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WASHINGTON — Pizzeria Paradiso is known for its Neapolitan-style pizza and craft beer, and this month it’s combining the two with a brewer’s-grain crust, made from DC Brau’s spent grains.
The beer-turned-pizza project launched eight years ago when DC Brau co-founder and CEO Brandon Skall approached Pizzeria Paradiso about teaming up to use the grain that’s leftover from the brewing process to make bread for the D.C.-based nonprofit Bread for the City.
Paradiso agreed, and each year around Thanksgiving, the two businesses drop off about 200 loaves of fresh, warm bread to the organization, which provides food, clothing, medical care and social services to those in need.
But their efforts don’t stop there.
Throughout the holiday season, Pizzeria Paradiso continues to make use of DC Brau’s brewing byproduct, which otherwise is donated to a local farmer to mix into his livestock feed, by offering a special spent-grain crust. Proceeds from the pizza go directly to Bread for the City.
Ruth Gresser, owner of Pizzeria Paradiso, describes the brewer’s-grain crust as having a heartier texture and “a little more grainy of a flavor” than the traditional white-flour crust, and said it pairs great with a number of Paradiso’s signature pies, such as the Atomica (tomato sauce, salami, kalamata olives, hot pepper flakes and mozzarella) and the Bosco (tomato sauce, spinach, mozzarella, mushrooms and red onions).
“But mostly, it’s to repurpose something that is otherwise going in the trash, and it’s also just in support of a really good organization,” said Gresser, who estimates the pizzeria sells about 20 to 30 of the special crusts a night.
Grain is one of a handful of ingredients used in the beer-making process. And as Jeff Hancock, co-founder and head brewmaster DC Brau, explained, there’s value in its post-soak scraps.
“Once it goes through the mashing and the brewing process, there’s still a trace amount of nutrients left [in the grain]. You still have the barley husk, which is a great source of fiber,” Hancock said.
Craft breweries around the country have found innovative ways to repurpose the residual grains. Farmers and gardeners can use it to fertilize fields; others find it works as an alternative source of energy. But for DC Brau and Pizzeria Paradiso, giving local diners an opportunity to help feed the less fortunate makes sense — especially this time of year.
“It really just reminds everybody what the holiday season is about, and you get to come and enjoy pizza and beer while you’re participating,” DC Brau’s Skall said.
DC Brau and Pizzeria Paradiso’s spent-grain crust is available at all Pizzeria Paradiso locations through Dec. 24.
Pizzeria Paradiso is also running a “give a can, get a can” event, where diners who bring in a can of food for Martha’s Table get a free can of beer Dec. 16 at the Hyattsville location, Dec. 17 at the new Spring Valley location and Dec. 18 at the Dupont location.
© 2018 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.


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Ubisoft is rebranding Uplay+ to Ubisoft+.
Ubisoft+ is the new name of Uplay+, Ubisoft’s game subscription service on PC. The Uplay name is being phased out, of course, with the recent announcement that Uplay is becoming Ubisoft Connect.
The big change for Ubisoft+, however, is that it’s becoming a multi-platform service. Subscribing on one platform gets you access to the same library on other, supported platforms. In this case, a PC subscription (the only platform where Ubisoft+ is currently available) will unlock the same benefits on Google Stadia, and Amazon Luna.
A beta for Ubisoft+ on Luna is coming November 10, which is also when the rebranding will occur on PC. Assuming you have access to Luna by that point, you’ll also be able to play the Ubisoft+ PC library there at no additional charge.
A similar bonus is coming to Stadia by the end of the year, and it will not require a Stadia Pro subscription. This is a big change for Stadia, which has so far only sold big games directly, and offered smaller ones for free as part of Stadia Pro.
And, now that we know games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Immortals Fenyx Rising support cross-platform saves, you will be able to use the same game save across PC, Stadia and Luna.
Ubisoft+ is a $15-per-month subscription service, available only on PC through Ubisoft Connect (formerly Uplay) at this time. It is similar to EA Play Pro in that it includes all of the publisher’s games on PC, including new titles as they’re released.

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Since the launch of Professional Builder’s Daily Feed newsletter on June 4, 2014, I have scanned thousands upon thousands of news stories about or related to home building in some way.
CoreLogic Home Price Index, HPI, February, monthly increase, distressed sales
The latest release of CoreLogic’s Home Price Index (HPI) showed that, excluding distressed sales, month-over-month prices increased 0.7 percent in February from January.
Wells Fargo, NAHB, forecast, housing, consumer confidence, home prices, increase
Wells Fargo has upgraded its outlook on the housing market in its April forecast, thanks to modest upswings in consumer confidence and home prices nationwide.
Toll Brothers, high-end home builders, new home sales, home prices, increases
Toll Brothers CEO Douglas Yearley told CNBC this week the company was having its “best spring in five years,” just one sign the high-end housing market is starting to recover, according to Calculated Risk.
Case-Shiller, S&P, January, home price index, composite, return rates
The latest release of S&P’s Case-Shiller indices found that home prices rose in Miami, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C., in January, according to HousingWire. In addition, 10 markets were able to marginally improve their annual return rates from the previous month. On the whole, however, home prices did go down for the month.
Pending Home Sales Index, PHSI, NAR, realtors, February 2012, home buying
Pending home sales remained notably above the pattern in the first half of last year, but were down slightly from the previous month , according to the National Association of Realtors.
Category management for builders: bid less, save more
By adopting the principles of category management, builders can greatly
simplify the bidding process and achieve considerable savings.
New home sales, February 2012, Census Bureau, HUD, decrease
New home sales figures for February, released today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), indicated 313,000 new homes were sold for the month.
FHFA, Home Price Index, HPI, fourth quarter 2011, decline
U.S. house prices fell modestly in the fourth quarter of 2011 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) seasonally adjusted purchase-only house price index (HPI).
existing home sales, NAR, February, regional, national, transactions
February existing-home sales declined from an upwardly revised January pace but are well above a year ago, while the median price posted a slight gain, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Integrity Composites, GAF, composite decking, acquistion
Integrity Composites LLC has acquired the DuraLife composite decking line from GAF Building Materials.


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Flipkart and Amazon held uber deals not long ago contribution profound limits and arrangements on a scope of items. The web based business mammoths have now both shared the size of accomplishment they saw during nowadays, and the sort of items that were sold in enormous numbers. Well known items bought during the deal incorporate force banks, trimmers, stockpiling items, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Flipkart says that during its Freedom deal, it figured out how to sell enough power banks to control 1,000 electric vehicles for 100km. As theaters stay shut, Amazon saw a tremendous spike in Fire TV Stick deals. The e-posterior says that clients purchased the same number of Fire TV Stick gadgets on the main day of Prime Day this year versus the whole Prime Day occasion a year ago.
Flipkart says that it figured out how to see development in deals, work, and training focused items, for example, mobiles, workstations, work areas, IT extras, power banks, and capacity gadgets. There was an expansion in offer of trimmers too, and Flipkart says that one trimmer was sold at regular intervals during the Freedom Day deal. Sharing another story, the internet business mammoth says it sold enough force banks to control 1,000 electric vehicles for 100km. Indeed, even quick charging links and chargers were sought after, and Flipkart says that customers spared a total 3,250 hours for every accusing season of the considerable number of items that were sold.
Flipkart additionally observed an expansion in Flipkart guarantee and Complete Mobile Protection section of significant worth included administrations. As referenced, recently jump started workstations were sold out in 120 seconds, and switches were popular too. Moreover, there was a spike in deals of shrewd wearables, tripods, and information stockpiling items like hard circles. The web based business monster says the measure of capacity sold is sufficient to store 1.5 million 4K motion pictures.
During Amazon Prime Day 2020, the e-rear found that clients cherished items like Milagrow automated vacuum cleaners, Smart Saver beat oximeter, Onida (HDLED TV), boAt 20000mAh force bank, Trytook preparing molds, Samsung Galaxy M31s, Liomes hand juicers, among others.
Moreover, the primary day of Prime Day was the greatest day ever for Amazon Devices, the organization claims. Reverberation gadgets, Fire TV Stick, and Kindle gadgets sold in huge numbers. Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, specifically, was the main smash hit on Prime Day. Clients purchased the same number of Fire TV Stick gadgets on the main day of Prime Day 2020 versus the whole Prime Day occasion a year ago.
Amazon takes note of that the top selling cell phones were OnePlus Nord, OnePlus 7T arrangement, Samsung Galaxy M31s, Samsung Galaxy M31, Samsung Galaxy M21, Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9 Pro Series, Redmi 9 Prime, Redmi 8A Dual, iPhone 11, Oppo A5 2020, and Honor 9A.
Besides, the Amazon Prime Day deal saw deals development in individualized computing, enormous machines, kitchen, cell phones, attire, and wash room classes. As work from home proceeds, printers, screens, TVs, wearables, and capacity items saw deals development too. Top brands were HP, Lenovo, Dell, Asus, Intel, and Mi in workstations, aside from Samsung in tablets. Sound items from Boat, Sony, Bose, and JBL likewise observed huge deals, and Mi, Honor, and Noise brands were generally welcomed in the wearables class. Seagate and WD brands saw solid deals in information stockpiling. In TVs, the top of the line brands were OnePlus, Mi, LG, and Sony.


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ORRVILLE, Ohio, US — The J.M. Smucker Co. will conduct its fourth quarter fiscal 2021 earnings conference call and webcast on Thursday, June 3, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Speaking on the call will be Mark Smucker, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Tucker Marshall, Chief Financial Officer. A press release, including financial statements and segment information, will be released the morning of the call at 7:00 a.m. EDT.
The live webcast and replay can be accessed at the Company’s website: investors.jmsmucker.com.
About The J.M. Smucker Co.
Each generation of consumers leaves their mark on culture by establishing new expectations for food and the companies that make it. At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to be at the heart of this dynamic with a diverse portfolio that appeals to each generation of people and pets and is found in nearly 90 percent of U.S. homes and countless restaurants.
This includes a mix of iconic brands consumers have always loved such as Folgers®, Jif® and Milk-Bone® and new favorites like Café Bustelo®, Smucker’s® Uncrustables® and Rachael Ray® Nutrish®. By continuing to immerse ourselves in consumer preferences and acting responsibly, we will continue growing our business and the positive impact we have on society. For more information, please visit jmsmucker.com.
The J.M. Smucker Co. is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein except for Rachael Ray®, a registered trademark of Ray Marks II LLC, which is used under license.


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China is the fastest growing e-commerce market in the world. The e-tailing industry there has posted an average annual growth of over 20% for the last decade, and online sales in China are expected to top $1 trillion by 2019.
In North America and Europe, standalone e-stores (e.g., Nike.com) still make up a significant portion of e-commerce sales. But in China, nearly 90% of online transactions take place on marketplaces such as Tmall and JingDong. We understand how these platforms operate and how consumers interact on them, enabling our clients to out-perform the tens of thousands of brands they compete with.
Starbucks China grew from 250 stores in 2009 to around 2,500 in 2016, and plans to have 5,000 stores by 2021. Buick sold nearly 1.2 million cars in China in 2016, representing 75% of its global sales Around 50% of China’s cosmetic sales come from international brands.


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Stacey Vanek Smith
Sep 23, 2013 New York's Attorney General has slapped 19 companies with fines for writing fake online reviews.
Sep 23, 2013 New technologies of the modern age could be making incidents of hysteria spread faster and farther than before.
Sep 23, 2013 West Hollywood instituted a first-in-the-nation ban on fur sales. Are stores unhappy?
Sep 18, 2013 The Forbes 400 is out. Media organizations spend a lot of time and money on building and promoting lists because they're easy to promote and can help sell a lot of ads.
Sep 17, 2013 Netflix has some big media competition.
Sep 16, 2013 The company behind the game is not happy about the break of embargo.
Sep 13, 2013 Today, networks can spend millions on a series and still cancel it after two or three episodes. But that wasn't always the case.
Kate Archer Kent
Sep 5, 2013 Fashion Week's traditional runway shows may not be cost effective for many designers.
Sep 4, 2013 The report will show the status of all its districts.
Sep 4, 2013 They say be careful what you post on social media What you do on Facebook could affect your credit score.


text: In Zambia street vending is for many a matter of survival. As the unemployment is sky high it is the only option for the jobless to be able to have an income and support their families. Our government came into power last year on the promise of “more money in your pocket”, so when street vending was banned a while back and there was a public outcry the ban was soon withdrawn (as government also realized that these are their main supporters, better keep them happy). But from then on it has simply gone out of hand. The sidewalks are in some places nearly impassable as the vendors comfortably lay out their goods and leave little more than a narrow path for people to walk. And as the end of the day draws near the vendors completely take over the streets turning a two lane road into a narrow one lane with goods such as vegetables, bread, live chickens, grilled maize etc being sold on both sides. The morning after all you see is the mess left behind for the street sweepers to clean up. Peals, plastics, ash from burnt out fires, droppings/feathers from chickens… Still I can’t help but to see it as a sign that people are not only desperate, but willing to be innovative, and work hard to make ends meet. Everybody has become entrepreneurs for the sake of putting food on the table. If only all this effort was put into something sustainable that would create long term rather than short term solutions.For now the street business is the sole income for thousands of people but once again the government has implemented a ban and people will be chased off the streets. The problem is that this won’t simply sort out the issue. What people need are real jobs and the security that it brings, so that we can walk in the streets without stepping on somebody’s dried fish, tomatoes, onions, fruit, sweets, sunglasses, batteries, dvd’s, books, shoes, toothpaste, ear rings, plastic toys….. you get the picture!


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New Computer Programming Framework Aims for Energy-Efficient WebJohn Simpson | July 01, 2016
Researchers at the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) have developed a new open-source computer programming framework that could help make the web more energy efficient by allowing people to save more battery power while browsing on mobile devices.
To help mobile device users maximize their limited battery storage, UT Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Vijay Janapa Reddi and graduate student Yuhao Zhu have developed what they are calling “GreenWeb,” a set of web programming language extensions that enable web developers to have more flexibility and control over the energy consumption of a website.
GreenWeb is designed to guide the web browser engine more efficiently to save processor energy without sacrificing user experience. The language extensions, implemented as CSS style rules, allow developers to express hints to the browser, which in turn conserves power when excessive computational horsepower is not necessary.
The researchers integrated GreenWeb into Google Chrome and reported energy savings of 30% to 66% over Android’s default mode. As mobile device users spend nearly two-thirds of their time browsing the web, those energy savings could result in a 20% to 40% battery life extension.
The researchers also developed AutoGreen, an automatic tool within the GreenWeb framework to assist developers in automatically making web pages energy friendly. The system continuously monitors hardware and browser execution behavior to better understand how to maximize energy efficiency during interactive usage.
“Web pages and apps are getting larger and increasing in complexity, putting more pressure on CPU and network resources for performance that draws power,” says Reddi.
The web’s energy demands have significant implications in the digital economy, the researchers note. Poor energy behavior is one of the top reasons that mobile users give negative app reviews, and 55% of mobile users say they would delete an app for heavy battery usage, according to an independent survey by market research company Instantly.
Additionally, high energy requirements of a website or app could lead to processor performance throttling, which in turn leads to slower web page load times, resulting in lost traffic, consumers and revenue.


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Weber Shandwick, Consolidated PR and Staniforth have pitched for the six-figure account and a decision will be made during the next month.
Moneyextra.com's brief focuses on the website's price comparison service, and calls for an agency that can maintain its profile in the personal finance press while also building the brand in the mainstream media.
The site's head of PR Jennifer Rose said: 'This is the first time we have had an agency on board because PR is something we have never done before. In order for us to compete, we need to step up our PR activities and achieve coverage in major news sources.'
Rose herself was only appointed two weeks ago on a freelance basis from her own agency Rose Mason PR, which she set up this month. She established the consultancy with her partner Richard Mason, a founder of Moneysupermarket.com.
Rose Mason PR provides in-house support to small personal finance and price comparison websites. Rose previously worked at Confused.com.
Moneyextra.com was recently sold by wealth management business AWD Chase de Vere to a group of independent investors.


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A Look at the Video Games Industry
The global gaming industry stands at a whopping $140 billion, a fair $100 billion higher than the film industry itself. This surge in the industry has had one of the strongest reflections in Africa wherein, according to the Digital Strategy Director of Stay Connect, Serge Thiam, there has been a rise in the number of game players from a mere 23 million in 2014 to an awe-inspiring 500 million in just four years. All of this, courtesy the large-scale introduction of smartphones and the internet in even the remotest parts of this continent.
Even the games market in Africa has grown, marking a rise to $570 million from $105 million during this same span of time. This, teamed with the sale of hardware and gaming makes for a billion-dollar business in Africa.
However, this rise doesn’t speak of the problems that African game developers have had to face to see this day. The internet connections are slow, erratic, and unreliable. Since the introduction of the internet is relatively new, it is also expensive, prohibiting its wide-scale penetration in the continent.
It is no news that hardware availabilities in Africa are much scarcer than in the rest of the world and there is a serious lack of programmers with skill. These are only a few of the problems which have, and continue to make an impact in the development and monetization of this sector and includes a lack of integrated in-games purchase pathways as well as advertisements which could allow developers to allow the games for free.
This is to say that even though Africa sees exponential growth in its gaming industry, this may still be a luxury for a few who cannot afford smartphones, internet, and these games.
However, there is a growth rate of an annual 8 percent in the gaming sector in Africa. Thanks to the economic development which contributes towards lessening some of the industry’s ills.
What Does the Gaming Industry Need to Do Better?
If we are to give the gaming industry a kick start, there needs to be a massive and large-scale spread of word, or what we call the magic of advertising and marketing which help in raising awareness regarding the potential of the gaming industry for the economy of the continent.
Schools and universities need to integrate video game-making classes wherein students are not only introduced but also encouraged to actively indulge in the process of playing as well as developing video games. The entire continent could reap the benefits of video gaming if there was easier access to the resources. Even for the developers who already make video games, finding skilled staff is still a challenge.


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Susanne Kaufmann now in Miami
03. May 2017
Susanne Kaufmann at the hotel "The Surf Club" in Miami
The internationally recognized spa concept by Susanne Kaufmann is now also available in the US. The historic Hotel "The Surf Club" in Miami will offer treatments with Susanne Kaufmann products at the spa. Now American Beautyfans can enjoy the high-quality program in a luxurious ambience.
Please find further information in the press release below.


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Microsoft-Apple redux: the empire strikes back
It used to be that Microsoft was the evil empire, and Apple the scrappy underdog.
Now the roles are reversed, and Microsoft is challenging a dominant Apple, which has staked its claim as the leader of the sizzling mobile sector for tablets and smartphones, as well as the biggest seller of digital music.
Microsoft, still the biggest force in the PC market with its Windows operating system, is making a new, belated effort on Apple's turf.
The Redmond, Washington-based giant has launched its own branded Surface tablet with prices and specifications similar to those of the iPad, and a new Windows 8 operating system designed for tablets.
And it has created its own music service as an alternative to Apple's iTunes, with 30 million songs and additional features offered by Internet radio operators.
"Microsoft is the challenger now, and it is taking a lot of pages from Apple's playbook," said Roger Kay, an analyst and consultant with Endpoint Technologies Associates.
Kay said Microsoft is learning from Apple about the advantages of "having control of the integrated stack," meaning software and hardware, along with other services to keep users within the company's ecosystem.
But he said Microsoft has "constraints" because its updates must remain compatible with older devices, making the task more complex.
"Microsoft can write software which is as good as Apple's but it has to be free of the constraints," Kay said.
"Apple can and has said to customers, 'Throw out all your old devices, because we have new ones.' Microsoft has been at a disadvantage."
He said Microsoft has the potential for a fresh start with the new tablet, which integrates hardware and software called Windows RT in a new product.
But the tech landscape is far different than in previous Microsoft-Apple clashes. Amazon claims some 22 percent of the tablet market, and Google and its partners using the Android system are a major force in mobile.
But Microsoft appears to be digging in for the long-haul by getting into tablets, the mobile market and music.
Kash Rangan, analyst at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, said Microsoft appropriately priced the new tablet starting at $499, the same as the entry-level iPad. This will avoid "cannibalization" of products which impact the Windows franchise.
And because Microsoft will include its Office software in the tablets, they "appear less pricey to users relative to iPads," said the analyst, who expects about 5.2 million of the Microsoft devices to be sold over the coming year.
In music, Microsoft is making a new offensive with its Xbox music service more than a year after it pulled the plug on its Zune digital media player, a would-be rival to Apple's iPod.
However some analysts said the new service might fare better.
"The service takes aim at a fractured digital music landscape (where) consumers have to use multiple services such as iTunes, Pandora and Spotify today and do not have one simple destination that allows them to do everything," said Richard Greenfield at BTIG Research.
With the various initiatives, Microsoft is seeking to build an "ecosystem" like Apple, which can deliver the devices and services to remain connected to consumers.
"People are looking to buy a complete package, that's what they buy when they go to Apple," said Jack Gold, analyst with J. Gold Associates.
Frank Gillett at Forrester Research said that while Microsoft is used on some 95 percent of PCs, its share of all "personal devices"—which include PCs, smartphones, and tablets—is only around 30 percent.
The new initiatives "will simply stop the shrinking, maintaining Microsoft's share at about 30 percent," he said.
"By 2016, we believe that Microsoft will have about 27 percent of tablet unit sales, but only about 14 percent of smartphone sales—and some of us are very skeptical they'll even get to 14 percent."
Gold said while Microsoft may not be able to dominate in tablets or phones, its strategy appears to "kickstart" the market to keep the Windows platform relevant.
"You never want to sell Microsoft short," Gold said.
"They have a lot of resources and they're not a company that gives up. They are applying significant amounts of resources to transition the company to address the new market realities. And they've reinvented themselves several times already."
(c) 2012 AFP


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Organizers spearheading an effort to establish a food cooperative in Butte say they hope to have a grocery business up and running sometime in February or March.
That’s a tall order, considering that the process normally takes around five years.
The average start time to launch a food cooperative was mentioned during a June public meeting on the initiative. Julie Jaksha and Steve Thompson — who respectively head the economic-development organization Headwaters RC&D and the National Center for Appropriate Technology — hosted the June meeting, which drew around 165 attendees.
Another public meeting was held Monday night in the ballroom of the Thornton Building, at which time Jaksha called the goal of a spring opening “an aggressive timeline” but expressed optimism.
Behind that optimism is the proposed location of the new cooperative.
Volunteers — who in June joined several steering committees geared toward getting the cooperative started — hope to launch the grocery in the former location of Hennessy Market.
Formerly located in the Sears Building on West Granite Street, Hennessy Market grocery store unexpectedly closed in March after its owner Dylan Pederson posted a sign notifying customers that the store would be “closed until further notice."
Steering committee member Leo Prigge told a crowd of more than 50 Monday that the Hennessey Market location is a “turnkey” business — meaning that co-op organizers won’t have to worry about locating a building, purchasing equipment and extensively renovating a space. Jaksha added Tuesday that vendor relationships with the former grocer have already been established, giving organizers a template to work from.
Committee members Monday also said they’ve received a lot of support from building owner Nick Kujawa, leadership from Bozeman’s Community Food Co-op, the Stokes family of Stokes Fresh Food Market, and members of the national organization the Food Co-op Initiative, who they say have agreed to share their wisdom with the Butte effort.
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Unlike a traditional for-profit business, co-operatives are owned by members of the community and are governed democratically by a board.
Some food co-ops are owned by employees, while others are owned by producers who want to combine forces and create a venue for selling their goods. But perhaps the most familiar form of the cooperative is the customer-owned model in which customers can become members and can own a stake in the business. But regardless of how many shares an individual owns of the business, he or she only gets one vote on the board.
Thompson said Monday the most likely model for the Butte cooperative would be the customer-ownership model.
Prigge, meanwhile, told audience members that startup and operational costs for the Butte cooperative will be between $350,000 to $500,000, which organizers hope to cover through fundraising, membership sales, sales of preferred stock and debt financing.
Prigge noted that a food cooperative is different from most other businesses banks are used to dealing with, so the cooperative can’t rely heavily on bank loans.
“We’re going to need the community to support this thing,” he said.
Committee members also shared results of a survey they posted in June, the aim of which was to gauge public interest in the food cooperative and shoppers’ preferences. The survey elicited around 700 responses, according to organizers, who said that respondents overwhelmingly preferred an Uptown location for the proposed cooperative and preferred organic and local produce and meat, among other grocery items.
A member of the audience asked if the survey gave demographic information about respondents — whether respondents had been 700 Uptown residents. Thompson said the survey did not capture information regarding respondents’ locations.
Also unveiled Monday was a crowdfunding campaign for start-up and planning activities. The campaign, which organizers are calling a “seed fund,” can be accessed at http://c-fund.us/mtw. The campaign, which expires Sept. 14, has a goal of $30,000. So far the campaign has raised $7,886.


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Katie Holmes has been spotted recently in some of this falls biggest fashion trends. She has been rocking everything from casual plaid flannel shirts in a preppy style to cobalt blue blazers in a chic style - something that can easily be mimicked by any Montclair fashionista.
Bring Katie Holmes’ chic style home. This past Friday, Katie Holmes was seen wearing a black, plaid flannel dressed up in a preppy way that many women would be able to put their own twist on. She paired the shirt with dark skinny jeans, a brown belt, tan booties and big sunglasses. This look could […]


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The latest upgrades to this application make it possible for merchants to tell their side of the story.
The social media marketing app from Yelp has now launched a new version of its application called Yelp for Business Owners, which makes it possible for merchants to be able to more effectively monitor their pages over the service, as well as to reply to the praise and concerns that are posted by their customers.
Many people are actually surprised that this feature didn’t already exist within the mobile app.
Though the consensus appears to be that it is a great idea to use this social media marketing, advertising, and reviewing site and app to be able to give businesses the chance to respond to what customers have said about their products, services, and location, many are also shocked that the option wasn’t already available. This suggests that this move by Yelp isn’t quite as revolutionary as it is simply about time that they did it.
The new social media marketing app for businesses is available for both Android and iOS based devices.
The announcement of the availability of the mobile app was made on the company’s official blog. The release follows closely on the heels of another that had revealed that the service would be allowing anyone to be able to use the Yelp platform in order to communicate directly with a business through its profile, there.
According to Yelp, “Since launching in June of 2014, consumers are now sending an average of 55,000 messages each month to businesses through our free Message the Business tool.” The company also went on to say that mobile represents over 64 percent of the searches that are made over the platform. Moreover, it pointed out that every month, there are about 73 million unique visitors that use the service over their smartphones and tablets, as of the third quarter of this year.
The social media marketing, reference, and reviewing service shared that “it’s clear there’s a demand to conduct these conversations on the go.” This is becoming the case with an increasing number of services that provide consumers with business locations, details, and reviews.


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Gaming Earnings: Shuffle Master Files Report for End of Year28 February 2006
By Howard Stutz
Shuffle Master Gaming, after a several-month delay, filed its year-end report Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, saying two adjustments that forced the postponement were immaterial to the casino equipment provider's overall results.
In a statement, Las Vegas-based Shuffle Master said two transactions associated with CARD, a European gaming equipment subsidiary purchased in May 2004, had minimal impact on the company's overall 2005 revenue of $112.9 million and income of $29.1 for the year that ended Oct. 31.
Shuffle Master auditors were trying to determine whether revenue from the transactions should be reported in the fourth quarter of 2005 or the first quarter of 2006.
The two transactions totaled $728,000 in revenue, less than 1 percent of full year fiscal revenue and resulted in an adjustment to the overall net income of $357,000.
"The company, under the direction of the audit committee of the company's board of directors, undertook an extensive review of a significant number of other transactions to determine whether any other adjustments to the company's financial results were required," Shuffle Master said in a statement.
Shuffle Master said the filing of the 10-K puts the company in compliance with the Nasdaq National Market, which had threatened to delist Shuffle Master earlier this month because the year-end report hadn't been filed.
The company has requested a hearing with the Nasdaq listing qualifications panel to review the matter.
Wall Street reacted positively to the news Monday. Banc of America raised its rating on the company to "buy." Shuffle Master shares traded on the Nasdaq closed at $26.36, up $1.26 or 5.02 percent. More than 1.7 million shares were traded, almost triple the average daily volume.
Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Marc Falcone said getting the 10-K filing matter behind Shuffle Master helps the company concentrate on growth potential.
Earlier this month, Shuffle Master completed a $108 million purchase of Stargames, an Australian slot machine and gaming equipment manufacturer. The purchase will will provide Shuffle Master greater opportunities in Asia's growing gaming markets.
"We believe Shuffle Master can continue to grow earnings per share at 25 percent to 30 percent," Falcone said in a note to investors.
"Further, Shuffle Master's geographic reach has never been greater, which we believe is a key component of growth," the Deutsche Bank analyst added.
Falcone said the company is in position to place its automated card shuffling devices and other table game products onto the planned 4,600 new gaming tables that are expected to open in Macau, China over the next three years.
In addition, new products, such as chip sorter for roulette tables and an automated multiple-player table game, could be approved for use in North American gaming markets throughout this year.
"We continue to like Shuffle Master's longer-term outlook and remain comfortable with the company's business model and revenue mix," Falcone said.
Copyright GamingWire. All rights reserved.
Gaming Earnings: Shuffle Master Files Report for End of Year is republished from Online.CasinoCity.com.


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Quick salvation as investors buy Cincinnati-based Berean chain in Ch. 11
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- Jon Newberry
- Staff Reporter
Quick action by federal bankruptcy court has saved a couple dozen local jobs and given Berean Christian Stores LLC a new start.
The Cincinnati-based chain was sold in a “going concern” bankruptcy sale to a husband-and-wife team of California investors in late July for $2 million. Berean had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization June 9, less than two months earlier.
Joseph and Deanna Gimelli, loyal customers of the chain’s San Jose store, are joining the board of directors. The couple made the acquisition through Berean Christian Stores Endeavor LLC. They’ll be involved at the board level but not in day-to-day operations, said Berean CEO Bill Simmons.
“The good news is that our facility here in West Chester will remain intact,” Simmons said. There were no job cuts related to the sale. “If anything, we might be adding some over 12 to 18 months.”
Twenty people work at its corporate offices off Union Centre Boulevard, where there are three years remaining on its lease. Its nearby Berean Christian Store on Smiley Avenue in Forest Park has another 10 to 15 employees, depending on the season. Overall, the company employs between 350 and 400 people at its 18 store locations.
The stores are scattered through seven states from the Appalachians to the West Coast, with clusters in Ohio-Pennsylvania-Indiana and California-Arizona. Eight stores were closed since late last year as a result of declining sales and mounting financial difficulties. The company also operates a Web site that sells books, religious accessories and more.
The ownership change will allow Berean to refocus on its core strengths, but initially there will be few customer-facing changes in its stores, Simmons said.
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AP Eagers throws in extras to secure AHG takeover
Automotive Holdings Group has bowed to the inevitable, recommending its shareholders back a sweetened $836 million offer for the country’s biggest car retailer by rival AP Eagers.
The endorsement came after AP Eagers agreed to improve its scrip offer to one of its shares for every 3.6 AHG shares and ease the conditions of the bid.
The improved terms of the offer, from one-for-3.8 previously, added 13¢ a share to the target’s value based on yesterday’s closing prices, revaluing AHG at $836 million.
The target’s shares have also improved considerably under the offer, lifting from below $1.80 when AP Eagers announced its offer.
AHG, which has 41 car and truck dealerships in WA and more than 180 across Australasia, said the revised offer was in the best interests of shareholders in the absence of a higher offer.
There is no prospect of a better bid given Brisbane-based AP Eagers began its bid with nearly 29 per cent of AHG and has since attracted support from other shareholders accounting for a further 22.5 per cent.
Those shareholders signalling their intention to accept include AHG’s founding Wheatley family.
The combined group will have a market capitalisation of $2.3 billion and more than 300 dealerships representing just under 12 per cent of Australia’s new car market.
New AHG chairman Richard England said “having regard to the increased value for shareholders and the reduced conditionality, the board believes that the improved offer is in the best interests of AHG shareholders”.
“The improved offer provides AHG shareholders with the opportunity to continue their exposure to any future growth in AHG’s earnings and value,” Mr England said.
AHG has struggled in the past two years with the weak WA new car sales market and the drag from its refrigerated logistics business, the subject of an aborted $400 million sale to a Chinese group last year.
AP Eagers chairman Tim Crommelin said his company was “delighted the AHG board shares our view on the logic and benefits of brining the two companies together to create Australia’s leading automotive group”.
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Despite revealing her criteria for acquisition targets last month, GAME CEO Lisa Morgan has told MCV that the firm isn’t expecting to grow through buyouts any time soon.
Speaking after GAME’s impressive financial results announcement last month, Morgan said that the firm’s strategy hadn’t changed” and that any potential acquisition target had to offer a specialist opportunity where we have good local management, ideally, 20 to 25 stores [and] a marketplace that we see potential in”.
However, in an interview with MCV this week, Morgan revealed:
We’re a public company so we have to be quite transparent when making acquisitions or even talking about opportunities.
We confidently do look at markets, whether visiting them and taking a look at the High Street and the opportunity, or whether it’s looking at markets on paper. That’s something that we will always do, as and when opportunities arrive.
We are quick to respond to good opportunities though – take Gamestation as a prime example of that.
But no, we’ve got nothing to report at this moment in time.”
Morgan also discussed the 5 million investment Game Group has pledged to develop its online offering this year, as well as rumours of a GameeStop bid for her firm.
You can read the full interview here.


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As you can tell from our HTC U Ultra and U Play coverage, we’ve never touched the new U phones, weren’t under embargo with information on them as they were announced last night, and (obviously) didn’t have any idea what they were when we shared some thoughts earlier in the week on what we’d like to see HTC do in 2017. HTC decided long ago that we weren’t worthy, so we’re left to comment from afar on their new products most seasons. And that’s fine, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have plenty of comments when they do come around.
Let’s talk about the HTC U Ultra.
As I received the press kit last night, later took in the press unveiling, and took some time to read through all that HTC had just announced, I can tell you that this idea about a phone made for “U” and “you,” hasn’t left me convinced. Honestly, I don’t get who this phone is targeting or how HTC thinks selling it the way it is today, is going to make for a successful product.
For one, I don’t know who is going to buy this phone. HTC Elevate members? Maybe they are the “U.” And that’s fine if HTC wants to continue to just play to that passionate base. But think about this – the phone costs an arguably unnecessary $749 out of the gate, is available for pre-order today, and won’t ship for two months. I can’t think of a better way to turn “U” and I off than selling us a device and then asking us to wait a couple of months to get it. Look, humans like instant satisfaction and they also want to feel secure in the company they are buying expensive products from. None of us want to feel like we’re helping fund a start-up HTC Kickstarter campaign, we want our new $749 phones today or next week, or within two at the latest.
Additionally, you know what’s going to happen between now and mid-March, when the U Ultra is scheduled to ship? LG will have unveiled the G6. Samsung may have unveiled the S8 line. Huawei may have given us the P10. And who knows who else will show off a phone by the end of February at MWC that will become an instant competitor to HTC’s new phone. HTC may have tried to get out of the gate first, but a 2-month wait is way too long in this industry. Couple that wait with the fact that most 2017 flagships are going to ship with 2017’s wave of processors and upgraded specs – the U Ultra is very late 2016 – and it’s about to be a tough Q1 for HTC.
Also, keep in mind that for a phone claiming to be made specifically for “U,” that crowd doesn’t include anyone on Verizon or Sprint. This phone is only sold unlocked as a GSM device. In other words, you can’t buy it anywhere outside of HTC’s store, you won’t find it at your local carrier with an affordable payment plan, and even if it were, your carrier options would be limited to AT&T or T-Mobile.
But enough about the high price, lack of availability, delay in availability, and incoming competition, there is another side to this “U” story that should have HTC fans concerned. For one, this phone sure seems about the least all-around, made-for-all phone I’ve seen in a while. I just got done with my LG V20 review where I talked about it being the ultimate niche product. This phone certainly seems to fall in line with that phone, only it’s even less feature-filled for power users and that niche, making its audience even smaller.
You have a very large 5.7-inch device that has a secondary display which adds to the overall footprint. So you are immediately eliminating anyone not fond of a whale in their pocket or who may want to use a phone with a single hand. But then you have a smallish 3000mAh battery powering that huge display, yet it lacks the removable option of the V20. Before ever touching this phone, you should have battery concerns.
Outside of the display and battery, I can’t think of a less U-serfriendly option than HTC killing the headphone jack and shipping a specially made pair of USB Type-C headphones in the box. Now, I get that HTC’s included USonic earbuds are supposed to have been custom designed to offer a special audio experience for each individual’s ear, but how many true audioheads are going to want to use in-box earbuds? And what about all those audiophiles who want to use their current high-end headphones? Removing a headphone jack is certainly not something “U” or I have ever asked of a company.
Continuing on, HTC has adopted artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning as a part of the U Ultra’s marketing plan and I think their implementation is a stretch at best. During their presentation for the Ultra, HTC talked about their Sense Companion software that is supposed to learn from your use and help you throughout a day. It can tell you what you should pack for your trip, as it analyzes weather, or adjust your time to leave for a road trip as traffic changes, or, recommend a restaurant this weekend, or, well, I think that’s it for now. You know what else already does a really great job of that and has for years? Google Now, which you already all have on your phones. You know what else is pretty bad form? The fact that HTC’s U Ultra pre-order page says specifically that Sense Companion is nothing but an app you’ll install later, some time in 2017. That’s HTC admitting that this machine learning and AI isn’t native, is an app add-on, and won’t be ready even in two months when the phone ships.
I will say that the phone looks pretty and the color choices that HTC is giving us are welcomed changes from the traditional black, silver, and golds. I could really nitpick, though, by suggesting this phone is HTC’s attempt at making a Galaxy S6 Edge+ knockoff years late with the double glass paneling and metal frame, square camera housing, and hump, but we don’t need to go there.
Look, we all know HTC can make a quality phone. The HTC 10 was (and still is) a quality phone. The speakers on the U Ultra should be great, the software experience will be one of the lighter and better from an Android OEM, and the cameras will probably be good too. But when you are HTC and struggling to sell anything, yet are promising a phone made for “U” and me that is months out, lacks or overlooks key features, and might be more niche than LG’s purposely niche V20, I feel like I’m missing something. Am I?


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Suppliers in the Turkish market are expecting an increase in quotations
Prices for HMS 1/2 scrap on the Turkish market for the week of September 19-16, 2022, increased by $10 compared to the previous week – up to $365/t. Kallanish price indicator informs about it.
After a downward trend at the beginning of September, scrap metal prices in Turkey recovered. Suppliers expect them to rise after Turkish steel mills raised rebar prices last week and increased demand for scrap.
Turkish enterprises do not consider the new price offers acceptable due to difficulties with domestic rolled steel sales due to weak demand. However, scrap suppliers last week still pushed for higher prices amid expectations of local mill restocking and alternative demand in Asia and Latin America.
Chinese scrap market last week continued to decline as demand for secondary raw materials from steel mills slowed due to lackluster steel sales. Also, due to the fall in the yuan against the dollar, imported scrap is less available to local steel mills. According to Kallanish, the price of HRS101 scrap in China for the week of September 19-16, 2022, fell by $10 to $390/t.
As GMK Center reported earlier, the government of Kazakhstan plans to extend the ban on scrap metal exports, but discussions will continue until October 5, 2022. The country’s authorities plan to restrict trade in order to ensure domestic market demand. It is predicted that the loading of local steelmakers will increase in the near future.


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Mary Meeker published her Internet Trends of 2016 last week and among others, there were very interesting stats regarding the increase of visual content and ... read more
What do 11, 15, -42 and 1 (and 5) have in common? They're all big numbers from the past week in digital for Pandora, Apple, Facebook, and Chick-fil-A.
With Euro 2016 starting today, we’re examining what made the most shared football ads so popular. European Football Championship starts in France ... read more
Since 2011, Google and Apple have been competing to be the most valuable, according to Millward Brown Digital's annual report. This year, Google is back on top.
This week, venture capitalist Mary Meeker released her annual Internet Trends report, and China was a key focus.
Different retailers have different priorities when it comes to their marketing budgets, but the most valuable brands - Amazon and Apple - are banking on search.
Advertising to millennials can be challenging, especially when there’s a lack of understanding towards their needs. Here’s what you need to consider before targeting ... read more
Perfect viewability should be your goal, right? Not necessarily, according to new research that highlights the fact that viewability isn't quite that simple.
Today we embark on our fourth weekly #ClickZChat, where the good people of SEW and ClickZ take to Twitter to discuss with ... read more
High performing CMOs rate their general businesses health stronger than their direct competitors. This finding comes from the State of Marketing 2016 ... read more


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US FDA Clarifies Compounding Policies On Interstate Distribution, Drug Shortages
The US FDA clarifies that drugs in shortage are not considered “essentially a copy” of an approved drug and can be compounded by traditional pharmacies and outsourcing facilities. This clarification is one of several recently announced by the agency.
You may also be interested in...
Hospital shortages of critical FDA-approved drugs used for treating COVID-19 patients has prompted the US FDA to loosen restrictions against compounding these drugs. In a related action, the FDA will now allow outsourcing facilities and compounding pharmacies to repackage propofol, also in short supply.
In less than three weeks, the number of clinical trials for potential treatments has jumped to 72, according to the FDA’s Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program.
Vials arrive in fits and starts, often in wrong sizes, as allocation quotas, quality issues and difficulty anticipating surges wreak havoc in pharmaceutical supply chain.


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Storm damage is keeping dent repair shops and roofers busy, but it's also making it hard for some businesses to get any business done at all.
Tire marks in alleys show just how hard it's been for work trucks to get the job done. With hundreds of dirt alleys across town, companies like Cox Communications had trouble getting trucks through the mud to fix uncovered cable cords and check service.
The muddy alleys also slowed LP&L trucks, as they were trying to reach their regular daily customers. One employee said, "the alleys are terribly muddy right now, so it just takes a lot longer to get things done."
Companies are working as fast as they can, so if you are waiting for service, they ask that customers be patient as they are trying to stay on schedule.


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Bastion, a Web3 startup founded by former Andreessen-Horowitz executives Nassim Eddequiouaq and Riyaz Faizullabhoy, aims to address barriers faced by businesses entering the industry. The company recently completed a funding round and plans to offer crypto custody, wallet management, and digital asset trading primarily to corporations.
One of the main challenges encountered by clients is the onboarding process, which is often clunky and unsafe. Faizullabhoy states that it is difficult for businesses to get onto Web3. Even after onboarding, Web3 experiences are known for having too much friction, with gas fees adding to the difficulties businesses face in understanding and forecasting their spending needs.
Moreover, businesses entering the space often lack necessary data and analytics. Faizullabhoy explains that many companies do not understand what is happening on their platforms and are missing important insights. This issue is not only limited to Web3 companies but also affects Web2 companies, which are expected to lose valuable customer insights due to the removal of third-party cookies in major operating systems and browsers.
To address these challenges, Bastion aims to improve the Web3 onboarding experience and provide clients with a better user journey. The company has built a custodial wallet infrastructure that seamlessly integrates with customers’ authentication methods, aiming for a seamless onboarding experience.
In terms of reducing friction and scalability, Bastion has developed a smart transaction routing system that routes a majority of interactions off-chain. Faizullabhoy emphasizes that not everything has to be on-chain, and certain activities will remain off-chain to save time and gas costs.
To provide businesses with valuable data and insights, Bastion has also developed a data analytics platform that collects information from both on-chain and off-chain interactions. This data will help businesses build better experiences and products in Web3.
Investors, including Andreessen Horowitz general partner Arianna Simpson, see Bastion as a potential solution to the problems of market fragmentation and accessibility in the industry. Simpson believes that Bastion’s team, with their deep domain expertise and motivation, is well-equipped to tackle these challenges.
By combining easy onboarding, off-chain transaction routing, and valuable data analytics, Bastion aims to overcome barriers and provide businesses with a smoother entry into the Web3 space. The startup’s approach to addressing core issues in Web3 adoption has garnered attention and investment, positioning them as a potential leader in the industry.


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You’ve probably heard about the tax cuts President Trump signed into effect in 2017, which kicked in last year and lowered the tax bill for about two-thirds of Americans.
But you may not have heard about the tax hikes Trump imposed in 2018, even though they negate a significant portion of the tax cuts Trump crows about regularly.
The tariffs Trump imposed last year on a broad range of imports have generated about $3 billion per month in new taxes, according to new research published by the Centre for Economic Policy Research in London. Trump has said many times that China is paying “billions of dollars” to the United States. But that’s not true. The Trump tariffs “have been almost entirely passed through into domestic prices,” according to the paper by economists at Columbia University, Princeton University and the New York Federal Reserve. That means American producers and consumers are paying the Trump taxes.
“It’s hurting the U.S. economy,” study author David Weinstein of Columbia told Yahoo Finance. “The U.S. economy is a big thing, and it’s not enough to move the economy into a recession. But it matters a lot to consumers of particular types of products.”
A separate study published by UCLA and the National Bureau for Economic Research draws similar conclusions. That study finds the Trump tariffs cost American consumers and producers $68.8 billion per year in higher costs and lost output, with the tariffs paid entirely by Americans. When accounting for retaliatory tariffs levied by trading partners, the net effect is more harmful to Americans living in Republican counties than in Democratic ones, largely because retaliatory tariffs have targeted agricultural products that come from rural areas.
The Trump tax cuts reduced taxes paid by businesses and workers by a total of about $150 billion per year. A full year of the Trump’s tariffs, which went into effect in phases in 2018, would impose new taxes of about $36 billion per year. That reduces the savings from the Trump tax cuts by 24%.
The CEPR paper identified another $1.4 billion per month in “deadweight costs,” or lost economic output, caused by the Trump tariffs. The higher prices for thousands of items have pushed manufacturing costs 1 percentage point higher than they’d otherwise be without the new tariffs. So overall, the tariffs are taking $4.4 billion per month out of the private-sector economy, or roughly $53 billion on an annualized basis.
The Trump tariffs include new duties on imported washing machines, solar panels, steel, aluminum, and many finished products from China. All told, Trump imposed new tariffs on about $283 billion worth of imports. He has threatened additional tariffs on Chinese imports, and on imported autos and auto parts from many countries.
Negotiating with China
Trump officials have been negotiating a trade deal with China that could preclude the additional tariffs Trump has threatened there. But tariffs already in place on about $250 billion worth of Chinese imports could remain, even if there is a deal.
Trump has used the China tariffs as a negotiating tool, claiming they’ve hurt China’s economy and created an incentive to bargain. And while Chinese exporters aren’t paying the tariffs, they are losing some business as a result of them. The CEPR paper estimates that the Trump tariffs are causing U.S. companies to redirect about $165 billion worth of trade per year, which means they’re moving parts of their supply chain away from countries facing punitive tariffs. Companies that used to import from China, for example, may now be getting more components from Vietnam, India or other countries able to supply them.
In a $20 trillion economy, the tariffs amount to a modest tax, overall. But they can be onerous in pockets of the economy. Early last year, for instance, Trump imposed tariffs as high as 50% on imported washing machines. Since then, the average price of major appliances—which had steadily declined since 2012—jumped by 10%. Since that category includes all appliances, it’s likely the average price of washing machines has jumped by considerably more. And prices of all washing machines have gone up—not just imports—because rising prices of imports put upward pressure on the prices of competing domestic products.
Trump favors tariffs as a way of making imports more expensive, which in turn might lead to more domestic manufacturing and employment. Manufacturing employment did rise in 2018, but only slightly faster than it had been rising before that, when there were no new tariffs. Even if every one of the 115,00 new manufacturing jobs during the last 6 months had been created because of the Trump tariffs, the cost, in new taxes paid by Americans, would be around $156,000 per job. Most of those jobs pay far less than that.
Rick Newman is the author of four books, including “Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success.” Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman


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What do you do if you're a successful up-and-coming Black queer poet with an awards ceremony to go to, but the fashion world is known for being fatphobic and not making dresses that look good on plus-size women?
You hit up Lizzo on social media to borrow a dress, of course.
That is exactly what Atlanta-based poet, essayist and writer Aurelle Marie did when she learned she would be attending a ceremony to honor her as one of OUT 100's LGBTQ+ Literary and Publishing Stars of the year.
Marie's first poetry collection Gumbo Ya Ya hit the shelves this year and earned quite a few honors. The poems are in Marie's own words "about growing up fat, Black and queer in the South."
But they needed an appropriate outfit.
Enter the magic of TikTok.
Marie posted a TikTok explaining their award ceremony and dress issues, hoping their plea would make it to Lizzo somehow and they might be heard.
You can see Marie's TikTok here:
"I can’t find anything that is big bitch and red carpet ready!"
"The audacity you've marked in your career has helped me step out and be audacious myself."
People congratulated Marie and tagged in Lizzo with pleas to let Marie borrow a dress.
And Lizzo came through!
The singer sent Marie not her dress from the Emmy's, but rather from the AMAs.
But Marie wasn't picky.
They made another TikTok unboxing the dress and trying it on.
As the update video filtered back out to people's For You Pages on TikTok, reactions came streaming in.
As Marie goes through about 15 emotions in the video—excitement, elation, confidence—there was a lot to react to.
@kiingcleopatra/TikTok & @auriellebewritin/TikTok
Even the TikTok account commented.
One commentor jokingly remarked on Marie's lack of excitement.
To be fair, wouldn't you be that excited?
Marie looks amazing in the dress and will go on to rock that awards ceremony coming up.


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An Oxford Economics report is the first to assess the beer industry’s global economic footprint, revealing that in 2019, the industry supported 23.1 million jobs and stimulated 555 billion USD in gross value added contributions to global GDP
WASHINGTON-Friday 11 February 2022 [ AETOS Wire ]
(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The first-ever worldwide report to assess the beer industry’s global economic impact found that 1 in every 110 jobs in the world is linked - through direct, indirect, or induced impact channels - to the beer sector, and that it supported 555 billion USD of gross value added (GVA) to global GDP in 2019. Given its scale and its impact along a long value chain, a thriving beer sector is a key ingredient for global economic recovery. Authored by Oxford Economics on behalf of the Worldwide Brewing Alliance (WBA), the report found the beer industry also helped generate 262 billion USD in government tax revenue in the 70 countries studied, which account for 89% of beer sold worldwide, and supported an estimated 23.1 million jobs.
The report evaluated the beer industry’s global economic impact between 2015 and 2019, including its contributions - direct, indirect, and induced - to global GDP, jobs, and taxes.
“This landmark report puts a figure on the scale of our impact on job creation, economic growth and government tax revenue, and across a long, complex value chain, from barley fields to bars and restaurants,” said Justin Kissinger, President and CEO of the WBA. “The beer sector is a vital engine of the economy,” he added. “The success of the global economic recovery depends on it, and vice versa.”
“Our findings reveal that brewers are highly productive businesses that help raise average productivity across the entire global economy, meaning they have an extensive economic footprint that can make significant contributions to the recovery,” said Pete Collings, Director of Economic Impact Consulting at Oxford Economics.
1. Direct impact: By brewing, marketing, distributing and selling beer, the beer sector directly created a 200 billion USD GVA contribution to global GDP and was responsible for 7,600,000 jobs.
2. Indirect (supply chain) impact: By purchasing goods and services from small, medium, and large businesses across the globe, the beer sector indirectly supported GDP, jobs, and tax income for governments. In 2019, the beer sector spent an estimated 225 billion USD on goods and services inputs, supporting an estimated additional 206 billion USD GVA contribution to GDP and 10 million jobs.
3. Induced (consumption) impact: By paying staff wages and supporting wages in their respective supply chains, brewers and their downstream value chain supported a 149 billion USD GVA contribution to GDP and 6 million jobs in 2019.
Globally, the beer sector was linked to 1 in every 131 USD of global GDP in 2019, but the sector’s economic significance was found to be even larger in lower- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) than in high income ones (1.6% vs. 0.9% of GDP). In addition, the beer sector supports 1.4% of national employment in LMICs, vs. 1.1% in high income countries.
“Beer matters: for the economy, job creation, and the success of a wide array of actors up and down our value chain,” concluded WBA’s Kissinger. “This deep understanding of our global impact enables the WBA to fully leverage the strength of its sector, its links with industry partners and communities, and to share its vision for a thriving, responsible industry.”
The full report can be accessed at: https://worldwidebrewingalliance.org/impact
Oxford Economics is a key adviser to corporate, financial and government decision-makers and thought leaders. Our best-in-class global economic, industry models and analytical tools give us an unparalleled ability to forecast external market trends and assess their economic, social and business impact.
The Worldwide Brewing Alliance involves brewers and brewing trade associations from around the world. Our objective is to share knowledge and best practice amongst brewers and other concerned stakeholders and act as a global, united voice on the integrity of beer and the social responsibility of brewers to a variety of audiences, including international organizations.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220210005023/en/
Anna Morath firstname.lastname@example.org


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Reebok has released their 2019 pride collection of sneakers and t-shirts and this year they feature a classic understated design.
While Converse’s collection is flashier and Adidas’ offering is more colorful, Reebok’s selection of shoes give off a more subtle vibe. The updates to the iconic Club C, Classic Leather and Freestyle Hi silhouettes give those who don’t want to be loud and proud to be, well, proud.
A portion of the profits will be given to Fenway Health, one of the nation’s leaders in LGBTQ health issues. Fenway Health provides high quality, comprehensive health care and quality tools to help educate the community. Based in Boston, Fenway Health and Reebok share not only a hometown, but also a common focus on improving the overall well-being of individuals nationwide.
“Since the beginning, Reebok has had a lifelong mission to transform the lives of others through fitness and wellness,” said Matt Blonder, VP of Digital Brand Commerce at Reebok and Co-Chair of the brand’s Colorful Soles LGBTQ+ employee resource group. “Inclusivity has been an intrinsic part of building our foundation, so working alongside a health center like Fenway Health felt like such a natural fit. We pride ourselves in working with those who share these same bold and inclusive values.”
The shoes start at $70 and the handful of t-shirts with a rainbow Reebok logo will run you $25.


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Last week, the iTunes Movies and iBooks stores mysteriously went down in China. A new New York Times report says the stores were forced down by the Chinese State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.
Initially, Apple apparently had the government’s approval to introduce the services. But then a regulator, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, asserted its authority and demanded the closings, according to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
An Apple spokeswoman said the company "hoped to make books and movies available again to our customers in China as soon as possible." The store closures come six months after they were launched alongside Apple Music in the country.
Compared to other tech companies, Apple has had success in launching new ventures in the China. Most recently, Apple launched Apple Pay in the country in partnership with UnionPay, China's state-run interbank network.
After the shutdown of the two stores, China's President Xi Jinping conducted a meeting on China's restrictive internet policies with Alibaba's Jack Ma, Huawei's Ren Zhengfei and other tech leaders in the country, according to The NYT. Daniel H. Rosen, a founding partner at Rhodium Group, a firm that specializes in the Chinese economy, tells The New York Times that China has an interest in promoting Chinese tech companies while attempting to reduce the impact of foreign tech giants like Apple in the country.
Apple is one of eight companies that China has targeted for being "too deeply established in the country's core industries" according to The New York Times. Other companies on China's list include IBM, Qualcomm and Microsoft. Earlier today it was reported that local Chinese handset makers like Huawei faced inventory losses and squeezed market share following the launch of the iPhone SE.
Apple has worked to grow its business in China, now its second biggest market, spending several years in negotiations with China Mobile, the country's largest carrier, to bring the iPhone to its 700 million customers. The two agreed to a deal in 2013. Tim Cook has also made several visits to the country, with Apple also planning to expand its retail efforts.
Last November, when asked whether Apple had run into censorship problems in China, Eddy Cue said that the company had a "great working relationship" with China and that the launch of Apple Music and the iTunes Movies and iBooks stores showed that Apple knew how to work in the country.
4/22 update: The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post has linked the store closures to the release of controversial independent movie Ten Years, which won best picture prize at this month’s Hong Kong Film Awards, despite being banned in China. News of the store closures broke shortly before the movie became available on iTunes in Hong Kong. The dystopian film imagines Hong Kong in 2025 with language police, mini Red Guards, radical protest and social... [Read More]
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has spoken out in favor of Apple and all other companies in the world paying the same 50% tax rate he does, calling anything less "unfair".
In an interview with the BBC published this morning, Wozniak, who left Apple in 1986, said that every company in the world should pay the same rate he pays as an individual. "I do a lot of work, I do a lot of travel and I pay over 50% of anything I make in taxes and I believe that's part of life and you should do it," he said.
Tax avoidance has been brought back into focus by the recent Panama Papers revelations, a huge leak of documents that lifted the lid on how the rich and powerful use tax havens to hide their wealth.
Asked about companies maximizing profit and the related issue of tax havens, Wozniak said he was personally never interested in making money, unlike his former partner, Steve Jobs. "Jobs started Apple Computers for money, that was his big thing and that was extremely important and critical and good," he said. "[But] we didn't think we'd be figuring out how to go off to the Bahamas and have special accounts like people do to try to hide their money."
"On the other hand," he continued, "any company that is a public company, its shareholders are going to force it to be as profitable as possible and that means financial people studying all the laws of the world and figuring out all the schemes that work that are technically legal. They're technically legal and it bothers me and I would not live my life that way."
Asked if he worried that Apple had moved so far away from its founding principles that it was now looking to actively pay less tax, Wozniak replied: "The company we founded in 1976 knew that we would be a worldwide company selling huge amounts of computers everywhere, and we just assumed we would pay taxes on it. And maybe the tax rates are different for a company than they are for a person, but that's something that bothers me to this day."
Apple is one of several multinational corporations that have been targeted for possible corporate tax avoidance in Europe. In September 2014, the European Commission formally accused it of receiving illegal state aid from Ireland, where it has reportedly paid a reduced tax rate of around 1.8% on its overseas profits.
In a March hearing at the European Parliament's tax committee, Apple claimed it was the "largest taxpayer in the world", in 2015 paying $13.2 billion in taxes worldwide at an effective tax rate of 36.4%.
Earlier this month, candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination for the United States, Bernie Sanders, said he wished Apple would stop trying not to pay its fair share of taxes and move some of its manufacturing to the U.S.
Tim Cook has previously said that Apple pays all of the taxes that it owes. In a December interview with Charlie Rose, he said accusations Apple avoids taxes on revenue held overseas is "total political crap". "There is no truth behind it," he... [Read More]
Time Magazine on Thursday published the 2016 edition of its annual 100 Most Influential People list, once again including Apple CEO Tim Cook among its chosen politicians, artists, celebrities, and corporate executives.
Cook's profile was written by Bob Iger, the chairman and CEO of Disney, and a member of Apple's board of directors. Iger used the opportunity to promote Cook as a "leader of great courage and character," with high ethical standards, and a willingness to encourage "vital conversations about who we are as a culture and a community."
Iger suggested that Cook has led Apple's brand to "new heights," both in terms of its industry status and how the public perceives its values.
Since Cook assumed control of the company from Steve Jobs in 2011, Apple has adopted a more openly political stance, for instance tackling LGBT rights and environmental issues. Perhaps more controversially Cook has ramped up a focus on privacy, entering into high-profile skirmishes with the U.S. government over encryption. iOS 8 and 9 — developed under Cook's watch — are so secure that with a passcode enabled, even Apple claims it can't crack them, short of rewriting the software's code.
Cook is a regular staple of Time, appearing not only in lists but often in feature interviews, particularly when a new product is expected to launch.
After a pair of massive earthquakes rocked Japan and Ecuador last week, and the threat of aftershocks still present, Apple on Thursday reactivated its iTunes donation system to support American Red Cross relief efforts in the regions.
As it has done with past international disasters, Apple added an American Red Cross link and card to the main iTunes store page. Clicking through will take users to a special page accepting gifts in $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200 denominations.
Those who choose to donate through iTunes will see 100 percent of proceeds go directly to Red Cross, though the organization is unable to further recognize contributions as Apple does not pass along personal donor information.
Last Thursday a magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures in southwest Japan, an event followed by a larger magnitude 7.3 tremor one day later. A total of 48 deaths have been attributed to the two quakes, which were accompanied by more than 680 aftershocks felt throughout the region, Reuters reports.
While Japan has for decades made efforts to bolster its infrastructure against an imminent earthquake threat, Ecuador has not. On Saturday, a magnitude 7.8 quake wreaked havoc on the South American nation, leaving a trail of destruction in heavily populated coastal areas like Manabi Province. CNN reports Ecuador's Risk Management Office has tallied at least 570 deaths as of Wednesday.
Marking Earth Day, Apple on Friday debuted a new TV commercial, using Siri to promote its custom-designed recycling robot — Liam — and its branding as an environmentally-responsible company.
The 24-second spot shows Siri running on an iPhone held by a Liam unit. Siri asks the robot what it's doing for Earth Day, only to be "killed" once Liam starts stripping the iPhone apart.
Apple has launched a multi-pronged marketing campaign for this year's Earth Day. These include the company's standard tactics, such as turning the leaf green on Apple Store logos, as well as unique approaches, such as a video claiming people are helping the environment by using iMessage.
Liam was introduced at the company's March 21 press event, and was designed to strip iPhones and other devices into discrete parts, which in turn can be salvaged for recyclable materials. At the same time, the company can remove potentially hazardous chemicals.
The robot is not yet believed to be in widespread use, and indeed much of Apple's e-waste recycling is non-Apple products handled by outside parties.
An Apple patent application covering a wireless hybrid headphone system was published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday, suggesting the company is continuing work on a Lightning-equipped audio product some expect will replace wired EarPods if and when iPhone ships without a 3.5mm headphone jack.
As published, Apple's patent application for "Audio class-compliant charging accessories for wireless headphones and headsets" details a headphone device and supporting hardware capable of seamlessly switching between wired and wireless listening modes.
Unlike traditional headphones that terminate in a 3.5mm TRRS (tip, ring, ring, sleeve) plug, Apple's invention employs an electrical connector compatible with both digital and analog signals, requirements the proprietary Lightning protocol satisfies. An ideal connector would employ a plurality of contacts to transfer power and audio data — via differential signaling — from a host device to the headphone. This arrangement allows for a single cable to both charge and control the device, eliminating the potential for ground loops that compromise audio fidelity.
In addition to wired contacts, Apple's proposed headphone includes an internal battery, processor, memory and antenna and wireless transceiver package for communicating with a user device. An iPhone, for example, is able to charge the headphone while being communicatively coupled to the device.
The key to Apple's invention is its handling of audio transmission signals. In practice, a user device communicates with the headphone both through wired and wireless interfaces, sending a packet of authentication data (including, but not limited to, audio) over for decision logic processing. This data is used by control circuitry to determine that the headphone connected via wired communication module is the same device as the headphone connected over wireless.
When a successful match is found, audio data sent to the headphone device via wired or wireless communications module is collected in a hardware buffer, or onboard memory. The headphone is able to fall back on this buffered audio when a user switches from wired to wireless playback, or vice versa, an action that normally results in audio dropouts as the system re-establishes communications.
As for design, the document keeps things vague, noting all supporting hardware can fit into in-ear, on-ear and over-ear styles.
Whether Apple will incorporate the technology into a next-generation headphone is unclear. Last November rumors surfaced claiming Apple plans to remove iPhone's 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of a wireless or Lightning solution. The company... [Read More]
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In Kenya, over 24 million plastic bags are used monthly, which also constitutes the biggest challenge to solid waste management in the country, but possibly not for long.
The country is set to become the latest African nation to ban the manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household purposes.
But the proposal has raised some opposition, with manufacturers and importers contesting it in court, citing that the ban will cause economic harm to the country.
But what lengths will eliminating plastic bags go towards conserving Africa’s environment?
Is there a middle ground between the economic and environmental arguments?
And will the latest round of attempts to effect the plastic bag ban hold even as neighboring countries in the region like Rwanda have achieved considerable success in managing plastic waste?
In part 1 of Talk Africa, Beatrice Marshall assesses the impact of plastics bags in Kenya.
Also, an interview with the Director-General of the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority brings insights into the country’s successes and challenges in managing the plastic bag ban.
Now plastic bags are light, low cost and can be produced in a variety of shapes and sizes, giving them a wide range of uses. But these advantages have led to a much bigger environmental concern: pollution.
The Kenyan government is keen on succeeding this time in its plastic bag ban, following unsuccessful attempts in 2007 and 2011, and has launched awareness campaigns to increase effectiveness.
As it currently stands, the prohibition is on “the use, manufacture and importation of all plastic bags used for commercial and household packaging”. These fall into two main categories – the carrier bag and the flat bag.
The carrier bag is the common single-use plastic bag constructed with handles – the kind handed out at most supermarkets. Whereas the so called flat bag is similar, but has no handles. The ban does not extend to industrial packaging.
Importers and sellers of plastic bags have sued the Environment Cabinet Secretary to suspend the ban saying it does not comply with the law and that the country will suffer economic losses if it is imposed.
The 30 plastic bag manufacturers in the country have a combined capital investment of over 77 million U.S. dollars, which they claim creates up to 60,000 direct jobs – all of which could be lost if the ban goes ahead.
John Msafari, Chairman of the Kenya Fish Exporters and Processors Association says that” there is one misconception; that the industry is against a pleasant environment. Absolutely not! The industry very much supports the initiative to have a clean environment.”
Mr. Msafari whose fish industry pumps in 4 billion Kenyan shillings annually to the Kenyan economy decries the opting for “an easy option” without a proper impact assessment being carried out on the proposed ban.
Mercy Karunditi from the Green Belt Movement however points to the huge menace caused by the plastic ban and the sacrifice on the environment as being too grave to justify plastic bag production.


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(Update: Adding Toy Association's response to report)
By Eric Tegethoff, Oregon News Service
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Choking hazards, hidden toxins and privacy concerns are among the dangers toy buyers should watch out for as the holiday shopping season begins, according to an annual report.
The 34th "Trouble in Toyland" report from the Oregon State Public Interest Research Group Foundation said there's been success making toys safer in the past few decades, but threats still linger on the shelves.
Charlie Fisher, state director of the OSPIRG Foundation, said parents can easily check whether a toy poses a choking hazard.
"They can actually test small toys for choking hazards using a toilet paper tube," he said. "So basically, just take the small part and drop it through the tube. If it goes through completely, it is likely a choking risk and should be kept away from children under the age of 3."
The report noted that wooden vehicles sold by Target were recalled this year for being choking hazards, and deflated balloons also pose a risk to kids younger than 8. Researchers also found that a number of toys contain high concentrations of toxic materials, including a slime product made with 75 times the level of boron acceptable under European Union standards.
Fisher said recalled toys lurk on the internet, but parents can check the website saferproducts.gov to see which ones have been taken off the market.
Another concern is strong magnets found in such items as construction sets, educational tiles and sculpture kits, which contain rare earth metals. The report said two doctors at a children's hospital in Portland recently removed 54 magnets from four children in just over a month. A ban on these magnets was overturned in 2016.
Fisher said the federal government could be doing more to protect kids from dangerous toys.
"We're giving advice to parents here," he said, "but it's really our analysis that it's incumbent upon the federal regulators and manufacturers to, further up in the supply stream, prevent these from getting on store shelves in the first place."
Cybersecurity is the newest threat from toys. The report advised parents and gift-givers that those so-called "smart toys" that connect to the internet often can collect and store data, leaving them vulnerable to hackers.
The report is online at uspirg.org.
In response to the report, The Toy Association released this statement:
U.S. PIRG uses the headline “Trouble in Toyland” for its annual report to needlessly frighten parents with baseless claims. What PIRG doesn’t tell you (because it would not grab headlines) is that toys continue to be one of the safest consumer product categories found in the home.
U.S. toy safety requirements include more than 100 standards and tests to ensure that toys are safe. These standards go above and beyond those for other consumer products. There are strict limits for lead and other chemicals in toys, internationally-emulated limits on sound level output, a highly effective small parts regulation that was developed with the help of pediatricians, and strict standards prohibiting the use of magnets in any toy part that is small enough to be swallowed.
Many of the items PIRG speaks of are not available, having been previously recalled (thanks to ongoing regulatory vigilance). The group also mentions several items that are not toys, such as: children’s jewelry and musical instruments, magnets, and balloons. These products are not subject to the same rigorous standards as toys and including them under a “toy” safety headline deliberately misleads parents and undermines the toy industry’s deep and ongoing commitment to safety.
The Toy Association works year-round to educate parents and caregivers to always shop at reputable stores and verified online retailers and to exercise caution when buying toys from flea markets, unverified sellers on online marketplaces, garage sales, etc., as these vendors may not be monitoring for recalled products or might not be selling legitimate toys that comply with strict U.S. laws.
Families are encouraged to always check and follow the age-grading on toy packaging. Toys labeled 3+ may contain small parts that can be a choking hazard for children under three (or kids who still mouth toys). Use a federally-approved Small Parts Tester (available online) to test small objects found around the home – not a toilet paper roll (as PIRG suggests).
Safety is the toy industry’s top priority every day of the year, not just during the holidays. For information on recalls, toy safety, and ways to ensure safe play, families are invited to visit www.PlaySafe.org, The Toy Association’s safety resource for parents and caregivers.


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COMPANY NEWS; JEFFERSON SMURFIT OFFERING FINDS REDUCED INTEREST
Published: May 5, 1994
The Jefferson Smurfit Corporation completed a $250 million initial public offering yesterday that raised 16 percent less than its target when it first announced plans to sell stock as part of a $2.45 billion recapitalization. The debt-laden paperboard company sold more than 19.2 million shares at $13 each. The St. Louis-based company had hoped to raise about $300 million by selling more than 17.2 million shares, about a 16 percent stake, for a price of $16 to $19. The shares closed at $13.25 in Nasdaq trading of almost 2.9 million shares. The company, with 1993 sales of $2.95 billion, is one of the country's largest producers of paperboard and packaging materials.


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Absa has launched a MasterCard-powered digital wallet and ChatBanking for Facebook Messenger. ChatBanking will let customers conduct banking without having to leave the social media platform; and follows on from the recent introduction of Absa ChatBanking on Twitter in May. Ashley Veasey, group CIO and chief digital officer at Barclays Africa (Absa is majority owned […]
Plum, an artificial intelligence (AI) powered Facebook chatbot, has teamed with peer-to-peer investing platform RateSetter to encourage the UK to save more. Plum says its algorithm understands spending patterns, identifies income and bills and creates a unique profile for each one of its users. It calculates a small amount of money to save or invest […]
Facebook has announced its Messenger bots can now accept payments natively, without redirecting users to external sites. The announcement was made by David Marcus, head of Facebook Messenger, at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco, as he unveiled the launch of the Messenger platform v1.2.
OakNorth has become the first challenger bank to launch Facebook at Work as the platform prepares for its global launch later this year. Facebook at Work is the professional version of the social network, enabling individuals to set up an account that is separate from their personal Facebook but works in almost the exact same […]
Russia-based Tochka Bank of the Otkritie Financial Group has launched the world’s “first” Facebook bot for a range of financial services. The bot will allow the bank’s clients to check their accounts, find nearby ATMs using geolocation, call the bank, contact customer support and make payments via Facebook messenger. Elena Budnik, chair of Otkritie Bank’s […]
Banks in Singapore are working together on a new service that will allow users to make payments using Twitter usernames or Facebook IDs. According to the FT, a pilot is due to take place in the first quarter of 2017. Rather than entering an account number and sort code, users will be able to make […]
American Express is partnering with Facebook to provide an Amex bot for its card members in Messenger. The concept will allow Amex card members to sign up to receive real-time notifications about their purchases, and information about card benefits and services related to those purchases. For example, if a member purchases an airline ticket, the […]
CaixaBank is launching imaginBank, Spain’s first mobile-only bank providing banking services exclusively through mobile apps and social networks.
Social media has taken the world by storm over the past decade. Facebook, which is generally considered to be the “grandfather” of social media, was only founded 11 years ago, YouTube the next year and Twitter two years later
Banks will be judged on how well they provide mobile services and social media interaction in the coming years. Instead of being just another channel, these forms will be the first point of contact for customers, according to a new report by analyst firm Celent.


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Galletas Coral visit Germany to see a new production line
The General Manager of Galletas Coral, Moisés Revuelta, Head of Maintenance, César Santamaría and Production and Manufacture Manager, Rafael Caraza, visited the German city of Frankfurt to see a new production line which they have purchased from the manufacturers, Hebenstreit.
“It is a state-of-the-art line and it will bring us a level of efficiency and performance which will considerably improve production. It will allow us to dedicate resources to innovation and the development of new products, other biscuits and to meet our customers’ demands” Moisés Revuelta pointed out.
The plan to acquire this new line began in early 2017 and this visit has made it possible to set out the process for transporting and unloading the line which will begin operating in the Galletas Coral factory in the Bayas industrial estate in Miranda de Ebro at the beginning of the year.
“We reckon that the line will be running at full capacity by April” says Moisés Revuelta.