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Years ago all of the shelves in Penn’s Barnes and Noble store were consistently filled to the brim with books—spines out. Now, employees stack the shelves with the covers out to make the shelves look less empty. If one book is bought, employees will come back later and shuffle the books into a more appealing configuration. Only a handful of books span each shelf in the Art History & Criticism section. In Photography, one shelf has only four books on it. Two shelves in U.S. Travel don't have any books at all.
One employee of four years has watched as the store's book section slowly bled out, its shelves gradually replaced by coat racks of university apparel.
"Every year we send back so many boxes of unsold books,” he said matter–of–factly from behind the Information Desk.
Debbie Sanford (C ‘71), the co–owner of House of Our Own bookstore on 39th and Spruce Streets, started the store in the fall of 1971 as an intellectual escape from the trauma of the Vietnam War and the looming perils of the draft. The store grew to house an arts and crafts section, course books for students, and every other imaginable literary genre. “Prior to e–mail, professors always came in to place their orders for the upcoming semester,” Sanford recalled. “We would go around the store and talk about what books they have been using and what worked. We really enjoyed it. We loved doing it.”
Since the internet became mainstream in the late 90s, book publishers and stores have come to rely on the it for sales. “The world has changed,” emphasizes Greg Schirm, the other co–owner.
Now, Amazon accounts for more than half of all online sales, placing small businesses in a stranglehold. To even allow book publishers to sell on their online marketplace, Amazon demands steeper discounts, more prolonged periods to pay, and better shipping. The company's approach to publishers was once called "The Gazelle Project" after Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder and CEO, said that the company “should approach these small publishers the way a cheetah would pursue a sickly gazelle.”
In the face of such strong–arm tactics, bookstores around the country—including those that orbit Penn's campus—have had to drastically reevaluate their businesses. The opening of the physical Amazon@Penn Center—the only one in the entire city—blocks away from their stores, further compounds the threat.
"Did the Amazon Center coming to Penn have an impact on our business? Yes, yes it did," Ashley Montague, the owner of the Penn Book Center, said with a sigh. "It moved us from being basically in a good position to being in a not good position."
For Montague, that meant stepping away from their highest source of revenue: textbooks.
"We had seen some declines because of Amazon, but once the depot came to Penn it went to 20%," she said. "That was when we said 'Oh, O.K. We can't be bringing in massive quantities of books, employing large numbers of people to manage these books, and simply pack up the books and return them because of the Amazon phenomenon.'"
It isn’t the first time that booksellers have had to reassess their business—the mass–dissemination of the World Wide Web and the e–reader soon after proved to be formidable hurdles for the industry as a whole. But Amazon is different. For many small businesses, the company isn’t just a hurdle, or a setback, but an existential threat. It forces stores to not only diagnose what is economically viable but to also look inward and to consider what being a bookstore fundamentally means.
Montague's strategy now, as it has become with many stores, is to become everything that Amazon is not. That means not competing on price or delivery time, but doubling down on trade books and the idea that those who shop at independent bookstores, at their core, are those who want to get a book recommendation for another person, who love to aimlessly comb through the shelves in search of literary gems, who join book clubs.
This emphasis on community–oriented bookselling has resulted in hiring the store's first event organizer—a graduate student by the name of Erik Baranek. Baranek is neither a social media guru nor a public relations specialist, but instead a regular bookworm and an ardent defender of the independent bookstore.
"There are things that Amazon can never beat a brick–and–mortar store in. They can have the most complex algorithms to tell you what books you are going to like because of what you ordered in the past, and they might even be right most of the time, but it's a really different experience than getting a recommendation from a person," he said. "As for why I was brought on, I think is for people to start having those experiences and that they like those experiences."
It’s a sentiment that Sanford and Schirm from House of Our Own echoed: “Some people now, which never happened in the past, come in an ask, ‘I am looking for something to read, what would you recommend?’ said Schirm. “That never happened in the past."
Penn's negotiations with Amazon started in 2014. Before then, several Amazon centers had already existed on college campuses across the country. But unlike the other universities, according to Christopher Bradie, the Associate Vice President for Business Services and overseer of Penn's relationship with Amazon, Penn did not want a physical retail extension of the Amazon’s online shopping experience. It was looking to mitigate the influx of packages coming to campus. According to Bradie, campus package rooms in dormitories were buckling under the weight of a massive flow of Amazon deliveries, while at the same time, packages being sent to students in off–campus housing were being stolen. To Penn, the center would be a solution these problems.
While both the Penn Book Center and employees at Barnes & Noble were eager to point the finger at the Amazon@Penn center for all of their woes, Penn Business Services contends that the problems these companies were facing would have persisted with, or without, the center.
The center has brought additional benefits that have made its services more and more appealing to student shoppers. New Amazon Student Members get Prime membership benefits for free for the first six months—and then eligibility to receive further discounts on Amazon Prime till graduation. Not to mention that if one were to order a Prime–listed item before 10 am, the item would be ready to pick up at the center the next day for free. To promote these benefits, the company has even hired “Prime Student Ambassadors” on college campuses to hold informational events and giveaways where they coax students with free phone wallets and sunglasses in order to sign–up.
According to Julia Wietrzychowski, a Wharton junior and a Prime Student Ambassador on Penn’s campus, her target demographic is incoming freshmen: “A lot of people when they are going from high school to college they wouldn’t necessarily have their own Prime account… so it’s about spreading the word that the first six months are free,” she said. “One of the frames that they want us to go at is that if you need something in a pinch it’ll be there the day of.”
The company currently has over 100 million paid subscribers, with a retention rate of over 90 percent, according to Bloomberg. That’s higher than CostCo, who've long touted their loyal consumers.
Both corporate Amazon and Amazon@Penn’s manager did not respond for comment.
The question that remains to be answered is whether or not small retailers and Amazon can exist side–by–side within the bounds of University City in the long term.
For Ed Datz, the Executive Director of Penn’s Facilities and Real Estate, the Penn department that oversees the small retailers that operate out of Penn, that answer is yes. He’s confident that small brick and mortar businesses will continue to thrive on Penn’s campus:
“If you go ahead and look at it five years ago, with the proliferation of tablets and e–readers, there was a belief that bookstores were going to go ahead and fade away,” said Ed Datz, “But what you have seen is no different for vinyl coming back to records, and people returning to reading from an actual book.”
Part of what will contribute to the success of that coexistence is the university’s new “Shop Penn” marketing initiative. Announced in May of 2018, the marketing campaign is aimed at reinvigorating retail—both big and small—that operate out of Penn–owned real estate. While the Amazon@Penn center is part of this campaign, small bookstores like House of Own Own and the Penn Book Center have the most to gain because they are now able to get marketing that they never had before.
For Barbara E. Kahn, a professor of marketing at the Wharton School of Business and the author of the recently released book “The Shopping Revolution,” loyalty is what has made Amazon such a disruptive force—for all retail, not just books—and in order for small retailers to continue to stay afloat they need to adapt to the retail game that Amazon is no doubt the master of.
“What used to work doesn't work anymore," she explained. “If you are going to compete on easy–to–deliver and cheap price, you won’t win against Amazon.”
James Meadows is a senior from Washington, D.C. majoring in Communication. He is the Crime and Legal beat for the Daily Pennsylvanian.


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Pantone’s New Blue Hue
Say so long to Pantone’s 2012 ‘Tangerine Tango’… there’s a new color in town and she’s balefully blue.
Pantone’s 2013 Top Colors for Spring are finally here! And the number 1 hue is: Monaco Blue — a navy-meets-cobalt blue that some are describing as “dull” in the best sense of the word — and considering the vibrant appeal of last year’s Pantone Color of the Year “Tangerine Tango,” it’s easy to see why.
Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone Color Institutes’s executive director recently explained to fashion tome WWD that the shade “speaks to the practicality that we are seeing in society. You have to realize there is still concern out there for the economy.”
And while we’re pretty sure practicality was in the cards last year too, we’ll assume they gave way to a more optimistic outlook for 2012 than they’re not seeing today — especially noting that the other Top Color’s for Spring that comprise the new list, like the runner up, another soft-lit blue called Dusk Blue.
Third and fourth position on Pantone’s list goes to the greens, Emerald in third and Grayed Jade in fourth. And if all those ‘saddest shade’ crayon’s have you feeling bluer than is actually fashionable, take heed — the rest of the list includes a clean neutral called Linen, a bright Poppy Red, a bordering-on-lavender African Violet, something called Tender Shoots, a happy Lemon Zest and a shade akin to last years fruit-inspired COTY called Nectarine.
So welcome to your new 2013 spring color palette — you’ll have plenty of time to prep the wardrobe as we head off into the rest of 2012.

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UNVEILED: April 24
AVAILABLE TO MARKET: A partial list of TV companies that have launched apps when the watches began shipping on April 24 include the AP, ABC News, AccuWeather, BET, Bloomberg, CBS Sports, CBS Sports Fantasy, CNBC, CNN, Disney Moment, ESPN, History Here from A+E Networks, MLB.com, NBA Game Time, Nick Jr., Shazam, The Weather Channel, TVGuide and Xfinity TV.
NEW FEATURES: Biggest new platform for app developers since the advent of the tablet; will open up new opportunities for alerts, news, sports and program promotions, but is a relatively untested platform that poses some serious design challenges.
PLUSSES: Whole new way to interact with viewers, particularly in the sports and news arena, where the Watches can receive alerts, scores and other information; Apple Pay features could boost mobile payments and TV commerce markets; health and fitness features will have obvious ties to lifestyle programming; strong interest in the device with U.S. watches selling out on April 10, the first day of pre-orders.
MINUSES: An untested device for news, sports and entertainment apps where users are still deciding what apps they want to install and developers can’t base designs on established patterns of usage; small screen limits potential for longer videos; Apple is struggling to meet demand with some models not shipping before June, which will limit the reach of these apps; battery life of only 18 hours may limit the number of apps consumers download and use; unclear how many young people who use their smartphones to keep track of time and virtually everything else will embrace a device costing more than a high-end phone.
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5th Avenue Apple Store's iconic glass cube to be reinstalled
Apple has begun construction on the glass cube at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in NYC. According to building permits, Apple is replacing the glass on the building and upgrading portions of the surrounding plaza. The renovations will cost a whopping US$6 million, which is just shy of the $7 million Apple originally spent to build the structure in 2005.
Plywood walls now surround the iconic cube, and scaffolding is expected to go up in the next few days. Work should be completed by the end of November. So much for those summer and fall photo ops.
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Fluid Branding are delighted to be awarded with the 2018 Sourcing City Distributor of the Year Award for the third year in a row! The Sourcing City Annual Awards are a way for suppliers and distributors within the promotional merchandise industry to vote for who they think is the best company to work with. Each participant gets three votes, on a first to third basis, so that they can give weight to the suppliers or distributors that they value the most.
“Wow, we are delighted to receive this award for the third year in a row,” said Fluid’s Marketing Manager, Gemma Richards, “The fact that this award is voted by our suppliers gives us all an extra sense of pride! Thank you!”
Miles Lovegrove, Managing Director added, “This is an incredible achievement and I’m very proud of our team! It is down to the creativity we display, the service we provide and a damn load of hard work as well! A massive thank you from me to the whole team and to all of our suppliers who voted for us, this is a huge pat on the back for us and sets us up brilliantly for our plans for 2019!”
2018 has seen Fluid Branding expand their offering into Europe further, with the opening of an office in Malta alongside their offices in Amsterdam and Dublin. Their commitment to customer service and supplier relationships is a constant priority – an attitude which has been confirmed and rewarded by winning this award for the third year.
Published on: December 10th, 2018


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Jaguar Land Rover and Ford test connected cars in Britain
- Donald Trump Sworn in as 45th U.S. President
- Wall Street ends higher as Trump becomes president
- Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) Said to Face Antitrust Concern for Rite Aid (RAD) Fix - Bloomberg
- Apple (AAPL) Sues Qualcomm (QCOM) Over Patent Royalties in Antitrust Case - Bloomberg
The Jaguar logo is pictured at a Jaguar Land Rover showroom in Mumbai February 13, 2013. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo
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LONDON (Reuters) - Jaguar Land Rover, Ford (NYSE: F) and Tata Motors
Cars which are able to warn drivers when another connected vehicle brakes suddenly and those which can monitor traffic signals and regulate their speed to encounter fewer red lights were being showcased at a testing ground in central England.
Increasingly sophisticated technology in vehicles is paving the way for fully driverless vehicles, with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by India's Tata Motors, also demonstrating a self-driving Range Rover Sport which can automatically overtake slower moving cars.
"The benefits of having cars that can communicate with each other and their surroundings could be very significant -- from increased road safety to improved traffic flow," said Tim Armitage, a project director at government-backed UK Autodrive which coordinated the trials.
Earlier this month, a driverless car was trialled on Britain's streets for the first time as part of government efforts to create an industry which can serve a worldwide market which it estimates to be worth up to 900 million pounds ($1.1 billion) by 2025.
Britain is aiming to have driverless cars on its roads by the end of the decade.
Automakers are racing to head off the challenge from technology firms such as Alphabet Inc's (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google, which is developing autonomous vehicles.
Jaguar Land Rover said earlier this year that it plans to create a fleet of more than 100 research vehicles over the next four years to test autonomous and connected technology and Volvo plans to trial driverless cars in London next year.
Ford and Volvo are working with ride-hailing company Uber on trials of self-driving cars in the U.S city of Pittsburgh.
(Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Keith Weir)
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After two years of Covid-induced boat show cancellations, Multihull Solutions is set for a show-stopping display at the 2022 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show with several exclusive Asia Pacific launches.
The companies will be premiering the remarkable NEEL 43 trimaran, Fountaine Pajot’s Isla 40 sailing catamaran for the first time in the Asia Pacific region alongside the hugely popular ILIAD 50 and the MY5 by Fountaine Pajot Motor Yachts. The Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 sailing catamaran will also be in the mix.
There has already been a steady stream of appointments booked to inspect these models at the show with cruising enthusiasts looking forward to the chance to finally explore the extensive range on offer at this leading marine event.
The NEEL 43 is particularly in demand, and the model on display at the show is the first to arrive in Australia and available for immediate sale.
Industry accolades have flowed since the NEEL 43’s launch with the trimaran receiving nominations to three of the world’s most prestigious awards for 2022: Multihull of the Year, European Yacht of the Year, and the British Yacht Awards.
NEEL Trimarans has surpassed itself with the NEEL 43, an impressive achievement on the back of its earlier models, including the NEEL 47, 51 and 65, which set new industry standards for performance and accrued numerous industry awards and won multiple ARC Trans-Atlantic races.
NEEL Trimarans has launched 13 of the new models to date and has at least 20 on forward order, making the NEEL 43 a contender for one of the shipyard’s most successful releases in its history.
The tri has a huge range of features packed into its compact design, which breaks the mould in traditional layouts by incorporating a loft-style interior, innovative use of space and sleek, contemporary styling. Combined with a robust construction that utilises eco-sustainable products and processes, the NEEL 43 delivers blistering speeds yet is still surprisingly stable and comfortable in even the most challenging conditions.
There is also intense interest in Fountaine Pajot’s Isla 40 sailing catamaran, which sets a new reference for multihulls in the 40-foot range. Being larger than its predecessor, the Lucia 40, and having a class-leading sail-to-weight ratio of 10.3, the 12m catamaran features reversed bows and an innovative saloon where the navigation wall is accessible from the entrance creating additional space in the saloon for a relaxing day bed and added storage.
Her impressive performance is complemented by optimal liveability with the option of three or four double cabins plus the possibility of a crew cabin if required.
Multihull Solutions is also bracing for huge interest at the show in the ILIAD 50. ILIAD Catamarans burst onto the scene in 2019 with a sensational response from the international motor yacht industry to the exceptional range, fuel economy, build quality and value for money, and the company has already sold 14 models to Australian buyers.
The ILIAD 50 on display at the Sanctuary Cove Show is the latest model that features a host of upgrades, and it sets the stage for the arrival of the first ILIAD 62 into Australia later in the year.
Multihull Solutions will also have specialists on its stand at the show to assist with all enquiries across its range and will be showcasing an extensive range of quality pre-owned power and sail catamarans for sale at its adjacent Gold Coast Sales Centre at The Boat Works.
Sister company, The Yacht Sales Co., will also be unveiling two of Dufour Yachts’ latest models at the show, including the Dufour 470 and Dufour 530.


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Kurkure, a snack company, has welcomed a new member to the brand family. The new brand ambassador has been announced as actress Sara Ali Khan. She made the announcement in a funny Instagram video that features her in her environment.
Neha Prasad, Associate Director and Brand Lead, Kurkure, said, “Bringing her expressive and entertaining persona, Sara makes for a great addition to Kurkure’s masaledaar family! Her exuberance and cheerfulness personify the Kurkure personality, and we are sure that audiences will love her as a brand ambassador. We believe that our partnership will not only increase brand reach, but also amplify our quirky messaging.”
Commenting on her association, Sara Ali Khan, said, “I am beyond excited to be a part of the Kurkure family! While I was growing up, I became a fan of the brand and loved watching their entertaining TVCs that kept all of us tickled. I cannot wait to be a part of the masti-filled campaigns that the brand has in store and look forward to bringing in my chatpata-pun to my darshaks and audience.”


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Good morning and welcome back to POLITICO Pro’s Morning Trade, where we look today again at two topics that are driving this week’s trade agenda: EU-MERCOSUR negotiations and the EU-Canada visa dispute.
ARGENTINA ON EU-MERCOSUR MEAT CONCERNS: ‘LET’S TALK:’ Argentina’s Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra met with the EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini — and the planned exchange of offers to lower import restrictions between the EU and MERCOSUR, the South-American trading bloc, was high on the agenda.
“We can only get to an agreement if we start to discuss it,” Malcorra said after the meeting, when asked if she was concerned about opposition from a large number of EU countries to lowering tariffs on highly competitive South American meat imports.
“We’re not going to get any closer to agreeing to something if we don’t put our offers on the table,” Malcorra said. “The offers, I’m sure, will not be satisfactory to either side. And that’s where you start the serious conversation … There is work to be done.”
— Strategic relevance: Mogherini highlighted what she called the “strategic political and economic relevance” of the planned trade deal, which has been stalled for years. “We’re not only talking about agriculture … The package is much broader,” she argued. “We have now a window of political commitment on both sides, if we don’t use it with a certain political wisdom, we will let it close … This will mean a loss in economic and in strategic political terms for both.”
ROMANIAN MUSCLE-FLEXING ON CETA AND VISA DISPUTE: We’ve mentioned before that Canada’s adamant refusal to grant visa-free entry to Romanians and Bulgarians — the only two EU countries deprived of that right — is likely to jeopardize the upcoming ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada. Now Romania seems to have made exactly that threat (again).
“In this situation the Romanian authorities will reassess, at EU level, the approach to the relationship between the EU and Canada,” the Romanian Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement. As Euractiv reports, a Romanian government official said this would mean his country would “veto” the CETA ratification. Yet, a Romanian diplomat told POLITICO’s Anca Gurzu, “We are still analyzing the Commission’s proposal in the capital, but at the same time we are taking into account that our objective is to lift visa requirements."
— Do it the Czech way: Behind all this is clear muscle-flexing. As we report, Romania’s foreign minister made the same threat five years ago when visiting Canada, but apparently Canadians didn't take him too seriously. Now Bucharest wants to up the ante — and follow the example of the Czech Republic, which came off Canada’s visa-list three years ago after successfully pressuring Ottawa by saying otherwise it would let CETA fail.
With approval by all 28 EU countries necessary in the Council, most likely this fall, Romanians (and most likely Bulgarians) have a good chance to put some extra pressure on Ottawa. Euractiv's report: http://bit.ly/1WtHKNm. Romania’s pressure on Canada back in 2011: http://bit.ly/263n1Ea
**A message from CEFIC and the European chemicals industry: Ttipping points: TTIP must simplify the rules of origin under which companies get preferential tariff rates. These are so complex and unwieldy that it is often more expensive to get the preferential rate than it is to pay the import duty.**
US CONGRESSMAN: TTIP FACES LESS RESISTANCE IN CONGRESS THAN TPP: That was the assessment of Richard Neal, a senior Ways and Means Committee Democrat. POLITICO's Sabrina Rodriguez reports from Washington:
"Neal said the White House faces a difficult challenge in getting the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal approved in Congress this year — but that a potential U.S.-EU trade deal faces less resistance."
"Neal was speaking at the launch of a report focused on U.S.-EU trade and the brewing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The report was produced by the Trans-Atlantic Business Council, Johns Hopkins University's Center for Transatlantic Relations and the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union."
"'At the moment, there's not the organized resistance to TTIP,' Neal said. 'There doesn't seem to be the concerted effort that there has been on TPP.' ... Damien Levie, head of trade section for the EU delegation to the U.S., noted at the event that even if TTIP talks wrap up before the end of Obama's term, a deal would not be considered until the next Congress."
'The new study makes the case that zeroing out transatlantic tariffs could raise U.S. and EU exports by 17 percent — and that a reduction in non-tariff barriers could increase U.S.-EU combined GDP by $106 billion. Daniel Hamilton, co-author of the study and director of the center, said the study demonstrates that most states benefit from trade and foreign investment with Europe. Forty-five states trade more with the EU than China. In 2015, 80 percent of foreign direct investment came from Europe, according to the report."
PARLIAMENT PASSES TRADE SECRETS BILL: After nearly three years of talks, European lawmakers approved new EU rules on fighting industrial espionage and protecting business information. The measure, first proposed in 2013, was reworked following criticism from some groups, including journalists and activists, who argued that the original version threatened the ability of whistleblowers to reveal information about corporate misbehavior.
The version the Parliament approved, 503-131, includes some safeguards for whistleblowers, giving them protection if they face legal charges for breaching trade secrets rules for the public interest. “It is now a balanced text, protecting at the same time our companies … but also civil liberties, the work of journalists and whistle-blowing activities,” said Constance Le Grip, a French center-right MEP who led the Parliament’s position in negotiations. http://politi.co/1XxjWXd
EU AND IRAN AIM FOR WORKING DIALOGUE ON TRADE: The Commission solved the mystery of Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström’s absence from the Commission’s high-level weekend trip to Tehran. Turns out she has “agenda constraints,” but she will be represented by Sabine Weyand, the deputy director-general of DG Trade, a spokesperson said.
And what about those stalled EU-Iran trade talks? The Commission will not try to reopen talks on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which were put on hold in 2005. “Re-engagement with Iran can create opportunities on both sides, but will have to be taken incrementally,” the spokesperson said.
CLICK CLICK, ITALY AND IRAN SIGN MORE TRADE COOPERATION: Here that? That’s the sound of Italy and Iran dropping pens, and jaws for that matter, after signing $20 billion in trade deals this week. The Associated Press reports: The deals signal “both countries desire to restore ties following this year’s implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. The agreements included plans for cooperation between Italian electricity and gas company Enel and the National Iranian Gas Export Company, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.”
“Other deals include a car component agreement with Danieli Group, an agreement with the Milan Airports company to renovate a domestic airport in Tehran, and another focused on promoting tourism.”
Once Iran’s top trading partner, Italy looks eager to restore the relationship, and the feeling appears to be mutual. According to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, “We want Italy to play its former role.” http://bit.ly/1Shg5iJ
BLUEPRINTS FOR POTENTIAL BREXIT DAMAGE CONTROL: What would life outside the bloc look like for Britain? “It will not be an apocalypse and it will not be a utopia,” the think tank Open Europe writes in a new report.
“Growing economic evidence suggests that there would be a small negative economic result from Brexit, probably in the region of 0.5 percent — 1.5 percent of GDP in the long run, presuming a reasonable trade agreement is struck between the UK and the EU,” the report says. “The question then is whether the UK can use its new-found freedoms to offset this cost or reverse it to a positive outcome.”
“We believe it is possible, but the path to prosperity outside the EU lies through: free trade and opening up to low cost competition, maintaining relatively high immigration (albeit with a different mix of skills), and pushing through deregulation and economic reforms in areas where the UK has historically been sub-par compared to international partners.” http://bit.ly/1S5Yghb
HOGAN ON FOREIGN JUNKET TO BOOST EU FOOD EXPORTS: EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan launched the second wave of his “diplomatic offensive” to boost EU food exports Thursday, meeting with senior ministers in Kazakhstan. It’s on to Shanghai Friday — and then Tokyo Wednesday next week — where Hogan and an EU business delegation will meet with their Chinese and Japanese counterparts to discuss deepening trade relations.
Hogan traveled to Colombia and Mexico in February on a similar mission. Opening up new markets to EU agribusiness is a priority for the Commission, with the agricultural sector hit by market volatility and low prices. Hogan will visit Indonesia and Vietnam in the fall.
POLAND CLIMBS RANKS AS TRADE PARTNER FOR GERMANY: The two countries traded £88.5 billion in goods and services last year, placing Poland 7th on Germany’s list of trading partners. Poland used to rank 11th.
“The 11.2 percent increase in Polish exports to Germany — an increase of €5 billion, is equal to the whole of [Poland’s] exports to the United States. This is an excellent result,” the embassy’s head of trade, Jacek Robak, said. There are about 40,000 Polish companies exporting 6,000 types of goods to Germany, including cars and car parts, machinery, furniture and metal products, reports Radio Poland. http://bit.ly/1NplGfu
— Africa, TPP, and TTIP: Integration or isolation? — The Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership could have a negative effect on Africa’s economy and trade, argues Witney Schneidman from the Africa Growth Initiative. For that reason, Schneidman says, the African Union should at least get an advisory role in the negotiations: http://brook.gs/1YvsoXf
— Global Services Coalition calls to 'intensify efforts' on TiSA — With the 17th negotiation round of the Trade in Service Agreement (TiSA) ongoing in Geneva, the service industry lobby demanded that “concrete progress is made toward stabilising texts of the core agreement” and that “regulatory disciplines in crucial areas” must be achieved. It called for “utmost strides to conclude the talks by the end of this year, consistent with ensuring a high standard and ambitious agreement.” http://bit.ly/1SOasmp
— Italian wine flows as trade continues to boom — After a record-breaking year in exports of Italian wine, it’s no wonder industry professionals are raising their glasses as VinItaly, an Italian wine showcase, gets underway in Verona this week. Last year producers enjoyed export revenues of €5.4 billion, about 5 percent higher than the year before. http://bit.ly/1Vo4M9q
— America hasn’t gone crazy. It’s just more like Europe — For a Bulgarian perspective, Ivan Krastev argues in The New York Times that U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump “would be at home in Europe.”
“Mainstream parties barely get half the vote in national elections. What wins instead are the visceral appeals of political resentment,” the chairman of the Center for Liberal Strategies writes. “In countries like Greece, Spain and Portugal, almost half of the young people are unemployed, despite the university degrees they may have earned. They judge globalization as an unmitigated disaster and loathe the idea of free trade.” Full article here: http://nyti.ms/1XxHB9T
**A message from CEFIC and the European chemicals industry: Ttipping points: Rules of origin are necessary for the operation of Free Trade Agreements. In the past the EU and the U.S. have adopted divergent and rather complex rules of origin. With global value chains and an increasing number of bilateral and regional free trade agreements, the origin of the goods will become less important. The EU and the US are becoming the centres of expanding networks of free trade agreements within which there will be no interest in the deliberate diversion of trade. Complex rules to establish the true origin of the goods will become an expensive and unnecessary obstacle to trade. For example, the costs to manage a preferential trade agreement can be 800,000 euro per year. For SMEs, this cost can be prohibitive. We look to TTIP, to introduce simple and flexible rules of origin for the chemical sector. Click here to read the proposal from the EU chemical industry and its American counterpart.**


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IT workers are revolting.
They want more access to software,from anywhere, and on their own terms. Oh, and they want to use the iPhone andjust about any other trendy mobile gadget. This trend of knowledge workersdemanding more flexibility is increasing, and IT must respond.
One answer is Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), which offloadsthe cumbersome chore of versioning locally-housed software to a third-party.Leading SaaS vendors such as Xythos, Google Apps Premier Edition, ZoHo, andSalesforce.com capitalize on the trend for IT to move faster and manage less.Five years ago, SaaS was a newly minted buzzword. For several large companies,it is becoming as way of life.
One of the main benefits to SaaS is the cost structure. Forexample, Google Apps Premier Edition costs just $50 per user per year, and youcan remove users anytime. And, it is enterprise ready: Google Apps supports IMAPmigration, e-mail routing, an open
"Much of the pressure to move toward SaaS workplaces iscoming from end-user, mobile workers, and web consumers," says Jim Murphy,the research director at
One early adopter of SaaS for knowledge workers isPrudential Financial in
Google Apps is the corporate equivalent of Google?s familiartools for mail, calendar, documents, and other consumer apps. Mike West, vicepresident at strategy consulting firm Saugatuck Technology, says SaaS hastypically been the purview of companies who want to offload "fringe"services such as customer relationship management — thus the success of Salesforce.com — butagrees with Murphy that the trend is in mobile workers asking for ? and getting? more online tools.
Les Sease is the IT Director for Prudential Carolina RealEstate in
"The big thing is being able to have it when you needit, where you need it," says Sease. "It just gives us a workingenvironment so we don’t have to be confined to one computer."
Sease says Google’s Postini acquisition was a criticalbecause it provided redundancy that was not available before. "We have hadpeople delete important e-mails and can now recover them," he says.
Another example of anytime, anywhere software services isMidas Auto Stores in Houston, Texas, which started using Google Apps to giveemployees the ability to communicate more with customers.
"Managers and assistant managers at each store areusing Gmail regularly to respond to customers and track appointments,"says Chris Montgomery, who owns six Midas stores in the
"Since software lives in the cloud, it can be improvedas often as needed without tying up the IT department or inconveniencingusers," says Rajen Sheth, a senior product manager for Google Enterprise."This ‘versionless’ software eliminates upgrade projects and helpstechnology keep pace with the speed of business, giving employees access to newtechnology early and often rather than forcing them to wait for a final,packaged product to be shipped."
"The wholemanagement of software is an untidy mess," says Saugatuck’s West."You’ve got to go and acquire it, manage new releases, have to integratenew releases. With SaaS, you pay the subscription fee [typically around $50 peruser per year, or with no cost per user] for as long as you choose to use itbased upon a number of users. There is no big capital outlay."
ZoHo is another company that is ready to deliver a flexiblealternative to in-house software. Already transitioning from a company thatprovides consumer-friendly tools for writing documents and tracking yourschedule, ZoHo has set its sites on the enterprise as well, a very recent move.
"For projects involving people from three or more timezones, spread out in different countries, this is a great solution," saysGeorge Bakalov, founder and president of the Harvest Breakthrough InternationalNetwork, a religious organization that uses ZoHo for business. "Sendingemails back and forth has been minimized by about 70-80%. For file management,project files are all in one place with new versions available. ZoHo has muchbetter overall project management [that the desktop]. The forums allow us tocover a subject without having to chase emails later, so it’s morecoherent."
Even with these success stories, SaaS still has challengesto overcome. One key hurdle is that many companies have developed scripts andmacros around Microsoft’s desktop offerings, creating an entanglement that willbe hard to de-construct. SaaS also depends on good throughput and a reliableconnection, lending itself to some industries ? such as health and financial ?and not as much to media creation industries such as music and movies."There will always be a need for desktop applications that provideadvanced functionality that’s best delivered from a client — such ashigh-powered computations in spreadsheets– but less and less work is likethat," says Google’s Sheth.
"SaaS is a complementary approach rather than aholistic approach — for any large enterprise, at least," says
Of course, even in these industries, SaaS will make in-roads? the cloud is invading IT. In
Once a fringe option, SaaS is now making progress with missioncritical work among knowledge workers. Someday all software willrun online, and clunky desktop apps will be a distant memory.


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Microsoft has released a controller for its Silverlight multimedia software that can present dynamic visual summaries of large data sets in Web browsers.
That Jeff Lebowski was one cool dude.
If your business is still running Service Pack 2 of Windows XP, security problems are lurking around the corner, according to new research from IT services vendor Softchoice stating that almost 80 percent of organizations surveyed risk a security bre...
German privacy regulators have welcomed a proposal to extend laws protecting Germans' right to privacy to cover use of their own image and that of their homes in online street panoramas, the Hamburg privacy regulator said Monday.
Microsoft took another shot at rival Google today as it touted the support it provides for Office 2010.
Microsoft has released a patch for Visual Studio 2010 intended to address insufficient memory messages developers are getting when doing small cut or copy operations.
Microsoft became decidedly more social with SharePoint 2010, adding social networking tools like improved wiki and blog integration, tagging and microblogging into its SharePoint MySites feature.
What's Microsoft cooking up for Windows 8? We've already heard rumors of a 128-bit operating system with a 2012 release date, but what about the cool stuff that would make an upgrade worthwhile? A few Windows aficionado sites have just posted leaked ...
Microsoft has sold 150 million copies of Windows 7 in nine months--that is, seven copies per second. It's the fastest-selling operating system in history. Vista, by contrast, was such a flop that users couldn't wait to get rid of it.
Microsoft reports that it has sold more than 150 million copies of the Windows 7 desktop operating system in the roughly nine months it's been available--making it the fastest selling OS in history. Windows 7 has more than redeemed Microsoft for the ...
When it comes to enterprise open source software vendor Red Hat, one might assume its biggest competitors to be Oracle, Novell, Microsoft, or even IBM.
Salesforce.com has sued Microsoft for patent infringement, making a move in response to an intellectual property suit Redmond filed against the on-demand CRM (customer relationship management) vendor last month.
In keeping with Google's enthusiasm for the emerging HTML5 standard, many upcoming features of the company's Gmail Web-based e-mail service will be rendered in HTML5, said Adam de Boor, a staff software engineer working on the service.
The Electronic Entertainment Design and Research Analyst Services company (best known as EEDAR) partnered with gaming website IGN and game video streaming site GameTrailers to gauge the consumer anticipation for the games coming out of E3.
Microsoft on Wednesday updated its rough-edged preview of Internet Explorer 9 (IE9), adding support for several crucial HTML5 standards and boasting that the browser is faster than ever.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.


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NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- Gianni Graham is a powerhouse at 10-years-old.
You might remember the fifth grader from a story 13News Now did last year on her non-profit organization, Dolls for Dolls.
Just last year, her goal was to collect 1,000 dolls for young girls in foster care. And now, a year later, she's up to 5,000 dolls!
Alongside her sister, 6-year-old Tayanni, the two make a dynamic pair.
At their young ages, they are already co-CEOs of their Norfolk-based store, Mini Mogul Boutique.
The store sets the scene for helping young girls in their community.
Girls can shop for clothes under $25, meet girls their ages at character tea parties, brunches and fashion photo shoots hosted by Gianni and Tayanni at the boutique.
They can also attend teaching workshops about how to become entrepreneurs before adulthood!
PHOTOS: Sisters open boutique in Norfolk to help community of young girls
Gianni says she loves being an entrepreneur and wants to open boutiques when she's older!
"I wanted to be my own boss and help other people," the 10-year-old says.
But she also wants to take it a step further and hire girls around her age who are in foster care.
"I would want to hire some of the foster girls to work here. And I would want a lot of them to help me with the store."
Tayanni also her own individual business called Lemons & Luv. She operates inside the boutique where she sells lemonade to customers and clients.
Even at just 6-years-old, she understands the power of helping the community. And why exactly does she like working at Mini Mogul?
"Because I can sell my lemonade here and I can help others to aspire to make their own store," Tayanni says.
For more information about Mini Mogul Boutique, e-mail email@example.com or call (757) 358-0068.


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MOS: Look at bankers & CEOs’ income last year, the richest are getting richer. A hedge fund manager made $5billion last year. Banks are getting bigger, not smaller. Next time they’ll be too big to bail out. Nobody’s thinking of that.
MOS: Look at the auto section in your newspaper. The auto industry has bounced back. But it hasn’t learned a thing. They’re pushing SUVs and trucks. There is never a mention of fuel efficiency. In the entire auto section today, there was only one mention of a hybrid. And this was a Lincoln, an oxymoron.
There’s a move to establish smoking lounges (cigar & pipe – what kind of pipe?). That’s not all bad. Good for the population explosion problem, survival of the fittest, getting rid of some of those who just don’t get it. Probably a lot of bankers and CEOs.
MOS: In the Republican’s drive to never change, and go back to ‘old days’: gut the clean air act; give tax breaks to the super-rich; fight another war; support big oil by supporting sales of gas guzzling autos; support greedy bankers and CEOs who thrive on deregulation.
GW mitigation is just one of the casualties.


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Bulgaria's Retailers Evade Incandescent Bulb Ban - Report
Stores in Bulgaria have managed to find a way of evading the EU ban on the sale of incandescent lightbulbs after the end of 2012, according to media reports.
Wednesday Bulgarian Pressa daily writes that retailers are labelling the incandescent bulbs as "lights with a special purpose."
In this way, they are attempting to comply with the EU directive, which allows the sale of the old-fashioned lights for the industry and transportation, and bans them only for domestic use.
Starting 2009, the EU imposed a phased ban on the sales of all kinds of incandescent lightbulbs.
According to Pressa, retailers in Bulgaria are consistently reporting that they have significant quantities in stock.
The EU imposed ban intends the mass introduction of more energy efficient lights for customer use.
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- » Bulgarian Energy, Water Regulator Proposes 2% Increase in Natural Gas Price
- » 15,105 Public Procurement Contracts Signed So Far in 2016


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Posts Tagged ‘ Homigo Realty Pvt. Ltd. ’
Friday, April 8, 2016
Homigo Realty Pvt Ltd, a Bangalore-based startup that rents out furnished houses, has tweaked its business model to become a managed marketplace as it seeks to expand its services to low-demand areas and reduce risks related to low occupancy. “The marketplace model is helping us to expand quickly,...


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The day of official release of Windows 10 is approaching. Just two Wednesdays, the new operating system will begin to be distributed by Microsoft.
Those who will take it first, as already mentioned, are Windows Insiders, and later the company will continue to run the waves, as it is expected to have a lot of load on the distribution servers.
What changes this time and Microsoft chooses to distribute by wave?
Although they were released six years ago, Windows 7 still accounts for nearly two-thirds of all computers accessing the internet (about 61%), according to NetMarketShare latest data. Windows 8, which began to sell almost three years ago, has the 13% of the market.
Imagine, therefore, a share of the order of 74% worldwide, waiting to upgrade its system for free. Why this 74% is entitled to a free upgrade.
From Wednesday 29 July, therefore, Microsoft will begin offering Windows 10 first to five million Windows Insiders, and fairly since it helped control various versions of the operating system before it was released.
After that, Microsoft will offer Windows 10 to customers who have already kept a copy. This will happen in waves, gradually increasing in size, after July 29.
Microsoft expects one billion upgrades to Windows 10, hence the scalable approach. Devices that have the least compatibility issues (in terms of drivers and applications) are likely to have priority in the upcoming upgrade, according to Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet.
What would be good to do?
Before you decide whether to upgrade to Windows 10 or not, the first thing to do is check if you can upgrade.
On devices with Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1 Update (with Windows Update enabled) the "Get the Windows 10" app should automatically appear as a Windows icon at the bottom right of the screen. If you can't see it, it could mean that your computer is out of date or that Windows Update is turned off - or that you are running a pirated copy of Windows.
If you want to have priority for the upgrade process, you will need to pre-download your download. If you regret it, you can still cancel the booking one day before the official release.
Should I upgrade or not?
If you're tracking new technology, you'll know that Windows 10 has already passed many tests, but as Microsoft says, there will be some bugs:
"Every day during the official release, we will listen, learn and update from the Windows 10 user experience," says Windows CEO Terry Myserson.
If you choose to install the new operating system, you might want to expect that there may be minor problems, which will of course be solved with the next updates.
If you do not want to get to know Cortana or the new Edge browser (Cortana is not yet in operation in Greece), then you might want to install them.
For businesses now, your IT administrator and CIO will tell you when they decide you can upgrade.
Please note that the delivery time will be different: Windows 10 Pro will be available in 29 July, along with Windows 10 Home, while versions of Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education from the Volume Licensing Service Center will be available first August.


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Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will cut close to 11,000 jobs, nearly a quarter of its workforce, and get a $4-billion infusion from its sister Mitsubishi companies and other investors under a revival plan its chief executive described Friday as its "last chance."
The Tokyo-based automaker is struggling to restore its credibility after recurring defect coverups and is racking up deep losses and debt amid plunging sales.
It was dealt an additional blow when U.S.-German automaker DaimlerChrysler, which owns 37% of Mitsubishi Motors, decided last month against offering more money for a turnaround.
Mitsubishi faces a tough fight, analysts said.
"The announced plan is so-so, perhaps better than so-so," said Koji Endo, an analyst with Credit Suisse First Boston in Tokyo.


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There may be no such thing as a ‘safe’ tan based on ultraviolet (UV) radiation, according to a series of papers published in the October issue of Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, the official journal of The International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies (IFPCS) and the Society for Melanoma Research.
The authors of the three review papers – leading researchers in the fields of cell biology, dermatology and epidemiology – have examined the effects on skin of UV radiation, including that from indoor tanning beds. As well as highlighting the need for greater research into this area, they have called for the use of such beds by under-18s to be banned, along with any publicity that claims that tanning beds are safe.
Exposure to UV radiation — for example, from sunbathing or using an indoor tanning bed — affects the skin in a number of ways, including causing DNA damage, photoaging (damage to the skin from chronic exposure to sunlight) and skin cancer. UV radiation is the most ubiquitous carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) for humans, in whom skin is the organ most commonly affected by cancer.
Although more research is required, published data suggest that indoor tanning beds, which are used most by young women, are linked to an increased risk of melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer), and do not support the idea that tanning beds are safe.


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PopCap Games, responsible for titles like Bejeweled Twist, Peggle, and Zuma, is reporting through an official press release that its PC retail sales in the United States are up 85 percent in 2008 according to NPD data. The company cites the success of Bejeweled Twist in the retail space along with a greater number of titles available for purchase, with 15 in 2008 as compared to 10 titles in 2007.
Dennis Ryan, executive vice president of global business development, is quoted in the release as attributing the success to more accessible, less expensive products. "Our family-friendly casual games appeal to the broadest consumer audience - literally anyone over the age of five or six - making our products extremely reliable sellers at retail…And the games themselves represent a markedly different value proposition to that enormous target audience, compared to traditional 'hardcore' video games. From Bejeweled Twist to Zuma, our games offer hundreds of hours of entertainment for multiple members of the family at $20 or less - as opposed to a hardcore game that lists for two to three times as much and has far narrower appeal. We're excited to move forward in the new year as we expand our retail lineup to include world class console titles."
Note that this is retail success only and does not include numbers for online purchases, which are offered through PopCap's site as well as other outlets. The release notes that this 85 percent increase comes along with an overall 14 percent decrease in overall PC retail revenues.


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Last night’s Super Bowl game between the Patriots and Seahawks was very entertaining and hopefully you’re not dragging today at work. To help you get through your case of the Monday’s comes our weekly Midyear Monday random image gallery featuring America’s automotive icon of design and performance, the 1963-67 Corvette Sting Ray. Here’s a random photo gallery of 36 Midyear Corvettes to kick off the week.
It’s always exciting to see a 1953 Corvette up for sale.
The latest of the first 300 Corvettes ever made will be up for sale at RM Auctions in Amelia Island, Fla., on March 14.
Only 26 more 1953 models were made after this one, which is the 274th Corvette ever made. Considering more than 1.5 million Corvettes have been made since then, it’s awe-inspiring to think about the historic importance of this particular car.
But No. 274 has much more going for it than just being a 1953 model.
A new 2015 Corvette Z06 was destroyed and its driver was pronounced dead at the scene following a fatal accident in Arkansas over the weekend.
Police say the car was traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control. The Z06 went off the road and hit some trees, ejecting both the driver and the passenger.
The sheer number of vehicles for sale on eBay is impressive of course, but the incredible variety that are for sale never ceases to amaze. If you are a Corvette fan of a certain age that never missed Speed Racer, eBay has the car to satisfy your wildest fantasy — a Speed Racer Mach 5 replica based on a 1981 Corvette.
It’s the final Friday in the month of January and that means it’s time for the first “Black Friday” gallery of 2015 here at CorvetteBlogger.com. So here’s a random photo gallery made up of 33 Corvettes spanning seven generations that are all dressed in Black and looking ready to put a beat down on the competition.
Photo Credit: vicpolicenews.com.au
If you happen to be in the Land Down Under, you might be on the lookout for a stolen 1999 Corvette.
The black convertible, along with a white 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback, Land Down Underwere stolen from a “panel beating workshop” – as they apparently call a body shop down there – in Melbourne, Australia.
One of our favorite Corvettes shows we attend religiously is the annual NCRS Winter Regional in Central Florida. This year, the show was held at the Sun ‘n Fun facility in Lakeland, Florida which is a working airport and the site of a huge annual fly-in.
The new location had its good and bad points, but overall we were positive about it as it was a great facility for hosting the Winter Regional Corvette show.
When Tadge Juechter and his crew were busy coming up with the 2015 Corvette Z06, they were probably hoping for somebody just like Gene Sanchez Leeds to climb behind the wheel.
You see, Mr. Leeds does “ridiculous things with Corvettes,” as he puts it in his blog post on Road and Track.
Put another way, he doesn’t park his Corvettes on a pedestal, instead preferring to enjoy them, and enjoy them HIS way.
Team Corvette has a Nurburgring problem.
After testing the new Corvette Z06 at the famous 12.9 mile track in Germany last year, circumstances which include a crash and rainy weather stopped the team from laying down a complete timed lap. Instead of staying in Germany and making it a priority, the team left town and that has ceded the conversation to others.
More proof arrived today that General Motors is taking its responsibility to deliver safe cars more seriously than ever before.
GM announced Wednesday a recall of about fifty 2015 Corvettes because a part on the rear suspension may not have been tightened the right way and could cause a crash.


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El Monte RV is honored to have been selected to provide two motorhomes as Endeavor makes its way through Los Angeles.
Santa Fe Springs, CA (PRWEB) October 13, 2012
Astronauts flying on Space Shuttle Endeavour’s maiden voyage were transported to the launch site by RV. Now, twenty years later the Endeavour is flanked by two more RVs as it makes its way through Los Angeles on its final journey to the California Science Center.
During this 48-hour mission, one El Monte RV will serve as mission control for the team charged with securing and transporting the shuttle. The other will be a ready room for the film crew tapped to film this once-in-a-lifetime event.
“El Monte RV is honored to have been selected to provide two motorhomes as Endeavor makes its way through Los Angeles,” says Joe Laing, Director of Marketing for EL Monte RV, headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, CA.
Some of the crew members for this land-based mission have mentioned that the El Monte RVs and Endeavour are similar in many ways. They are self-contained, have plenty of cargo room and have everything you need to take a long trip.
“That’s true,” adds Laing, “but the RVs’ bathrooms are a lot more comfortable.”
While RVs can cruise at high speeds down the highway, on this trip they will be going about two miles per hour. That is a far cry from their normal cruising speeds and a world away from Endeavour’s 17,500 miles-per-hour capabilities.
The Endeavour left its berth early Friday morning and is expected to reach the California Science Center sometime this Saturday.
About El Monte RV
El Monte RV is one of America’s leading motorhome and RV rental and sales companies, catering to both international and domestic travelers. The company has experienced rapid growth throughout the United States, thanks to its reputation for exceptional customer service. El Monte RV is the only nationwide motorhome rental company to offer the larger Class A luxury vehicles for rent. For more information about El Monte RV, contact 800-337-2141 or visit website El Monte RV Rentals.


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While there are signs that the economy is starting to pick back up, there is no denying that the last few years have been painful in many ways. Not only did dealers, agents and providers all face hard times, the consumers who purchase their products did as well. And that led to credit scores taking a hit – today, those consumers are starting to invest in cars and products again, but many are now less than prime.
Matt Briggs, co-founder and CEO, Credit Jeeves, is looking to give dealers a new tool to help get those customers with damaged credit scores back in the door. His service aims to help them take action to improve their scores, and then drive them back to the dealership to purchase.
“My vision for Credit Jeeves is to turn the everyday adverse events of credit turn-downs, or offering less than favorable terms, that happens every day at dealers into endless opportunity for the dealership,” said Briggs. “In addition, we help consumers understand exactly what is affecting their credit score, keep them connected to their dealer, and let them know when they’re ready to buy the car of their dreams. Our product closes the loop for credit-challenged consumers and ultimately helps dealers sell more cars.”
How it works is simple. An agent signs a dealer up to enroll in the program, with no up-front costs. When a consumer is in the dealership trying to buy, and their credit comes back with less favorable terms, rather than letting them walk out the door, the dealership can offer to enroll them in Credit Jeeves. The consumer pays nothing for it, and it gives them a detailed report of what may or may not be affecting their credit score. But more than that, it gives the consumer specific, actionable items to bring that score up. The dealership, when signing them up, sets the target score, and the entire program is built around helping the consumer reach that level.
Once the target score is reached, the dealership will receive a notice that the consumer will now qualify for the loan they were interested in – giving the dealership a real, solid lead to follow up on. For the consumer, the entire process is free. For the dealership, the cost comes when the lead is generated, after the consumer has reached the target credit score.
But does it work? “The average enrollment has increased their score more than 40 points, and most of those within the first 30 days,” said Briggs. “We are able to convert about 10 percent of people who were completely turned down for credit. For the average dealer, that’s about 10 more deals per month.”
He pointed out that in one FTC study, one in four consumers had errors on their credit report, with a negative impact on their score. He also noted that studies have shown that, in the auto industry, roughly 50 percent of buyers have less than average credit. Right now, he said, dealers just have to let those consumers walk out the door. And he believes it will only get more difficult, not less, with the prospect of more government oversight of the auto loan industry. But beyond just the score itself, he also believes that more consumers will seek to do business with dealers they feel take the time to establish a relationship. They don’t just want to be another face, forgotten as soon as the next deal comes along. Briggs believes that giving dealers an option to help consumers overcome credit challenges will help on both fronts.
He noted that most consumers who are denied credit either don’t know why, or don’t understand how each piece of the puzzle is connected. He sees Credit Jeeves as a way for dealers to increase revenue with pre-qualified consumers who have already expressed interest in buying that specific car, but also as a way for them to build a partnership with those consumers. “We believe credit optimization should be goal driven. By establishing specific goals consumers can take action every day towards buying a car. Just because someone is credit challenged today doesn’t mean they can’t be credit ready tomorrow.”
He continued, “Providing credit transparency and education removes the mystery for consumers on why they were denied and more importantly provides a potential path for consumers to do something about it and ultimately return to buy a car.”


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While most of the initiatives mentioned in the State of the Union speech face large partisan headwinds, both parties should rally behind one statement.» Read More
President Obama seeking to increase sharing between government agencies and the private sector to help improve cybersecurity.
NEW YORK— Shares of some top big-box retail companies are mixed at 1 p.m.:. Costco Wholesale Corp. rose$. 28 or. 2 percent, to $142.80. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. rose$. 28 or. 3 percent, to $90.30.
WASHINGTON— President Barack Obama said Tuesday that recent cyberthreats to Sony and the military's U.S. But an Associated Press review shows that some of his plans are retreads from years past. The White House is hoping a recent spate of cyberattacks and data breaches— including November's hacking at Sony Pictures Entertainment, which the administration...
The entry point you’ve been waiting for has arrived in one stock on "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer’s radar.
Macy's and J.C. Penney are only the latest retailers whittling down their square footage. It happens every January. Here's why.
Experts gave their takes on whether now is a big buying opportunity for investors in stocks, housing and oil.
Lower gas prices and better employment numbers could have been factors in better guidance from retailers.
In a first glimpse of how the season shaped up for major retailers, JC Penney Company Inc reported on Tuesday comparable store holiday sales growth of 3.7 percent, surprising investors and driving the struggling department store operator's stock up 16.6 percent. JC Penney would not comment on what impact gas prices had on its results. The impact is expected to...
Six months after the last five 50-percent drops in oil prices, the S&P 500 was up four of those times.
European debt yields keep dropping, the dollar is strengthening against the euro, and oil has not found a bottom yet.
Retail investors stayed bullish on stocks heading into the new year, and picked these names as their favorites.
SAN FRANCISCO/ CHICAGO, Jan 2- For top U.S. retailers, free delivery is now the norm. During the just-ended holiday season, outlets from Target to Wal-Mart to Amazon expanded their free-delivery options, adding more items eligible for free shipping. Shipping remains a key battleground in the escalating war between brick-and-mortar retailers and Amazon.com Inc,...
The "Fast Money" traders give their final trades of the day.
Take a look at some of Wednesday's midday movers:
Mobile phones will be the big battleground for hackers in 2015, security experts warned, after a year of major cyber breaches in top firms.
Here are five types of attacks that cybersecurity experts say will be cracking computers in 2015, NBC News reports.
A look at five trends that experts predict will shape the retail world in the coming year.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 29- Major U.S. retailers including Target Corp and Toys' R Us have begun allowing shoppers to collect online purchases at their brick-and-mortar stores, but a study shows the option often saves little, if any, time over in-store shopping. It comes in response to competition from the No. 1 U.S. online retailer, Amazon.com Inc, which has streamlined...
Incoming Hudson's Bay CEO Storch said the Internet, value and luxury goods will be the most important retail themes of 2015.
Here are 6 things a merry holiday-shopping season says about the economy for 2015, says retail analyst Brian Sozzi.


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WASHINGTON – Kourtney Kardashian appeared on Capitol Hill for the first time Tuesday to talk makeup and personal care products to urge lawmakers to approve more regulation on the cosmetic and personal care products industry.
“When it comes to products I use on my kids, I don’t play around,” Kardashian said at the Russell Senate Office building on Tuesday. “Everyone should have the right to healthy products and personal care and that’s why I wanted to come and make this a bigger deal.”
With a following of 62.6 million on Instagram alone, Kardashian’s voice on the Hill is something the advocacy organization Environmental Work Group hopes will get action on a bill proposed by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
“She can reach people to the extent that EWG will never be able to reach, and our hope is that she will boost public awareness on this issue,” Environmental Working Group President Ken Cook said.
The bipartisan bill would require the Food and Drug Administration to increase regulation of the chemicals that are used by cosmetic and personal care companies. Cosmetic legislation has remained largely unchanged since 1938 when the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act was passed.
“I think people should not take it for granted that the law hasn’t been changed…we should get involved in trying to make a change,” Kardashian said.
Under current law, companies have the ability to “put just about anything in their products,” according to the Environmental Group. With the new proposal, the FDA would have the power to review controversial ingredients in the products and stop production of a product if it is determined to pose a danger to consumers.
“The companies themselves want the government to play a more authoritative role and be able to point to the law and say there’s a level playing field for everyone,” said Cook.
Kardashian’s appearance came on the same day as the launch of her Kourt x Kylie makeup collaboration, a new line from Kylie Cosmetics.
The Kardashian family continues to expand its makeup kingdom with KKW Beauty and Kylie Cosmetics, which she said are working to provide safe products that are toxic chemical-free.


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Small Dog burglar sought
WAITSFIELD — Vermont State Police are looking for a suspect they believe broke into Small Dog Electronics in Waitsfield and stole equipment Wednesday.
State police say someone forced their way in through a side door and took multiple Apple laptops, a hard drive, an iPad and a keyboard.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Middlesex barracks at 229-9191 or the Central Vermont Crime Stoppers Tipline at 800-529-9998.MORE IN This Just In
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With Togo moving to position itself as a regional leader in terms of textile production, the country is increasing its focus on sustainability and digitalisation as it seeks to maximise value across the supply chain.
Economic update | Report: How can West Africa boost its textile and garment industry in a sustainable way?
While West Africa is one of the largest producers of cotton, it has the ability to process less than 2% of the crop locally; around 90% is exported to markets in Asia, where value is added through spinning and weaving.
With textiles and fashion expected to constitute an important post-Covid-19 growth driver for West Africa, stakeholders and key players in the industry are exploring ways to implement sustainable practices and make the sector more environmentally friendly.
Economic update | The Fourth Industrial Revolution in sub-Saharan Africa: key to the coronavirus recovery?
The pandemic has significantly accelerated the global spread of technologies associated with the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), among them artificial intelligence, the internet of things (IoT), big data and blockchain. In sub-Saharan Africa many now see the 4IR as key to the region’s recovery.
With the effects of Covid-19 still being felt in Egypt, industrial exports are shaping up to be a key driver of the country’s economic recovery.
Covid-19 and the resulting fall in oil prices and demand has helped to accelerate a global shift towards renewable energy. While a number of sub-Saharan African countries continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels, the region is expected to benefit from the growing market for minerals central to this shift.


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The accessories firm is sending another letter to the Perry Ellis Special Committee Monday morning on why it has the better offer.
The 14-year-old accessories brand will introduce three bags next month as part of a capsule line.
The former GQ creative went full stylist for Todd Snyder’s new collection and campaign, but there’s a lot more work on the way.
The responsibility to shareholders involves a common sense approach to balancing price and the ability to close the deal.
The transaction includes French underwear brands Eminence and Athena, and the Italian brand Liabel.
The Perry Ellis special committee said a $444 million offer from Randa was “highly conditional, nonbinding and insufficient in terms of value and certainty.”
The $437 million deal to take Perry Ellis private is expected to close in four months.
Here, highlights from the fall 2018 collections.


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Scrolling through the Instagram postings of American influencers whose brands rely on a certain adjacency to European culture, I’ve noticed that the standard fare of empty Diptyque glasses, Matisse cutouts, and starburst mirrors is now being complemented by sculptural candles. In the past few years, we’ve seen pastel-hued candles shaped like geometric solids, candles speckled with bright colors looking like they’re straight out of Splatoon, and candles in the form of cereal bowls, pastries, and sneakers. But what this new wave of creators are displaying on their shelves and coffee tables are miniature versions in wax of famous Classical statues.
The most viral brand in this regard is New York–based Anaïs Candle, which was founded around a year ago. One of the owners, Kat, who declined to give her full name because she doesn’t want to take the focus away from the products, has had a lifelong fascination with the Venus de Milo. Soon after the launch of the Venus candle, which appeared in highly aestheticized Instagram photos, either in rows of four or solo in elaborate tableaux where it was flanked by champagne flutes, flower arrangements (roses and peonies, mainly), high-end beauty products, or latte art, there was, Kat says, a demand for a male equivalent. Anaïs Candle opted for the head of Michelangelo’s David. “There were already a lot of candles depicting the male body,” she says. On the site, the head is known simply as “Man.”
While Anaïs maintains a neutral color palette, with candles available in off-white, stone gray, calcite blue, and black, other independent candle makers are melding Classical art with a Gen-Z color palette. Forget Millennial Pink and its buddy Marigold Yellow; what about a bust of Artemis in ultramarine blue, or a David in lime green or bubblegum pink? Néos Candle Studio, based in Costa Mesa, California, gave their versions of Venus and David, as well as a candle inspired by the Diana of Versailles, just such a contemporary spin. Says Néos founder Sonia Marcinek, “A David or Artemis candle in a neon color creates the exact eclectic aesthetic I had in mind when I envisioned my candles.”
There is a whole pantheon of deities, heroes, and comely mortals to draw from, though, and Cody Bennett, founder of the Australian company The Busted Gentleman, is doing so. “So many brands have done versions of David and Venus,” he says. “I wanted to show that there are other Greek gods just as beautiful.” His candles depict gods of the arts, including Apollo and Orpheus.
The Busted Gentleman
All of these candles have two to six hours’ worth of burning time, but customers often won’t light them. Yet, the candlemakers maintain, that’s part of the experience. “We would say that when our candles burn, it’s actually even more aesthetic,” says Kat.
Dealer Vito Schnabel, Entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk Launch NFT Platform
Dealer Vito Schanbel and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk have come together to create ArtOfficial, a new online auction platform that will feature NFTs by established artists. The platform, whose name is pronounced like the word “artificial,” launched on Friday with an auction of Francesco Clemente NFTs. Like other NFT enterprises, ArtOfficial will stage sales that sometimes…
Dealer Vito Schanbel and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk have come together to create ArtOfficial, a new online auction platform that will feature NFTs by established artists.
The platform, whose name is pronounced like the word “artificial,” launched on Friday with an auction of Francesco Clemente NFTs. Like other NFT enterprises, ArtOfficial will stage sales that sometimes come with added perks for buyers. In today’s auction, the buyer of Clemente’s Milarepa’s Dream (2021), an image of a heart pierced by a white flag, will be able to have their portrait painted by the artist within a year of purchase.
In the coming months, works by artists represented by Vito Schanbel’s gallery, such as Jordan Kerwick, Spencer Lewis, Robert Nava, Ariana Papademetropoulos, Julian Schnabel, and Gus Van Sant, will be available, along with a few artists not represented by the Gallery.
Vaynerchuk and Schanbel developed the idea for ArtOfficial less than a year ago. “Within 30 or 40 minutes it was very clear that there was potentially an opportunity to provide exceptional value for top contemporary artists,” Vaynerchuk said. “We could provide a really strong NFT strategy for artists who are navigating this incredible shift in consumer behavior.”
Schanbel said that ArtOfficial is a place where works are not just sold but created. Describing the platform as “an extension of my gallery,” he added, “It’s not just a sales platform.”
ArtOfficial aims to foster artists’ creation of NFTs, and it’s not alone in that regard. NFT platforms like Foundation, OpenSea, and others offer curated selections of work from established and rising artists. Schnabel said that ArtOfficial is different from these in that it is “more selective than other platforms.”
ArtOfficial faces steep competition. In recent months, galleries like Pace have launched their own platforms with the aim of offering NFTs by the artists on their roster, while other enterprises like Christie’s are working with artists to create NFTs of their works. It is clear that more art world NFT platforms are coming, though whether the community that often dictates the value of these projects will come to embrace these enterprises remains to be seen.
Ritualistic Tools Found at Egypt’s Temple of the Pharaohs: ‘An Important Discovery’
Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a set of artifacts at the Temple of Pharaohs, an ancient structure about 60 miles east of Alexandria. The artifacts may have once been used in religious rituals, and could potentially shed light on some of the ceremonies that took place at the temple around 2,700 years ago. The find was…
Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a set of artifacts at the Temple of Pharaohs, an ancient structure about 60 miles east of Alexandria. The artifacts may have once been used in religious rituals, and could potentially shed light on some of the ceremonies that took place at the temple around 2,700 years ago.
The find was announced by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities earlier this week. Mustafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said in a statement that the find was “an important discovery.”
Among the objects found were pieces of ivory carved to resemble women carrying objects; statues of Taweret, the goddess of motherhood known as the “Great One”; incense burners crafted from faience, a kind of glazed ceramic; a piece of gold sculpted to resemble the eye of Wadjet, the goddess of Lower Egypt; and a maternity chair. Archaeologists believe these artifacts may have once been used in ceremonies honoring Hathor, the goddess of fertility.
Experts believe these objects may have been “quickly placed” beneath a stack of heavy stone blocks, possibly to hide the objects as the Persian Empire began its conquest of Egypt, which ultimately led to the collapse of the 26th Dynasty, the last native Egyptian dynasty to rule. Some objects are inscribed with the name of Psamtik I, who ruled as king of Egypt from 664 B.C.E. to 610 B.C.E, during the 26th Dynasty, as well as those of the kings Wahibre Ibiau, who ruled ca. 1670 B.C.E., during the 13th Dynasty, and Ahmose II, who died in 526 B.C.E. and is considered the last great king of the 26th Dynasty.
In addition to this trove of artifacts, the archaeologists discovered what the described as a “large limestone threshold” that included a well once containing holy water. That structure also includes a bathtub, a bathroom, and a place where water could be heated.
The 9 Best Booths at Art Basel 2021: From a Monumental Nari Ward to Pauline Curnier Jardin’s Theater of Intimacy
Earlier this week, Art Basel opened its first in-person edition of its marquee fair in its hometown Swiss city since the onset of the pandemic. The anxiety of attending the fair, including meeting the strict Covid safety protocols required to enter, soon gave way to palpable excitement within the Messeplatz, the convention center where Art…
Earlier this week, Art Basel opened its first in-person edition of its marquee fair in its hometown Swiss city since the onset of the pandemic. The anxiety of attending the fair, including meeting the strict Covid safety protocols required to enter, soon gave way to palpable excitement within the Messeplatz, the convention center where Art Basel takes place. A parade of smart-suited VIPs of some of Europe’s top collectors lined up for the 11 a.m. entry before making their way into the fair. During the fair’s first day, the world’s top galleries reported strong sales across the board and at various price point, from the few thousand to over $5 million.
Below, a look at some of the best art at Art Basel, which runs through Sunday, September 26.


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Facebook Inc's (NASDAQ:FB) photo-sharing service, Instagram, said it had more than 300 million users, sharing over 70 million photos and videos each day.
Microblogging service Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) has 284 million active users, according to its website.
Four-year-old Instagram crossed 200 million users in March.
The service, bought by Facebook in April 2012, also said in a blog that users would now see a "verified" badge for celebrities, athletes and brands as Instagram pushes to deactivate spam accounts.
Instagram also said on Wednesday it will permanently delete spam accounts, which may cause a drop in some users' follower counts.
(Reporting by Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Joyjeet Das)


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Dalston pub’s outdoor tables stolen in the middle of the night
- Credit: Nick Letchford
A Dalston pub already struggling due to the Covid-19 pandemic had three of its tables stolen earlier this month.
The theft took place at the Victoria in Dalston in the middle of the night on May 6.
Pub owner and founder of the JaguarShoes arts collective Nick Letchford was “gutted” and said: “All I can assume is some people pulled up in a van and loaded them in or somebody local walked them away.
“Its more morale than anything and not money we want to have to spend prior to reopening – cause were pretty broke right now.
“The last thing we need is people stealing from us given the fact that we’ve not been able to trade.”
The pub’s CCTV cameras do not cover the area where the hefty tables with benches attached were taken.
Nick has set up a food box delivery service, a beer bank and launched a fundraiser to help his businesses survive the lockdown. It will cost about £120 to replace the tables.
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“It is what is – we’ll sort it out because we need to.”
He says the government may permit businesses to open outside areas earlier so it’s crucial he replace them.
“They’re quite a big lump! You wouldn’t imagine that they are an easy thing to steal or necessarily a thing anyone would want to be honest – who the hell wants benches? It’s bonkers,” Nick said.
To support Nick and his pub donate to the Jaguar Shoes Collective by clicking here
Or invest in it’s beer bank by clicking here.
Nick has also set up a food delivery service to support local produce and brands. Click here to order a box.


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November 26, 2014
NEW YORK: Apple, already the world's largest company by market capitalisation, hit a new record value: $700 billion. Shares of the iPhone maker rose 0.8% to $119.59 at 9:35 am in New York on Monday, giving it avaluation of more than $701 billion, a milestone that no other US company has ever reached. That puts Apple at 1.7 times the capitalisation of the world's second-biggest company, Exxon Mobil. Exxon, which has lost about $43 billion during the five-month oil rout, has a capitalisation of $405 billion.
March 25, 2006 |
MUMBAI: Branding is no more about physical goods only. Increasing competition and parity in the technology sector has made it imperative for services companies to go for brand-building exercises. As a result, IT majors like the HCL Group, Tata Consultancy Services and i-Flex solutions are now spending crores in creating and promoting a brand that can not only boost their topline and market valuation, but also differentiate them in the global market place. The Rs 12,000-crore HCL has launched a multimedia campaign to position itself as an innovative, multi-dimensional technology solution provider.
May 5, 2015 |
LAS VEGAS: Storage solutions provider EMC Corporation has announced major updates across various products besides data domain and protection portfolio. "The world is going through unprecedented transformation. By 2020, more than 7 billion people will connect to the Internet using 30 billion devices. With people, businesses and things communicating, transacting and negotiating with each other, a new world of digital business will emerge," said David Goulden , CEO EMC Information Infrastructure said here.
January 21, 2014
By Harsh Goenka I saw a video recently which seemed to have set Twitter ablaze. A youngster in Taiwan, unhappy with her job, expressed her angst by singing and dancing to a Kanye West number, delivering a rather creative resignation. The company's response, also through a video, made it more interesting. In the past decade or so, there has been a tectonic shift in way people communicate - multiple short messages, not hesitating to voice opinions and views, dropping their guard in the public domain and the acceptance of a stranger as 'friend' in the virtual world.
December 28, 2009 |
WASHINGTON: While it got off to a rocky start with the overhyped Y2K bug and dotcom bubble, the era dubbed the "Digital Decade" by Microsoft's Bill Gates has turned out to be a dizzying period of innovation. "It's been an amazingly vibrant decade for the internet and for digital things in general," said John Abell, New York bureau chief of Wired magazine, which has chronicled the technological leaps and bounds of the past 10 years. "People simply don't exist in a non-digital world at all," Abell said.
February 20, 2012 |
WASHINGTON: Two young Indian-American entrepreneurs are attempting to make the traditional paper resume a thing of the past by connecting the job seeker and the employer through video resumes. The Palo Alto Mayor, Yiaway Yeh, and several other top corporate leaders of the city - which is known as the heart of the Silicon Valley -- lined up last Thursday in its downtown to inaugurate the new office of GetHired.Com, which currently has just 14 employees.
January 3, 2002 |
nicholas negroponte, co-founder and director of the mit media laboratory, has a vision of an alternate world. a world made up of bits, which will take over the world made up of atoms. he has written a book on the subject ? being digital, and even media labs is focused around delivering this vision of the alternate world. "if you think of the last 15 years as a period which emphasised the difference between bits and atoms, the next 15 years will be those where bits and atoms meet," he says.
October 6, 2010 |
BE caught up with Howard Draft , executive chairman, DraftFCB USA, on the sidelines of Spikes Asia for a quick chat, one that included some intense direct marketing perspective. What is the scope and relevance of direct marketing in a digital world? I think direct marketing is more relevant than ever. There are multiple uses for the digital platforms to connect with the consumers, to allow them to read more information about a product or service than they can access through conventional means.
February 18, 2011
During a meeting, should you be "bold" by holding up your BB when typing or type furtively under the table? Is it appropriate to leave the BB buzzing near the speakerphone during a teleconference? Or, vibrating on the conference room tables? Can the juniors answer one "urgent client email" while the boss is harping about the poor Q3 results? Nobody will notice... Social scientists feel that our inability to concentrate on a single task is leading to increased stress and reduced attention span.
October 25, 2013 |
Companies are investing heavily on teams that build, test and implement strategies for digital platforms. Such teams are young, self-taught and innovative, and need flexibility and a culture that enables creativity. ET suggests ways to build a high-performing digital team. Empower Them The digital world requires teams to be empowered to take their own decisions, says Prithvi Shergill, chief human resources officer, HCL Technologies. However, Sinosh Panicker, associate principal — global technology services at executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles suggests a model of centralised-hybrid digital teams depending upon the size and complexity of businesses.


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Tohoku Zunko’s Official Shop on Booth is now distributing free downloads of her PowerPoint compatible manga kit, featuring her 3D model! Find and download them
Today, December 4, 2019 marks the 10th anniversary since the release of VOICEROIDs Tsukuyomi Shouta and Tsukuyomi Ai, as well as the VOCALOIDs Hiyama Kiyoteru,
One of the companies preparing for the biggest doujin event, Comiket 97, is none other than AH-Software! This time they collaborated with The Chara shop to create the most unique merchandise.
Later this week, Yuzuki Yukari, Kizuna Akari, Kotonoha Akane, and Kotonoha Aoi will be featured in a collaboration event in the rhythm game CHUNITHM CRYSTAL!
EHAMIC has completed work on his AHS VOCALOID 10th anniversary compilation album, Anniversary ☆ Hearty Songs! He has even posted a picture of the back
VOICEROID+ and Seika Town mascot character, Kyomachi Seika, has started a new crowdfunding campaign for Seika Town’s hometown tax! Contributors to the campaign will even


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big technology change
The ‘crash’ of technologies listed on the stock market, recession fears and high inflation have spoiled the party in the tech hubs of San Francisco, New York or Seattle.
in the jargon of silicon ValleyAnd unicorn is a technology company that is valued at over $1 billion, and as of mid-2020, approximately 430 companies fall into that category. Today it is estimated that there are over 1,000. A good statistic to explain how 2021 has been a year of absurdly high figures in the technology world, an absurdly high even for a sector accustomed to an excess of zeroes on checks.
Overall, venture capital companies invested in approximately $630,000 million In search of the next technological marvel. Cryptocurrency, Web3, Security, Data in the Cloud, Metaverse… Anything goes if there is even the slightest opportunity to become a shareholder in the next Google or Amazon anytime soon.
Oh fine. It is very likely that this record figure will now live on as the epitome of good times, easy money. In April alone, according to the data of crunchbaseThe amount invested in startups has come down by 12%. crash Fears of a recession and high inflation from publicly traded tech companies have spoiled the party in tech hubs in San Francisco, New York or Seattle.
One direct consequence is that, in an industry where until recently an engineer could jump from one company to another every six months with a significant salary increase, many now think twice about their next career move. Job offers and calls from recruiters start dwindling.
The new policy in big technology companies is to ban hiring. Twitter He announced it soon after Elon Musk’s interest in taking control of the company became known. With few exceptions, no division manager may contract.
meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, is in a similar situation. A few months ago he complained about how difficult it was to find talent due to the huge demand for programmers. Now, by order of his financial manager, he will stop hiring new employees for the rest of the year. It will also do so in its division focused on the so-called metaverse, which is believed to be the future of the company.
is one of the big technology companies not looking for new engineers Uber, “Hiring someone should be considered a privilege,” he said. Dara KhosrowshahiThe company’s president, in an internal statement issued earlier in the month.
For some companies, withholding new contracts is not enough. Stocks are in free fall and there isn’t much room to issue more debt, requiring them to quickly improve cash flow. They have begun to reduce expenses by laying off some of their employees, something that hasn’t happened on a large scale in the sector since the 2008 crisis. This is the case of Netflix, which has eliminated hundreds of jobs in its editorial department, my point of viewwas created just a few months ago to support the launch of streaming,
But there are other examples. CarvanaA well-known startup for sales of vehicles, at the beginning of the month laid off more than 2,500 employees, 12% of its workforce; Robin Hoodan app to work on the stock market at 9%; pelotonWhich sells exercise bikes with an associated interactive class service and has become a mass phenomenon for more than 2,800 employees, 20% of its workforce, during the pandemic.
The website takeoffs.fyi has tracked all these layoffs since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and the figure is already around 116,000. A good chunk of that happened in the first half of 2020, when confinement measures suggested a complete halt in economic activity. travel and transportation companies such as Booking, Uber or Airbnb Thousands of workers were laid off in fear of the recession.
However, technology companies showed a great potential for customization and their valuations skyrocketed on the stock market and in funding rounds. From September 2020, the number of layoffs in the industry was minimal. The worst, it seemed, was over. But since February this year, the graph of layoffs has increased rapidly. Unemployment figures in the US remain at historic lows, but it is well known that Silicon Valley always likes to go against the tide and this one seems to be no exception.
according to the norms of