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- Flash Is Not Designed For Touch?
- Flavors of PaaS
PaaS is the new "framework."
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Another SaaS service from IBM via the Lombardi acquisition: BPM in the cloud.
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Back home after an evening adventure –
- Greece erupts in violent protest as citizens face a future of harsh austerity
"The rescue plan, which will see an estimated €120bn (£104bn) injected into the near-bankrupt Greek economy over the next three years, comes at a heavy price: a stringent regime of structural reforms, cost-cutting policies and tax increases that will, it is hoped, modernise Greece and do away with its infamous state profligacy. The measures – which include reducing collective bargaining rights, abolition of the 13th and 14th monthly wages paid each year to supplement low public sector salaries, the slashing of bonuses and the overhaul of the pension and health systems – will wipe out almost every right won by workers over the past 30 years."
- Economist cover this week is priceless. on Twitpic
RT @cowboyd: Economist cover this week is priceless.
- disposable edits – valarie l. campbell photography
Off to see some Austin photography at after @CormacCS eats.
- Bloomberg Without Bloomberg | Politics | Vanity Fair
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- Hot Tub Fail
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- 70 Classic American Package Designs from the Early 20th Century
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- ARM Ready to Take on Intel in Servers
- Moving Forward (Adobe Featured Blogs)
- Samsung handset market share drops to 20 percent – FierceWireless
"The company reported that it sold 64.3 million devices in the first quarter, an increase of 40 percent year over year. However, Samsung's mobile market share declined from 21 percent to 20 percent primarily
- Open Letter to Steve Jobs
” A patent pool is being assembled to go after Theora and other ‘open source’ codecs now.”
- tecosystems » Mobile is the New Desktop: The HP/Palm Q&A
Sitting down to read @sogrady's Q&A on HP buying Palm:
Disclosure: see the RedMonk client list for clients mentioned.


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Big names embrace craft beer
Kirin and Sapporo are both joining the craft beer craze, opening brew pubs and launching new subsidiaries to capture the fast-growing market in Japan as sales of more mainstream beers level off.
Business Similar Videos
New tools in Olympic security
The Special Equipment Exhibition & Conference for Anti-Terrorism was held in Tokyo to showcase to security professionals the latest in surveillance and protecting public events, with a special eye to helping the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Ginza now has its own robot hotel
The Japanese robot-themed Henn na Hotel chain has opened its fifth establishment, this time in the heart of Tokyo, where machines, not humans, deliver the hospitality. We take a look at what the hotel offers.
The art of making G-Shock watches
The G-Shock watch brand has changed Casio's fortunes more than once. A tour of the company's factory in northern Japan where all the parts are made, shows just how much goes into making these complex timepieces.
Cars are doing more of the thinking
The 2017 Tokyo Motor Show is center stage for Japan's carmakers as they make their pushes for AI integration that helps drivers stay alert and keeps roads, as well as a showcase of the latest in electric vehicle technology.
Fukushima cleanup at seven years
The Nikkei visited the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in early February to see how cleanup is progressing nearly seven years after a massive tsunami resulted in the meltdown of three of its reactors.
Sony's aibo is back
Discontinued years ago, the AIBO robotic dog is being brought back by Sony, as it announces that the new "aibo" will go on sale next year, and be far more advanced that the previous models.

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Square Inc.’s peer-to-peer app has quietly passed Venmo in terms of cumulative app downloads, according to an analyst.
For months, Instinet’s Dan Dolev has been chronicling the rise of Square Cash, which he said has been growing significantly faster than Venmo. In July, Square Cash finally passed PayPal Holdings Inc.’s
Square Cash had 33.5 million total downloads as of July while Venmo had 32.9 million, according to Dolev. He said that Square Cash grew three times faster than Venmo in July.
Shares of Square
Neither company discloses download numbers, but PayPal said last month that Venmo processed $14.2 billion in payments during the second quarter. Square doesn’t release a comparable metric. Representatives from Square and PayPal declined to comment on the Instinet report.
Both Square and PayPal have made their peer-to-peer platforms a priority and have been introducing new features to bring users into their respective ecosystems. For the most part, it’s free to send money to a friend via one of these services, but the key for Square and PayPal is finding ways to monetize their peer-to-peer user bases.
Square appears to be doing a good job so far. Following the second quarter of 2017, the company disclosed that more than a third of active Square Cash customers conducted a fee-based transaction during the period. Such transactions included using the Cash debit card associated with their accounts, paying for instant access to their funds, sending money to a friend using a credit card or using Square Cash for business purposes.
PayPal enables peer-to-peer transfers through both Venmo and the core PayPal platform but isn’t as far along in its monetization efforts. Chief Executive Dan Schulman said in conjunction with PayPal’s most recent earnings report that 17% of Venmo users have engaged in a monetized experience since launch, though the company counts a different set of actions in that metric than Square does.
The next frontier for PayPal is convincing Venmo users to choose the service for their e-commerce purchases, not just for transactions among friends.
Wedbush analyst Moshe Katri told MarketWatch on Monday that he’s less concerned with Venmo usage and more concerned with the company’s potential to make money from it. PayPal is “very early in the whole monetization theme, but if they’re able to do that, they should see nice expansion,” he said.
PayPal did $33 billion in peer-to-peer volume during the second quarter across PayPal, Venmo and Xoom, an international money-transfer platform.


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According to the company, the device is designed to offer a non-surgical solution for patients suffering from keratoconus, corneal irregularities, photophobia, and presbyopia.
Azalea Vision announced the demonstration of its ALMA Lens, the first functional prototype of the Azalea smart contact lens platform.
According to the company, the device is designed to offer a non-surgical solution for patients suffering from keratoconus, corneal irregularities, photophobia, and presbyopia.1
“This test marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of non-invasive treatment options for challenging ophthalmological conditions,” said Andrés Vásquez Quintero, co-founder and CTO of Azalea vision, who also wore the device.
The company also noted in its release the lens includes an embedded diaphragm, the aperture of which can be modulated to filter the amount of light that enters the eye. The design integrates liquid-crystal technology, a microchip, an RF antenna, a medical-grade micro-battery, and a configurable light control.1
Moreover, the company explained this smart lens is designed to be easy to use and program, by patients and physicians, allowing for personalized therapy and it is designed to significantly enhance visual acuity without the need of surgery.
Azalea noted in the release its first application will focus on helping patients with irregular astigmatism due to keratoconus and other corneal irregularities. By filtering out peripheral light, the smart lens is designed to allow only focused light to reach the retina.
This first application could offer treatment for nearly half a million patients in the EU and USA alone, representing a total addressable market of more than 2 billion euros per year, as it is a renewable market. Neither glasses nor contact lenses currently available on the market can fully resolve the severe visual distortions that Azalea Vision’s ALMA Lens is designed to address.1
Rudy Nuijts, MMA, professor of Medicine and Ophthalmology at University Eye Clinic Maastrich, was pleased to learn of the results.
“In our hospital we treat a lot of patients with severe irregular astigmatism. Patients with corneal irregularities could profit from a non-surgical solution that is designed to filter the aberrated light to recuperate their visual acuity and visual quality,” he said in the news release.
The lens also could benefit patients diagnosed with presbyopia, as its small aperture optics principle could increase patients’ depth of focus and correct refractive errors. The technology could also aid patients with iris disorders, severe light sensitivity due to chronic migraine or dry eye syndrome, as it is designed to diminish the amount of light reaching their eyes.
Enrique Vega, CEO of Azalea Vision, said the success of the company’s prototype highlights his team’s spirit of innovation.
“We’re not just developing a new product category in the medical device sector; we’re pioneering a platform with diverse and groundbreaking applications,” he concluded in the news release.
Based in Belgiulm and founded in July 2021, Azalea Vision is a spin-off from imec and Ghent University and has received support from VLAIO, as well as from MedTech and DeepTech investors that include imec.xpand, Elaia Partners, Sensinnovat, and Shigeru.


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The Fan Token and NFT market is booming…So much that this post will be the longest we have ever written.
Whether the in-house cryptocurrencies aka fan tokens from clubs like Juventus, Manchester City, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain or platforms for NFT-based trading cards from Sorare, blockchain based products continue to grow in popularity around the world and inspire fans from all sports. To an extent that not only clubs and players but even entire leagues are jumping on the bandwagon. The Spanish La Liga is planning a similar approach to NBA Top Shot. The launch is already planned for 2022 and will bring the model to Europe for the first time. However Insiders know that this is just one of many more exciting collaborations with Canadian provider @https://www.linkedin.com/company/dapper-labs/ that will be announced in the coming months.
NFTs of all kinds have long since ceased to be a “nerd craze”. As put by Franklin Fitch, Head of Marketing at Blockparty, long-time NFT collector and investor: “The ease of collecting and reselling is what is getting people hooked. When you see how quickly you can buy an NFT and how quickly it increases in value, it possesses a dynamic that physical goods don’t feature. Think of NFTs like digital memorabilia.”
It couldn’t have been construed any better, indeed our FAN.COLLECTIBLES are digital pieces of history, whether as Match Worn Items or Memorabilia. This makes our FAN.COLLECTIBLES to unique emotional 3D collectibles that go straight to the heart of all fan generations! Always with you on your mobile phone, to print out, or even as a boost and skin in eSports. Curious? Then feel free to contact us.


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Virtual Reality has been a long time coming, but despite the hype, VR headsets such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive have seen sluggish sales. It has struggled to go mainstream with reasons including lack of content, clumsy devices and lower standard images.
Is this about to change?
A team from TheNewsMarket had the chance to test out The VOID’s latest VR pop-up experience in London, “Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire” – infiltrating an Imperial spacecraft and fighting Stormtroopers in a virtual world.
The VOID is a full sensory, immersive experience, with visitors walking around inside the action. It is location-based entertainment – that means you visit one of their locations – and you walk into real-time hyper-reality that combines interactive sets, real-time effects and amazing technology.
When you first step into the facility, you are being equipped with a high-tech backpack and helmet. The technology is fantastic as it allows for a completely untethered experience.
Up to 4 players take part in the same session, communicate via wireless devices and can see each other (as Stormtroopers) in a virtual world – fighting 3D enemies and intergalactic monsters.
This new form of adoption might well be what will bring VR to a mainstream audience. It is all about getting consumers to experience VR so they can adopt the technology.
This new form of VR is transforming what used to be a passive VR journey (just sitting on a chair and experiencing the environment) to a ‘Hyper-Reality’ experience:
- Making it a more social experience. VR can be a very isolating experience. This is taking VR on a social, much larger scale. You can see fellow players in the virtual world while chatting through a headset-based microphone.
- Merging VR and the real world. If you have used VR at home, there is nothing more annoying that coming into contact with a wall, a door or a piece of furniture. The VOID actually plays with its surrounding and incorporates physical elements into the experience – making it highly immersive and leading the way to the best of location VR. You not only see the environment but you feel it too.
- Making it feel real. Sensorial elements make the experience very tactile. You can reach out and touch objects such as walls, seats, buttons, weapons and droids – in both real and virtual worlds. You smell sulphur, feel heat, vibrations and other soft elements recreating the environment you are in.
“I’ve been doing a lot of speaking on the state of immersive media these days, and it seems the big story is about location based experiences”, says Frank Radice, Expert in Residence. “After spending time in The VOID, it’s become clear to me why that’s the case. In The VOID, you’re free to move around, communicate with others, play a game, handle props, have an adventure, and do it all in a fantastic universe that only VR, AR and XR can deliver. This is a glimpse into the future of the technology.”
Infrastructures like The VOID are designed to be flexible so that future stories and production can be brought into life. The possibilities for brands and movie studios are endless, providing a high level of engagement with their audiences and taking virtual reality towards a new, much needed form of adoption.
Note: Frank Radice will be moderating the ‘Immersive Hollywood: VR – AR – MR’ panel at Digital Hollywood on May 23rd 2018.


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ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Bobby Combs (right), 9, plays with a tank firework as he and his mother Helen, both of Vero Beach, shop at Sky King Fireworks in Port St. Lucie for Friday's 4th of July celebration. "We do all these fireworks at home and then we have burgers and traditional 4th of July food," Helen Combs said. "We like to celebrate every year this way, we do it at home."
ERIC HASERT/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Images from fireworks shopping in Port St. Lucie for celebrating the 4th of July on Friday.


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Economic Survey for 2021-22 Makes Case for India’s Macroeconomic Stability Despite COVID-19
According to the Economic Survey, the Indian economy is projected to grow 8-8.5% in 2022-23 on the back of increased capital expenditure and export growth. However, this is already lower than the 9.2-9.5% estimate range for the current fiscal, and based on positive assumptions like limited pandemic disruptions, crude oil at US$70-75 prices, stable liquidity movement managed by global central banks, and easing of worldwide supply chain blockages. In other words, the 2021-22 Economic Survey’s projections remain aspirational and essentially reflect the Indian government’s intentions and recent economic performance, which will be supported by contents of the Union Budget 2022-23 – to be announced February 1.
Tabled in Parliament today – ahead of the Union Budget for 2022-23 tomorrow, February 1 – the 2021-22 Economic Survey of India offers a glimpse into the state of the country’s economy, suggests policy solutions, and forecasts GDP goalposts for the coming fiscal.
This year, the Economic Survey was tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha. The Survey is authored by a team led by the country’s Chief Economic Advisor (CEA). Just days before today’s Economic Survey presentation, the Indian government appointed V. Anantha Nageswaran as the new CEA. Nageswaran is an economist and former executive with Credit Suisse Group AG and Julius Baer Group. He succeeds K.V. Subramaniam who completed his three-year term in December 2021.
The last Survey, presented in January 2021, had projected India’s 2021-22 economic growth at 11 percent. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic still going strong, economic activity continues to be disrupted due to lockdowns and restrictions on public movement across multiple regions amid intermittent outbreaks linked to new COVID variants.
Released in January this year, advance estimates by the National Statistical Office (NSO) projected that India will achieve 9.2 percent real GDP expansion this fiscal, after contracting in 2020-21, but lower than the 9.5 percent put forth by the Reserve Bank of India. The 2021-22 Economic Survey, however, pulls down this projection to 8-8.5 percent for the next fiscal year, which starts April 1.
What is the Barbell Strategy and how did India use this approach to manage economic growth during the ongoing fiscal year?
The Economic Survey noted that the government used the Barbell Strategy to manage growth during the pandemic and cushion some of its worst effects on the economy. The Survey explained that this strategy combined safety nets for vulnerable segments of the population and policy adjustments based on real-time information.
Conventionally, India has adopted the more methodical Waterfall approach that involves a first detailed assessment followed by a rigid plan.
On the other hand, the Barbell Strategy is more agile, and more prevalent in technology industries and in project management. It accounts for worse possibilities and recalibrates its responses based on a real-time feedback loop. This has become increasingly possible due to the comparatively easier availability of mass data sets through digital platforms like GST collection, power consumption, cargo movement, highway toll collection, satellite images and geo-spatial data, digital payments, volume of cash transactions, mobility tracking data, etc.
Key takeaways from the 2021-22 Economic Survey of India
- GDP growth rate for FY 2022-23 (FY23) – estimated at 8-8.5 percent.
- Revenue and deficit management – government revenues buoyed by strong collections of direct and indirect tax. Gross monthly GST collection crossed INR 1 trillion every month since July 2021. Revenue from excise duties hit 23.2 percent year-on-year growth in April-November 2021.
India’s fiscal deficit for April-November 2021 contained at 46.2 percent of 2021-22 Budget Estimates (BE) – this is about one-third of the proportion recorded during the same period in previous years, that is 135.1 percent of BE in April-November 2020 and 114.8 percent of BE in April-November 2019. Government thus has fiscal space to provide additional support where necessary.
- Banking – India’s banks are well capitalized and non-performing assets (NPAs) appear to have structurally declined.
- Trade – total exports from India to grow 16.5 percent in FY 2021-22 (FY22), higher than before the pandemic. Imports also expected to grow, by 29.4 percent in 2021-22, due to recovery in domestic demand and higher international commodity prices.
The Economic Survey said that FTAs would be necessary to diversify export baskets and destinations. Currently more than 40 percent of India’s exports go to just seven countries.
- Labor reforms – The Survey notes: “As on January 11, 2022, 26 states/UTs have also pre-published the draft rules under the Code on Wages, 22 states/UTs under Industrial Relations Code, 20 states/UTs under Code on Social Security, and 17 states/UTs under OSH & WC Code.” India’s parliament amalgamated 29 central labor laws into four labor codes in 2019 and 2020, namely, the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020.
- MSMEs – More than 6.6 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have registered on the Udyam portal and the initiative – in effect from July 1, 2020 – has improved the ease of doing business for MSMEs. Udyam Registration is based on specified investment and turnover criteria that classifies new and existing MSMEs. The Hindu Business Line reports: “As of January 17, 2022, about 66,34,006 enterprises have registered on the Udyam portal, out of which 62,79,858 were micro, 3,19,793 small and 34,355 medium enterprises.” Retail and wholesale trades are allowed to register on the portal but benefits to retail and wholesale trade MSMEs are restricted to priority sector lending only. Interestingly, street vendors can register on the Udyam portal as retail traders and avail priority sector lending benefits.
- Agriculture sector – least affected by the pandemic and expected to grow by 3.9 percent in FY22; previous fiscal this was 3.6 percent.
- Industrial sector – grew 22.9 percent in the first half of 2021-22 as compared to the same period in 2020-21. Advance estimates suggest GVA in the industrial sector will grow by 11.8 percent in 2021-22 after contracting 7 percent in 2020-21.
The Index for Industrial Production (IIP) grew at 17.4 percent in April-November 2021-22, compared to (-)15.3 percent in April-November 2020-21.
The Survey notes: “According to RBI-Studies on Corporate Performance, which is based on the results of select listed companies in the private corporate sector, the net profit to sales ratio of large corporates reached an all-time high despite the pandemic. Buoyant FDI inflows amid improvements in overall business sentiments foretells a positive outlook for the industry.
- Emphasis on supply-side reforms – this includes deregulation of several sectors, simplification of bureaucratic procedures, removal of retrospective tax, expanding production-linked incentives, privatization, etc.
- Services sector – expected to grow by 8.2 percent in 2021-22 following 8.4 percent contraction the previous year. The sector involves the most human contact and has been the hardest hit by the pandemic.
- Capital markets – India has outperformed among its emerging market peers in April-December 2021. Primary markets saw a boom in fundraising through initial public offerings (IPOs) by many new age companies, tech start-ups, and unicorns. In April-November 2021, INR 890.66 billion was raised via 75 IPO issues versus 29 companies raising INR 147.33 billion in the same period in 2020.
- Start-ups – India has the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world, after US and China. Delhi registered 5,000 new start-ups, followed by 4,514 in Bengaluru – between April 2019 and December 2021. India also recorded 44 unicorns in 2021, setting a record for the country. The state of Maharashtra has the highest number of recognized start-ups at 11,308. India officially recognized 14,000 new start-ups in 2021; to contrast, in 2016-17 this number was 733. Cumulatively, the Indian government has recognized 61,400 start-ups as on January 10, 2022.
- Innovation and patents – India ranked 46th in 2021, up from 81st in 2015-16, on the Global Innovation Index. Patents granted in India in 2020-21 amounted to 28,391 – up from 7,509 in 2010-11. Indian residents accounted for 40 percent of total patent applications in 2020-21.
- Going cashless – Unified Payments Interface is the single largest retail payment system in India based on volume of transactions. UPI recorded 4.6 billion transactions worth INR 8.26 trillion – just in the month of December 2021. In the period April-November 2021, UPI processed more that 24.26 One Time Mandate (OTM) create transactions worth INR 443.81 billion. (OTM enables the bank account holder to deduct a certain amount from their savings account at regular intervals so that it gets credited into their Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) portfolio.
- Social service expenditure to rise 9.8 percent in FY22.
- Inflation across the world to impact India. According to the Survey: “Inflation has reappeared as a global issue in both advanced and emerging economies. India’s Consumer Price Index inflation stood at 5.6 per cent YoY in December 2021, which is within the targeted tolerance band. Wholesale price inflation, however, has been running in double-digits. Although this is partly due to base effects that will even out, India does need to be wary of imported inflation, especially from elevated global energy prices.”
- Consumption growth – government spending pulled up consumption, which has grown 7 percent in 2021-22.
- Reluctance for loans / borrowings / EMIs – However, household finances remain a stress factor due to pandemic-related uncertainties affecting jobs and incomes. Home loans down 0.4 percent from 2020 to register 8 percent growth in November 2021. Middle class borrowing to own houses is much lower than the 21 percent growth year-on-year (y-o-y) recorded in March 2019. It is also lower than the level of the past four years. Home loans grew 13.3 percent y-o-y in March 2018, 21.1 percent in 2019, 13.3 percent in March 2020, and 9.1 percent in March 2021.
- Capex and infrastructure – Indian Railways recorded capital expenditure worth INR 651.57 billion from April to November 2021; outlay for FY22 is INR 2.51 trillion. According to the Survey: “In addition, the extent of road construction per day increased substantially in 2020-21 to 36.5 kms per day from 28 kms per day in 2019-20, a rise by 30.4 percent as compared to the previous year.” “[The] government’s policy thrust on quickening virtuous cycle of growth via Capex and infrastructure spending gas increased capital formation in the economy lifting the investment to GDP ratio to about 29.6 percent in 2021-22 – the highest in seven years.”
The Economic Survey notes that India has to spend about US$1.4 trillion between now and FY 2024-25 to achieve a US$1.5 trillion GDP by FY25. Several initiatives to propel infrastructure investments include the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) and the National Monetization Plan (NMP). NIP projected infra investment during 2020-2025 is US$1.5 trillion “to provide world-class infrastructure across the country, and improve the quality of life” for [all] citizens. The Economic Times notes “five sectors capture around 83% of the aggregate pipeline value: roads (27%), railways (25%), power (15%), oil & gas pipelines (8%) and telecom (6%)”.
- National Land Monetisation Corp (NLMC) – special purpose vehicle for management and monetization of non-core assets incorporated as a 100 percent government of India owned entity. Central public sector enterprises have referred 3,400 acres of land and other non-core assets, including MTNL, BSNL, BPCL, B&R, BEML, HMT Ltd, Instrumentation Ltd.
- Real estate – housing sales could witness boost from lowered duties in multiple states.
- Deficit and debt indicators see uptick resulting in projected government finances consolidation in 2021-22.
The Economic Survey of India for 2021-2022 and its Statistical Appendix is officially available here in PDF format: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/economicsurvey/
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just the Round-Up - The week in drinks
The week in drinks
The top ten stories published on just-drinks last week:
A report in a UK newspaper today (9 December) has claimed that Diageo and Suntory held talks earlier this year with a view to making a move for Beam Inc.
Beam Inc has declined to comment on reports linking Diageo and Suntory to a takeover bid for the US spirits firm.
Talks between Diageo and the Beckmann family have collapsed, leaving the latter without a global distributor for its Jose Cuervo Tequila brand and the former with a clear gap in its spirits portfolio.
Suntory Holdings has spoken out after reports claim that it plans to raise up to US$6bn by selling shares in its soft drinks and food business.
Coca-Cola Amatil's (CCA) second-half domestic volumes have been hit by “price-driven competitor activity” but it still expects to report a 4-5% rise in group net profits for the full year.
Monster has signed a distribution deal with AmBev to distribute its energy drinks in Brazil.
Barr Britvic could be on Suntory Holdings' shopping list in the UK when the Japanese group looks at international acquisitions, according to an analyst.
Southern Comfort is bouncing back for Brown-Forman with a “dramatic improvement” in US sales, the company has said.
Wessanen, a Dutch food group, has postponed the sale of its American Beverage Corp (ABC) unit “until a later date” due to the lack of a confirmed buyer.
The Brewers Association has accused global beer companies of trying to “blur the lines” between their products and "genuine" craft beers.
- Why Chinese beverages won't conquer the world
- Is “Craft” the Next Big Thing for Soft Drinks?
- Can Coca-Cola fuel SABMiller's soft drinks story?
- Petropolis Finally Moving into SABMiller's View?
- Gin: Plymouth's from Plymouth, London's from...?
- Diageo confirms Australia abv drops
- Pernod launches online Ballantine's "experiment"
- Global vodka sales slip in 2013 - research
- SABMiller returns to Brazil with Petropolis tie-up
- Smirnoff tops UK shopping list - figures
- Early Signals: future scenarios that will drive consumption and product innovation over the next five years
- Global Scotch whisky insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research
- Global vodka insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research
- The IWSR Forecast Report - 2014-2019 Global Review
- Global Tequila Market 2014-2018


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Rhode Island Budget Proposals Not Popular
- Jun 6, 2012 | Susan McLain
The Rhode Island House is supposed to vote this week on the 2013 budget proposal. The state fiscal year begins July 1, 2012, but not all revenue generating proposals are popular right now.
The Rhode Island House Budget Proposal imposes a 7-percent sales tax on:
- Limos, taxi fares and other hired driving;
- Car washes; and
- Pet services such as grooming.
In addition to these services becoming taxable, clothing above $250 would be taxed. Currently all clothing is sales tax-free.
The cigarette tax is proposed to be raised from $3.46/pack to $3.50/pack.
The Taxi Owners Association of Rhode Island takes exception to the introduction of sales tax on taxi fares. “They are putting a huge burden on a handful of the lowest income earners in the state,” said Gregg Manning, Taxi Owners Association President. Association statistics indicate that cab drivers “…earn as little as $20,000 per year,” and the organization calls the tax unfair and destructive.
“Taxi owners say they’re being driven to anger and worry, and are condemning a proposal to add sales tax to every fare they take.”


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Game designer Youssef Fares, author of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, A Way Out and the Coming It Takes Two, in an interview with Jeff Keeley stated that Cyberpunk 2077 received an undue amount of criticism. In response to a question The listener Phares said that during the development of It Takes Two, his team managed to avoid restrictions when it was required to engage, for example, capture movements. This helped to keep the scheduled release date of March 26.
At the same time, the game designer expressed his sympathy with other developers, whom the pandemic forced to make hard decisions. Some games had to be moved, and others – not released in the best quality.
In the last category was Cyberpunk 2077, which at the start faced criticism due to the large number of bugs and performance problems. However, Phares believes that the game received an unfair amount of criticism.
As The Gamer notes, apparently, the game designer is willing to give CDPR a grill due to the circumstances of the Cyberpunk 2077 release. More on CCeit Announced Blaster Master Zero III for PS4, Switch and PC In Rust added underground rail network Shelter 3 will be released as early as March 30.


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Over the last couple of decades, used cars are not what they use to be, at least when you walk into dealerships like Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep or most Toyota dealerships.
Sure, you can buy a used car. But you can also buy a certified pre-owned car.
“Typically, the way it works is a non-certified car has a 50-point check,” said Troy Reichle, sales manager at Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep. “You make sure it stops, it starts and it is safe. That is basically what you are looking for.
“A certified car gets 125-point inspection with basically everything about the car is gone over, including, if not all factory equipment, nothing that would impede the factory equipment from working. It has to have an owner’s manual, two sets of keys, original style floor mats. Basically, it is a brand new car with miles and a little bit of wear.”
According to Carfax, certification programs for used cars were introduced in the 1990s and are now widely offered by many vehicle brands and dealerships. CPO vehicles are just a few years old with a low mileage. They are refurbished and put through a rigorous inspection and testing process.
A car has to be five years old or less with fewer than 75,000 miles on it. Reichle said.
“The best way to describe a certified car is it is the car you would suggest your mom buy,” Reichle said. “You want your mom to drive the best car, but not necessarily buy a brand new car. This is a new car with miles on it.”
At Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep, only Chrysler and Fiat vehicles on their lot are certified vehicles.
“Our service department does the certification,” Reichle said. “They are Chrysler certified mechanics.”
Reichle said Toyota was probably the first manufacturer to push the certification program.
“Chrysler has literally been doing it for 10 years, but the last few years it has really been pushed,” Reichle said.
The reason? It’s just good business.
“I think mainly manufacturers didn’t care about used cars. Now I think they realize customers are still going to be using our service department,” Reichle said. “They are still going to be using Chrysler financing. If you sell better used cars, the customer who buys that car isn’t going to think of it as used or new. They are going to think of it as their brand of car. If that car is not good, they are going to blame the dealership and the manufacturer, regardless.”
For that reason, Reichle said all the used cars his department sells at Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep, whether it is certified or not, are put through a rigorous inspection.
Usually, he said, half his non-new inventory is certified pre-owned cars and the other half are used cars.
As the No. 1 volume dealer in Kansas City in the Dodge Chrysler Jeep brand, Olathe receives plenty of used cars as trade-ins for new cars.
“Ninety percent of our used cars are trade-ins,” Reichle said. “Occasionally, I will buy a Chrysler in an auction and sometimes (from) Enterprise Rent-A-Car directly.”
Reichle said most car buyers today know the difference between a certified pre-owned vehicle and a used vehicle.
“But if they don’t, it is not hard to explain,” he said. “As far as Olathe Dodge goes, my feeling is if it can’t pass that inspection, it should not be a car sold here.”
Basically, it comes down to what you are looking for. Car buyers will spend a little more on a certified pre-owned vehicle.
“Consumers typically pay about 10 percent more for a certified used vehicle than they pay for a like make, model and condition used vehicle that is uncertified,” said senior analyst with AutoTrader.com Michelle Krebs in a story in Auto News.
Cars.com lists several reasons why some used car buyers prefer the certified pre-owned route.
One reason was certified pre-owned means peace of mind; with the inspection, repairs and warranty, you have saved the time and money it would have taken to find and make them yourself.
Another was because with the multipoint inspection, more details will be taken care of. For instance, if the brakes have less than 60 percent life left, they have to be replaced.
Traditionally, car sales in the Midwest slow down during the winter months. Reichle said this is the best time for customers to come to Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep.
“Our sales people still have rent and the same amount of food they have to buy,” he said. “Our expenses don’t change but the amount of income drops so this is the time of year to come in.
“I have seven sales people here who would love to sell people cars.”
And you have plenty of options if you are looking for a used car, whether it is certified or not.
“What I do personally (is) every car has to meet the same criteria that the certified car does,” Reichle said.


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In the Marketplace: Home sales in Ho-Ho-Kus, Spring Valley and Chestnut Ridge
Looking back at 2011 transactions in both communities, Lavelle reported the sale of 99 single-family homes at an average price of $352,320, along with 21 condos/townhouses for an average of $110,100.
For single-family homes, 2011 sales were slightly up from 2008 when 87 units sold at a $426,718 average. For condo/townhouses, sales dropped a bit from 2008 when 30 units sold for $179,310 on average.
She considered 2012 a year that sparked a spirit of confidence, with the sale of 108 single-family homes priced at an average of $351,457.
"The interest rates are still low and that's what's driving the buyer confidence," she said, describing this as a trend that has fueled buying power.
The same jump in sales was not evident, however, for condo/townhouses with the sale of 29 units at an average price of $101,697.
Another indicator of real estate health - the number of days on the market (DOM) prior to sale - was 108 days for single-family homes in 2012, a small reduction from 110 days in 2011.
While the number of sales has seen a spike, Lavelle observes consistency in both the DOM and the pricing of homes.
This year, she predicts that "sales will stay consistent showing confidence in the market. We expect more buyers and sellers will be entering into the market. It's still historically a great time to buy since prices are not falling or rising - it's a perfect time."
Currently there are 116 single-family homes available starting at $148,900 for a three-bedroom ranch and climbing to $1.1 million for a nine-bedroom contemporary. The market also offers 15 condo-townhouses priced from $70,000 for one bedroom to $646,900 for seven bedrooms.


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Discover today's news
Our renowned analysis brings you the latest opinions and commentaries to keep ahead of the markets. Start your trading day with technical insights into the financial sector.
Russell 2000: Rises near a demand level on an improved trade outlook
The index managed to bounce back after the last couple of down days, largely on an improved trade outlook. Indeed, a report stated that the US and China are working harder to come to a truce at the G20 meeting at the end of November. In addition, a report detailed that US trade representative Robert[…]
USDCAD: On the defensive ahead of US retail sales
The US consumer price index (CPI) rose to 2.5% year-on-year in October, compared to the 2.3% registered in the previous month and in line with analysts’ estimates of 2.5%. The CPI figure increased on the back of rising prices of fuel oil and gasoline. On a monthly basis, consumer prices expanded 0.3%, comparing to 0.1%[…]
FTSE 100: Dragged down by contradictory headlines and reports
Yesterday comments from a British official indicated that United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) were close to sealing an agreement for the nation to leave the Eurozone as negotiators seek to avoid missing the deadline today. Uncertainty over the terms of Brexit has annihilated FTSE 100 early gains as a deal is required[…]


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Cassey Ho, the creator of the largest female fitness channel on YouTube, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s BLE, along with YouTube’s global head of top creators, Benjamin Grubbs.
The keynote will take place at 12:30 on Tuesday, October 13th 2015.
Ho is the creator of Blogilates, the largest female fitness channel on YouTube with over 2.5 million subscribers.
Her programme, POP Pilates, is the official Pilates format of all 24 Hour Fitness gyms in the United States and she also has her own line of apparel, accessories, DVDs and most recently, is the author of a fitness book.
Ho is followed by over one million people on Instagram and won the Streamy Award for Best Health and Wellness Channel in 2014 and 2015.
The keynote will see Cassey discuss building a brand on YouTube.
"A lot of people may think of me as a YouTube star and fitness instructor, but I’m also the CEO and head designer of my merchandise lines," said Ho.
"I know my audience very well, so it makes it simpler to come up with new products. That’s the perk of selling to a community, not just customers."
Darren Brechin, BLE event director, added: “This is the first time we have focused on a YouTube celebrity at BLE, and the session will provide a fascinating insight into how brands can leverage the digital landscape.”
The second keynote will be held on Wednesday, October 14th by Sophia Jansson, creative director of Moomin Characters and niece of Moomins’ creator Tove Jansson.


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Mondelez Profit Beats Estimates as Rosenfeld Trims Expensesby
Mondelez International Inc., the maker of Ritz crackers and Oreo cookies, posted first-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ estimates as cost cuts helped expand profit margins.
Profit rose to 48 cents a share, excluding some items, the Deerfield, Illinois-based company said Wednesday in a statement. Analysts estimated 40 cents, on average. Sales fell 16 percent to $6.46 billion, partly because of the sale of its coffee business. That topped analysts’ average projection of $6.42 billion.
Chief Executive Officer Irene Rosenfeld is pursuing $3 billion in expense reductions to help weather tepid economic growth in international markets, where the snacks giant generates most of its revenue. Amid pressure from a pair of activist investors in recent years, Rosenfeld has shifted production to lower-cost countries to streamline the business. The moves are showing some progress, with the company’s operating margin expanding 0.8 percentage point to 11.2 percent.
Mark Clouse, the company’s chief commercial officer, is leaving Mondelez to take over as CEO of Pinnacle Foods Inc. next month, the companies said Wednesday. Pinnacle started looking for a new CEO after Bob Gamgort announced he was leaving to take over at Keurig Green Mountain. Mondelez said it doesn’t plan to name a new CCO.
Mondelez’s organic revenue growth, which excludes the effects of acquisitions, divestitures and currency fluctuations, rose 2.1 percent in the quarter, helped by higher pricing. Some of the company’s products remain popular, such as its Oreo cookies, which boosted sales 11 percent to $3.54 billion last year.
The shares rose as much as 4.6 percent to $44.46 in New York, the biggest gain since August. Mondelez’s stock had dropped 5.2 percent this year through Tuesday.


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HAILEY Bieber has shown off her incredible curves in a string bikini from a recent European getaway.
The Instagram collection kickstarted with Stephen Baldwin's daughter rocking a red bikini.
Justin's wife flaunted her flat tummy and teased cleavage from her red top as she stretched across the back of a boat.
Hailey soaked up the sun as the boat speeded through the long waters.
As the series continued with a hilarious clip, Justin ditched his shirt and carried the young model on his bare back as he took a stroll across a green garden.
More Hailey Bieber
The topless singer appeared to be in a happier mood after opening up about his health struggles.
Last year, Justin revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which affected his ear and facial muscles.
The 26-year-old entrepreneur teased her long legs and laughed at the camera.
THE LONDON TRIP
Most read in Celebrity
In the stunning photo, she glammed up and wore a skintight black dress with a plunging neckline and teased cleavage with her flame-like cutouts.
Hailey shot a sultry gaze off to the side while resting her hands in front of her thighs.
The Candian singer's partner showed off her new bob haircut while opting for little to no accessories.
She captioned her post: "London. So excited to be here launching @rhode."
The couple was previously spotted while they were spending time at the luxury Chiltern Firehouse hotel.
Rhode Skin is Hailey's skincare brand, which she initially launched on June 2022.
THE NEW YORK APARTMENT
In the first photo, she posed with her adorable pup and made a kissy face at the camera while her black piano sat in the background.
In the second photo, Hailey posed in the huge bathroom, which had a black and white marble shower installed.
The supermodel strutted across her living space while wearing a black tube top.
As the series of photos continued, Hailey took a moment to pose in front of a large mirror and flaunted her jaw-dropping outfit of the day.
She stunned in a black cropped shirt and a pair of wide-legged jeans with matching shoes.
Read More on The US Sun
The final snap came from a promo shoot for her skincare brand, Rhode, as she teased upcoming products.


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Facebook is into developing a new VR headset as part of the Oculus range which would be targeted at the more affordable segment. The headset will reportedly be priced around $200 and will hit streets sometime around 2018. The headset though would be formally launched some time later this year itself.
Apart from the pricing, another unique quality of the upcoming Oculus headset will be that it won’t require tethering to a PC or a smartphone for its operation, Bloomberg reported. In fact, launching a wireless VR headset that is able to operate on its own while still being affordable enough has been one of the stated goals of both Facebook and Oculus.
This forms what Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had earlier described as the mid-point category where the new Oculus headset would be placed somewhere in-between the entry level headsets that requires a phone for its operations – such as the Samsung Gear VR – or the high-end headsets such as the HTC Vive that require connecting to a powerful PC for it to operate to its optimum.
The upcoming Oculus headset is code-named ‘Pacific’ and will be lighter than the Gear VR headset from Samsung. It will also be more compact than the Rift. The target of course is to make VR headset more sophisticated and sleek, with none of the bulk that most of the current gen headset have come to be perceived as.
Companies have been struggling to bring VR to the mainstream and things are likely to be adopted en-masse only when there are enough headsets in the affordable price range. Oculus already has the Rift to offer which is priced $399, complete with the Touch controllers.
Samsung too is reported to be developing its own standalone headset, one that is touted to carry the ‘Odyssey’ brand name. Similarly, a wireless version of the Rift is also likely in the making, without sacrificing on performance as when tethered to a PC.
When launched, the new headset would form part of the Oculus range everywhere in the world where it is sold. However, the same device would carry the Xiaomi branding in China as part of the arrangement Oculus has with respect to the manufacture of the device in Xiaomi’s facilities in China.


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To start! Bookshop.org is celebrating Black History Month by offering a 20% discount off select titles. Use code BLACKHISTORY at checkout. If you’re looking for a Black-owned bookstore to support through your shopping at Bookshop.org, how about Ida’s Bookshop in Collingswood, N.J.?
This is wild: the New York Times got an interview with the romance writer who faked her own death. Maybe writing “let the fun begin” to announced you’re back (???) was not the best route to take.
Salman Rushdie has a new book coming out, but he said he won’t be doing public appearances to support it. I can’t blame Rushdie. He lost sight in one eye and still can’t use one of his hands after being brutally attacked while giving a talk last summer.
I am as horrified as most of you probably are about books being removed from Florida classrooms and school libraries. Andrea Phillips, a Florida teacher, wrote a piece for The Independent about it, and what it means (nothing good).
But let’s end on a positive note: A guy in Germany bought a book about Top Gun online. He then contacted the U.S. library it came from. If you read used books, you know this happens a lot because libraries routinely update their collections, and books TRAVEL (one Little Free Library I frequent usually has books from the U.K.), but it’s still a fun read.
Bookshop.org links are affiliate links.


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The Indian wing of the Swedish automaker, Volvo has announced that it will increase the prices of its entire product portfolio in the country. Volvo will increase the prices across the range by up to five percent in the Indian market.
Volvo India has decided to increase the prices of its products due to the increase in custom duty on completely knocked down (CKD) and fully-imported vehicles. The Government of India has increased the custom duty in the Union Budget 2018-19 announced on February 1, 2018.
As per the newly proposed custom duty rates, the imported engine parts will see a hike from 7.5/10 percent to 10 percent and the imported vehicle parts or the CKD kits will attract a hike from 10 percent to 15 percent.
Apart from that the fully imported or Completely Built Unit (CBU) vehicle will now attract a customs duty of 25 percent as opposed to the 20 percent.
In a statement, Volvo India stated that the company is unable to absorb the hike in custom duty and hence it is increasing the price. The price hike will come into effect from this month and will apply to the new batch of cars which are yet to be cleared by the customs department.
Currently, Volvo India locally assembles the XC90 SUV at the company's truck plant in Hoskote in Bangalore. The rest of the products are brought to India via CBU route or as fully imported vehicles.
MD of Volvo Car India, Charles Frump stated that the increase in custom duty comes as a surprise and it will have a short-term effect on the automobile industry.
Frump also said that he is expecting to see subsidies on hybrid vehicles as they are stepping stone in the shift towards fully electric vehicles. He also stated that Volvo's vision is in line with the Indian government's plan to go all-electric. But to achieve the goal, it is necessary to have hybrid vehicles to fill the gap and reduce the pollution caused by petrol and diesel vehicles.
DriveSpark's Thoughts On Volvo Price Hike In India
The Government of India has increased the custom duty on imported engine components and vehicles in the Union Budget 2018-19. Now, Volvo has increased the price of its entire product portfolio in India as most of its cars are imported to the country. Expect other luxury car makers to follow the same in the coming days to manage the production cost.


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When he was 8 years old, he promised he would buy his dad the car of his dreams.
He made that dream come true years later- and luckily caught it on video.
A recent YouTube video shows the moment a son surprises his father with his 57th birthday gift. He was given a 1957 Chevy Bel Air- the car of his dreams, and the same car his son said he would buy him as a young child.
After growing up in a poor household with many siblings, owning a Bel Air was something his father never expected.
The family was able to surprise the father by distracting him with a household game that needed fixed.
They insisted he needed "something" in the garage, and the emotional reaction began from there.
Grab a tissue!
Bakersfield Veterans Therapy Dog Lost
It can be hard for any family to have a pet go missing, but for one local military family the loss is especially hard. Their bulldog Liberty…
Cattle Ranchers share drought concerns
The drought has had a huge impact on cattle ranchers, not only costing them livestock, but cash to feed what's left of the herd.
BPD: Two men wanted for stealing beer from 7-11
Two men are being sought by the Bakersfield Police Department for allegedly stealing beer from a 7-11 store in Southwest Bakersfield.
BPD: Man wanted for theft at Fastrip store
A man is being sought by the Bakersfield Police Department for suspicion of theft in South Bakersfield.


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WD Partners has released the findings of its annual retail study, which called on consumers to evaluate 100 of the biggest brands in the industry. The in-depth analysis, presented in its free white paper The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of 2019, explores brands that are excelling in today’s consumer market (the Good), brands perceived as scraping by at base level (the Bad), and those brands that consumers feel are in desperate need of change (the Ugly).
WD Partners took a closer look at the data within several key verticals, including big box, specialty, beauty, grocery, and banking. Spoiler alert: Amazon is at the top of the list, but there are plenty of surprise brand moves both up and down the list.
In addition to looking at the state of the retail nation as it sits today, WD Partners compared its data from this year’s study versus last year’s study to learn why companies ranked the way they did, which factors contributed to each brand’s success or failure, and who made the biggest moves (up or down) year over year. The firm examined the data from more than 4,000 consumers from a global level, then segmented the data by Digital Natives (age 18 to 29) and Digital Immigrants (39 and older) for similarities and differences among the two distinct segments.
The results and learnings culminate with opportunities and recommendations to improve brands’ standing with consumers.
“The competition in retail is so wide-ranging and coming in from all angles that no retailer can truly stand pat, even the top brands on the list,” according to WD Partners. “We’ve gone from an era where change was seen as innovative to one where change is not only a necessity but it must occur often.”


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More signs that business activity in China is weaker with lower than expected readings for July on investment and retail sales, while industrial output remains moderate.
After OK inflation and a smaller trade surplus because of sharp rise in imports, other data has confirmed that the economy has lost momentum somewhat in the past three months.
But crude steel production hit a new all time monthly high in July, according to the official data, a development at odds with what else is happening in the economy.
That is good news for Australian iron ore and coal exporters like BHP, Tinto Tinto, Fortescue and Whitehaven Coal (see separate story).
But investment growth slowed to a near two-decade low last month, according to data from the country’s National Statistics Bureau, while retail sales slowed sharply to their lowest rate of growth since 2003.
But real estate investment picked up last month from June a sign that the government is maintaining some lending to the most volatile of all sectors in the economy.
The major influence producing the slowing in the pace of activity has been the central government’s crack down on leverage – especially in the financial sector. An online peer to peer investment and lending scandal is continuing to ripple through the economy with losses in the tens of billions of yuan.
China’s deleveraging program continued in July – with new credit issuance falling. In fact theN pointed out that In the first seven months of 2018, new credit issuance contracted by 15% from a year ago.
The Nab says the squeeze on shadow banking has forced banks to bring off-balance sheet items back to their books as well as direct new funding through traditional channels.
But at the same time the NAB pointed out that there had been a large easing in monetary policy in recent weeks – a loosening of around 35 basis points since June to help the economy and busienss cope with the impact of the US trade tariffs, according to some analysts.
"Late last week, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission stated that it would guide financial institutions to expand financing – particularly to small businesses and infrastructure – noting that banks should make full use of current liquidity and current low funding costs. It is unclear at the moment if this would mean a slowing in, or the end of, deleveraging,” the NAB said.
Industrial output rose 6.0% in July from a year earlier, unchanged from the 6.0% increase in June. Industrial production rose 0.48% in July from June. In June, it rose 0.36% from May.
Crude steel output rose by 7.2% year on year – to a new monthly record of 81.2 million tonnes. For the seven months January-June crude steel output is up 6.3% from the same period of 2017 at 532.85 million tonnes.
China’s January-July crude oil throughput was up 9.2% 350.57 million tonnes (imported and domestic). China’s July coal output fell 2% to 281.5 million tonnes, the since September 2016, according to Reuters (Coal imports rose to more than 29 million tonnes in July). For January-July coal output rose 3.4%to 1.98 billion tonnes
Growth in consumer electronics (including computers, mobile phones and tablets) accelerated to 13.5% yoy (from 10.9% in June)., according to the NAB
Electricity generation jumped 5.9% yoy (slightly down on growth in June) but cement production grew modestly – up by 1.6% from July 2017 and car production eased 0.5% from a year ago.
Fixed-asset investment growth slowed more than expected to 5.5% in January-July. That was the weakest on record going back to early 1996, according to Reuters. Investment had been forecast to grow 6.0% in the first seven months of the year, after being steady in January-June.
Retail sales also missed expectations, with consumers more reluctant to spend. Sales rose 8.8% in July from a year earlier, below the 9% rate in June. The Statistics Bureau said retail sales rose 0.67% in July from June. In June, retail sales rose a revised 0.74% from the previous month.
Reuters pointed out that a bright spot in the data was private sector fixed-asset investment rose 8.8% in January-July, compared with an increase of 8.4% in the first half. Private investment accounts for about 60% of overall investment in China.
Real estate investment rose 13.2% in July from July last year, the fastest monthly pace since October 2016 and higher than June’s 8.4% rise, according to Reuters.
New construction starts jumped 32.4% year on-year in July, the most since late 2014.
The NAB commented that "China’s monthly indicators were generally a little softer in July – below market expectations – but not overly negative. Our expectations for weaker economic growth across the second half of the year remains unchanged – with growth to average 6.6% in 2018, before slowing to 6.25% in 2019 and 6.0% in 2020.”


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Americans will spend, on average, $616 this holiday shopping season, according to a recent Gallup poll. That figure is “the lowest in Gallup’s 10-year history of tracking this question in its current format.” It also gives more information about impact of the current economic downturn on America’s retailers, according to Gallup researchers.
Americans’ average Christmas spending was estimated at $866 in 2016. The previous low point of the last 10 years came in November 2006. That year was one of the worst holiday retail seasons in more than a decade, with about an estimated $690 in average holiday spending.
46% of Americans Say They Will Spend Less on Christmas Gifts in 2017
When asked by Gallup researchers whether the amount they plan on spending on Christmas gifts this year is more than, less than, or the same as last Christmas, 46% of Americans say “less.” This is the highest negative response in almost two decades of asking this question according to the Gallup organization.
This is only the second time in Gallup history that fewer than 50 percent of Americans said that they would spend less on Christmas gifts than in previous years. Over the years, Americans have typically said they were going to spend the same amount on gifts as they did the previous year.
Americans Prefer Discount Stores for Shopping This Holiday Season
Gallup also uncovered information about the way Americans say they plan to shop this holiday season, focusing on five separate venues: department stores, discount stores, specialty stores, the Internet, and mail-order catalogs. Overall. The people surveyed said they will probably shop less in each of areas.
Plans for shopping in department stores showed the biggest drop. While 53% said in 2016 that they were “very likely” to shop in these stores, just 39% said that theyb panned to do so this year.
Pundits have predicted that discount stores may be the only winners during the Christmas shopping season this year since shoppers may not be in the mood to spend.
Gallup found these predictions to be more or less correct. In fact, the new Gallup data show only a slight drop in planned discount store shopping, with 42% of those surveyed in 2017 versus 45% in 2016 saying that they will shop in discount stores.
“Discount stores do in fact appear to be better situated than other retailers to weather this Christmas shopping storm, according to Gallup pollsters.
Online Shopping on the Internet
The survey also found a slight drop in plans for Internet shopping. This was a “surprise” for pollsters, given the fact that the popularity of Internet shopping has gone up each year since Gallup began asking about it in 1998.
Since the Internet is a means to shop versus a specific kind of shopping there is no obvious economic reason why use of the Internet for Christmas shopping should drop, other than people’s tighter budgets overall, according to Gallup pollsters.
Specialty Store Shopping
The drop in anticipated shopping in specialty stores, including stores that sell only toys, or clothes, or jewelry is second only to the drop in department store shopping.
Mail-Order Catalog Shopping
Mail-order catalogs are even less popular this year. However, they have never been a preferred way to shop, said pollsters.
The Bottom Line for Christmas and Holiday Shopping in 2017
The decrease in anticipated Christmas shopping in 2017 is no surprise, given the grim reality of so much other negative consumer economic data Gallup has been measuring, said pollsters.
Still, this new information about of Gallup’s annual Christmas shopping trends reinforces the vulnerability of America’s retailers this season “as consumers pull way back on spending in the face of continuing economic turmoil.” Said Gallup researchers.
Survey Methods Used
These results are based on telephone interviews with 1,009 national adults, aged 18 and older. Interviews were conducted from November 13-16, 2017. The maximum margin of sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points, with 95 percent confidence, according to Gallup


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Croatian State Lottery officials announced the release of five new casino style games as well as keno and scratch cards for online and mobile casinos.
On January 24, the Croatian State Lottery (Hrvatska Lutrija) announced that it has renewed the contract with Intralot Interactive, a Greek online and mobile casino software provider. Intralot will develop a series of online and mobile casino software for the government controlled lottery websites. Online gambling is legal for Croatian citizens, whether at Croatian or foreign casinos.
By year’s end, Intralot will introduce five casino style games as well as Keno and three new digital scratch card games first for online casinos and subsequently for the mobile gamers. Hrvatska Lutrija plans to offer roulette, horse racing, lucky dice, victory at sea and super goal for iPhone casinos or Android Smartphone Croatian mobile casinos. To boost the confidence of Croatian players, the random number generator for the Croatian State Lottery online and mobile casino games will be hosted by Intralot in Greece.
The director of Croatian State Lottery (Hrvatska Lutrija), Ms. Vesna Bakran, reported that, “Croatia is very satisfied with our cooperation with Intralot Interactive for the development of the Croatian Lottery’s Internet and mobile gaming platform. Currently, our online sportsbooks are the most popular product and we are certain that with the addition of mobile casino games, we will see a satisfactory increase in revenues. After only four months of operation, the turnover of all games offered on the Internet reached 9% of the total lottery turnover, with the numbers expected to reach 30% within two years.”


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Noel Lee, CEO of Monster, filed in a lawsuit in San Mateo (California) County Superior Court on Beats Electronics. Iovine, Interscope Records co-founder, a pioneer of rap music, and Dr Dre ,a music producer and a rapper, are co-founders of Beats. The two have allegedly conspired to brush aside Monster, the audio tech company which designed and created the high-end, colorful headphones “Beats By Dr. Dre” to acquire total control over the product line. Monster accused Beats Electronics of committing “corporate betrayal”. The two companies established themselves as partners in 2008 with the launch of the popular headphones.
According to Noel Lee the whole process started in 2011. 51 percent share of the firm was sold to HTC. He stated that development and research, distribution information and marketing, part of Monster’s intellectual property, were handed to HTC, a Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer. The share was later retaken from HTC. Afterwards, Beats convinced Lee to sell his stake. Beats Electronics is accused of committing fraud and deceit because Apple bought the company last year in May in a transaction worth $3 billion. Apple made this move in an effort to transform Beats Music into a challenger to Spotify and other streaming services. Lee’s 5 percent stake would have been worth around $100 million. The statement was made at the Consumer Electronics Show 2015 in Las Vegas.
Alleges from the suit said that Beats executives “made millions off the work of Lee and Monster.” The complaint also said that Monster lost millions of dollars since Beats “misappropriated the ‘Beats By Dr. Dre” manufacturing, distribution channels and technology. Up until now Beats has not released a comment. Apple refused any comment on the lawsuit too.
The NPD Group said that premium products like the “Beats By Dr. Dre” headphone lineup has about 60 percent of the premium U.S. headphone market, one that summed up a total of around $1 billion in the last year. Noel Lee claimed that Beats sought to eliminate Monster’s participation in the appearance of “Beats By Dr. Dre”. Ben Arnold, NPD analyst, told that this could be a move to aid Monster “gain market share”.
Image Source: USA Today


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A Monarch butterfly lands on a flower before it is to be cut and included in an arrangement to be sold at an upcounty Farmers Market. A newly-oirganized producers’ market is planned for Wednesdays this summer in Chestertown, and plans call for fine crafts, floral arrangements and gourmet natural foods all to be included in the items for sale. Photo by Diane Randall
A farmers' market is to be held in Chestertown beginning this summer, according to members of the sponsoring group, the Tri-Lakes Business Alliance.
Plans for the market, which will likely include work of area artisans, were announced Friday Feb. 24 at the biweekly meeting of the upcounty business development group.
The market is to be held each Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the front lawn of the Chester Municipal Center from June 20 until Oct. 10.
The market is intended to feature only produce grown locally, and a process has been launched to recruit farmers to be vendors at the market. Letters are being sent out this week to known local producers, inviting them to reserve a space at the market. Applications are also available online at :www.chestertownfarmersmarket.com.
The market in Chestertown joins a number of established markets elsewhere in northern Warren County, including Warrensburg, Diamond Point and North Creek.
A logo has been chosen for the Chestertown market through a contest among art students at North Warren High School. Votes from the market’s Facebook page provided input for Alliance group in selecting the logo to be used for the enterprise.
A design drawn by North Warren student Martha Torres was chosen. Martha is to receive a $25 prize. The four runners-up in the contest will receive ice cream cones donated by Main Street Ice Cream.
Stall rates are available from $109 for the 17-week season to $69 for an 8-week commitment. This will be a “producer’s only” market and all products sold must be grown or created by the vendors themselves.
Also, Business owners and individuals are invited to become a “Friend of the Market” by donating funds to help with advertising, insurance, signage, postage and group affiliations. Mail donations to: P.O. Box 257, Chestertown, NY 12817. Details regarding donation levels and market operations are available on the website.


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Debate On Cryptocurrency The Future Of Money
· Cryptocurrency is a currency and not an asset, and that is where the fundamental difference is. A lot of cryptocurrency news still showcases hopes in favor of a bright future for Bitcoin. · As I look at the design and listen to the debate about the future of crypto currencies, it seems to me that the focus on marketing crypto currencies has.
· Cryptocurrency, especially Bitcoin, came into news and gained a high popularity after it started rising beyond everyone’s expectations and predictions. Back in – 09 when bitcoin and. Are cryptocurrencies the future of money? Every few months, some media proclaim bitcoin is dead or that it is a bubble about to burst. However this cryptocurrency is still there, more than 8 years after its creation, and stronger than ever.
Will it finally disappear? The Crypto Currency Debate: Future Of Money Or Speculative Hype? Add a Comment. Related Articles. EUR/USD: Trading Sideways By Al Brooks - 1. The debate about the future of money is not just about the creation new currencies. It is also about creating new methods what is cryptocurrency india use existing currencies and existing units of accounts.
· “The future of commerce will be shaped by the crypto supply chain, which will have less friction and more exponential value between buyers and sellers of all products,” Canton said. And while it’s hard to bet on any single cryptocurrency at the moment, funds such as Apex bundle multiple tokens for those looking to enter the market.
Debate On Cryptocurrency The Future Of Money. What Is The Future Of Cryptocurrency? (2020) – Changelly
· This debate on the cryptocurrency highlights the pros and cons of it. Transferring money through crypto currency is very cheap and cost effective. Most means of currency transfer we have today come with transactional fees that banks charge, but the cost to transfer money through crypto currency is almost nil.
The Future of Technology.
As supporters of cryptocurrency proudly flaunt, it is completely unregulated and decentralized. As of yet, there is no central power dictating the rules of cryptocurrency. When we interviewed ECB President Mario Draghi on the subject, he warned: while the euro is backed by the ECB, no institution backs bitcoin.
Understanding the history of cryptocurrency - Big Think
· As more and more people rely on electronic rather than tangible forms of money on a day-to-day basis and the world's financial systems appear to become more and more complex, many are left to ponder the future of money and currency. The Future of Paper Money It's not likely that paper money will completely disappear at any time in the near future.
Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies: Ten Experts Debate The Future
· The emergence of Bitcoin has sparked a debate about its future and that of other cryptocurrencies. Despite Bitcoin’s recent issues, its success since.
· Possible Advantages to a Crypto Future A report by Futurism highlights some of the possible outcomes, should cryptocurrencies surpass fiat currencies. What is the future of cryptocurrencies in ? This is a tough question with a variety of answers. This year, the attention of investors in digital money will be focused on national cryptocurrencies, the development of the cryptocurrency derivatives market and mining.
In this article, we will talk about all the crypto trends of · The invention of cryptocurrency allow ed user to user transactions without the need of intermediary institutions. Through cryptocurrency, users can directly send money to other users. The first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin was invented by ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’ in No body knows whether this Satoshi Nakamoto is a woman or man or a group of persons.
On July 2,Reason and The Soho Forum hosted a debate between Erik Voorhees, the CEO of ShapeShift, and Peter Schiff, CEO and chief global strategist of. · They may want to launch virtual money of their own, as the European Central Bank and others have proposed. What seems at stake here is the future of. The Crypto Currency Debate: Future of Money or Speculative Hype?
When it comes to any finance-related questions, I am fair game, and those questions usually span the spectrum, from what I think about Warren Buffett (or why I don't agree with everything he says) to whether tech stocks are in a bubble (a perennial question for worry warts).
The evolution of money, and the evolution of every industry, strongly imply that Cryptocurrencies, probably in many forms, will be in our future. And will dominate the money supply at some point.
And how we get from “here” to “there” will be paved with many lucrative opportunities. CRYPTO CURRENCIES AND THE FUTURE OF MONEY This report provides a comprehensive overview of how cryptocurrencies could be used for the betterment of society, how they currently function and how the general public use, understand and trust cryptocurrencies across a. · Money has always played a critical role in the evolution of society. In order to understand the role cryptocurrencies can play in our future society, let’s look at what money does.
Money provides. Jim Harper on Cryptocurrency and the Future of Money. MP4 video - Low Price: $ Request Download.
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Alert me when this program is available for purchase. House Financial Regulations Debate. Predicting the future of the weird and wonderful world of crypto might be a tall order for even the most prolific of psychics. Just five years ago Bitcoin was recovering from its first crash and was trading at around £ ($) – with experts continually dismissing the cryptocurrency as a bubble.
Cryptocurrency Versus Fiat Money: Pros And Cons - Crypto ...
· Existing examples, which have been developed to support and sustain specific lifestyle choices and ensure funds are channelled into, say, more ecologically ways of living, while enhancing supply chain transparency, include VeganCoins, a cruelty-free cryptocurrency introduced in Marchand FairCoin, a social cryptocurrency launched in Future of Money.
Anarchy reigns supreme in the future of finance, decentralizing the power of banks and, in some cases, the state. But will cryptocurrencies and the blockchains that underlie them solve our financial woes, or only worsen existing inequalities? Cryptocurrency and the ongoing regulatory debate Despite the constant flux in recent months, cryptocurrency investing is still surging with bitcoin remaining the star of the show.
Some experts are predicting the market potentially reaching the trillion-dollar mark in · Veteran Investor Makes A Bold Prediction About Bitcoin And The Future Of Money. predicting that only criminals will want to use it as bitcoin and cryptocurrency. · Cryptocurrency and the cashless society. an event laser-focused on the future of money (disclosure: Money is a sister company to WGSN). On the opposite side of this debate, and an argument I heard a few times at Money, is the need to protect small businesses as well as individuals.
There are many that for safety reasons don’t. Check out more great videos from us here: Investing For Millennials: Gold Cash Knowledge ghcu.xn----8sbdeb0dp2a8a.xn--p1ai How To Become Anonymous And Secure Your. Cryptocurrency: Advantages & Disadvantages Explained With the price spike of digital currencies such as Bitcoin inthe space has begun receiving more media attention than it ever has before. Its coverage frequently takes the form of a debate, with advocates citing cryptocurrency as the clear future of money while opponents point out many flaws that have yet to be worked out.
The use of cryptocurrency is on the rise, and in the future, you will be able to walk into Taco Bell and order a loaded chicken griller with bitcoins, or some other crypto currency. "I find it ironic that for Bitcoin or Dogecoin to become popular, you must buy it with money." As of right now, traditional currency is indeed the standard.
The Future Of Money. Chinese cryptocurrency asset managers are looking to expand in places such as Hong Kong and Singapore, skirting an intensified crackdown at home.
Citigroup: CBDCs 'Inevitable' In Future Currency | PYMNTS.com
Nov 23 Blockchain technology has a brighter future than most digital currencies in general and Bitcoin in particular, judging from responses to this month’s column.
It’s also clear that a discussion of this subject can reach far beyond the confines of the original question, involving us in a debate. · Below, you'll find a few options for the best cryptocurrencies to invest in and beyond (well, at least for the foreseeable future). Bitcoin (BTC) If, somehow, you’ve only heard of one cryptocurrency, it’s probably Bitcoin.
It is the biggest cryptocurrency — it currently has a 40% share in the total cryptocurrency market cap!
· A panel of some of Bitcoin’s biggest proponents and detractors has wrapped up at the CC Forum conference in London. Nouriel Roubini, Brock Pierce, Bobby Lee, Tone Vays and Craig Wright debated the future of Bitcoin, altcoins, fintech and finance.
Roubini began the conference with a bang, offering his signature take on Bitcoin and blockchain [ ]. Why Cryptocurrency is Not the Future of Money Lately, there has been too much hype about cryptocurrency, especially bitcoin, which has risen in value over % in last year alone CITATION Cha17 \l (Chang).
The Future of Money: How cryptocurrency and the blockchain ...
It has been touted as the future of money and the successor of fiat currency. Cryptocurrency is only in its initial stages, so it is too soon to assume whether cryptocurrency will be the future of money or what will be the impact of Bitcoin in the coming years. Our Related Services. Custom Software Development Network Infrastructure Management Mobile App Development.
The Crypto Currency Debate: Future of Money or Speculative ...
· Ripple & Swift Going Head-to-Head To Debate The Future Of Global Money Transfers. Next month, we are going to see Ripple and Swift in a face-off at the 1TC conference in Rust, Germany.
The panel that will sit in February will see Marjan Delatinne, the global head of banking at Ripple and Wim Raymaekers, the global head of banking market at Swift sharing their views on the future of.
· Venezuela’s Failed Cryptocurrency Is the Future of Money. El Petro couldn’t save Venezuela, but may save the world. By. Aaron Brown,AM EDT Amid all the debate. · The debate over digital money has been going on for a while, with the pandemic throwing more complications in via the increased dependence on digital means of. money has been on the path towards greater abstraction, or pure symbolic repre-sentation disassociated from a precise physical materialisation, for millennia.
Less evident, when looking to the future, is the question of the rate at which the last vestiges of physical money will disappear and, in the minds of some, if it is really destined to.
Is the Future of Money Gold, Crypto or Fiat? - Jim ...
· At Propelify, Speakers Debate Pros and Cons of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Octo Marc Weinstein Off Emerging technologies, fintech, Meetings, At the Propelify Innovation Festival held in Hoboken on October 3, panelists discussed the pros and cons of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, including their impacts on the future.
Cryptocurrency, despite the massive drop in value from a year prior, was still a hot topic of discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Experts on cryptocurrency and blockchain debated the technology in the panel “ Building a Sustainable Crypto-Architecture ”.
The Future of Digital Money. Debate Moderator(s): Antonio Fatás, Stephen Cecchetti Vox is launching an online debate on the future of digital money to foster a conversation among academics and policymakers about the costs and benefits of some of the innovations and future scenarios for digital money.
· Ten experts debate bitcoin's recent declines and the future of cryptocurrency Published Wed, Aug 15 PM EDT Updated Wed, Aug 15 PM EDT Thomas Catenacci @thomascatenacci.
Is Bitcoin the Future of Money? Peter Schiff vs. Erik Voorhees
· While there is considerable debate about current valuations, many see a bright future for cryptocurrencies in general, believing they could revolutionise the whole money system.
· Soon, positive news about the cryptocurrency market saw the public's interest return - only this time, the interest was based on more than speculation, it was backed by big institutionalized money.


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Paramount Home Media was out with TV series, KidVid and 4K Ultra HD release news this past week … all targeted for release during October and November.
On the TV-on-DVD series front we find that on Oct. 16 there is the four-disc, ten-episode collection of The Affair: Season Four and everyone’s popular Holmes and Watson detective team — Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson — returns on Nov. 13 with the 21 episode, six-disc set of Elementary: The Sixth Season.
Paramount Home Media will be teaming up with Nickelodeon on Nov. 6 for the DVD release of Blaze and the Monster Machines: Blaze Saves Christmas.
Blaze and his friends have plenty of winter and holiday adventures on hand in this latest collection, which begins with Crusher sending Santa’s bag of presents flying this way and that … it is up to Blaze and AJ to help poor Crusher undo the mess and get all of those presents delivered by Christmas morning.
When a helpless little bunny gets trapped on a glacier it is Blaze to the rescue, plus there’s a missing birthday cake that needs to be found (and quick) and when Crusher and Pickle get stuck on an icy peak they are going to need some rescue help to get safely home!
On the 4K Ultra HD release front, there will be a five-film Transformer collection (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray combos) rolled on Nov. 6.


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Netflix‘s lowest-cost, ad-free plan is coming to an finish in Canada.
The streaming large revealed this week that it plans to retire the no-ads Primary plan in Canada beginning within the second quarter of 2024, making Canadians among the first on this planet to have the Primary plan axed, alongside the U.Ok. Different markets could have their Primary plans wind down at a later date, which is but to be confirmed.
The Primary plan, at the moment priced at $9.99 monthly, will disappear and clients will likely be prompted to maneuver to the same no-ads Normal plan at $16.49 monthly, or choose a unique plan. The choice so as to add further member slots to the Normal plan will likely be obtainable at $7.99 monthly.
The phase-out of Netflix Primary comes after the corporate stopped providing it to new subscribers in markets together with the U.S., Canada and the U.Ok. in 2023.
Netflix didn’t affirm to International Information the precise date when Canadians can count on to see the transfer to a Normal plan and elevated pricing, nor how the choice to modify plans will likely be communicated to clients, as an alternative directing customers to the shareholder report and the Canadian pricing plan.
Tech Speak: Proposed Canadian levy towards Netflix & the issue with electrical autos
The corporate nonetheless affords a Normal plan with adverts for $5.99 monthly or customers can pony up the additional price for a Premium plan, which helps further gadget and obtain permissions in addition to Extremely HD capabilities, for $20.99 monthly.
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In a letter to shareholders Monday, reporting outcomes from the fourth quarter of 2023, Netflix outlined its reasoning for the plan adjustments.
“We search to offer a spread of costs and plans to satisfy a variety of wants, together with extremely aggressive beginning costs,” the corporate wrote. “As we spend money on and enhance Netflix, we’ll sometimes ask our members to pay somewhat further to replicate these enhancements, which in flip helps drive the optimistic flywheel of further funding to additional enhance and develop our service.”
In a This autumn earnings interview, co-CEO Greg Peters burdened that the ad-supported Normal tier is designed to supply extra general worth than its predecessor Primary plan.
With the advert plan, clients “get a greater plan than Primary, extra streams, larger decision with downloads. And naturally, the true profit is that they get entry to all these superb tales at a decrease efficient value,” Peters stated.
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Netflix signalled it would attempt to justify the upper subscription costs — and maybe reel in additional advertisers to the low-cost plan that features commercials — with a $10-billion deal introduced Tuesday that can carry the WWE’s common wrestling program, Uncooked, to its service.
Peters predicted it will likely be a number of years earlier than advert gross sales usher in vital income. However the firm continues to be benefiting from the $6-per-month value for the plan with commercials, with that possibility now accounting for about 40 per cent of its new subscribers within the markets the place it’s obtainable.
Peters advised analysts that Netflix stays assured that it might probably nonetheless persuade extra viewers now utilizing the passwords of paying clients to ante up for their very own plans.
“That (crackdown) will enhance our progress for years,” Peter stated.
Analysts have additionally been anticipating the corporate will amplify a push into video video games that Netflix embarked upon in 2021 through the throes of the pandemic.
Whereas emphasizing the online game phase stays comparatively small, Netflix says it’s beginning to see extra subscribers spending extra time on its service engaged in that pastime as an alternative of watching TV collection and flicks.
© 2024 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.


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Weiqiao warns of “significant” profit fall
China’s Weiqiao Textile Company has warned of a significant decrease in profit for 2014, blaming the “drastic” fall in China’s domestic cotton prices.
The company said the price falls in the 2014 crop year had come as a result of the cancellation of the Chinese government’s national cotton temporary reserve policy, and the implementation of the detailed full scale of direct subsidy policy in September.
As a result, Weiqiao said, its downstream customers had adopted a cautious approach to purchasing, negatively impacting market demand, as well as the group’s sales volumes and selling prices.
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Jeff Longhurst lands non-executive role
Credebt is delighted to announce that Jeff Longhurst, has joined Credebt as a non-executive director. Jeff is chairman of the Invoice Finance and Asset Based Lending Board of UK Finance which represents 97% of invoice finance in the UK with £300bn sales purchased annually.
He has 40 years of experience in invoice finance – over 20 years as CEO/managing director working in clearing bank subsidiaries, specialist asset based lenders and independent invoice finance providers. He has set up and successfully sold his own invoice finance business.
Jeff is a former chairman and CEO of the Asset Based Finance Association and member of the executive committee of the EU Federation for Factoring and Commercial Finance. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management.
Glen Morgan, CEO of Credebt said “This important appointment further demonstrates Credebt’s commitment to the invoice finance industry as well as its drive to have the right people on board to take the business forward. Welcome to the team, Jeff, we look forward to working with you to further develop our services and offering”.