text:
Upcoming Force Gurkha SUV’s Brochure Images Leaked ahead of Launch
Indian multinational automotive manufacturer, Force Motors is expected to launch the BS6 Gurkha SUV in the Indian market in the coming months. The off-roader SUV has been highly awaited ever since it was revealed at the 2020 Auto Expo. We have already seen the sports utility vehicle on numerous occasions performing road tests suggesting that it would be very similar to the pre-production model. Ahead of its official launch, new images of the BS6 Gurkha have surfaced on the internet giving out details of its updated design. The 2021 Force Gurkha SUV continues to retain the same boxy silhouette.
2021 Force Gurkha: Exterior and Interior Features
As seen in these pictures, the upcoming Gurkha dons an orange body shade, which we saw at the 2020 Auto Expo. The SUV gets a single-slat grille with circular headlamps, integrated LED DRLs, new bumpers, fog lights, clamshell bonnet with indicators, black shaded snorkel intake, luggage rack, new black plastic covering, rear-door mounted spare wheel and more. Previous spy images suggest that the Gurkha SUV will also get vertically stacked taillights, a new rear bumper with reflectors, a high-mounted LED stop lamp, a ladder to get to the rack among others.
On the inside, the new Gurkha will sport an all-black cabin while the dashboard will now get a new touchscreen infotainment system. It will also feature bigger air-con vents with glossy black bezels, a manual HVAC system, power windows, a new instrument cluster with digital multi-information display HVAC Controls, a three-spoke steering wheel, Anti-lock braking system with EBD, dual front airbags, forward-facing rear seats and more.
2021 Force Gurkha: Powertrain
The 2021 Force Gurkha will be powered by a Mercedes-Benz sourced 2.6-litre common-rail turbocharged diesel engine, which belongs to the OM616 family. The 2.6 litre engine will produce 89 bhp and 260 Nm of max torque and will be paired to a five-speed manual gearbox with a manual 4×4 as standard. Moreover, the SUV is likely to get an off-road kit which could be offered as standard with a host of accessories.
Launch Timeline and Expected Price
The 2021 BS6 Force Gurkha SUV was expected to be launched in mid-2020. However, due to the covid-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, its launch was delayed multiple times and now it is expected to be launched in the month of June/ July this year. The price of the upcoming off-road SUV is expected to start from Rs. 10 lakhs (Ex-showroom Delhi) and its only direct rival will be Mahindra Thar.


text:
Sanyo has added a new projector to its line-up, and this one, the Z3000, features "Dynamic Predictive Frame Interpolation Technology".
For all of you who don't know (as in most of us), this means that the projector delivers images at a 120Hz turn over rate, and also offers the industry’s first 5:5 pull-down mode .
It also offers a high contrast ratio of 65,000:1, a brightness of 1200 Lumens, a 2x manual zoom.
The Z3000 has two digital, two HDMI, and two Component ports as well as an S-Video and Composite input.
It will go on sale in Japan from the end of November but no news when it will arrive in the rest of the world.

domain: news


text:
Xiaomi Officially teased Launch Mi A2 & MI A2 Lite on 24th of July
From last few days we are getting several leaks and rumors regarding the new upcoming Xiaomi Mi A2 and Mi A2 lite. And now the company Xiaomi has finally confirmed that it will be launching two new Android One smartphones at its 24th Global Launch event. The company teased a poster on Tuesday on its twitter account to confirm the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite Launch.
— Mi (@xiaomi) July 16, 2018
— Mi (@xiaomi) July 17, 2018
The company asked the Mi fans “We are giving you All not 1 but 2 Smartphones on July 24th! Any Guesses?” through its Mi Twitter account. The teaser also included an image which actually highlights the back panel of both the smartphone Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite. The image also confirms that both handset will be featuring dual vertical cameras.
As of now the Chinese company Xiaomi hasn’t revealed any other information regarding these models. As expected the Mi A2 will be the rebranded version of the Xiaomi Mi 6X and the Mi A2 Lite will be rebranded version of the Xiaomi Redmi 6 pro.
Talking about the Xiaomi Mi A2 expected specification. It will feature a 5.99-inch Full HD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. It will be powered by Snapdragon 660 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM and upto 128GB of internal storage option. In terms of Camera this smartphone will be featuring a dual vertical camera with 12MP+20MP sensors and a 20MP front facing camera for selfies. The handset will also have all the connectivity option including 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB Type-C and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It will be powered by 3010mAh battery.
Talking about the second smartphone Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite expected specification, the new Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite might be featuring a 5.84-inch full HD+ display with a notch. It will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor coupled with 3GB and 4GB RAM option and up to 64GB of internal storage. it might have a dedicated microSD card to expand storage upto 256GB. In terms of camera it will be featuring 12MP+5MP Dual camera setup. It will be powered by a big 4000mAh battery.


text:
Miller Lite is launching a powerful new campaign focused on reimagining the iconic “It’s Miller Time” for today’s generation of drinkers. The campaign makes a bold statement about consumers’ dependence on social media and aims to inspire them to get back to enjoying beers with friends, or Miller Time, which the brand describes as “The Original Social Media.”
“With this new campaign, we’re championing in-person, genuine connections over social media followers,” says Anup Shah, Vice President, Miller Family of Brands. “We know that today’s generation of new drinkers will spend more than five years of their lifetime on social media, and yet are only meeting up with their close friends less than a few times a month*. By reintroducing Miller Time, we want to remind them that while social media is great, it’s no replacement for hanging out in-person over a Miller Lite.”
As part of the campaign, led by DDB Chicago, Miller Lite will debut a new television spot during the World Series, aptly named “Followers.” The hero spot, directed by Ringan Ledwidge, brings social media to life like never before, imagining what a world would look like if followers literally followed us.
To complement the “Followers” spot, Miller Lite will be the first brand to boldly ask consumers to “unfollow us to the bar.” When you unfollow Miller Lite on Instagram or Facebook, you could receive a free Miller Lite to get back to enjoying Miller Time with friends. Just text UNFOLLOW to 49375 with a photo or screenshot to prove you are unfollowing the brand. Details on the program, including state-by-state regulations, are available at www.unfollowmillerlite.com.
“We understand it’s risky for a brand today to say that we want you to unfollow us on social media, when it’s one of the many ways we stay in touch with beer drinkers,” says Shah. “But we value those in-person connections and are committed to inspiring people to do the same, even if that means losing a few followers along the way.”
Additionally, Miller Lite is “going dark” on its social media accounts, taking a break from posting on its Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram channels to further encourage fans to embrace an in-person Miller Time with friends. Social media influencers will also be deployed to amplify the new campaign to encourage and inspire Miller Time amongst friends.
“Followers” will run in :90, :60, :30, and :15 cuts through 2019 and into 2020 on TV and OLV. Additional programs based on “It’s Miller Time” will be planned for 2020.
With only 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs, Miller Lite is the perfect beer to enjoy Miller Time with your friends, at the bar, over a beer.


text:
Uber Technologies Inc has closed a new round of funding that values the online taxi-hailing company at nearly $51 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Uber raised close to $1 billion in the round, bringing its total funding to more than $5 billion, WSJ reported on Friday, citing one of the people. Investors in the latest round include Microsoft and the Indian media conglomerate Bennett Coleman & Co’s Times Internet, the report said.
However, Bloomberg, citing a person with knowledge of the matter, reported that Microsoft was considering the investment and hasn’t made a final decision.
“We filed to authorise this new funding more than two months ago,” Kristin Carvell, a spokeswoman for Uber said in an email.
“We aren’t commenting on additional speculation,” she said.
Uber said in March that Times Internet would invest “well under” one billion rupees ($16 million) as part of a “strategic partnership”.
Times Internet is the digital arm of Bennett Coleman & Co, which also runs India’s largest English language daily, “Times of India”.
Uber said on Thursday it would invest $1 billion in India over the next nine months, as it looks to expand its services in its biggest market outside the United States.
Uber, which already has investors such as Google and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, operates in 57 countries. Times Internet couldn’t be reached for comment outside regular business hours. Microsoft declined to comment.


text:
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is awarding more than $6.7 million in grants to 37 nonprofit organizations and universities nationwide, including the Georgia Institute of Technology.
President Ángel Cabrera delivered the annual Institute Address on Thursday, Sept. 2, virtually to nearly 750 viewers on YouTube and to a masked audience in the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons.
“Before I highlight the incredibly impressive work we did this past year,” he said, “I first want to address what is on all of our minds these days — how to keep our community safe while we deliver on our crucially important education and research work.”
Technology startups may now apply to join the 5G Connected Future incubator program as they work to build and test 5G use cases in areas such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, industrial drones, mixed-reality training and entertainment, remote medical care, personal health and fitness wearables and more.
Partnership for Inclusive Innovation Announces 2021 Cohort of the Georgia Smart Communities Challenge
The Partnership for Inclusive Innovation (PIN) announced the four communities selected for its 2021 Georgia Smart Communities Challenge (GA Smart), which allows localities across the state to apply for research assistance that empowers them to envision, explore, and plan for a “smart” future.
Step one, find your meditation spot. Step two, sit in a comfortable position. Step three, put on your virtual reality headset.
Wait… put on your virtual reality headset?
“I think virtual reality is the next smartphone technology,” said Matthew Golino, founder and CEO of ZenVR. “If you look at where smartphones were in the early 2010s, we are where VR is right now. Give it a decade and VR is going to be ubiquitous. Everyone is going to have it.”
A global survey of university-based business incubators has ranked Georgia Tech’s VentureLab second among all such programs supporting startups in the United States. UBI Index, an incubator consulting group based in Sweden, also ranked VentureLab sixth overall in the Western Hemisphere, and 17th in the world.
A simple point-of-care testing device for anemia could provide more rapid diagnosis of the common blood disorder and allow inexpensive at-home self-monitoring of persons with chronic forms of the disease.
The disposable self-testing device analyzes a single droplet of blood using a chemical reagent that produces visible color changes corresponding to different levels of anemia. The basic test produces results in about 60 seconds and requires no electrical power. A companion smartphone application can automatically correlate the visual results to specific blood hemoglobin levels.
To some, thinking about bitcoins may bring visions of a Super Mario Brother jumping to take a glimmering gold circle.
To Tech alumni Tony Gallippi and Stephen Pair, it brought a business opportunity — Bitpay.
A sponsor of Georgia Tech Athletics this season, Bitpay is a payment processor that deals in bitcoins, a virtual currency. Founded by Pair and Gallippi in 2011, Bitpay provides a way for businesses to take bitcoin as payment — similar to the way a service provider offers Internet service to a home or business.
Georgia manufacturers are enjoying higher profits, but in the rush to meet the demands of a rebounding economy, they may be shortchanging investment in future-focused technology and innovation, a new survey of the state’s manufacturing companies has found.
Forget what you've heard about the offshore loss of Georgia manufacturing jobs. It has had to adapt to stay globally competitive, but manufacturing is thriving.
In fact, manufacturing comprises 12 percent of Georgia's $454 billion economy and supports more than 486,000 jobs.


text:
Wine & Spirits Daily has learned that Indiana has reversed an earlier decision to block Southern Wine & Spirits from entering the state. Ed Dunsmore, the executive secretary at the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, confirmed that the state has approved Southern's request for a wine and spirits license although they must conduct a final inspection before officially issuing the license. “The final inspection has to be arranged before they can get the permit...they’re in the process of arranging that with the local excise officer but that’s the only thing holding it up that I’m aware of,” he said.
We asked if Southern’s joint-venture proposal with Glazer’s was the main hindrance from Southern entering Indiana, and Ed replied: “That was the main hindrance, I believe, and that was taken care of.”
When the board refuses to issue a permit they have to give notice of their proposed reason of denial. At that point Southern was entitled to a rehearing, which took place on Tuesday where they reportedly presented evidence in their favor. The board announced its decision yesterday. According to Ed, the announcement said that “all of the concerns expressed in its official notice was removed with satisfaction of the commission and they voted to allow them [Southern]” into the state. Southern did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
QUICK BACKGROUND. You’ll recall that Indiana has used two different arguments to block Southern from entering the state. (1) Indiana first used the “residency requirement,” which basically says that Southern can’t distribute liquor in Indiana because owners of its parent company reside in Florida. Ironically, SWS managed to do away with a similar Texas residency requirement in 2007 by claiming it was in violation of the Commerce Clause (an argument also used in the Granholm dispute). SWS headed to the courts last December and sued the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, specifically targeting the residency requirement. The Indiana Attorney General’s Office issued an opinion in December that the state’s residency law violated the commerce clause and would not stand up to a pending legal challenge.
(2) Then the Indiana ABC offered a new rationale in its formal denial and ruled in mid-September that Southern could not hold a wine and spirits permit in the state due to what they consider “anti-competitive behavior.” They claimed Southern would monopolize the state by taking brands away from local wholesalers (such as National Wine & Spirits) and raising prices on wine and spirits, which would result in lost jobs.
USVI-CRUZAN DEAL GOES INTO EFFECT. US Virgin Islands Gov. John DeJongh has signed into law a 30-year deal with Fortune Brands regarding Cruzan Rum. The deal allows Cruzan to continue making rum on St. Croix in exchange for marketing and other incentives - such as sharing the cost of molasses with the government and investing a portion of tax revenues generated from rum towards construction efforts at the distillery. The deal’s value is projected to exceed $1 billion over 30 years.
ROBERT PARKER’S FORMER ASSISTANT FOUND GUILTY. Hanna Agostini has been found guilty of complicity in a fraud by the Bordeaux Tribunal, Decanter is reporting. Hanna received a one-year suspended sentence. Isabel Pinto received 3 years for sending false invoices on behalf of Geens wine group to clients for work that was never done and pocketing the money. Hanna was a consultant for Geens between 1999 and 2001.
Until Monday, Megan
“Truth is what stands the test of experience.”
--------- Sell Day Calendar ----------
Today's Sell Day: 5
Sell days this month: 20
Sell days this month last year: 19
This month ends on a: Mon.
This month last year ended on a: Fri.
YTD sell days Over/Under: -1
WINE & SPIRITS DAILY
Subscribe or check back issues at: www.winespiritsdaily.com
Send news and comments in confidence to: email@example.com
© 2009 Wine & Spirits Daily, all rights reserved. May quote with attribution.
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/WineSpiritDaily


text:
Appsfire to Discontinue App Discovery Unit to Focus on Mobile Advertising Efforts
|Stuart Parkerson in Marketing & Promotion Thursday, December 19, 2013|
As the four year old company (a lifetime in the smart mobile device era) shift gears, it waves goodbye to its Appsfire app which will be removed from the iOS and Android app stores on Thursday, December 19th. Existing users will still have access to the app will which will still be maintained.
In its blog the company provides a number of rationales for the business move. One of the more poignant parts of the post is the discussion on the challenges the company faced operating an independent app discovery initiative within the major app markets. When its someone else’s playground, they make the rules, and sometimes its not much fun to play.
For the complete announcement, visit the link below.
Read more: http://blog.appsfire.com


text:
Cybersecurity and threat news for Europe, the Middle East & Africa
Artificial intelligence / AI
These search results are from across the Techday network of sites
AI, Blockchain and IoT big talking points for CEOs when it comes to disruption
Most CEOs concur that AI will have a fundamental impact on their organisations."
Huawei launches ‘world's most powerful AI processor’
The Ascend 910 was announced alongside MindSpore, an all-scenario AI computing framework.
DXC Technology & Google Cloud drive innovation for enterprises
Enterprises now have a new way of modernising mission-critical IT and integrating digital solutions on Google Cloud Platform, thanks to DXC Technology.
Nuance releases med-tech speech recognition in Aus
Nuance is launching its speech recognition platform Dragon Medical One in Australia, saving clinicians time on updating records and documentation.
Microsoft to partners - 6 business opportunities in 2019
We sit down with Microsoft and work through the best opportunities for partners
Kiwi employees embracing a future of AI
Kiwi employees are the most secure in their roles when it comes to embracing artificial intelligence in the workplace, compared to all other countries surveyed including, Australia, USA, UK, Germany and Japan.
Sony Australia announces first AI-based video solution
The Edge Analytics solution utilises machine learning AI technology to create better video content, according to the company.
Prudential Corporation Asia launches next generation health app
A new app known as ‘Pulse’ has been launched by Prudential Corporation Asia to provide an AI-powered, 24/7 health partner to users, allowing them to better understand their personal health.
Tech better than policy for SMBs, says GoDaddy research
73% of small business owners say they are not likely to lose their jobs or be negatively affected by artificial intelligence (AI) and robots.
Huawei’s 10 megatrend predictions for 2025
The GIV predicts technology trends up until 2025, including 5G coverage, AI deployment, home robot adoption, and smart assistant use rates.
Alibaba Cloud brings on nine new partners
“The partnership covering all sectors spanning from public to private organisations reflects Alibaba's mission to make it easy to do business anywhere.”
The usual AI rules still apply with AIOps - ThousandEyes
One of the reasons IT ops was ripe for automation is that environments have grown increasingly complex.
Intel launches first 10th Gen Intel Core processors
The processors bring high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) to the PC at scale, feature new Intel Iris Plus graphics for entertainment.
Alibaba Cloud and SACEOS set sights on Singapore’s hospitality industry
At SMF 2019 the pair signed a MOU to promote upskilling and technology collaborations to keep Singapore as top MICE destination in Asia.
Meet Zia, ManageEngine’s new AI Assistant
The new assistant is able to interpret questions posed in plain English via text or voice to generate visualisations instantly, and offers smart suggestions based on keywords used in search.
Auckland tech firm Aider creates buzz in the United States
“We believe in human-centric AI and created Aider to give hardworking business owners easy access to the information they need to make daily, data-led decisions."
Implementing AI with the team you have - DataRobot
Build your competency in-house using automated machine learning
AI for Good: DataRobot launches new programme to empower non-profits
AI for Good: Powered by DataRobot will see DataRobot collaborate with up to 10 organisations in 2019 to develop automated machine learning applications.
ThetaRay offering uses AI against financial cybercrime
ThetaRay version 4.0 enable banks to pinpoint activity that suggests money laundering, terrorist financing, human and drug trafficking, and other financial crimes.
A/NZ employees open to next-gen tech in the workplace
45% of Australians and 49% of New Zealanders appreciated specific tools such as AI and bots, because they believe it enables them to focus on other things.
Microsoft & OpenAI forge path into AI supercomputing
"Our ambition is to democratise AI — while always keeping AI safety front and centre — so everyone can benefit.”
Improving customer experience in insurance intelligently – Hyland
Success or failure in the sector is determined more and more by an organisation’s ability to respond to customer demand quickly and accurately.
72% of business leaders fear data exploitation, Fujitsu survey shows
A recent Fujitsu survey of 900 CxO’s reveals the state of digital transformation across nine countries.
Retailers struggling to maximise benefits of AI
"AI and guided selling tech are very much the future as far as revolutionising the customer experience is concerned, but if a retailer’s foundations are built on a bedrock of flimsy, unreliable and unstructured data, AI won’t be able to flourish in the way it’s supposed to.”


text:
There are now over 1 million unique publishers on LinkedIn’s blogging platform
Google Search Console will be sending out fewer messages to site owners over the coming weeks.
An addition to Google Maps will make it more convenient for you to take locations with you on the go
Facebook has rolled out an update designed to give you more control over what you see in News Feed
Are all tweets searchable in Google? Not exactly. The search giant actually has a long way to go
Study alleges Google’s ad-targeting algorithms show ads for higher paying jobs to more men than women
Bing has introduced new additions to the redesigned Bing Ads Home Page: customized modules and period-over-period comparisons.
Bing rolled out a completely redesigned version of Bing Maps with improved search and discovery features.
Now you can view Snaps and Stories a single tap, instead of tapping and holding.
Ratings and reviews on Google My Business are about to become an important revenue driver, as they can now be shown in Google Ads using location extensions.
Google’s organic and paid search results have been spotted on Yahoo this week in a test that has since been confirmed by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer
Facebook is rolling out video ads amongst a small test group of publishers in a move designed to attract more content and ad revenue.
Buyable pins are now available to United States iOS users on either the iPhone or iPad app.
Facebook’s news feed algorithm will be adjusted according to interactions with videos
A recent study suggests Google is prominently displaying its own content ahead of others in organic search results, at the expense of users.
Google will be replaced by Bing as the default search engine for AOL’s sites over the next 10 years.
Google announced an addition to its mobile search results that will give people quick access to what the company feels are searchers’ “favorite” websites.
Facebook announced a useful new addition that will help page owners measure the success of their videos across custom date ranges.
Social software company Buffer has analyzed 4.8 million tweets to determine when are the best times to tweet according to your timezone.
Facebook’s 222 million monthly users in the US spend an average of 14 hours each month within the the company’s mobile app.


text:
Uber has developed past popularity since its debut in San Francisco again in 2011, with the corporate now providing the whole lot from meals supply services and products to an AI-infused platform for truckers.
Its core city mobility providing for customers has additionally expanded into all means of services and products, masking car-sharing, scooters, motorcycles, and extra. It’s simple to fail to remember the genesis for the super-cheap Uber we all know these days was once in reality a luxurious car-hailing carrier that might value as much as double that of a normal cab. However the lately public ride-hail large these days introduced a handful of updates to its top rate services and products.
Uber Black and Uber SUV, as they’re identified, will now permit riders to stipulate particular personal tastes earlier than they get into the automobile. Throughout the app, they are able to stipulate that they don’t need to chat with the driving force — subsequent to “dialog,” the person can select “quiet most popular” or “glad to talk.”
This selection was once in truth steered via a Reddit person ultimate yr, with a lot dialogue resulting, and a couple of months later a Lyft government indicated that it was once one thing that they had toyed with internally, however had but to significantly imagine. Judging via one of the vital reactions the ones two episodes garnered, we will ensure that of a couple of issues. At the beginning, “quiet mode,” as Uber is asking it, shall be a well-liked function amongst riders having a look to trip in silence with out being impolite. However we additionally know that those that consider era is already interfering an excessive amount of with human-to-human interactions will almost certainly oppose it. That mentioned, you’ll additionally be certain Uber riders will call for that this option be incorporated in all different Uber services and products.
In other places with this replace, a brand new temperature regulate surroundings will permit riders to let drivers know whether or not they’re inquisitive about somewhat of cool or heat within the again, and if they’ve a ton of baggage they are able to additionally request help. Whilst an Uber Black driving force already almost certainly provides to lend a hand with a rider’s baggage, having this knowledge prematurely method they are able to be in a position to jump out on arrival.
“Uber Black and Uber Black SUV riders informed us they sought after top of the range carrier and top rate convenience,” Uber wrote in a weblog publish. “That’s why we’ve stepped forward options and necessities to satisfy or exceed their expectancies on each journey.”
Different additions to the brand new Uber Black come with prolonged pickup classes, affording riders extra time to get their issues in combination, and top rate phone fortify with people at the different finish of the road.
These kinds of new options are rolling out from Might 15 within the U.S., regardless that the corporate hasn’t given any indication as to when — or if — they is also made to be had globally.


text:
Companies Are Stashing So Much God Damn Cash Overseas
A new report from Moody’s says that major U.S. companies are sitting on as much as $1.2 trillion in cash held overseas—hey, that’s enough to pay our national credit card bill!
Since multinational corporations don’t care for paying the hefty U.S. tax rate that they would be bound to pay if they bought their fortune back here to the U.S., they just leave it overseas. Sitting there, gleaming and golden. A mere five companies—Apple, Google, Oracle, Microsoft, and Cisco—are holding more than half a trillion dollars in cash between them, the vast majority of it overseas. (Tech companies are prone to this because their valuable intellectual property can easily technically reside in say, Ireland, whereas a McDonald’s restaurant is just located wherever the hell it is.)
The effects of this depend on your perspective. For investors, that huge cash pile is a cushion against a business downturn: if Apple, for example, stops selling enough iPhones to push its stock price higher, investors will just demand payoffs out of the cash pile to make up for it. For the general public in America, these cash piles sitting overseas represent an enormous loss of potential tax revenue that could be used to, you know, make all of our lives better somehow. For the companies themselves, it’s a stalemate: they hint that maybe they would be tempted to bring some of this cash on home if the government would offer them a sweet tax break in order to do so. Obama, in fact, tried to strike a one-time deal in order to bring that money home, but it didn’t get through Congress. So the money just keeps piling and piling and piling up, somewhere else, in a huge vault across the sea.
Let’s just... start seizing the homes of CEOs and Republican Congressmen, until they work it out.


text:
Staples Recycles 350 Million Cartridges
Staples today said it has recycled 350 million ink and toner cartridges since 2005, averaging more than 60 million cartridges per year in the past three years.
Through the cartridge-recycling program, the company has recycled 182 million pounds of plastics and metals, it says.
With Staples’ ink and toner cartridge recycling program, customers receive $2 back in Staples Rewards per recycled cartridge, with a limit of 10 per month. Used cartridges can be dropped off at any Staples retail location and Ink Recycling Rewards can be used to buy almost anything from Staples, in-store or online.
The office supply company says it was the first national retailer to reward customers for recycling ink and toner cartridges and says it’s the largest retail recycler of ink and toner in North America.
Staples, Best Buy and Office Depot are the only three major electronics retailers making a serious effort to help consumers recycle their old electronic products, according to a report card released last month by the Electronics TakeBack Coalition.
While the three companies earned high marks — Staples received a B+ — more than half of the 16 retailers flunked, including retail giants such as Walmart, Amazon, Costco, Sam’s Club and Sears. The coalition say these retailers are doing very little to help recycle the billions of dollars in electronics that they sell.
Staples’ ink and toner cartridge recycling milestone follows its announcement last month that it reached 500 facilities certified by the EPA’s Energy Star program. Stapes uses renewable power for 100 percent of its total US electricity consumption — which is more than 636 million kWh — through on-site solar projects combined with green power purchases.
Stay Up-to-Date On Environmental Management, Energy & Sustainability News with EL's Free Daily Newsletter
Energy Manager News
- Tesla Becoming a Major Player in the Energy Storage Market
- Federal Agencies Must Use eProject Builder for All ESPC Projects
- Refrigeration Battery Works as Energy Storage
- 400 kW Fuel Cell System Powers Comcast Facility
- City Picks UtilityTRX for Utility Bill Management
- FridgeWize Unveils HVAC EC Motors
- Aztec AMC Modular HVAC system Reduces Data Center Cooling Costs
- Verismic Does Remote PC Power Management


text:
The Midfoot Strike Running Revolution is Happening
In case you missed it, there was an article in last Sunday’s NY Times about how the “barefoot running” trend is effecting the shoe industry. Actually, it’s not so much a barefoot trend as it is a current upsurge in the questioning of the running shoe company’s ability to produce a shoe that actually has any effect on running injuries. ChiRunning was named as one of the organizations helping to promote good running technique and endorsing more of a minimal shoe approach to running.
The big debate is whether or not building more cushioning and structure into running shoes has the advertised effect or if it’s just another case of corporate marketing looking for an effective way to sell shoes to an uneducated populace. Well, in answer to the first part of the debate, as we’ve seen by the percentage of runners who get injured every year, nothing has changed since running shoes for the general public began being produced in the 1970′s. If anything, the injury rate has gone up. And, in answer to the second part of the big debate, yes, it seems to have been a very good marketing ploy that sold gazillions of shoes to people thinking that they’d be safe in their running by buying the right shoe.
I’m so thankful that articles like this are starting to surface in the national media. More attention needs to be paid by the shoe industry to make shoes that fit the needs of an ever-growing population of runners who are working on changing their running form, to prevent injuries, instead of thinking that the right shoe will do the job. For ten years now ChiRunning and ChiWalking classes have been teaching runners and walkers how to run and walk pain-free, injury-free and faster. Check out our schedule of classes if you’re interested. And, while you’re there, check out the results of a West Virginia University poll done with 2500 ChiRunners which reports remarkable findings on the effectiveness of running technique improvement on injury rates.
There are a number of forward thinking shoe companies out there that are working on producing less of a shoe and that’s good news for those of us who are no longer willing to suffer through the over-built “corrective” shoes that have been the norm since the running boom started in the ’70′s. actually almost all of the running shoe companies sell shoes that are perfectly good for the midfoot striker…but many runners are scared away by the model name “racing flat.” Most racing flats have all the great attributes a midfoot runner craves: lots of flexibility in the sole, great ventilation, very minimal lift in the heel and (until the secret gets discovered by the shoe companies) a cheap price. I wear NB-790′s which cost $45 online (while the supply lasts) and which, in the past few years, have been one of the best selling running shoes NB has ever produced. But, as with all great running shoes…they’ve decided to quit producing what I’ve considered the perfect shoe. Go figure. I’m now looking at FiveFingers, Adizeros, La Sportiva, and yes, even the Nike Free for the next “ideal” shoe.
Viva la revolution!
p.s. Since the article in the NY Times came out it is the 8th most emailed article.
- midfoot strike,
- barefoot running,
- running shoes,
- running classes,


text:
reported a leap in first-quarter revenue Tuesday thanks to a better-than-expected showing of its cancer-pain drugs.
Revenue rose 22% to $437 million as Cephalon released financial results that essentially repeated the first-quarter and full-year earnings and sales
information it offered last week.
Tracking Cephalon's financial performance can prove challenging because, unlike most companies, the Frazer, Pa.-based drugmaker makes profit predictions using basic earnings-per-share figures rather than diluted earnings per share. Diluted EPS assumes that all stock options, warrants and convertible bonds were exchanged for stock. Cephalon does issue diluted EPS data for quarters that have ended.
Thus, on a GAAP and diluted basis, Cephalon earned $75.2 million, or 99 cents a share, for the three months ended March 31. For the same period last year, Cephalon earned $3.6 million, or 5 cents a share.
Using basic EPS and excluding one-time items, Cephalon reported first-quarter earnings of $1.45 a share vs. 78 cents for the same period last year. This was in line with the forecast Cephalon provided last week for basic EPS of $1.40 to $1.45, excluding special items.
On Tuesday, Cephalon also repeated its forecast that basic EPS for the full year would be $4.40 to $4.50, excluding special items. Full-year sales will be $1.68 billion to $1.73 billion.
The company also introduced a second-quarter sales forecast of $415 million to $425 million. Basic earnings per share, excluding special items, will be in the range of $1.05 to $1.15.
"We delivered remarkable earnings performance in the first quarter of 2007 as we continue to effectively execute across all aspects of our business," said Frank Baldino, the chairman and CEO.
Cephalon's cancer pain franchise produced sales of $131.4 million, up from $117.5 million for the same period last year. The franchise includes the brand-name products Actiq and Fentora as well as a generic version of Actiq.
Sales of central-nervous system drugs -- Provigil for sleep disorders and Gabitril for epileptic seizures -- rose 35% to $217.5 million, of which Provigil contributed $201.3 million.
Cephalon didn't provide data on the alcoholism treatment Vivitrol, which is off to a poor start. The drug, licensed from
, was launched in mid-2006. Baldino said Cephalon is continuing a stepped-up education campaign for doctors and consumers for the once-a-month injectable Vivitrol.
Baldino said he expects to hear from the Food and Drug Administration in mid-June on Nuvigil, a follow-up to Provigil. Cephalon is seeking FDA approval for three types of sleep disorders for this drug, which has had a
series of regulatory delays. Even if the FDA approves this drug, which is a cousin of Provigil, Baldino said, Cephalon won't market Nuvigil this year.
Cephalon announced its financial results after markets had closed. Shares, which had ended the regular session down 3 cents at $79.58, continued moving lower after hours, recently losing another 38 cents.


text:
Chicago might have just started getting a few flakes of snow, but there's a regular blizzard of buzz surrounding David Fincher's adaptation of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." The flick isn't out until Dec. 21, but fans of the series are eagerly chomping up every morsel of information about Rooney Mara's goth-tacular turn as Lisbeth Salander and Daniel Craig looking splendidly brooding as journalist Mikael Blomkvist. Here's a roundup of "Tattoo" goodies to keep you satiated -- for now.
firstname.lastname@example.org | @redeyedana
First there was the frantic "leaked" trailer (which so was leaked by the studio). Then there was a more standard Hollywood sneak peek. And on Friday, an epic, 8-minute extended version was released online. Movie buffs who haven't read the books might want to avoid this one though, since it's pretty much a giant spoiler of the entire plot.
Even more mega-sized soundtrack
The final cut of the "Dragon Tattoo" movie runs 2 hours, 38 minutes. So it would make sense that the soundtrack clocks in at a sold 3 hours, right? It does when the composer is Trent Reznor, who also did the tunes for "The Social Network." The full 39 tracks took the Nine Inch Nails rocker and partner Atticus Ross 14 months to compose, and will be released digitally Friday.
Hard-core fans already know parts of author Stieg Larsson's series are based in fact, but they may not have seen the video proof. Entertainment Weekly unearthed an old-school episode of news magazine "Hard Copy" supposedly dedicated to the disappearance at the center of "Dragon Tattoo's" plot. Watch it for the awesome re-enactments -- and hilarious Sunny Delight ads.
Look like Lisbeth
There is literally no way the anti-society Lisbeth would buy these threads, but that doesn't mean you can't. H&M is releasing a 27-item collection in stores Dec. 14 featuring clothes and accessories inspired by the character, including a ripped T-shirt that looks like it's been clawed by a heroin junkie. Which really is a great look for your office holiday party.
Be a Blomkvist man
Not to be outdone by the leading lady, the film's costume designer, Trish Summerville, wants to work up a line of menswear based on Mikael's movie garb, saying, "He has a chic but natural look, a casual elegance." Unfortunately for the gentlemen, there's no guarantee these jeans will make your butt look anywhere near as good as Daniel Craig's.


text:
Trunk Sale Expands to 125 VendorsOctober 29, 2018
Cornwall Ontario – Back bigger than ever, the Trunk Sale celebrates 9 years this weekend at Marlin Orchards, just east of Cornwall.
One-of-a-kind items in a one-of-a-kind venue – that’s what visitors can expect to find this weekend at the 9th annual Trunk Sale at Marlin Orchards.
The popular event will feature over 125 vendors selling a wide variety of items – everything from home décor items and jewellery and accessories to children’s clothing, toys, food and so much more.
“There will be something for everyone,” said Debbie Poirier-Burns of W3G & Co. (We 3 Girls), the organizers of the event. “We have almost 50 per cent brand new vendors who have never been part of the Trunk Sale. Some of the talent in these individuals absolutely floors me. We have vendors coming from as far as Toronto to take part. I can’t wait until our visitors see them and their products.”
The event has caught on with shoppers not just locally but beyond Cornwall and SD&G as well.
“We have visitors who come from Kingston, Montreal, Ottawa and surrounding areas,” she added. “We even have a few groups of girls who make a girls weekend out of it and come from Toronto.”
In addition to some amazing products on display, visitors are also treated to a beautiful setting in the form of Marlin Orchards, located off of Highway 2 just minutes east of Cornwall.
“When I go out of town to scout for new vendors and I explain to them that the event is held inside the greenhouses at an orchard, it’s hard for them to visualize. But once they are there and they see the magic happen, they truly understand,” said Mrs. Poirier-Burns. “Marlin’s is such a charming venue. I’m a sucker for the rustic look and the country life so it has been my favourite spot to host an event. And the Lunan family are amazing to work with.”
The Trunk Sale runs on Saturday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 4th from 10 am to 4 pm both days.
The event also serves as a fundraiser and this year it will once again support Rachel’s Kids.
“Last year’s event raised just shy of $40,000 for them. They are an amazing charity who help so many families in their times of need. I am truly honoured to be working with such a great group of people,” said Mrs. Poirier-Burns.
Tickets are $5 for a day, $8 for the weekend, or $10 for an early bird pass for pre-entry one of the days.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at The Maker Shop, Life’s Little Pleasures, Marlins, The Coffee Shop, Rachel’s Kids House of Hope and Dr. Rachel Navaneelan Dentistry.
A Tradition of Giving
“Since 2010 the Trunk Sale has raised over $150,000 for charities in the local community. This year’s event will benefit Rachel’s Kids.


text:
Starting this week, you can walk into one of twelve Home Depot stores and buy a MakerBot 3-D printer, a desk-top machine that can create small items from melted plastic. They’re heralded as the next big thing in everything from medicine to manufacturing, but this pilot is a step toward mainstream consumers.
Click the audio player above to hear more on the sale of MakerBot 3-d printers at Home Depot.
Here are the numbers behind Home Depot and MakerBot:
Home Depot offers two models of MakerBot printers. The smaller printer is $1,375 while the larger model sells for $2,899.
Most refill packs of plastic filament used to create objects cost $18 or $48, depending on their size and color.
Home improvement retail stores, like Home Depot, are expected to earn $153.8 billion in revenue in 2014, according to research firm IBISWorld, Inc.
Companies that manufacture 3-D printers are expected to bring in $1.4 billion in revenue in 2014 from products, materials, and maintenance, according to IBISWorld.
Stratasys Inc., which acquired MakerBot in 2013, has a 18.4 percent marketshare of the 3-D printing manufacturing industry, according to IBISWorld.
By 2025, the economic impact of 3-D printing could be as high as $550 billion a year, according to research by the McKinsey Global Institute. Moreover, it could save consumers 35-60 percent in costs per printed product.
If you’re a member of your local public radio station, we thank you — because your support helps those stations keep programs like Marketplace on the air. But for Marketplace to continue to grow, we need additional investment from those who care most about what we do: superfans like you.
Your donation — as little as $5 — helps us create more content that matters to you and your community, and to reach more people where they are – whether that’s radio, podcasts or online.
When you contribute directly to Marketplace, you become a partner in that mission: someone who understands that when we all get smarter, everybody wins.


text:
TEHRAN- A member of the parliament’s Industries and Mines Committee said that the plan of offering cars at Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME) has been investigated and reformed in a meeting of this committee on Sunday.
Rouhollah Izadkhah said, “In today’s meeting, the committee approved that in a situation where the car market is facing imbalances and the demand for different types of cars is more than the supply, car manufacturers should offer the types of cars determined and priced by the Competition Council through the IME.”
In recent months, the price of cars in the free market has become significantly different from the factory price.
While this gap has led to a massive influx of people and professional dealers to buy cars from the factory, it did not benefit the automotive industry and those active in this sector, as the automakers sold their products at prices set by the Competition Council.
As a result, the car industry suffered losses and the profit of price gaps went to the pockets of dealers.
To tackle the problem, the offering of cars in the commodity exchange has been a top issue under discussion in recent months, and different views have been expressed by officials and related organizations.
However, after contradictory comments, the plan to organize the automotive industry, the most important axis of which is the offering of cars in the stock market, was approved in a meeting of the Industries Committee of the parliament.
Talking about the offering of cars in the commodity exchange and discovering the price of this product is in a situation when just some time ago car was a consumer product and not an investment.
But the situation in the country these days has turned the car into a commodity for investment, and in the meantime, the lack of a transparent market for pricing has caused a sharp rise in car prices in Iran.
Before talking about the plan to organize the automotive industry, it should be noted that mandatory pricing in the commodity exchange is prohibited and the discovery of real prices must be accepted.
In fact, selling a car in a commodity exchange means moving away from orderly pricing, and the car is available to the public at more reasonable prices.
With the sale of cars in the commodity exchange, car pricing is not done by the Consumers and Producers Protection Organization and the Competition Council. Rather, prices are determined by supply and demand.
The plan to organize the automotive industry seeks to balance supply and demand as well as turn the car into a consumer good.
This plan has been recently revised, and in the revised plan, the Competition Council determines which cars should be offered in the commodity exchange.
In fact, in the revised plan, which is based on the regulated supply of cars in the stock exchange, the Competition Council is obliged to determine the cars subject to this plan every six months according to indicators such as inflation, factory-market price gap, number of manufactured cars and impact on the market.
Original News : https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/460000/Parliament-s-committee-reforms-plan-of-car-offering-at-IME


text:
THE NUMBER OF unoccupied shops at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre – which sold last year in Ireland’s biggest single property deal – have reached the highest levels since the depths of the recession.
In the final three months of 2016, there was just one unoccupied unit at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, according to quarterly figures compiled by property agents Lisney.
However a Fora analysis has confirmed that there are now nine unoccupied stores in the centre – with technology retailer Compu B announcing the closure of its store in the centre this week.
The vacancy rate is the highest for the shopping centre since the first half of 2012, when there were 12 unoccupied lots in the centre, based on Lisney’s data. Retail spending evaporated at the time as unemployment peaked above 15%.
It is believed the Blanchardstown centre’s high vacancy rate during the recession was caused by the centre’s policy of not facilitating short-term leases for ‘pop-up’ stores – an approach other Irish shopping centres had used to keep retail activity going.
Out of the nine presently unoccupied units, one lot previously occupied by an electrical retailer already has a new tenant – with Lifestyle Sports opening a secondary store in the main shopping centre to supplement its existing shop in the nearby retail park.
Neither shopping centre management nor the centre’s commercial property agent BNP Paribas responded to Fora’s requests for comment when asked about leases for the eight remaining vacant lots.
Last year Green Property sold the shopping centre to US private equity firm Blackstone in a deal worth €945 million – the most expensive single property transaction ever completed in Ireland.
Meanwhile, as the level of unoccupied units in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre increases, prime retail centres across Dublin have been at near-capacity as rents and the economy trend upwards.
Commercial property agency Savills noted last year that “since large-scale retail development is still some way off”, retailers can expect further rent increases in the coming years.
Savills Ireland director of research John McCartney highlighted that rents in some prime shopping locations have risen by more than a third over the last three years.
One high-profile store to exit the Blanchardstown centre in recent weeks was fashion chain French Connection.
Fora understands that its closure was caused by a hike in rent by centre management, although the firm had no one available for comment at the time of publication.
A number of current Blanchardstown Shopping Centre tenants have expressed their concern at the number of recent closures in the centre. Many also said that they were worried about rents rising in the centre.
One tenant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said their rent has risen “significantly” since Blackstone took control of the centre. They added they were considering a move away from Blanchardstown.
“The new owners seem to have a merciless way of dealing with tenants – there is no leeway with them, they just want their money.
“Just when you get out of recession, rents go up to an unrealistic level. They need to understand that margins aren’t great and we are struggling to keep our head above water and raising rents is making it impossible.”
Another tenant told Fora that a number of retailers in the shopping centre are considering forming a tenants’ association.
The organisation, they said, would present itself as a united front to the new owners in a bid to help address rising rents at the centre.
A third retailer said they have not noticed a drop in footfall at the centre and are reassured that the same centre management had been retained to liaise with tenants.
However, they added that they were concerned about the “faceless new owners”.
“We’re scared to say we had a good Valentine’s Day just in case the management puts up rents.”


text:
Equity Residential CFO Mark Parrell previews investor activism panel at REITWise 2017.
Parkway’s Daniele Horton says 100 percent of portfolio benchmarked to ENERGY STAR.
Hannon Armstrong’s Parker White points to quicker payback periods, better returns.
Senior executive Michelle Greenstreet has spearheaded Spirit Realty’s relocation to Dallas, bringing an infusion of new talent and ideas to the company.
Simon’s Mona Benisi says study shows online shopping has greater environmental impact.
- If men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments ... the freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
- REIT.com Resources
- Mnuchin: US to promote America first on global regulations
- Mixed signals emerge on bank lending
- Department stores see growth in smaller footprints
- Online commerce fuels N.J. warehouse boom
- CNL Healthcare eyes 50-50 portfolio asset split
- Regency Centers' shareholders OK Equity One merger


text:
PTI, Haney partner to help brand owners with packaging requirements
Canadian PlasticsPackaging Research & Development
The two packaging technology providers are teaming up to help brand owners launch commercially-successful packages faster via turnkey assistance.
Packaging technology providers PTI and Haney are partnering to offer a turnkey “concept-to-commercialization” strategy designed to help brand owners launch new or redesigned packages faster, backed by prototyping/testing to facilitate marketplace success.
“The challenge most brand owners face is that they have to outsource different parts of the commercialization process to various companies, compromising speed-to-market, as well as development and communication,” Craig Robinson, PTI’s global vice president of business development and innovation, said in a statement. “The partnership between PTI and Haney changes all of that.”
The partnership involves PTI – which provides preform and package design, package development, rapid prototyping, pre-production prototyping, and material evaluation engineering – providing its packaging engineers and materials experts, coupled with injection and blow molding capability, to mold new bottle prototypes. Haney can take that bottle – whether a flexible package, tube, or thermoform – print substrates, and fill and fulfill test market quantities.
“The goal is to simplify the process for brand owners by seamlessly producing commercial-ready, smaller scale quantities that can be used to validate the package via focus groups and/or test markets,” Robinson said. “Start-up commercial runs are also possible to support launch initiatives.”
PTI is headquartered in Holland, Ohio. Haney is headquartered in Cincinnati.


text:
The cryptos hangover still lingers for investors
Latecomers to the cryptocurrency party are still suffering from the crash.
Summary: The values of major cryptocurrencies have fallen significantly in the last six to seven months.
Key take-out: There is no single reason for the dip, other than the fact investors have simply stopped buying.
Remember when cryptocurrencies were soaring, turning some punters into crypto millionaires?
With the value of cryptocurrencies (most notably bitcoin) rising exponentially in such a short period of time late last year, and with plenty of mainstream media attention, many decided they wanted a piece of the action. It seemed like a great idea in theory, with many people pouring money into them – often without worrying about how they work or what they actually are – in the belief they simply couldn't lose.
But ever heard the old saying about something that sounds too good to be true? Anyone who bought the major cryptocurrencies at their zenith late last year certainly has.
As a general rule, the values of most prominent cryptocurrencies peaked late last year or early this year, and barely half a year later, many have lost significant value. As of Monday bitcoin, for example, had lost over 60 per cent of its value since mid-December. Similarly, the value of ethereum has fallen by nearly 70 per cent in just over six months. Ripple, which is slightly different in that it is a blockchain platform with its own coin, has fallen in value from around $3.55 as the calendar flipped to 2018, to just under 62 cents on Monday, a decrease of more than 80 per cent.
Mind-boggling numbers indeed.
Something terrible must have happened to cause this, right? Not really, according to co-CEO of Bitcoin.com.au, Rupert Hackett.
“I think in terms of the downtrend, there haven't really been any key outlying events that I would say were out of the norm that hadn't occurred in the last few years,” Hackett says.
In fact, he says, the explanation is much simpler.
“I think it was just completely overbought, at the end of the day. I think it was just a natural momentum up that reached its peak euphoria and there was no one really left … to buy.”
Curiosity undoubtedly played a role in the astronomical rise in cryptocurrency prices, but even Hackett admits to being surprised by just how high prices reached late last year.
“For anyone inside the market, it was very much insanity as to how something could get priced at such a high level without there really being a technical infrastructure change in that period,” he says.
Often with a fixed or semi-fixed supply and no central bank to regulate the process, changes in demand can have wild effects on the prices of cryptocurrencies. This can lead to a ‘snowball' effect, in which demand in a cryptocurrency market rises or falls, which places either upward or downward pressure on prices due to their fixed supply. This exacerbated when people see the price rising or falling, prompting them to buy or sell, creating more price increases or decreases, and the cycle starts again.
This phenomenon, dictated by the interest of investors, has clearly been the impetus behind the meteoric rise and spectacular fall in crypto markets, but it hasn't been the only factor.
Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)
Investors weren't the only people jumping on the crypto bandwagon at the height of the madness, with a proliferation of people creating new coins as a method of raising capital to fund their own ventures – similar to an initial public offering. The sheer volume of coins established in the last six months is astounding, but plenty have failed. Nonetheless, people kept producing new coins and people kept buying them, although not always with the right intentions, according to Hackett.
“I think a lot of people have bought ICOs with a ‘get rich quick scheme' mentality and now they're having to face the music of realising that it's a lot more difficult and a lot more complex to actually build the idea into infrastructure,” he says.
A major issue with ICOs is that there are no restrictions on who can release their own coin, which can cause all sorts of legitimacy issues. Hackett admits this is a problem.
“One of the big concerns about ICOs is that there's been no barrier to entry so, as a result, more and more ICOs will be created until people are just not willing to invest in them anymore."
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commision recently found that cryptocurrency scams are the second most common type of investment scam in Australia. It has also been reported that Australians lost more than $2.1 million in cryptocurrency-related scams last year, about one third of which was lost in December, when crypto markets were really heating up. The combination of anonymity, ease of access and often ignorant investors makes the world of cryptocurrencies – particularly ICOs – an ideal hunting ground for criminals.
It would be naïve to think the news of scams, along with semi-regular hacking controversies on cryptocurrency exchanges, has not played a role in the crypto downturn, creating trust issues with investors and encouraging them to ‘get out' before they get caught, which would cause prices to ease.
This is a constantly evolving area, which varies greatly across borders. Some countries, such as Japan and South Korea, are quite advanced in their regulation of crypto markets; but in other countries, cryptocurrencies are banned altogether. In Australia, cryptocurrencies are classified as capital gains tax (CGT) assets, meaning CGT may be payable when cryptocurrencies are traded for other cryptocurrencies, or sold at a profit.
The only certainty in this area is that regulation will continue to develop and change, and anticipation of a tighter regulatory environment has contributed to falling prices.
In its annual economic report released last month, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) found that cryptocurrencies cannot replace our current monetary system without significant upgrades. One of the major problems, according to the report, is that cryptocurrencies are simply too volatile to act as a mainstream payments system.
“The essence of good money has always been trust in the stability of its value,” the report says.
The report also notes that, “the more people use a cryptocurrency, the more cumbersome payments become”. This is because the technology behind certain cryptocurrencies can only handle a predetermined number of transactions at any given time, meaning that when capacity is reached, new transactions must enter a queue, which can cause lengthy delays and high transaction costs.
Lastly, the BIS is concerned about, “the fragile foundation of the trust in cryptocurrencies”. This is due to the fact that there may be multiple versions of the ledger on which cryptocurrency transactions are recorded, and also that cryptocurrency miners may have the ability to manipulate the currency.
Speaking at the Australian Business Economists Briefing last month, the Reserve Bank of Australia's Head of Payments Policy Department Tony Richards expressed a view in line with that of the BIS, casting doubt on whether cryptocurrencies really have a real place in the monetary system.
If nothing else, the cryptocurrency craze and subsequent crash can act as a sage reminder that when it comes to investing, there is virtually no such thing as ‘making a quick buck.'
Speculating is a dangerous game, and investing in cryptocurrencies isn't a decision to be made lightly.


text:
Reports have filtered in over the past day that two of the U.S.’s top grocery store chains, Kroger and Albertsons, have announced their intention to merge, according to numerous news outlets.
Rival grocers Kroger and Albertsons on Friday announced plans to team up.
The companies said Kroger agreed to buy Albertsons for $34.10 a share in a deal valued at $24.6 billion. Albertsons shares had closed Thursday at $28.63 after surging on reports that a deal was imminent.
Kroger is the second-largest grocer by market share in the United States, behind Walmart, and Albertsons is fourth, after Costco. Together, Kroger and Albertsons would be a closer second to Walmart.
Both companies’ boards unanimously approved the agreement, which will also need regulatory approval.
It can’t be exaggerated how massive this new, “Frankenstein” monster of a food chain would be–and how it would affect how many Americans shop across the country. Here are the stats for both companies, via the AP:
Kroger, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates 2,800 stores in 35 states, including brands like Ralphs, Smith’s and Harris Teeter. Alberstons, based in Boise, operates 2,273 stores in 34 states, including brands like Safeway, Jewel Osco and Shaw’s. Together the companies employ around 710,000 people.
The deal will likely get heavy scrutiny from U.S. antitrust regulators, especially at a time of high food price inflation. The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission were already in the process of updating merger guidelines to better detect and prevent anticompetitive deals.
The AP piece shared more details on the companies’ plans:
Kroger Chairperson and CEO Rodney McMullen, who would retain those titles at the combined company, said the combination could save $1 billion annually in lower administrative costs, more efficient manufacturing and distribution, and shared investments in technology. He said the company would plow those savings back into lower prices, higher wages and improved stores.
“We will take the learnings from each company to bring greater value and a better experience to more customers, more associates, and more communities,” McMullen said Friday in a conference call with investors.
The merger announcement came through a joint press release from the companies Friday.


text:
Analytical agency Trendfocus released a report that suggests a decline in hard drive shipments in 2022. The largest manufacturers sent 35-36 million drives for sale, which is 42.5% less than a year earlier.
The trend is noticeable in relation to all major suppliers. At Seagate and Western Digital shipments fell by almost half – by 43.7% and 43%, respectively. Slightly less drop in supplies from Toshiba — at 39.3%.
Among the reasons for this fall, market experts cite the “cooling of the global economy”, the adjustment of stocks of products in warehouses, as well as the decrease in demand for corporate cloud storage. Compared to 2021, companies ordered 10-11 million fewer discs.
Delivery volumes vary by drive class. Manufacturers of 3.5-inch HDDs, which are used in video surveillance systems, hoped that the level of consumer confidence would stop declining, and demand for security systems would increase. This did not happen, although in this segment the decline was only 9%.
As for the 2.5-inch drives used in computers and laptops, their shipments even grew by 15% in the fourth quarter. This is explained by the approach of the holidays: equipment is often chosen as a gift.
Analysts TrendForce reported that in 2022, 92% of laptops sold were equipped with an SSD. It is expected that in 2023 their share will become even larger: up to 96%. At the same time, their price is decreasing more and more and will soon be compared with an HDD of the same volume.
More on Aroged


text:
Sundays are all about getting in as much gaming as you possibly can before going back to work the next day. The upshot is that you really get behind on everything that's been going on in the world, but don’t worry because you can get right back up to speed with our daily news roundups. We found out today that Ubisoft’s upcoming Project Q is apparently not going to have NFTs, players have been bidding good riddance to the Bethesda Launcher only days before its retirement, and the Russian government has blocked access to the website for Stalker 2 on account of its developer supporting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. These are just the tip of the iceberg, so read on for the rest.
Ubisoft Might Be Going Up For Sale According To Senior Developers
Several sources inside Ubisoft have been hinting that it might just be going up for sale at some point in the near future. The argument is basically that a combination of slumping stock prices and a lack of clear leadership over the long term could cause the current owners to accept a big buyout. There have also been several private equity firms eying the company. Ubisoft has been quiet so far about a sale, noting only that “we don’t comment on rumors or speculation.” The developer however added that it has “the industry’s deepest and most diversified portfolios, cutting-edge services and technologies, and a large and growing community of engaged players.” Ubisoft went on to say that “as a result, we’re ideally positioned to capitalize on the rapid industry growth and platform opportunities that are emerging right now.” Seems suspicious.
Halo Infinite's Multiplayer Was Originally Prototyped As A Hero Shooter With PvP And PvE Elements
The multiplayer in Halo Infinite was apparently supposed to be a hero shooter with PvP and PvE elements until someone realized that it wasn’t working and pivoted towards what players know and love. This began as a rumor on Twitter, but was quickly confirmed by the journalist at Bloomberg Jason Schreier. ”Yes, 343 spent a while prototyping a hero-based system,” Schreier noted. “I don't remember exactly when they switched to the current version (and the tweet linked here seems exaggerated to the point where it's mostly false), but I can confirm that they were working on various hero-based prototypes. In fact, I think there were both PvP and PvE prototypes built.”
Russian Government Blocks Stalker 2 Website As It Asks Visitors To Support Ukraine
The games industry has been pretty vocal in its support of Ukraine during the ongoing conflict with Russia. Since the studio is based in Ukraine, the developer behind the upcoming Stalker 2, GSC Game World, has been especially vocal in its opposition to the invasion. This appears to have attracted the attention of the Russian government which has now blocked access to its website. “Russia declared war on Ukraine and sent rockets, tanks, and soldiers to our homeland. Our country is forced to fight for its existence again. Seems like this is the price of freedom,” GSC Game World said. “Now, we are striving to help our employees and their families to survive. The game development shifted to the sidelines, but we will definitely continue.” GSC Game World is currently moving its offices out of the country.
Ubisoft "Doesn't Plan" To Add NFTs To Project Q
Ubisoft has been at the center of the NFT scandal ever since the company started putting crypto junk into Ghost Recon Breakpoint. The latest development is that Ubisoft has now promised not to put NFTs into its upcoming Project Q. ”Introducing codename Project Q, a team battle arena letting players truly own the experience! The game is in early development and we will keep testing,” the company noted on Twitter before adding that “by the way, this is not a Battle Royale. The game will feature a variety of PvP modes.” Ubisoft went on to say that “we don't have plans to add NFTs to this game.” The assertion was of course met with a healthy dose of skepticism on the part of players. “When you have to follow up your announcement with two disclaimers saying that terrible ideas aren't part of that game, you know you screwed up as a company,” one person replied.
Players Bid Good Riddance To The Bethesda Launcher
The much maligned Bethesda Launcher is getting ready for retirement next month and players have been panning the program. You can start migrating your games and even your wallet to Steam starting next week. In any case, the response to the news about the Bethesda Launcher has been filled with about as much mockery as you’d expect given the circumstances. “Glad to hear it,” the user on Resetera known as Jph139 said. “Not a launcher I was ever enthused to use." There have also been users posting memes like “the evil is dead" and "you could not live with your own failure."
Source: Read Full Article


text:
Jeff Bezos is leaving his role as Amazon CEO today. Where to next for the billionaire?
The post A turning point: Jeff Bezos steps down as Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) CEO appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia. –
Well, today is a rather remarkable day in the history of capitalism. Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) is about to step down as CEO of the company he founded back in 1994. He first announced his resignation back in February.
The end of Mr Bezos’ stewardship of Amazon, now one of the largest companies in the world, marks a turning point for the man. Amazon has made Bezos the richest person in the world, and by quite a mile. Today, according to Forbes, his net wealth stands at almost US$202 billion. That’s well in front of his next competitor in Bernard Arnault at US$189 billion, as well as from Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk at US$167 billion. Musk briefly overtook Bezos as ‘world’s richest person’ last year amid a soaring Tesla stock price.
But Bezos has since claimed back the mantle, and leaves Amazon back on the top of the global wealth pile. And that’s despite a highly-publicised divorce last year which saw his now ex-wife Mackenzie receive a quarter of Bezos’ Amazon shares. Bezos first became a billionaire in 1998, which Forbes points out was a year that saw an average Amazon share price of US$7.47. Today, those same Amazon shares are worth US$3,511 apiece.
So what now for Bezos and Amazon?
So what is Bezos up to now, since he is leaving running his ‘baby’? And who is in charge at Amazon now? After all, an Aussie who was born in the same year as Amazon entered this world would be 27 years old today. So this is quite a change. So here’s what Bezos said when he initially announced his resignation as Amazon CEO back in February:
Amazon is what it is because of invention. We do crazy things together and then make them normal… If you do it right, a few years after a surprising invention, the new thing has become normal. People yawn. That yawn is the greatest compliment an inventor can receive. When you look at our financial results, what you’re actually seeing are the long-run cumulative results of invention. Right now I see Amazon at its most inventive ever, making it an optimal time for this transition.
But Bezos is not leaving Amazon entirely. He is “transitioning” to the role of Executive Chair, a role with undoubtedly less ‘hands-on’ responsibility at the company, but still an important role nonetheless. His replacement as Amazon CEO is Andy Jassy, who, until now, was the chief executive of the company’s Amazon Web Services (AWS) division.
So what’s Bezos up to now? Well, according to Forbes, Bezos is now turning his time to his charities in the Bezos Day One Fund and the Bezos Earth Fund. He is also expected to be working at his other company – hopeful space explorer Blue Origin. In a tight race with Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson, Bezos is expected to go to space himself on 20 July. Perhaps his ambitions have exceeded what Earth, or Amazon, can offer him.
Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?
When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.
*Returns as of May 24th 2021
FANG+ ETF (ASX:FANG) tumbles 10% on ex-dividend day
Tesla back on top as the most popular US share for ASX investors
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Amazon and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2022 $1,920 calls on Amazon and short January 2022 $1,940 calls on Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.


text:
India Editor. I head the editorial team for coverage of venture capital and private equity deals in the world's third-largest startup ecosystem.
The Beijing-based firm is raising a $200 million global private equity fund that allows people on the mainland to tap assets overseas, with investments starting from $150,000. The two private equity giants are already partners with CreditEase for the product, which has focuses on businesses such as consumer, telecom, healthcare and industrial.
Propertylink has debuted on ASX, and Logos has closed its second China venture. Propertylink debuts on ASX after IPO Property funds manager and landlord Propertylink has commenced trading on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) after raising $384 million in their initial public offering. While the company achieved its target raise, the… Read more »
OnlineTyari, through its multilingual app and website, allows people to prepare for job-oriented tests including civil services, banking services, UPSC, GATE and state government jobs.
The fund will invest in commercial medical technologies, and was officially launched by Innovation and Science Minister Greg Hunt on Wednesday. The fund matches every dollar venture capital and super funds invest upto $500 million.
RocketSpace, started in 2011 by Duncan Logan, houses more than 800 tech startups in its San Francisco-based startup accelerator campus.
Private equity firm Mandala Capital is raising $250 million for a new fund, which will invest in agri-businesses in India. The Mauritius-based firm has invested $180 million so far, all in India-based companies involved in agriculture. Mandala Capital looks for opportunities to provide growth capital in public equity investments. The new… Read more »
As part of the agreement, Uber and investors in UberChina will take a 20 per cent stake in Didi, which was valued at $28 billion in its latest fundraising round. Uber’s China operations will merge with Didi, which will now have a valuation of about $36 billion.
Investment fund Japan Industrial Partners is acquiring children’s clothing retailer Narumiya International Co for an undisclosed amount. The seller is venture capital firm SBI Holdings, which had taken majority stake in 2007. Narumiya plans to reach ¥30 billion ($292 million) in sales by 2020. That would be an increase of about 45 per cent… Read more »
Investors have turned their attention to business-to-business startups this year, after last year’s focus on e-commerce and consumer startups. B2B startups do not have the huge cash burn associated with their e-commerce counterparts, allowing them to become profitable sooner.
PC Jeweller’s board has approved Fidelity funding, while Shriram Land and IStyleYou have raised more funds. PC Jewellery raising Fidelity funding Delhi-based jewellery retailer PC Jeweller Ltd is raising $38 million from US-based Fidelity. It will use the funds to set up a chain of smaller and franchised stores in… Read more »


text:
- Singapore has become famous for its hawker food centers, where flavorful local dishes are served in a no-frills manner.
- But now, social distancing measures limiting the number of diners who can eat in have brought added challenges to a vulnerable industry where the average age of an operator is 60.
- Young Singaporeans have turned to social media to bring their neighborhood hawker stalls to dining tables across the country.
- Unknowingly, this effort might also have sparked something else: a massive citizen effort to document, catalog, support, and consume hawker cuisine.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The island of Singapore is dotted with open-air spaces where hawkers serve flavorful local dishes in a no-frills manner. These hawker centers, as they're called, have become a strong cultural emblem in Singapore, and several hawker stalls have earned Michelin stars.
Newton Hawker Center was featured in a much-talked-about dinner scene in Crazy Rich Asians, catapulting local hawker fare to Hollywood fame. Singapore submitted a bid for hawker culture to be recognized on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list this year; the nomination will be discussed by the Committee in December.
Yet on the ground, the reality is a bit less bright for hawker culture. Even before the pandemic, hawkers were facing trouble appealing to younger consumers who want to eat more international, hybrid, or gourmet food at air-conditioned restaurants. Now, social distancing measures limiting the number of diners who can eat in have brought added challenges to a vulnerable industry where the average age of an operator is 60.
Social media is helping keep the hawker scene alive throughout the pandemic
With more people staying home, young Singaporeans have turned to social media and online platforms to bring their neighborhood hawker stalls to dining tables across the country.
Melvin Chew, 42, is a second-generation hawker who runs Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck and Kway Chap Stall at Chinatown Food Complex with his mother, Lim Bee Hong. When the government announced circuit breaker measures limiting in-person dining on April 3, Chew took to Facebook that night to establish the group Hawkers United.
Chew told Business Insider his vision was to create "a platform where hawkers can announce to the consumers that they are still operating, what type of delivery they have."
"[The] objective is to help hawkers to survive. Consumers can find food and drivers can earn some income," he added.
A full 70,000 members joined the group in the first 24 hours. The group currently has 274,400 members with active postings every day and is moderated by a group of seven volunteers. Each post contains photos of the food along with prices, the location of the stall, ordering instructions, payment and delivery options.
Scrolling the feed, which feels like a virtual hawker centre with islandwide offerings, one can find all sorts of local delicacies: Roe crab bee hoon from Toa Payoh starting at 20 Singapore dollars (US $14.72), Mian Jian Kueh (a type of Singaporean pancake) from Bendemeer Market for 1 Singapore dollar (0.74 cents), Hokkien Prawn Mee from Beach Rd for 3 Singapore dollars (US $2.21), Fuzhou oyster cakes from Maxwell Food Centre for 13 Singapore dollars (US $9.57).
One of the volunteer administrators for the Facebook group is Jill Sara, 43. Sara shared with Business Insider that "the general consensus is if you post on Hawkers United you will see a spike in sales" but admitted it continues to be "very tough" for elderly hawkers to use the Facebook group.
"Sometimes they don't even have a touchscreen phone so they're not on Facebook, they don't have a social media account, so it's hard. We encourage members to help post on behalf of the hawkers," Sara said.
Younger consumers have since stepped up to promote their neighborhood hawker stalls online by creating postings for them.
A Facebook user by the name of Yvonne Chen posted about a "granny" stall owner selling dim sum at Kwek Seng Huat Eating House who "is very elderly and even shaking when she's standing up but is still opening her stall everyday and trying to get on with life amidst the virus."
"Due to Circuit Breaker, she hasnt [sic] been able to sell much of her food items and business has been very poor. PLEASE HELP IF POSSIBLE," Chen wrote.
The post was then reposted multiple times in the Hawkers United group, garnering hundreds of comments and shares. Singaporeans flocked to the store. They shared photos of the food they bought and encouraged others to help her out. "She'll usually be sitting by her stall on her own till 5 to 6 p.m. with most of her kuehs unsold," a user pointed out.
The collective effort worked out: "Granny" was sold out every day that week by noon. Members repeatedly bumped up the thread so it wouldn't be forgotten. One user made an online listing for her stall. Others offered to help buy food from the stall and deliver it to customers personally.
A videographer in the group went down to the stall to get to know the elderly food seller's reality better. The video he made reveals that "granny" is in her 70s and rides her bicycle at 6 a.m. to work at her stall. Before the postings, she says in the video, she would have a lot of leftovers and would end up giving them away.
An extra tough reality for older hawkers
The hawkers who are hardest hit are those who are often old and disconnected. Traditionally most hawkers would conduct their businesses in-person and accept cash only. While larger and younger food businesses pivoted to the web through islandwide delivery platforms, online ordering, and payment throughapps, many hawkers were left out of this sudden digital revolution. It is these hawkers that these young citizens are eager to promote and support.
The story of Hawkers United members uniting around "granny" is not isolated; the Facebook group has come to rely on younger heartlanders who know their neighborhood stalls well, and who promote the hawkers they love.
While members comment on food taste and quality, a large proportion of group conversations center around something else: compassion. Members remind each other to buy from older hawkers and not just the popular stalls, especially during troubled times like the pandemic.
So far, it seems like the band of Singaporeans at Hawkers United are putting their money where their mouth is.
A Hawkers United post by a younger member listed an elderly couple who sells soybean milk and tau huey (soybean pudding) at Kovan Market; it translated to purchases and rave reviews for the couple, who don't use social media themselves and would have not been able to do such outreach.
Another Hawkers United user, Evon Chi, told Business Insider he is friends with an older food seller. He posted a Google form to streamline online orders and organize delivery for the elderly man's famous Fried Carrot Fingers to various neighborhoods. All his delivery slots were snapped up in two days.
In another post, a member relayed the story of an elderly couple selling western food in Hougang. The couple told her that business had been very poor; in the comments that very same day, users shared photos of long queues at the couple's storefront.
Chew, the hawker who started the group, told Business Insider, "That is why we keep encouraging tech savvy younger generations to help all these elderly to engage in social media."
Unknowingly, this younger generation that Chew refers to might have also sparked something else: a massive citizen effort to document, catalog, support, and consume hawker cuisine. Hawkers United, with its large member base of 275, 900 in a nation of 5.85 million, has one in 21 Singapore residents as a part of the group. The online community has become a repository for hawker culture, a growing, searchable, grassroots index where one can discover hawker stalls around the neighborhood or even find new dishes to try.
Users have also found community in each other, bantering and cheering each other's businesses on. In a time of social distancing, the virtual hawker center seems like a way to satiate the taste buds and bring out the best in us.


text:
Spring Plant Sale
A fundraiser for the Washington Park Arboretum
April 2021 Sale Cancelled!
Due to COVID 19. We look forward to hosting this event in 2022!
Graham Visitors Center
Free parking and admission
Don’t miss this vibrant plant sale at the beautiful Washington Park Arboretum! Enjoy a stroll in Seattle’s premier public garden while it’s in peak bloom, and then buy beautiful, high-quality plants for your own garden and home.
The sale is hosted by our volunteer-run Plant Donations Nursery and Pat Calvert Greenhouse, which will be selling a unique selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers at great prices.
Your tax-free plant purchases will help raise revenue to support our maintenance, education, and volunteer programs at the Arboretum.
What you’ll find at the nursery
- A good selection of classic garden perennials.
- Spring-blooming plants, including trillium, trout lilies, and primroses.
- A nice assortment of shrubs.
- Potted hardy succulents.
- And much more.
What you’ll find at the greenhouse
- A unique selection of young camellias, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas propagated from Arboretum collections.
- Japanese maples, mountain ash, and other small trees for the urban garden.
- Lots of unusual perennials.
- Many compact conifers.
- And much more.
Apr 7, 2021
Visitors Center & Arboretum Shop Now Open! Following a year of pandemic-related closure, the Graham Visitors Center and Arboretum Gift Shop have reopened in a limited capacity. Opening hours for the lobby are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shop...
Apr 1, 2021
As we communicated in our gala-related emails, we postponed the wine component of Spring Forward! due to a recent update in state licensing rules. The wine auction will now happen as a separate, mini online event from April 19 to 22. It'll feature 13 exciting wine...
Mar 19, 2021
The Arboretum Foundation has received a very generous bequest of over $300,000 from the estate of Barbara Bonjour. One of our hardest working and most cherished volunteers, Barbara passed away in April of last year. You can read her obituary in The Seattle Times. A...


text:
How many Shamrock Burgers can you eat in 10 minutes? That’s the question the new franchise operators are asking Leduc and area residents when they host the first western Canadian Monster Sham Eating Contest next month.
Shamrock Burgers opened its doors in the Leduc Common last month. Located at 108-5411 Discovery Way, the gourmet burger chain’s feature is one pound of beef, bun and all the fresh toppings you select.
“Opening week was amazing,” said Joel Friendman, vice-president of Shamrock Burgers. “Customers seem to like our product.”
Originally started in Ontario in 1970, Shamrock Burgers was started by two brothers and has expanded to three locations in Toronto, the newest location in Leduc and are looking at another location in Sherwood Park.
The menu features homemade recipes, fresh cut fries and onion rings and fresh toppings.
Several years ago, the Ontario locations hosted a burger eating contest, using the signature one-pound burger. Last year, the winner ate 64 ounces of beef in 10 minutes. This year, Leduc is hosting its own Monster Sham contest Feb. 7 from 1-2 p.m. with $200 going to the person who can eat the most burgers in 10 minutes. Second prize is $100 and third is $50 plus coupons and hats for contestants.
Friedman said he’d like to see 10 contestants sign up for the Leduc challenge. In the first contest in Ontario, 25 people registered. Last year, 124 people signed up.
To enter, pick up a ballot at the Leduc location or register online at www.shamrockburgers.com.
“It’s all for fun,” said Friedman.


text:
Laurel White appears in the following:
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
If craft beers seem to be everywhere these days, there's good reason: Sales jumped 20 percent in 2013. To stand out in an increasingly crowded field, many brewers are pushing the flavor frontiers.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
News media were quick to report on a $499 "Miracle Machine" that could turn water into wine. The science sounded suspect to us, with good reason. The perpetrators call it a sham for charity's sake.
Wednesday, March 05, 2014
The company says it is taking a number of steps to try to curtail illegal gun trafficking online. New rules include removing posts that advertise gun sales with "no background check required."


text:
Hong Kong-headquartered Crypto.com has partnered with Xfers, a Singapore-based payment processing gateway, to enable digital currency buying and selling services with the Singapore dollar.
Announced on Wednesday at the Singapore Fintech Festival, the new services are scheduled for launch next month.
https://t.co/vCNztABJoG partners with Xfers to enable Singapore users 🇸🇬 to buy & sell crypto in $SGD💵 instantly with @xferspay wallet – Coming December 2019. Plus, will support StraitsX and XSGD as part of https://t.co/vCNztABJoG Pay. More: https://t.co/Y0hqxLbkGx pic.twitter.com/2sshF6jUP2
— Crypto.com (@cryptocom) November 13, 2019
How to Acquire New Clients Using Content MarketingGo to article >>
Bringing more stablecoins
Apart from the fiat-based instant purchasing service, the crypto exchange will also add support to StraitsX, the pilot stablecoin initiative of Xfers, along with Singapore-dollar backed XSGD.
The exchange will offer XSGD as part of Crypto.com Pay, its mobile payment solution enabling instant and zero fees settlement between customers and merchants.
Commenting on the development, Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, said: “We are pleased to partner with Xfers first to enable crypto purchases in SGD and then on the strategic stablecoin initiatives surrounding StraitsX and XSGD. Both solutions will increase the utility of the Crypto.com platform for our Singapore community.”
Founded in 2015, Xfers aims to enable open banking services in the Southeast Asian countries. Per the company, along with its partners, it processes over $150 million every month, with over 10 million unique active users in the same period across Singapore and Indonesia.
“Partnering with a leading platform such as Crypto.com is essential to driving our vision of building an open payments infrastructure for the region. This combined pilot to adopt XSGD for MCO Card top-up and for Crypto.com spend adds to our strong foundation for the initiative, as StraitsX aims to be the common ledger for digital assets and payments- enabling transparency for payments,” Tianwei Liu, co-founder and CEO of Xfers, added.
Meanwhile, the crypto exchange plans to become a major player in the region. In an attempt to build public trust, the platform obtained a $100 million insurance policy earlier this year.


text:
Cruise Baltic is to release an updated overview of onshore power supply availability in the Baltic Region.
The research was undertaken in co-operation with Cruise Europe and Cruise Britain and will update the overview published last year.
As a part of this work, Cruise Baltic shared knowledge with Cruise Europe and Cruise Britain and worked actively to align the databases with both cruise networks.
The new version of the onshore power supply (OPS) overview aims to increase user-friendliness and is easy to access directly from the front-page of cruisebaltic.com. Details have also been updated, such as OPS connectivity, power and fees charged.
”Having a tool like the OPS overview allows us to plan itineraries based on available onshore power supply more sufficiently. With this new update it will become even easier for our itinerary planners to find the relevant information and plan sustainably.
“Although we still need more ports to install shore power systems, an overview like this is a great support for the cruise industry’s green transition and helps us in meeting our guests’ demands for a more sustainable vacation,” said Marcus Puttich, Director Destinations, TUI Cruises.
OPS contributes to the local environmental improvements in and near the ports. By minimising the release of detrimental NOx, SOx, and particulate matter, which are linked to air pollution, reducing noise and vibration, OPS helps improve air quality and the overall well-being of surrounding areas.
”With the update of the onshore power supply overview on our website, we hope to continue to encourage cruise lines to take the next steps towards a greener cruise industry and encourage the installation of shore power in our region.
“With a wide-ranging and up-to-date information on OPS, we make it easier for cruise lines to embrace sustainable practices and use the available facilities. We are proud to contribute to reducing environmental impact and promoting a more sustainable future,” said Klaus Bondam, Cruise Baltic Director.
Ports that already have OPS installed in the Baltic Sea region include Kiel and Rostock in Germany, Kristiansand in Norway and Aarhus in Denmark. Later this year, Stockholm in Sweden will also be ready with shore power to be followed by Copenhagen, Denmark in 2025.
It is estimated that nine to 14 ports will be shore power ready by 2030. So far, about 40% of the world’s cruise fleet is fitted with shore power connections, while 75% is expected to be shore power ready by 2030.
Cruise Baltic was founded in 2004 and is a B2B network of 32 cruise ports in the Baltic Sea region aiming to promote the region to cruise lines and travel agents.


text:
The organisations that are looking to invent, and dominate the next era of computing are, at their heart, based on advertising revenue, and in the process of owning the future, these companies and their device-based competitors will treat the personal information of consumers as a prized commodity.
Close to seven months after the departure of long-time CTO John Lindsay, iiNet has appointed former Maxis COO Mark Dioguardi as his replacement.
Cuscal and CUA have avoided the complexities related to the secure element of an Android phone by launching the redi2PAY mobile payment app featuring Host Card Emulation technology.
Lost some important data on your iPhone, iPad or Android device? Here are some tools that might be able to help you get it back.
As information technology tears apart entire industries, we have to ask: are we crossing the chasm or falling into a chasm?
As enterprise adoption of cloud solutions soars, IT leaders must recognize where vulnerabilities still exist, what improvements to push for, and how to reap the most value from available technologies.
Research shows that enterprise technology spending has grown far beyond IT. CIOs and IT must change or become increasingly marginalized.
We have been keeping a look out for the hottest new start-ups to make the news this quarter. Here are our favourites so far for Q2 2014.
New designs for interstitial warning pages for malware and phishing sites detected by Google Safe Browsing are simpler.
ANALYSIS: An emotional manipulation experiment Facebook conducted on 689,003 unknowing users has drawn scrutiny from Washington in a formal letter to the FTC.
Dilma Rousseff releases first tech-related promise ahead of upcoming elections.
China revealed exactly what patents Microsoft has in its Android patent portfolio. After examining these patents, M-Cam doubts the validity of many of Microsoft's Android claims.
Apple has baked into the latest iOS releases a lot of functionality that previously was only available to those who were intrepid enough to jailbreak, but there's still a lot of cool stuff that can only be unlocked through jailbreaking.
CodeWeavers latest CrossOver has many improvements, one of which is that it makes it easier than ever to install Windows applications on Linux.
Hybrid cloud, and its unique combination of on-premise and off-premise solutions, is growing in popularity, as shown in a new Tech Pro Research survey and the resulting research report.
The cloud storage giant touts the Streaming Sync method produces multi-client sync rates up to two times faster than before.
Huawei launched their first phone selling directly in the US with the Ascend Mate2 and it is quite compelling at a low $299.99 unlocked, no-contract price.
Tip us off!
Can't find what you want or have a tip? Tell us about it and we will endeavour to cover this topic. Drop us a line