text: Sometimes, there is nothing more satisfying than a close-range sniper kill. And sometimes, there’s nothing more satisfying than three consecutive close-range sniper kills. \n \nPUBG gamer Frolicer submitted a video for the 2019 PUBG Awards of him doing just that, and appropriately, he was crowned the Week 4 first-place champion. \n \nHere is the 2019 PUBG Awards video that featured Frolicer’s work of art: \n \nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?time_continue=26&v=F-igFM2sc-0&feature=emb_title \n \nWeek 4, which was the final week of the month-long event, required players to get impressive or engaging kills while using the Win94. And if gamers watch the video, they probably feel both impressed and engaged by Frolicer’s triple headshot. \n \nProbably the funniest part of the video is the lack of reaction by Frolicer. It seems just like another day on the job for him. Three enemies, no problem, he’ll just drop them all. \n \nAs a first-place finisher, Frolicer is the recipient of multiple PUBG goodies, a physical 2019 PUBG Awards trophy, a physical t-shirt, and an in-game t-shirt. \n \nHe is not the only winner, however. Every week, PUBG Corp. chooses over 50 winners. One second-place winner will receive both the in-game and physical t-shirts, while the 50 third-place winners will get the in-game t-shirt. \n \nAs mentioned earlier, this was the last week to submit a clip. The first week’s category was “Aim to Win,” which challenged PUBG gamers to get an entertaining or skillful kill with a throwing melee-weapon. \n \nThe second week highlighted gamers that made a mistake but recovered with a stroke of luck or pure calculation. It was called, “I Meant to Do That.” Week 3 was coined “Just Got My License,” and it got players to mow down their enemies in spectacular fashion using vehicles. \n \nJust because the clip submission part is over, does not mean that the 2019 PUBG Awards are over! Starting January 1st, fans will be able to vote for their favorite first-place clip. Since there have been four weeks with four first-place champs, fans will have to choose between the best of the best. \n \nThe video that receives the most votes will become the sole winner of the 2019 PUBG Awards, and the accolade will net the gamer the 2019 Golden PUBG Award. \n \nSo, if gamers are interested in voting, they should keep an eye on the PUBG website, or their social media platforms, to get the information on where they can watch the videos and how to vote! \n \nThis has been a decent year of gaming for a lot of PUBG players, and this is a great way to cap off the decade.


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During Disney’s Investor Day meeting, President of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy announced that Disney+ is working on a new adventure series for Disney+ titled “A Droid Story”. This epic journey will introduce us to a new hero guided by R2-D2 and C-3PO. It will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation and ILM.
Kennedy said, “As we continue to develop new stories, the intersection of animation of visual effects, offers new opportunities for us to explore.”
“This epic journey will introduce us to new hero guided by our most iconic duo… on a secret mission known only to them. What could possibly go wrong?”
Stay tuned for more details!

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American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) - Get American Eagle Outfitters Inc. Report said Thursday it expects fourth-quarter revenue to drop in the low single-digit percentages due to weak in-store traffic and store closures caused by the pandemic. But it outlined a plan for improved growth and profitability by fiscal 2023.
Shares of American Eagle Outfitters rose 3.65% to $23.55 on Thursday.
The Pittsburgh, Penn.-based company said it expects its Aerie brand of intimate women's apparel to report strong online sales and revenue growth of more than 20% in the fourth quarter. But revenue at its American Eagle flagship brand will decline in the low double-digit percentages as a result of its higher store penetration.
“I’m extremely proud of our performance during the fourth quarter, which demonstrated strong growth to last year and continued quarterly sequential improvement," said Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Jay Schottenstein, in a statement.
"Compelling holiday product and marketing, combined with a disciplined approach to promotional activity drove very strong margin results. The team continues to instill strong inventory and expense management, and I believe we are well-positioned as we head into 2021," Schottenstein added.
In a separate release, also shared on Thursday, the retailer said it expects to clock revenue of $5.5 billion in fiscal 2023, with revenue from Aerie contributing roughly $2 billion. American Eagle's revenue is expected to remain roughly flat to fiscal 2019 at approximately $3.5 billion, although with improved profitability, the company said.
Going forward, the retailer said it will report sales of Aerie and American Eagle separately.
American Eagle Outfitters will release fourth quarter and fiscal 2020 results on March 3, 2021.


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Bing Weather is well worth the free download for its pretty, dead-simple design and comprehensive weather reports.
Pricing not available
The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has shortened the window from 30 days, bringing it in line with return policies from carriers.
With the help of a rugged case, an Australian kayaker's iPhone lives to tell the tale after taking a deep dive.
The Toq looks to get battery life right with a smartwatch, the new Nexus 10 is rumored for a release this month and Samsung gets even more flexible.
The tech giant may have found its darling with Ibis-167. Surfing air currents and dodging the polar vortex, the Wi-Fi carrying balloon beat all odds in its recent journey.
Ahead of a suspected revamp of its set-top box, Apple includes a $25 iTunes gift card with the purchase of the current incarnation of Apple TV to binge on Oscar movies.
Intel and Hewlett-Packard are giddy about the prospects for the demise of an operating system that won't die.
University of Chicago researchers say they used one quarter of the Beagle's operating capacity in conjunction with commercially available software packages to analyze raw sequencing data.
You can view between one and seven days in the week view of Apple's Calendar application, but this can only be accessed using a hidden hotkey.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based tech giant has acquired startup Wander -- the latest in a long line of acquisitions.


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CAREFREE – Halloween invades the town of Carefree in the form of whimsical pumpkin carvings from master sculptor, Ray Villafane, and his team for Carefree’s fourth annual Enchanted Pumpkin Garden happening October 19-28.
The Enchanted Pumpkin Garden is a free event with a one-of-a-kind fall festival celebrating the magic of the season with the incredible artistry of Villafane Studios on display throughout the four-acre Carefree Desert Gardens in downtown Carefree.
Villafane has been called, “the Michelangelo of pumpkin carving,” by Martha Stewart, carved for the White House, and has appeared on numerous national TV programs as well as holding two entries in the Guinness Book of World Records. He’s also known for Food Network’s Outrageous Pumpkins competitions, which he won in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Voted “Best in the Valley” fall event in 2015 and 2016 by Phoenix Magazine, visitors are invited to experience the many new mischievous pumpkin characters, artfully imagined and frolicking in their enchanted garden home.
In addition to the playful pumpkins and holiday vignettes, Villafane and his team will carve 3-D pumpkin faces, which are preserved and displayed in tanks that resemble Saguaro cacti scattered throughout the festival.
Another popular attraction is the giant pumpkin on display for visitor photos, with Villafane handling the massive carving duties the second weekend of the event. Villafane’s team of carvers will create new offerings daily throughout the garden.
Two family-instructional carving nights with Villafane on October 25-26, sponsored by Desert Foothills YMCA.
Costume contests with categories for kids, family/group and adults will be held on Saturday, October 27.
A pet costume contest will be held on Sunday, October 28, sponsored by Carefree Pet Resort.
A new weekend Haunted Happenings area, where for a $5 fee visitors will enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides, a haunted house, corn maze and other family-friendly attractions.
Other popular activities include: Basha’s “Adopt a Pumpkin” patch; a pumpkin pie eating competition, with pies provided by Venues Café; a Harvest Market, featuring vendor goods and autumnal treats; a beer garden featuring Four Peaks Brewery (and wine); culinary food trucks; and other special events will round out the week.
For more information about this annual event, visit CarefreePumpkinGarden.com or call 480-488-3686. For information about Ray Villafane and Villafane Studios, visit Villafanestudios.com.


text: The Children’s Bureau of New Orleans is proud to announce its annual “Bowling for Children’s Bureau” event set for Thursday, May 29 from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. This year the event will take place at the brand new Fulton Alley complex. Created by two local entrepreneurs, Fulton Alley is New Orleans’ newest entertainment bar and restaurant along Fulton Street, featuring 12 bowling lanes wrapped in an atmosphere of art, music, craft food and cocktails. It’s the fourth year of “Bowling for Children’s Bureau”, which has become a popular team-building outing among co-workers with several companies around town participating year in and year out. Fulton Alley is a huge draw for the young professional market, which we hope to reach with this event,” said Paulette Carter, president/CEO of Children’s Bureau of New Orleans. “The music, quality cocktails and affordable ticket price makes the event a great night out for friends and co-workers.” Individual tickets for “Bowling for Children’s Bureau” are $50 in advance and can be purchased online - see link on homepage. Tickets will be $60 at the door. Admission to the event includes complimentary food, a featured specialty cocktail and free beer. A full, cash bar will be offered, as well. There are still a few lanes open for those who may want to form a team and participate in the bowling tournament. For more information on teams, call Amy Collins at the Children’s Bureau of New Orleans offices at (504) 525-2366.


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The Mini Superleggera Vision concept has been traveling to different shows around the world since May 2014. We still don’t know if such a car will enter production though. Thanks to InsideEVs’ contributor Tom Moloughney we have a lots of photos of the electric MINI at 2015 NAIAS. Below you’ll… …read more
- Op-Ed: Is 2016 Chevrolet Volt A Threat To BMW i3?
- 2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive On Display At 2015 NAIAS


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The price of Litecoin surged close to 40% in the space of 24 hours, as the digital currency benefited from multiple factors including anticipation surrounding a hard fork that will reward those holding the altcoin.
The cryptocurrency climbed to as much as $218.23 earlier today, a more than 38% increase from the same time yesterday, according to CoinMarketCap.
[Ed. note: Investing in cryptocoins or tokens is highly speculative and the market is largely unregulated. Anyone considering it should be prepared to lose their entire investment.]
Upcoming Hard Fork
Litecoin prices pushed higher ahead of a hard fork taking place on Sunday, February 18, which will bring a Litecoin Cash - a new digital currency that is similar to Litecoin - in to the world.
When this hard fork takes place, investors will receive 10 units of Litecoin Cash, which will trade under the ticker symbol LCC, for every Litecoin they have.
Market participants are flocking to Litecoin in anticipation of this event, helping drive the digital currency's price higher, said Charles Hayter, co-founder and CEO of data provider CryptoCompare.
Iqbal Gandham, UK Managing Director for social trading platform eToro, described the pending hard fork as "an obvious motivation for those looking to get involved ahead of time."


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Nest is a well-known company dedicated to the creation of home automation products, like smart thermostats and smoke detectors. With a strong desire to further innovate in this area, Google acquired the company back in February 2014 for $3.2 billion. This led to a more seamless connection with the user, as it allowed Nest products to use Google's knowledge to become way more intelligent and understanding of the user's needs. All of these new features have come to already existing devices, without any new ones being even hinted; until recently. Nest purchased a security camera firm called Dropcam. The company behind the smart thermostat is reportedly close to announcing a brand new product in collaboration with Dropcam; this announcement might come as soon as next week, when Nest will host a press conference. Previously it was only hinted that Nest was going to launch a new piece of hardware, but new images have leaked showcasing a brand new product, called the Nest Cam.
After an FCC filing that surfaced last week, rumors began about the eventual launch of a new camera-related gadget from the Google-owned company, Nest. A Bluetooth-enabled camera was quickly discovered to be the somewhat anticipated product, which had been undergoing testing for at least three months. The upcoming Nest Cam will feature some rather hefty features, such as 1080p video streaming and the new and simpler setup process, already present in re-branded Dropcam Pros. Although these features might sound great, more details will appear as the press conference next week is closer. According to the FCC filing, the Nest Cam won't be too different from the Dropcam Pro, at least when talking about the internal hardware.
The leaked Nest Cam images, show a new and sleeker design when comparing it to the Dropcam Pro. With Bluetooth LE 4.0 capabilities and the option to mount it to a wall, this new product will be easily configurable and programmable from any place where an internet connection is available. Along with the Nest Cam will come a complete overhaul of the Nest app, which allows users to control Nest products in a simple manner. The Nest Cam will also be the first product to be launched since the home automation company acquired Dropcam last year. Being powered by Google's recent goal of creating a connected home, there is a possibility that more products will be announced in the press conference next week.


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Wellnostics Unveils Device to Make Caring for Diabetic Pets Easier
With its patented Butterfly Touch Technology, the Genteel Lancing Device draws blood from anywhere on the body without pain, according to its creator, Wellnostics. Using vacuum, vibration and depth control, the perfect drop of blood can be drawn from any site. The device claims to be pain free because it only reaches blood capillaries and avoids hitting the pain nerves all together.
Pet owners can find it difficult to monitor their pet’s blood sugar levels from home. This means that most pet owners have all diabetes monitoring done at the vet, which can run up the already expensive costs of owning a diabetic pet. Genteel can make testing at home easier because the patented vacuum helps by drawing the blood to the surface. It can also prevent wasted test-strips because it can get the perfect amount of blood the first time. Testing at home can help the pet owner and the vet determine the best way to regulate the pet’s diabetes without having to make multiple trips to the vet.
Knowing if a pet is experiencing a ‘high’ or ‘low’ without an emergency trip to the vet can not only save money, but can also mean it is more comfortable managing their diabetes at home. By testing more frequently pet owners have a better snapshot of what is causing changes in blood sugar and can help the vet and the owner come up with the best treatment plan for the pet.
“We are delighted to be providing this revolutionary technology to people and pets with diabetes as we know this is just another technological advancement that is helping to provide life without limits for diabetics,” Wellnostics CEO Hugh Sheridan said. “We are constantly searching for solutions that we believe make people and Pets ‘Healthsmart’ and this device is absolute testament to this belief because it will lead to more Diabetics having better lives.”
PetSafe Parent Brand, Radio Systems PetSafe Europe Ltd, Named a Best Place to Work
PetSafe Brand parent company, Radio Systems PetSafe Europe Ltd (RSPEL), has been crowned Best Workplace in Ireland 2018 by Great Place to Work Ireland, beating the 2nd place ranking it achieved in last year’s awards. The accolade comes on the back of the business being recognized by Great Place to Work as 9th Best Workplace in Europe last year.
In the employee survey assessment, RSPEL achieved top marks, with 100 percent of staff declaring the company a Great Place to Work, a 3 percent increase on last year’s score. The company also achieved highly in its overall score—which measures culture, trust and employee experience—achieving 98 percent, far exceeding 70 percent, the minimum to achieve certification.
Specializing in innovative companion pet and sport and hunting products, RSPEL offers comprehensive pet training, health and wellness, waste management and play product solutions through its PetSafe Brand and training and tracking products for professional trainers and hunters via its global SportDOG Brand.
Business has flourished for RSPEL since it first opened in Dundalk in 2012, growing by 25 percent over the last three years, and headcount has risen steadily by 50 percent. Since last year’s Great Place to Work recognition, RSPEL has built on its projects to foster great working practices and inspire and motivate its team. The company has introduced new programs such as ‘Creative Thinking’ and ‘Office Improvement’ and established a bi-annual ‘Fantastic Five’ award initiative. Categories include ‘Einstein Idea’ which recognizes great creativity and ‘Iron Man/Woman’ which offers those with 12 months’ full attendance an extra three days of annual leave.
In the last year, RSPEL has also introduced policies to help encourage better work/life balance, offering employees both flexi-time and working from home. On top of more traditional perks, as a pet-centric business RSPEL, also offers perks to ensure employees have great relationships with their pet. These include being allowed to bring dogs into the office, eight hours’ ‘paw-rental’ leave to help new pets settle and three days’ paid pet bereavement leave. RSPEL also helps to cover the cost of pet care, including microchipping, insurance and health check-ups.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have been given the accolade of Ireland’s best workplace by such a prestigious organization, it’s a great achievement for our business,” said David Verdon, general manager at RSPEL. “Over the last year we’ve been focused on gaining a better understanding of our customers’ needs, improving teamwork and enhancing employee wellness and it’s fantastic to have this work noticed. Every team member has helped in this achievement, so I take my hat off to each and every one of them. We are now focused on continuing to improve the business and to positively impact on the lives of our customers and their pets.”
This year marks the 16th year of Great Place to Work Ireland recognizing great workplaces with the publication of its Best Workplaces in Ireland lists, and the number of workplaces who are realizing the benefits of empowering their employees to flourish in a supportive high-trust culture continues to increase.
“It’s been a mixed year for Irish workplaces who have seen good trading growth is tempered by ongoing uncertainty over the impact Brexit will have. Infrastructure challenges are making planning for expansion difficult, and we’re on the threshold of full employment in our cities which creates a real headache for organizations who are trying to attract and retain top talent,” said John Ryan, CEO of Great Place to Work Ireland. “The organizations on this year’s list know that beyond a certain point, employees aren’t going to be tempted by a slightly more generous financial package: they want an environment where they feel psychologically safe, encouraged to grow, provided with opportunities to develop, and empowered to do their best work. Rather than simply throwing money at their staff, Irish workplaces should take advantage of reward and recognition opportunities as a chance to develop their employer brand; enhancing and amplifying their unique culture.”
The Best Workplace accolade was presented to the RSPEL team at the Great Place to Work Best Workplaces in Ireland awards in Dublin on February 21.
Lallemand Animal Nutrition Adds, Promotes Team Members
Lallemand Animal Nutrition announced the addition of Nicole Walrod as a territory business manager for North America. In addition, Wendy Hushon (pictured here) joins the global silage team as strategic marketing manager, forage additives.
Walrod will support customers in Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas. Using more than a decade of experience in animal health, she will assist producers and industry partners using Lallemand Animal Nutrition’s leading brands such as ProTernative and Levucell SC probiotics, among others.
She joins the company as the current manager for the area, Keith Brown, is retiring. Brown and Walrod will work together through the spring to ensure a seamless transition. Most recently, Walrod worked at Midwest Veterinary Supply as a territory manager. She resides in Marshall, Texas.
Hushon moves to the global silage team after working as the marketing communications manager for Lallemand Animal Nutrition North America since 2013. In her new role, she will help develop and implement global marketing strategy for the company’s leading silage inoculant portfolio, which includes brands such as Biotal, Lalsil and Sil-All.
“We are proud to have Nicole and Wendy supporting our customers,” said Jeff Ast, commercial director, Lallemand Animal Nutrition, North America. “Their experience will continue to deliver the high level of customer support everyone at the company offers to our customers. What makes these individuals unique is their passion for the industry. I am confident our customers will see the results that come from combining excellent products with top-notch people.”
Wag N’ Wash Pet Food and Bakery Expands
Wag N’ Wash Natural Food & Bakery, a full-line specialty retail and grooming center for cats and dogs, is heading to Redmond, Washington, on March 3.
The new store, located at The Village at Redmond Ridge on 23535 NE Novelty Hill Rd., marks the second of 15 stores the specialty pet retailer plans to open in the Seattle area and will be owned and operated by Rose Baeza. The first store opened in April in Queen Anne.
“At Wag N’ Wash, we understand that your cats and dogs are cherished members of the family,” Baeza said. “Instead of going to multiple shops to find quality pet food and grooming services for your furry friend, Wag N’ Wash provides ease and convenience by being a one-stop-shop where pet owners can wash ’em, feed ’em and spoil ’em, all in one cool place!”
Prior to Wag N’ Wash, Baeza was a senior finance manager at Microsoft. After experiencing the one-of-a-kind bonding experience of self-washing her dog, Baeza wanted to provide this opportunity to fellow pet owners.
“Redmond is my home, and I’m thrilled to bring the brand to the Eastside where I can provide much needed convenience to members of my community wanting to take excellent care of their pet companions,” she said.
Founded in 1999, Wag N’ Wash offers a community for pet enthusiasts to go, find quality goods and services for their pet companions, and simply be pet people. Expert nutritional staff is always available to help customers make the best nutritional choices; and all the while, furry friends are mingling throughout the store.
Each Wag N’ Wash store also actively supports local non-profits that share the company’s mission of enhancing the quality of life for companion pets and their guardians. In 2016 alone, Wag N’ Wash stores donated over $100,000 worth of gourmet biscuits, all-natural pet food, free washes, free merchandise and monetary donations back to their communities. In addition, Wag N’ Wash works with local rescue groups and has single-handedly been responsible for the adoption of more than 2,100 cats and dogs through its adoption fairs.
Scratchpay Wins VMX Pet Project
In partnership with The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), pet technology brands PetCoach and Whistle have announced Scratchpay as the winner of Pet Project 2018, a live pitch event that invited entrepreneurs in the vet health industry to bring their ideas to the stage at the annual Veterinary Meeting and Expo, VMX. This is the second installment of the Pet Project venture program aimed to encourage innovation in the $65 billion pet industry by providing support to entrepreneurs with winning ideas or products intended to improve the veterinary practice and future of pet medicine.
Scratchpay, a startup offering simple, friendly payment plans for immediate access to veterinary care, was selected by a panel of four expert judges including veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker; Mars Petcare’s VP of Digital Health, Jeannine Taaffe; Brock Weatherup, EVP Strategic & Digital Experience at Petco; and NAVC CEO Tom Bohn, CAE. As the standout pitch of Pet Project 2018, Scratchpay will receive a $25,000 cash prize and critical feedback to help accelerate ITS idea into a thriving business.
“I was thrilled to take part in this event alongside some amazing entrepreneurs in the veterinary space,” said John Keatley, founder and CEO of Scratchpay. “The prize and industry recognition will help us ensure that more pets have access to the medical care they need to live happy lives.”
Pet Project was developed in 2017 by Brock Weatherup, EVP Strategic & Digital Experience at Petco, and Ben Jacobs, co-founder and CEO of Whistle.
“The NAVC is proud to join Mars Petcare, Petco, Whistle and PetCoach to support entrepreneurs, help them clear the hurdles startups typically face within the industry and bring their innovative ideas to the veterinary healthcare world at a faster pace to advance our profession,” Bohn said.
Scratchpay was joined on stage at the VMX Pet Project 2018 live pitch by the following startup finalists:
VetSpire – a cloud-based veterinary medical records and practice management company
Petnostics – creators of at-home tests to identify early warning signs
Fuzzy – comprehensive in-home veterinary care
Future Pet – SMS patient history collection for veterinary visits
NYC Re-tails & Sales Pet Expo Set for May
Mark your calendar and save the date because the 6th annual NYC Re-tails & Sales Pet Expo is back for more pet industry fun! This one-of-a-kind boutique B2B tradeshow will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. at Home Studio Inc. near Union Square Park. Hosted once again by Nancy Hassel of American Pet Professionals and Dana Humphrey of Whitegate PR, the upcoming NYC Re-tails & Sales Pet Expo will feature new products for 2018.
Media, pet retailers, groomers, veterinarians, social media and pet influencers will join together to learn about the latest and greatest pet products available on the market. Press and pet celebrities will be in attendance as well as retailers traveling from distances including Boston, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania and Long Island to see and shop for products for their pet stores. In addition, Pet Age Magazine will be this year’s Presenting Media Sponsor. Pet Age Magazine has been a supporter and sponsor since the first expo back in 2014.
Over the years, the pet industry has experienced continuous, unprecedented growth. Early this March, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) announced that the overall spending in the pet industry has surpassed previous spending by more than $6 billion. With over 84.6 million pet-owning households in the US (about 68 percent of total households), it’s safe to say that people love caring for and living with four-legged companions.
“Pet owners today have a parenting attitude towards their pets. In fact, the humanization of pets has become a global trend,” Humphrey said. “Because more people feel that their animals are part of their human family, they provide for them as they would other members of their household. This trend has most certainly influenced pet buying preferences, which is why higher quality products are in demand.”
In previous years, NYC Re-tails & Sales vendors have showcased everything from luxurious beds, nutritious food and treats, top-of-the-line grooming supplies, beautiful jewelry, stylish collars, durable leashes, innovative pet technology, and more.
Vendors for the upcoming May 1 show include: Exam Room Treats, BooDog Lifestyles, Charlie Bear Dog Treats, Ethical Products Inc., Longevity – Dr. B’s Raw Pet Food, Pawies, Paws Gourmet Bakery, SteelDog USA, Diggs Pet and SnugPups.
May is declared National Pet Month, a time to celebrate the importance of pets and pet ownership, and the first full week in May is National Pet Week, which is dedicated to celebrating the four-legged friends that enrich our lives each and every day. The NYC Re-tails & Sales Pet Expo event kicks-off this special week and month-long occasion.
“Each year, the NYC Re-tails & Sales Pet Expo has a bigger and better turnout than the year before,” Hassel said. “We love to watch participants network and establish connections in a fun, laid-back but business focused atmosphere. We hope to see you there!”
Fresh Step’s Cats on Glass Gallery
Fresh Step presented Cats on Glass Gallery, benefiting the Humane Society of New York, from February 15 to 19 in New York, New York.
The HALTI Walking Range Line in Action
Take a look at The Company of Animals‘ HALTI Walking Range: the Walking Lead, Walking Collar, All-In-One Lead, Walking Harness and Retractable Lead.
Nestlé USA Names New Market Head, CEO
Nestlé today announced that Steve Presley, currently chief finance and strategic transformation officer for Nestlé USA, will succeed Paul Grimwood as market head and CEO of Nestlé USA, effective April 1, 2018. Grimwood will transition from his current role and will continue to serve the business as non-executive chairman of Nestlé USA until May 2019.
With $9.7 billion in 2017 sales, Nestlé USA is the largest of eight U.S. operating companies as part of Nestlé Group.
Presley began his comprehensive career with Nestlé more than 20 years ago as a controller for the beverage factory in Suffolk, Virginia. He held various roles within the Beverage Division, including vice president of Finance and vice president/general manager of Premium Ready-to-Drink Beverages. In 2009, Presley was named president of Nestlé Business Services and in 2013, he was appointed chief financial officer for Nestlé USA. In 2016, Presley’s role was expanded to include leading Nestlé USA’s strategic transformation where he is currently responsible for developing, implementing and leading new and innovative strategies that ensure the long-term growth of the company. Presley’s replacement as Nestlé USA’s CFO will be announced at a later date.
“Steve has played a critical role in driving the strategic transformation of Nestlé USA alongside Paul,” said Laurent Freixe, Nestlé executive vice president and head of zone Americas. “His powerful combination of deep commercial and financial expertise provides continuity and makes him ideally suited to lead Nestlé USA in the changing consumer marketplace. Steve’s experience will prove invaluable in continuing to pursue new internal and external models to increase the speed of innovation, capitalize on M&A to seed our innovation machine, and create new income streams and capabilities.”
Freixe added that he is thankful for Grimwood’s enormous contributions to the business, which he led through a critical period in the company’s history.
“Paul’s dedication to Nestlé and his exceptional leadership helped propel Nestlé USA to record service levels, working capital and profitability in 2017,” Freixe said. “He achieved this success while simultaneously orchestrating Nestlé USA’s strategic transformation which included the sale of our Confections business, moving our headquarters across the country, and leading acquisitions and investments in companies like Freshly, Sweet Earth and Chameleon Cold-Brew.”
Grimwood has served as chairman and CEO of Nestlé USA since 2012 where he led a strategic transformation of the business, which included evolving its products to respond to changing consumer tastes and driving organizational change. He joined Nestlé in 2001 as country business manager for Nestlé Purina PetCare UK and Ireland. In 2005, he served as head of operations for zone Europe and was appointed market head for the UK and Ireland in January 2009. As non-executive chairman, Grimwood will continue to provide strategic counsel, with a particular focus on stakeholder relations. He also will play a key role in driving Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value agenda as well as engaging with government officials, industry leaders and NGOs.
ADM Names New President, Animal Nutrition
Archer Daniels Midland Company announced that Samson Li has been named president, ADM Animal Nutrition.
“Animal Nutrition represents an important growth platform for ADM, and we are pleased to have Samson on board to lead this effort,” said Chris Cuddy, president of ADM’s Corn Processing business. “In recent years, we’ve invested to improve our North American production facilities, expand our footprint in Asia and move into the pet treats and aquaculture feed industries. I look forward to working with Samson as we capitalize on our expanding product portfolio of feed additives, supplements, premixes, custom ingredient blends and specialty feed ingredients; our increasing global footprint; and our growing destination marketing capabilities to become the partner of choice for animal feed and pet food customers.”
Li previously served as managing director of the Asian business unit and as a member of the executive committee for Nutreco, where he led the company’s expansion in the Asian animal and fish feed markets. Before that, he worked at Novus International as vice president, sales and marketing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in economics and an MBA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
7Pets Changes Name to Petfive
After two years of growth, the company behind Garfield Cat Litter, formerly known as 7Pets, is launching a complete rebranding campaign, including a new name: Petfive Brands. Focused on increasing market share in the United States and enhancing its global presence, Petfive is says it is better positioning itself to serve as an umbrella for the company’s existing brands, soon to be launched pet specialty exclusive line of alternative litters, and eventual new product categories.
“The name Petfive is a play on the high five we often share with our beloved pets when celebrating good times and great products that deliver the quality and effectiveness that pets and their parents deserve,” said Pedro Bastos, CEO at Petfive. “Our new visual identity highlights the special bond between pets and pet parents, the same bond that drives us to fulfill our mission of developing products that contribute to a healthier, easier, and ever-loving pet / parent relationship.”
Petfive Brands currently manufactures and distributes two cat litter lines that are all-natural, sustainable and biodegradable, all without sacrificing effectiveness: Garfield Cat Litter and Hello Kitty Cat Litter. During the Global Pet Expo to be held in March in Orlando, Florida, Petfive (Booth #1985) will launch its new premium cat litter line, an enhanced formula, developed exclusively for the pet specialty channel.
Groom Expo West 2018
Groom Expo West was February 15-18 in Pasadena, California.
Pop-in@Nordstrom Features Skout’s Honor Products
Skout’s Honor, maker of environmentally and socially-conscious green cleaning and grooming products, today announced it will be featured by Nordstrom in the retail company’s Pop-In@Nordstrom Celebrates Year of the Dog shop, which launches today in select U.S. and Canadian stores.
This exclusive, limited-time shopping experience celebrates all things dog in honor of the Lunar New Year and 2018 being “Year of the Dog.” The shop features a wide assortment of exclusive apparel, accessories, toys, treats and surprises for dogs and the humans who love them. Curated by Olivia Kim, dog aficionado and Nordstrom vice president of Creative Projects, the shop will carry three of Skout’s Honor’s next-generation green cleaning products, including:
Stain & Odor Remover
- For everyday clean up and unexpected accidents
- Eliminates stains and odors quickly
- Ideal for removing urine, feces, vomit, blood, mud, grease and even wine!
- For quick and easy odor elimination
- Breaks down and destroys surface and airborne odors
- Ideal for pet bedding, car seats, furniture, upholstery, waste-baskets
Cat Urine & Odor Destroyer
- For the worst cat spray stains and odors
- Quickly eliminates feline pheromones and urine, feces, vomit, hairball, marking scent!
“We love that Nordstrom has recognized their customers’ desire to shop for products designed just for pets and pet parents,” said Jenny Gilcrest, director of marketing for Skout’s Honor. “Not only does this Pop-In@Nordstrom showcase our brand as one of the “best of the best” in pet specialty, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to introduce our products to a new group of potentially life-long customers.”
Pop-In@Nordstrom Celebrates Year of the Dog is available in eight Nordstrom locations and online at Nordstrom.com/pop from February 16 to March 25. Locations include:
- Bellevue Square, Bellevue, Washington
- CF Pacific Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
- CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
- Downtown Seattle, Seattle, Washington
- Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
- NorthPark Center, Dallas, Texas
- South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, California
- The Grove, Los Angeles, California
Mars Celebrates Sixth Recognition on Fortune’s 2018 Best Companies to Work For List
For the sixth year in a row, Mars, Inc. has been named to the 2018 100 Best Companies to Work For list, compiled by global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work and Fortune. Mars ranked No. 83 on the list, which is based on survey responses from more than 310,000 employees rating their workplace culture on more than 50 elements, including trust in managers, compensation, fairness, camaraderie and more.
Mars, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, started more than 100 years ago. In addition to its pet nutrition, health care and food products, Mars also manufactures chocolate, chewing gum, mints and fruity confections. Over the years, Mars has grown into a global company with more than 50,000 U.S. associates that help to make a difference for people and their pets every day.
“Whether it’s our unique approach to business or our strong, principles-led culture, this recognition is a celebration of our associates’ success around the U.S.,” said Tracey Massey, president, Americas, Mars Wrigley Confectionery. “We are proud to have earned our place on this list once again, and remain committed to continuing to create an environment that fosters growth, respect and inclusivity.”
Known for its investment in associate development and the ability to build a lasting and rewarding career, Mars provides a wide range of benefits and growth opportunities, such as allowing associates to experiment in different roles across business functions and offering pet-friendly offices and a robust personal development program and resources. Mars prioritizes a healthy, fulfilling life for associates with programs like parental leave and adoption assistance, while offering associates the opportunity to give their time and talents to organize, lead and recruit other volunteers through the Mars Volunteer Program.
This inclusive approach to business is guided by Mars’ “Five Principles” – quality, responsibility, mutuality, efficiency and freedom. These principles drive engagement, connections between associates and contribute to the success of the overall business within the company, fostering a culture of shared purpose. As the only food or consumer packaged goods company to have made the list, Mars focuses on doing business in ways that are good for the company, good for people and good for the planet, investing over $5.4 billion in the U.S. since 1995.
“Mars is honored to once again receive this recognition and shine light on its associates and their dedication to creating a purpose-driven workplace filled with pride,” the company said.
Melissa Verplank Enterprises Names New VP
Joe Zuccarello has joined Melissa Verplank Enterprises (MVE) as the new vice president of Sales, Marketing and Business Development. This new and influential role will collaborate the efforts of The Paragon School of Pet Grooming, White Dog Enterprises, Learn2GroomDogs.com, and Whiskers Resort and Pet Spa.
Zuccarello joins the multifaceted MVE brand from TropiClean, where he served as the director of Innovation and Promotion. His extensive experience in new product development, strategic planning and leadership will help build the Verplank brand worldwide. Additionally, Zuccarello’s expertise spans the entire pet industry spectrum including management and process development at first class pet resorts, grooming spas, and training facilities. Zuccarello is a sought out international speaker and has worked as a consultant providing management, operations, and sales training services and assistance tailored specifically for the pet industry. Likewise, Zuccarello is a writer for many pet industry publications both in print as well as online. He has a Master’s degree in business administration and was a professor and senior lecturer of graduate and undergraduate business administration courses at a private university in St. Louis.


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Demeester, an analyst and co-founder of crypto investment fund Adamant Capital, announced last month that he’s scaling back his public involvement in Bitcoin. But his recent statement doesn’t mean he's shifting wholeheartedly from Bitcoin to Ethereum. He’s emphasized that he’s still a Bitcoin believer, and retains plenty of reservations about Ethereum.
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There are legitimate concerns about security on Ethereum. With such a complex system, and so many different programs running on it, the attack surface is large. And given the challenges the community faces in migrating to Ethereum 2.0, including a new proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and a sharding solution for scaling transactions, it’s still not assured it will ever be ready for prime time.
Decentralizing Everything with Ethereum's Vitalik Buterin | Disrupt SF 2017
Why the Stock-to-Flow Bitcoin Valuation Model Is Wrong. Maybe you shouldn’t be banking all your finances on a halving-driven appreciation in bitcoin this year. In this op-ed for CoinDesk, contributor Nico Cordeiro picks apart one of the most commonly cited theories for why many people expect bitcoin’s baked-in quadrennial money supply decelerations to boost its price.
Ethereum vs Bitcoin | Explained (For Beginners)
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Ethereum is what is known as an open-source, blockchain-based, distributed computing platform. It has smart contract features that enable the processing of contractual agreements online. These smart contracts can be used to process the transfer of assets, such as shares, property, and money. When a smart contract is run on a blockchain, it becomes a self-operating program. It will automatically execute once certain predefined conditions have been met.
That network now sustains its financial system, a decentralized microcosm of the massive traditional one. It takes tokenized versions of the underlying currencies that users most value (whether bitcoin or fiat) and provides disintermediated mechanisms for lending or borrowing them or for creating decentralized derivative or insurance contracts. What’s emerging, albeit in a form too volatile for traditional institutions, is a multifaceted, market for managing and trading in risk.
Gold has had at least three millennia to establish itself as a store of value people turn to when social systems are in stress. Bitcoin has only existed for 11 years. While plenty of investors are willing to speculate on the possibility bitcoin might supplant or compete with gold, the idea is far from ingrained across society. When will it be more widely accepted? Perhaps when the international crisis of global leadership unleashed by COVID-19 undermines the capacity of institutions like the Federal Reserve to sustain economic and social confidence. Whatever new institutions and systems we create going forward will need to address how the internet has upended society’s centralized systems of governance. When that happens, we’ll need a decentralized, digital reserve asset as the base value layer. As I said, it will take time. Meanwhile, the developers will keep building.
Decenter continued the push for more information on the issue and clarification from Google Ads in an appeal through Reddit’s dedicated Ethereum board, asking users to open queries as to any policy changes that could have led to the sudden banning of the key word. In addition, Decenter posted an update stating that their previous ad campaigns feature “ethereum” have been removed, furthering the implication that there is some form of censorship going on,
Interestingly, USD Coin (USDC), the world’s second-largest stablecoin from Coinbase and Circle, was ranked at 1.00 by the Crypto Rating Council (CRC), whose members include Coinbase, Circle, Kraken, Bittrex, Genesis Capital, eToro, OKCoin, Radar, Anchorage, Cumberland, among others). The CRC supports and promotes regulatory clarity in the distributed ledger technology (DLT) space.
The latest saga in the cryptocurrency market and especially that related to the Ethereum is that the leading internet giant Google could have blacklisted “Ethereum” keyword from the company’s Ads platform. This comes after a Serbia –based blockchain startup, Decenter realized that the keyword ‘Ethereum’ can no longer be found on the Google Ads platform. The startup moved swiftly and made an announcement via Twitter where Google responded to the allegations almost instantly:
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We Met The Founder Of Ethereum, VICE on HBO, Season 6 (Bonus Scene)


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Government is starting to crack down on soda. And that’s good news because studies have shown that just one sugary drink a day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60% and an adult’s risk of diabetes by 26%. San Francisco has a new program that might make a difference, but will it work?
The city’s new mandatory health warning labels on city advertising are part of a city-wide effort to encourage people to stop drinking soda. “Now, for every advertising message saying ‘live for now’ or ‘open happiness,’ consumers will also receive a science-based reminder that these products contribute to diabetes, obesity and tooth decay,” said Dr. Harold Goldstein, executive director of the California Center for Public Health.
A new study shows that efforts like this can really work. Researchers followed consumers in Mexico, which consumes more soda than any other country and suffers from an obesity epidemic. After a 10% soda tax was implemented, most households reduced their intake by 12% and low-income households–which are disproportionately affected–by a full 17%.
And that was just in the first year.
We need to do something about this problem. In 2013, a Kaiser Permanente study found links between the BPA lined cans of food and drinks like diet soda and increased risk of obesity for puberty age girls.
And researchers at the University of Texas found people who drink diet soda were 70% more likely to be overweight. Drinking two or more diet sodas each day made a person five times more likely to gain weight, theoretically because artificial sweeteners inhibit the brain cells that make you feel full.
Pass the water, please.
About The Author
Better known as “Mommy Greenest,” Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff is a journalist, consultant, sustainability advocate and former CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World who was Editor in Chief of Children magazine—before she had three of her own. Rachel was featured in Los Angeles and Lucky magazines and appeared on “The Today Show” and “CNN Headline News,” among others, to share advice about healthier living with less judgement. The author of The Big List of Things That Suck and partner at Give + Take swap shop in Los Angeles, Rachel also publishesMommyGreenest.com, where “you shouldn’t have to be a scientist to raise healthy kids.” Follow her Facebook.com/MommyGreenest and atYouTube.com/RachelSarnoff.


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Mark Tritton has been CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) for barely more than a year. Despite spending much of 2020 navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, Tritton still found time to develop a comprehensive turnaround plan for the core business. Meanwhile, Bed Bath & Beyond has moved quickly to shed noncore business units to simplify the company and raise cash.
Tritton put the final touches on that asset sale program earlier this week, as Bed Bath & Beyond announced an agreement to sell Cost Plus World Market. The company also beefed up its share repurchase program. Let's see what these moves mean for investors.
Cost Plus World Market finds a buyer
Bed Bath & Beyond announced earlier this year that it was narrowing its strategic focus to the home, baby, and wellness/beauty markets. Aside from its namesake brand, the buybuy BABY and Harmon Face Values chains clearly fit into that strategic focus. However, that left a lot of smaller brands that were no longer considered core to the company's mission.
During the first three quarters of fiscal 2020, Bed Bath & Beyond raised about $500 million from selling noncore assets. These included PersonalizationMall.com, One Kings Lane, Christmas Tree Shops, its institutional business (Linen Holdings), and a distribution center in Florence, New Jersey.
That left Cost Plus World Market as the only noncore asset remaining on the auction block. On Monday, the company announced an agreement to sell that retail banner -- including 243 brick-and-mortar stores, an e-commerce business, two distribution centers, and a corporate office -- to Kingswood Capital Management, a private equity firm. The deal is set to close before the end of Bed Bath & Beyond's fiscal year in February.
Bed Bath & Beyond did not disclose the sale price. That suggests it is just a fraction of the $495 million the company spent to buy Cost Plus World Market in 2012. Still, the purchase price is a sunk cost. Indeed, the loss the company is taking on Cost Plus World Market is a trifle compared to the roughly $14 billion plunge in Bed Bath & Beyond's market cap since May 2012. What's more important is that Bed Bath & Beyond is simplifying its operations so that management can focus on the biggest profit improvement opportunities.
Pouring more money into buybacks
At its virtual investor day in late October, Bed Bath & Beyond announced plans to repurchase $675 million of stock by the end of fiscal 2023. That included a $225 million accelerated share repurchase program to be completed by the end of fiscal 2020. In conjunction with the Cost Plus World Market sale, the company increased that accelerated share repurchase and the total buyback program by $150 million each.
Bed Bath & Beyond ended its fiscal second quarter with nearly $1.5 billion of cash and investments on hand -- and that was before it received about $250 million from its most recent round of asset sales. Regardless of the sale price for Cost Plus World Market, Bed Bath & Beyond clearly has enough cash to fund these share repurchases.
Based on the current stock price, repurchasing $375 million of stock by the end of fiscal 2020 would shrink the share count by about 15%. That could provide a significant long-term boost to earnings per share. However, this ultimately depends on the success of management's turnaround initiatives.
The key question remains unanswered
Bed Bath & Beyond posted adjusted EPS of just $0.46 last year, down from $1.97 a year earlier. It then posted a massive loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, which coincided with the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it has since returned to earnings growth, it is still likely to ring up a substantial full-year loss for fiscal 2020. Ultimately, the company must significantly improve its profitability through gross margin expansion and cost cuts to live up to its current share price, no matter how much stock it repurchases.
Tritton's turnaround plan for Bed Bath & Beyond seems sensible enough. However, the company faces stiff competition, and the surge in demand for home-related items that has helped it recently may reverse as the pandemic recedes during 2021. Investors may want to wait for more proof that Bed Bath & Beyond can achieve sustainable margin gains before committing money to this retail turnaround story.


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A watch with a vintage inflection that is also very much of the moment thanks to innovative Globolight®, a ceramic compound, and SuperLumiNova®.
Articles on the subject: New Models
Harry Winston's Premier Hypnotic Opal Mosaic captivates the eye with a profusion of baguette diamonds and vivid blue sapphires against a backdrop of iridescent opal.
A miniaturised dynamo powers two LEDs to light up the H4's dial with colour, without batteries or electronics. Proposed as four limited editions.
The Schaffhausen watch firm has longstanding ties with the retailer, whose Bucherer Blue Editions collection welcomes a Heritage and an Endeavour Diamonds.
The Japanese designer looked to the original Carrera from 1963 for this new version that bears his name. Proposed as a limited edition of 500 pieces.
Hublot chose Miami for the launch of the three Big Bang Meca-10 in honour of singer Nicky Jam, a brand ambassador since 2017.
Confirming the importance of its partnership with the Swiss national carrier, Breitling has released the Navitimer Aviator 8 B01 SWISS and the Navitimer Aviator 8 Automatic SWISS, both limited editions.
Zenith accentuates the high-tech nature of the Defy Classic Black Ceramic with this ultra-resistant material. A black skeleton movement adds to the stealth aesthetic


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Telecom Efficient, a national master agent and IT consulting firm, has rebranded as TekEfficient to reflect the company’s growth beyond its roots as a telecom service provider.
TekEfficient said the new moniker better aligns with its portfolio, which now includes cloud computing, software, hardware, backup and disaster recovery, in addition to telecom services such as network, Internet and voice.
"We started in telecom, but our mission has always been to make the lives of IT executives easier," said Patrick Etheridge, founder and president of TekEfficient, in a statement. "Today, we are a full-service technology company with more than 1,000 different portfolio services and a partner program with 100-plus master agents, VARs, and IT services providers."
TekEfficient will also offer new business technology bundles designed for its small and midsized business customers. Each bundle is meant to reduce the time IT executives spend on technology by combining common elements into one package, according to the announcement. Customers can order bundles based on the number of employees and capacity they need.
Specific bundles range from $99 to $1,099 per month depending on included components. Additional bundles are planned for release later this year, including equipment and hardware and IT services bundles, according to the company.
Telecom Efficient launched in 2004 as a traditional telecom master agent. However, the business model for long distance phone service and the other solutions that composed the bread and butter of many master agents’ businesses have since dried up, forcing them to diversify their portfolios to stay competitive.


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First-0quarter profits for McCormick & Company (MKC 1.62%) came in better than expected, and shares have risen on the news. Although the company hasn't been a market beater of late, one Fool analyst thinks it's worth a second look.
In this segment from Tuesday's Investor Beat, host Chris Hill and Motley Fool analyst Morgan Housel discuss the spice maker, and why "boring" stocks like McCormick sometimes make the best investments. Unlike the high-flying, headline-grabbing stocks like Tesla Motors, McCormick doesn't need to constantly innovate, so it can continue to make the same products that people will continue to need for decades to come. Morgan sees that as a key ingredient to outperformance over the long run.


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Tekmetric, a Houston-based leading auto repair technology company, was named the winner of a silver Stevie® Award in the Achievement in Growth category in The 20th Annual American Business Awards®.
Tekmetric was nominated in the Achievement in Growth category for the company’s tremendous growth and expansion in the last year.
The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.
Co-founded in 2016, Tekmetric offers an all-in-one SaaS business management system for auto repair shops. As the auto repair industry’s leading cloud-based solution, Tekmetric has grown from just a few customers to more than 3,000 shops across the U.S.
In the last year alone, Tekmetric’s revenue has increased by more than 115%, a reflection of its role as a trusted industry solution for increasing shop efficiency.
“Tekmetric strives to deliver premier service and value to auto repair shop owners who partner with us, and this unmatched level of care wouldn’t be possible without the outstanding team we have built,” said Prasanth Chilukuri, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Tekmetric.
“To experience an expansion that more than tripled to more than 95 talented professionals from across the U.S. and Europe has been an incredible journey. We are honored to have been recognized in the Stevie for our continued growth and leadership in the auto repair industry.”
More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners.
Nicknamed the Stevies®® for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Monday, June 13. Tickets are now on sale.
“We are so pleased that we will be able to stage our first ABA awards banquet since 2019 and to celebrate, in person, the achievements of such a diverse group of organizations and individuals,” said Maggie Miller, president of the Stevie Awards.


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Is this the week that Microsoft jumps aboard the mini tablet train bound for glory? It looks like it might be.
The erstwhile software titan has sent out invitations for a tablet launch this week in New York, and the smart money is on the event being the launch of a Surface Mini tablet to complement the Surface Pro 2 and Surface 2 tablets Microsoft already has on the market.
Whether the Surface Mini will be a small version of the Surface Pro 2 or just the Surface 2 is the big question. Let’s all hope it’s the former, whilst bracing ourselves for the strong possibility it’s the latter.
The Surface Pro 2 is a proper Windows 8.1 computer, capable of running just about any Windows application ever written. The Surface 2 runs that unpopular version of Windows known as Windows RT, which runs on mobile-phone-type processors, which will not run regular Windows applications, and which the marketplace has roundly rejected as a bad idea. Microsoft and its mobile phone subsidiary Nokia are just about the only companies still making RT devices.
On Amazon you can already order a cover for a mini Surface, which the cover’s maker is calling a “Surface X". That may well prove to be the name of the device, or it may simply be that the X is just a placeholder for the real name.
The launch of a 7- or 8-inch Surface mini tablet could well be accompanied by an update to the bigger, 10.6-inch Surface Pro 2. Since the Pro 2 was released, Intel has updated the Core processor that powers the tablet so the chip now uses less power, and this week’s launch in New York may well see the release of a Surface Pro 3 featuring the updated Intel processor.
The Australian Financial Review


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Elon Musk, the charismatic entrepreneur and visionary, has once again sparked intrigue within the technology community. This time, he has hinted at a potential partnership between his company, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Midjourney, an AI-generated art platform. The potential alliance between these two innovative entities has generated a buzz within the tech industry, as it could revolutionize the way users interact with social media platforms by offering them new forms of creative expression.
Midjourney’s unique platform leverages artificial intelligence to generate art. The prospect of integrating this technology with X’s social media platform is intriguing. Part of this potential partnership might involve incorporating X’s Grok AI, a chatbot designed to provide diverse and dynamic responses, into Midjourney’s platform. The integration of these two platforms could significantly enhance user engagement and experience, potentially redefining the way we understand and interact with social media.
Moreover, the speculated collaboration between X and Midjourney could have far-reaching consequences on the competitive landscape of the AI industry. This is especially true given recent advancements by OpenAI, a leading AI research lab. The potential partnership could be seen as a strategic response to these advancements, indicating a possible burgeoning rivalry within the AI domain.
This emerging AI competition is further complicated by Microsoft’s recent announcement of a $2.1 billion investment in AI expansion and development in Spain. This significant investment adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding AI landscape, as it indicates the growing commitment of global tech giants in the AI sector.
The potential partnership between X and Midjourney holds the promise of integrating AI-generated content into social media platforms, thereby enhancing user interaction and satisfaction. This could potentially revolutionize social media, providing users with a more interactive and engaging experience.
In other relevant news, Cryptos Headlines Token Airdrop is currently offering an opportunity to claim $50 worth of 5000 CHT Token for free on CryptosHeadlinesToken.com. This is an exciting opportunity for crypto enthusiasts to increase their digital assets.
The potential collaboration between X and Midjourney could serve as a game-changer in the social media and AI industries. As we await further developments, it’s clear that the competitive landscape of the AI industry is becoming increasingly dynamic and exciting.
Connect with our expert to explore the capabilities of our latest addition, AI4Mind Chatbot. It’s transforming the social media landscape, creating fresh possibilities for businesses to engage in real-time, meaningful conversations with their audience.


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A Dutch energy supplier is going to charge its customers for generating solar power. Solar panel owners will start paying around 10 to 20 euros a month for power they feed back to the grid. Soon several energy companies will follow, experts say.
The charge goes into effect for new customers immediately, existing customers will have to deal with it as soon as their contract expires.
The energy company with some 180,000 customers has been struggling for some time with rising costs as more and more Dutch people opt for solar panels. All these customers generate solar energy simultaneously, often in the middle of the day when the sun is most powerful. As a result, the electricity grid becomes overloaded at that time; when this happens, energy companies have to pay money to high-voltage operator TenneT to deal with it. The more dutch people generate their own solar energy, the more often costs have to be incurred for the overloaded power grid. “Our costs have more than doubled compared to last year.” Says the energy supplier’s CFO. The company now says it already has to pay more than 10 million a year. This is passed on to consumers by levying ‘feed-in’ charges
According to the CFO, this way, the supplier ‘fairly’ puts the bill on the right people. The grid costs are currently shared among all customers, including those who do not have solar panels. They will soon pay up to 20 euros less per month. Yet it is still more advantageous to have solar panels. A calculation example shows that the average customer earns roughly 250 euros a year from his solar panels, where previously this was 500 euros. So a minus of 50%.
“We hope that the charge will encourage customers to use power at the times it is generated,” he says. Think of charging the electric car during the day or turning on the washing machine.
Still, The Consumers’ Association has substantial reservations about the levy. It stops people wanting to buy solar panels, which in turn has implications for the pursuit of climate goals. The fact is that people who own panels are disadvantaged. Still, energy companies are free to impose charges on its customers.
According to experts, other energy suppliers will soon follow suit. It was imminent that an energy company would say, “This is no longer affordable”. It is all but certain that energy companies will start differentiating between customers with and without solar panels in the future. “It’s actually weird that households have to pay for doing the right thing, which is generating sustainable electricity,” he said.
Our country’s three largest energy companies are not ruling out introducing a similar charge. The groups have the same problem and are looking for a solution.
The energy sector has repeatedly raised the ever-rising grid costs with politicians. After a heated debate, the Lower House agreed to phase out the net-metering scheme. This scheme was once created as a lure for buying solar panels. Now that the price of solar panels has dropped, the government thinks this scheme is no longer necessary. PvdA and GroenLinks eventually voted against it for fear that the Netherlands will fail to meet climate targets, making it uncertain whether the phase-out will pass the Senate.
Politicians dawdle too long vin the industry association for renewable energy companies NVDE. The phase-out of the net-metering scheme has been pushed so far ahead that the energy market is now coming up with its own solution.


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Walt Disney And Polygon Are Working On A Proof Of Concept
- Polygon (MATIC) is working on a proof of concept for exclusive digital collectibles to recognize Disney employees during special occasions as a part of the Walt Disney Accelerator 2022.
- During the Demo Day presentation, more than 15 executives from the Walt Disney Company were present to talk to the founders of the six firms that were selected for the accelerator earlier this year.
- Web3 social app Flickpay is working with Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing (CPGP) to create and deliver digital collectible activations within physical stores across the US.
One of the biggest multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerates, Walt Disney, has announced that it is working with popular Ethereum scaling solution Polygon (MATIC) on a proof of concept after the latter was selected for this year’s Disney Accelerator program, which was focused on “helping build the future of immersive experiences.”
Interestingly, during the Demo Day presentation, more than 15 executives from the Walt Disney Company were present to talk to the founders of the six firms that were selected for the accelerator earlier this year about the innovation and growth of new technologies and their impact on the general public and the Burbank, California-based company.
Many of the firms that Walt Disney selected in its accelerator program were focused on crypto, blockchain, NFTs and other digital assets. One of the growth stage firms that stood out was Polygon, an Etherem scaling solution which was earlier known as Matic Network but underwent a rebranding phase not a long time ago.
As per the announcement, the entertainment company is working with Polygon to develop a proof of concept which will enable Disney to introduce digital collectibles or NFTs which is a booming industry.
“Polygon is a business layer for blockchain technology that allows developers and enterprises to build Web3 experiences. Polygon is working with Disney on developing a proof of concept for exclusive digital collectibles to recognize Disney employees during special occasions,” revealed Walt Disney.
On the other hand, there are some other Web3 and NFT-focused firms that made the list for this year accelerator program. These include Flickplay, a “Web3 social app that enables users to discover digital collectibles tied to real-world locations that they can experience and share via AR;” Inworld AI, a platform that allows users to create interactive, AI-driven characters for immersive experiences; Lockerverse, a community platform for empowering creators; Obsess, an experiential e-commerce platform that allows projects to create stores on Web3 platforms; and Red 6, an AR firm.
At the Demo Day, it was revealed that Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing (CPGP) was in talks with Flickplay to “create and deliver digital collectible activations within physical locations across the Unites States.” Meanwhile Inworld is working on development of AI peronality for Disney Star’s DisneyStarverse platform. Moreover, Obsess is in talks with Disneyland Resort and shopDisney to create a special retail experience.
“We hope that Demo Day is just the beginning of our relationship with these companies, and we can’t wait to see the amazing things we could build together for Disney fans,” said Bonnie Rosen, General Manager of the Disney Accelerator program.


text: Black Bottle Scotch whisky is going back to its roots with a new black bottle. As its name suggests, Black Bottle was originally presented in a black bottle sourced from Germany when it was launched by the Graham brothers in 1879. When World War I interrupted supply, Graham and Co. was forced to switch to a green bottle, the company says. Now, a century later, Black Bottle is celebrating its origins by going back to black. The new design has been inspired by an archival black bottle dating back to 1906. At the same time, the company also tweaked its blend of single-malt and grain whiskies to reflect the recipe the Graham brothers created 135 years ago. The relaunch has been positively received in the United Kingdom, Russia and the Baltic states, and the company expects to launch in France and Germany this fall and in the United States by winter.


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LONDON -- London's delivery companies are experimenting with electric vehicles to reduce the pollution produced by vans distributing parcels packed with goods purchased on the Internet.
The UK capital's transport authority is helping the transition from diesel to battery-powered vehicles by funding Gnewt Cargo Ltd., which operates London's largest all electric delivery fleet. Gnewt is part owned by shipping DX Group, and counts the delivery services TNT Express and Hermes Parcelnet among its customers.
With their emissions-free electric motors silently navigating 20,000 packages a day through London streets, Gnewt could also deliver a breath of fresh air to Europe's biggest city. The government says London's pollution levels will probably breach European Union limits until at least 2030, a problem the Royal College of Physicians estimates causes 40,000 people a year to die early.
London expects a 20 percent increase in van traffic within the next 15 years traceable solely to things bought on the Internet.
Gnewt's vans, which also use centralized depots to reduce the number of journeys, are seen as one solution to curb the smog and traffic generated by online-order deliveries.
"My clients send me all of their freight in bulk through the night, and then we will sort it and do the last mile in town with zero emissions," Sam Clarke, founder and director of Gnewt Cargo, said in an interview.
Pollution has is also becoming a political issue. London wants to become an incubator for solutions like the one offered by Gnewt, whose name means "Green New Transport." Sadiq Khan, who won the city's mayoral election last week, called dirty air "our most pressing environmental challenge" and promised an ultra-low-emissions zone for the city that would limit truck traffic and an expansion of the electric-vehicle charging network. "We need a radical mayor in the positive sense of the word" to address the issue of air pollution, Khan told voters before the election.
But with online purchases needing to be delivered, London already is feeling the impact. Congestion from delivery vehicles rose 3.4 percent from 2008 to 2014, driving pollution levels past European Union limits. Plus, more than 60 percent of the delivery vans on the street are less than a quarter full, according to Transport for London, the city authority governing streets and railways.
Using Gnewt Cargo, Hermes Parcelnet cut the number of miles it traveled in a year by 80 percent, achieved a 71 percent reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions per parcel and a 67 percent drop in carbon dioxide pollution, according to a study by Westminster University for Gnewt.
"These are huge savings, and it's demonstrating to wider London that it's doable," Clarke said. "There's no reason why those figures couldn't be replicated on a grander scale."
London isn't alone in battling pollution stemming from home shopping -- and the costs in financial and environmental terms of the last mile that packages travel before they get into the hands of consumers. Amazon, Wal-Mart and Google are testing airborne drones, and startups Starship Technologies in the UK and Dispatch Robotics in the U.S. are working with delivery robots.
In Norway, the government postal service Posten Norge has bought about 450 alternative fueled vans since 2011 including Renault’s Kangoo ZE and Nissan Motor Co.'s e-NV200.
Electric vehicles for delivery have caught the eye of Alibaba Group Holding, which controls more than half China's online shopping market and is working with electric vehicle manufacturer Kandi Technologies Group Inc. to bolster use of the technology.
Online shopping in China alone may reap sales of 7.5 trillion yuan ($1.16 trillion) by 2018, according to iResearch Consulting Group.
"Traffic jams and air pollution are pushing gasoline-powered cars into a dead end," Kandi President Hu Xiaoming said in an interview. "The development of data technologies is providing us with an enormous opportunity to make electric cars much easier to use."


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Global sports company PUMA has unveiled the new AC Milan Away kit to be worn by the Mens, Womens and youth teams throughout the 2021/22 football season. The special new golden kit celebrates the work of Fondazione Milan, AC Milans charity, with the words Fondazione Milan printed under the collar on the back of the shirt. The new Away jersey also features a striking all-over pattern inspired by six cities across the world involved in a charitable initiative that will officially launch in September.
The From Milan to the World initiative, created by AC Milans Fondazione Milan, in partnership with PUMA, will give Rossoneri fans across the world the chance to vote to support a socio-educational project out of six proposals that will be presented in September, alongside local and international non-profit organizations. The end result will be the development of the selected program, linked to one of the six cities chosen for the initiative: New York (USA), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Kolkata (India), Melbourne (Australia), Nairobi (Kenya) and Milan (Italy).
Fondazione Milan was set up in 2003 with the aim to spark positive change in the community. The foundation continues to grow as more fans, partners and club legends join the cause, helping to expand the reach of the various initiatives implemented across the world.
Casper Stylsvig, AC Milan Chief Revenue Officer said, We are proud to be launching this Away kit with our partner PUMA and celebrate the work of our Fondazione Milan, who does an incredible job helping people in need at a local and international level. The jersey itself looks very elegant with its golden color and geometric pattern, but most importantly it will help us bring some change into the world through the From Milan to the World initiative, which will launch in the near future. This is something we are particularly proud to be able to do as a club, because it fits perfectly within our social responsibility journey, which remains a very important aspect of our work at AC Milan, both on and off the pitch.
The new kit represents Milans impact from Milan to Italy to the World. AC Milan brings people together from different cultures, languages and ages as the club continues to expand its impact across the globe. Milans unbreakable bond with the team and the city sends an inclusive message to over 500 million Rossoneri fans worldwide, uniting people from the walls of the San Siro to the streets of Rio and beyond.
AC Milan connects so many people across the world through football and charitable projects, so we wanted to pay tribute to this with the design of the shirt. The idea behind the bespoke graphic integrated into the jersey was to give each city connected to the Fondazione its own identity, said Nick Willems, Graphic Designer Teamsport Apparel. We placed distinct graphics created for each city inside outlines of those cities. We then added those graphics into a repeat pattern to connect all of the cities, symbolizing the strength of AC Milan and of the Fondazione.
The new AC Milan Away jersey combines 100% recycled polyester with advanced PUMA dryCELL thermoregulation technology to ensure uncompromising fit and mobility, keeping the athlete dry and comfortable. The jersey integrates an Ultra-light jacquard structure into the back of the jersey to enhance breathability during intense performance.
The new AC Milan Away kit will be available fat PUMA.com, PUMA stores, AC Milan official stores, store.milan.com and at select retailers worldwide.


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Empty fridges in households across Lebanon have come to exemplify the country’s economic crisis as the local currency has collapsed alongside purchasing power, plunging whole segments of society into poverty.
Holding her fridge door open, Fadwa Merhebi explains she already downsized once because she could not afford enough food to fill it up.
Now it contains only a bottle of mineral water and two cucumbers.
"If there were smaller fridges on the market, I would sell this one and buy a smaller one," says the 60-year-old, who lives alone in a tiny flat in Tripoli.
"At least I could use the money to buy something to eat."
AFP photographers spent several days in June visiting people's homes in the main cities of Beirut, Tripoli, Byblos, Jounieh and Sidon to ask them how they managed to put food on the table.
Those who agreed to be photographed posed in front of open fridges whose bare shelves often hinted at the leanest of diets.
Earlier this year, Lebanon defaulted on its debt and, while the peg to the dollar remains unchanged, the pound has since nosedived on the black market.
In a country so heavily reliant on imports, the blow is huge and thousands of businesses were doomed even before the coronavirus lockdown shuttered the economy.
Prices have soared almost as fast as the currency has plummeted, meaning that a salary of 1 million pounds has fallen from about $700 to about $200.
The crisis is sounding the death knell for a middle class that is sliding into the half of the population the World bank now estimates lives below the poverty line.
A far cry from the country's erstwhile image as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" fabled for its nightlife and entrepreneurial genius, a class of destitute Lebanese is emerging across the country.


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6Wunderkinder has announced long-awaited BlackBerry support for its hero To-Do app Wunderlist. Billed (by us) as the sexiest list-making app on the market, Wunderlist already has 2 million users worldwide both on mobile and desktop platforms and now adds BlackBerry to existing iPhone and Android support.
The latest Wunderlist release has been a long time coming for many eager BlackBerry users, and follows on from more expansion support for Linux, although many commentators on the 6Wunderlkinder blog have been complaining of a lack of BlackBerry support for big brother project-management-cum-social-media app, Wunderkit.
BlackBerry devices using OS 5 or higher will handle Wunderlist, and if you’re using a Bold or Curve, you’ll need to have an SD card onboard. The app is available in Blackberry App World.
6Wunderkinder received a financial boost of $4.2m from Atomico, the London venture capital company led by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom in November 2011.


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Our government says e-cigarettes and vaping are the latest “epidemic” among teens. So the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it will restrict them. Cities across the country are banning e-cigarette use in public. But e-cigarettes help smokers quit traditional cigarettes.
Michelle Minton of the Competitive Enterprise Institute tells John Stossel that people have misconceptions about e-cigarettes. “It’s about 95 percent less harmful than a normal traditional cigarette,” she says. That’s because e-cigarettes let people get a hit of nicotine without actually burning tobacco. The burning of paper and tobacco leaves is what makes cigarettes so dangerous.
Welcome to the Culture of Clouds Podcast, Episode 158!
Our main topic this week is all about A BUNCH OF VAPEY THINGS! We couldn’t pick just one vapey topic this week, so we’re doing a bunch of mini vapey topics! Kinda like a free ballin’ episode, but just for vapey things! Woot, it’s Vape Ballin’ 4!
Thanks for listening everyone!
Ruby & Grimm
Just a short clip I ran across on Twitter from BBC Radio 4. Prof Linda Bauld expands on […]
Ex- MTV Vee-Jay Adam Curry (@AdamCurry ) recently did a spot on the Joe Rogan Podcast and one of the subjects covered was vaping. Not just vaping, but the EVALI debacle AND the MSA payments. Honestly one of the best videos out there in the mainstream telling the TRUTH about how vapor products are being spun in the US right now.
Talk to literally any vaper and they will tell you a very similar story. “I’ve smoked my whole life, tried almost everything to quit, vaping was the only thing that worked.” I have a very very similar story. This is one of the reasons vapers get so confused when people like the Surgeon General tell smokers that vaping wont help them .
Despite Jerome Adams doing everything he can to ensure that smokers keep smoking, people have still managed to find their way to vaping and have made the switch to less harmful nicotine alternatives. Thankfully, the science on the subject doesn’t change to fit the needs of the Surgeons General’s confusing agenda.
This Podcast is also available on Itunes
Those of us in the vape industry are well aware of the looming May 2020 PMTA deadline for […]
Ruby and I get balling on some vape stuff. How has Covid affected your excitement for vaping? I […]
Vaping was and remains a consumer driven industry. Vaping has helped countless millions of smokers quit smoking. Overregulation and bad decisions based on bad information by governors are literally threatening public health and our freedoms. More government means less freedom, always. Vape Free everyone.
ALL LINKS ARE BELOW
States are responding to their own outbreaks of COVID-19 by implementing different versions of social distancing and shutting down non-essential services. While some of these businesses are being granted exemptions (for example, restaurants can still offer curbside pick-up and delivery and liquor stores are open with strict social distancing protocols), there are questions about whether or not vape shops are allowed to remain open in any capacity.
Thankfully CASAA has made it incredibly easy to to take action and make your voice heard


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Tom Fallon, Infinera Q&A: Delivering on time
Optical transport company Infinera has been deploying its DTN-X platform with vigour across the globe over the last year. Capacity catches up with the company’s CEO Tom Fallon to find out more about its forward-thinking strategy.
DTN-X is the first platform to introduce 500G super-channels to the market. It is a large-scale chassis that supports up to 5Tb of both switching and transmission.
Today’s common capacity denomination is 100G and we allow our customers to bundle 100G into 500G, giving them the ability to more efficiently manage their network.
The industry is talking about demonstrations of 200G or 400G on a line card and Terabit super-channels, but none are in production and none of them are doing it on a single card.
We brought DTN-X to market a little over a year ago and 39 customers have made commitments to us, meaning the company as a whole now has 126 customers. A good chunk of those 39 are new customers.
Would you attribute your strong Q3 financial results to DTN-X?
DTN-X is clearly driving our growth. We are continuing to sell DTN and we actually had three new customers for that product for the last three quarters in a row.
We’ve historically been a one-product company with DTN, but now we’re a two-product company, with lower-capacity customers continuing to buy DTN and large-capacity customers buying DTN-X.
I think the quarter was exceptionally strong, because of our ability to sell two products.
Our guidance for Q4 expects we will grow about 23% year-on-year. In an industry that’s probably growing about 10%, we are more than doubling the pace of industry growth, which means we’re winning a lot of customers and picking up a lot of market share.
Do you see a lot of competition in the optical transport field?
There is a lot of competition, probably too much. I think our industry is overserved, but that will fix itself over time.
Right now our primary competitors are Ciena, Huawei, Alcatel-Lucent, ZTE, Coriant and a smattering of other smaller players. Cisco is also getting more interested in the optical space, so it’s a very large group of competitors that will need to be rationalised. I think it will consolidate and I think it will clean itself up, but it won’t happen in a short period of time.
What we do better than anybody else is focus entirely on customer care. We believe we have the best quality in the industry, the shortest lead times, and we think time is a weapon.
Our goal is to allow our customers to go out and compete in their markets. They will order the equipment from us, have that arrive and be installed, and be collecting revenue before they pay us. And because we have a digital architecture, we can do that better.
What do you think will be the main technology drivers for telecoms over the next decade?
I think there are three real big drivers for our industry. One is cloud. Without question more and more consumer and business applications are moving to the cloud.
Mobility is another one. It used to be that capacity was hard-wired to somebody’s desk but now, capacity is wherever you are.
Finally there is video. For the first time video now consumes about half of internet bandwidth and, from what I can tell, that dynamic will continue to grow.
What developments has Infinera been making across Europe and where are you looking to expand next?
We’ve been very successful in the wholesale market across Europe, particularly with the pan European providers. Our real opportunity is to continue to work to enter the core of the telecoms market in the region.
We have been successful with the likes of Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom, but it has mostly been in their international business, not in the core of their regulated businesses. In October, we announced our partnership with Russian carrier Rostelecom and we’re going to try and immerse ourselves more into emerging markets.
We have just announced an opportunity in Africa and we will be focussing on engaging more strategically with customers we already have, to get into the core of their networks.
Tom Fallon factfile
Tom Fallon has served as Infinera’s CEO since 2010. Previously serving as the company’s COO and VP of engineering and operations, Fallon first joined Infinera from rival Cisco Systems in 2004. At Cisco, Fallon held a variety of roles, including VP of corporate quality and development operations. He has also worked for Sun Microsystems and HP.


text: Tekken Card Tournament gets even bigger today as the game receives a big update. New additions such as the fusion system have been implemented to allow you to create or power up your cards. A new challenger has entered the arena as you can take Heihachi Mishima from augmented reality into your game to beat down on your opponents. Finally and probably the biggest news is that the retail cards are now available in select stores. These cards allow you to obtain new cards in game by scanning the QR codes on them. There are 191 to collect so go out there and get trading.


text: Eat and Drink McDonald's McCafés to serve quinoa, kale and Oreo espresso The McCafé Iced Mocha is currently served in McDonald's restaurants. Photo Credit: McDonald's By MELISSA KRAVITZ email@example.com Updated December 10, 2015 2:27 PM Print Share fbShare Tweet gShare Email The McFrappuccino hasn't yet hit the menu, but McDonald's is trying yet again to compete with Starbucks. In an ongoing plan to appeal more to millenials, McCafés, named after the McCafé section of McDonald's coffee menu, are opening in Canada, the fast food chain announced via Medium on Dec. 10. The world's first standalone McDonald's coffee shop opened in Toronto on Thursday, with a second Canadian McCafe planned for early 2016. On the menu: quinoa edamame mandarin salad, kale and brussel sprouts salad, croissants, an Oreo affogato made with cookie crumbs, soft serve and espresso and, of course, the iconic Egg McMuffin®. To date, there are no known plans to open McCafés in New York City. McManhattan is safe. For now. By MELISSA KRAVITZ firstname.lastname@example.org Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comments We're revamping our Comments section. Learn more and share your input.


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Get lifted lashes at CORA Beauty + Spa
When I got the opportunity to try a Lash Lift from CORA Beauty + Spa, I literally jumped at the chance. When I learned I could get my lashes lifted - and tinted - without getting extensions put on I was quite intrigued.
Amazon brings one-hour delivery to Milwaukee
Today, Amazon is announcing that it's expanding its Prime Now one-hour delivery service to Milwaukee. No word yet on whether or not it will use drones or teleportation or cuddly Yetis to get you the goods so quickly, for $7.99.
Sendik's announces opening dates for two new Fresh2Go locations
As millennials and time-strapped consumers of all ages add convenience to the top of their shopping lists, locally owned and operated Sendik's Food Markets announced the opening of two new Fresh2GO locations.
Cheap wine uncorks a new winner
Saturday is National Wine Day, so here's our "two cents" on a $2.89 bottle of wine.
It's not social media, it's media
It's media. It's all media. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Rex, Twitter, LinkedIn, whatever platforms you use - you use them to read, interact, live, shop and make your life happen.
Completion of Garfield Avenue School sale pushes Bronzeville project forward
This morning, the City of Milwaukee's Bronzeville Advisory Committee offered an update on the project on 4th Street and North Avenue that would convert the former Garfield Avenue School and America's Black Holocaust Museum buildings into a mixed-use development.
#wewant remix: Moto Z Droid
Normally, when we talk about phones, we talk about things like size, camera and battery life. It's not often that a phone's accessories take center stage. The Moto Z Droid is a solid phone under the usual review rules, but it's real charm is in the extras.
Marcus Lemonis-backed Bentley's Pet Stuff opens six new shops in Milwaukee
Marcus Lemonis' recent visit to Milwaukee for "The Profit" may not have gone according to plan, but he still has his sights on the Cream City, as his Bentley's Pet Stuff chain will open six new shops in around the city this weekend.
Lakefront Brewery serves up fifth annual Black Friday event
On Friday, Nov. 25, Lakefront Brewery will host its fifth annual Black Friday event, selling its special one-day-only Black Friday beer as well as Pumpkin Lager six-packs and exclusive Black Friday hats.
Downtown lights up tonight, begins festive holiday season
The magic of Christmas and the holiday season begins tonight, Thursday, Nov. 17, in Downtown Milwaukee. The City's Christmas tree is lit and more than 500,000 lights will illuminate the city at the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Kick-Off Extravaganza.
#wewant Remix: Coffee trends made easy
Let's face it, most of us are fueled by coffee. There are many kinds of ways to make and drink it, and new coffee trends appear all the time. I got a chance to try out two products that make two of those trends easier to prepare: The Dripo 2-in-1 Travel Iced-drip Coffee Maker and Omega Power Creamer
8 questions for Vivek Wadhwa
The Milwaukee Jewish Federation holds its Economic Forum 2016 today, Oct. 27 at the Pfister Hotel. This year's event features Vivek Wadhwa as the keynote speaker, a futurist who is recognized as Silicon Valley's most provocative voice for his ideas on technology trends, globalization and U.S. competitiveness.
A month with a smart watch that isn't an Apple Watch
The Vector Luna really does look a real watch at first glance, although it puts me off by its thickness. From a distance, its screen looks pretty good, but wearing it, I never got past its very low resolution and lack of brightness. That's a trade off for its month-long battery life, but I can't help but feel like I'm wearing a piece of technology more like a Palm Pilot than an iPhone.
Badger Liquor announced as first tenant for new Schlitz Park Warehouse Space
The developers of Schlitz Park today announced that Badger Liquor, Wisconsin's largest wine and spirits distributor, has signed a 10-year lease for 24,000 square feet of office space in Schlitz Park's RiverCenter building, 1555 River Center Dr.
Marquette and UW make top 20 in country for school spirit
We are Marquette! U-rah-rah! Wisconsin! It's really no surprise that both Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison rank in the top 20 for "colleges with the most school spirit."
Clear Water Outdoor in the Third Ward is closing
Clear Water Outdoor, an adventure/ sports retailer located at 250 N. Water St. in the Third Ward, will close by mid October. The company's Lake Geneva and Delafield shops will remain open.
#JHFitTour is coming to Milwaukee
This weekend and next week you'll have the chance to casually explore the custom fit clothing world of J. Hilburn as the brand brings its fashions to Milwaukee via the #JHFitTour at three local destinations.
Missing: Michael Cudahy's swans
Milwaukee visionary and philanthropist, Michael Cudahy, has lost his swans and needs help locating them.
Your Verizon phone just got a lot faster
Today, Verizon data speeds got faster. Verizon just rolled out its LTE Advanced technology to bring 50% faster peak wireless data speeds to more than 288 million people in 461 cities, including Milwaukee.
Roots: Underground Outfitter moves to Downer Avenue
After three years in business, Roots: Underground Outfitter, an urban upscale clothing store for primarily men, will relocate from 5328 W. Vliet St. to 2622 N. Downer Ave. in the former Paperwork space.
L.L.Bean to open its first Wisconsin store in Brookfield next spring
Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean is set to expand its retail operation with the opening of its first Wisconsin store, scheduled to open the spring of 2017. The L.L.Bean store will be located at The Corners of Brookfield.
People's Books reaches last chapter
After 42 years in business in three different locations, People's Books Cooperative, 804 E. Center St., will close on Wednesday, Aug. 31.
Luci Boutique to open Walker's Point location
Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood continues to grow every day into a full-fledged community with an eclectic dining and bar scene, antique shops, salons and more. One piece that wasn't quite there yet is slowly trickling in and that is the retail market.
Sendik's announces new Waukesha location
Sendik's Food Markets announced today that the locally-owned grocer will open a new location at 701 Meadowbrook Dr. in Waukesha. The new store marks the fifth recently announced new location for the grocery store chain.
Welcome, Northwestern Mutual
Agents and their families flock to Milwaukee every year this week, and each year I love the buzz that's created by adding 11,000 visitors to Downtown Milwaukee. As a community, we need to champion the corporations that choose Milwaukee as their home, so thanks NM!