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New York Comic Con will now require customers to fill out a "Fan Verification" profile prior to purchasing tickets, the organizers announced in a press release. It's an extra step that is meant to curtail ticket scalping, according to event producer ReedPOP, which puts on the annual convention.
"Our mission is to eliminate the amount of scalpers and resellers who end up with NYCC tickets and get those tickets directly into the hands of our fans," the company explained in an FAQ.
Beginning May 20 at 12 p.m. ET, the required Fan Verification process will open up online to all hopeful Comic Con attendees. (That includes those who plan to attend with tickets bought for them by friends.) Customers will fill out profiles about various programming details along with their names and emails.
The organizers maintain that this information is strictly meant to weed out potential resellers, not for passing along to outside marketers.
Verification runs from May 20 to June 13
"All information provided during the fan verification process will be strictly held confidential by ReedPOP and will not be shared with any third parties," Lance Fensterman, senior global vice president of ReedPOP told Polygon. However, tapping a badge at the convention itself with exhibitors or sponsors will sometimes result in you opting into their marketing; this is totally optional, however.
Those who use fake emails or create multiple profiles will not be verified; that's how Comic Con plans to keep the scalpers out. The organizers will send out confirmation of verification status to customers within 48 hours of them completing their profiles. The period will run until June 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET, with tickets going on sale sometime after that date.
Being verified doesn't guarantee that fans will be able to buy tickets, of course. Tickets will remain available on a first-come, first-served basis, but verified customers will receive a unique link that will go live as soon as tickets are available for purchase. Tickets can only be bought online, and the sale date has not yet been announced.
There also won't be VIP tickets sold this year, according to the FAQ. New York Comic Con runs from Oct. 6-9. Check out our coverage from last year for a sense of what one of the country's biggest comics conventions is like.


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Founded by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III, FASA has created successful new game worlds since 1980. The company (formerly known as also as FASA Corporation and also FASA Interactive) is known for games such as BattleTech, Crimson Skies, VOR: The Maelstrom, and Shadowrun. FASA has licensed its games for novels, computer games (the MechWarrior series), virtual reality games, miniatures, toys, a television series, a card game and more.
FASA Studio was acquired by Microsoft in 1999 and became part of the Microsoft Game Studios family of development groups. Unfortunately, the studio was officially dissolved on September 12, 2007 and is no longer in operation.
To celebrate BattleTech's 25 anniversary, MekTek.net will soon be offering MechWarrior 4 for free.
The developers of Shadowrun are shutting down their studio.
Too many burdens drag down what could have been a fun game.

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Securing credit is about to get easier for millions of inexperienced Americans.
In an April 28 press release, FICO® announced their partnership with LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Equifax to provide FICO Score XD, the latest model aimed at helping previously unscorable consumers gain access to credit using alternative data.
What is “alternative” credit data?
There’s nothing mysterious about alternative credit data. In fact, the term encompasses the most ordinary accounts in your life, from home utilities to cell phone service, rental history and cable service. Although these accounts are commonplace, they are rarely reported to the Big Three credit bureaus by accounts holders, preventing consumers from cashing in on positive payment habits and long-term histories.
Why is alternative data necessary?
FICO XD promises inclusion for consumers who haven’t yet formed a positive credit history due to lack of experience.
“Financial inclusion for more people is what the market is seeking,” Jim Wehmann, Executive Vice- President, Scores, at FICO said in the press release. “We want to create as much financial opportunity for as many people as possible. Obtaining a credit card is often the first step in building a solid credit history. FICO Score XD can help millions of Americans take this step, enabling them to gain access to mainstream financial products and enjoy opportunities that had previously been out of reach.”
Opening the marketplace with underreported data allows businesses to benefits from new customers and allows consumers to build positive credit along the way.
“Data outside of traditional credit reporting opens up opportunities for lenders to pinpoint and target new creditworthy prospects out of a vast, somewhat untapped, market and confidently extend credit to these new consumers,” John Cullerton, senior vice president, New Product Innovation & Product Management at Equifax said in the press release. Additionally, using NCTUE® data in alternative data scores such as FICO® Score XD helps provide consumers with greater access to credit.”
Where is FICO XD used?
FICO XD scores will appear alongside regular FICO scores, allowing lenders to see a fuller picture of credit applicant habits and account history. While they are graded on the same scale of 300 to 850 points, one score will not replace the other.
Does this mean I shouldn’t focus on my regular FICO credit score?
No! FICO is meant to include consumers with little credit experience in the borrowing process, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your standard FICO score. The basis of XD is inclusion based on alternative data with the goal being long-term credit health and histories. Apply the positive habits used to pay utility bills and cell service to your new credit accounts.
The Bottom Line
The credit system is doing its part to help consumers take control of their finances, and it’s your job to grab the opportunities when they arise. Focus on the Five Factors that apply to every credit score and build your reports with consideration.


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Sep 15, 2016
Right now, the FDA has no direct authority to regulate the safety and effectiveness of cosmetic ingredients before they are used. There are some voluntary programs, and the FDA can move against companies that mislabel ingredients or make medical-like claims. But they are powerless to step in when 21,000 people claim that Wen makes their hair fall out.
As a matter of public policy, the only check against a "bad" ingredient in a personal care product is what's called “products liability” law. If you sell a product that causes harm, victims can sue you and collect damages for the harm caused.
So, as opposed to Europe, which regulates ingredients in advance of their use, the US allows manufacturers to use any ingredient without prior approval or testing. If it causes harm, there may be legal repercussions. But otherwise, manufacturers can use any chemical or ingredient they want.
There are literally thousands of chemicals currently used in shampoos and conditioners. Most have not been tested for safety, toxicity or effectiveness. According to the Environmental Working Group, women use an average of 12 personal care products a day, exposing themselves to 168 chemical ingredients. Men use six, exposing themselves to about 85 unique chemicals. So, what we have is a vast uncontrolled experiment with the American public: The public is being exposed to significant numbers (and amounts) of new chemicals, without regard to any inherent risk or worry about how those chemicals might impact the consumer or how they interact with one another.
It's amazing that there hasn't been a major problem ... at least a problem we know about. After all, we know chronic diseases like autoimmune disorders, asthma, allergies and inflammatory conditions are all on the rise. Why? Could it be the cumulative exposure to some of these 20th century chemicals? Stress? Diet? Who really knows?
That’s about to change. The Personal Care Products Safety Act, a bipartisan bill, was introduced by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). Hearings were recently held. The Act would reform regulation of personal care products, requiring companies to ensure that their products are safe before marketing them and giving FDA the tools it needs to protect the public.
The Act would empower the FDA to review the safety of ingredients and would give the FDA the same tools for ensuring the safety of personal care products as it uses to regulate food and drugs:
We at illumai are committed to healthy beauty ... and to complete product safety. After all, our origin is rooted in medical science and the Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm. So, despite some added cost, we support this legislation.
We have nothing to hide. We have sourced ingredients from legitimate US sources, and we have tested our key ingredients for sustainability and safety, addressing things like:
We do all this based on our company values, not because of regulation.
Yes, it will cost money to comply with these sorts of regulations. And thoughtlessly crafted regulation could create an insurmountable burden on new companies, like ours, that are bringing new, innovative products to market. (Big companies are fond of "level playing fields," provided that they are very, very high: If you need $1,000,000 for regulatory compliance before bringing a new cosmetic product to market, only the biggest companies can afford to do so.)
But regulations CAN be crafted to maintain an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship. For example:
We are a small company bringing an innovative, patented, very unique product to market. We have ensured that our 7 simple ingredients are fully consistent with health ... and they really work. We'd be happy to prove it, too! Healthy beauty!


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Nova Poshta Global launches regular air delivery from/to United States, China
Nova Poshta Global (NPG), a member of Nova Poshta group of companies, launches scheduled flights from/to the United States and China.
The company's press service said on Tuesday that flights by the order of Nova Poshta Global will be operated several times a week and deliver both parcels from Ukraine and purchases made by Ukrainians in online stores of these countries.
Together with partners, the company has already launched six scheduled flights, namely, five flights to/from the United States and one to/from China. Four flights in the direction of Warsaw-New York-Warsaw are operated by European airlines Lufthansa and LOT, and one weekly direct flight Kyiv-New York-Kyiv of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA). Nova Poshta Global launched another weekly flight to/from China in cooperation with the Ukrainian company SkyUp.
"We launched scheduled flights with our regular partners Lufthansa, LOT and UIA, and last week we began cooperation with Ukrainian airline SkyUp. The first flight of this airline has already delivered 1,801 parcels for our customers with a total weight of 17 tonnes, including both individual orders and commercial goods. This is only part of the parcels that Nova Poshta Global delivers to Ukraine from China weekly. We deliver on average about 25,000 parcels weighing more than 38 tonnes per week from the United States," the press service said, citing Nova Poshta Global CEO Yuriy Benevytsky.
According to Nova Poshta Global, orders from the United States increased by 4.7 times in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, which was due to cooperation with the American online store iHerb, namely, some 230,000 parcels with a total weight of 360 tonnes were delivered from that store for the first quarter of 2020.
According to the data provided, the number of deliveries of NP Shopping service has also increased in particular some 81,000 parcels were delivered in the first quarter, which is 32% more than in the same period in 2019.
However, the company's customers began not only to order more from abroad, but also to send abroad. Thus, for the first quarter of 2020, the volume of export shipments of individuals increased by 12%, and business customer shipments doubled compared to the same period in 2019. Almost 78% are parcels and goods, some 12% are documents.
Nova Poshta Global (formerly Nova Poshta International) has been providing international express delivery services since 2015, and is part of the Nova Poshta group of companies. Nova Poshta Global is developing the NP Shopping service – the delivery from online stores in the United States, China, Britain and Poland, provides import and export services for businesses and the ability to ship from any Nova Poshta branch to most countries of the world.


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In a time when information exchange between applications has become the Holy Grail of healthcare IT, interface engines are more important than ever. As such, a new KLAS report looks at these important technologies, and finds two vendors rising to the top.
(Click on the player below to hear an interview with report authors Paul Pitcher and Lorin Bird)
Corepoint Health and InterSystems topped the report, Interface Engines: Beyond Interoperability, scoring 96.3 and 96 respectively (out of a possible 100 points).
Corepoint is experiencing “tremendous growth” in its client base, according to KLAS. The company had the largest presence of any vendor in smaller healthcare facilities (fewer than 200 beds), but very few clients in facilities with more than 500 beds. According to Lorin Bird, KLAS research director and a contributor on the report, that’s not because of any inherent weakness in the vendor’s software.
“Corepoint can scale — the larger customers they do have are scoring them just as highly. The feedback we received is that customers haven’t found any limitations, and are not concerned with their ability to scale. They say that it’s done what they’ve needed it to do,” he said.
The company received the highest scores for product development and new technology, its customers raved about the “extra-mile efforts” of Corepoint’s support staff, and liked the robust and flexible technology of the interface engine, KLAS stated. Most customers felt the system met all of their expectations, the organization added.
Running a very close second to Corepoint (in a “virtual tie”) with 96 points is InterSystems, but the two are rarely found in the same arena, KLAS stated, with almost all of InterSystems Ensemble (one of the company’s flagship products) customers being 500+ bed facilities. Ensemble achieved the highest increase in satisfaction score of any vendor product over the past year.
Other ranking vendors/products include Lawson/Cloverleaf Integration Suite, Orion Health/Rhapsody, and Siemens/OPENLink. Findings about Mirth/Connect were also included in the report, but did not meet KLAS Konfidence levels to be ranked in the report.
Bird said the interface engine market is booming, in part, because even small community hospitals now need, can afford, and can manage the technology. They can do so because vendors are “providing robustness in a simpler package. The top systems have the horsepower to handle multiple, complex interfaces and still make things simple and intuitive for the interface analyst. When that’s the case, you get a win/win,” he explained.
On the vendor side, many interface engine providers have seen another robust business open on the horizon. “Those vendors that are well entrenched with interface engines as their core competency have found a natural path to move into health information exchange and use their engine as the backbone for the HIE technology, ” said Paul Pitcher, director of financial systems with KLAS and author of the report. Such an offering might also comprise an enterprise master patient index and physician portal.
Added Pitcher, “There really now is a solution for every customer out there to address scalability and volume — whether the organization is larger or small there is something out there. We anticipate we’ll continue seeing products evolving, getting simpler and better.”


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Sony's Xperia Tablet Z is making quite a splash.
SAN FRANCISCO — Weekends in Tech here at USA TODAY bring a wealth of great reads about the latest tech products and tips to help you be more efficient, savvy and secure. Highlights for some of the great content you might have missed if you spent the weekend unplugged:
Sony's water-resistant Xperia Z tablet will be showing up on store shelves in just a few weeks. Get a first hand look courtesy of USA TODAY contributor Jennifer Jolly. Key takeaways: This Sony Android tablet is priced in the same range as the iPad and can take a soaking in up to three feet of water for as long as 30 minutes. If you're cool with Android and have a mind to surf the web in the tub, this could be up your alley.
Wearable computing will very, very soon marry the worlds of fashion and technology, Scott Martin writes in a comprehensive post looking at the near-term future of Google's Glass, a raft of smart watches and more.
Google will first dispatch Glass to developers who signed up to be the first to purchase the computerized headgear, which sticks smartphone functions on a tiny screen in front of one eye, And Apple is filing patents suggesting it is at work on a computerized watch to bring iPhone functions to the wrist.
A smart watch is just a glimmer in a patent for now from Apple, but smart watches will be a hot topic this spring as new models from several companies start hitting the market.
You don't have to be an extraterrestrial to appreciate the high-tech gimmickry found in the Martian G2G watch, writes USA TODAY contributor Deb Porterfield. The stylish and surprisingly comfy Bluetooth watch can communicate with both iPhone and Android phones. The G2G is shipping soon, with two other Martian models to follow shortly.
More of our top stories from the weekend:
— Get more secure in two steps. Rob Pegoraro walks you through two-step verification log-in procedures from Google, Yahoo and others. With just a little fuss, you can make your online life a whole lot more secure.
— Sherlock Holmes adventure bows on iPad. It's elementary. One of the highest-rated PC adventure games over the last decade has made its debut on the iPad. Contributor Marc Saltzman says Frogwares' "Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened" that is a successful PC port that looks, sounds and plays great on the iPad - especially if you If you enjoy a slower-paced, story-driven and puzzle-filled game.
— Vinyl makes a comeback. Alice Truong's surf report takes a spin with an exceedingly cute $100 turntable for those who want to dabble in old school without a huge investment. The Cruiser, from turntable maker Crosley, won't exactly wow audiophiles, but it'll do for those on a budget and curious about vinyl, she says.
The $100 Cruiser from Crosley is a portable turntable that takes after a briefcase. Alice Truong reports.


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Shares of many household-name retailers plunged on Friday as the COVID-19 pandemic reared its ugly head again. Researchers from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota now say that the disease may continue to spread for nearly two years, potentially delaying the return to normal retail operations by as much as 18 months.
Responding to this grim report, shares of electronics and home appliances vendor Best Buy (BBY 2.42%) fell as much as 6% on Friday while arts and crafts supplies retailer Michaels (MIK) dipped as far as 16.1% lower. Office supplies seller Office Depot (ODP 0.36%) took an even deeper dive, falling as much as 16.7% lower.
All of these stocks saw strong price gains in April as the coronavirus started to look like a winnable battle. Today, the University of Minnesota's analysis of the underlying SARS-CoV-2 virus showed that governments around the world must be prepared to tackle another 18 to 24 months of mitigation efforts.
"Because of a longer incubation period, more asymptomatic spread, and a higher [average number of new infections spreading from a single infected individual], COVID-19 appears to spread more easily than flu," the report said. "The length of the pandemic will likely be 18 to 24 months, as herd immunity gradually develops in the human population."
An effective vaccine would help, as would a reliable treatment for severe cases. Research efforts are under way for both of these healthcare approaches but we're a long way away from mass production of an approved solution. Premature attempts to reopen closed businesses and canceling the social distancing policies that are in place now will probably lead to additional waves of new infections and COVID-19 deaths.
Each one of these retail chains has managed the novel coronavirus crisis in different ways.
Best Buy furloughed 51,000 of its 125,000 workers in mid-April, as part of a broad cash-conservation program. Curbside pick-up sales currently account for roughly 70% of the full retail experience's weekly sales, while online sales more than tripled in comparison to pre-COVID levels.
Office Depot decided to reorganize itself under a new holding company while drawing down extra cash from its credit facilities. The company has neither furloughed any workers nor reduced executive paychecks, and management hasn't provided any updates on Office Depot's financial performance under these unusual circumstances.
Michaels installed a new CEO with corner-office experience from retail giant Walmart (WMT 0.86%) on April 1, and new leader Ashley Buchanan is facing massive challenges right now. Michaels was in dire financial straits before the coronavirus outbreak and the company tried some shady tactics such as declaring itself an essential retailer in a bid to stay open while other store chains closed their physical doors. Like Office Depot, Michaels hasn't announced any serious cost-cutting moves apart from the usual fare of curbside-pickup operations.
In light of these varied situations, Michaels could be in serious trouble if the coronavirus pandemic sticks around for much longer while Best Buy should be able to survive even a long period of nothing but online orders and curbside pickups. For Office Depot, I guess we won't really know until the company reports earnings near the end of May. The corporate silence itself may be a bad sign -- if the company had any good news to share, I'm sure management would have told us by now.
Best Buy's shares have now fallen 13% in 2020 and Office Depot is nursing a 19% cut. Michaels investors have suffered a 62% plunge and the stock currently trades at just 1.7 times trailing earnings and 0.1 times sales. All of these stocks could still fall much further if the market-moving virus report is right.


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NORFOLK, Va. – Three more stores are leaving Norfolk’s MacArthur Center.
J. Crew, Fossil, and Brighton Collectibles are being added to this list of others leaving MacArthur Center, according to Marketing Director, Karen Husselbee.
MacArthur Center has recently celebrated the opening Glow Golf and will soon open a 19,000-square-foot GameWorks.
Locally owned, Bonilla Pet Studio will also have a grand opening in the near future.
“Retail spaces continue to evolve from shopping only to offering multiple and varied experiences. MacArthur Center is leading the evolution with its Live360° programming, events, partnerships and non-traditional as well as traditional tenants,” Husselbee says. “Our leadership in this area brings thousands of people to downtown Norfolk and raises awareness of countless causes while providing opportunities to create, inspire, share, learn, and grow.”
Husselbee says MacArthur Center and their operator, Starwood Retail Partners, are committed to creating a welcoming environment and new experiences for Hampton Roads.


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New Delhi- According to NHS statistics, skin cancer affects men significantly more than women and the risk of dying from the disease is almost double. Since the 70’s, the death rate from skin cancer among men has tripled. In one study, 31 percent of men said they did not use sunscreen, compared to 15 percent of women. Dermatologists and other physicians and healthcare professionals are at the forefront of encouraging and strengthening their patients’ sun protection habits. Despite the beneficial effects of sunscreen in preventing skin cancer and premature aging, some sub-populations may lack adequate skin care habits, including SPF products.
The rate of non-melanoma skin cancer – which is usually less severe but still needs treatment – is higher in men. For example, men are identified as the least likely population to use sunscreen consistently. A new study further uncovers this trend and provides fancy insights into the effects of poor skin care habits on the skin characteristics of these individuals. Many women think of men and boys among their friends and family, who often suggest that they should use some sun lotion, only to turn from embarrassed to red because they create dangerous burns later in the day. In an exclusive interview with MDLinx, the two leading dermatologists provided insights into the gender disparity, suggesting that physicians could help close the gap.
Skin care tips
Using sunscreen, protective clothing and other protective practices, sun protection can play an important role in preventing skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. According to research, despite the benefits of sun protection, men are less likely than women to use SPF-containing products. Physicians are more aware of the benefits of using sunscreen and the potential risks of non-use in male patients. Needless to say, it may increase their use and help prevent skin cancer.


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Ex-Diamond Bank CEO, Uzoma Dozie sits for a chat with Techpoint Africa’s Adewale Yusuf to discuss his shift from traditional banking to digital banking with ‘Sparkle’, potential competition with his brothers (Carbon) and his entrepreneurial journey so far
Following a debate last week, about whether or not $10,000 for 5% equity is a good investment deal for early-stage startups, Techpoint CEO, Adewale Yusuf weighs in on the conversation.
Techpoint is 5! At exactly 00:01 on January 1st, 2015, our first post went live. It’s been 5 rewarding years but our journey has just begun. Find out what we have planned for 2020
Our founder and CEO, Adewale Yusuf shares the journey to establishing the Techpoint Startup School and plans for the future.
Techpoint is officially 4 today! Here’s a flashback of our major activities in 2018 and our plans for the new year 2019.
Techpoint founder, Adewale Yusuf shares his experience attending Web Summit 2018 and his drive to get more African startups on the global stage
On November 14, 2018, Techpoint, in partnership with TechStars, hosted the first African tech talent meetup in Europe. The aim was to create a platform where tech talents from different European countries can hangout and basically have a sense of community.
Techpoint Africa, in partnership with Techstars, will be hosting a meet and greet evening for African developers, designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs, who work and reside in Berlin or any nearby city
In the next edition of Techpoint Build, we are switching things up a bit by taking it beyond Nigeria and focusing on West Africa. We are also increasing the grand prize money to $10,000.
Say hello to Techpoint Africa. Starting August 1, 2018, Techpoint is expanding to cover startup and technology activities, not just in Nigeria, but in Africa as a whole.


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Wireless services and gadgets abound at electronics show
More and more of us are carrying music collections in our pockets and watching TV on our laptop computers, making wireless devices a potential gold mine for companies trying to cash in on the lucrative market.
So it's no surprise that electronics makers are vying to outdo each other at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week as they roll out gadgets and services for folks on the go.
Here's a roundup of some of the more intriguing announcements:
- Iriver announced a deal with Podcast Ready, creator of portable podcast management software, to ship MP3 players with pre-installed podcast software. Users can plug a compatible iriver device into any internet-connected computer to access Podcast Ready's myPodder software to update, subscribe to and manage audio and video podcasts.
- Com One expanded its Bluetooth portfolio with the introduction of surround-sound speakers. The speakers add 3-D surround sound for gaming consoles and MP3 players.
- ArcSoft announced its mobile broadcast TV system, allowing consumers to watch live TV broadcasts from their portable devices.
- AngelMobile is teaming up with AlmaVision, the largest Hispanic Christian TV network in the United States, to develop a new mobile content channel for the Hispanic Christian family and youth market. The channel will "push" new mobile content for cell phones and will feature original educational and motivational programs targeted for the young Hispanic market in Los Angeles.
- Skyhook Wireless is partnering with ReignCom, a Korean manufacturer of media devices, to launch a Wi-Fi enabled iriver portable media player. The device comes with "location awareness," allowing consumers to find places and things around them. Unlike GPS or cell tower systems, the device works indoors and in dense urban areas. Users can listen to music, watch movies, or play games on the go, and can retrieve information about what is around them, such as banks, transit stops and tourist destinations.
- Yahoo! Inc. launched a new search service for mobile devices. Called Yahoo! OneSearch, it allows consumers who want to see the results of a sporting event for example to type the name of the team into the search box to get the final score of the most recent game and information on the next scheduled game. They can also click through to get a team profile and roster, official website, sports photos, related news articles and web images.
- Research In Motion (RIM) and Yahoo! Inc. teamed up to bring Yahoo! Go to BlackBerry users for a personalized on-the-go internet experience. The personalization includes current headlines and breaking news tickers.


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Internet Explorer 7 leaks onto Internet
Microsoft had promised to go public on Internet Explorer 7 in the first quarter of this year. But as a part of Microsoft's eternally-delayed Windows Vista, one might have thought IE7 would suffer the same setbacks. However, some Windows fans took matters into their own hands when last Friday it was revealed that a build of the new browser - version 5299 - along with numerous screenshots, was available online. Not that Microsoft had anything to do with the leak. Its involvement was limited to taking down the link to the code where it was posted on Windows techie forum JCXP.net. But that was not before several thousand expectant fans had got their browsers pointed at it.
Find out more Here.


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The new iPad comes with advanced technology and features like the Retina Display and 4G LTE connections.
However, there are several other features and bugs that could make you rue the decision to buy one.
Check out six reasons why the new iPad may not be a the answer to all your dreams:
Data Drain/Speed Trap
The promise of a 4G LTE-ready iPad may be too much of a step to take.
To begin with, the availability of 4G service actually depends on the user's network service provider (AT&T or Verizon). An earlier IBTimes UK report suggested the new iPad's 4G frequencies were not actually supported by Telstra in Australia and across several countries in Europe, including the UK, even as Apple faces a potential lawsuit, for false advertising, in Australia.
In addition, for users on entry-level data plans, the bad news is the new iPad accesses more data than they may think. Users have already complained of expensive plans and of data allotments being used up in a day and sometimes even a few hours. According to Verizon, watching streaming HD video on the new iPad consumes 2GB of data every hour.
Overall, 4G plans are more expensive than 3G options. Moreover, the 4G network offers limited coverage and therefore may not be a good choice.
Earlier reports from US-based consumer advocacy group - Consumer Report - suggested the new iPad runs as much as 12 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the iPad 2. The report further claims the new iPad hits 116 degrees Fahrenheit while running graphics-heavy action games like Infinity Blade II. Users have been constantly reporting similar problems and complain they cannot even hold the tablet in their hands or rest it on their laps. Despite growing concerns, however, Apple has dismissed all reports, stating the device works within specified operating standards.
Poor Wi-Fi Reception
Users of the new iPad have also been complaining about weak Wi-Fi signal reception. Apple's discussion forums are already buzzing with these complaints.
Smart Cover - Sleep Issue
There have also been problems reported with fitting the iPad 2 smart covers on to the new iPad. In a worst case scenario, the older covers are reportedly interfering with the reversed polarity of the magnets. Another issue, again, because the covers do not fit the new iPad is a problem with sleep issues - the tablet display fails to turn off when the cover is closed.
Battery Drain/Overcharging Issue
Another reported problem is the fact that the battery reportedly drains faster, even when plugged in. Reports suggest heightened battery discharge while playing games. A fully-discharged battery reportedly takes between five and six hours to recharge fully. There are also reports suggesting the battery charge indicator might be misleading because the battery continues to charge even after the indicator shows 100 percent.
Finally, the ultra-high resolution Retina Display has also drawn some flak, even as Apple advertises the display as a technological marvel. The problem is a yellow tint that seems to blur the screen. There have been reports of the tint affecting a tiny part of the screen but some iPad owners claim the yellow hue spreads across the whole screen.


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New acquisitions, leadership changes, retooled cloudstrategies and possibly new products are some of the things industry watchersare speculating they will see from SAP AG this year.
HANA was the most successful new product SAP had rolled outin recent years.
While hype around the in-memory database will most likelypersist in 2013, Chris Kanaracus of Computerwold.com the following will alsograb headlines for SAP this year:
1) New acquisitions – In 2012, SAP partnered with socialanalytics vendor NetBase. It’s entirely possible that this year, SAP may decidethat it is much better to own such technology. Such a decision could pave theway to the acquisition of NetBase of companies like it such as LithiumTechnologies Inc. and Attensity.
2) Cloud strategy – Expect some big announcement from SAP inthe upcoming Sapphire conference in May. The event could be the launching padfor new cloud applications that zero-in on particular business use and line ofbusiness issues like the company’s Financials OnDemand.
3) HANA’s road map – A HANA road map for 2013 is expected to beunveiled when SAP holds a major news conference in January 10. Many start-upsare building databases with HANA but in order to maintain its momentum a widerrange of high-profile deployment especially in mission critical workloads inessential.
4) C-level movement – Will either of SAP’s co-CEO’s BillMcDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabe make a move for solo leadership of thecompany? There have been no “public indications or report of tensions” betweenthe two, according to Kanaracus but he points to persistent rumours linkingMcDermott to such intentions.
5) A new product – SAP’s reworked research strategy currentplaces emphasis on developing products which the company believes could lead tosuccess within three to five years. Will 2013 be launching pad foranother breakout product like HANA?


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The general manager of Bob’s Coins & Jewelry, Ocala, Fla., shot at a thief who entered her store with a hammer, broke a glass case, and escaped with an official Vatican Treasury gold medallion worth $20,000. A news report states that Vickie Buxton informed the robber—who entered the store wearing a bandana over his face—that she would shoot; he ignored her announcement and smashed a glass display case containing coins. Two attempts to fire her .380-caliber handgun resulted in misfires, but a third effort landed a bullet into the back of the bluish-purple sports utility vehicle that Buxton witnessed the robber got into.
According to the news release, a string of area robberies convinced Buxton to take classes on handling firearms and to purchase one. Minutes prior to the robbery, she noticed the vehicle idling in front of the store and circling the parking lot. Detectives are looking for the suspect, described as a white male approximately six-foot tall, of medium build, who was wearing a white jacket or long-sleeved shirt and camouflage short pants.
Anyone with information should call the Ocala Police Department at (352) 369-7000 or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.


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The public sector lenders saw the biggest rebound in inquiries in July and August 2020, most likely because they were early in recommencing operations than their Private and finance
counterparts. The lockdown, imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19, did impact consumers’ ability to apply for credit as lender branch offices functioned with very limited capacity. The economic uncertainty caused lenders and consumers to take a cautious approach to borrow.
However, this also resulted in a level of pent-up demand, which has now started to come through, CIBIL said in a statement.
Although not back to the pre-Covid levels seen in January and February 2020, inquiry volumes have started to recover from their troughs in April and May 2020, and in July and August, 2020 were similar to levels seen during the same period in 2018.
The uptick in home loan enquiries could possibly be due to lenders completing the pending transactions that had been halted at the onset of Covid-19. Another factor at work may be consumers seeking to transfer existing home loans to lenders offering better interest rates consequent to rate cuts announced by the regulator.
The increased inquiry volumes for auto loans for July and August 2020 could be attributed to consumers seeking vehicles due to the limited availability and rising fear of commuting via public transport.
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Maruti Suzuki's production cut down by 10 per cent in April
Maruti Suzuki has stated that their production had been cut by 10 per cent across factories during the month of April. After reducing production in the month of February and March, it is the third consecutive month that the company had cut down its production.
In the month of March, the company reported a production cut of 20.9 per cent and in February, the production was over eight per cent as compared to the corresponding month of last year.
The production of the passenger vehicle was cut by 10.3 per cent to 1,44,702 units with respect to 1,61,370 units in the corresponding month of 2018. The compact vehicle segment also saw a drop in production from 83,709 units to 83,411 units
The company has also reported that the production of vans has come down to 10,688 units from 14,407 units which is a 25.8 per cent drop. Excluding their utility vehicle segment, the company reduced the production of all the other segments including their cash cows.
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- NewsLimited edition Diavel 1260 Lamborghini draws inspiration from 820PS Lamborghini Sian FKP 37


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Up to date: February eight, 2020 9:02:45 am
That Apple Watch was the primary promoting smartwatch was by no means disputed, nevertheless it seems to be just like the machine additionally beat the whole Swiss watch business for the yr. A report from Technique Analytics estimates that the Apple Watch outsold the whole Swiss Watch business in 2019, and this was not even an in depth a battle if one goes by the numbers talked about within the report.
Apple Watch shipped almost 31 million items internationally in 2019, in comparison with the 21 million shipments for all Swiss watch manufacturers mixed, in response to the report. Beforehand in 2017, it was reported that the Apple Watch outsold the whole Swiss Watch business, however that was just for the fourth quarter. In September 2017, Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner had known as the Apple Watch because the best-selling watch on the planet, forward of manufacturers like Rolex, however he didn’t give out any numbers.
This time, the comparability is for the whole yr, which reveals how the Apple Watch continues to dominate the whole section.
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“We estimate Apple Watch shipped 30.7 million items worldwide in 2019, rising a wholesome 36 % from 22.5 million in 2018. A mix of engaging design, user-friendly tech and sticky apps makes the Apple Watch wildly standard in North America, Western Europe and Asia,” Steven Waltzer, Senior Analyst at Technique Analytics, mentioned on the numbers.
In his view, conventional Swiss watch makers like Swatch and Tissot are dropping the smartwatch wars as Apple continues to ship higher product via deeper retail channels. “The window for Swiss watch manufacturers to make an affect in smartwatches is closing. Time could also be operating out for Swatch, Tissot, TAG Heuer, and others,” he added on the report.
General, Technique Analytics estimates that the whole Swiss Watch business had a fall of 13 per cent, given shipments stood at 24.2 million in 2018. Whereas analog watches are nonetheless standard among the many older crowd, for youthful audiences, smartwatches are the popular units.
Apple itself doesn’t disclose cargo numbers for any of its machine segments anymore. Nevertheless, throughout the first quarter outcomes, Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner had highlighted the recognition of the Apple Watch.
He had throughout the earnings name that, “Over 75% of the shoppers buying Apple Watch throughout the quarter had been new to Apple Watch.” Prepare dinner additionally mentioned that each AirPods and Apple Watch had been will need to have vacation presents, and helped “drive unprecedented outcomes for the class.” This occurred whilst Apple confronted provide constraints for Apple Watch Sequence three and AirPods Professional.
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Question Time audience member reveals electric car 'anxiety'
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Buildings undergoing large renovations with more than 10 parking spaces will also be required to have new electric car charging points installed. The new plans will see an extra 145,000 charging points installed across the UK.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined the new plans today at the Confederation of British Industry annual conference.
He said the new plans were a “pivotal moment” in a bid to “adapt the economy” towards green technology.
He said: “We will require new homes and buildings to have EV charging points – with another 145,000 charging points to be installed thanks to these regulations.
“We are investing in new projects to turn wind power into hydrogen and our net-zero strategy is expected to trigger about £90billion of private sector investment, driving the creation of high wage high skilled jobs across the UK as part of our mission to unite and level up across the country.”
He added: “The pace of change is now going to accelerate like a new Tesla.
“I can tell you as a former motoring corresondent EV’s may not burble like sucking doves, or have that grrhmm vroom rahh you love.
‘But they have so much torque they movce faster than Ferrari.
“In just a few years time, after almost a century of using roughly the same technology, we are going to change radically our cars, our trucks, our buses.
Car tax rates will ‘have to go up’ on electric vehicles [COMMENT]
Manufacturers decline COP26 agreement on selling electric cars [ANALYSIS]
Electric car charging stations ‘at risk’ of not matching demand [INSIGHT]
Gill Nowell, Head of Electric Vehicles at LV General Insurance backed the new proposals but warned the tools must be designed with “drivers in mind”.
She said: “Drivers sit at the heart of the move towards electric car uptake.
“We welcome Government’s pledge to ensure that all new homes, supermarkets and workplaces must have charging provision.
“We must ensure that the chargers are designed and installed with all drivers in mind, that all drivers feel safe whilst charging their car, and that they work, are easy to use, and are fit for purpose.
Save 10% on your MOT
It’s Kwik Fits’ Midsommer Madness sale and you can take 10% off your MOT Test with the UK’s #1 MOT tester – just click the link to book online.
Source: Read Full Article


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Latest 1UP.com Stories
NEW YORK, May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 1UP.com, in conjunction with launch partner NOSÂ® Energy Drink, today announces the launch of the all-new 1UP Game Cheats mobile application, featuring tips and strategies, full game walkthroughs and real-time interactive game help. Developed for the iPhone, the new mobile application provides users with instant access to 1UP.com's vast database of cheats, walkthroughs and user-submitted tips.
SAN FRANCISCO and NEW YORK, May 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- News Corporation's IGN Entertainment today announced the acquisition of Hearst Corporation's UGO Entertainment, an agreement that will create a clear leader in video games media.
NEW YORK, Nov.
NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- 1UP Network, the recognized leader in print and online videogame content, today announced the results of the 2008 1UP Network Automotive Study, an automotive study fielded online among 1UP Network users by a third-party, Surveynetwork.com, in August 2008.


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On October 23, Invest Shenzhen held the “Invest in Shenzhen for a Win-Win Future—China (Shenzhen)—Brunei Investment Cooperation Conference” in Bandar Seri Begawan.
The Shenzhen delegation introduced the city’s policies for innovation and entrepreneurship as well as its investment environment. Jia Changsheng, Deputy Director of Invest Shenzhen, elaborated on Shenzhen’s good environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, and expressed hope that local entrepreneurs in Shenzhen will invest in Brunei and seek cooperation to benefit compatriots there. Attendees were deeply impressed by Shenzhen’s excellent environment for innovation and entrepreneurship and expressed their desire to visit Shenzhen to experience the attraction of the innovation-focused city in person.
Dr. Zeng Ruiji, President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Brunei, expressed hope that Invest Shenzhen will guide Chinese businesses in Brunei to expand globally to create more opportunities for investment and cooperation.


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Fifteen years ago, Nathan Hubbard and his band Rockwell Church played Austin's South by Southwest music festival, the gathering of industry insiders and plain ol' fans who meet each year to catch some of the 2,000 bands that descend upon Austin in search of fame and fortune.
On Friday, Hubbard returns to SXSW once again – only this time as Chief Executive Officer of Ticketmaster.
In Austin, Hubbard will face music of a different kind, directed at one of the most loathed companies in America.
Now 35, Hubbard's career has shot up faster than a Vassar Clements fiddle-solo. After graduating from Stanford Business School in 2004, Hubbard worked at Musictoday, then Live Nation, before last year's merger with Ticketmaster.
That combination created a three-headed entertainment colossus made up of an artist management division, run by Irving Azoff, a concert promotion division, Live Nation, run by Michael Rapino (who also is CEO of the Live Nation parent), and a ticketing division, Ticketmaster, which Hubbard now runs.
On paper, Hubbard looks good for the role: he's young, a musician and a Stanford MBA.
Wired.com sat down with him in New York this week, ahead of his appearance at SXSW for a discussion about Ticketmaster, the role of technology in the concert business, and what it means to become what he calls a "life-long fan."
In a wide-ranging and candid interview, Hubbard detailed plans to introduce dynamic pricing, paperless tickets, social media tools, and what he called "the science to set the right ticket price."
Hubbard had harsh words for secondary ticket market StubHub, which he accused of waging a "propaganda war" against Ticketmaster.
Finally, he addressed the sensitive and controversial topic of ticket fees, saying it is "critical" that the industry heed calls by consumers that all fees and charges be displayed "right up front in the buying process."
In contrast to some of the music industry's Baby Boom-era titans – who ran the industry by God-knows-what-logic – Hubbard is among a new generation of entrepreneurs and executives using science and technology to try to transform hidebound companies and industries.
At the center of Hubbard's focus, naturally, is ticket price, and he made it clear that the time has come to move beyond the industry's traditional approach to ticket pricing, which he called "very unsophisticated."
"We price a bunch of inventory below the intersection of supply and demand, and the preponderance of unsold inventory teaches us that we price a lot of inventory above the intersection of supply and demand," Hubbard said. "As a rule in our industry, the good inventory is priced too low and the bad inventory is priced too high."
Heading into the summer tour season, consumers should expect to see as many as 8 to 10 seat price choices and 'dynamic pricing'A typical arena or amphitheater concert has three price points, Hubbard said, in contrast to sporting events, which can have as many as 10 to 15 price points. Heading into the summer tour season, consumers should expect to see significantly more seat price choices for concerts – as many as 8 to 10 – in a move designed to price tickets more efficiently.
Consumers can also expect to see "dynamic pricing," which uses data to calibrate the price of a ticket based on supply and demand, a fairly revolutionary development for the concert industry. Airlines and hotels use dynamic pricing to adjust ticket prices, but Hubbard says Ticketmaster won't go as far as those industries, where prices fluctuate on a minute by minute basis.
Hubbard said that within the next few months, Ticketmaster would roll out "demand forecasting tools that use predictive models to spit out a recommendation for what each seat should be priced at."
Hubbard said the company would be using dynamic pricing on about 50 percent of its amphitheater shows this summer. "In some cases that's going to mean moving inventory across price points as demand ebbs and flows," he said. "We engage more fans through better pricing and we get more butts in the seats."
One of the more controversial initiatives that Hubbard is spearheading is paperless ticketing, which is fiercely opposed by secondary markets like StubHub, for obvious reasons: paperless tickets are non-transferable and cannot be resold, because the buyer has to swipe their credit card at the entrance to the show.
StubHub is so exercised about paperless tickets that it recently sent out an ominous email to all of its customers warning that paperless tickets "could deprive you of your essential rights as a fan." The company urged its customers to join what it calls the "Fan Freedom Project" to protest the injustice of paperless tickets.
Hubbard said StubHub is waging a "propaganda war" based on scare-tactics to try and protect its own interests.
"I am incredibly disappointed in how they are approaching the paperless issue," Hubbard said. "I think it's fan-unfriendly, and I think it works against the interest of the fan. It's just unfortunate that StubHub and some of the scalpers have decided to take the industry backwards with a propaganda campaign."
In a lengthy statement emailed to Wired.com, StubHub spokesman Glenn Lehrman said the company "supports innovation and technology; we are simply opposed to anti-consumer uses of technology."
"We welcome the use of paperless tickets that utilize bar codes and smart phones instead of paper," Lehrman said. "But when new technology is used to solely benefit primary ticketing agencies, venues and owners and harm individual consumers, the public and our legislators should be wary."
"Primary ticketing agencies like Ticketmaster utilize paperless ticketing under the guise that it gives real fans the opportunity to purchase premium, sought-after seats, but that's just putting lipstick on the real problem, which is why aren't those seats available in the first place," Lehrman added. "Unlike StubHub, primary ticketing companies aren’t transparent with their inventory. There is no public manifest, and no way of knowing how much inventory is being made available to the public and how much is being held back for the artist, venue, promoter, label, fans clubs, etc."
'These are not mutually exclusive concepts, the secondary market and paperless ticketing,' Hubbard says. 'They should co-exist. They need to co-exist.'For his part, Hubbard was emphatic that there is "absolutely a role for a vibrant secondary market." He even cited the example of his father, who is a Washington Redskins season ticket holder, but every year can't go to some night games because they end too late.
Hubbard's enthusiasm for secondary ticket markets shouldn't be surprising, given that Ticketmaster operates its own secondary market, TicketsNow – a StubHub competitor – which Ticketmaster purchased for $265 million in 2008.
"These are not mutually exclusive concepts, the secondary market and paperless ticketing," Hubbard said. "They should co-exist. They need to co-exist."
Hubbard said that at least in the short term the company would pursue a multi-pronged strategy, in which dynamic pricing, paperless tickets, and secondary markets would all play a role.
Looking ahead, Hubbard predicted that eventually the primary and secondary ticket markets would merge, though he said: "I don't think the industry is ready for that yet, but we're building for the day when it will be."
For the moment, Hubbard has more pressing concerns, like addressing widespread consumer confusion and frustration with Ticketmaster's sometime baffling and inexplicable ticket fees.
"We get that fans don't like fees," Hubbard wrote in a follow-up email after the interview. "The reality is that as talent costs have gone up, fees have become an extension of the ticket price, and many parties in the value chain participate in them. While we always tell fans what they will pay, fans tell us that when we show them how much money we are asking them to pay right up front in the buying process, they are more likely to buy a ticket. So that's what we want to do."
"But we cannot do this alone," Hubbard added. "We work for our clients and artists, and need them to buy into this. We have seen some real visionaries willing to take steps in this direction, and we are hopeful that the rest of the industry will follow. It's not just good for us – it is critical for the industry as we try to improve the fan experience with live events across the board."
Despite his emphasis on technology, Hubbard knows that fancy predictive models and paperless tickets alone won't address a larger challenge that faces Ticketmaster: its reputation as one of the most loathed companies in America.
So he's on a mission to re-orient the company's focus to make music fans – and the development of what he calls "life-long" fans – an absolute priority at Ticketmaster. Hubbard says he wants to leverage the combined force of Live Nation's three giant divisions to make that happen.
"You've got to walk the talk," Hubbard said flatly. "Part of the point of the merger was that between our artist management division, our concert promotion division, and our e-commerce division, which is Ticketmaster; when you put those things together, you ought to be able to accelerate the rate of change."
Hubbard talks a good game, and his background lends credibility to his comments. But make no mistake: Hubbard is no longer strumming down-home tunes in warm bars for college kids. His number one responsibility – and fiduciary duty – as the chief of a major division of a $2 billion public company is to the shareholders, who want a return on their investment.
And given Ticketmaster's abysmal track record on fees, transparency, privacy and customer service, it's going to take more than a sweet jam to change the public perception of the ticketing giant.
- DOJ Approves Modified Ticketmaster, Live Nation Merger
- Ticketmaster Tweaks Ticket Fee Transparency Via Twitter ...
- Everyone Hates Ticketmaster — But No One Can Take It Down
- Ticketmaster Chief: Billing Glitch Caused Springsteen Fiasco ...
- Ticketmaster May Have Had Fake Facebook Friends Created (Updated ...
- Ticketmaster Earns First Honest Dollar
- TicketMaster and Live Nation Face the Music in Congress ...
- Ticketmaster Acquires Majority of Front Line Management ...
- Ticketmaster/Live Nation Merger Could Raise Ticket Prices ...
- Ticketmaster Grabs TicketWeb
- Live Nation/Ticketmaster Merger Faces Obstacles Here and Abroad ...
- Live Nation and Ticketmaster Prepare to Merge
- Live Nation, Ticketmaster Merger Risks Antitrust Scrutiny ...
- Justice Department to Probe Live Nation/Ticketmaster Merger ...
- Ticketmaster IPO Takes Off


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An opportunistic car test driver was apprehended by Derbyshire police after allegedly attempting to flee JCT600’s Mercedes-Benz dealership in Chesterfield in a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.
Officers from the Derbyshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit took to Twitter to share news of the seizure of the near-£40,000 high-performance sports saloon after pursuing the 476PS approved used vehicle as its driver allegedly attempted to leave the county.
The Tweet said: “Chesterfield. Mercedes on a test drive, driver fancies his chances and tries to steal it. Located as he leaves the county. Male arrested and vehicle recovered.”
JCT600’s Mercedes-Benz dealership in Chesterfield in located on Lockoford Lane.
The Bradford-based AM100 retail group expanded its operations with the German premium brand in the town back in 2017 when it opened an Audi and Mercedes-Benz car PDI centre featuring an outdoor stock holding area for up to 600 cars, wet and dry valet bays enabling work on 10 cars at a time, and two indoor handover bays able to accommodate 25 cars per day.
Earlier this year, in response to COVID-19 social distancing measures effecting car sales test drives, Vertu Motors' chief executive Robert Forrester told BBC Breakfast how the car retail sector will “trust customers” to take unaccompanied test drives as showroom retailing gets back underway.
Asked about the risks taken by the business in letting people drive away in a brand new car unaccompanied at the time, Forester said: “When you actually go for a test drive you will be the only person in the car, which will be quite a major change for customers.
“There are some fairly obvious potential risks, but I think we trust the vast majority of customers to do the right thing, to do the right routes and come back.”


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20 Jun 2013 Electronic Invoicing – The Mexican mandate is not just a matter for the Mexicans
The electronic invoice goings on in Mexico have, understandably, attracted a great deal of attention. While nations like the US and the UK continue to sit on the fence, the Mexicans are setting the pace. But this isn’t just a matter for the Mexicans. And it’s not just Latin America that needs to keep a watchful eye on what’s going on as I realized when I spoke to Christian Lanng, CEO of Tradeshift and Steve Sprague, VP Product Marketing and Strategy for Invoiceware International.
I spoke to Christian and Steve shortly after they announced a strategic alliance in May. The press releases that go out alongside these announcements are often dry and lacking detail so I was eager to hear what was so special about the Tradeshift and Invoiceware partnership and to get some insight from the people on the ground.
Without living and working in a country it’s not possible to fully understand the nuances of business and as Steve pointed out, operating within Latin America and complying with the new and still evolving invoice regulations is extremely complex. Latin America is multi-country, multilingual environment and maintaining the compliance rules is non-trivial to say the least. This is what Invoiceware bring to the table. They don’t do e-invoicing per se (at least not in the sense that Tradeshift and the other networks do) – they do the compliance. “We distribute to the end customer” explained Steve. “We track that distribution and we collect from the suppliers and correspond with them if the invoice is invalid. It is all done just a bit differently than the traditional e-invoicing network.”
The second area of synergy is less obvious but very powerful. Within Latin America, both buyers and suppliers are obliged to use electronic invoices. But sellers still have to accept invoices from outside the Latin American jurisdiction. That gives them a challenge. They need to have electronic invoice records from their customers who are sending them paper. This is where Tradeshift’s CloudScan creates the second area of synergy. In simple terms, CloudScan allows sellers to verify the integrity of electronic invoices that have been scanned from paper. It’s a simple but powerful solution to the mixed environment that the Latin Americans have to manage.
The final area of synergy is the Tradeshift business model – it just fits. There is something very different about Europe and the USA when it comes to e-invoicing. In those territories electronic invoicing has been buyer driven. The message has gone out: “We require electronic invoices. Please send them to us in this prescribed format.” That won’t work in Latin America. There, the message has gone out from Government: “You are required by law to send and receive invoices electronically. You will all use this single prescribed format.” Tradeshift’s flexible, interoperable, free-to-supplier format will work well in Latin America and proprietary standards just won’t be allowed. This is not to say of course that other operators cannot thrive in Latin America. It’s just that the buyer driven model won’t work because in Latin America, e-invoicing is government driven.
So Tradeshift and Invoiceware are right to be excited about their partnership. As the World Cup and the Olympics – not to mention Brazil’s rapidly growing economy – makes Latin America an even more attractive market place, more and more global businesses seeking to capitalize on the opportunity are going have to accommodate electronic invoicing as a business process. The impact of the Mexican mandate it seems, could go much further than the Mexican borders.
Pete Loughlin can be found on twitter @peteloughlin


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BANGALORE: Five days after an early-morning fire ravaged it, the city's iconic Russell Market is all spick and span and ready to resume business on Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, the market literally rose like the proverbial Phoenix from the ashes. Traders cleared the marketplace of all the charred remains of the Saturday blaze that gutted 123 of its 440 shops. New shop spaces were created to facilitate vegetable, fruit and toy traders to open shop.The traders said waiting for the government to act would have been a problem as losing business day in and day out would only jeopardize traders' financial health. "When your house is in distress,you have more affection for it," said Mohammed Idrees Choudhary, a trader. "Our livelihood depends on this market and so we cleaned it up."


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As more world class artists and designers incorporate 3D printing technology into the fabrication of their work, museums and galleries all over the world are starting to take notice. Recently the Metropolitan Museum of art in New York, one of the world’s most famous museums, kicked off their 2016 gala with an exhibition that featured 3D printed clothing. That is most certainly one of the most high-profile examples, but 3D printing is becoming an important part of the art world and museums looking to attract new visitors and guests are starting to bring in and featuring 3D printed artwork of all kinds. There have recently been several high-profile 3D printed art accessions by prestigious museums, including MoMA in New York, Centre Pompidou Paris, Science Museum in London, Museum of Fine Arts Boston and MAK in Vienna.
Because industrial-quality 3D printers are still quite expensive, many modern artists are teaming up with 3D printer manufacturers to produce their work. Companies like Stratasys are more than happy to help artists create new and exciting things for both the chance to be part of a piece of art that may be around for decades, and to generate mainstream press that shows off what their machines can do. Last year Stratasys helped MIT professor and architect Neri Oxman create the amazing Gemini Chaise Lounge. Gemini is made from a 3D CNC milled wooden frame with a 3D printed, multi-material, multi-colored skin inside of the womb-like structure. Stratasys recently announced that the chaise is being acquired by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) for its permanent collection.
Oxman’s Gemini lounge was designed in collaboration with Professor W. Craig Carter and Stratasys closely collaborated with them on the 3D printed skin which was printed on a Connex3 multi-material 3D printer. The lounge was designed to be a semi-enclosed environment that would be free of external-stimulation and shaped to enhance vibrations that can be healing to the human body. The biologically-inspired 3D printed skin that lines the interior of the lounge is a series of knobs or bumps that offer a comfortable cushion that was designed to support and relax the body. The knobs also absorb and deaden sound, offering even more isolation and comfort.
The 3D printed skin was printed using various combinations of three different advanced materials and several different colors to create its unique look and feel. Stratasys used the Connex3 triple-jetting technology to combine three base 3D printing materials into entirely new materials. They combined the rubber-like TangoPlus material with the rigid VeroYellow and VeroMagenta materials in multiple shades of reds, yellows and oranges to create the skin, which has a total of forty four individual material properties throughout it. The various materials, shapes and textures of the 3D printed skin create a vibrational acoustic effect that enables the lounge to have a quiet, calming environment.
You can learn more about the Gemini Acoustic Chaise Lounge here:
“No other manufacturing technology is able to provide such a variety of material properties in a single process. This makes Stratasys color, multi-material 3D printing technology very compelling for artists. And that’s just one influencing factor in the recent growth we are seeing in museums advocating 3D printed artwork. We believe that the technology has substantial cultural impact and expect it to have a significant influence on buying habits and manufacturing industries. As museums strive for public engagement with art, this progressive technology provides an important cultural reference, which should be celebrated,” explained Stratasys Creative Director Art Fashion Design Naomi Kaempfer.
This isn’t the first collaboration between Prof. Oxman and Stratasys that was acquired by a large museum recently. She also collaborated on the Anthozoa: Cape & Skirt designed by fashion designer Iris van Herpen, along with Professor W. Craig Carter that was recently added to the permanent collection at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The MoMA in New York, Centre Pompidou Paris, Science Museum in London and MAK Vienna have also recently incorporated 3D printed art and fashion created by Prof. Neri Oxman and Stratasys into their permanent collections in 2014. Primarily pieces from Oxman’s Imaginary Beings: Mythologies of the Not Yet collection. Discuss this article in the 3D Printed Chaise Lounge forum thread on 3DPB.com.
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MMGY Travel Intelligence’s latest study reveals that 73% of American travelers intend to take a vacation in the next six months, up significantly from 62% one year ago. This is one of the key findings released in 2022 Portrait of American Travelers “Spring Edition” survey undertaken in February of more than 4,500 respondents.
“Overall, we anticipate that 2022 will be seen as a year of continued growth for the travel industry, with many Americans opting to ‘go big’ with their travels after playing it more conservative the last few years,” said Chris Davidson, EVP of MMGY Travel Intelligence. “Inflation and the recent increase in gas prices may mean that travelers choose to venture a bit closer to home or alter their spending slightly, but the demand for travel is palpable.”
|Airline Ticket Sales Exceed a 2019 Milestone for the First Time: “February bookings for U.S. travel beat those preceding the pandemic, a data analysis found. Summer looks promising for the industry, if fuel costs cooperate.” — The New York Times
Travelers report using fewer sources for ideas and inspiration in 2022 than they did in 2021, seeking out 4.7 sources on average. The advice of friends and family is the top source for ideas and inspiration across all generations.
Key findings from the Portrait of American Travelers “Spring Edition” include:
- For the majority of Americans, COVID-19 is no longer a barrier to travel. In addition, the percentage of vaccinated travelers continues to increase, with 69 percent of active leisure travelers sharing that they have already received the vaccine—up 4 percentage points from the latest survey in October. Travelers indicating that they will not get the vaccine remains constant at 16 percent.
- Among all age groups, younger generations intend to vacation most during the next 12 months, with Gen Zs and Millennials leading the way with an average of 5.0 and 4.1 trips planned respectively.
- Older generations intend to invest more on their vacations, with Boomers planning to spend an average of $1,142 per trip. Gen X was the next closest generation at $670 total per trip.
- In the growing trend of solo travel, 1 in 4 Americans plans to take a trip alone in the next six months. U.S. destinations over-indexing in appeal to solo travelers include three cities in California—Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Anaheim—along with Chicago, Atlanta, Ann Arbor and Kansas City.
For more information, visit mmgyintel.com.


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Retail warranty provider UK Warranty has extended its insurer network with the addition of Acasta Europe to their panel.
The partnership follows the firm’s commitment to extend its network of underwriting partners after shareholder Pacifica Group took 100% ownership, making them the largest repairer of white goods in the UK, the company adds.
UK Warranty managing director Neil Martin (pictured) said: “I’ve made a promise to ensure that UK Warranty provides retailers with wider choice and wider coverage, this relationship marks a significant milestone in the journey to delivering this.”
Acasta will play a key part in the company’s plans to invigorate the warranty space and offer manufacturers and retailers a more tailored warranty proposition in a market that has been dominated by ‘off the shelf’ solutions, UK Warranty says.
Acasta Europe managing director Keith Wardell commented: “We’re excited to work with UK Warranty having seen them go from strength to strength since their formation in 2011. The innovation they bring to the warranty space is refreshing, they are constantly seeking new ways to provide retailers and their customers with products fit for a new technological era – this fits well with our commitment to designing niche products for our clients.”
UK Warranty are anticipating the deal to reach £1 million premium within the next year and already have plans to enhance their Repair and Cover offering to include a Direct Debit option through Acasta, the provider adds.
More information on Acasta Europe and its services can be found at www.acastaeurope.co.uk.


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Author: Betty Evans
Starting this week, Amazon intends to fire about 10,000 employees from corporate and technical positions. According to those aware of the situation, this would result in the most significant employment lay-offs in corporate history.
The Amazon devices division, which includes the voice assistant Alexa, will be the prime goal of the lay-offs. According to the individuals, who spoke anonymously: the company’s layoffs would also concentrate on its retail segment and human resources.
The fact that Amazon is planning to make cuts during the crucial holiday shopping season demonstrates how swiftly the faltering global economy has pressured Amazon to cut divisions that have been overstaffed or underperforming for years.
Amazon could also be the most recent technology company to fire employees, despite recently fighting to keep them.
The Dynamic of Amazon through the years
Due to the pandemic, Amazon experienced its most prosperous period as customers rushed to online shopping and businesses flocked to its cloud-based services.
Amazon doubled its workforce in two years and funneled its winnings into expansion and experimentation to find the next big things. However, earlier this year, as the pandemic’s bullwhip snapped, Amazon’s growth dropped to its lowest rate in 2 decades.
Overinvesting and expanding resulted in high costs for the company, while changes in consumer behavior and rising inflation hurt revenues.
Amazon also recently shut down and scaled back on several projects, including Amazon Care, a service that offered primary and urgent medical care that could not attract enough consumers.
The company decreased its workforce by about 80,000 from April to September, primarily among its hourly workforce.
In September, Amazon stopped hiring for a number of its smaller teams. It stopped filling over 10,000 vacant positions in its primary retail division in October. It ceased corporate hiring two weeks ago for the upcoming several months across the corporation, including its cloud technology section.
Alexa and other Devices
Internally, devices and Alexa have always been considered vulnerable to cuts. Alexa and associated products shot to the top of the business priority list because Amazon tried to develop the top voice assistant. Many leaders believe that assistants may replace mobile phones as the most crucial consumer interface in the future.
Amazon has sold lots of gadgets with Alexa functionality. But according to the company, the products frequently have low-profit margins, and other possible revenue streams, like voice shopping, have not gained traction.
After the pandemic’s rapid expansion and a spike in demand, Amazon’s retail sector has been struggling. The business has stated that it has reduced its expansion plans and has informed investors that it believes customer confidence is low.
This week, Amazon plans to fire about 10,000 employees from corporate and technical positions, resulting in the most significant employment lay-offs in corporate history. The Amazon devices division, which includes the voice assistant Alexa, will be the prime goal of the lay-offs.


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Facebook Strategic Preferred Marketing Developer Brand Networks announced Thursday the launch of bn.insights, the company’s comprehensive insights dashboard. Additionally, Brand Networks celebrated becoming the second company (Adobe being the first) to earn all four Facebook PMD badges — pages, ads, applications, insights.
Brand Networks CEO Jamie Tedford spoke with AllFacebook about the honor of earning all four Facebook PMD badges:
We’re really excited about it. It’s been something that we’ve been working on really for the past six months — just fine-tuning our insights capability and ultimately our platform that we call bn.insights. For us, it was really about completing the picture for our clients. Insights have been something that our clients have typically either relied upon in native Facebook reporting and insights, or relied upon a fairly manual process of us pulling reports and presenting them on an ad hoc basis. So this is really the next phase for us.
The company’s newest product, bn.insights, is a centralized social dashboard that measures social intelligence and analytics. Brand Networks’ entrance into the insights market is designed specifically for large brands that need to take hands-on approaches to their social presence, both on a national and hyperlocal scale.
The bn.insights program includes analysis across the social graph, delivering data from pages, publishing, ads, and audience data. It also has actionable insights to help marketers succeed through algorithmic recommendations. The program includes converged analysis, which examines data across paid, earned, and owned performance to optimize strategy while managing reporting, publishing, and amplification workflows. The new program can also track and demonstrate social return on investment.


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The Portsmouth Brewery Introduces Beer for Menopausal Women
The Portsmouth Brewery is introducing what they call an 'empowering gruit.' LIBEERATION, is the first craft beer specifically brewed for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.
'LIBEERATION,' is being released on draft on October 5, 2017 with a limited bottle release to follow.
Joanne Francis, who co-owns The Portsmouth Brewery and Smuttynose Brewing Company says her team has come up with ingredients believed to relieve symptoms like sleeplessness, hot flashes, and mood swings.
LIBEERATION is a gruit style ale that’s golden straw in color with fruity, spicy, earthy flavors. According to a write-up on their website: it contains a combination of ingredients herbalists use to help women dealing with hormone shifts that come with age, including: Motherwort, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Stinging Nettle, Mugwort, Rose, Chickweed, and Damiana. A small dose of Saphir hops in the secondary fermentation adds a pleasant tangerine note to the finish and can help with sleep, according to Head Brewer Matt Gallagher.


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Privacy and Shopping Upgrades Planned for HealthCare.gov
HealthCare.gov is expected to have significant privacy and shopping enhancements for the next open enrollment period beginning on November 1, including a new tool called a privacy manager that allows consumers to opt in or out of third-party advertising, analytics, and social media on HealthCare.gov, Marketplace CEO Kevin Counihan announced last week. The Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight also announced support for the “Do Not Track” browser setting, a feature used in web browsers to request web applications disable either their tracking or third-party web tracking. Consumers can also expect to use enhanced plan shopping tools, as reported by the Associated Press, including one that enables consumers to see if their preferred providers and medications are covered by a plan they are considering. Consumers will also be able to obtain an estimate of total expected out-of-pocket costs, including cost sharing for services such as office visits.
Issuers Will Receive 2015 Reinsurance Payments Early
CMS announced that it will make early payments under the reinsurance program for 2015 to health insurance issuers of eligible Qualified Health Plans (QHP). Reinsurance funds are intended to provide protection against claims uncertainty for the first three years of the Marketplace program. CMS is using experience from loading claims last year combined with a surplus of reinsurance funds from 2014 and additional collections for the 2015 benefit year to provide the payment early. The early payment will be a partial payment made in March 2016 at a coinsurance rate of 25%. The final coinsurance rate, which is estimated to be 50%, will be calculated based on total collections and requests from issuers, and is expected to be announced in June 2016. Payments not made as part of the early payment will be made in late 2016. This follows last week’s announcement that QHP issuers will receive 12.6% of their requested risk corridor payments.


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AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to millions of articles from top publications available through your library.
Like most independent shoe retailers, Van's Fine Men's Shoe Shop caters mainly to a local market. So how does the store sell to customers in Japan and Saudi Arabia?
The Internet. Last fall, Van's launched an e-commerce Web site, allowing it to sell its shoes nationwide and even internationally.
"That's found money," says Van's owner Larry Reese. "These sales that are coming in-from all over the country, I would never have had them, nor would those people have ever heard about me in a million years had it not been for the Internet."
The Internet has been viewed as a threat to many small, independent retailers amid the growing presence of large e-commerce sites like Amazon.com and eToys.com. Yet small merchants like Reese see the Internet as a way to blast through …


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Android phones are infamously slow to get updates as of Google’s last update in February, only 1.1 percent of Android users have access to the latest version of the software but apparently, the problems with Android’s software updates go deeper than that. Research firm Security Research Labs is claiming that numerous Android manufacturers are lying to users about missed security patches.SRL researchers Karsten Nohl and Jakob Lell spent two years analyzing Android devices, checking to see if the phones actually had installed the security patches that the software said it had. The pair found that many devices had what they call a “patch gap,” where the phone’s software would claim it was up to date with security patches but was, in reality, missing up to a dozen of the patches. The missed patches aren’t just an isolated incident, either. According to Wired, SRL tested firmware from 1,200 phones from companies like Google, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, ZTE, and TCL for every Android patch released last year. They found that even major flagships from Samsung and Sony occasionally missed a patch.Obviously, this is bad. Whether it’s intentional or not, customers aren’t just being left vulnerable to hacks by not having the latest security updates. They’re also being lulled into a false sense of security by thinking that they are fully protected, which could lead to far more disastrous results down the line. To help with that, SRL is releasing a tool called SnoopSnitch on the Play Store that can analyze your phone’s firmware for installed or missing Android security patches to see if you’re really safe, but it really shouldn’t have had to come to this in the first place.
To be clear, not all phone manufacturers are equal when it comes to missing security patches. On average, phones from Google, Samsung, and Sony only tended to miss the occasional patch. But companies like ZTE and TCL performed far worse, with devices that claimed to have installed an average of four or more security patches than they actually did.


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One Direction star Harry Styles is 6/1 with Betway to reduce his new short-back-and-sides haircut by resorting to the clippers and shaving it all off for his next trim!
In breaking hair news, the style icon chopped off his shoulder-length locks for a sharper look as he begins filming for Christopher Nolan’s latest flick Dunkirk and, according to the online bookmaker, it may get shorter still.
The suave slick back is another fancied option, also at 6/1, followed closely by the quiff (8/1) like that sported by fellow One Direction member Niall Horan.
In thinking that he’ll go shorter before going longer again, Betway make it 10/1 Styles’ next hairdo is a side-parting rather than something requiring the aide of an Alice-band (20/1).
The bookmaker is also offering 50/1 for the That’s What Makes You Beautiful singer to bag a BAFTA, and 100/1 an Oscar, for his silver screen debut in Dunkirk.
Betway’s Alan Alger, said: “Wherever Harry Styles walks, eats, sleeps or breaths, droves of people pay attention and this latest style switch up has unsurprisingly attracted plenty of attention.
“Now that he’s taken the chop he could be in for a few more style changes over the coming months and we think going fully shaved is the next logical step.
“If anyone can bring a hairdo back into fashion it’s probably Harry Styles and we offer 33/1 that he brushes up with a mullet next.”
Well… let’s wait and see! It is the most important news of the day.


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Starbucks and Paris-based dairy giant Danone, parent of Dannon, have formed a strategic partnership in which a new, exclusive line of yogurt products will be sold both in participating Starbucks stores and grocery channels.
The partnership, whose financial terms were not disclosed, is designed to advance Danone's goal of expanding yogurt consumption in the U.S., and Starbucks' strategy of expanding its health and wellness offerings under the Evolution Fresh brand, the bottled juice and natural foods business it acquired for $30 million in 2011.
Starbucks has since begun selling Evolution Fresh juice products in some U.S. grocery chains, in Starbucks stores, and in four (to date) Evolution Fresh-branded shops.
The new yogurt line, called Evolution Fresh, Inspired by Dannon, is described as a portfolio of ready-to-eat parfait Greek yogurt products, to be co-created by the companies.
The products will begin to be offered in U.S. Starbucks stores (which currently number more than 10,000) next spring, and in grocery stores in 2015.
The companies said that they will, in a second strategic phase, roll the products out to targeted markets around the world. Starbucks currently has more than 7,000 stores in international markets.
Despite the massive and continuing growth of yogurt sales in the U.S. (up 6.6% to $7.3 billion last year, primarily driven by Greek varieties, according to Packaged Facts), per-capita rates of yogurt consumption in the U.S. (about 24 cups per year) significantly lag those in European countries (144 cups in France, for example), Danone Group CEO Franck Riboud pointed out to The New York Times.
“With a fast-growing but still low penetration of the yogurt category, the U.S. remains a key growth opportunity for Danone,” Riboud said in the companies' agreement announcement. “The recent success of the Greek segment and our Oikos brand have confirmed the growing appeal of tasty and nutritious yogurts for U.S. consumers and established Dannon’s leadership in the market. We believe this attraction will be further enhanced by our new access to millions of consumers through distribution in Starbucks stores, as well as through the addition of an exciting new brand.”
Across its yogurt brands, Danone currently has the leading U.S. share (about 30%), although within Greek yogurts -- which now account for over 40% of the total yogurt category -- Yoplait and Chobani have larger shares, per Euromonitor International stats cited by Reuters.
With some 70 million U.S. customers per week, and continued strong growth in its branded packaged goods in retail channels, Starbucks certainly represents a major new channel for Danone -- although Riboud told the Times that the major attractions in the agreement from his standpoint were the two companies' meshing focuses on a community approach to customers and employees, and on social programs.
Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz confirmed a significant acceleration of yogurt sales in the company's stores in recent months, and that healthier product introductions in general have seen strong uptake, making rethinking its long-offered yogurt parfait was a natural strategic move.
Starbucks also acquired Le Boulange bakery this year, for $100 million, and will begin replacing its current cafe bakery offerings with Le Boulange products later this year, according to the Times.
“Starbucks is committed to evolving and enhancing our customer experience with innovative and wholesome food offerings," Schultz said in the Danone agreement release. "Today’s announcement underscores this commitment through the transformation of our existing yogurt offerings and our multi-year agreement with Danone. We are energized by the strong customer response to Evolution Fresh offerings, and believe a strategic agreement with Danone, the world leader in fresh dairy products, affords us the perfect opportunity to grow -- and elevate -- the Evolution Fresh brand both in our stores and in CPG channels.”


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The Chinese online payment provider Alipay has added a number of security products from CyberSouce, a Visa-owned e-commerce management provider.
Alipay is using CyberSource's Decision Manager and Managed Risk Services products. Decision Manager screens inbound orders against data and correlations from more than 60 billion transactions Visa and CyberSource processes each year. The transaction data is bolstered by 260 validation and correlation tests, which allow the technology to spot suspicious activity. CyberSource also recently entered a partnership in Laos.
Managed Risk Services combines Decision Manager with fraud consulting services, monitoring and configuration of fraud risk practices to a businesses requirements and market conditions.
Alipay supports more than 800 million registered users and processes over 105.8 million transactions daily, totaling a monetary value of more than $3 billion. On November 11, the company processed 188 million transactions. Alipay is the largest online payment service in China, facilitating about half of online payments in the country, it says.
"The implementation of CyberSource Decision Manager and Managed Risk Services allows us to better understand best practices in global risk management and build an efficient system for our extensive user base," says Tu Jianwei, a senior director at Alipay, in a Nov. 19 press release.


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A new restaurant is open in Rockmart, a business that is already well-known throughout the community.
Timbo’s Smokehouse BBQ, located on Nathan Dean Parkway in the former Chopsticks restaurant location, and had their official opening March 12.
Owners Tim and Connie McGinnis (husband and wife) are excited to be officially open in a new form as a sit-in dining location.
Timbo’s has been serving the community for the past five years through a food truck, commonly seen at Raceway on Friday afternoons, and at many local events and business locations.
As his business got bigger, Tim McGinnis realized he had the opportunity to serve through a bigger outlet. As well, having the new restaurant space and large kitchen will serve an importance for the catering aspect of their business, where Timbo’s has served up to 1,100 people.
Tim McGinnis stated that all of the favorite items from the food truck’s menu are available in the restaurant, including smoked pork, smoked chicken, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, brunswick stew, and chocolate cobbler.
A few new items are being offered, though, such as salads, potato salad, and baked potatoes, as well as smoked prime rib served on select days.
Timbo’s stopped the public accessibility of the food truck in September in order to prepare for the opening of the storefront location.
After opening for a short period of time, Tim McGinnis made the decision to close the restaurant’s dining room availability on March 21 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the business is still open for to-go and curbside services.
The restaurant is offering a variety of deals, specifically a new menu of family meal specials. Options range from $25 to $31, feed four to six people, and include combinations of one pound of meat, two sides, buns, and sauce. Family-size quantities of items can be ordered individually as well.
Timbo’s Smokehouse BBQ is located at 1063 Nathan Dean Bypass, Rockmart. The restaurant’s regular hours are Thursday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. More information and updates can be found on their Facebook page.
Source: Thanks https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/polk_standard_journal/news/local/timbos-still-going-strong-after-first-month-as-new-restaurant/article_7a673e00-8d48-11ea-87a4-33bbf9ce65f2.html


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Ohio Challenge Balloon Festival: Southwest Ohio's most popular balloon festival, is taking place July 19-20 at Smith Park.
Women, Wine & Chocolate Walk: An annual walk held each spring where women can enjoy more than 20 wine and chocolate tasting stations. This year's event was sold out as it drew more than 1,100 people in May.
Hops in the Hangar: One of Ohio's most unique craft beer tasting in a hangar at Middletown Regional Airport. This year's event is Aug. 10 and will feature 80 beers to choose from 30 different breweries. Patrons will be able to chose 15 beers to sample and there will be food trucks available to purchase something to eat.
Pickleball Tournament: Aug. 1-3 marks the 12th Annual Middletown Senior Pickleball Tournament where 240 players have already registered. In 2018, the tournament drew 225 players from 11 states. The event is held on the 16 pickleball courts at Lefferson Park.
Middletown Spring Blast and Midfest Soccer Classic Tournaments: Annual Middletown Spring Blast weekend youth soccer tournaments for boys and girls ages U9 to U18 in the spring. The games are held at Smith Park as well as at Franklin Community Park and Monroe Crossings Parks. The Midfest Soccer Classic Tournament is for players U9 to U15 on Sept. 21-22 at Smith Park.