilities speak to the family-owned company’s long-term business model and commitment to growth. The company currently operates eight plants in the U.S. that employ over 1,000 people in six states: Illinois, Texas, Iowa, Arkansas, Michigan and New York.
“Over the last 10 years, the vast majority of our investments have been to expand our manufacturing capabilities in the USA,” Klein added. “Additionally, while we have recently built several new facilities, we also continue to invest in our existing factories to support continuous improvement initiatives in the areas of product quality and productivity. Currently, planned investments in excess of $100 million will allow us to manufacture in the USA some of the products we currently import, and to make new products that would otherwise be imported without this investment.”
That investment is ongoing. Klein will break ground soon on another 175,000 square foot plant in Mansfield. This plant, set to come online in 2016, will be home to the company’s screwdriver and nut driver production.
Chris Hargan, senior vice president of manufacturing, is justifiably proud of the company’s investments in US manufacturing.
“In Elk Grove Village, Illinois, we have the country’s first automated forging system,” he said. “We have our own injection molding operation in Michigan, and now we have our own state-of-the-art heat treating facility here in Texas.”
Inside the new heat treating plant, a bank of six state of the art ovens 'bake" untreated pliers to 1,600 degrees F.
Unlike many US based operations, Hargan stressed that Klein’s manufacturing operations focus not on production speed, but rather on product quality, continuous improvement and minimizing waste. As proof, Hargan said that the Mansfield plant recycles 10,000 pounds of steel per month.
On the plant tour, 16-year Klein veteran Matt Marinovic, operations manager for manufacturing, explained Klein’s process.
“Each forging starts as a 20-foot bar of proprietary steel,” he said. “And each forging is accurate to 0.005 of an inch.”
Over the years, manufacturing advances have dramatically increased accuracy and reduced the number of operational touch points needed to produce a finished product.
“Just one of our improvements took part of the process from 25 clamping operations down to two,” Marinovic noted.
Pliers go through the manufacturing stations in pairs, which minimizes errors. When both sides of a pair of pliers are processed side by side, any discrepancies are immediately visible.
In the shiny new heat treating plant, a computer-controlled track shuttles racks of tools to and from a bank of six heat treating ovens on the left and cooling chambers visible on the right.
The Mansfield plant also has 10 flexible work cells that can quickly adjust production to changing demand.
Advancements in manufacturing productivity and robotics have also enabled Klein to do more with fewer people.
“In 1998 we had nearly 900 people producing these products,” Hargan added. “Today we produce 25 percent more product with approximately one-half of the people we had then.”
In the Mansfield TX, manufacturing facility, a worker grinds and inspects pliers as they proceed from raw steel to finished product.
This month’s opening of Klein Tools’ state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing plant in Mansfield, TX demonstrates the importance of the human factor even when relying on machines to turn out quality, American-made products. It’s not enough to have the world’s best technology; you have to find and train the world’s best people to be able to use that technology correctly.
So far in Mansfield, Klein has provided jobs for 200 workers, with many more to come as the company continues on its growth track.
“The opening of our new heat treating facility in Mansfield will help us keep up with product demand, streamline operations to stay competitive and provide American jobs in advanced manufacturing,” said Thomas R. Klein, president of Klein Tools.
Klein Tools is also growing beyond its traditional pliers and screwdriver lines. Recent products include fish tapes and rods, the MM500 Auto Ranging Multimeter, new slim-grip handle designs for its 1,000-watt insulated tools, tool bags, step bits, screwdrivers and a growing line of glow-in-the-dark handle tools.
Klein executives, including Kurt Owen, director of product development, also hinted at a number of new products that will enable Klein Tools to build upon its brand equity as a premier U.S.-based tool manufacturer and provide more jobs for American workers.
Learn more at www.kleintools.com


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New York is about to get a whole lot sweeter—as in fried, sugary and glazed.
Last year, Krispy Kreme announced it would be opening a Times Square flagship and today brings further details: The 45,000-square-foot space is set to debut in May and will usher in five more new locations throughout Manhattan and the Bronx.
It’s a big announcement for doughnut fans—and let’s be honest: who doesn’t like doughnuts, especially in a city full of great doughnut options?—because Krispy Kreme’s sole NYC location since 2009 has been in the bowels of Penn Station.
“We know that New York has an amazing doughnut culture and that New Yorkers expect the best. Research repeatedly shows that Krispy Kreme serves the best doughnuts in the world, so we welcome the opportunity to serve New York’s true doughnut connoisseurs, says Andrew Skehan, Krispy Kreme’s President North America, in an email to Time Out New York. “New Yorkers’ reaction to when we announced our Times Square flagship was tremendous. It fueled our excitement to expand in the Big Apple in an even bigger way to deliver the most awesome doughnut experience imaginable.”
The Penn Station outlet has been closed since early January for a makeover that’s turning the space to serve customers more quickly, according to Krispy Kreme spokesperson. It will re-open on January 30th. Another opening is set for February 4th at the intersection of West 37th Street and Sixth Avenue. Other openings will happen throughout 2020 in the Financial District, Harlem, Bronx and Upper West Side. The company says it expects to hire more than 400 people for the new businesses.
But if you love sweet fried dough, however, the Times Square behemoth at 48th Street and Broadway will be open 24/7. The world’s largest Hot Light will always be lit to let those with a sweet tooth know fresh and hot doughnuts are ready to order and you can devour your treats in the space complete with stadium-style seating.
For the openings, there will be an Office Hero promotion, where 10 winners will receive four dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for their office or school. Additionally, for each shop’s first week, 10 dozen random guests will receive a Golden ticket for a year’s supply of doughnuts.
The seven shops in 2020 will add to Krispy Kreme’s more than 1,450 shops worldwide.


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Spartan Motors to acquire parts supplier for $36M
CHARLOTTE - Spartan Motors has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Nebraska-based Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., a parts manufacturer for fire departments.
The deal will cost $36.3 million and is expected to strengthen Spartan Motors' business in emergency response industry, according to a news release. Spartan Motors produces chassis and bodies for emergency response, recreational and specialty vehicles.
Smeal buys chassis from Spartan Motors and is expected to have a 2016 revenue of roughly $100 million, according to the release.
“We look forward to adding Smeal’s industry-leading product portfolio and manufacturing expertise to Spartan’s, while expanding on a decades-long successful partnership,” said Daryl Adams, president and CEO of Spartan Motors, in the release.
Smeal was founded in 1955 in Snyder, Nebraska. It operates facilities in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.The acquisition is expected to close in January.


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Flutterwave, an African-based fintech company that provides a payment infrastructure for global merchants and payment service providers across the continent, and Gro Intelligence, an analytics startup deploying artificial intelligence systems for food security and climate stability solutions, were listed as pioneers on TIME’s newly released list of 100 Most Influential Companies making an extraordinary impact around the world.
These tech companies are the only African companies listed in this year’s lineup alongside companies like Twitter, Apple, and Stripe.
According to TIME, Flutterwave was selected for its efforts in powering retailers after the pandemic restricted movements in the region while Gro Intelligence was chosen for building the AI-powered decision engine across climate, agriculture, and the economy.
The list was grouped into five categories; Pioneers, Leaders, Innovators, Disruptors, and Titans.
When pandemic lockdowns hit brick-and-mortar businesses in Africa, the digital payment service was able to rapidly set up digital storefronts for 20,000 customers, throwing them a lifeline. Flutterwave hit tech-unicorn status in March when it secured $170 million in Series C funding from global investors, valuing the company at more than $1 billion.
Gro Intelligence works with thousands of clients, ranging from big food companies like Unilever and Yum! Brands to financial institutions, including BNP Paribas and Wells Fargo, providing them with a host of data and analysis on the global agricultural ecosystem.
In January, Gro raised $85 million. Backers include prominent tech investors Intel Capital and Africa Internet Ventures (a strategic partnership between TPG Growth and EchoVC).
Gro ingests and analyzes over 650 trillion data points from more than 40,000 sources—crop forecasts, satellite images, topography, reports on precipitation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration—to provide insights and forecasts into 15,000 unique agricultural products.
TIME highlights businesses making an extraordinary impact around the world. To assemble this list, TIME solicited nominations across sectors including healthcare, entertainment, transportation, technology and more from their global network of editors and correspondents, as well as from industry experts.


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About the author: Dana M. Peterson is the chief economist at The Conference Board.
Six months later, Russia’s war is still taking a terrible toll on millions of Ukrainians, but also on billions more people around the world through rapidly rising inflation, shortages, financial market volatility, and risks of recession.
Although some commodity prices have eased from their year-to-date peaks, they remain elevated, stoking the cost of intermediate and final goods that utilize these products. Higher input costs for firms are being passed onto consumers, causing both price spikes for household basics and aggressive interest rate hikes by central banks. Higher interest rates not only reduce domestic demand but also place overly-indebted economies at risk of default.
The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by three-quarters of a point on Wednesday, following an increase of the same size in June. The Fed’s interest-rate hike campaign is strengthening the US dollar, leading to weaker foreign currencies—and to devastating inflation for the world’s other economies. Higher inflation, central bank tightening, and foreign currency depreciation are raising the Specter of recession for many economies, including here in the US Certainly, if the US goes into recession, and China and the euro zone slow considerably, then another global economic downturn could be on the horizon.
For the US, the shock of a regional war in Eastern Europe is now morphing into a recession at home. The root cause is the increased global inflation linked to the war and an aggressive Federal Reserve response to that inflation, which also includes shrinking the size of its balance sheet. What is spurring higher prices and how will the Fed’s actions result in recession?
To date, supply and demand drivers have fueled US inflation. The former includes continued supply-chain bottlenecks associated with China’s zero-Covid policy, and rising wages due to labor shortages and the “Great Resignation.” Demand drivers included powerful household demand for goods during the worst of the pandemic, and strong desire for services now with it in the rearview mirror. Additionally, low interest rates fueled demand for homes and financed goods like automobiles, and consequently increased their prices.
The war in Eastern Europe only added to the supply-side inflation shocks. Ukraine and Russia are major global suppliers of grains, energy, assorted rare metals and gases (platinum and neon, for example), cooking oils, and fertilizers. The inability to produce and export these products due to destruction, sanctions, or blockades associated with the war raised these goods’ global prices. Additionally, shortages of these materials raise costs for transportation and semiconductor production, the latter of which are found in most everything businesses and consumers use.
But the Fed’s mission, according to Federal Open Market Committee officials, is to tamp down inflation in its entirety, not just certain elements. The FOMC has penciled in an increase in the federal funds rate to 3¾-4% sometime next year in the Summary of Economic Projections. While that is by no means a forecast, it does indicate a hawkish stance from a central bank aiming to achieve several objectives: lower inflation back to the 2% target; keep long-term inflation expectations anchored; prevent a wage-price spiral; and maintain the Fed’s credibility.
Interest rates heading into what would be considered restrictive territory—the federal funds rate exceeding 3%—would mean significant tightening in monetary policy on a meeting-by-meeting basis. The Fed’s trajectory portends material slowing in domestic demand. Higher interest rates will make it more expensive for businesses to invest in capital, structures, and intellectual property; and increase households’ costs for financing big-ticket items (such as cars, furniture, homes, cell phones), reducing consumer spending. These sudden curbs on domestic demand will likely lead to a US recession before the year’s end.
A US recession would not go unnoticed around the world, particularly among major US trading partners such as Canada, Mexico, the Eurozone, and China. Reduced trade could also slow those economies. Meanwhile, many US trading partners’ central banks, with the exception of China, are tightening their monetary policies in response to higher domestic inflation and imported inflation from US dollar appreciation. Significant slowdowns or recessions in the US, Europe, and China could trigger another global recession.
Even without recessions, many economies, especially the US, are experiencing stagflationary environments. Stagflation is essentially a period of low growth and elevated inflation. An extended period of stagflation is potentially more harmful than a brief recession.
That is why the Fed is intent on wrestling inflation to the ground. Its policy makers want to ensure that expectations of higher inflation do not get embedded in the psyche of consumers, firms, and financial markets in order to avoid a period of lengthy stagflation. It is also trying to end higher prices’ corrosive effects on household balance sheets, particularly those of low- and moderate-income Americans. While this might create a period of pain, in the form of what we believe will be a shallow and brief recession characterized by negative GDP growth rates and some job losses, the alternative—rampant inflation—is more unsatisfactory.
The good news is that interest rate hikes are occurring against a backdrop of underlying strength in the US economy. This is most evident in the labor market, which by many measures is well beyond the 4.4% unemployment rate the Fed might classify as full employment.
The tight labor market heading into the Fed’s tightening cycle may even help to limit the number of jobs lost during the likely recession. Labor shortages continue to be a major problem and job openings abound. Indeed, many firms may reduce hours, halt 401(k) plan contributions or deploy other measures short of layoffs to keep the workers they fought so hard to attract and retain.
So, while the peaking of commodity prices may have taken place, the US and much of the rest of the world is still likely to experience continued pain ahead. This time it’s coming in the form of recessionary environments, characterized by weaker growth and renewed labor market strains.
Guest commentaries like this one are written by authors outside the Barron’s and MarketWatch newsroom. They reflect the perspective and opinions of the authors. Submit commentary proposals and other feedback to [email protected]


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Can’t Login to CRA My Account Online? Cyberattacks Hit 9,000 Accounts Says Ottawa
This weekend the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account online services were temporarily shut down, and currently remain unavailable to Canadians, as the result of numerous cyberattacks against federal online services.
The CRA My Account for Individuals online portal is still unavailable Monday morning, with a message that reads, “This service is not available at this time,” and “this service disruption is temporary. We regret the inconvenience.”
As reported by CBC News on the weekend, the federal government disclosed cyberattacks targeted the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website and GCKey, a secure online portal that allows access to government services.
According to Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Marc Brouillard, he noted the attacks were based on “credential stuffing”, where fraudsters leverage leaked account username and password combinations to login, as many people reuse online passwords for various accounts.
“By using previously hacked usernames and passwords, the bad actors were able to fraudulently acquire approximately 9,000 of the roughly 12 million active [GCKey] accounts, a third of which accessed such services and are being further examined for suspicious activities,” Brouillard told CBC News.
The Government of Canada says they have “worked around the clock to reduce the threat to Canadians affected…the credential stuffing attack on GC has ceased.”
According to the CRA, three separate cyberattack incidents may have allowed fraudsters access to 5,600 CRA My Accounts.
Access to CRA online services such as My Account, My Business Account and Represent a Client were temporarily taken offline, and remain offline as of writing.
Ottawa says these online CRA services are set to come back online mid-week. Canadians affected by COVID-19 have been using CRA My Account online to apply for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), so downtime means individuals won’t be able to access the online claim forms.
The RCMP said it’s looking into the attacks, while Canada’s privacy commissioner is also “monitoring” the situation.


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The Polaris Slingshot turned more heads than just about anything I saw at CES 2015 in Las Vegas. Master promoter and entrepreneur Scott Jordan offered rides to people and talk about his new ride, his book and his company.
Scott Jordan is the founder and co-owner of Scottevest, a company that make clothing with tons of pockets and discreet wiring systems that allow users to run headphone and charging cables through discreet holes. The relatively simple idea has grown into a business that’s had over $50 million in sales.
Instead of waiting for journalists and conference attendees to stop by a booth, Jordan spent about $25,000 on the Slingshot and offered rides around Las Vegas. Jordan skinned the Slingshot with his new Pocket Man logo and blasted his new theme song, based on Elton John’s Rocket Man. It’s the kind of idea that wouldn’t pass muster in most companies, but the idea was so crazy it worked. Jordan and Scottevest got more attention than a lot of tech brands that spent several times more on booth space, PR firms, events and marketing materials.
Jordan is rightfully proud of the business he’s built over the past 14 years and shared some business advice for startups during the ride. Rather than taking money from venture capitalists, he and his wife started the business the “old fashioned way.” They took out a loan that was secured by their home so they could retain 100% of the company’s equity. Rather than making the company as large as possible for growth’s sake, they focused on building a profitable business. The business has been profitable since its second year, something most venture-backed companies fail to achieve.
The Slingshot got a ridiculous amount of attention, including appearances on TechCrunch, the Discovery Channel, Popular Science and many others. At nearly every stop light people asked Jordan about the Slingshot and who he was. The entrepreneur was so pleased with how much attention the Slingshot drew that he plans on holding some kind of contest for techies to outfit the vehicle with gadgets. He’s also thinking of buying several more Slingshots and hiring a street team to drive around the country to promote his brand.
Scottevest didn’t have any new products to announce at CES 2015, but the company did release a concept video of the Jacket X. The concept jacket goes far beyond Scottevest’s current products and includes features like wireless charging, an emergency beacon and biometric locks.


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(Las Vegas, Nevada--April 6, 2014) At NAB 2014 Quantel announced support for the AJA Io XT on its Marco field editor, and KONA 3G video card on its Pablo Rio color and finishing systems.
AJA Io XT will be supported for input and output on Marco in addition to AJA's T-TAP™ Thunderbolt™ adapter, enabling journalists and editors easily to exchange media with a professional SDI infrastructure - for example satellite or outside broadcast/remote trucks, or for direct recording from HD cameras.
Pablo Rio already supports the AJA Corvid Ultra, which delivers realtime 4K 60p. The addition of support for the AJA KONA 3G gives customers a wider choice of I/O infrastructure and will be particularly attractive to customers who currently require realtime 2K capability. The KONA 3G card is supported on software-only Pablo Rio 2K and 4K systems and 2KO turnkey systems.
"Since we first announced support for the AJA at NAB last year, we have shipped lots of turnkey 4K 60p Pablo Rio systems with the Corvid Ultra," said Quantel Marketing Director, Steve Owen. "Support for the AJA Io XT on Marco recognises that it's a file-based world out there - except when it's not! - and you need to move video around, efficiently. Support for the KONA 3G is simply a matter of giving our Pablo Rio customers more choice."
"Quantel has always been a standard-bearer in professional DI, and we're thrilled to work with them as a developer partner to extend even more flexible workflows to their incredibly powerful systems for editors, colorists and filmmakers," said Nick Rashby, President, AJA Video Systems.


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UPDATED: More video at the bottom of the page! If Donald Trump is upset about leaks in his security, he should have a talk with the bosses over at Sant’Agata Bolognese, Lamborghini HQ. Ever since the black bull rented the Nordschleife last year, it’s been widely believed that the Huracan Performante set a new Nürburgring laptime. Continue reading UPDATED: Lamborghini set to drop the new Huracan’s laptime next week
Whether it’s cars overtaking on the wrong side of the track in public driving, race cars ignoring double yellow flags, or pedestrians narrowly avoiding crashing cars, the Nürburgring is clearly dangerous.
While I do enjoy a nice fast motorcycle lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Murtanio’s latest upload is not making me want to pull my leathers on again any time soon.
It’s a heady mix of good luck, skill, big balls and ridiculous-life-threatening optimism.
Sounds good? Just watch for yourself…
It’s no secret that the guys at Affalterbach are gunning for Porsche with their latest range of supersports machinery. And when I first saw the green beast, the AMG GT R, I guessed it was aimed at the 991 GT3.
So imagine everybody’s surprise when, in a “real-world” Sport Auto lap, it goes even faster than the money-can’t-buy Porsche 918 Spyder!
Watch the video below…
Yes, BTG was right, and on October 26th VW was indeed setting another lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with the Golf Clubsport S.
Remember that suspiciously unrecognisable electric supercar that BTGers spotted last month? It was the Chinese NextEV prototype and now we can enjoy the fruits of their marketing labours.
If you consult Google Maps, the fast left-hander that is Schwedenkreuz doesn’t really look like much trouble at all. A 30º left-hander with no real drama at all.
So why does the next video show just so much car carnage?
Sit down, watch this 2016 Schwedenkreuz crash compilation video, and I’ll try to explain. Continue reading VIDEO: Is Schwedenkreuz the most dangerous corner on the Nürburgring?
Ferrari’s latest 670hp twin-turbo has been gathering praise in magazine roadtests around the world. But true Nürburgring fans are always really waiting for the Sport Auto Supertest.
Sport Auto have been laptime testing every important sportscar around the Nürburgring Nordschleife since 1995.
In recent years Horst von Saurma has been replaced by Christian Gebhardt, but the laps continue: Continue reading VIDEO: Ferrari 488 GTB time attack on the Nordschleife
Just a quick update with a far-too-short video I shot in the evening. The little mid-engine Hyundai has generated a massive wave of interest around the world, but its appearances on the Nürburgring have been all too short and sporadic. Continue reading VIDEO: That 350hp mid-engine Hyundai RM16 in action
Chevrolet are really on a roll at the moment, and they’re turning out some cars with blistering spec-sheets. To that list of forum-conflict-winning arguments, you can now add the 2017 Camaro ZL1.
Because this 1800kg* monster is now nearly as capable around the Nordschleife as a BMW M4 GTS, or at least, so you’d think…


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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Tuesday "banned" the compound bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic baby bottles and toddler sippy cups and it's a pleasure to say how clearly this mostly political action was explained in the resulting media coverage.
As The New York Times' Sabrina Tavernise pointed out in her story: "Manufacturers have already stopped using the chemical in baby bottles and sippy cups, and the F.D.A. said that its decision was a response to a request by the American Chemistry Council, the chemical industry’s main trade association, that rules allowing BPA in those products be phased out, in part to boost consumer confidence."
The FDA also made a point of emphasizing that it continues to support "the safe use" of BPA. The material is still used, for instance, in the protective coating used to line metal cans that hold food products. While, advocacy groups have urged a total ban, based on studies that show it to be a potent endocrine disruptor, the agency said that the body of evidence does not suggest that BPA poses a significant health risk.
Given the somewhat Orwellian nature of Tuesday's action - a government agency banning use of a compound in products that is not used in those products - journalists sought to explain its meaning. Bill Tomson reported in The Wall Street Journal that the chemistry council pushed for the action to "do away with confusion" over whether baby products still contained BPA.
A CBS/AP version of the story noted that action may head off other proposals for more extensive regulation of the plastic-hardening compound. Others suggested that the FDA action might reduce the chorus of complaint from advocacy groups. But as a Huffington Post report by Matthew Perrone noted, activists remain unimpressed: "Once again the FDA has come so late to the party that the public and the marketplace have already left," said Jason Rano of the Environmental Working Group.
At NPR's The Salt, Jon Hamilton began by noting that "it's been years" since manufacturers quit using BPA in infant and toddler bottles and cups. He went on to look at the FDA action in terms of the ongoing controversy. Hamilton's balanced piece also provided a clear summary not only of consumer worries but of research results that support the FDA position on the low-risk nature of BPA.
In other words, from the agency position, the "ban" has politics behind it and industry interest but no convincing science. And given that conclusion, as I said, it's a pleasure to see journalists put the decision into the somewhat dubious context that it deserves.
--- Deborah Blum


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Maybank has been crowned the Best Banking Brand in Malaysia in Asiamoney’s inaugural best brands in finance survey 2017. According to the poll results, Maybank scored 40.98% -leading the way amongst other local banks.
The Asiamoney’s inaugural best brands in finance survey 2017 was designed to give its readers valuable feedback on what makes a top brand among financial market key stakeholders in Asia Pacific – and which firms have the strongest brands across the region.
It analysed the factors determining the strength of a brand among the financial community and spoke to the top-ranked companies. Trust and integrity are perceived as core values in establishing a beneficial working relationship in the financial community, and scored the highest out of 10 monitored factors.
Michael Foong, Group Chief Strategy Officer of Maybank said that the Bank is honoured to be awarded this title. “It reflects the high level of trust that our stakeholders have placed in us. Our attention and deep understanding of our customers’ preferences have been pivotal in our efforts to ensure we consistently provide quality, simplicity and convenience for our customers. Through our mission of ‘Humanising Financial Services’, we believe that we are able to consistently create value for all our stakeholders through better services, greater efficiency and innovative products, and deliver a truly rewarding and meaningful experience for them.”
Michael said that the recognition from Asiamoney will spur Maybank to continue efforts to build its brand equity in the future. “Our agility and focus on innovation has enabled us to leverage on technology to deliver a superior and seamless banking experience to the communities we serve. We want to provide innovative solutions for our customers in line with our strategic objective of being the ‘Digital Bank of Choice’.”
“We have introduced many digital ‘firsts’ for banking solutions in the communities we serve, and collaborated with technology start-ups to leverage disruptive innovation,” he added. “We intend to intensify our efforts in this area so that the Maybank brand will continue to deliver a next generation customer experience by transforming the way our customers bank with us.”
Maybank is also the Most Valuable Bank Brand in Malaysia at US$2.548 billion, the only Malaysian bank with AAA brand strength rating & in Top 100 Global Bank Brands Club, based on the Brand Finance Banking 500 League Table Report 2017.


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After Microsoft’s rather interesting Xbox gamescom 2017 event yesterday, it’s time for EA’s turn. While we aren’t expecting any major announcements, we’re set to get our first full glimpse of Star Wars Battlefront II’s space battles, and we’re supposedly going to get news on the “revolution” coming to Battlefield whatever that means.
- Gamescom 2017 – Xbox One Recap and What You Might Have Missed
- 5 Reasons Why The Xbox Gamescom 2017 Show Sucked
You can watch the EA gamescom 2017 press conference live at the video below and it starts at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT.
Let’s hope there’s a surprise announcement or two during the event. For the latest multiplayer news from gamescom, make sure to check in with MP1st! We’ll also get a recap post for you in case you want to check out everything that happened (even if it’s not multiplayer-related).


text: Celebrities and trendsetters happen to be talking up a storm about matcha tea recently, but science demonstrates this is a lot more than just a passing fad. Matcha can be as nutritious as it can be delicious, offering health advantages far more strong than those of another green tea variety. Part of what makes matcha tea identifying is the way we ingest it: as opposed to steeping the leaves in warm water, matcha can be ground into a fine powder, which can be subsequently combined directly with warm water. This method of ingestion is especially efficient with regards to the all encompassing health advantages of matcha’s antioxidants. Susan Reardon, a professional holistic health coach, notes that matcha includes six times as many antioxidants as goji berry and 60 times as much as spinach. We already know that matcha green tea can be rich in antioxidants, yet it features one antioxidant especially that’s helping our bodies in a vital way: catechin. One of matcha’s most strong catechins is a material called epigallocatechin gallate, which is said to be anti carcinogenic in nature, writes the American Cancer Society. Even though all green teas include EGCG in varying quantities, a 2011 study published in the Journal of Chromatography A reasoned that matcha features around 137 times a lot more ECGC than the typical green tea. Matcha tea features caffeine, however only around 30 milligrams per cup, reports the Telegraph. Compared to 95 milligrams per cup of brewed coffee, replacing your cup of coffee with matcha will cut a significant chunk of caffeine out of your diet. Never fear, coffee swillers: Matcha won’t leave you groggy sensation, thanks to a material called L theanine, which slows the release of caffeine into the bloodstream. This results in a milder and longer lasting energy boost to fuel your day, reports the Daily Mail. Matcha has been proven to reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels, helping to prevent future instances of coronary disease. A 2009 study in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that matcha tea protects the kidneys and liver against harm by lessening total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, among other stuff. While most green teas offer similarly positive effects, matcha’s higher concentration of nutritional elements like EGCG make it your strongest ally in the fight against high cholesterol levels. Matcha’s high L theanine content offers a lot more than just an energy boost: It is also an efficient natural reliever of both physiological and psychological stress.


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We're still not sure if Konami will take the Hudson bee out back and put two tiny bullets into its brain, Old Yeller style, but Konami at least plans to keep the Hudson name around. According to a notice
spotted on the company's site by Andriasang
, Hudson branded products and services will continue to be developed post-acquisition.
The Hudson website will also stay open after Konami takes over the company
on March 1. And while the last few years haven't given us much cause to celebrate Hudson
, we're sure there are a few people out there who'd like to see the bee stick around -- one of them
is a person we actually know!


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Its Department of Agriculture has drafted new standards for – wait for it – the size of holes in Swiss cheese. But our American friends cannot be accused of imposing unfair burdens on European cheese-makers.
The new standards – accompanied by a list of technical specifications for colour and height – actually permit bigger holes in their Emmental than before.
“The standards are there because US consumers often buy cheese by the slice. They obviously need to know that they are not just buying air,” explains Evangelos Vardakas, head of standards policy at the European Commission.
He also points out that the EU has no plans to follow suit with a similar regulation.
For more details of the US rules on cheese holes, see www.ams.usda.gov/dairy/stand.htm


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SET-listed Thai Union Group, a global seafood company, yesterday announced a 10% strategic investment, valued at about 3 billion baht, in R&B Food Supply Plc (RBF), Thailand's leading food ingredients company specialising in flavours, colours and coatings.
This investment follows a multi-year relationship between Thai Union and RBF, in which RBF has been supplying food ingredients for use in Thai Union's products.
The companies said the strategic partnership is expected to help drive and accelerate business growth opportunities in the adjacent food ingredients industry, particularly to serve the increasing sophistication of Asean consumers.
RBF said its innovative ingredients, such as natural flavours and hemp extracts, can enhance both Thai Union's core offerings and newer products, including alternative protein and pet care.
For RBF, the partnership will enhance its ability to integrate vertically into Thai Union's supply chain, and leverage Thai Union's global footprint for its own international expansion.
With a shared vision for innovative food solutions, both companies said they would leverage their respective capabilities to generate additional value for customers and stakeholders.
"One of Thai Union's strategic priorities is to expand our portfolio into new, growing and higher-margin areas, and this investment is fully aligned with that," said Thiraphong Chansiri, chief executive of Thai Union.
"For over three decades, RBF has stood out as a leading ingredients supplier to the food and beverage industry in Thailand, and we are excited to be a part of their journey."
Somchai Ratanapoompinyo, chief executive of RBF, said the partnership was seen as helping leverage and strengthen both firms' competitive advantages.
He said RBF's expertise and 35 years of experience in the food ingredients business will enhance Thai Union's product offerings.
In return, Thai Union's global presence and reputation will help unlock RBF's potential and accelerate the firm's transition from a regional to a global player in the food ingredients business, said Mr Somchai.


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Today was an historic day for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who arrived in the U.S. on Sunday for a week-long visit and became the first Japanese leader to address a joint session of Congress. Prime Minister Abe arrives at a critical juncture in Japan-U.S. relations, as our two nations continue bilateral negotiations that could pave the way for finalizing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
While no major trade or economic announcements are expected during the Prime Minister’s visit, recent trade talks between President Obama and the Prime Minister indicate favorable progress, moving closer on related components that could lead to a much-anticipated conclusion to the 12-nation, U.S.-led trade initiative. As two of the most innovative countries in the world, both Japan and U.S. must work together to ensure that provisions in the TPP, especially with regards to intellectual property protections, do not become a roadblock to innovation and fair competition.
Aligned with our efforts to expand support for TPP and robust intellectual property protections, a successful agreement will create an environment that promotes collaboration and strengthens innovation, allowing the TPP economies to prosper by providing innovators with the freedom to take necessary risks and look ahead for newfound opportunities to develop the next generation of revolutionary products that our patients and consumers alike, desire and need.
In addition to promoting patient health, America’s and Japan’s biopharmaceutical sectors are dynamic, job-creating industries, and we must work to provide opportunities within the context of the TPP discussions to create opportunities that expand markets for both economies. This opportunity is an important and critical step to driving innovation and sustaining the availability of new, lifesaving medicines, and we hope that Japan, a longtime friend and ally, will continue to be a partner with the U.S. in finalizing a robust, pro-innovation TPP.


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Yesterday while discussing Windows 8 with a colleague of mine, she mentioned she heard a rumor that Microsoft was dumping DVD’s in its latest version of their operating system, Windows 8.
After some research – I found that this fact is indeed true. Microsoft announced on Thursday May 3 that DVD playback will no longer be supported by default in the new Windows 8 when it is released.
So it looks like physical discs take another hit towards extinction. This news comes on the heels of another announcement by Microsoft that Windows Media Center will not be included by default in Windows 8.
Users looking to play discs on a Windows 8 machine will either have to pay Microsoft by upgrading their copy of Windows 8 to include Windows Media Center, find a third-party alternative, or rely on device manufacturers to bundle disc playback software with new devices.
Microsoft did not say how much Windows 8’s DVD playback upgrade would cost other than to say it would be “in line with marginal costs.” In other words, the pricing shouldn’t be that expensive, but we won’t know for sure until Windows 8 ships later in 2012.
As a result of dumping Media Center by default, Windows 8 will also lose TV tuner support and DVD Video Object (VOB) file playback. But, again, you can purchase an upgrade to get these capabilities back.
If you would like, we provide a Free Technical Assessment, this can be beneficial to new and startup companies that are not sure where to start. You can always find our cloud and hosted services in the right column of this page or by simply going to our website at Raven Cloud Computing


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CNC Software, LLC, the creators of Mastercam, the world’s most widely used CAM software, have welcomed Liz Shovlin to their team as the Marketing Director. Shovlin, who brings a wealth of sales and marketing experience, most recently from the manufacturing industry, will be based in Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She will lead marketing efforts to expand the company’s market reach and strengthen its position as a global leader in manufacturing technology.
CNC Software, the developers of Mastercam, the world’s leading CAM software, have announced the appointment of Liz Shovlin as their new Marketing Director. Shovlin brings a wealth of sales and marketing experience to the company, most recently from the manufacturing industry, and will be based in Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this role, she will lead marketing efforts to expand the brand’s reach and establish Mastercam as a global leader in manufacturing technology. With Shovlin on board, the company looks forward to continued growth and success.
“I am honoured to join the Mastercam team during a time of significant growth and expansion,” said Shovlin. “I am eager to collaborate with my colleagues and partners to provide exceptional results for our customers and drive the future of manufacturing forward through the widespread adoption of Mastercam globally.”
Liz Shovlin, who began her career working with a Mastercam reseller, has honed her skills as a servant leader and has a speciality in strategic direction, digital marketing, and channel management. She is thrilled to join the Mastercam team and is looking forward to working closely with her colleagues and partners to help customers and advance the future of manufacturing through the adoption of Mastercam globally.
Sandy Moffat, Chief Market Officer, expressed his excitement about the addition of Liz Shovlin to the team. He said, “As our brand and presence continue to grow, we are delighted to welcome Liz to our rapidly expanding team. Her strong background in marketing, product development, and manufacturing strategies will greatly benefit CNC Software on a global scale.”
With Shovlin’s appointment, the company looks forward to continued growth and success. Mastercam offers a range of software solutions designed to meet the challenges faced by manufacturers in today’s industry. With a focus on efficiency, accuracy, and innovation, Mastercam is dedicated to providing its customers with the tools they need to succeed in an ever-evolving market.


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A Google executive has set a new record by jumping successfully from near the top of the stratosphere -- some 135,000 feet, or 41,000 metres high, his project website said
Google Friday celebrated one month of India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), the Mangalyaan, by putting up a special doodle on its home page for India
Signalling the growing importance of the Indian sub-continent for the search giant, Google may unveil its latest devices -- Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 -- here as as early as November along with the US and other developed markets
Imagine eating out at a restaurant without having either cash or your debit card and credit card! It's now possible with a cashless dining app Ruplee
Did you know that the Earth has almost lost 50% of all kinds of species — both plants and animals. Popularising environmental issues in a fun way is Roar — Tiger of the Sunderbans a mobile app game that has been designed by Shotformats
Andhra Pradesh Sunday claimed to have become the first state in India to use space technology in disaster management
Search engine giant Google paid tribute to the legendary R.K. Narayan, writer of popular short story collection, 'Malgudi Days' among other works with a commemorative doodle
Dashing Delhi batsman Virendra Sehwag is the most searched among cricketers, who are trying to make a comeback in the Indian team, Google announced Wednesday
Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, a 22-year-old youth here has developed a mobile application with which voters can easily search information regarding their polling centre in the state
A law firm representing a dozen celebrities affected by the theft and recent publication of private photographs online has threatened to file a lawsuit against Google if the company does not delete the material, including nude images, from the web
Deepika Padukone apparently fell ill during the last leg of the promotional tour for her upcoming film 'Happy New Year'
It's not every day that a new search engine takes its place on the Internet, much less one specialising in pornography as is the case with Boodigo, a tool developed by former Google employees who plan to make it the portal for the adult entertainment industry on the Web
Made by Micromax, Karbonn and Spice, the three phones come with impressive design and uniform hardware specs
Google Monday launched in India the first smartphones under its Android One project priced at Rs.6,399, an official said here.
TALK, an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device nominated for the Google Computer Science Award 2014, converts the user’s breath to synthesised speech. Moeena Halim speaks to Arsh Shah Dilbagi, its 16-year-old founder from Panipat
The ever-changing infrastructure of cities leads to a number of changes in the network of roads, which is very difficult to keep a tab of. Here are a few apps that will help you get to your destination on time
Today's interactive Google doodle celebrates the greatest Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy's 186's birthday by presenting his work through a collection of images
A Chinese man threw a rare official spotlight on the country's Internet controls when he sued a state-owned telecom operator for denying him access to US search engine Google, documents and reports showed today
There are reports that Google may be working to legally allow children under 13 to use its services.
For the first time, internet giant Google is planning to open Gmail, YouTube and some of its other services to children under the age of 13


text:
Signing out of account, Standby...
Mark Zuckerberg suggested Facebook might have helped prevent the Iraq War if it had been around at the time.
Workers at the facility are now being monitored, but none have so far shown any symptoms of exposure, officials said.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Accuses 'National Enquirer' Publisher of 'Extortion' Over Naked Photos in Extraordinary Blog Post
The billionaire owner of the 'Washington Post' said AMI is threatening to release naked photos of him.
Elon Musk Confirms He Was at an Alleged Silicon Valley 'Sex Party' Until 1 a.m. -- But He Says He Thought it Was a Costume Party and Left Early
His representative said he spent his time there talking about 'technology and building companies.'
On May 22, Twitter shareholders will vote on whether to investigate a radical proposal: Turning the social network into a cooperative owned by its users.
'I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.'
A lawsuit alleges that the company has been "falsely misrepresenting" itself.
Visitors to the website who try to buy something are greeted with a GIF telling them only that the company has 'got something special in store for you,' in multiple languages.
'White male privilege runs unchecked,' one woman said in an email. 'The worst part is, you don't know who to trust and who you can reach out to without continued harassment and retaliation.'
Bidders include frontrunner Verizon, inventor Dan Gilbert (backed by Warren Buffett), TPG, and a consortium that includes Bain Capital and former Yahoo CEO Ross Levinsohn.
Its stock soared as much a 12 percent in after-hours trading.
The social network is tweaking the algorithm it uses to determine what posts and articles to show you to take into account the 'time spent viewing' an article as an indicator of quality.
Users are complaining about not seeing messages from since-deceased family members, people reaching out to help them, and even people contacting them to let them know their friends have died.
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Microsoft Replaces $40 Billion Share Buyback Program, Offers Dividend Increase
September 17, 2013 11:26 AM
comment(s) - last by
Microsoft is upping the quarterly dividend from $0.23 to $0.28
Microsoft is investing its cash into its own stock through a new share buyback program, and has also announced a dividend increase.
Microsoft introduced a new $40 billion buyback program, which is replacing the previous program that expires September 2013. While the previous and new buyback programs are both set at $40 billion, the new one doesn't have an expiration date.
This looks great for Microsoft because it shows that it wants to invest its own cash into its own stock.
In addition to the buyback program, Microsoft is upping the quarterly dividend from $0.23 to $0.28, which is a 22 percent increase over that of the previous quarter. According to Microsoft, the dividend is payable December 12, 2013 to shareholders "of record" on November 21, 2013.
“These actions reflect a continued commitment to returning cash to our shareholders,” said Amy Hood, chief financial officer of Microsoft.
Microsoft has been particularly busy this year trying to turn things around after a failed Surface launch, a lack of enthusiasm for Windows Phone and complaints about Windows 8. The company is currently undergoing a restructuring process, where CEO Steve Ballmer will be out within the next year and devices like Windows Phone, PC and Xbox One will become more unified for a more fluid user experience.
Microsoft is attempting to stay competitive with new efforts like
buying Nokia's devices and services unit
for $7.2 billion and holding a
new Surface 2.0 event September 23
-- which will hopefully muster up more enthusiasm than the previous generation.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
We will see.....
9/17/2013 3:41:05 PM
I'm not so sure, WOOdmann.
I hear the new MS Surface is going to come in different colors, and have a fingerprint reader !!!
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Japan: The 206-room The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon is the first of two locations in the city, and is set to open its door 20 October, 2020.
Designed in partnership with architect Kengo Kuma, who’s behind the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, and real estate developer Mori Trust, the hotel is custom-made.
All 206 rooms, including 22 suites, offer views of Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Bay. Elsewhere in the hotel there’s a spa, a 24-hour gym powered by Technogym, a swimming pool and jacuzzi, and four meeting rooms which combined create a ballroom accommodating up to 250 guests.
The restaurants are spearheaded by Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens – his first foray into Japan. The Blue Room is the hotel’s all-day dining venue, whereas The Jade Room offers an original and bespoke menu. Both restaurants offer private dining rooms.
Outside The Jade Room and its Garden Terrace there’s a Sky Garden 450 feet above street level. With over 500 plants, trees and shrubs of 25 different species, it’s the largest skyscraper garden in Tokyo. The outdoor restaurant will serve a small menu of sharing dishes and the bar will offer curated cocktails.
The Gold Bar at EDITION is a lounge during the day serving an afternoon traditional Japanese tea ceremony and all-day food menu, and transforms into a cocktail bar in the evenings. The Lobby Bar is at the heart of the hotel in an open-plan setting.
“I have always had a spiritual connection with the approach and aesthetics of Japan,” said Ian Schrager, who conceived EDITION in partnership with Marriott International. “Their rationality, their simplicity, and their restraint has been the foundation of everything I’ve done. They are truly original thinkers but execute their ideas in such a humble and modest fashion. The end results are bold yet refined and shouts in a quiet way. It’s a sweet spot that is completely seductive for me.”
“Nothing makes me more excited than seeing the EDITION Hotel open in Tokyo, a favourite destination of mine and the place I was born,” said Arne Sorensen, CEO at Marriott International. “In partnership with Mori Trust and my friend Ian Schrager, The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon is a beacon of hope and optimism for the future, a place where thousands of travellers and local customers will be welcomed in the years ahead. Particularly in this time of complexity, the opening of The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon stands as proof that we will return – to travel, to togetherness and to joy.”
Miwako Date, president and CEO of Mori Trust, added: “We could not be more pleased to launch Japan’s very first EDITION hotel, a luxury brand renowned for capturing the vibrant essence and lifestyle of each one of its gateway locations. In Ian Schrager, Mori Trust has found an ideal partner for developing and creating a distinctive property that befits our vision of Tokyo’s future. As a leading real-estate developer committed to the city’s dynamic growth, we are thrilled to welcome residents and visitors alike to this innovative hotel infused with originality.”


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RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - A Richmond woman received an extra special wedding anniversary gift from her son – a lottery ticket worth $1 million!
Charrondarous Goode-Burroughs was given a $1 Million Royale Scratcher from the Virginia Lottery from her son.
“It said $1 million, but I truly didn’t think it was $1 million,” she later told Lottery officials.
But, she was wrong – the ticket was indeed a winner!
“I couldn’t believe it!” she said. “I’m still processing it.”
Her son bought the winning ticket at E & C VA on Williamsburg Road in Richmond. The store receives a $10,000 bonus from the Virginia Lottery for selling the winning ticket.
Goode-Burroughs had the choice of taking the full $1 million in annual payments over 30 years or a one-time cash option of $601,684 before taxes - She chose the cash option.
She said she has no immediate plans for her winnings.
Copyright 2020 WWBT. All rights reserved.


text:
Rise of the Tomb Raider offers new look at Lara Croft
Gaming’s premier adventurer, Lara Croft, returns this fall in Rise of the Tomb Raider. Crystal Dynamics gave the first live gameplay demonstration at Microsoft’s E3 press conference on Monday that showed off the game’s improved visuals and stunning action setpieces.
Grey’s Anatomy star Camilla Luddington once again voices Croft, who appears to visit a larger variety of locations than in the 2013 reboot, which all took place on a remote island off of Japan. The gameplay demo showed off a snowy mountain area, while the trailer that followed (which you can watch above) reveals ancient ruins, underwater areas and, of course, some tombs to raid.
Rise of the Tomb Raider launches November 10 as a timed exclusive on Xbox One.
Rise of the Tomb Raider


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Fiat Auto UK’s national dealer network has reported a very strong and enthusiastic reaction to the company’s all-new Grande Punto, which went on sale on Saturday (11th February).
Fiat’s UK dealers had been expecting a large number of interested visitors to their ‘open door’ weekend, as excitement surrounding Fiat’s stylish new supermini has gathered pace in recent weeks; but last weekend’s activities dramatically exceeded their expectations.
Over the weekend, more than 12,000 would-be Punto fans visited Fiat’s dealer network, completing over 3300 test drives, with a further 3600 booked. And dealers also reported some 1285 confirmed sales orders for Grande Punto.
Commenting on the weekend’s results, Fiat Auto UK managing director, Giulio Salomone, remarked: "This is a most encouraging start. We are delighted that our beautiful, brilliant and solid new car is already making so many friends across the UK, especially as some 25% of these new customers have, up to now, been driving other brands. We’re also very pleased that the tremendous value inherent in this car has been widely appreciated, as we can see from the percentage of sales being taken by Dynamic and Active Sport versions."
Last month’s West European sales figures show that the Punto (original and Grande) was not only the leading seller in the B-segment, but also in the European car market outright. (Punto 37,977; Clio 36,016; Fiesta 31,470.)Published 15 February 2006


text:
Newest member of Seura team set to keep projects on task, on schedule and on budget
CommandFusion appoint Hitecindo Kharisma (M) Sdn Bhd (HIKA) as exclusive distributor of automation and control hardware covering the regions of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
Combined with ipDatatel's BAT Product, Locks Become Part of a Powerful Turnkey Security System
New Control app for Music Port and Music Port Elite now available in Google Play
Industry Frontrunner Leads with Extensive and Innovative LampFree™ Projector Portfolio
Pitcock will represent Clare Controls in Colorado and surrounding areas
AVAD, provider of innovative solutions to the residential and commercial custom installation markets, will debut VendoCOMM, a new series of one-day trade events offering custom installers premium access to leading commercial manufacturers, service providers, and industry influencers on July 10 in the Washington, DC metro area. “AVAD is well positioned to lead the industry's dialog on commercial install solutions thanks to our manufacturer relationships and infrastructure," said Jim Annes, vice president and general manager of AVAD. “VendoCOMM is about connecting integrators to the most recent advancements in the commercial industry and giving them an opportunity to engage in a dialogue with their preferred brands, collaborate, and learn the latest concepts." Following the premiere launch of VendoCOMM in Gaithersburg, MD, three additional North American cities will play host to this extraordinary commercial trade show tour: Bellevue, WA on September 10, Smyrna, GA on November 5, and Dallas, TX on December 5.
YCD Multimedia, a leading global provider of smart digital media solutions, today announced the appointment of Eran Sharon as Vice President of Product Management. Eran becomes the newest member of YCD's US team and will oversee the firm's product offering and strategy worldwide.
SIM2 is pleased to announce that after a successful first stop at the Essential Live Show in the UK, the 2013 SIM2 World Road Show is heading to the United States. The US schedule will kickoff on July 23-26 in Miami with additional stops in Los Angeles, on August 20-22, and New York City, Sept. 3-5
INSTEON®offers a radical, low cost and reliable home automation solution
Award-winning manufacturer showcases the best in multi-touch tech
Android App Offers True Tablet Experience
While other makers were conservative about the high resolution. Since smart phones have used the resolution as an advantage to gain the market share, the idea turns to familiar from strange for customers and spreads the influence into the NB market.
- MaxxSpeech® enhances the performance of Automatic Speech Recognition engines -
Records 8296 to 8310 of 29856
Platinum Tools is proud to present the newly patented EXO Crimp Frame® and EZ-RJ45® Die as our new EZ-RJ45 Crimp Tool! Built to terminate the original EZ-RJ45 connectors, which have been a staple in the industry for almost two decades, this crimp tool improves the trim and crimping processes of EZ-RJ45 connectors by using a single cycle crimp and flush trim.