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Stratasys and HP Part Ways on 3D Printer Manufacturing
Stratasys and HP have discontiued a manufacturing and distribution agreement for 3D printers. This either means that HP is preparing its own line of 3D printers, or is opting out of the 3D printing market entirely. Stratasys does not see this as a hit to their financial projections, but the market reacted by initially lowering their share price.
From the Stratasys press release:
Stratasys, Inc., a leading manufacturer of 3D printers and production systems for prototyping and manufacturing applications, today announced that Stratasys and HP have agreed to discontinue their manufacturing and distribution agreement for 3D printers, effective at the end of 2012. Stratasys does not expect the termination of its agreement with HP to have a material impact on its financial results for the current year and intends to work closely with HP to ensure a smooth transition for customers.
“Stratasys has enjoyed a productive relationship with HP, and moving forward, we will continue working towards our goal of achieving broader 3D printer usage worldwide,” said Scott Crump, chief executive officer and chairman of Stratasys. “As the market for 3D printing technology grows, Stratasys is focused on further developing our independent channel distribution initiatives to expand our distribution reach even further. Our recently-announced merger with Objet will help grow customer awareness of the many opportunities to deploy 3D printing and rapid prototyping techniques and will allow us to implement an even broader distribution channel with a more extensive geographic reach.”
Under the terms of the definitive agreement signed in January 2010, Stratasys developed and manufactured for HP an exclusive line of 3D printers based on Stratasys’ patented Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM(R)) technology. Later that year, HP began a phased rollout of the 3D printers in the mechanical design (MCAD) market in select European countries.
HP CEO Meg Whitman photo by TechShowNetwork used under Creative Commons license.


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Xbox Live gets a security upgrade
Microsoft has taken steps to beef up the security on Xbox Live in order to give gamers much more protection on their accounts.
Xbox Live general manager Alex Garden has explained that they want to help continue to prove that the community's investment and trust is well placed.
"The internet has transformed the way we purchase goods and services and added layers of convenience to our lives," Garden explained on his official blog. "Yet, disappointingly, online fraud increasingly victimises millions of unsuspecting consumers each year."
"That is why our resolve at Microsoft to battle fraud and our commitment to account security is stronger than ever. I hope you'll take a few moments to protect your account today," he continued adding that emails from the community had "reinforced our belief that Xbox Live is not simply an online service but a community built upon the trust and investment of its members."
Full details of the security improvements are available on the Xbox official blog.
- Thomas Was Alone gets a release date for PS4 and Wii U
- New Warframe update adds space-flight to the gameplay with Archwing mode
- New poll indicates that people believe online gaming is “the least welcoming space” for women
- CD Projekt RED releases The Trail, the opening cinematic from The Witcher 3
- New Project CARS trailer pulls up to the starting grid
- Far Cry 4 dev says linear games will suffer in the new world of gameplay video sharing
- Almost 1,100 developers, students and journalists sign the new #gamediversity petition embracing diversity in games
- Felicia Day breaks her silence about #Gamergate, is almost immediately doxxed
- Ubisoft announces PC specs for Assassin's Creed: Unity and they're killer

domain: news


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Three of Apple’s four major operating system upgrades—iOS 12, watchOS 5, and tvOS 12—are now out, and the fourth, macOS 10.14 Mojave, is due on September 24th. Read on for our advice on when and how to install.
In an announcement that surprised no one, Apple has scheduled a special event for 12 September 2018. At it, we expect the company to throw back the curtains on new iPhone and Apple Watch hardware and give a release date for iOS 12.
Some television sets from major brands have Samba TV spyware preinstalled that analyzes and reports back on everything you watch. It’s another reason to use an Apple TV instead.
Apple has released macOS 10.13.6, iOS 11.4.1, tvOS 11.4.1, and watchOS 4.3.2. macOS 10.13.6 brings AirPlay 2 support, but all the rest are minor releases aimed at fixing mostly unspecified bugs and security vulnerabilities.
Apple TV 4K will rock your ears and eyes a little bit more starting this fall, alongside a collection of either nice-to-have or essential new features, depending on your living room.
Apple has released a slew of updates for all of its non-Mac devices, adding the long-promised AirPlay 2 and Messages in iCloud.
watchOS 4.3 lets you control your HomePod from your Apple Watch, allows the Apple Watch’s Nightstand mode work in any orientation, and shows more information on the Siri watch face. tvOS 11.3 merely lets fourth-generation Apple TV owners play videos in their original frame rate, and HomePod 11.3 fixes bugs.
Plug an Apple TV 4K into a compatible TV and experience ultra-high definition HDR video, right? Unfortunately, as “Take Control of Apple TV” author Josh Centers has found, it’s far from that simple.
If you’re still using a first-generation Apple TV, be aware that Apple will cut off its access to the iTunes Store on 25 May 2018 due to security changes. These security changes will also prevent PCs running Windows XP and Windows Vista from accessing the iTunes Store. The hard-drive equipped first-generation Apple TV shipped in January 2007 and was available through September 2010. The second-generation Apple TV and later will continue being able to get content from the iTunes Store.
Apple quietly slipped some new remote control capabilities into iOS 11.2.5 and iTunes 12.7.3. Josh Centers explains how to take advantage of them.
Yes, it’s finally here! The Amazon Prime Video app has finally appeared on the Apple TV! Here’s how to sign in and use it to watch both free video available to Amazon Prime subscribers and any movies or TV shows you’ve purchased from Amazon.
tvOS 11.2 introduces some new features for sports watchers and a few welcome tweaks for the Apple TV 4K.
Believe it or not, Amazon says that the Amazon Prime Video app for the Apple TV is still due to ship this year.
Apple has updated tvOS to expand availability of the TV app and to address the KRACK Wi-Fi vulnerability.
Apple will soon upgrade the Apple TV to 4K, but sticker shock may have you looking at alternatives.


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Fibre2fashion News Desk - China
Apparel/Garments | On 28th May 2017
Over 45 per cent retailers in the US plan to utilise artificial...
Textiles | On 27th May 2017
The Fabric of Change initiative of Ashoka and the C&A Foundation is...
Transparent supply chain and fair trade will boost sustainable market
‘Indian footwear market is nascent and largely a trend follower’
Every fifth sale we make on Zapyle is a repeat purchase
Steve Cole of Xerium Technologies discusses the industry. Xerium is the...
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Iago Castro Asensio, International Business Manager of RCfil...
Rupa Sood and Sharan Apparao
Nayaab, an exhibition meant to celebrate Indian weaves, is in its second...
"We should not compare India and the West. There are things we do that...
Bani Batra’s couture wedding collection is inspired by traditional Indian...


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Royal DSM acquired Tortuga Companhia Zootécnica Agrária (Tortuga) in an all cash transaction for a total enterprise value of about €465 million.
Tortuga is a privately held Brazilian company and a major company in nutritional supplements with a focus on pasture raised beef and dairy cattle.
The company is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil with approximately 1,200 employees and 700 sales agents throughout Brazil. It has three production sites in Mairinque (SP), São Vicente (SP) and Pecém (CE).
Net sales for 2012 are expected at about €385 million with an EBITDA of about €60 million. DSM has identified attractive revenue and other synergies.
Depending on the actual 2012 EBITDA result, an adjustment in the purchase price up to a maximum enterprise value of about €490 million can be made, based on the same EBITDA-multiple. Subject to customary conditions, the transaction is expected to close in Q1 2013.
Growing supplement market
Brazil raises mainly beef and dairy cattle on pasture, which means the animals often lack minerals, phosphorus, nitrogen sources, vitamins and micro nutrients in their diet. Therefore, nutritional supplements are required to enhance animal performance and health.
The size of the global market for nutritional supplements for ruminants is estimated to be well in excess of €4 billion, growing by around 3% per year with significantly stronger growth (7-10%) in organic trace minerals (chelates).
Tortuga is one of the global leaders in organic trace minerals, despite the fact that it has so far been active only in Latin America.
DSM expects to profit from the takeover by introducing DSM ingredients into Tortuga’s products and mixes as well as into its distribution channels for ruminants.
Also the acquisition of Tortuga will broaden DSM’s ingredient portfolio to include organic trace minerals and will allow DSM to become a full animal nutrition solution provider by adding a major ruminants section to its portfolio.
The acquisition of Tortuga is the seventh acquisition in the Nutrition cluster since DSM announced its corporate strategy DSM in motion: driving focused growth in September 2010.
Feike Sijbesma, CEO and Chairman of the DSM Managing Board, said: “With the acquisition of Tortuga we have announced €2.2 billion worth of growth enhancing acquisitions, of which €1.8 billion in our Nutrition cluster, since we embarked on our current strategic plan less than two years ago.
“After completion of the announced acquisitions DSM’s Nutrition cluster will on a pro forma basis surpass €4 billion in net sales on an annual basis, resulting in stronger and more stable growth and profitability for DSM overall.”
Creuza Fabiani, President of Tortuga, commented: “Having been in business for almost 60 years, Tortuga still has huge potential for growth, as well as a great deal to offer the animal proteins production sector.
“I chose DSM after careful consideration since their operations in Brazil do not conflict with those of Tortuga, and also because of the great synergy between the two companies, which will provide the entire team at Tortuga with the opportunity to grow.”
More information can be found in the presentation that can be found on DSM’s corporate website.
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By James Wells
SYDNEY: Breville managing director, Joe Hersch, has issued a reply this afternoon to Current.com.au in response to a statement released today by Sunbeam regarding an ongoing court case involving Breville’s Ikon blenders.
“Two years ago Breville set out to design and build the best blender in the world. Approximately 120 prototypes, 10,000 ice cubes and 900 bananas later, Breville launched the Ikon blenders with Breville’s new Kinetix technology. Breville is very proud of the success of this innovative product in the market,” Hersch said in his statement.
“About a week before Christmas 2006, Breville’s major competitor in blenders and other appliances, Sunbeam Corporation Limited, unsuccessfully sought a court injunction against certain aspects of Breville’s marketing of the Ikon blenders. The court ordered Sunbeam to pay Breville’s legal costs. Sunbeam has previously threatened to take legal action in relation to other innovative Breville products.
“Sunbeam’s application for an injunction was based on testing that Breville considers was misconceived. It has now emerged that the report of that testing contained a significant error and that, on one of Sunbeam’s own tests, the Ikon blender achieved a better result than the Sunbeam blenders tested by a considerable margin. In other Sunbeam tests, Sunbeam’s “Fusion” blender (RRP$49.95) gave better results than Sunbeam’s “MultiBlender Electronic” (RRP$129).
“Shortly before Christmas, Breville agreed to take steps to avoid any confusion that a patent has been granted over the Kinetix technology when, in fact, Breville’s patent application is still pending.
“It is regrettable that Sunbeam has taken this course of action. Breville will vigorously defend the allegations made against it and still remains committed to innovation," the statement concluded.


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05/24/2012 (press release: emilie.legrand) // Punch Communications
Barely a month after its launch, P&G’s brilliant ‘Thank You Mom’ campaign has made an incredible impression online, not only by reaching millions of people, but also by moving them to share emotional responses across social networks. The combination of powerful human storytelling with subtle brand positioning has created a digital phenomenon that offers an excellent example for brands, says Punch Communications, an integrated public relations agency.
Launched on 17 April, the campaign focuses on the roles mothers play in the remarkable journeys of athletes around the world striving for Olympic glory. P&G says that the campaign, which will run through the end of the Olympic Games, is the largest ever created in the company’s 175-year history. At its heart is a short film entitled ‘Best Job’, which was crafted by renowned director Alejandro González Iñárritu. Spanning the globe, the video was shot in London, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, and Beijing, and features local actors and athletes. Collectively, the film has received more than 8.7 million views on YouTube in its multiple language iterations. Videos highlighting the mothers of specific athletes have also been well received, with one about Peruvian marathoner Gladys Tejeda being viewed more than a million times in only two weeks.
Pete Goold, managing director of digital PR agency, Punch Communications says: “P&G have succeeded by tailoring their campaign around a unique point of view that is both universal and emotionally appealing. By showing the Olympic dream from the perspective of the mothers of the competitors rather than the athletes themselves, the campaign makes the story accessible to everyone, whether they are fans of athletics or not.”
“Also, the brand positioning is very minimal, meaning that the content tells a story without overtly focusing on the company’s products. The lack of obvious advertising makes the content more appealing, and integration with social media makes it easier to interact with and share. A campaign-specific Facebook page, which has received almost 600,000 likes, offers a ‘Thank You Mom’ app to further personalise the experience and encourage a deeper level of engagement with the brand.”
Punch Communications is a leading PR, social media and search agency covering clients on a global scale. For more information regarding Punch or any of its services, please call 01858 411 600, or visit www.punchcomms.com.
Social Media Tags:Thank You Mom Campaign, Social Media, Facebook campaigns, viral videos, YouTube, Olympics
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You are hereHome >
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has posted a press release on a joint enforcement action with the FDIC against Discover Card and Discover Bank. The story broke last week after Discover Card admitted to investors that it, like Capital One previously, had been caught allegedly charging consumers for what every consumer advocate considers useless, over-priced ($6-16/month or more) junk credit insurance or debt cancellation ("who will pay your credit card if you die, get sick, get laid off?") and credit monitoring add-ons ("stop identity theft!") that consumers didn't actually buy, but still were billed for on their credit card bills. Discover Card has agreed to pay a $14 million civil penalty to the CFPB and FDIC, plus refund over $200 million to ripped-off consumers. After the CFPB and another regulator, the OCC, dinged Capital One in July for similar alleged practices, we noted that "more credit card banks quit evil ways," as other banks got out of the tawdry biz.
From the CFPB: The joint investigation concerned deceptive telemarketing and sales tactics used by Discover to mislead consumers into paying for various credit card “add-on products” – payment protection, credit score tracking, identity theft protection, and wallet protection.[...] Because of the misleading language in the scripts and the actions of Discover’s telemarketers, consumers were: Misled about the fact that there was a charge for the products; [...] Misled about whether they had purchased the products; [...] Enrolled without their consent; [and...] Withheld material information about eligibility requirements for certain benefits.
As in the Capital One case, Discover victims will get automatic refunds. They don't need to do anything.
Tell the Governor: Hold insurers accountable for cutting waste and prioritizing prevention.
Your donation supports OSPIRG’s work to stand up for consumers on the issues that matter, especially when powerful interests are blocking progress.
Join our network and stay up to date on our campaigns, get important consumer updates, and take action on critical issues.


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The official Amazon Prime Day deals event kicks off on July 15 and it's going to last 48 hours, so you'll be able to save the entire day through the end of July 16. That's right, 2019 is going to be the biggest one yet.
In fact, we're already seeing some early Amazon Prime Day deals, starting with a 4K TV that costs just $179.99 – it has HDR, the slick Fire TV interface and Alexa built-in. We saw it last week at an Amazon event in New York City.
Also on sale starting today are on-demand movie rentals, like Us and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, costing just $2.99 for Prime Members. Captain Marvel is $3.99, which is still an excellent savings when it normally costs $5.99 in HD.
Those aren't the sort of deals that really get us excited though and we'll tell you why further down this page as we look into what amazing Prime Day deals Amazon ran last year along with the ones we expect to see this time given we've been keeping our eyes on prices all year. And if you just can't wait, we've found a selection of deals we think are super hot right now.
When is Amazon Prime Day 2019?
We now know that Amazon Prime Day will kick off on 00:01 Monday, July 15 and last until 23:59 of Tuesday, July 16.
If you're a returning visitor, you may have known the date in advance. Thanks to some snooping from the Real Homes team, a PR email about a Prime Day vacuum cleaner seemed to suggest that Prime Day will begin on Monday, July 15. It wasn't officially official, but it turned out to be true.
Amazon Prime Day deals you can buy now
Even though the Amazon Prime Day 2019 arrived yet, that doesn't mean you can't find stellar deals now from the tech giant. We've scoured Amazon's site to find the best discounts that you can take advantage of today. We'll be updating this page regularly, so check back to shop the best deals up until the big shopping day.
43-inch Amazon Fire TV Edition 4KTV
$299 $179.99 at Amazon
Can you believe that a 43-inch 4KTV with HDR, Alexa and the Fire TV interface are the same price at Apple's earbuds on sale? That's at least for the new few hours, as Amazon kicked off early Prime Day deals with this 4K television deal.
Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case
$199 $179.99 at Amazon
Save $19 on Apple's original truly wireless AirPods at Amazon. That's the best price we're seeing right now for the latest model AirPods that come with a wireless charging case.
Echo Show 5 Charcoal with Ring Video Doorbell Pro
$338.99 $288.99 at Amazon
Amazon is offering $50 in savings on this device bundle that includes the Echo Show 5 and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro. The Echo Show 5 allows you to manage your smart home devices, like the Ring Pro, on the interactive display or using your voice.
Fitbit Alta HR
$129.95 $75.13 at Amazon
Get the Fitbit Alta HR on sale at Amazon for $75.13. That's a $55 price cut for the ultra-slim fitness tracker that continuously tracks your steps, heart rate, activities, and calories burned.
Apple Watch Series 3 GPS, 38mm
$279 $199 at Amazon
You can save $80 on the Apple Watch Series 3 at Amazon. The waterproof smartwatch features GPS technology and offers heart rate monitoring.
Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera
$119.99 $89.99 at Amazon
Amazon is offering a $30 discount on its Alexa-enabled Could Cam Security Camera. The Cloud Cam provides two-way audio and night vision will notify you when motion is detected.
Apple iPad 32GB
$329 $249 at Amazon
Get the latest model iPad on sale for $249 at Amazon. This is the best price we've seen for the 9.7-inch tablet that features 32GB of storage and offers 10 hours of battery life.
Insignia NS-39DF510NA19 39-inch Full HD Smart Fire TV
$230 $199.99 at Amazon
Save $30 on the top-rated Insignia 39-inch Smart TV. The HD TV has Fire TV built-in so you can stream thousands of movies and TV shows from the home screen of your TV.
JBL Flip 4 Bluetooth Portable Stereo Speaker
$110.95 $74.95 at Amazon
The top-rated JBL Flip 4 Speaker is on sale at Amazon for $74.95. The Bluetooth portable speaker is waterproof and provides up to 12 hours of playtime.
Instant Pot DUO Plus 60, 6 Qt Pressure Cooker
$99.95 $79.95 at Amazon
Always a popular item during Prime Day, you can save $20 on the Instant Pot Duo Plus at Amazon. The pressure cooker combines nine kitchen appliances in one and works with Amazon Alexa.
iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum
$374.99 $279 at Amazon
Use the iRobot Home app to clean your floors from anywhere. The sensors will even alert Roomba to work harder on concentrated areas of dirt. It's currently on sale and $95 off at Amazon.
What were last year's best-selling Prime Day deals
Prime members around the world purchased more than 100 million products during the last Prime Day event. The top-selling items from last year's Prime Day included a mixture of home goods, electronics, and Amazon devices. In fact, it was the biggest event ever for Amazon devices with the Fire TV Stick and Echo Dot leading the pack of best-selling items worldwide. The top selling products consisted of the 6-Qt Instant Pot, Fire TV stick, Echo Dot, 23andMe DNA Test, and the LifeStraw personal water filter.
The Prime deals you may have missed last time
As ever, some of the best deals on Prime Day were on Amazon’s own devices. Smart speakers are a big hit every year with the Amazon Echo leading the pack with the below price drops.
• Echo Show dropped from $229.99 to $129.99
• Echo Spot from $129.99 to $99
• Echo Dot from $49.99 to $29.99
• Echo from $99.99 to $69.99
• Echo Plus from $164.98 to $99
Kindles and Fire ranges also got deep discounts. You could find the Fire Stick drop to as low as $19.99 and the Fire 7 tablet priced at just $29.99. These massive discounts prove that it was worth the wait to grab these deals on Prime Day.
• Fire Stick went from $39.99 to $19.99
• Fire TV Cube from $119.99 to $89.99
• Fire 7 went from $49.99 to $29.99
• Fire 10 from $149.99 to $99.99
• Fire 7 Kids from $99.99 to $69.99
There was also a big drop on the Amazon-owned Ring video doorbell pro too, which went from $249 to $174, and on the Echo Look camera: that went from $199.99 to $99.99.
There were good deals on TVs too. In the US, the excellent TCL TVs were massively discounted and better known brands such as Hisense were chopped too: for example Hisense’s 43-inch 4K TV dropped from $349.99 to $239.99.
The best phone deal we spotted in the US was a big drop on the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, which went from $799 to a much more affordable $549.
A brief history of Prime
Prime Day first launched four years ago and has grown into the biggest shopping day of the year with last year's even surpassing Cyber Monday and Black Friday with 89 million visitors logging on to the site with 100 million products purchased during the sale event. Globally it was the biggest day of sales in Amazon’s history, and Amazon Prime Day 2019 is going to be even bigger.
It didn't just increase in terms of territories or numbers, but the sale itself lasted longer too. Where 2017's Prime Day ran for only one day (well, 30 hours), 2018 ran for a day and a half (36 hours). And now we're looking at 48, so Prime members will have even more time to snag the hottest deals of the year.
How can I sign up for Amazon Prime?
To participate in the big shopping event, you must be an Amazon Prime Member. Your membership will not only let you partake in Prime Day, but you'll also have access to Amazon Prime movies, books, music, photos, and more. You can sign up here for a 30-day trial and cancel at any time. All you need is an Amazon account with a valid credit card tied to the account. Once you sign up for your free trial, you'll have access to all the Prime benefits, receive free two-day shipping and partake in the biggest shopping event of the year.
What other retailers participate in Prime Day?
Every year more and more retailers are trying to compete with the tech giant by participating in their own version of Prime Day. You'll find discounts on clothing, tech, home goods and more from a variety of online and local retailers. Last year Walmart joined in on Prime Day by offering free two-day shipping without membership fees and free same-day pickup on qualifying items. They also discounted a wide array of products that included TVs, Google Home devices, kitchen appliances, laptops and much more. Other big retailers like Target, Best Buy, Macy's and eBay also promoted their own one-day sale with discounts on best-selling items throughout their site.
We expect this year that more retailers will participate in the July event and will even extend the one-day sale to a weeks worth of discounts.
Amazon Prime 1-day delivery
Amazon just recently announced plans to offer free one-day shipping for Prime members on most orders. Amazon's CFO Brian Olsavky revealed the ambitious project during Amazon's first-quarter earnings call. To achieve this, the tech giant says they plan to invest $800 million in the second quarter of 2019 and continue its expansion of their fulfillment and logistics network.
Amazon currently offers free 2-day shipping for all Prime members and offers free one-day and same-day delivery on certain items in eligible zip codes. Amazon's future plans include increasing the locations and available items so free one-day delivery replaces the standard two-day Prime delivery window.
While we don't think the new one-day delivery will be rolled out in time for Prime Day, we do believe there will be more items available for one-day and same-day delivery in eligible zip codes for the big shopping day.
Prime Day and Whole Foods
Last year Prime Day extended its sale from devices and electronics to discounts on groceries at the Whole Foods Market chain which the company also own. Savings included price cuts on popular food items and discounts for first time users of the grocery delivery service Prime Now. Amazon also offered $10 back in Amazon credits to use on Prime Day for members that spent $10 at Whole Foods. Amazon credit card users also received double the rewards when they used their card at Whole Foods during the week leading up to the big sale.
How much money did Amazon make on Prime Day?
Amazon was predicted to gross $3.4 billion on Prime Day last year, although we don’t know if that prediction is accurate as Amazon doesn’t release such information. However, it did announce that third party sellers shifted a billion dollars of product in just one day. As for its own sales, Amazon was content to say that “sales this Prime Day surpassed Cyber Monday, Black Friday and the previous Prime Day, when comparing 36-hour periods, making this once again the biggest shopping event in Amazon history.” That’s a little sneaky, mind you: as the 2017 sale only ran for 24 hours, not 36.
Why did Amazon crash on Prime Day? Did the crash cost it money?
Amazon struggled to cope with traffic on Prime Day, an issue that affected not just the Amazon site but services such as Prime Video and Twitch. Customers found their shopping carts would suddenly empty, or links simply wouldn’t work, or they couldn’t access the site at all. The issues were largely confined to the US website and customers, although problems with Prime Video lasted well into the evening in the UK.
Some sites got their calculators out and concluded that the worst outage, which lasted for 63 minutes, cost Jeff Bezos' company just under $100 million in lost sales. Amazon disagrees, saying that the effect on sales was “minimal”. Or maybe $100 million just isn't that much to the retail giant nowadays.
CNBC has seen internal documents that describe what happened. First, it didn’t secure enough servers to cope with the demand; secondly, that shortage caused a “cascading series of failures” that knocked out key services; and thirdly, Amazon temporarily killed all international traffic to reduce the load. All of those things happened within the first 15 minutes of Prime Day.
The outage wasn’t the only issue Amazon faced during the sale though...
Why were workers striking and supporters urging Amazon boycotts on Prime Day?
Prime Day wasn’t the first time Amazon has been accused of terrible working practices, but it was a great day to get the issue into the papers. Workers in Spain and Germany went on strike over working hours and conditions while activists urged people to send Amazon a message by boycotting the sale altogether over its treatment of workers and its tax arrangements. It was also marked by a surge in health and safety complaints from UK workers.
As you’d expect, Amazon denies the allegations, with a spokesperson telling us: "These allegations and the data are just not accurate — safety incidents in our fulfillment centers did not increase around Prime Day, they actually decreased from the previous week. We’re proud of our team and our workplace, and invite anyone to come see for themselves – we offer public tours of our buildings and you can learn more at amazonfctours.com."
Amazon also told Wired that the Organise campaign behind the publicity was indulging in fake news. “To our knowledge, Organise doesn’t verify that respondents actually work for the company they claim to work for.”
What could Amazon have done better on Prime Day?
It should have anticipated and been able to cope with the load not just on its ecommerce site but on its cloud services too: we weren’t the only ones irritated because we couldn’t get our Preacher fix on Amazon Prime Video. It’s all the more embarrassing when you remember that Amazon provides the cloud infrastructure for many high-profile sites and services: Prime Day wasn’t a great ad for that side of its business.
Our main criticisms aren’t technological, though. Navigating the deals was hopeless and many of the deals were laughable, especially in gaming: we frequently found much better console bundles on AO.com’s eBay page than we did on Amazon.
Here’s a great example. On Prime Day, one of the flagship deals we identified was $50 off a set of Bose QuietComfort 25 headphones. That brought the price down from $299 to $249. Just three weeks later, Amazon US was listing the same headphones for $169.
Will Amazon Prime Day 2019 do things differently?
Yes. CNBC reports that Jeff Wilke, Amazon’s CEO of worldwide retail, has already demanded improvements to prevent a repeat the previous Prime Day’s capacity problems: “tech teams are already working to improve our architecture”.
We’d like to think that Amazon will also improve the navigation and discoverability of its deals, although we aren’t holding our collective breath: both factors’ general rubbishness didn’t stop it breaking all records. But that's why we're here to show you the best Prime Day deals!
What does all this mean for Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
It’s clear that Amazon is prioritising Prime Day over Super Black Friday Deals Month or whatever convoluted name it’s going to give its Black Friday sales period in 2019: according to Digitalcommerce360.com, 67% of this year's Prime Day deals were lower than comparable deals on the preceding Black Friday.
That’s not to say Amazon won’t take part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It will, and it’ll offer the same kind of discounting that we’ve seen in recent years. But Prime Day is more important to the firm, and we’d expect its discounts to be deeper, especially on its own devices.
Prime Day: why does it matter more to Amazon?
There are some crucial differences between Prime Day and Black Friday. The first is that the former is Amazon’s own day. It’s right there in the name, which of course refers to Amazon’s Prime membership programme and associated services. Amazon doesn’t own Black Friday, and that means ultimately it’s just another retailer shouting for attention – a massive retailer with a really loud voice, of course, but Black Friday is a sales event for the entire retail sector. It’s much harder for rivals to muscle in on something that Amazon has effectively created from thin air.
The second and more important difference is that Black Friday doesn’t create new spending. It just moves it slightly. As we’ve discovered in recent years, the money people spend over the Black Friday period is money they were probably going to spend anyway: all Black Friday really does is concentrates pre-Christmas shopping in the last week of November.
Prime Day spending is different in two ways. First of all, people aren’t spending the money they’d already planned to spend on Christmas presents. And secondly, they’re buying mainly for themselves, not for others. If you go back to the list of bestsellers there’s an awful lot of impulse buying in there: Instant Pots and Hue Lightstrips, frying pans and dishwasher tablets. This is new spending, not merely moving pre-planned spending.
There’s another key benefit for Amazon. Its best-sellers on Prime Day weren’t just Amazon devices; they were Amazon devices that connect to Amazon services. Fire TVs, Kindle Fires, Echo devices, Alexa remotes. Each one of them connecting to Amazon Prime, and each one of them requiring an Amazon membership to buy in the first place. So when Black Friday rolls around, Amazon will have a whole bunch of members for whom shopping there is the default option, and who might want to enhance their Amazon-powered smart homes with more of the company's branded Black Friday deals.


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Casino slots developer Wazdan has built upon what has already been a busy month, as Nektan enhances it content distribution offering alongside the firm.
Having already signed a number of deals alongside SoftSwiss, Chippy Software and BetConstruct, in addition to officially launching its big screen mode feature, Wazdan is now integrating its full slots portfolio to the E-Lite B2B content aggregation platform of the gaming technology firm.
Andrzej Hyla, Head of Sales at Wazdan, said of the new partnership: “We’re delighted to be integrating our games onto the E-Lite platform from Nektan, which will fast-track our efforts to expand Wazdan’s global reach.
“The integration process with Nektan was quick, seamless and efficient. We look forward to an exciting and fruitful partnership with Nektan.”
Under the terms of the deal Wazdan’s portfolio of more than 110 HTML5 slots has been integrated onto Nektan’s B2B content distribution platform, including latest releases Space Gem and Magic Stars 5, as well as popular titles Magic Stars 3, 9 Lions, Great Book of Magic Deluxe and Los Muertos.
Nektan stresses that via this latest agreement, the variety of premium games that it can now offer to its operator partners has greatly increased, supplementing the third-party providers it has at its disposal.
Jane Ryan, chief operating officer of B2B at Nektan, added: “Partnering with Wazdan is an important move for us, as we continue to enhance our games offering with content from the industry’s most innovative games providers.
“Through its innovative approach to games development, Wazdan slots will help to diversify the games available through our content distribution platform, E-Lite, and we’re sure they will appeal to our network of global operators and their players.”
Earlier this week Nektan reported surging revenues and positive EBITDA, as it published its results for the six months to December 31, 2018
Revenue in the period jumped 48 per cent year on year, and 17.6 per cent versus the six months to June 30, 2018.
Adjusted EBITDA came in at £336,000, up from a £916,000 loss in the first half of the year, with Nektan attributing the turnaround to increased revenues and resulting business efficiencies.
Much of the gains came from higher margins in Nektan’s B2B division, with ten partners live by the end of December 2018.


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It’s competition time again folks and we’ve got a great opportunity for an incredibly talented illustrator to provide the packaging design for next year’s Beefeater 24 super premium gin.
This year, self-styled “ink evangelist” Johanna Basford produced a peacock motif in her trademark intricate monochrome style which will appear on limited edition packs of Beefeater 24. And the brand was so impressed that they’re on the hunt for an up-and-coming creative to follow in Johanna’s footsteps. They are looking for a hand-drawn illustration on the theme “distinguished British country chic” and the winner will receive £1,000 as well as the chance to see their work adorn the 2014 Beefeater 24 packaging.
Paco Recuero, global brand director of Beefeater 24, said: “Beefeater 24 is imbued with artisanal qualities, from the bottle design inspired by the arts and crafts movement to the spirit itself, which is based on a recipe that took 18 months to develop and is made from hand-selected botanicals. A partnership within the arts community is therefore a natural extension for the brand and we cannot wait to see the designs and interpretations that this British country theme will inspire for next year’s limited edition.”
This article was produced in association with Beefeater 24.
- Submit Saturdays: photographer and filmmaker Harry Israelson's bright, smart portfolio
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- Crisp and vibrant design work from ECAL graduate Clement Rouzaud
- Portuguese illustrator Tiago Galo’s plump little characters are oddly charming
- Matthew Butcher launches the Flood House that will travel around the Thames Estuary
- Haunting train-simulator-based animation by Jack Featherstone for Occult Orientated Crime
- Philip Coppola spends nearly 40 years illustrating New York City’s Subway Stations
- LA studio Laundry creates amazing warped Simpsons idents for American channel FX
- Design Bridge creates new harp icon for Guinness
- Winning design for Tokyo 2020 Olympics unveiled
- Prince: 1958-2016
- Milton Glaser creates new look for Brooklyn Brewery


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According to a new market research report “Impact of Covid-19 on Air Filter Media Market by Type (Nonwoven Fabrics, Fiberglass, Filter Paper), End-use Industry (Food & Beverage, Metal & Mining, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Power Generation), and Region – Global Forecast to 2021”, size is projected to grow from USD 710 million in 2020 to USD 738 million by 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.9% during the forecast period. Factors governing the air filter media market include growing industrialization and urbanization in the APAC region, the necessity for a safe working environment at production sites, and the growing demand for respiratory devices and face masks to prevent the transmission of the Covid-19 virus.
Get in-depth analysis of the COVID-19 impact on the Impact of Covid-19 on the Air Filter Media Market Benchmarking the rapid strategy shifts of the Top 100 companies in the Impact of Covid-19 on Air Filter Media Market
- 15 market data Tables
- 08 Figures
- 56 Pages and in-depth TOC on “Impact of Covid-19 on Air Filter Media Market – Global Forecast to 2025”
Some of the prominent key players are:
Lydall, Inc. (US)
Freudenberg Filtration Technologies (Germany)
The food & Beverage industry is projected to be the largest segment for the air filter media market during the forecast period.
Based on the end-use industry, the food & beverage industry is expected to lead the air filter media market during the forecast period. The use of air filter media in this industry is increasing to maintain better food quality, control odor & humidity, and minimize airborne contamination to food & beverage. The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic has also seen demand shift due to the lockdown as restaurant traffic has decreased and e-commerce deliveries increased.
The nonwoven fabrics segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
Based on type, the nonwoven fabrics segment is expected to register the highest CAGR between 2020 and 2021. The use of nonwoven fabrics in air filter media is increasing due to their high strength, absorbency, resilience, resistance to mechanical deformation, and elasticity due to which are used in major industries such as automotive, agriculture, engineering, and pharmaceutical. In addition, the increasing demand from the healthcare sector for finding solutions for limiting the transmission of the Covid-19 virus, in also driving the market for nonwoven fabrics.
APAC is projected to register the highest demand between 2020 and 2021 for the air filter media market.
The air filter media market in APAC is expected to be the largest during the forecast period. APAC has a large manufacturing base for medical instruments, equipment, and devices. The increasing requirement of these medical supplies and equipment from other COVID-affected economies is boosting the production of air filter media in the region. In addition, APAC has a growing urbanization and industrialization base which is driving the air filter media market as it is an essential requirement for industrial processes and emission control.
Download FREE PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=208926135


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SACRAMENTO – A group of California lawmakers hope that a bill to create a $45 million clean-fuel technology fund will be just the thing for California to keep – and attract – companies like San Carlos’ Tesla Motors.
The electric car maker, founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, wants to expand and is considering building an electric car plant in Pittsburg. It’s also weighing offers out of state.
Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier, D-Martinez, a co-author of the bill, said he held meetings with company and city officials Monday at his Capitol office and hopes such a fund would encourage Tesla to stay.
“If they want to grow to the scale they’re talking about, the government will be very supportive of them,” DeSaulnier said. “If we can put thousands of electric cars on the road, the government will want to support the subsidies.”
The bill would create a fund supported by tacking on $4 to the smog-abatement fee paid at the time of vehicle registration by owners of vehicles that are six years old and newer, and thus exempt from smog checks. At $16, the fee would still be far less than the $50 or more it costs to get older cars smog-checked.
“I think that’s a pretty good deal in comparison to getting your car smogged,” said Assemblyman Kevin de Leo`n, D-Los Angeles, the main sponsor of the bill, AB255. “This is a health, environmental and economic issue and we need to act now.”
Republicans call it a tax increase, though they won’t be able to force a two-thirds vote.
“It’s the responsibility of energy companies to pay for research and development,” said Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks. “That’s not the taxpayers’ responsibility.”
Tesla Motors – whose brand motto is “Burn Rubber, Not Gasoline” – wants to carve a niche in the electric car market and would be well-positioned to use grants to help build an assembly plant, DeSaulnier said.
The company has taken deposits on 270 two-seat electric roadsters to be built at the Lotus plant in England and off the assembly line by fall, according to reports. They cost $100,000 apiece, are powered by lithium-ion batteries, can go 250 miles for each charge, can get from zero to 60 mph in four seconds, and get the equivalent of 135 miles per gallon. The car was named by Forbes Magazine as the “new car that best lives up to its hype.”
Hopeful of beginning production of more affordable cars over the next couple years, Tesla is looking for $20 million – $2 million a year over 10 years – from California, DeSaulnier said. The company is considering Pittsburg and Albuquerque, where city officials are offering their own incentives. Michigan is also making a pitch for Tesla to build a $100 million plant on top of an engineering center it’s establishing near Detroit.
The revenues raised from the smog-abatement fee would go into the Clean Air and Energy Independence Fund and be administered by the California Air Resources Board. It’s one of many clean-fuel proposals in the Legislature.
“What’s important about this measure that sets it apart is it has a funding source,” said Bill Magavern, a lobbyist for the Sierra Club. “It’s been a crying need in California for a long time – an ongoing source of revenue to break our oil habit.”
The bill would piggyback on a one-time $25 million program from last year that funded clean-air programs. But it’s unlikely that money will continue under this year’s budget, lawmakers said, so a permanent source of funding is needed.
“While it’s a good start,” de Leo`n said, “the $25 million would be meaningless if we don’t follow up … with a sustained effort to provide real alternatives to fossil fuels.”
The measure, de Leo`n said, will help the state reduce the public health impacts caused by air pollution, increased environmental threats caused by the greenhouse gases, and lessen national security risks posed by dependence on foreign oil.
The fund is one of several proposals – legislative and through private-public partnerships – to provide millions of dollars to research and develop alternative fuels. Just last week, BP announced it would shell out $500 million to a clean energy development partnership led by University of California-Berkeley researchers.
The issue also has received strong support from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Contact Steven Harmon at email@example.com or (916) 441-2101.


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Yahoo continues to buy companies cited in Loose Wire. Andy of Waxy.org announces Yahoo have bought his Upcoming calendar website:
Two years ago, I launched Upcoming.org and announced it to the world. Today, along with my partners Gordon Luk and Leonard Lin, I’m unbelievably proud to announce that Upcoming.org is now a member of the Yahoo! family.
That adds to Yahoo grabbing Oddpost, buying Bloomba, buying Konfabulator and buying Flickr, all of which the humble Loose Wire column has championed at one time or another. Is there a pattern here?


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May 25, 2016
Quorum Announces First Customer Goes Live on myQuorum Platform
HOUSTON, TX – May 25, 2016 – Quorum, the industry leader in software for hydrocarbon and energy management, today announced its first customer to go live with the myQuorum™ user experience platform. Quorum invested two years in the development of myQuorum, working with a cross-section of industry leaders to design and deliver the next-generation user experience for its suite of energy applications. The earliest adopter of myQuorum to move into production is a natural gas transportation and storage company.
The first persona-based user experience platform for the energy industry, myQuorum provides energy companies a modern, mobile and personalized user experience for Quorum software. myQuorum simplifies complex business processes with preconfigured personas that improve efficiency, increase productivity and decrease training costs by bringing disparate workflows and systems together into one experience for the user. Personas take full advantage of the underlying Quorum applications—including functionality, security and regulatory compliance—which have a proven, 20-year track record.
Quorum unveiled the new user experience platform in February and later announced the availability of its first myQuorum release at the company’s user group conference. With the first co-development customer now live, Quorum is set to deliver on its commitment to innovation with a series of software releases starting in June. The first phase will address Quorum solutions for the transportation sector of the oil and gas industry.
For more information about the new myQuorum user experience platform, visit www.qbsol.com/myquorum.
Quorum makes innovative software for hydrocarbon and energy business management. Our platform of integrated solutions is designed with deep industry expertise using next-generation technology. It delivers advanced functionality, improved efficiency, and enhanced regulatory compliance. And it is proven to maximize profit throughout the energy value chain to drive customer success. For more information, visit www.qbsol.com.


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School is about to start again, and many students need their epinephrine autoinjector refilled. But patients have been telling me about their shock when they tried to pick up their prescription and were told the EpiPen price is between $300-$700, depending on their insurance. Even with a manufacturer coupon, this is still unaffordable for many patients.
Epinephrine, the drug dispensed from the EpiPen, is the one life-saving medication for many patients who suffer food allergies. Having an EpiPen or not can be a matter of life or death. Despite the high EpiPen price, epinephrine itself is a very cheap drug; it’s the device which costs so much. The manufacturers claim that ensuring that the pen reliably dispenses the same dose each time is what makes the autoinjector expensive.
Last year, one competing product (auviQ) was taken off the market for that particular reason–it did not reliably dispense the correct dose. It seems, however, that taking this product off the market reduced the competition, which may have started the price hike.
So what options do patient with food allergies or bee sting allergies have? Don’t get the injector refilled, and risk being without medication in case of anaphylaxis? Or get a generic autoinjector? That may save them some money–not much–and they have to learn a new technique, since every device has different instructions.
After a lot of protest about the EpiPen price, Mylan (the manufacturer of the EpiPen) just agreed to increase the manufacturer coupon from $100 to $300. However, the current savings card cannot be used by those who are uninsured or who use government-funded insurance such as Medicare or Medicaid.
We need to reach out to our state representatives to help those who need this life-saving treatment.
If you are a patient diagnosed with food allergies but not sure if you are truly allergic, this may be your time to finally get that food challenge done at the allergists office to see if you are truly allergic and need the EpiPen.


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Last Wednesday, casino giant Harrah's Entertainment agreed to buy Caesars Entertainment for an estimated $9.4 billion, including $4.2 billion of Caesars' debt. The entities are calling the agreement a merger, and it comes on the heels of the announcement in June that MGM Mirage was buying the Mandalay Resort Group. That deal was worth $7.9 billion and created the world's largest casino company, but that will change if the Harrahs-Caesars deal is finalized. If shareholders of both Las Vegas-based companies and state gaming regulators approve the merger, it is likely to be completed in mid-2005.
A name change for the International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus is "likely," and could occur by year's end, according to the organization's CEO, Mike Gehrisch. The move is tied to the organization's Brand Leadership Campaign, a multiphased project aimed at assisting the organization and member CVBs to "identify, develop, maintain and enhance distinctive CVB characteristics." Findings of the initial phase -- which included surveys and focus groups -- were revealed at IACVB's annual convention last week in Boston. Of note: 71 percent of consumers have not interacted with CVBs, and most respondents (with the exception of meeting planners) felt the name "convention and visitors bureau" or "CVB" was confusing. New names under consideration have not been revealed.
Los Angeles' long-awaited headquarters hotel came one step closer to reality last week when AEG, owners of the Staples Center arena, announced plans to build a 1,200-room hotel next to the adjacent convention center. The focal point of an ambitious sports and entertainment district, the hotel is expected to have 50 stories, complete with meeting and ballroom space. AEG also unveiled plans for a 300-room and a 600-room hotel to be built within the area of the Staples Center. According to AEG, construction could begin by the end of this year.
According to the Ernst & Young 2004 National Lodging Report released earlier this week, the lodging industry is performing better in 2004 over 2003, but that performance should be considered a stabilization of the market rather than a full-blown recovery. The luxury market continues to outperform other market segments. Occupancy at high-end properties will increase in 2004 to 68 percent, while average daily revenue (ADR) will increase 2 percent over 2003 to $143. In the full-service upscale segment, occupancy will rise to 63 percent, while ADR will increase 2 percent to $93. The midscale, limited-service segment will show slight occupancy growth to 59.5 percent, while ADR will rise 2 percent to $69. The report also pointed out that, while a weak U.S. dollar has increased demand for international travel to the States, demand is being undermined by strict visa regulations.
Starwood has announced plans for a W hotel in Hoboken, N.J. Set on the Hudson River waterfront, the 225-room W Hoboken Hotel and Residences will offer a 5,000-square-foot Bliss Spa and more than 11,000 square feet of meeting space. The property is expected to open in September 2006.
Kauai's 252-room Princeville Resort, a member of Starwood Hotels & Resorts' Luxury Collection, is being sold to joint-venture company Princeville Associates LLC for an undisclosed amount. A spokesperson for the seller on Monday said it is unclear whether Starwood will continue operating the hotel after the sale is finalized at the end of this year. In a statement, however, owners of the property said all 600 resort employees are expected to be offered employment as part of the sale agreement.
Hyatt Hotels Corp. last week raised its first flag in California's wine country. The 155-room Hyatt Vineyard Creek, in the center of Sonoma County, features a spa, surrounding vineyards and 18,000 square feet of meeting space.


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Written by George Anderson
With millions of Americans having filed for unemployment since March, it’s hard to say that the tight job market that favored workers just a few months ago will come back any time soon. Even with the odds seemingly favoring employers at the present time, Target announced that it is raising its starting minimum wage from $13 to $15 an hour beginning on July 5.
The retailer’s decision to raise its starting pay is following through on a commitment it initially made in September 2017. Like other retailers, Target has been paying its frontline workers $2 an hour extra since the coronavirus outbreak. In essence, the new starting wage will keep entry-level associates at the same pay rate as they have been used to getting.
Target also announced that it is paying a $200 bonus to all its frontline workers in stores and its distribution centers as a thank you for their efforts to get through the early months of the pandemic. The retailer said that the newly-announced bonus, which will be paid at the end of July, is in addition to the $250 to $1,500 bonuses it paid out to 20,000 hourly store team leaders in April.
Read more here.


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The next time you need to find out how to fight that speeding ticket or where to get your car inspected, it could cost you.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has dropped its toll-free customer service phone number to save money. The DMV said the toll-free number 1-866-368-5463 has been replaced with 1-804-497-7100, starting Friday. That means customers may now incur long-distance charges when they dial the new phone number.
DMV officials said the move will save the state about $500,000 every year.
DMV's Direct Call Center receives 5,000 to 6,000 calls every day, according to a news release from the agency.
Calls to the toll-free number cost the state three cents per minute.
Two of the DMV's toll-free phone numbers will not be replaced. The department will maintain a toll-free TTY number for deaf and hard-of-hearing customers. That number is 1-800-272-9268. A toll-free automated transaction service will also remain. That number is 1-888-337-4782.


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What: Alberto Pardo, Parker Morse, and Cesar M. Melgoza, founding partners of Portada’s Council System, gave us their views on how technology will help the evolution of marketing in the near future.
Why it matters: AI is already impacting the media buying industry and it is expected to revolutionize the space with the automation of simultaneous processes.
Artificial Intelligence Will Increase Efficiency
According to a recent Salesforce study, 51% of the world’s marketing leaders (3500 participants answered the survey) are already using Artificial Intelligence in their organizations, and the technology has an anticipated YoY-growth of 53%. Moreover, 64% of these marketers agree that AI has “greatly or substantially increased their overall marketing efficiency”, and this technology is expected to grow more than any other.
“Everything will be about utilizing more technology, more data, more AI to be able to do things more efficiently,” asserts Parker Morse, founder & CEO of H Code, and member of Portada’s Agency Star Committee. “But it still needs to have people and the artistic touch of creating a creative experience that really engages the user, and machines can’t do everything. It’s about trying to find the balance between utilizing data and machines and the human element of creating the emotional connection with the user.”
5G Networks Will Bring a Mobile Explosion
Alberto Pardo, founder & CEO of Adsmovil, is pretty certain that “The future of marketing will absolutely be focused in three or four things: first, AI is going to change the way everything is done, everything we know is going to change in the near future because of the erosion or explosion of big data. Data is going to be more and more relevant and AI is going to be a very important part of it.”
Further, the member of Portada’s Council of the Americas asserts: “Second, mobile will have an impact everywhere. It’ll explode because of the 5G networks that are coming maybe this year or the next to Latin America and of course the U.S., so this’ll have a huge impact in the way we interact with mobile devices. I think video is also going to be very relevant in terms of investment, in the advertising industry, and there’s also going to be a big change in people’s roles, what people do today is going to change dramatically in the next 5-6 years.”
Data Helps Connect to Consumers
“What’s next is actually what I like to say is ‘back to the future’,” comments Brand Star Committee member Cesar M. Melgoza, founder & CEO of Geoscape, which was acquired by Claritas at the beginning of this year. “Connecting with consumers, engaging in very relevant, impactful ways will never go out of style, the question is how you do it, through which screen, at what time of day, in which context, and what that engagement results in.”
Connecting with consumers will never go out of style, the question is how you do it.
The amount of data will grow with every passing day, but marketers will need to increase the sensitivity that is needed to interpret it and make good use of it. To be effective, you need to create an emotional connection with consumers, which is impossible without the human touch, as other executives have expressed in previous marketer interviews. AI and big data are already shaping how marketing is done, the question is not “what will happen”, but as Melgoza says, how.


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Dymon Asia Private Equity (DAPE) has submitted a take-private offer for Singapore-listed digital marketing services provider Challenger Technologies that values the company at about S$195 million ($145 million).
Sequoia Capital India has led a $7.6 million round for Indonesian logistics services provider Kargo Technologies.
Malaysian government-backed private equity firm Ekuinas has acquired a 40% stake in domestic cloud services provider Exabytes Capital Group for MYR44 million ($10.8 million).
Tookitaki, a Singaporean technology provider that helps institutions develop regulatory compliance programs, has raised a $7.5 million Series A from a group of investors including Jungle Ventures.
M12, the VC arm of Microsoft, has led an approximately $21 million Series B round for GO1, an Australian workforce services technology start-up focused on corporate training.
Vietnam’s VinaCapital has made investments of undisclosed size in two local start-ups - financial technology provider Wee Digital and marketing services player UrBox.
Bertelsmann India Investments has led a $27 million Series C round for AgroStar, an Indian mobile retail platform focused on the agriculture sector.
Bain Capital Private Equity has sweetened a tender offer initiated in January for Japan-listed printing and IT services provider Kosaido. The revised bid values the company at about JPY17.4 billion ($157 million).
The Carlyle Group and Fosun International have joined a INR29 billion ($415 million) Series F round for Indian e-commerce logistics services provider Delhivery led by SoftBank Vision Fund.
Hong Kong-based online logistics platform Lalamove raises a $300 million Series D round to pursue expansion in Southeast Asia and India
Affinity Equity Partners has announced its third Korea deal in as many months with an agreement to acquire a majority stake in ServeOne, LG Group’s maintenance, repair and operation (MRO) unit, for KRW602 billion ($535 million).
Australian container supplier Brambles has agreed to sell its global reusable plastic crates (RPC) business to Europe-based GP Trion and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) for $2.5 billion.
Japan Hospice Holdings, a hospice care platform created by J-Star through a series of acquisitions, is looking to raise JPY1.48 billion ($13.4 million) through a Tokyo IPO.
Tiger Global has led a $50 million Series C round for Panda Selected, a Chinese provider of shared kitchen services for food delivery start-ups.
New Zealand’s Direct Capital has made an investment of undisclosed size in local engineering consultancy Beca.
Alliance Ventures, a VC firm created by Renault, Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors, has confirmed an investment of undisclosed size in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) technology supplier PowerShare.
Novo Tellus Capital Partners has invested S$12 million ($8.8 million) in Procurri, a Singapore-listed provider of IT services and data center equipment.
Australia’s Anacacia Capital has realized the final exit from its debut fund with the sale of its majority stake in workplace equipment provider RIS Safety to domestic investor Bricktop Group.
Legend Capital sees Mancando's extensive network of brick-and-mortar outlets as the key to bringing greater supply chain efficiency to the Chinese auto parts industry
Sequoia Capital India has led a $226 million Series D round for Singapore-based Zilingo, a fashion e-commerce platform and provider of ancillary services.
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to sell Hitowa Holdings, a Japan-based provider of cleaning, assisted living and childcare support services, to Polaris Private Equity.
Federation Asset Management – a group headed by the former head of Macquarie Capital’s principal investment division in Australia and New Zealand – has led a A$20 million ($14.5 million) Series B for Australian courier services player Sendle.
Shenzhen-based Zhunshida, or Jusida, a logistics spin-out from Foxconn International, has raised RMB2.4 billion ($355.8 million) in Series A funding led by China Life Insurance.
Accel-KKR, a US-based private equity firm created by Accel Partners and KKR, has invested A$22.5 million ($16.1 million) in Australian workforce management solutions provider Humanforce.


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Despite the economy, fragrances remain an affordable luxury.
So we expect scent sales to be strong into next year and the foreseeable future.
Here are the top trends we?ll be sprtizing on for the next few seasons according to BeautyPress.com, a web portal for the beauty biz:
LOOK TO THE PAST: With economic stress, expect to see a return to nostalgia. "We look to history to provide a glimpse into the future. We watch how the pendulum is swinging as a forecast. For example, during difficult times, consumers seek what is nostalgia and comfort; and most often gravitate towards classic florals," says Kate Greene, from Givaudan Fine Fragrance. So in the next couple of months, be on the lookout for new perfumes dominated by floral notes that your mom and grandma loved, like rose and violet.
SPOT A BRIGHTER FUTURE: For 2010 launches, think bold, exciting and fantasy. Sophisticated, rich scents are also having a moment, edging out light citrus and watery florals, as the heart and soul of new perfumes. Look for warm, woody notes, like sandalwood, amber and resin that have heft and character. "These notes are natural, down to earth and last longer," says Mary Ellen Lapsansky, vice president of The Fragrance Foundation. "Traditionally, strong woods have been associated with the men?s fragrances, but the lines between men and women?s fragrances have been blurring for some time now."
BE YOUR OWN NOSE: Once reserved for only those-in-the know, now customized fragrances are gaining popularity thanks to increased accessibility at department and chain stores (and more afforable prices). "Women want something that reflects their individuality. Everyone is focusing on what?s the wisest way to spend their money now, and this is an affordable luxury that you can honestly call your own," says Sue Phillips, founder of Scenterprises Limited, a fragrance consulting firm.
TELL A TALE: "Right now, story telling is especially relevant. People want to know how a fragrance is made and the work that has gone into it," says Greene. And with more than 1000 perfume launches last year, a story is the advantage a new fragrance needs. "There?s a real quest for authenticity at the moment. When you know why the perfumer chose the notes and his inspiration, the whole experience draws you in and becomes more genuine," says Celene Aguilar, from L?Artisan Parfumeur. The answer? Salespeople, of course, but also social media, blogs, dvds and short films.


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Articles tagged with Holidays
Sunshine and splendour: Travel experts everywhere are saying Cuba's the place to be this Christmas
British newspaper The Daily Mail online is recommending Cuba as the perfect holiday destination post-lockdown. This stunning and multi-dimensional Caribbean island is open again for international tourism and is offering a wide range of different style holidays which cater to all types of traveller.
Why Cuba is one of the world's safest holiday destinations during the COVID-19 pandemic
After being included in the FCDO's travel corridor of countries that don't require a quarantining period when returning from holiday, Cuba is one of the best options for a warm winter escape that's fairly coronavirus safe thanks to the strict measures in place to protect both tourists and locals. If you're dreaming of sun-kissed white sands, clear skies and balmy temperatures, Cuba is the place to be this winter 2020!
Travel expert recommends Cuba for post-lockdown travel
Renowned UK broadsheet The Telegraph has recommended Cuba as the perfect holiday destination post-lockdown. The island's airports are now open again for international tourism, and the Caribbean island has comprehensive plans in place to ensure safe holidays for all.
Cuba has now re-opened most of the island to tourists
As reported in The Telegraph, Cuba is welcoming back visitors. Here is the latest update about the best COVID-safe travel destination for autumn/winter 2020.
Our Cuba bloggers
If you like traveling, share experiences and knowledge of our Cuba Bloggers


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Add-on sales are adding up fast at Mark’s Ace Hardware. General manager Camille Gibson knows her employees play a key role in encouraging customers to make add-on purchases, which raise the average transaction size.
But to keep that top of mind for her employees, she takes it a step further. At different times throughout the year, Gibson has an “Item of the Week” contest.
She selects an impulse-type item to feature, something that she thinks would make an easy add-on sale that most customers would be able to use. Then, she encourages all employees to suggest it to customers. The employee with the most sales of that item at the end of the week gets a prize.
“Every week, we come up with an item that would make for an easy add-on sale; something that’s cool and new and that we think every household should have,” Gibson says. She also gives her employees a few pointers or product knowledge tips they may need to know to help sell that product.
The idea started when Gibson was using her co-op’s mystery shopper program. “The program recommends you suggest an add-on sale during each customer transaction. You get a point marked off if you don’t do that,” she says. “That’s when I decided to find a way to make more of an effort to encourage employees to make add-on suggestions.”
The contest is mostly honor-based—employees need to report when the customer they’ve been helping purchases the add-on item—but Gibson is able to check results on her POS. Last year, there was an average 500-percent sales increase on the items used in the contest.
“Employees get creative and competitive, and they have a lot of fun with the contest,” she says. “They will move the add-on items to different departments where they think they will sell better. Some of them even carry the products around with them so they remember to suggest the sale to the customer.”


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In Kenya, it is now an offence to appear in public without a face mask as the government races to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
However, the question of quality and appropriateness of the masks is yet to be conclusively addressed as many appear with masks made from different materials, including cloth.
During these desperate times, unscrupulous traders are likely to supply substandard masks, ending up exposing the public either to the virus or other health and safety hazards.
To protect the citizens, we urge the government to keep issuing guidelines on types of masks available in the market, how they should be handled and which are of the correct quality.
It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that those making and selling masks do not endanger or mislead the public especially at a time when the purchasing power of many is reduced due to the measures taken to tame the spread of Coronavirus.
Critically, while the public should be careful about the sourcing of masks, it is only the government that has the manpower and resources to enforce sanity in the distribution of items such as masks and gloves.
It must also be seen to be taking punitive measures against those found to be either exploiting the public or distributing substandard goods, including masks.


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Exporting To China Through Digital Marketplaces, A Growth Lever For SMEs
Why should a Madrid, Andalusian and Galician SME consider selling in China through online channels? Any business would think first of selling to its neighboring countries before setting its sights on the Far East. However, “made in Spain” is increasingly valued in China and business opportunities, if the strategy is well planned and the right partners are chosen, are enormous there.
And it is that China stands as the country with the fastest growing economy. The pandemic has revealed the importance of going digital and global as an escape valve from this situation. That is why, thanks in large part to the digitization of the country, the Asian giant has been the one that has best weathered the crisis.
China’s e-commerce reaches a value of 1.94 trillion dollars and is the only economy that grew in 2020, with an increase of 2.3% of GDP, according to data from the Chinese National Statistical Office.
Thanks in large part to the digitization of the country, the Asian giant has been the one that has best weathered the crisis
According to the Analysis of demand and consumption in China prepared by ICEX, in this growth of its GDP, the supply of the primary sector contributed 9.5%, in the case of the industrial sector 43.3%, and 47.2% of the services sector, thus placing services and private consumption as the main growth engines of its economy. With this very favorable context for Spanish SMEs, they must take advantage of the potential offered by the “Asian dragon” through digital transformation.
Those SMEs that are daring and plan an adequate and realistic strategy in the medium and long term obtain rewards. This is demonstrated by a survey carried out by the Alibaba Group in March among small Spanish companies, of which 82% that export to China through marketplaces claim to have significantly increased their sales.
Only 14% of Spanish SMEs have dared to enter the Asian country
China sets itself, therefore, as a target to take into account in order to get out of the crisis. However, according to another study also carried out by Alibaba Group this year, only 17% of European SMEs export to this market, unlike other destinations chosen to sell such as North America (30%) or among the member states of the EU (73%). Focusing on Spain, only 14% have dared to enter the Asian country.
This is a huge loss of business opportunities , as the Chinese market offers endless possibilities for companies that want to expand their business. The ironic thing is that SMEs are aware of the skills and capacities they possess because, citing again the latest survey conducted among Spanish SMEs by Alibaba Group, more than 80% of them know sales tools through the online channel such as marketplaces.
Export success does not have to imply a high initial investment
But the trend is changing, fortunately: 39% of them plan to export for the first time in 2021. This is added to the fact that 52% of the Spanish companies consulted expect to increase their offer of products and services for the international market with the objective to alleviate the crisis, in a clear trend towards the digital transformation of their businesses.
The success of the export does not have to imply a high initial investment in the markets where you want to sell thanks to the fact that the online channel facilitates this process.
European aid for digitization
In turn, the moment is exceptional to consider international expansion regardless of the size of the company since both European and national institutions are supporting digitization and export.
Such is the case of the agreement signed between the European Union and the Government of Spain for the granting of aid to one million SMEs with the aim of digitizing their businesses. A budget of 3,508 million euros, with a deadline for the end of 2024, that would help companies to enter China for the first time through online sales.
On the part of Alibaba Group, our goal is to make it possible for companies of any size to carry out the internationalization process to China and also globally thanks to a digital ecosystem that includes leading e-commerce platforms such as Tmall Global, the largest China’s cross-border B2C e – commerce platform , and which served as a springboard, for example, for more than 29,000 brands belonging to 5,800 different categories that operated through the marketplace in 2020.
The Chinese platform Tmall Global served as a springboard for more than 29,000 brands in 2020
Companies “Made in Spain” of various sizes and sectors such as Sesderma, Martiderm, Singuladerm or Freshly Cosmetics in cosmetics, Camper in fashion, Osborne in food, or parapharmacy and nutritional supplements such as Grupo Uriach, Drasanvi, Goah Clinic, Suavinex, Farma Dorsh, o PharmexCare already take advantage of the advantages of Alibaba Group to sell successfully in China.
It is the opportunity to reach the nearly 900 million active consumers annually in our marketplaces for this country. Brands and companies can draw on Alibaba’s vast ecosystem beyond its e-commerce platforms, such as its smart payment services, logistics, marketing or cloud solutions, among others. With this, those businesses that enter the Chinese market with Alibaba as their main ally will find a lever for sustainable and efficient growth in order to emerge from the global crisis.


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Domestic Pistachio Sales Up, Export Sales are Down
Richard Matoian is executive director of American Pistachio Growers which held their annual meeting in Monterey in early March. “And yet we were not notified by any health authority that any of the people who attended our conference came down with the Corona virus.
“It was not only the radar of most people, however about a week afterwards it really blew up,” he said.
And COVID-19 has disruptive export sales of pistachios. “As we look at pistachio sales, and we only have data through the month of March, domestic sales or up and export sales are off and not just off a little bit, but off significantly,” he said.
“But if you think about all the countries around the world that have been affected by the Corona virus disruptions and not being able to ship to those countries, India as an example, with their lockdown, just being able to get personnel to the port to unload ships and move cargo around has been difficult. And that's the same for many ports, and facilities around the world,” Matoian said.


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Russia’s largest online taxi service Yandex.Taxi has hired Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and VTB Capital as the first three banks to prepare for an initial public offering (IPO), three banking sources told Reuters on Thursday.
Russian internet company Yandex and U.S. group Uber Technologies Inc combined their taxi businesses across Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan in 2017 to create an enlarged Yandex.Taxi.
The IPO is expected in the first half of 2020, two of the sources said.
Yandex holds a 59.3% stake, Uber has 36.6% and Yandex.Taxi staff own 4.1%, with the IPO possible both in Moscow and New York, Yandex executives have said previously.
The sources did not say how many banks Yandex.Taxi would hire in total for the IPO.
Yandex.Taxi, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs declined to comment. A VTB Capital representative was not available for comment.


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Search For "lithium ion batteries"
Updated : 2 weeks, 1 day ago IST
It is pertinent to note that Chinese trade with Africa is about four times that of the United States. Beijing has become an important creditor by offering cheaper loans - often with opaque terms and collateral requirements - than Western lenders.
Updated : 1 month ago IST
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], January 6 (ANI/ATK): Indian e-cycle startup Gear Head Motors has secured investment from Aman Gupta, the founder of Boat, and Piyush Bansal of Lenskart on Shark Tank India. This is a major endorsement for GearHead, which has quickly become a major player in the
Updated : 1 month, 3 weeks ago IST
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are fantastic for powering all the essential modern life items like cellphones, watches, laptops, cars, and so much more, are likely to be numerous. But a major issue is where they go when they fail. Scientists from Rice University gave a new insight
Updated : 2 months, 3 weeks ago IST
According to the US Geological Survey, Bolivia is home to 21 million tonnes of the 89 million tonnes that make up the world's known lithium resources, while Argentina and Chile are responsible for around 32 per cent of global production which is also why China will now find it tough to conti
Updated : 3 months ago IST
Can we survive three minutes without air or three days without water? How about without batteries? Imagine not having a battery for three hours. Lightweight, high-capacity lithium-ion batteries are widely used in mobile phones, laptops, and other necessities in today's world. However, the or
Updated : 5 months, 3 weeks ago IST
New Delhi [India], August 17 (ANI/PNN): Benling India announced its strategic partnership with pioneers in EV battery manufacturing-Ipower Batteries Pvt Ltd. Ipower is tasked with designing tailor-made LFP batteries for Benling's new 2 wheelers scooter- Believe, which will incorporate the fe
Updated : 7 months ago IST
Washington [US], July 9 (ANI): According to a recent study, engineers from the University of California, San Diego have found that lithium-ion batteries contain a lot of energy and work well under adverse weather conditions.
Washington [US], July 5 (ANI): According to a new study, engineers from the University of California San Diego have discovered that lithium-ion batteries perform well in extreme weather conditions while packing a lot of energy. The researchers also found out that an electrolyte not only is v
Updated : 7 months, 2 weeks ago IST
New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI): The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), India's national standard body, has formulated and published standards for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said on Friday.
Updated : 10 months, 2 weeks ago IST
New Delhi [India], March 25 (ANI/PR Newswire): RMI and RMI India's new report, titled Towards a Sustainable Battery Manufacturing Industry: The Case for Effective Reuse and Recycling, highlights how circular economic policies for batteries can drive India's ambitious decarbonization goals an
Updated : 11 months, 1 week ago IST
New Delhi [India], February 28 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Luminous power technologies, the innovation leader in power solution business, is excited to announce the launch of a new inverter series "Li-ON", an integrated Inverter with Lithium-ion batteries.
Updated : 1 year, 1 month ago IST
New Delhi [India], December 22 (ANI/GIPR): Continuing with its agenda to deliver innovative and breakthrough products in the renewable energy space, Loom Solar, an emerging SolarTech start-up under the Government of India's Start-Up India initiative and one of the leading companies in the mo


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Kunsthalle Zurich Chairy Auction
Christie’s – New York
June 28th, 2012
Casey Kaplan is pleased to announce the participation of Liam Gillick and Trisha Donnelly in an auction to benefit the Kunsthalle Zürich. The auction will take place at Christie’s on June 28th, in London. Proceeds from the sale will go towards the Kunsthalle’s planned expansion.
85 Old Brompton Road London


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Meanwhile, in OTHER Apple news…the company has never exactly been acclaimed for its ability to respect privacy, but the recent mess over Unique Device Identification, or UDIDs, has been a black mark even for them. Essentially, advertisers and app developers were tying names to UDIDs and sending them across the Internet in plain text as part of their ongoing attempts to entice you to buy whatever crap they’re selling.
So, Apple has decided some things are too evil even for it, and is changing things so your tastes can be collected without them being tied to your name:
Developers and marketers have made use of the UDID in order to target their services to specific users, but Apple began warning developers to avoid using it with the release of iOS 5.0 in October of 2011. In March, the company began rejecting apps that still used it. The WSJ has virtually no details on what the new system will be like, but wrote, “One of the people briefed said that the new anonymous identifier is likely to rely on a sequence of numbers that isn’t tied to a specific device.”
In other words, soon there will be an entirely new way to invade your privacy advertisers can abuse! Hooray? (And let’s not forget about the integration of Facebook in iOS 6!)
(Image courtesy Patrick Haney on Flickr)


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"We are selling a phenomenal number of hard drives into this digital video recorder space," Watkins told Reuters the day after Seagate reported quarterly earnings that beat analysts' estimates and sent the stock up 4 percent on Thursday. "It's all going to be about the TV" in the next 12 to 18 months.More details at Reuters.
Seagate is boosting sales of disk drives for digital cameras, portable music players and televisions to expand beyond desktop and notebook computers, its main markets. Consumer electronics accounted for 13 percent of revenue in its fiscal year ended in June, 2005, up from less than 5 percent in 2004.
Seagate sees TV market as huge opportunity
Posted on Friday, January 20 2006 @ 22:55 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck


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Shifting alliances! Backroom negotiations! Intervenors from out of nowhere! Betrayals! Ballot issues and counter-ballot issues multiplying — and dropping — like fruit flies! It’s the Great Colorado Booze War of 2016.
You can hardly tell the players even with a scorecard.
It all started when the big grocery chains decided, once again, that they want to sell wine and full-strength beer instead of being stuck with just watery 3.2 beer. They enlisted the support of the convenience stores and started running radio and TV advertising supporting the cause even though they haven’t settled on a specific ballot proposal.
They’re operating like the oil and gas business in reverse. The drilling industry has been running TV commercials for years against possible anti-fracking initiatives that haven’t been chosen yet.
The most recent development: The besieged liquor stores, apparently in the belief that the best defense is a good offense, last week filed a couple of initiatives designed to hurt the grocery chains.
One would specifically prohibit them from selling liquor, wine, full-strength beer — and, just for the fun of it, marijuana. The other would prohibit their employing anyone under the age of 21 if and when they become authorized to sell alcohol. Under current law a checker has to be 21 to scan your 3.2 beer, but grocery stores provide plenty of job opportunities for younger workers that would disappear if the proposal passes.
Are the liquor stores actually prepared to collect signatures for such measures? “Absolutely,” said Curtis Hubbard, spokesman for Keep Colorado Local, the liquor stores’ campaign organization.
They may choose only one of them, he said, but they will definitely proceed if the grocery stores try to put their measure on the ballot.
Supposing Colorado voters, in their wisdom, passed both the grocery stores’ initiative and the liquor stores’ first proposal. (They’ve done stupider things, but not often.) Since they’re in direct conflict, the courts would pick the one with the most votes.
Then there are the distillers. Hard liquor was not included in the grocery stores’ various proposals. The groceries have nothing against it but they are well aware that adding it to a beer-wine initiative would sink prospects of passage below 50 percent.
The distillers, resentful of being left off the main proposal, have filed a couple of initiatives of their own with the state. One would simply piggyback on the grocers’ initiative by adding “spirituous liquors” to the grocery stores’ language. The other would authorize the owner of a liquor store license to hold up to 10 licenses across the state.
For existing liquor stores, that would multiply by 10 the number of licenses the can own now. But it would considerably limit the number of stores that each grocery chain could use to sell hard liquor.
“Our industry has a long-standing position that all three products [wine, beer, spirits] should be sold at the same retail locations,” said Bill Ray, spokesman for the distillers’ campaign group. As for letting existing liquor store owners to have up to 10 licenses, that would “not be contradictory but complementary” to current state policy, he maintained.
Meanwhile, the grocery stores have been further refining their proposals. They filed three more possible initiatives last week. All would lower the eligibility requirement for groceries seeking a beer-wine license. Originally they needed to have 25 percent of their gross sales be from food; the latest versions drop it to 20 percent. That was to let Target, where dry goods are stressed more than food, become eligible to sell beer and wine — and thus contribute to the campaign kitty.
But one of the three would require that an eligible food store contain at least 3,000 square feet of “indoor sales area.” Why such a restriction? Apparently to eliminate most convenience stores from becoming eligible to sell beer and wine.
C-stores have been an ally of King Soopers, Safeway, Walmart and Costco in the beer-wine campaign. Why stab them in the back now? Because, said an insider, to get a liquor license you need to win approval for it at a “needs and desires” hearing at the neighborhood level. If the state’s 1,500 local c-stores were all competing with the big grocery stores for neighborhood approval it might be a “political drag” on the grocers’ ambitions.
To protect themselves the c-stores have introduced their own proposal. Since they’re interested more in beer than wine, it would let them — and the grocery stores — sell full strength beer instead of just 3.2, said Shayne Madsen, the c-stores’ attorney. It wouldn’t include wine or liquor.
Meanwhile, at the statehouse there have been various “stakeholder” meetings of those in the alcohol business in hopes of drafting of a bill that might be agreeable to everyone. Obviously the groceries would prefer a bill. It’s so much cheaper dealing with lawmakers than paying petition circulators and buying advertising.
Running the discussions is Sen. Owen Hill, R-Colorado Springs. He had been working with Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, on various minor alcohol bills in a bipartisan effort. But Pabon’s moral suasion in future liquor legislation was punctured by his DUI arrest on the evening of March 17.
Given a choice, Hill would side with the liquor stores every time. After all, their owners are constituents, he points out. Big grocery chains are run by out-of-town jaspers who don’t vote in Colorado.
But he’s afraid the grocery stores’ initiative will pass because so many new Colorado residents come from states where beer and wine is already sold in grocery stores and they see Colorado as a cultural backwater.
If it does, says Hill, many liquor stores will go out of business. So will many of Colorado’s new craft brewers, who are able to get shelf space in local liquor stores that they can’t get in groceries.
Initiatives lead to crude one-size-fits-all legislation, Hill believes. “Most people in the building want a legislative compromise,” he maintains, “but I’m not sure it’s possible.”
That would suit the liquor stores just fine. They have been against any form of compromise. Said Hubbard of Keep Colorado Local: “Our group continues to believe there’s no reason to change whatever is working in Colorado.”
Hardball resistance has worked for the liquor stores in the past, but if Hill is right, it won’t work forever. Voters may want a change.
Longtime Rocky Mountain News political columnist Peter Blake now writes once a week for CompleteColorado.com. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.org You may re-publish his work at no charge and without further permission; please give full credit to Peter Blake and www.CompleteColorado.com.
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Jio will now replace Rs 550, everything in 160 rupees, know what is this explosion
After coming into the market, Xiao has made more than 10 million users who have not been able to do so in the telecom industry till date. The name of Geo Company in India is nowadays on everybody’s tongue, but why not? In addition to spreading their business in the Geo market, the profit will be earned and the poor people of the country are also getting an opportunity to join the internet.
By giving free internet for 6 months in the country, Geo’s generosity is going to continue even further for the Indian public. According to the news, shortly after the arrival of Geo will start its DTH service and that too at very cheap prices. This will enable the poorest of the poorer people of India to take advantage of the world’s best TV channels in their home. It is being said that Geo will provide more than 350 HD channels per month under its DTH service, only 160 rupees. Which is currently available at the cost of Rs 550.
Obviously, when the DTH service of Geo is started, giant companies like Airtel and Tata will face difficulties. Because when everything will get Rs 160 then why would the customer cost Rs 550? We hope that the poor people of our country remain under the umbrella of live and very soon the DTH service of Geo will be launched. We want to request the reader to stop using the services of other foreign companies to make cheaper and better use of service of the country in the country.


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Venison exporters have been hit in the pocket by a drop in the British pound.
In the six months to December 2016, exports to the UK were worth $5.38 million - down from $5.84m in the same period the year before, or a drop of nearly 8 percent.
Deer Industry New Zealand programme manager Innes Moffat said more venison had been exported to Britain but returns were lower due to a drop in the pound following the Brexit referendum. Importers were seeking lower-value meat cuts to offset the lower pound.
The UK was a "small and valuable market", he said.
However the economies of the main export markets - the US, Germany and continental Europe - were doing well, he said.
Producers were expected to export about 13,500 tonnes of venison this year to all markets, though production has dipped as farmers increase breeding numbers.
Mr Moffat said the industry was fortunate not to face trade restrictions into the EU, and was not expecting that to change.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Cervena venison will be introduced into Germany for the first time this year and the programme in Belgium will be extended. The venison is from grass-fed deer under the age of three.
Mr Moffat said the aim of the programme was to encourage chefs in Europe to use Cervena in summer, as well as in the more traditional winter dishes.
Despite the dip in production the industry was confident it could fill demand.


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The much hoped for Subaru BRZ Turbo – the Subaru version of the Toyota GT86 – is set to arrive in 2014 with 280bhp. Last year we reported that a Subaru BRZ Turbo was in the planning (even though the official line was that the BRZ and GT86 would stick with natural aspiration) and now it looks like development is well advanced and the BRZ Turbo will arrive in 2014. Automotive News are reporting that Subaru are working hard on a turbocharged direct injection version of the BRZ with a single twin-scroll turbo they’ve developed in-house, as opposed to the port injection system currently used in the BTZ, which is a Toyota system.Tue, 17 Apr 2012
News wire reports in Europe on Tuesday said Audi is poised to buy Ialian motorcycle maker Ducati from owner Investindustrial for about $1.1 billion (860 million euros). Audi has reached an agreement with Investindustrial to buy the maker of luxury motorbikes, with VW's supervisory board set to approve the deal on Wednesday, said a person familiar with the details, who declined to be identified discussing the private negotiations. Audi and Investindustrial declined to comment.Fri, 16 Mar 2012
The Focus ST & Jaguar XFR play Sweeney at Goodwood FoS The new Ford Focus ST and the 2012 Jaguar XFR are to take to the Goodwood hillclimb to recreate the Sweeney car chase. It’s been the ‘launch’ of the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed this week, so we’ve has bits of information floating in, like the Mercedes cars- ancient and modern – making an outing, the new Bentley V8 blatting up the hillclimb and the Jaguar XFR getting the prize for the ‘Most Spirited Getaway’ at the start of the hillclimb. But one little outing caught our eye – the re-creation of the scenes from the new Sweeney film with the Jaguar XFR and the new Focus ST.