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The safety infrastructure for food in this country is failing. It’s regulated by about a dozen federal agencies implementing about 35 laws. You would think that with that much oversight and checking, something would be working right.
The public is most certainly aware of the problem, as is evident by regular media coverage of the food safety shortcomings in our system. Weekly or daily we are notified of yet more food recalls or outbreaks of foodborne illnesses:
- Forbes’ report from April 17, 2010 (press release) WinCo Expands Recall of Fresh Ground Beef Purchased Between March 26, 2010 and April 9 , 2010
- NPR report from March 11, 2010 by Nadja Popovich FDA Says Company Knowingly Shipped Tainted Food Additive
- USA Today report from March 3, 2010 Salmonella Fears Spur Growing Food Flavoring Recall
- Examiner report from March 18, 2010 by Claudia Haas HVP Has Potential to be Largest Food Recall in History
- Watch this report from MSNBC, dated March 4, 2010 FDA Orders Widespread Food Recall
- NPR broadcast by Brian Naylor, originally aired February 25, 2009 U.S. Considers Overhaul of Food Safety System
Are these problems occurring because in general, foods are dangerous to consume – or is it perhaps the type of foods we are eating that are causing the problem? The answer is yes to both.
Will new legislation being proposed bring an end to pathogenic bacteria that are making people sick, or will it effectively hinder smaller, more sustainable farms and food operations from staying in business?
Our government has a powerful, federally regulated body called the FDA whose job is to regulate food safety. Despite the existence of this entity and thick layers of affiliate government and laws, regulators fail time and time again to prevent the repeated occurrence of food contamination problems we continue to face on an almost daily basis.
The pending bill FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510, which would give the FDA yet more more authority and control of funding for this issue was expected to come to the floor in Congress this week, but has been stalled yet again due to “more pressing issues” such as health-care reform. Multi-billion dollar conglomerate giants Tyson, Monsanto, and Cargill have shown unwavering support in their lobbying for this bill, which has also received backing by the pharmaceutical industry.
History of food regulation
Starting in the late 1800s, advancements in technology allowed the pace of food production to be stepped up beyond anything ever seen before. Never before had corporations been able to produce so many food products in so little time.
An 1886 report by the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics claimed that “New machinery has displaced fully 50 percent of the muscular labor formerly required to do a given amount of work”. With the advent of these mechanisms and improvements to the agricultural industry, processed and packaged cereals and canned foods became more prevalent. Synthetic substances which replaced both natural medicines and foods began to fill the shelves of warehouses and stores, all created to make life more convenient.
In the late 1800s and into the 1900s, the appearance of systems designed to put a stop to the insidious behavior of food manufacturers who were beginning to cut corners for the sake of steam-lining their processes and to increase profit made their debut.
For awhile, those regulations halted the incidence of food safety issues, and all was well. By the 1950s, positions in meat packing plants were coveted. They were relatively safe, protected by unions, and the workers were well-compensated for their efforts. But over time as the food industry expanded even more, the food regulatory divisions of government and food industries began to develop relationships which were a conflict of interest of regulation and compliance. It became common for people in positions of authority in food industry corporations to occupy slots in government agencies as well.
When a large regulatory agency falls into bed with an industry, it becomes difficult to maintain the level of necessary transparency that allows for the public to know what’s going on – and in particular, accountability is compromised.
In 1906, Upton Sinclair published his novel, The Jungle. Although this was a work of fiction, its emergence was noted by many as a serious commentary on the state of the food manufacturing industry. The publication of this work was a primary impetus in the passage of The Pure Food and Drug Act, which occurred the same year.
More government regulations are not going to fix these problems. Small family farms not only are unable to afford all the mandatory regulation and inspection fees that large, commercial businesses pay without a backward glance, but the recalls and issues we are seeing in the food supply simply don’t originate from these sources where food is produced. Every single instance of recalling can be traced back to some large arm of the food industry.
How will the legislation serve the people?
Some people believe the Senate Committee has made some useful changes to satisfy those in support of local food. However, I am of the opinion that this bill still contains some provisions that would be detrimental for local and small family farm producers, or at the very least, will have individuals overseeing it which may not have the best interests of citizens at heart – such as Michael Taylor, Vice President of Monsanto (and the head of food safety during the Clinton Administration).
Also, according to Wikipedia, Rosa DeLauro (whose husband, Stanley Greenburg, is a political consultant who has a business relationship with Monsanto) introduced HR 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, on February 4th 2009. The purpose of this bill was to create a new agency within the Department of Health and Human Services to regulate food production. The problem was this measure would possibly place restrictive regulatory encumbrances on backyard gardening and small-scale organic agriculture.
While many people and sources have been labeled “paranoid” and “fanatical” for their warnings and trepidations about this legislation, this may just be one of the first of many steps in a larger process to limit our freedoms and abilities to be able to procure safe, real food.
The big player
Monsanto is the world’s biggest producer of herbicides and genetically-engineered seeds. They were responsible for the creation of Agent Orange, DDT, and the chemical Roundup – the most commonly used herbicide in the United States. Monsanto also created the genetically-engineered growth hormone rbGH under the direction of VP Michael Taylor, now administered to many cattle who are slaughtered for food and provide milk to drink.
Monsanto views themselves as environmental stewards and preservers of humanity. Their acknowledgment of the earth’s ever-growing population ignites a call to produce more and more food to sustain that mass.
“In our minds, that means we have to increase the production of food at a level that we will effectively double food production by 2050,” said Brett Begemann, Monsanto executive vice president of global commercial. “When you think about what that means, it means we have to produce more food between now and 2050 – which is a short 40-year period – than the world has produced in the previous 10,000 years combined.”
And it is precisely this attitude which grants license to a multi-billion dollar conglomeration to “feed the world”. It is done under the convincing veil of benevolence and humanitarianism, and with no revelations about the cost to human health and the environment.
Hazards of GE (genetically-engineered) foods and crops (as listed in the Food, Inc., Participant Guide):
- toxins and poisons
- increased cancer risks
- damage to food quality and nutrition
- antibiotic resistance
- increased pesticide residues
- damage to beneficial insects, soil fertility (and diversity)
- creation of GE “superweeds” and “super pests”
- new viruses and pathogens
- genetic bio-invasion
- socioeconomic hazards
- ethical hazards
I just have to ask this question: why is that people persist in the idea that somehow if we step up government regulation – which is currently failing – these problems will cease to exist? Is this the answer we need to change the landscape of food safety?
I don’t have to tell you just how much a mega-corporation like Monsanto would benefit from the passage of the newer version of this bill (S. 510). To see what’s in this bill, read the text of H.R. 875, introduced last year (2009).
Even though web sites like Slow Food claim that there is no reason to be unnerved by this bill or anything remotely resembling it, the motives behind why such a bill would be introduced by individuals working for such a corporation really need to be called into question.
History is doomed to repeat itself
Time and time again, reports of food recalls and contamination occur within the industrial food supply realm. When are the authorities governing these arenas going to wake up and realize that what is needed is massive change in the way food is produced? The industrial food market needs to be forced to clean up its act, and we need to maintain the protection and rights of local and sustainable producers providing healthy and safe products, which means not adding monumental federal regulatory sanctions for farming that only the big, multi-billion dollar players can actually meet.
Here are some quotes by individuals in the agricultural industry:
“The hope of the industry is that over time the market is so flooded [with GMOs] that there’s nothing you can do about it. You just sort of surrender.”
Don Westfall, biotech industry consultant and vice-president of Promar International quoted in, “Starlink fallout could cost billions”, Toronto Star, 9 January 2001
“It’s important for countries around the world to adopt a uniform standard of acceptable levels of contamination.”
Biotechnology Industry Organization spokesperson, Lisa Dry quoted in, “Engineered DNA found in crop seeds“, Rick Weiss, Washington Post, 24 February 2004
“People will have [GM] Roundup Ready soya whether they like it or not.”
Monsanto spokesperson in Britian, Ann Foster, “The politics of food“, Maria Margaronis, The Nation, 27 December 1999
“Cross-pollination of the environment is an issue, and that has to be addressed. And for those countries that have very small landmass, there’s no way they can segregate GM crops from conventional crops or from organic crops, and so the likelihood of cross pollination exists.”
Prof Patrick Wall, until 2008 the Chairman of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the EU Agency mandated by the European Commission to advise on the safety of genetically modified food and animal feed for the European Union, in an interview: “We cannot force-feed EU citizens with GM food“, 2 December 2008
Source, OpEd News
Here are just some of the gross oversights occurring in our current food regulatory system (source, Marion Nestle’s Food Politics):
- Over time, the number of facilities that actually receive inspection has decreased – the FDA inspects less than a quarter of food facilities annually
- Of the total, 56 percent of total facilities have gone 5 years or longer without FDA inspection.
- The number of facilities that received OAI [Official Action Indicated] classifications has declined over time. In addition, nearly three-quarters of the facilities that received OAI classifications in FY 2008 had a history of violations. Two percent of facilities that received OAI classifications refused to grant FDA officials access to their records.
- FDA took regulatory action against 46 percent of the facilities with initial OAI classifications; for the remainder, FDA either lowered the classification or took no regulatory action.
- For 36 percent of the facilities with OAI classifications in FY 2007, FDA took no additional steps to ensure that the violations were corrected.
Ideally, I’d like to see legislation supporting amendments that would place exemptions for small-scale and direct-marketing producers. Small farmers and food producers currently answer to state and local authority regulation, so to impose additional federal regulation upon them would at the very least hamper their abilities to produce a safe product and could very easily shut operations down completely.
I’m concerned that if the new legislation favors larger, industrial agricultural system, too much federal regulation would cause smaller, local producers to go out of business. The real answer lies in the cultivation and support of local food systems to alleviate the burden of these food safety issues.
In the states of Florida and Wyoming, state legislatures have been considering bills that would decentralize regulation of local food. This movement would be a change in the right direction to affect food safety in a positive way.
How exactly does supporting local agricultural business accomplish this, and what are the benefits?
- Food produced near those consuming it can observe farming practices
- In some areas, fresh, seasonal food is available all year round; in others, communities without certain types of food can purchase from neighboring communities
- There is more accountability and ability by the consumer to be able to know how the food is produced
- With closer proximity to customers, farmers can have relationships with those individuals and develop a better understanding of what their customers want
- Food quality is generally higher because the nutrients in foods are not compromised due to excessive processing, packaging, and travel
- Your food dollars go to support your local communities – not a big, bloated agribusiness giant that destroys the environment, the economy, human, and animal health by unsafe and unhealthy production and “farming” practices
- Saves petroleum and other forms of energy and reduce pollution generated by those efforts by buying from producers and farmers who are close to where you live
- Contribute to the success of families trying to earn an honest living
- The use of CSAs (“subscription” programs where food growers allot certain packages of food for certain times of year to customers) helps farmers fund their efforts more evenly during the year
How can you make a difference?
- Watch what your politicians are doing – call or write to your state senators and representatives, and let them know these issues are important to you! Put pressure on politicians at every opportunity to vote for legislation that supports sustainable farming.
- Learn to cook at home – avoid eating out and buying packaged foods. See our recipes section for some ideas on getting started.
- Plant a garden – whether it’s big or small
- Vote with your food dollars – that means not supporting big corporations, but buying local and regional food products to support the farmers and food growers in your area.
- Avoid processed foods – that means, foods in boxes, packages, and cans. Buy foods that are recognizable, have the least ingredients, and create the smallest footprint.
- Get to know the people who produce food you eat. When people have respect for one another and the work necessary to produce or create something, they gain an appreciation for life.
- Organize forums, web discussion groups, local organizations, and news-making events around boycotting genetically-engineered foods and supporting local agricultural producers that use sustainable farming methods
- Learn the difference between local and sustainable – local does not necessarily mean production and/or farming methods used are going to benefit human and environmental health. Read How Well Do You Know Your Food? Find Out!
- Learn about From Grass to Cheese – a small, family farm based in Nolan, Ohio is hoping for directors to gain enough funding by their goal – April 22, 2010 to bring a documentary to the world about the importance of supporting the sustainable family farm. Please listen to this podcast and donate your dollars to help them reach their goal of making this important film!


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Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), the world’s largest online retailer, is leaving competitors in the dust but if you ever wondered just how well they are doing, this chart by market research firm Baird Equity Research should give you an idea.
According to Baird Equity Research, Amazon sold 6 times more online than 8 of the largest big box retailers combined. The research firm estimated Amazon’s earnings to $59 billion worth of products sold online during the second quarter of 2016. In addition, the retailer’s 8 closest rivals on the list – including Walmart, Target, and BestBuy – sold about $10 billion worth of products in the same period combined.
As for Amazon’s growth in online sales volume, it is about 10 times higher than 8 of its closest competitors combined. The online retailer saw its sales volume or gross merchandise volume (GMV) increase $14 billion year-over-year in the second quarter of 2016. Meanwhile, its 8 closest rivals only saw their online sales volume increase to a disappointing $1.3 billion over the same period. According to Baird, this puts Amazon’s growth to 10 times in online sales volume than 8 of its other competitors combined.
In addition, Amazon generated about ~30% of US retail sales growth. According to data released by the Department of Commerce, Amazon’s US retail sales, which include sales transacted via its physical stores, grew by a staggering $31.5 billion year-over-year in the second quarter of this year. The Baird chart illustrates that Amazon’s North American GMV is estimated to have spiked about $9.1 billion year-over-year in the same period. This means Amazon drove 30% of total US retails sales growth, an extraordinary feat despite having almost zero presence in the physical retail space.
Last June, Business Insider reported that Amazon is set to expand in 5 “mega categories,” which Baird believes could open a $1.7 trillion market share opportunity altogether. The categories include clothing, home & kitchen, health & beauty as well as grocery and office equipment.
According to the report, Amazon owns about less than 5% of the retail shares in the five categories but this could jump significantly once Amazon increases its presences in these segments. Baird noted that the online retailer’s vast customer base, improving service infrastructure, and growing online commerce market will give Amazon the edge it needs to make a mark in these markets.
“Amazon currently has less than 5% market share in each of these five mega-categories representing $1.7 trillion in market share opportunity, addressable we believe due to an increasingly loyal customer base, increasingly sophisticated fulfillment and logistics network, and the increasing adoption of online shopping across traditionally bricks-and-mortar product lines,” Baird analyst Colin Sebastian wrote.
“Amazon continues to add product selection at a rapid (double-digit %) clip, which we view as one of the fundamental drivers of unit sales growth.”
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

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By the end of March, the excitement in the car market approached the level of the first days of hostilities in 2022 – dealers and analysts talk about an increase in “emotional purchases” of cars. Buyers were afraid of an increase in car prices from April 1 due to changes in import rules from the EAEU countries, potential volatility of the exchange rate after the presidential elections in the Russian Federation, as well as the cancellation of discount programs. In such conditions, cars were actively purchased even on credit at 20% per annum. The market expects sales growth to continue in April, as manufacturers need to clear overcrowded warehouses, and buyers are “accustomed to fear of rising prices.”
Sales of new passenger cars in the Russian Federation in the last week of March amounted to 38.4 thousand and almost reached the sales record since the beginning of the crisis, observed from February 28 to March 6, 2022. This data is provided by Autostat. At the beginning of March 2022, citizens bought cars in panic amid announcements about the suspension of supplies from Western automakers.
Now, Kommersant’s interlocutors believe, we are also talking about “emotional purchases.” The main incentive was the expectation that the price of cars would rise from April 1 against the backdrop of changes in import rules from the EAEU countries. Continued discounts and support programs help sales, say dealers and analysts interviewed by Kommersant. “Everyone ran to buy here and now, fearing that it would be more expensive in April and May,” explains Nikolai Ivanov, director of the Rolf new car sales department. Sergei Udalov from Avtostat believes that this is a “distorted understanding of the situation”: although models imported through parallel imports will indeed become more expensive, the global price level is influenced by the volume of warehouses and purchasing power.
General Director of Avtodom Andrei Olkhovsky adds that “one cannot ignore the situation with election procedures in the Russian Federation,” which also affected demand: “There were many reports about a possible increase in the exchange rate after the elections, which could lead to an increase in the cost of cars.”
Demand is also supported by the maximum number of special promotions, subsidized loans and support programs from manufacturers, notes Renat Tyukteev, Avilon’s deputy general director for sales of new cars. Discounts and support programs, as Kommersant wrote on March 14, were launched to sell off stocks in warehouses that were imported into the Russian Federation back in 2023, but were never implemented amid a market slowdown in the fall. Sergei Udalov clarifies that the rate of wastewater accumulation has decreased, but it has not been possible to reduce it.
As a result, in March, sales reached a record level since the beginning of the crisis of 146.5 thousand cars, estimated by Autostat based on data from JSC PPK (a joint venture agency and Electronic Passport).
Dealers expect that sales will at least not decline in April. “The market will be similar to March, since there are still cars at old prices and those who did not have time to buy a car in March will come in April,” says Nikolai Ivanov. He adds that there are no changes to the discount policy for April.
Evgeniy Zhitnukhin, head of the dealership department of the Fresh automobile marketplace, confirms that discounts are maintained, since there are still cars produced in 2023 in warehouses: “They need to be sold out in order to be filled with a new assortment of cars produced in 2024.” He also talks about an increase in salon traffic in April.
“Today, discounts and special offers are still valid for many brands for new cars,” agrees Renat Tyukteev. “By the end of the second quarter, the level of support from manufacturers that stimulates demand will decrease.” Sales growth will continue in April, he adds, “perhaps at a calmer pace than in March.”
“April and May will be a continuation of March,” Andrei Olkhovsky also believes. He emphasizes that “an incredibly large number of cars with preferential customs duties were imported into the Russian Federation, they need to be sold.” “Some sellers will strive to gain additional profit. But I think that this is unlikely to succeed, because there are too many cars,” he says. In the second quarter, sales will increase by 15–20%, but in the following months “the potential will decline if the Central Bank does not lower the key rate,” says Mr. Olkhovsky.
The policy of discounts and special offers also has an effect on buyers, says Sergei Udalov: “Support programs and discounts, unlike changes in recommended retail prices, are canceled one day, and everyone understands this.” Moreover, the analyst does not yet see the risk that current sales will outstrip demand from future periods. Like the dealers interviewed by Kommersant, he points to the factor of pent-up demand.
But prices will rise, market participants emphasize. “The impact of the ban on the import of foreign cars from the EAEU countries on prices is a matter of mathematics,” explains Andrey Olkhovsky. “I think that the growth will be gradual and, in a normalized state, will give an impetus to increasing the cost of cars by an average of 20–25%.”
Sergei Udalov adds that potential buyers are accustomed to existing in a paradigm of constant fear of rising prices for cars, including due to potential changes in the exchange rate. “If possible, they buy a car here and now,” he explains. “For example, car loans are issued not only according to models with subsidized rates, but loans are also actively issued at 20%.”


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Looking for something to do on a cold, wintry day? The Leslieville Flea is heading indoors as it holds its first market of the new year at the Distillery District on Sunday, Jan. 15.
Making its return for the winter season at the Fermenting Cellar, the open space inside the historic stone building will showcase select market vendors on the third Sunday of the month from January to April.
"With 50-plus vendors and all kinds of unique finds, the Leslieville Flea is a great way to spend a chilly Sunday," says Leslieville Flea organizer Brigid Elmy.
The curated market, which features vintage, salvaged, up-cycled goods, furniture, antiques and collectibles, also has an online shop where you can check out what vendors are bringing before the event. You can also purchase online and pick up at the flea or have the item shipped.
The Leslieville Flea kicks off Sunday Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fermenting Cellar, 55 Mill St., and will also be held Feb. 19, March 19 and April 23 at the same time and location. Admission is free.
Visit www.leslievilleflea.com for more information.


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Amazon joined with luxury brand Cartier in filing lawsuits against alleged counterfeiters. Amazon claimed the defendants used a technique to evade its detection system.
The lawsuits allege that a social media influencer conspired with bad actors and promoted counterfeit luxury products—including fake Cartier bracelets, necklaces, and rings—on Instagram as well as their own websites.
According to Amazon’s press release: “The criminals openly posted photos of counterfeit Cartier jewelry, with a description of the infringing product on Instagram, but on Amazon and other websites, they created product detail pages for generic products with no indication of infringement. The defendants then provided customers on Instagram a link to the generic product on Amazon or other websites, and they told customers if they purchased the generic item, they would receive a counterfeit Cartier product.”
It went on to allege the following: “The criminals repeatedly directed and instructed their social media followers on how to try to purchase infringing products on Amazon, by directing them to links or sending direct messages from Instagram, on how to purchase “high-quality copies” of luxury brands such as Cartier in the Amazon store and other online marketplaces.”
The lawsuits were brought with the help of Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit, which the company created in 2020. The global team consists of former law enforcement officials who work with current law enforcement agencies and brands to investigate and litigate both criminally and through civil lawsuits.
The Amazon press release is found on the AboutAmazon.com website, and one of the lawsuits can be found on this page of DocketAlarm.com.


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It’s not just the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, dozens of displays, concours, and auctions packed into just a few days of Monterey Car Week this August.
RM Sotheby’s is a giant among collector car auctions. For over 30 years, they’ve been saving their best for Monterey, honoring the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with a docket of worthy motors.
Even compared to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, The Quail is Monterey Car Week’s most exclusive event and auction. Every year, Bonhams joins the car show with a similarly prestigious auction
Each year, Gooding & Company follows the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to Monterey, bringing with them an exceptional docket of consignments. This year is no different, with everything from a Ferrari LaFerrari to a 1939 Bugatti 57C, all waiting to be sold to the highest bidder.
For twenty years, Bonhams has been partnering with The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering to offer Monterey Car Week an elegant car buying experience. Bonhams is celebrating this momentous milestone with a docket built specially for the peninsula’s distinguishing guests.
For over a quarter-century, RM Sotheby’s has made a name for itself as one of Monterey Car Week’s finest auctions. This year the perfect Ferrari collector’s starter kit; thirteen of Modena’s greatest hits from 1961 to today that could be yours for as little as twenty million dollars.


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Cord-cutting continues to get worse, with the linear video industry suffering its biggest quarterly losses since COVID-19 knocked out live sports and scripted programming, according to new figures from MoffettNathanson.
Traditional pay TV distributors lost 9% of their subscribers year over year in the first quarter of 2022. The 9% rate of decline compared to 8.9% in the fourth quarter of 2021 and ties the worst level ever, set in Q1 2021.
Virtual MVPDs aren’t picking up lapsed pay TV subscribers the way they used to either, contributing to a worsening picture for the traditional pay-TV bundle. In the first quarter, the conversion rate fell to 32.8% from 35.6% in the fourth quarter.
When looking at traditional and virtual pay TV distributors combined, subscribers were down 5.1% year over year, close to the all-time worst of 5.5% set in the second quarter of 2020, when COVID knocked out new scripted shows and most live sports.
In all, the linear video industry lost 2.1 million subscribers in the first quarter, the worst since Q1 2020.
Looking at company reports, MoffetNathanson said the biggest losers of subscribers in the first quarter were Comcast, down 511,00 and DirecTV down 496,000. DirecTV, spun off from AT&T last year, reported its latest subscriber numbers to bondholders and debt analysts.
Including estimates for some outfits that don’t publicly report numbers, MoffettNathanson said the Q1 performance left the linear TV business with 81.048 million subscribers.
Cable had 41.661 million subscribers, down 6.9%, satellite had 18.5 million subscribers, down 12% and the telcos had 5.829 million subscribers, down 13.5%.
Total traditional subscribers were 66.118 million, down 9% and the virtual MVPDs had 14.930 million subscribers, up 16.7%.
“The rate of decline of the linear business is not something that ‘just happens,’ “ noted the research firm’s principals, Craig Moffett and Michael Nathanson. “Many of the media companies have made conscious decisions to strip-mine their cable networks, shifting their best content to their streaming platforms.
“At the same time, they have raised prices relentlessly to offset declining viewership. Both strategies have alienated distributors, who are now more ambivalent than ever about trying to retain video subscribers who are themselves increasingly ambivalent about lower and lower quality video services for which they are asked to pay higher and higher prices,” Moffett and Nathanson said.
Several sports leagues have started to put games on streaming platforms, a trend that may accelerate, further hurting the linear TV business, which was expected to be supported by live programming, including news as well as sports.
“Including vMVPDs, the rate of decline for linear video is hovering near its all-time worst levels,“ Moffett and Nathanson wrote. “And the rate of decline for traditional distributors is the worst it has ever been. That’s not what one would expect if we were gliding towards a stable sports-and-news floor.” ■
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Jon has been business editor of Broadcasting+Cable since 2010. He focuses on revenue-generating activities, including advertising and distribution, as well as executive intrigue and merger and acquisition activity. Just about any story is fair game, if a dollar sign can make its way into the article. Before B+C, Jon covered the industry for TVWeek, Cable World, Electronic Media, Advertising Age and The New York Post. A native New Yorker, Jon is hiding in plain sight in the suburbs of Chicago.


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PORTLAND, Ore. (TheStreet) -- There's a good chance someone you know is going to propose marriage on Valentines Day this year.
It may not be to you, but some friend, colleague or family member is going to decide that this day of chalky candy hearts, out-of-season flowers and dubious historic merit is the perfect occasion to tell someone else that they want to spend the rest of their life -- or at least a number of unspecified years -- with them. Last year, a full 6 million Americans told American Express' Spending & Saving Tracker that they were either expecting a Valentine's Day proposal or planning to propose that day. That was up from 4 million in 2012.
Please don't let this happen.
A Valentines Day proposal doesn't put more love into the loveliest day of the year, it just helps tilt the scales away from a holiday that's falling out of favor to begin with. While IBISWorld notes that the $21.6 billion consumers plan to spend on Valentines Day this year ranks second only to Christmas among consumer holidays -- and is a 3.7% uptick in spending from last year -- that's only part of the story. The National Retail Federation is predicting a bump in spending, too, but notes that just 54% of Americans plan on celebrating the occasion this year, down from 60% in 2013.
That's 46% of U.S. shoppers who could care less about Valentines Day, never mind using it to pledge eternity to someone they adore. Why do they feel this way? Maybe it's the paper cupids and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate that appear on supermarket shelves before the New Year arrives. Maybe it's the Amateur Night approach to shopping that turns every long-stemmed rose and "special" prix-fixe dinner menu into a Randian market-based nightmare.
Maybe it's because all but the most devout Christians draw a complete blank on not only who St. Valentine is but why he has a holiday -- which was celebrated by some churches only on a whim.
Either way, the folks at wedding website TheKnot consider Valentines Day the official end of a proposal season that starts around Thanksgiving and stretches through the winter holidays. It still trails Christmas and the waning summer days of August as prime time for proposals, but is one of the more unoriginal proposal dates on the calendar nonetheless. It's like making the Fourth Of July the day you decide to light your first firework or St. Patrick's Day the occasion for your first sip of Guinness.
It's a cliche, but one with myriad drawbacks festering beneath it. Here are just five worth warning folks about before an impending proposal:


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HP announced its Chromebook 14 at the IDC in San Francisco earlier this month. And now the company has put a date for when its colorful devices become available in the US and UK. Prepare to grab yours November 3.
As a reminder, the laptops will feature a 14-inch HD display offering a 1366 x 768 pixels. HP has packed under the bonnet a 1.4 GHz Celeron 2955U Haswell chip with 2GB of RAM, which allows for a long battery life span of up to 9.5 hours.
16GB of storage are given off the bat plus a USB 3.0 port, 2 USB 2.0 ones, SD card slot plus an HDMI out.
The slates will come pre-installed with apps like Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, basically the best of everything Google has to offer.
The HP Chromebook 14 will be available in three radiant colors: Coral Peach, Ocean Turquoise and Snow White.
Price has been set a $299.99 / €225.65 a pop. A Wi-Fi model is also expected to be rolled out for a price a tad higher – $349 / €258, says OmgChrome.


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The company produces two of the most iconic publications in Europe, Le Parisien and sports paper L'Équipe. Both titles have substantial readerships and
Amaury Group is keen to maximise the potential of its digital offerings.
One of the biggest challenges facing publications is making the transition from print to digital media. With print and advertising revenues falling across
the board, newspapers are focusing on digital to monetise content and generate new revenues, says MPP Global Solutions.
Figures provided by Ecommerce Europe show that online sales are rising sharply across the continent. Europe overtook the US, which had been the market
leader in online business-to-consumer transactions, in 2010. Along with Germany, Italy and Spain, France is one of the fastest growing digital markets in
Europe, with online sales growth increasing by between 20 per cent and 25 per cent each year.
Amaury Group selected MPP for its new CRM solution because of their strong track record delivering digital subscription models in both the US and UK. Both
territories have led the digital monetisation revolution and MPP have played a leading role in helping some of the world's largest publications migrate
from print to digital.
According to MPP, media companies in North America and Europe have demonstrated that consumers are willing to pay for quality online content and this is exactly what Amaury
Group intends to provide in its Le Parisien and L'Équipe publications.
The firm already had a subscription system in place for the latter, but it lacked the flexibility and sophistication of MPP's eSuite - which consists of
ePayment, eManager, eHQ and eDeveloper.
Amaury Group was particularly impressed with the speed and ease in which new products can be launched via the eSuite solution, also using eHQ to offer
trials, promotions, discounts and voucher codes.
Extensive functionality within eSuite enables customers to choose an all-inclusive monthly subscription plan or pay for tokens that can be used in
different parts of the website on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Philippe Carli, Chief Executive Officer at Amaury Group, said: "MPP's ability to deliver a cutting edge subscription and CRM solution in a short timeframe
was a major factor behind the company's decision to select MPP. We were particularly keen to adopt a new system in time for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which
is expected to be a hugely busy period for L'Équipe. With an influx of new subscribers anticipated, eSuite can help Amaury Group cope with huge volumes of
"We scoured the market both locally and around the world and it was quickly evident to us that MPP's platform was the standout product for the requirement
and strategy that we have."
By offering more subscription options, Amaury Group hopes to significantly boost its online customer base. It is more important than ever that media
organisations do everything they can to improve the user experience with a centralised system providing a single customer view.
By using ePayment, the company can ensure readers who have already submitted their payment details can gain easy access to additional content with a
“one-click” payment. Meanwhile, eDeveloper will be crucial as the publishing group embeds out-of-the-box functionality into their websites and apps.
With eManager, subscribers can manage their accounts, enabling them to update their payment details, view order history and keep track of their
The eHQ package is an advanced back office management tool that will enable Amaury Group to completely control payment features, such as managing products,
product pricing and creating targeted marketing campaigns.
Paul Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at MPP, said: "We are now full steam ahead delivering CRM and monetisation services for Amaury in France.
"Home to world-famous titles L'Équipe and Le Parisien, the project with Amaury is particularly gratifying. Amaury is famed throughout France as innovators
and leaders and we hope other companies will follow in its footsteps."
About MPP Global Solutions
MPP says: “MPP Global Solutions are the leading provider of Customer Relationship Management, Payment and eCommerce solutions to the Media and
With over a decade's experience providing universal and secure eCommerce solutions, we understand today's digital challenges and recognise what is needed
to make digital monetisation a reality, particularly in meeting the distinctive needs of the millennial generation. By understanding purchasing trends,
consumer behaviour and using targeted offers and campaigns, the marketing possibilities are both extensive and exciting.
MPP offers a breadth of CRM, eCommerce and payment functionality which has helped to attract such high profile clients as BSkyB, The Times, The Sunday
Times, The Daily Mail, el Mundo, The Telegraph, The Irish Times, Philips and Universal Music Group.
Together with being fully compliant with PCI-DSS and regulated to process, store or transmit payment details means MPP Global Solutions are a name to


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Beer Industry Workers Find Community Through Craft Beer Professionals Group
For an industry so tightly built around togetherness and community, the pandemic could have easily crippled many aspects that came to define the very fabric of craft beer. But the digital age has helped us to adapt quickly and for one online beer community, it was the perfect opportunity to serve as a resource for togetherness at a time when connecting in person was prohibited.
Like many beer fanatics, Andrew Coplon was first introduced to the beer industry as a home brewer. At the time he ran a food service company for venues like stadiums and concert halls but quickly realized there were opportunities around better beer education and consumer feedback for breweries and retail accounts that serve beer. So he started a mystery shopping company focused on taprooms and beer providers called Secret Hopper.
But Coplon quickly realized that the industry was also lacking a cohesive forum for industry professionals to connect digitally. So in May 2017, he started Craft Beer Professionals (CBP) as a Facebook group.
“I was shocked there wasn’t a place on the internet where you and I and other craft beer professionals could simply have a conversation,” explained Coplon. “People weren’t speaking to others outside of their area very frequently.”
CBP provided an opportunity for taproom managers on the East coast to swap event ideas and best practices with ones on the West coast, or a brewer in Minnesota to learn about innovative hopping techniques by chatting with a brewer in Chicago.
With a resource and community-driven focus, Craft Beer Professionals quickly began expanding and has now swelled to over 15,000 group members. With the onset of the pandemic and the cancellation of the 2020 Craft Brewers Conference, Coplon seized the opportunity to launch the group’s first virtual event.
Offering a wide variety of seminars and panel discussions the Craft Beer Professionals digital conference provided an opportunity for beer industry workers to continue to learn from each other at a time when sharing ideas was needed the most.
By June of 2022, CBP had launched its first in-person conference taking place in St. Louis, and later this month, from September 12-14, will host its second in-person event in Norfolk, VA.
“While it is wonderful that we can connect online, there is something special about having a face-to-face conversation over a pint,” explained Coplon. “We wanted to provide a workshop that was accessible, intimate, and interactive. Our inaugural event hit these checkboxes and we look forward to continued opportunities to bring our community together.”
The three-day CBP Connect: Norfolk, VA event will feature comprehensive sessions focused on brewery marketing, managing finances, the science of brewing, DEI initiatives, preventing harassment in the workplace, sales best practices, and much more. Registration is currently still open for this month’s CBP Connect: Norfolk and will aim to offer a smaller more intimate setting for attendees to gain more facetime with speakers and network more intentionally with other attendees.
“The smaller, intimate number of attendees meant more opportunities to get to know people, have meaningful conversations and connections over the course of the days together.”
-Dana Kaluzny, co-founder, Endswell Beer
For those who can’t attend this month’s event, CBP has already announced its next virtual conference taking place October 17-19 and are currently accepting registrations. As for what’s next for CBP, Coplon noted that they intend to hold more in-person events in 2023 including another Midwest and East coast conference in addition to maintaining their free virtual conferences.
“The goal of CBP Connects is half networking, half education. We aim to provide a welcoming space where all attendees can build relationships with fellow Craft Beer Professionals and walk away with actionable strategies they can use to see greater success.”


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The People’s Government of Liaozhong District, Shenyang
SHENYANG, China, Feb. 1, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/—
The “2024 China-Russia (Shenyang) Economic and Trade Cooperation Fair” opened in Shenyang on January 29. More than one hundred entrepreneurs from Russia and other countries in the Eurasian Economic Union, representatives of Chinese enterprises and industrial experts and scholars gathered in Shenyang. A total of 55 projects across various fields including channel construction, import and export trade, cold-chain warehousing, and financial services, were signed, with contracts valued at RMB 13.6 billion.
The event, hosted by the Shenyang Municipal People’s Government, the Department of Commerce of Liaoning Province, and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Liaoning Province, aims to accelerate Shenyang’s northward opening-up, broadening and deepening China-Russia economic and trade cooperation and promoting the in-depth implementation of economic and trade cooperation between Shenyang and Russia.
Kuimov Igor, Member of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and President of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that over the years, Shenyang has been working with Russia in terms of sister cities, major projects, investment and trade, science, education, and culture, with fruitful results made. It is hoped that more opportunities for cooperation can be explored in Shenyang through this event for mutual benefit and win-win results.
On that day, a total of 227 enterprises in Shenyang participated in the forum promotion and B2B activities. A group of enterprises in the fields of petroleum equipment, food and agricultural inputs, second-hand cars and accessories reached cooperation intentions with Russian participants. After the opening ceremony, an investment promotion conference was also held. During the investment promotion, Duan Jiyang, Deputy Mayor of Shenyang, and Yang Xiaobo, District Mayor of Liaozhong District, conducted themed promotions around projects such as the China-Russia (Shenyang) Economic and Trade Cooperation Industrial Park, according to The People’s Government of Liaozhong District. During the event, the attending guests visited the China-Russia (Shenyang) Economic and Trade Cooperation Industrial Park, key enterprises in Tiexi District and Fangcheng, Shenyang.
Over the past few years, Shenyang has been actively putting effort into cooperation with Russia in areas such as trade and investment, focusing on building a hub of commodities, logistics and information for economic and trade cooperation with Russia. According to data from the Shenyang Municipal Commerce Bureau, in 2023, a total of 122 Russia-invested enterprises were approved for establishment in Shenyang, with an import and export volume to Russia reaching RMB 4.06 billion, a year-on-year increase of 80.2%. Among them, the exports reached RMB 3.15 billion, with an increase of 51.9%; and the imports reached RMB 910 million, with an increase of 404.9%.
Source: The People’s Government of Liaozhong District, Shenyang


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At least four major malls are scheduled for completion in Attica by 2019-20 in a combined investment of more than 800 million euros, as shopping centers appear to be crisis-resistant in Greece.
The new mall developments will apparently be supported by foreign capital too, with investors realizing that malls have not been affected by the financial crisis and the drop in consumption. Instead, they have managed to increase their market share at the expense of traditional stores. Therefore one could presume that the capital gains for malls will be even greater when retail commerce recovers.
Within 2017 developer Artume is expected to land the building permit for the new mall at Akadimia Platonos in Kolonos, western Athens. Named Academy Gardens, the 300-million-euro development will create 48,000 square meters of commercial spaces on a plot of 20,000 sq.m.
On a plot of 315 sq.m. at Kantza in eastern Attica, REDS is developing a mall which is expected to be inaugurated in 2020.
The former airport plot at Elliniko, southern Athens, is projected to see significant commercial activity according to the plans of the Lamda Development-led consortium. If all permits are received by mid-2017, it is estimated the mall planed at Elliniko will open in 2020 or 2021.
Construction is expected to start next year on a mall at the former Babis Vovos property in Votanikos, west of the city center, which has now come into the hands of the creditor banks.
Besides this, there is another 37,000 sq.m. of new commercial spaces planned as extensions to existing malls, with construction work expected to get under way in the coming months and up to 2018.
In fact, Greek malls are doing so well that even in a period when retail commerce has suffered, in the first half of this year, the three major shopping malls that Lamda Development operates (The Mall Athens, Golden Hall at Maroussi and Mediterranean Cosmos in Thessaloniki) recorded an 8 percent increase in operating profits, which came to 21.5 million euros.


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Steve Blank‘s recent post on the Apple Watch (The Apple Watch – Tipping Point for Healthcare) is another great analysis of how technological developments and business model innovation can come together to create huge value for society – and the companies that create them.
He identifies at least seven conditions that the new Apple watch should be able to monitor – from blood pressure and glucose levels to fall monitoring and UV exposure – and unpacks just how useful the huge data set from ill and healthy people could be in improving medical diagnosis and monitoring.
The most interesting part for me was on how this opportunity builds on Apple’s existing business incrementally while potentially opening the door to a huge – a really, really huge – new market:
Unlike other medical device companies, Apple’s current Watch business model is not dependent on getting insurers to pay for the watch. Today consumers pay directly for the Watch. However, if the Apple Watch becomes a device eligible for reimbursement, there’s a huge revenue upside for Apple. When and if that happens, your insurance would pay for all or part of an Apple Watch as a diagnostic tool.
You can listen to the blog in podcast form here.


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Investing in New York City
The $90 Million Condo Age Emerges
Condo prices have been absolutely shooting through the roof in 2012. Recent notable sales include a $88 million penthouse at 15 Central Park West and a $90 million penthouse at One57 in Midtown. Brokers and experts are now rather confident that these immense sales have signalled a new trend of eagerness and activity in the market. Soon, Manhattan residents can expect to see sales of luxury condos easily soar to new heights in the $90 million range. The luxury property owner can rejoice as the age of the $90 million apartments may soon arrive in full.
Reasons for this wave of optimism involve economic factors and, interestingly, personal factors as well. With much of the world currently in economic crisis, Manhattan real estate has quickly become a financial . With such an attractive market, brokers and owners can now proudly announce their prices; after all, much of pricing lies squarely in the subjective opinions of the seller. Non-quantifiable aspects of a building such as quality, views, and even atmosphere and layout can factor in heavily when a broker lists a price. having reached such an impressive peak, condo owners have gained much more freedom in terms of elevating the worth of their property based only on subjective information such as the quality of the views.
Naturally, exorbitantly priced Manhattan condos can’t be sold haphazardly, with only a limited supply of 15 to 20 “trophy properties” in Manhattan currently capable of generating such high prices. While there are clearly more foreign buyers willing to pay the prices of these condos, the fact remains that limits must and do exist on how much these buyers would be willing to pay. However, with a $50 million penthouse at Walker Tower in Chelsea and possible Park Avenue properties on the market in the future, ultra-expensive apartments may serve as the norm for a while.


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Facebook investors are a hardy bunch. They have to be, for it has not been the easiest of times to be an investor with a long-term view of this company. Earlier this year they must have been feeling very contented, as the share price hit new post-IPO highs. Now, however, the picture looks less rosy, as we shed all the gains made in February and March.
In the last quarter of 2013, Facebook reported revenue of $2.59 billion, an increase of 63% compared with $1.59 billion in Q4 2012. Net income was $780 million, up 83% compared to $426 million for the year-ago quarter, while diluted EPS for the fourth quarter was $0.31, up 82% from $0.17 a year ago. The recent quarter also saw the acquisition of WhatsApp, for the bargain-basement price of $19 billion. In addition, it also snapped up Oculus, which has pioneered the development of more functional virtual reality platforms, for $2 billion.
The big worry for Facebook is its declining user base. Many commentators pointed out how the site is becoming less popular among the young, and the trend of being asked to become friends with your own grandparents on Facebook was a sign that the peak popularity moment had come and gone.
In this environment, then, advertising revenue becomes key, as Facebook looks to make more money from those actually using its service. If you’re like me, you probably just ignore them, but the strategy does seem to be working. Net income in the final quarter of 2013 increased by 20.94% to $514 million, compared to the same period in 2012, mainly due to a growth in advertising income.
High valuations have become the concern in the tech sector recently, as this was what prompted the selloff we have witnessed. Facebook’s price earnings ratio (PE) as of 16 April was 91, compared to the industry average of 37 and the S&P 500’s PE of 18. The company still looks overvalued on this metric. A weak set of results could see us retest the April lows of $55, and this could prompt further losses, with $50.80 marking the low in January.
Facebook is available for extended hours trading. Here is a list of US stocks that can also be traded outside New York Stock Exchange trading hours of 2.30pm to 9pm (London time).


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|BEND||| Print ||
The state’s largest Catholic diocese plans to move its headquarters from Bend to a 37-acre site six miles south of Powell Butte within the next two years. The Diocese of Baker, which covers 18 counties in Eastern Oregon and serves about 15,000 families, has looked for a new site for about five years. Bishop Vasa said the rural, rustic site is large enough to accommodate an administrative office as well as provide for retreat-like gatherings. “It is much more readily identified with most of the diocese than Bend,” he says, referring to the rural nature of Eastern Oregon as well as its Crook County location. The diocese, active since 1908, plans to use an existing on-site barn as a conference center as well as construct a new chancery office, cabins for retreats, and a chapel at the new location. While building and funding details are still in the planning stages, Vasa says he has received positive feedback from residents.
For upscale flyers, it’s what’s on the ground that really matters. In an effort to serve these high-class clients, Desert Sun Industries plans to be the third fixed-based operation catering to luxury clients at the Redmond Airport. Once the 44,000-square-foot facility is complete, Desert Sun will offer fuel and maintenance services, a pilot’s lounge and hangar space for corporate and private planes staying over in Central Oregon. A fixed-wing school also will get started after a grand opening, planned for September 2007. RedmondAir and Butler Aircraft Co. offer similar services at the Redmond Airport but Desert Sun owner Shannon Egeland says the market is robust enough to support a third vendor.
|Powerball jackpot hits new record|
|5.1-magnitude quake hits eastern Canada|
|How a Seattle school launched Bill Gates career|
|Windows Phone surpasses Blackberry|
|Kim Dotcom doesn't want 3D gun plans on Mega's servers|
|David Beckham retires from soccer|
|ODB, Eazy-E holograms to perform|
|Will this startup succeed?|
|The STEM shortage|
|Combined Transport keeps on trucking|
|Farm futures: private equity goes organic|
|Food cart owner Nong balances life, work and play|
|Celly launches its DIY network|
|What is driving the cost of health care? |
Oregon Business magazine's 5th annual
100 Best Green Companies to Work For in Oregon
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
From Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute: OTRADI today announced its plans to open and operate a 13,000 square-foot multi-tenant bioscience complex in the Willamette Wharf building at 4640 SW Macadam Avenue. Slated to be complete in spring 2013, the OTRADI Bioscience Incubator (OBI) will house up to six companies.
MEDIAmerica, publisher of Oregon Business and Oregon Home magazines, announces a new retail website: HalfOffOregon.com. The website offers lodging, dining, recreation and many other items at half off their regular cost.
As you probably know by now, The Vernon Company is a national leader in the promotional products industry with annual sales of over $60 million. We are a family owned business, led by the fourth generation of the Vernon family.


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500 Startups is adding a couple new micro-funds as it looks to further grow its investments in India and FinTech Markets. The $25 million funds, named 500 FinTech and 500 Kulfi (after a popular Indian frozen dairy treat), will continue to focus on early stage investments in those spaces.
500 Startups currently has over 80 FinTech investments that have made over the past six years, including investments in CreditKarma and Flywire.
In a post on 500’s blog, Partner Sheel Mohnot, who will be heading up the fund, detailed a few insights learned, including the importance of the proliferation of smartphones to cutting costs associated with financial services and the fact that “traditional” financial institutions are not innovating quickly enough.
500’s tagline for the new…


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Chinese automaker Geely defeat earnings expectations for 2022, sending shares surging Wednesday.
Shares of Geely spiked as much as 7%, just before settling down to trade almost 3% previously mentioned its preceding close.
Geely documented its 2022 revenue surged 45.6% from a 12 months in the past to 148 billion yuan ($21.49 billion), although revenue jumped 8.5% to get to 5.26 billion yuan. Analysts experienced expected Geely to report 135.4 billion yuan in earnings, according to a Refinitiv consensus estimate.
The business explained this as a “resilient fiscal and operational effectiveness… accomplished regardless of challenging current market disorders and ongoing pandemic-linked disruption.”
Geely explained overall product sales climbed 8% last year to around 1.4 million models. CEO Daniel Li informed CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” that this figure was bigger than China’s 5% forecast for its general car field.
The corporation claimed its significant-end designs accounted for 23% of total profits in 2022, or 252,787 units.
Geely stated it made “major progress” in raising income of its new energy and electrified products, as sales surged about 300% previous 12 months to more than 328,000 models.
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon
For 2023, Geely established a income goal of 1.65 million models and said it aims to double the share of new electrical power and electrified vehicle gross sales.
In attempts to strike that target, Li explained the firm will lean on its collaborations in its provide chain, which will allow for it to reduced expenditures and subsequently promoting price ranges.
“In the very long time period, no doubt, the EV [prices] will be on par with [internal combustion engine] cars,” he provides.
The company’s collaborators include Mercedes, Renault and Aramco in efforts ranging from the revival of the all-electric Smart manufacturer to a new venture similar to inner combustion and hybrid powertrain systems.
Li claimed Geely and Renault goal to generate 7 billion engines and transmissions per calendar year and are “open” to furnishing provider and guidance to other makes transitioning from ICE to electric vehicles. He reported Aramco will give economical assist, and that the two automakers will be able to “leverage on” new sustainable fuels from Aramco.
U.S. IPO for Zeekr?
Back again in December 2020, Geely said its electric powered vehicle brand, Zeekr, submitted for a U.S. initial public providing, without the need of furnishing any particulars on the measurement or a opportunity listing day.
When asked about the standing of the IPO, Li only said the company has “initiated the course of action”, and that is “however in the progress,” adding that the company will disclose information in because of training course.


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Over 27,000 fake e-shops selling IP-infringing products in four EU countries
New research published by the EUIPO looks at the use of domain names formerly used by famous people, companies, embassies and others in Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK
The research is the second phase of
a report concerning online business models and is available to
read in full here.
The latest report looks into a phenomenon identified in
Denmark where previously used .dk domain names were being
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This fall’s Dungeness crab commercial fishery will be shortened in most of Southeast. State managers with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game have announced that the fall season will be open for 30 days. That’s half the length of a normal fall fishery for most of the region.
The shorter season is in response to a low harvest this summer. The summer fishery saw the lowest harvest in over 30 years and managers ended up closing the fishery three weeks early. The summer season brought in 1.3 million pounds. The historical summer average is 2.7 million.
Managers spent weeks evaluating the summer harvest and fishery. They looked at fish tickets and data from port sampling. They found that there were some soft shelled crab. The number of soft shells in the beginning of the fishery was above the average for the previous three years. But it was not enough to make that the sole reason for not meeting the projected harvest threshold.
Most of the usual areas for Dungeness crab fishing in Southeast waters will be open to commercial fishing from October 1-31.


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Pubs are being urged to become unofficial tourist information centres to take advantage of the expected boom in domestic tourism this summer.
Tourism body VisitEngland has launched a campaign, called Inn England, which calls on pubs to position themselves as the starting point for any visit to an area, rather than purely focusing on the needs of locals.
Amanda Smyth, head of marketing at VisitEngland, said: "Pubs are a key part of England's brand, our history and way of life.
"Inn England will remind people of the unique place that the English pub holds in our history and our communities. We hope this idea will galvanise pub landlords all over England to think outside the box about other ways that they can work with their local community to attract more business."
VisitEngland, which launched on 1 April, has created a microsite targeting both pub operators and tourists. Pubs will be searchable by categories such as family-friendliness and historical interest. The site will also include an interactive forum where consumers can recommend their favourite pubs.
Earlier this month, VisitEngland launched a £3m television advertising campaign called ‘Enjoy Every Minute' to convince consumers they can enjoy English attractions no matter how little time they have available.
By Daniel Thomas
E-mail your comments to Daniel Thomas here.
Looking for a new job? Find your next pub job here with Caterersearch.com jobs


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IBM scores Xbox 2 processor
C|Net is reporting that Microsoft's next Xbox console will use processor technology from IBM. Microsoft has already announced that ATI will be providing the graphics technology for the Xbox, which leaves the new console's chipset technology up in the air.
I'm tempted to wildly speculate that Xbox 2 collaboration could lead ATI to produce a PC chipset for IBM's new PowerPC 970, but that would be a bit of a stretch, at least for now. Still, it's an interesting thought to ponder.


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UK researchers reckon they are on track to take carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into car fuel.
Wikipedia and YouTube have both experienced outages over the last twenty-four hours.
A pair of security researchers hijacked the entire SMS database of an iPhone in 20 seconds flat at the CanSecWest Pwn2Own hacking contest in Vancouver yesterday.
The world's biggest domain registration company, GoDaddy.com, has said it plans to stop registering domain names in China.
Analysis of a tiny fossil has indicated that a third type of hominin may have lived alongside early humans and Neanderthals in central Asia 40,000 years ago.
An electronic design company called VDIGI has released the world's first HDMI connector designed for the Nintendo Wii, offering upscaled graphics to 1080p.
Microsoft's inventive virtual arcade space launched on Wednesday as scheduled, but its launch didn't go off without a few annoying bugs. Some games were simply "out of service."
A 25-year-old Frenchman has been arrested for trying to gain access to President Barack Obama's official Twitter account, as well as other notable public figures.
AT&T is joining Sprint and Verizon in offering "femtocells," small boxes that increase signal strength in indoor environments, for its wireless customers across the US.
Clearwire CEO Bill Morrow has laid out his vision of how incompatible network technologies such as WiMax and Long Term Evolution (LTE) could eventually converge to form a common standard.
Google has introduced a new feature to notify Gmail users of potentially "suspicious" account login activity.
Microsoft has reiterated that it will continue to support, ship and sell Mobile 6.5 alongside Windows Phone 7.
MIT and Korean researchers have developed a portable desalinator that could supply a small village using solar power.
Northeastern England has seen a sharp rise in the number of cases of syphilis, and the local health boss reckons he knows why. Social networking.
No girlfriend? No life beyond gaming? Join the club - a new social network service is betting on there being a lot of you out there.
It's true: people are using their phones less and less to actually make calls. A new report from Ericsson says that data usage has eclipsed voice traffic.
Android is blazing through to the next generation of mobile technology, as Sprint and HTC today announced the first 4G handset that will be built on Google's mobile operating system.
The upcoming Samsung Wave is making waves in the tech industry as the first mobile phone to beomce certified by DivX for HD video playback.
Motorola has debuted what it claims is the "world's first" push-to-talk Android-powered smartphone at CTIA 2010.
Samsung has launched its Galaxy S smartphone at CTIA 2010.
Dell and AT&T have teamed up to manufacture and market yet another Android-based smartphone in an already crowded marketplace.
Mozilla has axed its Firefox for Windows Mobile project in response to Microsoft's decision to "close off" development for native applications.
Opera has officially asked Apple to approve its Mini browser for the iPhone. But what are the chances of Club Cupertino giving a thumbs up to a competing application?
Bill Gates (yes, really) and Toshiba are reported to be building a next-generation nuclear reactor.
3D is everywhere these days - even in the Nintendo DS. The company says it's planning a 3D version of its handheld console within a year.
Just a couple years ago, mobile phone games hardly made a blip on the radar, but the amount of the video game pie that the iPhone is getting has increased five-fold in the span of just one year.
More people are seriously considering buying an iPad within the next 3 months than any other e-reader device, but not by much. While 15% are planning on buying an iPad, 14% say they want a Kindle.
"Now boarding Virgin Galactic flight 1 with nonstop service to outer space"


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Nearly half (46%) of all e-commerce market revenue in Australia last year was transacted through mobile devices, the tech analyst firm Telsyte says, with what it calls the m-commerce market being worth $15.2 billion in 2018, compared to $12.0 billion in 2017.
With interactive mobile gaming something Aussies enjoy, iPads are the top way to work and play, while Androids suffer market share losses not just from iPads but Windows 2-in-1s opening doors to consumer preferences.
Australians are increasingly buying wearable devices as smartphone sales have slowed, according to new research.
Another credit card to rip off customers. Good one Coles!
I would be much more excited if NBN Co was announcing that they were going to concentrate on providing a[…]
"whether their parents have the COVID-Safe tracking app installed on their phone."Why do they need to know this? It appears[…]
Out of interest, when/where does NBN specify the sort of things like only a single high-speed burst per day. Do[…]
The 1000/50 HFC service is a joke. You can only burst up to the top speed for up to a[…]


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- Dongfeng, Changan, FAW co-unveil NEV & ICV-focused joint venture
Zhongqi Chuangzhi Technology Co.,Ltd. (called “Zhongqing Chuangzhi” for short), a joint venture co-funded by three state-owned automakers—Dongfeng, FAW and Changan, was officially launched on Ju...
June 30 , 2020
- Dongfeng Motor, CATL cement cooperation for better NEV development
Dongfeng Motor Corporation and CATL agreed to step up their strategic collaboration on NEV development, which is expected to help promote the building and perfection of China’s NEV industrial ecosys...
June 17 , 2020
- Changan, FAW, Dongfeng set up new company
A new company has been recently established with a registered capital of 16 billion yuan by five shareholders.
June 04 , 2020
- Dongfeng Motor, China Gas to team up on auto sale, gas projects
Dongfeng Motor Corporation (Dongfeng Motor) and China Gas Holdings Limited (China Gas), a Hong Kong-listed gas operator and service provider, signed a framework agreement on May 8 for a strategic coop...
May 12 , 2020
- Dongfeng to launch new premium brand soon
The new premium brand, known by the code name h, of Dongfeng Motor Corporation will be officially launched in 2020.
May 07 , 2020
- Dongfeng Motor, Sokon step up cooperation for greater resource sharing
Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Stock Co.,Ltd. agreed on April 23 to deepen their cooperation for a better resource integration involving technologies, R&D, purchase, man...
Apr. 23 , 2020
- Dongfeng Motor Group to wholly control Dongfeng Renault after Renault’s transfer
Dongfeng Motor Group and Renault S.A. plan to restructure their joint venture Dongfeng Renault Automotive Company (DRAC) given the downturn in China’s automobile market and the subsidiary’s unsoun...
Apr. 14 , 2020
- Dongfeng-PSA joint venture resumes production at Wuhan plant
DPCA announced it officially resumed the work and production at its Wuhan plant on March 25 after a two-month shutdown due to the coronavirus spread.
Mar. 26 , 2020
- Nissan’s joint venture with Dongfeng Motor resuming operation in Wuhan
Reportedly, Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL), Nissan’s only joint venture in China, is working on the restart of operation and production in full swing.
Mar. 20 , 2020


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AFCON football competition
Grand Oak customers and distributors who distinguished themselves in marketing the companies brand were recently treated to a send off party to South Africa were they had the privilege to join other Nigerians to cheer the victorious Nigeria football team, the Super Eagles to a resounding victory during the AFCON football competition, which ended in recently.
Management staff of the company and all the beneficiaries attended the party.
Speaking to THISDAY, the Managing Director of the company Mr. Akshay Kumar, said the gesture was a way of giving back to the select distributors who had distinguished themselves in driving the Grand Oak brands as well as establishing better business relationship with their customers. Besides the trip, Kumar said his company employs other strategies to add value to the business of their distributors. He said: “we go beyond giving our customers financial reward by training and retraining them on how to manage their businesses to create more value.”
One of the beneficiaries and managing director of Latban Enterpries, Alhaji Latefae expressed joy for being “one of those that had the privilege to cheer our football team to glory.”


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Motorsport Network have announced that they have acquired a shareholding in the Formula E Championship.
The motorsport digital technology business, who own Motorsport.com and Autosport among several other outlets, said that they had purchased an unspecified number of shares in Formula E Holdings Limited, the commercial rights holder for Formula E.
The company said that it was part of a broader strategy to take a leading position in elective vehicle and electric racing media.
Making the announcement ahead of the first virtual Formula E race in Las Vegas, Motorsport.com’s Chairman Zak Brown said that the purchase was made following a growth in engagement in the series through their motorsport publications.
Brown said, “Formula E has garnered the attention of capital cities, car makers and technology businesses alike.
“The intelligence we can add to this picture is a discernible trend among our digital motorsport audiences to consume the racing content from Formula E.
“This has underwritten our decision to invest in the series.”
Motorsport Network said that the investment would also coincide with a push on their automotive website Motor1.com to have more content focused on electric vehicles.
This again, according to their Editor-in-Chief John Neff, was based on increased interest from their readership in green automotive developments.
Speaking about the purchase, founder and CEO of Formula E, Alejandro Agag said that the decision was made due to the growth of interest in the sport.
He said, “The investment decision made by Motorsport Network has been evidence-based – a data-led decision driven by the growth in demand for Formula E content on the world’s leading motorsport websites.
“This is the fusion of two future-focused businesses that are re-shaping motor racing for the digital generation that will bring the benefit of the most integrated and extensive motoring and motorsport media operation to our series.”


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The latest edition of Wired is carrying an extremely interesting article on Facebook and its plans to dominate the Internet, comparing it with Google. I think that albeit the comparison is fair, it is missing a third –probably more relevant-player: Microsoft.
We all know that the social network is pursuing the aim of putting the users’ social networks at the center of all they do online, and then try to monetize on top of that via highly effective marketing campaigns. We have also seen how that had to push back on both their Beacon initiative –injecting personalized advertising to users-, as well as on their attempt to change of terms of service to a perpetual ownership of user data. And we are probably all very aware that there is more to come. That’s why everybody these days compares Facebook and Google.
Having a huge user base, and sitting on tons of very personalized data is fine only if monetization is possible, and up until now it still remains to be seen how this will happen. Privacy issues seem to be simply too powerful.
But while Facebook’s efforts into highly targeted online advertising have received a lot of attention, their activities in the applications spaces have been less commented. The launch of Connect has allowed them to integrate more than 10.000 independent sites into the Facebook community. And just two months ago, it announced the Open Stream API. Both of the initiatives are a step towards becoming the platform for all personal interaction on the Internet. And this is indeed interesting. If Faacebook becomes the de facto platform for us users to place our data, and for third parties to develop applications that hook us to their sites, then Facebook may well become one of the gatekeepers of the Internet.
And we should not forget that gatekeepers normally have an extremely profitable business model. We’ve seen that for decades with Microsoft. So, will Facebook become the new Microsoft?


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Rumored Google Play 7″ Nexus tablet to be made by Asus, will cost $199 and have quad-core CPU
This isn’t the first rumor about a possible Nexus tablet. In fact, ever since Google launched Android 3 Honeycomb last year, the OS version specifically tailored for tablet use, we’ve been hearing that the company would eventually release a Nexus tablet. The Nexus line of smartphones has so far been showcasing the ‘pure Google experience’ and, in the case of the Nexus One even brought a great new hardware feature to phones – the 1 GHz processor.
Now we’re hearing that the first Nexus tablet might also be very impressive, but for an entirely different reason. According to two ‘industry sources’ who spoke to Android and Me during MWC, Google still wants a Nexus tablet on the market. And this year.
The company apparently approached Asus after it saw a $249 7-inch tablet showcased at CES, which features a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor. Google’s goal is to sell a similarly-specced tablet for just $199, matching Amazon’s Kindle Fire in price. That has so far been the best selling Android tablet, despite only being on sale in the US, but the Kindle Fire comes with a forked version of Android and thus doesn’t have the Google services suite preinstalled.
In a similar move to what Barnes and Noble did with its Nook tablet to make it a $199 product (the initial price was $249), the Nexus tablet might come with a small amount of internal storage space. Assuming that it won’t be too small (like under 4 GB), and if it will also ship with a microSD card slot, I don’t think most people would mind. Especially since they’d be getting a quad-core tablet, complete with Google services and guaranteed software updates for just $199.
So, to recap: an Asus-made Nexus tablet, which may be called Google Play, with a 7-inch 1280×800 touchscreen, Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, and all for $199. Production could start in April, and the tablet could be on the market in June. Perhaps it will be unveiled during Google I/O, the annual developers conference, on June 27.
Oh, and one more thing: an even more crazy-sounding 10-inch $299 version of this tablet could also be in the works.
Then again, all of the above has rumor status for now. There’s certainly a possibility that Google is working on a Nexus tablet. I mean, it makes perfect sense from their point of view. Android tablet sales (non-Kindle Fire) have been lackluster at best, and such an offering would clearly help sales and recognition of ‘Android tablets’ as a distinct product category. But we’ll just have to wait and see how (or if) this pans out.


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With the soles of shoes worn thin and online job applications seemingly dropping into a vortex, job seekers are more frequently relying on their entrepreneural spirit.
Whether it’s side a business to supplement an income or a new venture sought after one too many “Thanks, but no thanks” letters, the idea of launching out on your own is striking a chord. It’s what prompted Gail Margolies Reid of Alpharetta to author “The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Low-Cost Startups.”
From personal trainers to obedience training, closet design to child care, Reid explains the risks, start-up costs, special requirements, equipment needs and more to get a business off the ground for $1,000 or less.
“These businesses are targeted,” said Reid, a featured speaker on Sunday during the AJC Decatur Book Festival. “It’s [for] someone who has lost a job and their unemployment has run out. For different reasons, they’ve become desperate and they have to hit the ground running and get a cash flow. This empowers people to have a basis to make a sound business plan.”
But as Reid, a certified public accountant, points out, not all ambition reaps financial rewards. There are potholes and misguided ideas that can ruin things for even the most determined. There are a few common mistakes new business owners make along the way, Reid said.
1. Assuming your perception of a need really exists.
“You know there is a gap in the market, but is there a market in the gap?” she said. “Just because you think it’s something everyone wants, doesn’t mean that they do.”
2. Coming up with ideas for the wealthy.
“You need a customer base,” Reid said. Too often, entrepreneurs try to sell high-priced products because they think they’ll make more money than if they sold something that cost $9.99. But there is a bigger market, especially these days, for bargain shoppers.
3. Not connecting with your connections
It’s one thing to network, glad-handing strangers at various functions. But for a quicker start, Reid urges people not to neglect the folks they already know — even if they aren’t obvious clients.
“Your connections are an overlooked database,” she said. “Then, get more purposeful about meeting people.”
4. Not talking to others in the business
Reid also says its important to reach out to other people already working in the business you’re interested in. “You’ll find a lot of times they are very generous with information about what’s worked, and about the mistakes they’ve made,” she said.
Reid will speak Sunday from 2:30-3:15 p.m. at the Decatur Conference Center Auditorium, 130 Clairemont Ave. Admission is free.
Do you have a question for Gail Margolies Reid? Post it here
Question: Have you started your own business since the start of the recession? What have you learned? What have been your successes and failures? What questions do you have for Gail Margolies Reid?


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- 5 min read
Smart manufacturing to get a fillip with 5G: Ericsson's Nitin Bansal
(Brand Connect Initiative)
5G has already gone live in several markets around the world and people are getting a first-hand experience of the technology. Initial use cases include Fixed Wireless Access and enhanced Mobile Broadband. Uptake is also fast – for instance, South Korea launched live commercial 5G networks in April 2019, and they reached 1 million 5G subscribers in just two months. We expect the global number of 5G subscriptions to top 190 million by the end of 2020 and 2.8 billion by the end of 2025. 5G will account for 18 percent of all mobile subscriptions by 2025.These forecasts are included in the June 2020 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report.
As a critical national infrastructure and innovation platform 5G promises to deliver significant benefits for industries and societies like never before. Ericsson partnered with Telia and Einride to showcase driverless truck transportation through enhanced connectivity based on 5G at the DB Schenker facility in Jönköping, Sweden. This marks the commencement of a paradigm shift for the transport industry enabled by 5G. This is likely to power a new world and take fleet management to the next level, wherein it is fully connected and automated.
Automotive 5G manufacturing production is now a reality for German electric microcar company e.GO Mobile AG at its Aachen complex, enabled by 5G connectivity from Ericsson and Vodafone Germany. Ericsson is also teaming up with Telefónica Germany to enable 5G car production via a private 5G network for Mercedes-Benz at the company’s Sindelfingen plant in southern Germany. The 5G network will enable Mercedes-Benz to boost flexibility, improve production precision and efficiency as industry digitalization increasingly becomes a reality in car production. The manufacturing industry is evolving fast and industry leaders are looking to have increased flexibility in the production automation and assembly processes whilst also reducing personnel safety risks.
Factories of the future
Currently, most use cases in manufacturing sites are based on legacy, wired connections. In a 5G era, factories will be connected on fully scalable, wireless 5G networks where all production systems and machines will network, operate and transfer large amounts of data in milliseconds on secure 5G networks. Connected Factories, where wirelessly connected machines and workforce can instantaneously collect, analyze and distribute data in real-time, will gain precedence.
Cellular IoT, an inherent 5G characteristic, will yield many use cases that will optimize safety, productivity and flexibility for manufacturers. Connectivity issues, such as insufficient bandwidth, speed and latency issues will be addressed by 5G’s ultra-low latency characteristics and high throughput. Connected cameras and sensing devices can provide feedback to remotely situated control centers and enable skilled staff to monitor and steer manufacturing remotely. Augmented and virtual reality-based tools can help technicians remotely identify faults in production lines and trouble-shoot them in a time-efficient manner. It also helps designers simulate lifelike prototypes of the auto designs or models to minutely examine alterations required, if any, thus saving huge costs, time and energy.
5G wireless connectivity will make seamless operation of robotics a reality. With a large network of sensors, manufacturers can enable predictive maintenance of robots on the factory floor. For robots to be able to interact with their environment in real-time, massive amounts of information will have to be transferred instantly. With enhanced network speed that is 10-100 times faster than 4G and latency of one to two milliseconds, robots can be controlled, monitored and re-configured remotely. Connected automated guided vehicles can dispatch components from warehouses to production lines, communicate simultaneously with the control room to optimize routes, saving time and eliminating potential losses. Interestingly, Ericsson collaborated with Audi and sensor manufacturer SICK to launch such AGVs that can operate and maneuver safely and wirelessly around the workspace, working in harmony with human workforce.
Walking the talk
While doing trials on 5G technology in different parts of the world, we have also adopted the benefits of 5G and digitalization in house, within Ericsson’s own production operations. In partnership with the Nordic telecom operator Telia, we have brought automated guided vehicles, Augmented Reality (AR) and a huge number of sensors to our manufacturing facility in Tallinn, Estonia, via a dedicated cellular network. The dedicated network has “capacity to handle thousands” of devices, which can be redeployed as factory layouts are changed. This helps bring in the capacity, customization and control needed to scale and secure the connected factory, providing an overall improvement in manufacturing operations.
Ericsson has extended its global supply chain with its first fully automated smart factory in the U.S.A. The factory is part of Ericsson’s global supply chain, securing fast and agile deliveries meeting customer requirements. The factory has now started production and will be fully operational later in 2020. Initial product is the Street Macro, a complete base station that enables smooth, fast and cost-effective 5G deployments. The smart factory is powered by Ericsson 5G solutions tailored for the industrial environment. Fast and secure 5G connectivity will enable agile operations and flexible production, enabling Industry 4.0. It also readies our operations for all the promised benefits of 5G technology.
The next wave of 5G expansion will allow businesses of all types to reap the benefits of enhanced mobility, flexibility, reliability, and security - taking IoT and industrial applications to never-before-seen levels. Join this session to gain insights on the 5G enterprise market potential for Communication Service Providers and the critical capabilities needed to accelerate industry digitalization.
Session: 5G Powered Business - Accelerating digitalization in Industry 4.0
25th June I 11:30 – 12:50 hrs. IST
Dr. Magnus Ewerbring (CTO, APAC, Ericsson)
Erik Josefsson (Head of Advanced Industries, Ericsson)
Johan de Villiers (Head of Industrial Automation, South-east Asia ABB)


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In 2014, after driving a Tesla Model S 45 minutes, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk declared his desire to “mass-market” Tesla’s Autopilot tech at the end of that year. However, Musk wanted to make sure the tech reached the company’s core market first, meaning a more lucrative rollout. So he pushed the rollout to March 2015, then March 2016, then later still. He also didn’t make sure Autopilot’s safety features were ready and, consequently, deployed Autopilot sooner than required. In hindsight, it appears Musk lost sight of the true purpose of Autopilot.
According to CNET, “Elon Musk was attempting to wean Tesla owners off free, unlimited long-range electric cars and move toward a transition to more equitable business model” where “long-range electric cars are abundant and the only leased cars are leased to people willing to take an [electric-car sharing] test drive, resulting in less overall use of Tesla’s electric cars. In this model, individual Tesla owners would pay monthly fees to lease cars from the company instead of owning them.”
It was in the following years that Tesla really caught on to what Tesla’s customers want and need. Tesla launched the Model 3 in late 2016, and Tesla was so eager to get the car out, it designed the car with an underwhelming range to ensure it achieved top quality. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that while Tesla customers “loved the cars,” consumers were not used to “anything like that.” Musk also said that while Tesla’s customers were rich enough to purchase a Tesla, they wanted a smaller car, “not a luxury car.”
However, it was in this year, with its most affordable car available for an equally affordable price, that Tesla began to truly hit its stride as a company.
Tesla’s Supercharger network is growing exponentially and the automaker is set to expand its network of store locations to more than 500 in North America, Europe, and Asia. As it did so, Tesla’s average online order time for the Model 3 dropped to 50 days – a major milestone in the acceleration of Tesla’s product rollout.
CNET said it’s now unclear whether the accelerated rollout is sustainable as a carmaker. While it helped the carmaker keep pace with demands for Model 3 deliveries, it cost Tesla money and tied up many resources.
It also hurts consumers who wanted to benefit from Tesla’s revolutionary cars (Tesla told CNBC in a statement that the company wouldn’t be able to deliver “all orders when the Model 3 was initially produced” but that would be adjusted over time). And consumers who hold the iconic name of Tesla in the public’s mind now have the choice of buying BMWs instead.
Tesla’s Model 3 is already considered a success, but the real credit goes to Musk’s ability to shape the Model 3, says CNBC.
“What Musk did was push Tesla toward a more real commitment to its customers. In turn, that made for a better experience that built trust in the brand,” writes CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal.
With the Model 3, Musk made electric cars a part of mainstream culture, and Tesla officially became the first US automaker to IPO (directly sell shares on the stock market) when it went public in June 2010.


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Canaccord Provides Key Thoughts On Advanced Micro Devices Following 4Q:14 Results
In a research report sent to investors, Canaccord Genuity analyst Matt Ramsay maintained a Hold rating on Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) and reduced his price target to $2.50 (from $2.75), which represents a slight upside potential from current levels.
The report follows the company’s fourth-quarter results, posting sales of $1.24B and non-GAAP EPS of $0.00. Management guided to a 15% Q/Q sales decline or ~$1.05B for Q1/15, well below Canaccord’s $1.2B estimate.
Ramsay noted, “We believe AMD’s diversification strategy continues to show gradual progress and could position the company for more defensible longterm growth. However, AMD has not been able to stem the decline of its Computing & Graphics business, even amidst a stronger PC backdrop, given AMD’s over-exposure to consumer markets and important technology advantages for Intel at 14nm. Further, while a recent restructuring to lower operating expenses by roughly 10% should keep the company modestly profitable until new semi-custom wins deliver revenue in 2016, we worry recent management departures and continued restructuring could prove disruptive given the need to innovate on a broadening roadmap.”
The analyst concluded, “Despite believing in the long-term strategy under AMD’s new CEO Lisa Su, we continue to wait for tangible signs of core business stability before recommending shares. That said; stabilizing the PC business while still hitting a 2015 break-even target would certainly prove new management’s mettle.”


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Elon Musk has tweeted himself into serious trouble.
The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Tesla’s CEO on Thursday for making “false and misleading” statements to investors. It’s asking a federal judge to prevent Musk from serving as an officer or a director of a public company, among other penalties.
“Am considering taking Tesla private at $420,” Musk said. “Funding secured.”
The SEC said he had not actually secured the funding.
“In truth and in fact, Musk had not even discussed, much less confirmed, key deal terms, including price, with any potential funding source,” the SEC said in its complaint.
That tweet, and subsequent tweets from Musk over the next three hours, caused “significant confusion and disruption in the market for Tesla’s stock,” as well as harm to investors, the SEC said. On the day of Musk’s tweet, Tesla’s stock shot up nearly 9%. It has declined substantially since then.
Tesla’s stock dropped more than 11% in after-hours trading Thursday. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The SEC declined to comment.
The complaint also said that Musk rounded up the go-private price to $420 per share “because he had recently learned about the number’s significance in marijuana culture” and thought his girlfriend would find it funny. He was dating the musician Grimes.
“This is serious. This is what you go after insider traders and market manipulators on,” said Charles Whitehead, professor at Cornell Law School. “This is a serious allegation.”
Musk abandoned the plan to take Tesla private less than three weeks after he first tweeted about it. He later said his “funding secured” comment was based on talks with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which he said had urged him to take the company private and offered to increase its investment in Tesla.
The Justice Department is also investigating whether comments made by Musk, Tesla said last week. The company said it had received a voluntary request for documents and is cooperating. Tesla said it had not been subpoenaed.
Shareholders have also filed lawsuits charging that Musk made the claim to manipulate the stock price.
Read the full complaint here.


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The Ford F-150 Lightning Fueling the electric truck rage
of Americans are most impressed with the F-150 Lightning, followed by 24% for the Cybertruck
of Americans have plans to purchase an electric pickup truck in the near future
of electric pickup truck buyers would focus most on specifications while making a purchase
Automaker Ford recently unveiled its latest all-electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning, setting the stage for an interesting fight with other biggies like Tesla’s Cybertruck and GMC’s Hummer. This report delves into people’s excitement about these latest brand offerings and their acceptance of electric vehicles in general.
America’s favorite pickup truck is going all-electric. Ford’s F-150 Lightning is the latest in a string of electric vehicles being launched by carmakers in the country and will likely hit the market in early 2022. Packed with interesting features and with almost identical looks as its gas-powered and hybrid counterparts, the F-150 Lightning has already attracted comparisons with the more angular and sci-fi looking Tesla Cybertruck, whose production is likely to begin mid next year. As automakers focus on adding more EVs to their lineup, how keen are consumers to opt for greener options? Piplsay polled 27,870 Americans nationwide to get some insights. Here is a summary of what we found:
Survey Methodology: This Piplsay survey was conducted nationwide in the US from June 1-2, 2021. We received 27,870 online responses from individuals aged 18 years and older.
Piplsay research reports reflect independent opinions of respondents and are not sponsored by any organization or individual. The survey questionnaires are based on key consumer trends.