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Colt Print Services has absorbed another long-time Boulder printer, Estey Printing Company, company officials announced Friday.
As a result of the transaction, which the companies classified as a merger, Colt Print Services will take over all Estey Printing operations and clients at its 2525 Frontier Ave., location in Boulder. Company officials say the merger went into effect Friday.
Estey Printing owner Bill Hayes purchased the now-59-year-old company in 1998. Hayes, 63, has been in the printing business since 1973 and opened his own company, Hayes Printing, in 1983.
“I wanted to retire and I looked around at all the options,” Hayes said. “I’ve known (Colt) for 30, 35 years so we’re excited to go with him to merge the companies.”
Just one of Estey’s six employees will join the staff at Colt Print Services, Hayes said. General manager Lauri Weaver, who’s been with Estey for 28 years, will join the Colt Print Services staff to service what were previously Estey accounts.
Jim Colt said the decision to absorb Estey is part of his overall business expansion plan.
“I’m always looking for printers that would like to retire and print shops to acquire, and this is simply a response to a known commodity that I would be interested in,” Colt said.
Colt, who’s purchased several other printing companies in Boulder, said former Estey customers will now have access to digital printing technologies in addition to offset printing. Offset printing is often more expensive and requires a printing plate for each color needed for the job, Colt said, whereas digital printers don’t require plates and use dry ink.
Both companies offer color and black and white printing services for items like business cards, posters, brochures and other paper products, as well as services such as binding, collating and finishing.


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The Proton compatibility layer allows the Steam Deck to run games that have not been ported to natively run on the hardware’s Linux-based operating system.
While the fix is currently available on the experimental test branch, it should soon release to the public branch once stability checks have been run.
Other fixes include issues that prevented video playback in Ghostwire: Tokyo, Ember Knights, Street Fighter 5, Disintegration, Postal 4: No Regerts, Solasta: Crown of the Magister, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, and The Room 4: Old Sins.
In other Final Fantasy 14 news, Square Enix recently revealed that Final Fantasy 14 was its best performing game in the past fiscal year. The news was unveiled when the publisher released its financial results on May 13, where the publisher stated that the game’s latest expansion Endwalker was “a major contribution” to the publisher’s sales and operating income compared to the previous year.
The publisher also announced that bugs affecting the game’s housing lottery system have been fixed.
In other news, IO interactive has added a number of PC-specific features to Hitman 3. The game now supports ray-traced reflections and shadows, Nvidia Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).

domain: news


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2020 Toyota Vellfire India-spec first drive review
Smaller Mercedes-Benz T-Class MPV coming in 2022
Four-wheeler launches that took place in India during COVID19
Toyota India hikes prices of all models, including Vellfire and Camry Hybrid
Toyota Camry Hybrid BSVI launched in India at Rs 37.88 lakh
Hrithik Roshan gets a customised Mercedes-Benz V-Class by DC2 Design
180 units of Toyota Vellfire MPV already sold in India
India’s largest auto media for the bike & car community for over 22 years.


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The CDN Alliance is delighted to announce that Taubyte has joined the CDN Alliance, further expanding our network of industry members! Taubyte is a company with the mission to streamline the creation of cloud computing platforms. Taubyte’s solution is open source and available on https://github.com/taubyte/.
As a new member of the CDN Alliance, Taubyte brings valuable insights and expertise to our growing family of industry members. By working together with Taubyte and our existing members, we aim to facilitate seamless cooperation between traditional CDNs and software developers especially in AI & Web 3. We are excited to embark on new initiatives with Taubyte and explore the possibilities for enhancing the CDN landscape. Welcome to the CDN Alliance family, Taubyte!


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Airtel has announced two new unlimited data plans for its users offering high-speed 4G data up to 3GB per day. The new unlimited data offerings are the latest in the price wars between Reliance Jio and the incumbent telecom operators like Airtel, leading to competitive offerings and price reductions for customers.
Earlier, Reliance Jio had announced that it was increasing data allowances in all of its plans by 500MB without any increase in prices. The telco later announced discounts of up to Rs 50 across all of its plans, and then followed it up with new 3GB data per day offerings.
Airtel 2GB data per day plan details
Airtel has announced the Rs 249 plan for users who want 2GB high speed data per day. With this plan, users also get free local and national voice calls, unlimited incoming and outgoing calls on roaming and 100 SMSs free per day. However, for outgoing calls, Airtel has fixed a fair usage limit of 300 minutes per day and 1,200 minutes per week, after which users will be charged 10 paise per minute. The plan is valid for 28 days.
In comparison, Reliance Jio is providing 2GB data per day, unlimited voice calls, free roaming, 100 SMSs free per day and access to Jio apps at Rs 198, with a validity of 28 days.
Airtel 3GB data per day plan details
Airtel’s 3GB data per day plan has been priced at Rs 349. Other voice, SMS and validity benefits remain the same as that of the Rs 249 plan. In comparison, Reliance Jio is proving 3GB data per day at Rs 299, with other benefits remaining the same as the Rs 198 plan.


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Meet the Women of 43North March is Women’s History Month, and each day, we cheers to the incredible women who are making history. But, DYK that only 1.9% of all venture capital dollars go to female founders? Yikes. From day one, 43N has committed to changing that statistic, and today, 26% of our portfolio companies
Celebrating Women’s History Month March is Women’s History Month, and each and every day, we cheers to the incredible women who are making history. But, DYK that only 2.2% of all venture capital dollars go to female founders? Yikes. From day one, 43N has committed to changing that statistic, and today, 22% of our portfolio
Earlier this month, Eric Reich, Board Member, 43North & TechBuffalo joined Mike Langellier, President and CEO of TechPoint at Seneca One to talk about Buffalo’s thriving tech ecosystem and how we can continue to scale.
Call for Founders to Grow Businesses in Buffalo for Cut of $5 Million in Investment Finalists to Face-Off at Live In-Person Pitch Event in October New York State announced that applications are now being accepted for the seventh year of 43North, the $5 million startup competition that attracts world-class entrepreneurs to grow their businesses in
ACV’s IPO is an incredible feat by any standards – even the Silicon Valley ones; so for a home-grown Buffalo tech company to hit this milestone, it is a monumental achievement, and its impact will be equally as remarkable in our region. So before we officially turn the page on this chapter, we sat down
The following is a repost of an article from Buffalo Business First featuring 43North Y6 portfolio company Circuit Clinical. Circuit Clinical emerged from the early complexities of building a business model around an ideal. It survived the Covid-19 pandemic while doubling its revenue. Now it’s time to step on the gas pedal. The Buffalo-based firm
The following is a repost of an article from Buffalo Business First featuring 43North Y4 portfolio company SomaDetect. Around the horn in Buffalo’s startup ecosystem … Soma surging SomaDetect announced that it has raised $6 million in Series A funding, an event which will help push the ag-tech startup into full commercialization. SomaDetect won the
Repost from Forbes: America is rich in small businesses. These enterprises account for over 30 million U.S. businesses and some two-thirds of net new jobs. While venture-backed startups generally skew white, male and coastal, these Main Street companies actually look like—and drive—America. To shine a light on these entrepreneurial heroes, Forbes has created the Next
Western New York is full of innovators, blazing new trails as they work to build a better Buffalo. In collaboration with our partners at Aleron, Be In Buffalo and TechBuffalo, 43North is celebrating a select group of these Western New York Trailblazers. John Gavigan is the Managing Director at Endeavor, a mission-driven, global organization leading the high-impact entrepreneurship movement.
43North is kicking off 2021 with the announcement of its Small Business School. This free virtual educational workshop series features local professionals and experts who will cover a variety of topics – all aimed to help small business owners sharpen their skills and elevate their business. From social media to legal to accounting and more,
2020 looked like a year to retreat on the surface, but for 43North, it’s been a year marked by great momentum and the type of traction that turned things we only dreamed about when we started in 2014 into reality. This year, our portfolio companies raised over $150 million in venture capital, walked away with
Western New York is full of innovative people, blazing new trails as they work to build a better Buffalo. 43North has teamed up with our friends at Aleron, Be In Buffalo and TechBuffalo for a special blog series celebrating a select group of Western New York Trailblazers. Jenna Crisp is the VP of Product and Digital Services for


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Comet’s collapse has racked up a cumulative £50 million in unpaid tax and redundancy costs, with some 6,600 employees expected to be left without a job when the consumer goods vendor closes its doors for the final time tomorrow, 18 December.
HM Revenue & Customs is set to lose out on some £26 million in back VAT and payroll taxes, as all ‘unsecured’ creditors will get nothing from the administration process. Other unsecured creditors include search giant Google and leading UK television network ITV, while the nearly £5 million worth of unclaimed gift cards and vouchers currently thought to be in circulation will also be valueless.
However, the one-time retailer's primary backer, Hailer Acquisitions Limited (HAL), is set to recover £50 million of the estimated £145 million it is owed, meaning it will receive over 60 per cent of Comet's remaining assets of around £80 million as being divided up by administrator Deloitte.
In addition to taking the fiscal hit, the Government has agreed to subsidise Comet’s redundancy payouts to the tune of £24 million, while holiday and other back pay owed to staff adds another £2.1 million to the bill. The overriding fear is that it is the British public who will ultimately foot the bill for the failed retail enterprise.
The former 236 branch chain is reported to have incurred losses of some £200 million before it began closing down in November.
Image Credit: Flickr (Jim Linwood)


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WNBA star Aerial Powers inks a brand ambassador HyperX deal
Diversity and inclusion are major goals
HyperX has made history this week by forging a partnership with the WNBA. The gaming equipment company has brought women’s basketball champ Aerial Powers on as a brand ambassador.
While famous for her exploits on the hardwood, Powers has also carved out a name and a following for herself in the world of esports. Those who live on Twitch know her as POWERzSURGE, where she’s active as a streamer playing Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and—perhaps predictably—NBA 2K.
As an ambassador for HyperX she’ll now be wearing the company’s headsets whenever she’s online. Power will also help HyperX promote diversity and inclusion in esports, which is perceived to be overwhelmingly male.
The key word there is “perceived”. In a recent interview with USA Today, Powers noted that more than 40 percent of gamers are actually women.
Commenting on the hookup in a press release, Powers said, ““I am extremely excited to officially join the HyperX family. Rocking HyperX is what will continue to keep me at the top of my game. I am so honored to receive the Heroes treatment and I can’t wait to share with the world the sick creation that we come up with.”
HyperX also weighed in on the partnership with basketball champ Aerial Powers.
“We’re thrilled to sign Aerial to the HyperX family,” said HyperX marketing manager Dustin Illingworth. “Her skills on the court and remarkable passion for diversity and inclusion in gaming will elevate awareness with gamers and traditional sports fans alike.”
Powers isn’t the first athlete that HyperX has brought on board as a partner. Those who’ve been brought under the company’s corporate umbrella include the National Football League’s Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster and NBA sat Gordon Hayward.
Serving as a brand ambassador isn’t something that’s new to Powers. She came on board with Team Liquid at the beginning of the year as a streamer and influencer.
Basketball will also keep her busy this year. Powers, who won the 2019 championship with the Washington Mystics, has now jumped to the Minnesota Lynx.


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Posts tagged Privacy
Posts tagged Privacy
This article is from the security firm sophos, and contains great info on how to detect and avoid this scam, and what to do if you were already caught. Also generally the newest thinking on safety online, given the prevalance of this sort of thing.
Take care out there!
“Facebook is resuming the release of its feature for applications to request personal information such as phone number and home address.
This is the second time it has rolled this out, pulling it back a few days after it was launched in January amid congressional security concerns. …”
Click link for more..
This great article has some familiar ideas and some I hadn’t yet come across - all very useful!
From Makeuseof.com, written by Mahendra Palsule
Facebook has at long last offered an option to use the encrypted “HTTPS” protocol, a feature it will begin rolling out today but won’t finish for a “few weeks.” You should check now if it’s available, and sign up as soon as it is enabled for your account. The performance overhead is minor—zippy Gmail, for example, uses HTTPS for everything—and it’s an important step to keep your Facebook account safe from being hijacked on an open or poorly secured wireless network.
By default, Facebook sends your access credentials in the clear, with no encryption whatsoever. Switching to HTTPS is important because a browser extension called Firesheep has made it especially easy for anyone sharing your open wireless network—at cafe or conference, for example—to sniff your credentials and freely access your account. One blogger sitting in a random New York Starbucks was able to steal 20-40 Facebook identities in half an hour. HTTPS solves this longstanding problem by encrypting your login cookies and other data; in fact the inventor of Firesheep made the software to encourage companies like Facebook to finally lock down their systems.
You can sign up for Facebook HTTPS by going to Account Settings and then selecting “Account Security,” third from the bottom. Then click under “Secure Browsing” — if it’s there. Facebook says everyone should have this by the end of the day, but in the meantime you might be missing the relevant option toggle.
The ubiquitous “like” is currency for brands, and Facebook is giving them a new way to collect: an ad unit that shows up on the right-hand side of the screen it calls “sponsored stories.”
The settings that exist for users to control whose feeds they see and who sees their feed also apply to the sponsored stories. Users, however, will not be able to opt out of having their action turned into an ad and having that broadcast to their connections on Facebook.
» via Advertising Age
Really eye-opening!! Check it out!
From IPHouse, best ISP Ever:
It’s the flip-side of enjoying instant communication with your friends.
Facebook has courted a fresh privacy row after allowing developers of apps access to sensitive information including telephone numbers and addresses.
The social networking site announced the change on its blog last Friday, saying: ‘We are now making a user’s address and mobile phone number accessible.’
Internet security analysts and privacy experts immediately advised people to remove their phone numbers and addresses from the site.
“Over the last few weeks we have been contacted by a number of members of the Sophos Facebook page, concerned by a message they saw on Facebook, warning them that their account protection was “very low”.
Pressing the small question mark on the dialog box reveals exactly what Facebook believes I have to do to improve my account protection.
No mention of using more secure, hard-to-crack, non-dictionary passwords. No mention of revoking access to rogue applications that may be able to post to my profile’s wall. No mention of reviewing my privacy settings to make sure I’m not sharing my personal information with strangers or search engines. No, to improve how well my account is protected I need to give Facebook more of my personal information: an alternative email address, a mobile phone number, and answer a “secret” question. …”
No mention of using more secure, hard-to-crack, non-dictionary passwords. No mention of revoking access to rogue applications that may be able to post to my profile’s wall. No mention of reviewing my privacy settings to make sure I’m not sharing my personal information with strangers or search engines.
No, to improve how well my account is protected I need to give Facebook more of my personal information: an alternative email address, a mobile phone number, and answer a “secret” question.
I’m very interested in this, I really don’t like the FB tentacles following me wherever else I go on the web.
The idea of checking in regularly still, but being totally off when I’m off, is kind of appealing.
Haven’t decided yet at all..
If I ever do seem to not be there, don’t be alarmed!
What do the rest of you think?
(From Slashdot) “Cisco this week unveiled software designed to let companies track customers and prospects on social media networks like Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other public forums and sites. Cisco SocialMiner allows users to monitor status updates, forum posts and blogs of customers so they can be alerted of conversations related to their brand. The software is designed to not only enable enterprises to monitor the conversations of their customers but to engage those that require service, Cisco says.”


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Today, the blogger @digital Chat revealed xiaomi’s new flagship. It has a 2K 120Hz hyperboloid perforated screen and is a premium version of Xiaomi’s new flagship phone.
Considering the high cost of 2K 120Hz hyperboloid flexible screen, currently only high-end flagship can be used, such as Samsung Galaxy S20 series, OPPO Find X2 series, One-Plus 8 Pro and so on.
At this time coinciding with the upcoming release of xiaomi digital series flagship, so guess the
Previously, @dchat revealed that the Mi 11 series will be the first flagship snapdragon 875 processor in China, while Samsung Galaxy S21 series is likely to be released in January, so the Mi 11 may also be released in January or even December.
Compared with the Mi 10, this will be the first time for the Mi 11 series to use a 2K resolution perforated screen, with a high refresh rate of 120Hz. The display fineness and smoothness will be significantly improved compared with the Mi 10 90Hz+FHD screen.
Read Also: Xiaomi MI11 Snapdragon 875 Performance Score Leaked
In addition, Mi 11 series is expected to support the 100 watt level super fast charge, the current Mi 10 supreme version took the lead in mass production commercial fast charge 120W, the top version of the Mi 11 series is expected to be at least 120W.
The post Xiaomi MI 11 Pro Reveals to use 2K 120Hz to Dig Holes appeared first on IGeeKphone China Phone, Tablet PC, VR, RC Drone News, Reviews.


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SANFRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Semtech Corp. SMTC, +3.15% after Tuesday's closing bell reported third-quarter net earnings of $11.5 million, or 15 cents a share, down 21% from $14.6 million, or 19 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue at the Camarillo, Calif.-based semiconductor company fell to $60.9 million from $65 million last year. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had estimated earnings of 14 cents a share on revenue of $60 million. Semtech forecast fourth-quarter earnings of 16 cents a share and expects revenue to rise 4% to 6% sequentially. Analysts expect a fourth-quarter profit of 16 cents a share on revenue of $63 million.
Semtech quarterly profit falls 21%


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As summer driving season dawns upon us, it’s time to pay tribute to what’s become one of the great fixtures of the American highway. On annual trips to the beach or mountains, hungry families stumble across these signs dominating the interstates we travel.
I’m talking about that roadside restaurant with the rocking chairs for sale on its front porch, Cracker Barrel (CBRL). As I write this, CBRL shares are rallying 8% following its excellent third-quarter earnings report. So let’s take a quick look at some of the fundamentals CBRL delivered last quarter. Then, we can decide for ourselves what kind of investment this monument to Southern hospitality might actually be for us right now.
First things first, though, in the interest of full disclosure, I don’t hold Cracker Barrel in any of my premium newsletters yet. However, Cracker Barrel has many of the same properties that I look for in potential new buys, including robust sales and earnings growth.
CBRL’s adjusted earnings per share jumped 22.1% year-on-year to $1.82. This beat the $1.80 consensus EPS estimate by 1.1%, which isn’t too shabby at all. Plus, total revenue rose 2.4% year-on-year to $700.1 million. Now, this might have missed the $705.7 million consensus estimate by a hair, but the average Cracker Barrel customer still spent 2.9% more per table than a year ago. That’s a significant increase.
Moreover, Cracker Barrel raised its FY 2016 sales and earnings guidance. It now expects revenue between $2.90 billion and $2.95 billion and adjusted EPS between $7.45 and $7.55. This is in line with the Street view of $2.92 billion in sales and $7.51 EPS. That’s good news for any would-be investor.
Not to mention, CBRL increased its quarterly dividend by 4.5% to $1.15 per share. Shareholders of record on July 15 will be paid this dividend on August 5. So right now could be the perfect buying opportunity. What’s more, Cracker Barrel declared a special dividend of $3.25 per share, which shareholders of record on July 15 will be paid on July 29. And to make things even more intriguing, Cracker Barrel now has a 2.8% annualdividend yield to boot.
Add this all up, and while Cracker Barrel currently has a C-rated Fundamental Grade in my Portfolio Grader tool, this will likely firm up once these latest results have been plugged into the equation. And with an A-rated Portfolio Grader Quantitative Grade, CBRL has tremendous upside potential. This already makes it an overall B-rated Buy in Portfolio Grader.
But to make the case for CBRL even more attractive, simply take a look at its Dividend Grader grade as well. CBRL earns high marks for Dividend Trend, Dividend Reliability and Forward Dividend Growth, making it an A-rated Strong Buy in Dividend Grader.
Overall, even though CBRL is not yet in any of my premium newsletters’ portfolios, it appears to be a solid buy as we head into summer.


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New York Times Co. on Thursday reported better-than-expected earnings growth in its second quarter, helped by cost cuts and digital growth, though revenue edged down on continued weakness in its print business.
New York Times, like other newspapers, has come to rely more heavily on circulation and subscription revenue in recent years to offset steady declines in print ad revenue.
In the latest quarter, advertising revenue fell 5.5% to $148.6 million, led by a 13% decrease in print advertising.
Circulation revenue edged up 0.9% to $211.7 million, as the company's digital subscription push and an increase in home-delivery prices offset a decline in print copies sold.
The Times is trying to boost its Web and mobile audience to bolster ad sales without undermining a steadily growing digital subscription business.
Both digital subscription revenue and digital advertising sales grew 14% in the quarter, helped by mobile, paid posts and video.
The company noted that its digital growth came despite its decision to make its NYT Now mobile app, launched last year, free after the paid version failed to garner the expected number of subscribers.
The company has been working to court young readers, who now get their news from a wider variety of nontraditional sources--and usually free. The newspaper's top digital executives argue that aggressively going after younger readers on platforms outside of the Times will persuade some to subscribe.
The company brought its total paid digital subscriptions to about 990,000 at the end of the quarter, up 19% from a year earlier as retention improved and it added more international subscribers. The company said it surpassed 1 million digital subscribers last week.
Overall, the Times reported a profit of $16.4 million, or 10 cents a share, compared with a profit of $9.19 million, or six cents a share, a year earlier.
Operating costs fell 4.9% from the prior year to $344.8 million.
Excluding severance and retirement costs, per-share earnings from continuing operations rose to 13 cents from seven cents.
Total revenue fell 1.5% to $382.9 million.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected per-share profit of 11 cents and revenue of $383.5 million.
Write to Chelsey Dulaney at Chelsey.Dulaney@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires


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Bloom Floral is a local, chicago based small business. We take pride in being local, because that allows us to focus 110% on our customers and their satisfaction. We are not affiliated with any of the big floral wire companies, and our flowers are made and delivered directly from us to your loved ones. But it is in times like these that we see the real struggles that can come from being a small business owner, and it is hard to see that many of our fellow community members are struggling to hold on. It is time that as a community, we come together to support one another. Chicago is a beautiful city, with a large diversity of many beautiful, friendly people. It is true, not only are small businesses struggling, but even some major corporations as well. Times are tough for everyone.
About every Small businesses across the U.S. is struggling right now, and those in Chicago are no exception.
Small businesses are not just mom-and-pop shops and restaurants. They also include nonprofits, the self-employed, professional offices, and others, as long as they have fewer than 500 employees and have been in business as of February 15, 2020. And with the economy nearly at a stand-still due to the coronavirus, these organizations are struggling.
By Friday last week—the first day applications were open—applications for small business loans had already amounted to nearly $5 billion. And with the virus’s peak not projected to hit in Illinois quite yet, the impact will still be felt for a while.
To better understand the scope of the impact of this crisis on small businesses in Chicago, learn how various government agencies are trying to help, and identify ways we can all band together to support each other during this crisis.
How is the coronavirus affecting the health of the Chicago-area economy?
It goes without saying, we are witnessing an unprecedented global economic event, one that impacts the economy of the entire world. And there are still many unknowns.
While the necessary steps taken to combat the spread of COVID-19 have significantly slowed the Chicago area economy, particularly our tourism and hospitality sector, our economy is one of the most diverse in the country with no more than 14% of our GDP coming from any one sector which means that the impacts from coronavirus are spread across a broader number of economic sectors and give us a strong base to go through the crisis and for recovery.
Additionally, the city, state, and federal governments have all stepped up to provide relief and resources to businesses impacted by the pandemic. These resources include the City’s Chicago Business Resiliency Fund, the state’s Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund and the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund, and the federal government’s CARES Act among many other steps that have been taken.
CI: What has been the biggest challenge that business leaders have had to face during this pandemic?
The challenges facing business leaders are significant. At the top of the list is protecting the health and safety of their employees. For many this includes moving to virtual workplaces but for others that have been deemed essential it means providing the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and work environments that keep people safe during this pandemic.
Businesses leaders are developing new ways of working, new ways of connecting with customers, new ways of managing their supplies chain. In short, across the spectrum business is being required to innovate and be flexible and nimble. And across our region we see company after company stepping up to the plate.
Why are small businesses in particular more vulnerable to disruptions like this?
Access to capital and liquidity have always been a challenge for small businesses. Many small businesses have been forced to close or drastically reduce their operations and many do not have sufficient reserves to weather a long break in their revenue streams. But efforts have been created at the federal, state, and city level to help small businesses get through this crisis, like the $2 trillion CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act that President Trump signed into law on March 27, which lifts the burden of payroll costs from employers during this fallow period and to ensure that employee salaries and benefits continue to be paid.
Beyond that, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot recently announced a program that will fund $100 million in low-interest loans through Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund, the City’s unprecedented effort to support Chicago’s small businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The fund will provide immediate stop-gap relief to thousands of small businesses in Chicago.
What do you think the Chicago economy will look like in 6 months?
While we do not yet know exactly when the virus will peak in Illinois or the country, it is not too soon to begin thinking about the steps we will need to take to begin an economic recovery. There is no question that in many ways we will operate and live differently and that the economic impacts from the pandemic will be severe. Many economists have come to the view that coronavirus disruptions will trigger a global recession.
Last week, the International Monetary Fund said it sees negative global growth this year, and warned that we’re facing “a recession at least as bad as during the global financial crisis or worse.” On the other hand, former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who stewarded the US economy through the 2008 financial crisis, told business news network CNBC that the current shock the US economy is experiencing from coronavirus is “much closer to a major snowstorm or a natural disaster than it is to a classic 1930s-style depression” and many expect that our economic recovery will come more quickly that it did after the 2008-2009 recession
How can people help make a difference?
First and foremost—it can’t be stressed enough—stay home, limit your time out taking care of essential needs. Very simply put: Stay home. Save lives.
Our local, small business community needs us now more than ever—so whenever you go out to shop, keep your dollars local; support your local restaurants with carry-out or delivery, and when you do—share all your local positive experiences on your social media.
Last, donations are much needed too. In collaboration with the City of Chicago, The Chicago Community Trust and United Way of Metro Chicago launched the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund to unite funds raised by Chicago’s philanthropies, corporations, and individuals to be disbursed to nonprofit organizations across the region. Let’s not forget the impact this will have on our neighbors. Missing paychecks, the burdens of rent, and a lack of access to food are realities that many in our region will have to face in the coming weeks. Support your neighbors across the City of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.


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Categories Tech News
Netflix might ruin password sharing for everyone
May 26, 2023
Netflix is betting that a password-sharing crackdown will reverse its dwindling revenue and wavering subscriber count. The company has historically never enforced its policy of one account per household. Now, by making members pay to share their subscriptions with people who live in other homes, Netflix will cash in on all those users they’ve been missing out on for all these years, right?
Well, it might not be that simple.
Netflix — where co-founder and now-former CEO Reed Hastings once said “password sharing is something you have to learn to live with” — told investors last year that password sharing contributed to the streamer’s first loss in subscribers in over a decade. After months of testing throughout Latin and Central America, N…


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Anvisa, Brazil’s health regulatory agency, announced Friday that it has suspended the production, sale and use of products from breast implant manufacturer Silimed after the company failed production standards in a recent inspection.
Brazil followed the decision of the European Union to ban the sale of Silimed’s silicone implants following a German investigation detecting contamination in the company’s manufacturing facility in Brazil.
Currently conducting tests on Silimed products for risk assessment, Anvisa called the ban a “precautionary measure.”
Silimed – now working with Brazilian and European authorities to reverse the bans – asserted in a statement that it has always adhered to the highest standards of quality, and that the existence of sterile particles does not equate to a health risk.
In the European Union, the suspension covers breast implants, vaginal stents, penile and testicular implants and other urological devices as well as a variety of surgical devices, according to Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The agency is still testing Silimed products and analyzing its manufacturing processes.
Other countries, such as Australia and Switzerland, have followed suit and called on plastic surgeons to postpone surgeries while health authorities are conducting their own investigation.
The Silimed ban in various countries is not the first time that breast implants were embroiled in controversy and subjected to government scrutiny.
In 2010, authorities found that France-based Poly Implant Prothèse, considered one of the top breast implant producers worldwide, did not utilize medical-grade silicone, and thus its products are believed to have twice the rupture rate of other implants. With thousands of implant users affected from Europe to South America, company head Jean-Claude Mas was given a four-year prison sentence in December 2013.
Silimed says it is the largest silicone implant manufacturer in South America and has been in the market for 37 years now.
With presence in over 75 countries around the world, the company claimed in an earlier statement that its products are safe and “the level of particles is extremely low and consistent with all markets.”


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Becky & Nic
WASHINGTON -- While natural body-care products represent the fastest growing segment of the cosmetics market, your local pharmacy shelves are still full of products laden with toxic chemicals linked to cancer and reproductive harm. To address this problem, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., introduced the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2013, which would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to ensure that all personal care products are free of harmful ingredients. Existing law, which has not been significantly updated since 1938, has loopholes that allow chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other illnesses in products we use on our bodies every day.
"The cosmetics industry has an ugly problem: make-up, shampoos, and lotions are contaminated with toxic chemicals that harm health," said Janet Nudelman of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. "Products used every day by men, women, and children contain unsafe chemicals, whether it's baby shampoos contaminated with cancer-causing formaldehyde, lead in lipsticks or mercury in skin creams. The Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2013 will give the beauty industry a much-needed make-over," said Nudelman.
Because of the growing consumer concern about hazardous chemicals, the natural products sector has been the fastest growing segment of the cosmetics market-even during the recession. This segment is expected to top $11 billion by 2016. Yet industry self-regulation is not working when it comes to making safe shampoos, lotions or diaper creams. Carcinogens, as well as chemicals that harm reproduction and development, can be found in common cosmetics and personal care products made for women, men, and children.
"The simple truth is everyday products that women, men, and children use contain ingredients that can cause cancer as well as reproductive and developmental harm," said Rep. Schakowsky. "Consumers think the Food and Drug Administration is a watchdog preventing harmful ingredients from being in their shampoos, cologne, makeup, deodorants, lotions, and other products, but the truth is, the FDA has little power under current law. This bill will remedy that by giving FDA the authority to create and enforce a safety standard that will get harmful toxins out of our products."
Rep. Markey applauded the bill: "The last thing you want to worry about first thing in the morning is whether the products that make us and our children clean and comfortable also contain cancer-causing chemicals. From diaper cream to deodorant, our medicine cabinets are filled with personal care products that may contain harmful ingredients. This bill will help close the gaping holes in federal law that allow companies to use potentially untested and unsafe ingredients in cosmetic and personal care products. Consumers deserve to have confidence that the products they use every day use will not harm them."
The legislation will:
- Phase out ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects and developmental harm
- Create a health-based safety standard that includes protections for children, the elderly, workers and other vulnerable populations
- Close labeling loopholes by requiring full ingredient disclosure, including salon products and the constituent ingredients of fragrance, on product labels and company websites
- Give workers access to information about unsafe chemicals in personal care products
- Require data sharing to avoid duplicative testing and encourage the development of alternatives to animal testing
- Provide adequate funding for the FDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors so it has the resources it needs for effective oversight of the cosmetics industry
- Level the playing field so small businesses can compete fairly
"Families shouldn't have to bring a toxicologist with them to the make-up aisle to feel safe," said Cindy Luppi, Clean
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has raised awareness of toxic dangers lurking in common products intended for women and children including lead in lipstick and formaldehyde in baby shampoo. However, toxic chemicals are equal opportunity contaminants, with men's products hosting a number of dangerous chemicals. A search of the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database finds that at least five men's hair products, including men's hair color and conditioner, contain lead acetate, which is banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics in Canada and the European Union. The state of California recognizes lead acetate as a developmental and reproductive toxicant. Five men's hair dyes contain toluene, which is a volatile petrochemical that is a potent neurotoxicant and a possible carcinogen. Twelve products, including dandruffshampoos, contain coal tar, which is a carcinogen that is banned or found unsafe for use in cosmetics in Canada and the EU. More than 170 eye makeup products contain the colorant carbon black, which is not approved by FDA for cosmetics used around eyes.
"When there are cancer-causing chemicals and neurotoxins in the products we're using on our skin every day, you know the regulatory system is broken," said Nudelman. "Industry self-regulation just isn't working. This bill recognizes that consumers have a right to safe personal care products and that companies have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe."
Advocates for consumers and workers support the new legislation. Jamie McConnell, Director of Programs and Policy at Women's Voices for the Earth said, "This bill provides commonsense protections for not only consumers but those working in the salon industry who are exposed to toxic chemicals on a daily basis. For example formaldehyde is a chemical that has been banned for use in professional hair straighteners in other countries, but because of our lax laws, is still permitted in the U.S. Passage of this bill is long overdue."
About Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a national coalition of more than 175 nonprofit organizations working to protect the health of consumers and workers by eliminating dangerous chemicals from cosmetics.


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Over the past couple of weeks, Apple's been awarded a number of trademarks and patents and the US patent office have revealed details of a number of patents and trademarks that the company is applying for. From famous-face recognition to futuristic video glasses and the Apple start up Chime, we round up some of the best.
Sometimes the most food for thought comes from the patent applications Apple has filed. Amongst a collection of recently applied for patents, was software that could help you identify the celebrity at the next table in a restaurant.
Apple's patent application appears to describe new face recognition software that will be able to recognized famous people's faces, reports Patently Apple.
It could also be handy when you can't place the actor in a film but you know you have seen them in something.
Such technology could be indispensible for those of us who struggle to recognize acquaintances. Imagine being able to take a surreptitious photo of that person at a party who is reminiscing about the time you met (which you have no recollection of). Imagine what a quick search on Facebook could unveil.
The software will also be able to recognize famous objects such as a painting or a landmark.
Another set of patent applications from Apple reveal how Siri works with smart lists. The application suggests that "Siri will eventually be coming to the Mac," writes Patently Apple.
A patent that could relate to futuristic video glasses that integrate hidden audio sensors has also been filed. Apple states that the portable presentation device may be "any device that is meant to be worn by a user and that is capable of presenting media content to the user" writes Patently Apple.
This may be a "set of goggles that fit over the user's eyes with display and perhaps sound producing capability", the report adds.
Apple's Start up Chime sound, the noise that Macs make after booting up, is now a registered trademark of Apple.
On the trademark application, filed by Apple this June, Apple describes that the chime as "a sound mark consisting of a slightly flat (by approximately 30 cents) G flat/F sharp major chord."
Apple has used several different variations on the chime over the years, Gizmodo has all the apple startup chimes in history here.
On the theme of music, Apple was also granted the trademark for Smart Instruments in Garageband.
The phrase Briefing Room was also given to Apple as a trademark. This trademark application was originally filed in September 2010. The Briefing Room service is available in many of Apple's larger retail stores.
Apple's been less lucky with its application for the trademark Launchpad. The US Patent & Trademark Office has denied Apple the rights to Launchpad for the second time, saying that Apple hasn't provided "any new or compelling evidence," to lead it to register the trademark.
Apple has also been awarded a number of new patents that include one that details the design of the iPhone 4.
Also featuring in that collection of 27 patents is the iCloud logo. Details of Apple's embedded antenna. Patently Apple has the full list.
Apple has also been awarded a patent for the method by which caller ID pictures are assigned to incoming calls, more information is available from Apple Insider.
It's not just the iPad and iPhone that are gaining patent registrations. Apple has also won a patent for illuminated keyboards. The patent for "in-plane keyboard illumination" relates to the backlit keyboards on most Mac laptops, there's more details at Apple Daily Report.
Sometimes its other companies that believe they own the patents to technologies Apple uses. In some cases this isn't the company that actually developed the technology, but a 'patent licensing company' or 'patent troll' a company that has bought the patent with a view to obtaining money from infringers.
Digitech Image Technologies is suing Apple for using a Patent originally owned by Polaroid. Digitech has also filed lawsuits against Sony, Toshiba, Motorola, Asus.
Wi-LAN has filed patent infringement suits against Apple claiming that the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPad 3 infringe on their 3GPP LTE standard.


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NASHVILLE, Tennessee–(COMMERCIAL WIRE)–As Americans head into the holiday season, they find themselves with an inflation rate of 6.2%, up five percentage points from a year ago. Ramsey Solutions’ Third Quarter State of Personal Finances study reveals that the daily finances of one in five Americans are significantly affected by inflation; however, 25% of Americans plan to spend more this holiday season than they did last year.
Those with consumer debt (28%) were more than twice as likely to say that inflation has had a significant impact on their daily finances compared to those without consumer debt (13%). Despite the impact of the economic climate, consumers anticipate spending $641 over Christmas alone, and more than half of them (56%) will turn to credit cards to do so.
“At a time when inflation is forcing Americans to stretch every dollar, many are tempted to take on unnecessary consumer debt,” said Rachel Cruze, personal finance expert at Ramsey Personality. “Getting into debt is never the answer. The key to winning with money is to set a budget and stick to it, no matter what’s going on around you.”
This holiday season, technology is at the top of the wish list, with 52% of consumers planning to spend on things like computers, phones and tablets. Forty-eight percent (48%) plan to buy clothes, 36% will look for deals on toys, 27% say they will buy appliances, and 23% plan to buy furniture. Millennials plan to buy home improvements this holiday season.
Other key findings:
Six out of 10 consumers don’t think Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are exclusive.
42% of shoppers end up buying more than anticipated during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
37% say they regret purchases they made on Black Friday or Cyber Monday in the past.
One in four online shoppers have used buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps like Affirm or Klarna in the last three months.
74% of users of BNPL services in the last three months have not made a payment.
In the last three months, 30% of Generation Z and 42% of millennials have used BNPL services.
88% of Gen Z and 78% of Millennials have made no payments on their BNPL payment plan.
Read the full study at https://www.ramseysolutions.com/budgeting/state-of-personal-finance-2021-q3-research
About the study
The State of Personal Finance Study is a quarterly research study conducted by Ramsey Solutions with 1,004 US adults to gain an understanding of Americans’ personal finance behaviors and attitudes. The nationally representative sample was submitted from September 29, 2021 to Wednesday, October 6, 2021, using a third-party research panel.
About Ramsey Solutions
Ramsey Solutions is committed to empowering people in the areas of money, business, leadership and personal development using biblically based and common sense principles and education. Every day, Ramsey Solutions reaches millions with nationally syndicated radio shows and columns, nationally best-selling books, products and courses, and industry-renowned podcasts and video channels. Ramsey Solutions’ world-class speakers and authors bring inspiration, practical advice and hope to audiences across the country. Ramsey Solutions and its team of more than 1,000 people are dedicated to getting work done that matters. For more information, visit ramseysolutions.com.


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Burberry's Chief Creative Officer was dually blessed at last night's British Fashion Awards, taking home both the award for Designer of the Year and for Designer Brand of the Year, reports the Daily Mail.
Clutching his bookends (left), Bailey also used the opportunity to officially announce that Burberry will be returning to London Fashion Week in February, as we previously reported. The British brand had been showing in Milan until last season's homecoming in honor of the British Fashion Council's 25th anniversary.
Another big winner of the night was rock heiress Georgia May Jagger, who beat out Daisy Lowe and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for the Model of the Year award.
The BFC British Collection of the Year honor went to Christopher Kane, while Katie Hillier was named Accessory Designer of the Year.
Vogue's fiery-haired breakout star, Grace Coddington, won the Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator, while Dior's John Galliano walked away with the award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Design, according to the paper.
Dunhill's Kim Jones nabbed Menswear Designer of the Year, while Swarovski's Emerging Talent Award went to Holly Fulton for accessories and Peter Pilotto for ready-to-wear.
And last but not least, Kate Moss scored the London 25 award, which honors those who serve as an "international ambassador" for London fashion, according to the Daily Mail.
(Admit it -- you thought the 25 referred to her weight.)
Meanwhile, see who landed on the British Fashion Council's Power List.


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Abu Dhabi, UAE: Anghami Inc. (“Anghami”) (NASDAQ: ANGH), the leading music and entertainment streaming platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), is strengthening its presence through strategic partnerships with new and emerging telecom companies to offer Arabs around the world unlimited access to its much-loved content.
The first Arab tech company to be listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, and with over 75 million registered subscribers, Anghami has an extensive library of more than 72 million songs, podcasts, and other unique entertainment content. Through its partnerships with 40 plus telecom companies, Anghami is providing the millions of Arabs around the world the opportunity to enjoy its vast catalog. The platform can also get closer to customers with specialized marketing campaigns and access more information about consumer trends and preferences in each local market to deliver personalized content recommendations to its users.
In its newest strategic tie-up, Anghami has joined hands with Danish telecom company HALLO to provide the Arab community in Denmark with the ultimate Arabic music experience along with other entertainment content including podcasts, videos, concerts, etc. HALLO is now the first European telecom provider to offer Anghami Plus, which customers can access within its “Fri Tale 200GB” mobile plan. Customers can enjoy all the Arabic content they want without limits or restrictions in addition to free calling and extensive data of 200GB and 5GB.
Julian Fawaz, Commercial Director of HALLO, said Anghami can help strengthen communities and create fun moments for people. “Our core business is to connect people and through our partnership with Anghami, we see a strong link to connect through music. This partnership has been created out of a need for specialized products for minorities and a growing interest in Arabic music and content in general. We believe that music can help bring people a little closer to each other, which is really needed in Europe right now.”
According to statistics, Denmark has over 121,000 people originally from Arab countries, who have typically resorted to YouTube for Arabic music. There are also young ethnic Danes who want to listen to Arabic music. “While the ethnic segment is only a small part of our customer base, with this partnership, we can make their experience better through our products. This initiative is intended to get Danes to talk to each other and gives people the opportunity to find out how to be together in new ways,” added Fawaz.
Closer to home, Anghami has partnered with Virgin Mobile in Kuwait to provide the telecom company’s customers unlimited access to its vast selection of audiovisual content. Everyone who joins Virgin Mobile will get free for life entertainment with Anghami Plus.
According to market studies, Kuwait has a music fanbase of around three million, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the country’s population. Of this, 25 to 34-year-olds form the largest majority at nearly 58.8% followed by 18 to 24-year-olds at 27.6% - a key audience group for Anghami.
Benoit Janin, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Mobile Kuwait, said the partnership with Anghami will incentivize the company’s customers with the opportunity to enjoy their favorite songs and entertainment content effortlessly. “We believe that telecom service goes beyond the ordinary and must be curated to delight our customers. And what better way than to partner with Anghami, the region’s leading music and entertainment platform that has the largest ecosystem of Arabic and international content. Getting Anghami service for free when browsing seamlessly on Virgin Mobile app and selecting any plan.”
The partnerships will ensure that users enjoy all the latest Khaleeji and Rotana music releases, first access to legendary singer Amr Diab’s upcoming numbers and past hits, as well as the platform’s myriad of podcasts, audio book summaries and more.
Choucri Khairallah, Vice President of Business Development at Anghami, said these partnerships are game changers that will enhance the reach of Anghami in the region and among the vast Arab diaspora, giving them unlimited access to their favorite songs and helping them connect with their roots. “Music is a part of Arab culture. And Arabs, young and old, wherever they are, cherish the opportunity to listen to their favorite songs. We pride ourselves in building partnerships with leading telecom operators that bring cut-through technology to the market, enabling us to reach a wider Arab audience, in the region and beyond, through the best music experience of Anghami Plus. With over 75 million registered users globally, we have evolved as the go-to destination for music and entertainment, and we will continue to build on this.”
The first, most established and fastest growing music & entertainment technology platform in the MENA region, Anghami is the leading destination for Arabic and international content. A platform for both creatives and the community, it gives Arabic creators a voice while providing a new generation of Arabs with the right tools to curate, create and share their voice with the world. Anghami has built local partnerships and stands out for its domain knowledge no one else has through its association with local partners, Arabic artists, and offline presence such as through the Anghami Lab, Vibe Music Arabia and live events through its new arm Spotlight Events.


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When Colt's Manufacturing Company signed a deal in 2011 with Osceola County, FL to open a "regional headquarters and product manufacturing center," it was reported the company would employ more than 60 people at that site. But, more than halfway through 2013, the facility still stands … Read more about Will Colt Abandon Florida Manufacturing Facility?
If the media is to be believed, gun companies are all making money hand over fist: Black Friday gun sales set all time records and the re-election of President Obama has sparked impulse buying. However, there are a few companies that are experiencing some difficulties right now. A fire in … Read more about Gun Company Troubles
Colt Defense lost $6.7 million dollars in the quarter ending July 31, 2012. Compared to the same quarter from one year ago, Colt sold 23.2% more products. Yet, the company saw a more than 250% increase in losses. Methinks these numbers are not good. … Read more about Colt Defense Posts Another Loss


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22 Apr Studio H Launches G.URL GANG MONDAYS & List Of Operating Food Businesses During Lockdown
While the lockdown is necessary to ensure public safety against COVID-19, the effects of this could leave a highly negative effect on the restaurant industry in South Africa. As all non-essential services have been suspended, there’s been an incredible wave of innovation from some businesses across the country as they reposition their offerings as food suppliers and apply for permits to remain open.
In an effort to support independently-owned food businesses operating during lockdown, culinary-minded team, Studio H has compiled a list of businesses on their radar. As a nod to their FOOD XX sisters, the brand has marked all women-owned businesses with an asterisk.
In addition to this list, Studio H has launched G.URL GANG MONDAYS, a live Zoom webcast hosted every Monday. The webcast features individuals within the food industry who partner up to chat about the effects of COVID-19 on their business and what they’ve done and continue to do to reinvent their business models.
Check out their IG for more information.


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Low levels of total and bioavailable vitamin D may predict poor cardiovascular health, say researchers.
Lead researcher Dr. Heidi May, a cardiovascular epidemiologist at the Institute, and colleagues found that individuals with low levels of both total vitamin D and bioavailable vitamin D were more likely to experience poor cardiovascular outcomes.
Bioavailable vitamin D is vitamin D that has been absorbed into the bloodstream but has not attached to surrounding proteins.
The researchers recently presented their findings at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in Chicago, IL.
The team focused on measuring the participants’ levels of various vitamin D metabolites – elements of the vitamin that are produced during metabolism – and assessed whether they were associated with future cardiac events.
Poor cardiac outcomes with low total and bioavailable vitamin D
The researchers explain that only 10-15% of total vitamin D has the ability to act on target cells during metabolism; most vitamin D metabolites are attached to vitamin D binding proteins.
The team says it is important to assess the proportion of these “unbound” vitamin D metabolites – such as bioavailable vitamin D – that is available to pursue target cells.
From their analysis, the researchers found that measuring both total levels of vitamin D and levels of bioavailable vitamin D demonstrated the highest accuracy for predicting the risk of cardiac events.
In other words, individuals with low levels of both total vitamin D and bioavailable vitamin D were at greatest risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and even cardiovascular death, compared with people whose levels of these vitamins were high.
Commenting on the results, Dr. May says:
“This study is the first research that evaluates the association of vitamin D metabolites with cardiovascular events. And evaluating usable vitamin D could mean the difference on the amount of vitamin D prescribed, if it’s prescribed at all.”
The researchers say their findings build on previous research associating low vitamin D levels with poor heart health. However, they call for future studies to further investigate this link in non-white populations, noting that past studies have shown the effects of vitamin D metabolites vary between white people and those of other ethnicities.
Last November, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting that vitamin D levels below 15 ng/mL are associated with poor heart health.
And another study published last year suggested vitamin D supplements may improve exercise performance and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Source: Vitamin D levels could predict risk of poor cardiovascular health : Medical News Today


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After more than doubling its workforce in the past two years, Wayfair is tapping the brakes.
The online seller of furniture and other home goods said Thursday that it would cut 550 employees worldwide, as its chief executive acknowledged the Boston-based company had grown too quickly and become less efficient as its red-hot sales growth shows signs of cooling.
While the job cuts aren’t severe — Wayfair said they would affect 3 percent of its 17,000 workers, including 350 in Boston — they mark a moment of reckoning for a company that is one of the state’s few consumer-focused tech superstars.
Wayfair said none of the layoffs will affect a new service center in Pittsfield, for which it received $31.4 million in state subsidies to open in 2018.
Several employees said workers who were about to lose their jobs were notified by e-mail at about 9:30 a.m. that they would be affected by major organizational restructuring. They were invited to conference rooms in groups of 50 to 100 people, one employee said, where they were informed they’d lost their jobs. Around 10 a.m., scores of employees, many of them visibly upset, began to descend the escalator from Wayfair’s headquarters.
Having an abrupt firing of the staff feels like a slap in the face, the employee said. “It feels like, ‘Why bother?’ ”


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Okay, so American Riviera Orchard—super intrigued. Yesterday, Meghan Markle launched what appears to be a full-scale lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, complete with a new website and a new Instagram page. The bio for the Instagram page reads, simply, “By Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Established 2024.” The brand’s first Instagram Story shows Meghan cooking in a kitchen and picking flowers set to the Nancy Wilson song “I Wish You Love,” and its logo also includes Montecito, the neighborhood where Meghan resides with Prince Harry and their kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
People reports that the name American Riviera Orchard seems to be a nod to Santa Barbara, the town where the Sussexes reside. According to Travel & Leisure, Santa Barbara has been known as the “American Riviera” for more than 100 years “because of its temperate climate and lush landscapes, as well as its robust food and wine culture.” A robust food and wine culture immediately brings us back to Meghan’s shuttered lifestyle blog, “The Tig,” which focused on food and wine, as well as travel, fashion, and personal inspiration. Back to wine for a moment: the name “The Tig” comes from Tignanello, a full-bodied red wine; Meghan told Tory Daily that trying that specific wine was her first time understanding why people develop an affinity for a certain wine, and developed “the Tig” into her own vernacular for “getting it” about “not just wine, but everything,” she said.
American Riviera Orchard’s trademark application—which is currently awaiting examination—revealed that the brand plans to “sell tableware, drinkware including decanters, kitchen linens, and edible treats such as jellies, jams, marmalade, and spreads,” People reports. Fruit preserves, edible oils and fats, and nut butters and fruit butters also made the cut, and the trademark application is also seeking approval for both downloadable and printable cookbooks and recipe books.
The trademark application was filed on February 2 and is still pending review by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Additional items listed outside of the above include table cutlery, coffee and tea services in the nature of tableware, servingware, dinnerware, chargers, napkin rings, table place card holders, beverageware, textile tablecloths, placemats and napkins, kitchen and table linens, and gift wrap of fabric. The application also asks for “retail store services” featuring foods, books, tableware and tablescape goods, table linens, and servingware; additionally, it asks for online retail store services featuring food and beverages, books, tableware and tablescape goods, table linens, and servingware. This hints that items could be sold not just online but in possible brick-and-mortar stores, as well. The document lists the owner as Mama Knows Best, LLC, based in Beverly Hills.
Sources told Page Six that American Riviera Orchard—launched six years after Meghan shut down “The Tig” to marry into the royal family in May 2018—will focus on home, garden, food, and general lifestyle. Meghan has apparently been “working on this for over a year,” and that it represents “all the things that are close to her heart—all the things she’s passionate about,” they said.
And, according to The Daily Mail, American Riviera Orchard will eventually dovetail with her ongoing Netflix deal (which she shares with Harry): “The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix,” a source told the outlet. “Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point, there will be a book and blog.”
“This link to Netflix is very important and clearly, of course, they’ve released this [American Riviera Orchard] to point out that they, the Sussexes, are still going strong,” said royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, per The Sun.
Interestingly—and who knows whether one has anything to do with the other—yesterday’s launch date of American Riviera Orchard is four years exactly since Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, boarded the so-called “freedom flight” from Vancouver, Canada to California, where they began to build their life in Santa Barbara, the so-called “American Riviera,” on March 14, 2020. The Sussexes went to Canada first after leaving the U.K. following their decision to step back as senior working members of the royal family in January 2020.
“I’ve never been the type of person to do only one thing,” Meghan said in the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan. “I guess that’s how my website [“The Tig”] was born. There was fashion, there was tons of food, and travel, so it was all of the things that I loved. And 'The Tig' wasn’t just a hobby. It became a really successful business.”


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Blackcomb Delays Expected
ENTmag.com: Gartner predicts follow-up to Windows .NET Server may arrive on shelves after 2003.
Market research firm and consultancy Gartner Inc. warned that the version
of Windows that Microsoft Corp. plans to ship after Windows .NET Server—code-named
“Blackcomb”—would probably be delayed through 2003. Gartner says Microsoft’s
interim version of the OS—code-named “Longhorn”—is planned for release
sometime in 2003.
David Smith, vice president of Internet strategies with Gartner Group,
says the interim Longhorn release will be intended primarily as a means
to shore up the OS’ reliability and stability.
“The major focus of Longhorn is reliability. It’s supposedly the major
focus of many releases, but they’ve really spelled it out on this one,”
Smith says that Blackcomb is being held up by, among other things, a
new unified storage feature that Microsoft plans to bundle with the OS.
In this respect, Smith contends, Blackcomb resembles another oft-delayed
and ultimately undeliverable Microsoft operating system, code-named “Cairo.”
Microsoft began touting Cairo in 1993, and Cairo was also slated to include
so-called “unified storage” features.
“Blackcomb smacks awfully similar of Cairo. The big thing that Blackcomb
is supposed to deliver is exactly what Cairo was supposed to deliver,
which is unified storage,” according to Smith.
“Unified storage” describes a method of storing conventional relational
data, unstructured data and individual files in a single repository. According
to sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans, the software giant plans to
bundle a version of its SQL Server database with Blackcomb as a means
to facilitate unified storage services. Some industry watchers have suggested
that such a move would open up a whole new can of antitrust worms, but
Gartner’s Smith cautions that it’s too early to raise the red flag on
a bundling issue of this kind.
Stephen Swoyer is a Nashville, TN-based freelance journalist who writes about technology.


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This is according to DataEQ’s seventh annual South African Banking Index, which tracked over four million social-media posts about African Bank, Absa, Capitec Bank, Discovery Bank, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and TymeBank from 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2022.
“Having followed an upward post-pandemic trajectory, the banking industry’s net sentiment improved most significantly over the past year, shooting up from -7.5% in 2021 to 9.4% in 2022,” says Sarah Lamb, head of client service at DataEQ. “This sharp improvement saw banks climb to first place in the cross-industry net sentiment comparison, suggesting that South Africans had a generally better experience with their banks than local retailers, insurers and telcos.”
The banking industry’s ascendance into the realm of positivity has been the combined result of successful social campaigns and improved customer experience, with this year’s overall top performers, FNB and Absa, having done both exceptionally well.
Commenting on FNB’s first-place overall ranking, Lamb notes the importance of prioritising customer experience. “Not only was FNB’s #LoveFNB campaign crafted in such a way that it drove organic positivity from consumers on social channels, but the service being provided by the bank was of a quality that warranted this praise.”
A third of FNB’s online operational conversations – relating directly to the customer experience from authors who either could be, are currently, or were at some point customers of the bank – centred on staff competency. Consumers also complimented FNB for its seamless transaction
experience, as well as the virtual card and eWallet functions.
Looking at the industry as a whole, there was a greater emphasis placed on digital experience in general, adds Lamb. “For the first time, the topic of digital experience garnered a higher volume of conversation than general customer service.
Digital downtime and digital security were both major drivers of negativity in this regard, while complimentary conversation around platform navigation and third-party purchases emerged as net positive.”
One thing is for certain, South African banks are no longer approaching social media in a reactive manner. The 2022 banking index is testament to the significant investment going into proactive social media strategies and campaigns to negate any harmful reputational impact and boost overall brand perceptions.


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The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has called on HMRC to delay a major change in accounting for VAT, saying SME construction firms have not had adequate time to prepare.
In a letter sent to HMRC, the CIOT presented its concerns about the new VAT reverse charge, which is set to be introduced from 1 October 2019.
Linda Skilbeck, vice-chair of CIOT’s Indirect Taxes Sub-committee, said: “We are concerned about the combination of a substantial lack of awareness, and lack of preparedness even among those businesses who are aware of the measures.
“We urge the Government to delay the current implementation date. A start date of 1 April 2020 is more appropriate. This should allow time for a dedicated information campaign to be operated by HMRC, with the assistance of industry and professional bodies.
“Such a campaign could include direct communications with businesses in the sector, particularly those registered for the Construction Industry Scheme, as well as improvements to the content and accessibility of guidance on GOV.UK.”
Some 150,000 businesses in the construction and building sector will be affected by the change, and the CIOT is concerned there will be a flurry of disputes between suppliers and customers over whether or not VAT should be charged.
The body hopes that a delay to the change will reduce the number of such disputes.
In a recent survey undertaken by the Federation of Master Builders, 69% of construction SMEs were found to have not even heard of the new reverse charge, and CIOT said that it has found similar unawareness amongst its own members.
What is the reverse charge?
The aim of the domestic reverse charge is to combat missing trader fraud in the construction sector.
VAT registered businesses, which supply certain construction services to another VAT-registered business for onward sale, will not be required to account for VAT, but must issue an invoice stating that the service is subject to the domestic reverse charge.
The recipient of the supply must then account for the VAT due on the supply through its VAT return, instead of paying VAT to the supplier.
The supplier may also recover that VAT amount as input tax, subject to the normal rules for claiming credit.
Unlike other types of reverse charges, the value of such reverse charge services will not count towards the VAT registration threshold.
While the CIOT has clarified that it supports cracking down on fraud, it fears that the charge being introduced in October will cause too much disruption, and there has not been enough time for businesses to become aware of the change.
Lack of clarity from HMRC
The CIOT sent the letter on 29 July, expressing their concern that communication and publicity by HMRC have been limited, considering the change is highly significant to the industry.
Technical guidance was published on GOV.UK on the 7 June that was meant to be have been published six months in advance of the change.
With the deadline looming, the guidance remains a work in progress with further clarity needed in some areas, says the CIOT, also saying that the anticipated level of publicity required to introduce the scheme has not been followed.
The GOV.UK page titled ‘VAT for builders’ make a passing reference to the changes under the subheading ‘Houses and Flats’, despite the reverse charge also applying to commercial works.
Skilbeck said: “We believe there will be significant confusion amongst businesses in the early days of the change, undoubtedly leading to disputes between suppliers and customers as to whether or not VAT should be charged.
“Many businesses will ring HMRC’s phone lines, which will need to be adequately resourced and trained to deal with these queries. At the same time, businesses and HMRC will be dealing with the implementation of Making Tax Digital, as well as the consequences of Brexit.
“As noted in the policy paper, businesses may be unprepared for the cash flow implications of the reverse charge, potentially leading to financial difficulties and even insolvency in the worst cases, as well as significant levels of business disruption even among larger companies.”


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Implications: A trifecta of solid news out on the economy today. First, a solid report out of the retail sector, where sales rose 0.3% in December, matching consensus expectations, and are up 5.8% from a year ago. In December, sales gains were broad-based, rising in twelve of the thirteen major retail categories led by gas stations and building materials. The only decline was for autos, which dropped 1.3%. "Core" sales, which exclude autos, building materials, and gas stations (the most volatile sectors) grew 0.4% in December and are up 6.0% from a year ago. However, core sales were revised down in October and November. Plugging today's report into our models suggests real GDP grew at around a 2.5% annual rate in Q4, although we may adjust this estimate when we get tomorrow's report on industrial production as well as late month data on inventories and international trade in December. Jobs and wages are moving up, companies and consumers continue to benefit from tax cuts, consumer balance sheets look healthy, and serious (90+ day) debt delinquencies are down substantially from post-recession highs. For these reasons, expect continued solid gains in retail sales in the year ahead. Second, in other news this morning, initial jobless claims fell 10,000 last week to 204,000, rock-bottom levels, while continuing claims declined 37,000 to 1.767 million. Third, on the manufacturing front, the Philly Fed Index, a measure of East Coast factory sentiment, jumped to +17.0 in January from +2.4 in December. This is the highest level since May of 2019. In other news this morning, import prices rose 0.3% in December, driven by an increase in fuel prices. Export prices fell 0.2% due to both lower agricultural and nonagricultural prices. In the past year, import prices are up 0.5% while export prices are down 0.7%. Given loose monetary policy, expect higher inflation in 2020.
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text: The tension continues between General Motors and it's workers. The auto manufacturer has reportedly contacted the Ontario Labour Relations Board in an attempt to end what it calls "illegal strikes." The company announced the closure of it's Oshawa plant last November; since then, workers have taken various forms of action in an effort to get GM to reverse it's decision, including walking off the job. The company is also asking for compensation for the walkouts. Unifor, the union representing GM workers, is denying all of GM's allegations, and wants the application dismissed.


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The Wieland Group establishes a JV for the marketing of brass nets and more for aquaculture
For the development and marketing of brass nets and cages, Wieland-Werke AG has formed the “BlueSea Technology AS” joint venture with Lerow AS in Norway. The partner has the respective know-how as well as longstanding experience in the field of aquaculture. Daniel Steitz, Wieland-Werke AG (60% JV), is the CEO, and Svein Jarle Midtøy, Lerow AS (40% JV), the COO of BlueSea Technology AS.
Wieland Group: Acquisition of Wolverine Technical Tube Business
Effective 28 April 2017, the Wieland Group, Ulm, Germany, (“Wieland”) has acquired all assets owned by Wolverine Tube Inc., Decatur, AL, USA (“Wolverine”) related to the business of manufacturing and selling integrally finned and enhanced surface tubes from copper, copper alloys and steel alloys.
Fiscal year 2015/16: net income significantly above the previous year
Current fiscal year: moderate growth expected
In the fiscal year 2015/16 (1 October 2015 to 30 September 2016), the sales quantity of the Wieland Group rose by almost 5 per cent over the prior year to 464,000 tonnes. Sales fell by 8.5 per cent to 2,547 million euros (previous year: 2,784 million euros) as a consequence of lower metal prices. Net income for the year was 64 million euros (previous year: 48 million euros).
Wieland-Werke AG: Change in the Chairmanship of the Executive Board
With effect from 1 April 2017, the Supervisory Board of Wieland-Werke AG has appointed Dr. Erwin Mayr as Chairman of the Executive Board of Wieland-Werke AG. He succeeds Harald Kroener who will retire effective 31 March 2017. Dr. Mayr has been a member of the Executive Board of Wieland-Werke AG since 1 January 2017.


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If you found yourself unable to attend Le Creuset's fall factory sale back in November, you should be happy to know that the French cookware brand is putting together yet another weekend-long shopping session — but this time, the brand is heading to Denver.
Last year's three-day sale took place on the last weekend of September in Nashville. The event ended up being so popular that Le Creuset brought it back for a second time in Charleston later on in the fall. Now, the sale — where you'll be able to buy all sorts of Le Creuset staples like dutch ovens and cast-iron skillets — is headed out west.
The first sale will take place on Friday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Denver's National Western Complex. Saturday's session will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday's from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Though the sale doesn't officially kick off until Friday, a special early shopping event will be held on Thursday, May 3 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Shoppers will be able to take advantage of special discounts on all cookware during each shopping session, and all of the proceeds will benefit Johnson & Wales University's College of Culinary Arts and local nonprofit organization, Project Angel Heart.
I'm sure all of this sounds like a dream, but just be aware that each shopping session requires tickets, some of which you'll be charged for. To get your shopping in on Thursday's early bird day, you'll have to purchase a ticket for $25, while tickets on Friday will only set you back $10. Tickets are free-of-charge on Saturday and Sunday, just as long as all customers pre-register online.
Of course, for anyone who's not willing to make the journey to Denver just to buy discounted kitchen items, you can always hop on over to Amazon if you're trying to save on Le Creuset pieces. You can get this 1.5 qt. cast-iron skillet for $60 off the retail price.
BUY NOW Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 1.5 qt. Round Braiser, $199.95
There's also this 12 x 9 in. baking dish that's currently being sold at $40 off the original price.
BUY NOW Le Creuset Heritage Stoneware 12 x 9 in. Rectangular Baking Dish, $99.95
For tickets and more info on Le Creuset's factory sale, visit the official event page.
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Yum! In The News
News by Year
News by Brand
For your convenience, we have archived all of Yum! Brands' statements and press releases since our company's inception in 1997. To view an archived press release, please select a 'year' or 'brand' from the list above.
Chief Executive Magazine Names Yum! Brands’ Chairman and CEO David Novak 2012 CEO of the Year
GREENWICH, Conn., June 27, 2012 – Chief Executive magazine today announced David Novak, CEO of Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company with 37,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants in 125 countries, has been named “2012 CEO of the Year,” an honor bestowed upon an outstanding corporate leader, nominated and selected by a group of his or her peers.
“Not only is David market- and customer-driven, but he displays a compelling vision with a comprehensive strategy,” said Alan Mulally, president and chief executive, Ford Motor, and 2011 CEO of the Year. “And above all else, he caps this with relentless execution.”
“David’s performance has been outstanding for a very long time. He has an astute global vision, China being a salient example,” said Brian Duperreault, president and chief executive of Marsh & McLennan. “More importantly, I am impressed with how he works with his employees and how he develops their potential. It’s a great example to us all.”
“An exemplary CEO whose leadership is worth emulating,” added Christine Jacobs, chairman, president and chief executive of Theragenics.
Under Novak’s leadership, Yum! has established itself as a global powerhouse going from approximately 20 percent of profits coming from outside the U.S. in 1997 to more than 70 percent in 2011, while driving one of the highest returns on invested capital in the restaurant industry. Today, Yum! is the leading retail developer in China as well as the largest and fastest growing restaurant company in emerging markets. The Company’s track record of success includes at least 13 percent earnings-per-share growth for each of the last 10 years. Novak has created a unique recognition culture along with a leadership training program called “Taking People With You” that has been cascaded around the globe.
Nominations for CEO of the Year were garnered from among the 124,000 readers of Chief Executive magazine. The 10 most frequently cited nominations were evaluated and a winner voted upon at a meeting of a peer Selection Committee, which took place earlier this year in New York City.
Prior CEO of the Year winners include Bill Gates, Jack Welch, Michael Dell, A.G. Lafley, John Chambers, Anne Mulcahy, Larry Bossidy, Andy Grove and Herb Kelleher.
The 2012 CEO of the Year Selection Committee was comprised of Brian Duperreault (CEO, Marsh & McLennan), Fred Hassan (Chairman, Schering-Plough), William Hickey (CEO, Sealed Air), Christine Jacobs (CEO, Theragenics), Alan Mulally (CEO, Ford Motor), William R. Nuti (CEO, NCR), Thomas J. Quinlan III (CEO, R.R. Donnelley), Jeffrey Sonnenfeld (CEO, The Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute), and James Turley (CEO, Ernst & Young). Tom Saporito, Chairman of RHR International, was an advisor to the Selection Committee.
Novak’s selection as 2012 CEO of the Year will be celebrated at an invitation-only event hosted by NYSE Euronext and the Chief Executive Group at the New York Stock Exchange in August.
For an exclusive interview with David Novak, comments from members of the 2012 Selection Committee, a complete list of prior CEO of the Year winners and their comments on CEO leadership, please visit ChiefExecutive.net.
CEO of the Year Seal: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2012-CEO-Seal.jpg
About Chief Executive Group
Chief Executive Group enhances the effectiveness of CEOs and the organizations they lead. The company produces Chief Executive magazine (published since 1977), ChiefExecutive.net, original research, conferences and roundtables that enable top corporate officers to discuss key subjects and share their experiences within a community of peers. Visit ChiefExecutive.net for more information.
About Yum! Brands
Yum! Brands, Inc. (YUM), based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants, with more than 37,000 restaurants operating in 125 countries. KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell are the category leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food, respectively. In 2011, the Company added 1,561 new restaurants, primarily in emerging markets, and generated 14% EPS growth, the 10th consecutive year it achieved at least 13% EPS growth. Outside the United States, the Yum! Brands system opened approximately four new restaurants each day of the year, making it a leader in international retail development. The Company has consistently been recognized for its consistent shareholder returns, diversity leadership, community giving, recognition culture and Chairman and CEO David Novak’s leadership training program called “Taking People With You.” Novak’s book based on the highly successfully program, Taking People With You: The Only Way to Make BIG Things Happen, is a best-seller and all of his proceeds are donated to the United Nations World Food Programme in conjunction with Yum! Brands global hunger relief efforts.
J.P. Donlon Chief Executive Group 203-930-2704 email@example.com Photos Available Upon Request
This press release was issued through eReleases(R) Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.
SOURCE Chief Executive Group
/Web site: http://chiefexecutive.net
The releases contained on this page may contain dated information. Readers are cautioned that the releases on this page are maintained here solely for the purposes of providing historical background about Yum! Brands, its business and product offerings. As the releases may contain dated information, they should not be relied upon as providing accurate or current information. Yum! Brands disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any of the information contained in any of the releases on this page, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Yum! News 2012
November 29, 2012 Yum! Brands Announces Full-Year 2013 Expectations; Reconfirms Full-Year 2012 EPS Growth Forecast of at least 13%; Will Host Investor Update Meeting Thursday, December 6, 2012
October 24, 2012 Muhammad Ali Center Peace Gardens Top 100 Worldwide As Program Kicks-Off Third Year of Offering School Garden Grants That Help Teach Children Multicultural Respect, Hunger Relief and Nutrition; Yum! Brands Foundation Underwrites Peace Garden Initiative as Extension of World Hunger Relief Effort through Partnership with National Gardening Association
October 3, 2012 World Food Programme Ambassador Christina Aguilera and Yum! Brands Chairman David Novak Honored at State Department with George McGovern Leadership Award
October 2, 2012 Yum! Brands Launches Defining Global Volunteer Movement; Hunger to Hope Volunteer Challenge Encourages Local Community Service
September 27, 2012 Yum! Brands, KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Launch Annual World Hunger Relief Effort with Global Spokesperson Christina Aguilera Using Her Voice for Good in New Public Service Announcement; Aguilera Urges People to Help the Nearly 1 Billion Hungry Worldwide; Visit FromHungertoHope.com
September 25, 2012 Yum! China Celebrates 25th Anniversary and 4,000th KFC Restaurant; Milestone Spotlights Company’s Growth and Leading Position in China
September 24, 2012 Yum! Brands Receives Gold Award for Excellence for “Taking People With You” Employee Leadership Training Program from Prestigious Learning and Development Organization Brandon Hall Group; Building People Capability Drives Culture and Business at World’s Largest Restaurant Company
August 3, 2012 Yum! Brands Chairman and CEO David Novak Receives “2012 CEO of the Year” Honor from Chief Executive Magazine
August 1, 2012 Christina Aguilera Uses Voice for Good in New Public Service Announcement for Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief Effort This Fall
June 27, 2012 Chief Executive Magazine Names Yum! Brands’ Chairman and CEO David Novak 2012 CEO of the Year
April 30, 2012 Yum! Brands Inc. Promotes Carucci President and Grismer Chief Financial Officer
April 13, 2012 Tomorrow’s Leaders Find Solutions to Fight World Hunger Today by Leveraging Principles in Yum! Brands Chairman and CEO David Novak’s Bestselling Book: TAKING PEOPLE WITH YOU: The Only Way to Make BIG Things Happen
March 23, 2012 Yum! Brands Inc. Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.285 per Share
January 6, 2012 Little Sheep Shareholders Approve Privatization Proposal
January 3, 2012 Yum! Brands Chairman and CEO David Novak Shares Break-Through Leadership Strategies in New Book, TAKING PEOPLE WITH YOU: The Only Way to Make BIG Things Happen
December 05, 2011 Yum! Brands Announces Full-Year 2012 Expectations; Raises 2011 EPS Growth Forecast to at least 13%, Excluding Special Items; Will Host Investor Update Meeting Wednesday, December 7, 2011


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It takes a lot of work and a lot of resources to complete a project like Gran Turismo 5 , and when you factor in the revolutionary Gran Turismo PSP and you intend to launch both this year (we hope), you may need some extra help.
In an interesting development, it seems Polyphony Digital has beefed up their in-house staff by about 25%, perhaps in anticipation of the home stretch in terms of game design for the aforementioned titles. According to Polyphony's corporate profile page, they had around 110 team members but as noted by Examiner.com , the newly opened SCE Worldwide Studios website shows that that number has risen to over 140 employees. As of now, Gran Turismo PSP is scheduled to launch alongside the PSP Go on October 1, and everyone is hoping we'll see Gran Turismo 5 for this year's holiday rush. All evidence has pointed to that distinct possibility and with more staff members, it seems more and more likely that Polyphony is pushing hard to finish things. Either that, or they're already looking down the road to future projects…maybe they're makin' an RPG. How insane would that be? Well, that probably isn't happening but we figured we'd just toss that out there; you know, to be interesting and stuff.
These games don't just pop into existence, ya know. Too many gamers don't fully understand how much effort goes into the production of these blockbuster titles we've come to love. Appreciate , we say!
Related Game(s): Gran Turismo 5 , Gran Turismo PSP


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Believe or not, the market for non-fungible tokens has now eclipsed $1 billion.
And the tokens all seem to have one thing in common: the startup Alchemy, based in San Francisco. It was founded in 2017 and transactions using its technology are up 54x to $25 billion worth of "Ethereum projects such as decentralized finance startups and NFT platforms," according to Bloomberg.
Alchemy opened itself to general customers in August after only serving private customers in the 3 years since its founding. The platform allows people to connect to the Ethereum blockchain, a key part of reading and writing NFT transactions.
The firm's first customer, Matt Hall, creator of CryptoPunks, has now watched $130 million of the 10,000 unique collectible characters with proof of ownership change hands. The most expensive recently changed hands for $7.6 million, Bloomberg notes.
Hall said: “Once we read about Ethereum, we thought, ‘oh, this might be how we can do that.’ When we first made it we didn’t know what it was either, it was just cool. What’s weird is how rapidly people have gotten turned on to it.”
Three years ago, Alchemy co-founders Nikil Viswanathan and Joe Lau thought they were just getting started on a side project. Now, Alchemy is the technology behind every single NFT platform. “I was like, ‘oh, cool, a side project,’” Viswanathan commented.
The pair met each other at Stanford where they both worked as TAs for a database class.
Alchemy drives transactions behind Makersplace, OpenSea, Nifty Gateway, SuperRare and Cryptokitties. It was also behind the recent $69 million sale of an NFT by Christie's. Its investors include names like Charles Schwab, Will Smith and Jay-Z.
Viswanathan made the case for digital NFTs, stating: “Digital actually lets you showcase your possessions and your luxury goods better than in the real world. It made a lot of sense for people to own things digitally.”
“If we were to turn off, all these products wouldn’t work,” Viswanathan concluded.


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Recently, Magic Eden, the largest non-fungible token marketplace in Solana, responded to critics
A Magic Eden spokesperson responded to Decrypt’s questions about the platform’s security and custody practices
In June, Magic Eden, which launched last fall and now accounts for roughly 90% of Solana’s trading volume, was valued at $1.6 billion
Centralization is one of the criticisms that have been leveled at the platform by the Solana NFT community. In particular, developers and users have griped over the platform’s limitation of third-party tools and the way the marketplace handles NFT custody. Some critics say the platform has security flaws that could put user assets at risk for an attack.
“Marty”, the pseudonymous founder of Web3 studio Zion Labs told Decrypt that users should be made aware of the significant security risks:
People should be 100% aware that a hacker could get the keys to Magic Eden and ‘rug’ everyone of their NFTs. This wouldn’t happen if it was decentralized and if their code was open-source.
Magic Eden responded to its critics, telling Decrypt that the marketplace intends to transition to an escrow-less system in the future. However, the NFT platform says that the current technology is not “secure enough yet.”
The report highlights a recent tweet thread by NFT marketplace OpenSea that attempts to explain why OpenSea, unlike Magic Eden, does not “require sellers to custody their listed NFTs.”