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To evoke Patrick Henry, Founding Father and hero of the American Revolution, “now is the time.” Now is the time for all good men—and all good women, all good individuals, period—to come to the aid of their country. While the severe health and economic fallout of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had ripple effects across the globe, individuals and communities alike are organizing and stepping up to help front-line responders and medical personnel. The outdoor industry, a tight-knit community that prides itself on encouraging people to “play outdoors,” is being particularly proactive.
The list grows every day as more and more brands retrofit factories to make personal protection equipment (PPE), such as visors, masks, gowns, gloves and goggles—as does the number of companies who are donating dollars, supplies and manpower to help hospitals, SAR teams, firefighters and police. An added bonus is that these brands are also able to keep employees working.
The net impact of outdoor companies, both big and small, who are getting creative with their contributions is expanding as well. Columbia Sportswear Co. CEO Tim Boyle hacked his annual salary from $950,000 to $10,000 to free up more money to pay employees. The brand has started a #toughertogether campaign to help athletes inspire and entertain the homebound. One the smaller, local level, one-man-brands like Cubicle Surf in Bend, Ore., parted with some of its essential gear, such as filters for respirators. “I shape surfboards and rely on respirators, but when I heard Oregon’s AirLink was running short on filters, I went through my closet and donated them,” says Cubicle Founder Travis Yamada. “It’s not much, but I wanted to help. I can reuse the one in my respirator; I’m building surf boards, not saving lives.”
Here are a few top U.S. outdoor gear manufacturers who have figured out a way to give back.
Melanzana Leadville, Colo.
Melanzana has a near-cult following for its cozy fleece hoodies. Now the brand has suspended all apparel production to exclusively focus on making masks for local healthcare workers. The two-layer masks are sent to hospitals where they are sterilized and sealed in autoclaves. The immediate goal is 1,000, but the brand says more are on the way.
Thule Malmö, Sweden and Seymour, Conn.
Thule, the Swedish luggage, rack, pack and stroller powerhouse, has put its U.S. headquarters in Connecticut to work to help in the fight against COVID-19. The brand is using 3D printers to create plastic components for face shields to aid hospital staff at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Conn. Production is in full swing and Thule hopes to expand its outreach.
Chaco Rockford, Mich.
If you like the water, chances are you’ve sported a pair of Chaco sandals. Chaco has shifted the focus of its Michigan-based ReChaco factory and mobile factory bus from sandal repairs and product customization to the production of face masks and other critical protective equipment. It deployed its ReChaco Mobile Repair Factory Bus that’s outfitted with sewing machines and hot knives to help Pacific Northwest protective equipment production.
Salewa Bolzano, Italy
Salewa is based in hard-hit Italy. The brand makes apparel, footwear and backpacks for alpinists. It’s partner, TuTwo manages Salewa in China, another area heavily impacted by COVIF-19. Through its contacts with TuTwo, Salewa has flown six plane-loads to Italy, with millions of masks and hundreds of thousands of protective coats for use in the South Tyrol region (northern Italy and southern Austria, including the world-class alpine playground of the Dolomites). See how the logistics are handled:
Q36.5 Bolzano, Italy
Another Dolomiti company, Q36.4, a manufacturer of high-end bike apparel, has tackled the problem of athletes needing to wear masks. And it is keeping people in the shell-shocked country employed. The Q36.5 Face Masks are made from a proprietary UF Hybrid Shell, a super high-density woven fabric functions as an excellent barrier while not restricting air intake. The hydro-repellency feature blocks bacteria and water vapor. Silver fiber in the fabric adds antibacterial properties. These masks are being sold to the public.
Kitsbow Old Fort, N.C.
Sartorially savvy mountain bikers know Kitsbow. The North Carolina-based apparel company has changed over its production of bibs, jerseys and gloves to make face shields and masks. Most of the PPE is going to healthcare workers and first responders in Western North Carolina, although they are expanding production, shipping outside the state.
NRS Moscow, Idaho
This employee-owned innovator in all products paddlesports is now focusing on a new mission. The Idaho-based company has redirected a portion of its supply chain to providing surgical masks, goggles, and gowns to the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department. It’s also offering medical facilities fair-market pricing. So far, about 30,000 respirator masks have been distributed from NRS’s Moscow headquarters.
Mystery Ranch Bozeman, Mont.
Dana Gleason, the owner of the Bozeman-based pack company, has lead the outdoor industry for five decades. It’s no surprise that he was among the first to find solutions to the PPE shortage. The brand has made and delivered more than 300 “mystery” masks to local healthcare providers and is ramping up to produce thousands of masks (per week) for public consumption. The company is creating a better fitting mask, using high-end materials (polyester with an antimicrobial finish) found in shoulder pads and footwear. The washable masks wick moisture and sweat, are comfortable, and add protection for hiking, biking and shopping.
Simms Bozeman, Mont.
Social consciousness is alive and well in Bozeman. Simms Fishing Products makes waders, footwear and technical apparel for anglers worldwide. Upon hearing about PPE shortages, the brand quickly went into action. Simms dug through its inventory of on-site fabrics and found a three-layer waterproof, breathable material that met medical requirements for gowns. Simms is supplying Bozeman Health Group with the protective gear and is working on broader distribution.
CLIF BAR Emeryville, Calif.
As Napoleon said, an army marches on its stomach. Nurses and doctors get hungry too. CLIF BAR is donating 3 million CLIF BARs to health care workers worldwide. The bars are made in CLIF BAR’s bakeries in Twin Falls, Idaho and Indianapolis, and then shipped to hospitals and healthcare facilities around the world.
Osprey Cortez, Colo.
Osprey has been lightening the loads of backpackers, hikers, skiers and bikers for years, but now they are stepping up to help first responders and healthcare workers in southern Colorado. The southwestern Colorado facility usually handles pack repairs; now the facility is dedicated to making fabric masks.
Metolius Climbing Bend, Ore.
Metolius, a lead designer and manufacturer of climbing equipment, sent 1,000 surgical masks from its own stockpile to China when the outbreak first occurred in Asia. Now Metolius’s partners in China are returning the favor. The factory that makes belay gloves shipped 900 masks to Metolius’s headquarters. The brand’s training board source is sending another 500. All the masks are being donated to St. Charles Hospital in Bend.
Canada Goose Toronto
Canada Goose, known for its puffy down jackets, dedicated its Toronto and Winnipeg factories to making scrubs and gowns for local hospitals. The company has pledged to make at least 10,000 units, and distribute them to local medical centers, free of charge. That’s also good news for the 100 employees who are working on the project.
DPS Skis, Goal Zero, Petzl and Eastman Machine Company
In the greater Salt Lake City area, DPS, Goal Zero, Petzl and Eastman Machine Co., have teamed up to manufacture medical-grade reusable polycarbonate face shields for the Utah Department of Health. All four companies are uniquely positioned for rapid prototype-to-manufacturing. The face shields are being made at DPS’s Salt Lake City factory. Eastman is donating the tooling, Goal Zero has sourced the necessary raw materials, and Petzl figured out that retrofitted headlamp headbands work perfectly to secure the shields. Read more on the effort, plus other outdoor brands pivoting to the production of emergency protective gear.
Arc’teryx Vancouver, B.C.
The coronavirus doesn’t recognize borders. In North Vancouver, high-end apparel and pack manufacturer Arc’teryx worked with local health authorities and neighboring manufacturing and design partners to prototype a medical gown. Their team of sewers, engineers, sample and pattern makers provided the first production of 500 Level 3 certified gowns to healthcare workers in their own backyard. Production is ramping up to fulfill the next order of 25,000 gowns.
Outdoor Research Seattle
Outdoor Research has always been one step ahead in sensing trends and developing unique product. OR has pivoted production in part of its Seattle to produce hundreds of thousands of ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials), Level 3 surgical masks, and N95 cup-style masks a day (you read that right) by early summer. In addition to converting an entire floor to facilitate production, OR invested in five new machines. Mask deliveries will begin in early May.
Dakine Hood River, Ore.
Dakine has is a community brand at heart. At its headquarters near the Columbia River Gorge, the apparel, pack and luggage brand has shifted production in order to build 5,000 to 6,000 face masks. The company is also making cotton-base mask kits for home use. We’re hoping for some fun patterns.
Eddie Bauer Bellevue, Wash.
Considering that Eddie Bauer developed the first baffled down jacket, we aren’t surprised it is doing some sophisticated problem-solving to meet PPE shortages. It realized that some of its manufacturing partners in China are able to make the much-needed N95 masks. Eddie Bauer converted some of its production in China and ordered masks instead. So far, 20,000 masks are making their way to Seattle-area hospitals.
DaleBoot Salt Lake City
DaleBoot has applied its expertise in making bespoke ski boots and orthotics into creating much-needed protective face shields. The brand put on hold all boot and orthotic production at its Salt Lake City headquarters and is ramping up support for our medical communities.
By this point, you may have also read about the Goggles For Docs effort, with brands like Vermont-based Anon, as well as both Smith (Portland, Ore.) and 100% (San Diego) announcing programs that will provide PPEs to those working hardest against the spread of the coronavirus. Smith is currently sending out goggles to fulfill hospital requests and it is asking the riding community to donate goggles or money to the cause. 100% has announced that so far it has donated over 1,000 pairs of eyewear to caregivers who are being asked to buy their own PPE. Meanwhile Bell and Giro have donated over 3,000 protective goggles to healthcare workers, distributed from Vista Outdoor’s Rantoul, Illinois manufacturing and distribution facility and delivered to hospitals and other public health facilities in 18 states and 41 different healthcare facilities.
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I’m proud to say that Burton’s google brand Anon has donated its entire US inventory of more than 1200 new pairs of goggles to @gogglesfordocs. They are desperately sourcing new and used goggles for the selfless doctors and nurses on the frontlines. Go to their website to see how you too can help! @anonoptics @burton
More and more outdoor companies join the ranks by the day, with Orvis, based in Vermont, working together with local partners near its Roanoke, Va., fulfillment center to manufacture masks for their vulnerable homeless population, directly supporting Roanoke-based nonprofit Rescue Mission, and collaborating with local furniture manufacturer Chervan to cut patterns, which Orvis uses to stitch together the masks. ExOfficio, headquartered in Rohnert Park, Calif., is supporting healthcare professionals and patients across the Bay Area with brand new underwear, expecting to deliver 10,000 pairs once all inquiries have been fielded and locations fulfilled—with more than 1,200 pairs already shipped to Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco. On the opposite coast, athletic apparel manufacturer Boathouse (Philadelphia) is shifting its factory production to create PPEs for local healthcare professionals. And Swiftwick Socks (Brentwood, Tenn.) announced a Buy One, Give One initiative where the brand will donate a pair of ASPIRE Twelve compression socks to medical professionals and support staff for every pair purchased, or every $5 donation collected at checkout.
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The small scale local market is making a comeback. Dupont Circle residents stock up on local vegetables at Glen’s Garden Market; Pleasant Pops in Adams Morgan has milk and cheese from nearby cows; Mount Pleasant has Each Peach; and the Portland-inspired Little Red Fox will soon be a reality on Connecticut Avenue near Chevy Chase.
Before those came Seasonal Pantry. Since 2011, the rustic space has been an excellent spot to buy jams, olive oil and pickles, as well as prepared foods ranging from melt-in-your-mouth croissants to salads, soups and macaroni and cheese. In other words, owners Ali Bagheri and Daniel O’Brien have created a specialty store that feels extra special. (The market is open Thursday-Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.)
Seasonal Pantry stands out in another way: O’Brien hosts a supper club Wednesday through Saturday, inviting 12 diners to gather at a long wooden table to enjoy his hand-crafted menu, which he (along with a couple of other chefs) executes at a small workstation. The constantly changing multi-course meal ranges from $90 to $135, including wine, tax and tip.
— Stephanie Merry

domain: news


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Retailers report slowing sales gains for February
NEW YORK — Americans cut back on spending in February as cold weather and economic challenges chilled their appetite for spring merchandise.
The nation’s retailers on Thursday reported that sales slowed in February, a time when most stores get rid of winter merchandise and bring in swimsuits, ankle length pants and other spring fashions.
But Americans spent more judiciously during the month as they contended with an increase in the payroll tax of 2 percentage points, income tax refunds that came later than usual and rising gas prices.
Winter storms throughout much of the country in February also likely made spring merchandise less appealing to them.MORE IN World/National BusinessSAN FRANCISCO — Facebook is trying to mold its Messenger app into a more versatile communications... Full StoryNEW YORK — Some of the most familiar names in ketchup, pickles, cheese and hot dogs are set to... Full Story
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The biggest online art gallery has today launched its new mobile app for iOS and Android, following the mixed reactions (opens in new tab) to its new logo design (opens in new tab) and website revamp.
The app is currently only available for smart phones, with plans for a tablet app inthe works, even though there are several non-official apps that are available for for both tablet and phone.
The app is free, with an age rating of 17+, requires iOS 8 or later, and takes just over 18MB space. It will, however, offer its users quick access to the site’s 280 million images.
DeviantArt seems to be in no rush, either, as CEO Angelo Sotira told Creative Bloq his team had been working on a the mobile app and site redesign back in December 2013, at the Audodesk's Las Vegas CAVE art event. There are also more design changes planned for later this year.
Users will be able to access the site's sections like news and what's hot, as well as submit their art, message other users, update their status, and create an artist watch list.
Like this? Read these:
- Free Photoshop actions (opens in new tab) to create stunning effects
- Illustrator tutorials (opens in new tab): amazing ideas to try today!
- Great examples of doodle art (opens in new tab)


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LAS VEGAS, Nov. 28, 2017 /Weed Wire/ — Freedom Leaf, Inc. (OTCQB: FRLF) The Marijuana Legalization Company™, is boldly going where no other cannabis/hemp company has gone, bringing the ancient tradition of Ayurvedic herbal formulas derived from organically grown plants using NuAxon Supercritical C02 Extractors to deliver the purest possible products to the modern world of vaporization. The Vapes include these formulas along with full spectrum Hemp Cannabidiol, CBD.
Tag Archives: Entourage Effect
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has suggested that medical marijuana may not be effective for many of the illnesses that supporters claim it helps.
According to a study conducted by Dr. Marcel Olde Rikkert at the Radboud University Medical Center, medical cannabis may not help alleviate common behavioral symptoms that affect those afflicted with dementia.


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For the second day in a row, blog-hosting giant WordPress.com suffered a distributed denial-of-service attack that it was able to cut off quickly. The motive remains a matter of speculation.
People using a tool to conduct distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks against other websites in support of WikiLeaks can easily be traced, according to computer security researchers.
WikiLeaks neither supports nor condemns the cyber attacks that have targeted its critics, it said Friday, just as it appears the attackers are mounting a fresh operation against Moneybookers.com.
As the distributed denial-of-service attacks spawned by this week's WikiLeaks events continue, network operators are discussing what progress, if any, has been made over the past decade to detect and thwart DoS attacks.
A loosely organized group of Internet hacktivists took down Visa's website Wednesday, after organizing a similar attack on MasterCard.
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- Housing fell 0.1% over the month on hotel lodging (-2.4%), and fuels and utilities (-1.4%). So far, rents are still rising, +0.2% over the month. However, the sharp economic decline is dragging down rental prices regionally, and we expect this to pass through to the national CPI. And at roughly 30% of CPI index, falling rents present a clear downside risk to inflation going forward.
- The number of (relatively) positive auto reports just increased: new vehicle prices rose 0.6% over the month. Put this together with the inventories reports, and you get the following story: the stock of unsold cars (inventories) is falling due to a shortage of production over demand, resulting in higher prices. However, sales are still falling, and we expect the pressure on prices to remain minimal at best.
- Tobacco and smoking products prices surged 11% over the month, accounting for over 60% of the monthly bump in overall prices. This is not seasonally adjusted and incorporates tax increases, so we expect that the price gains will be short lived.
All said, the monthly gain in core prices was not sufficient enough to keep the annual inflation rate above 0. The non-seasonally adjusted price index fell 0.4% over the year, its first decline since 1955. Cause for concern will undoubtedly be sweeping through the markets. However, deflation itself is still a remote concern, since for now price declines are a form of price discovery to clear the market of goods and services when incomes are falling. The bigger concern is the economy; and that is still declining.


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Your PC May Be Less Secure Than You Think
Anonymous Patron writes "As PCWorld.com Reports, it's your fault I am getting so much SPAM. A survey conducted by Internet service provider America Online found that 20 percent of home computers were infected by a virus or worm, and that various forms of snooping programs such as spyware and adware are on a whopping 80 percent of systems. Despite that, more than two thirds of home users think they are safe from online threats.
More than 70 percent of those who participated in the survey falsely believed they were safe from viruses and online threats, even though almost 20 percent of those were currently infected by a virus and two-thirds (63 percent) acknowledged being infected in the past, the survey found."


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Dallas, Texas, Jan. 20, 2022 — McapMediaWire — Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTC Pink: ALYI) today highlighted the potential income it stands to realize from the EV Ecosystem Partnership component of its overall business operation.
ALYI recently published a 2022 strategic outlook presentation that explained how the various components of the company’s EV Ecosystem fit together to drive revenue and shareholder value.
The presentation included details on ALYI’s initiative to build EV Ecosystem partners and to add value to its partners, in part with the introduction of investment opportunities for its partners.
One EV Ecosystem partnership initiative addressed in the 2022 strategic outlook involved a the car sharing technology company called Zoomcar Inc. into which ALYI has made a strategic investment. ALYI management is optimistic about the ROI potential of ALYI’s investment, and that optimism today is enhanced by recent news on Zoomcar’s progress:
“Zoomcar, an India-headquartered self-drive car rental platform operator, plans to get listed in the US in the first half of 2022 with an expected valuation of over USD 1bn” said co-founder and CEO Greg Moran.
“The company is still assessing both traditional initial public offering (IPO) and SPAC routes and will finalize the advisory team in the coming months”, Moran said.
For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI’s overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com.
Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies’ contracts, the companies’ liquidity position, the companies’ ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.
Alternet Systems, Inc.


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Is listening the new watching? PrettyGreen launches Audible’s Alien: River of Pain
Aliens have always fascinated us, there’s just something about the unseen that holds a great deal of allure. So when Audible UK asked us to help launch the new audio exclusive drama, Alien: River of Pain, we jumped at the opportunity.
Audio entertainment gives us the flexibility to delve into stories anywhere, to take some time out and just listen wherever we may be. It also allows us to take control of our entertainment. In a recent study, Emma Rodero, a communications professor at the Pompeu Fabra University explains that “Audio is one of the most intimate forms of media because you are constantly building your own images of the story in your mind – you’re creating your own production. And that of course, is something that you can never get with visual media.”
With this in mind, we wanted to launch Alien: River of Pain in a unique way – giving media and influencers the opportunity to have a special ‘first listen’ in an authentic, creative and immersive experience. Working with The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, we held a launch event on a windy and wet Monday. The event featured an immersive listening experience, in which the guests were treated to excerpts from the audio drama, with context provided by astronomer Tom Kerrs. The event wrapped up with an actual beaming of the full audio drama to the planet constellation the franchise is based on.
Mesmerised guests left with audio and listening having been key to their experience, giving them a chance to use their imagination in such a way that a standard screening activity or similar may not have done.
The success of the event in part ties back to a wider consumer trend for people yearning to constantly learn, be entertained, and be “in the know” – thus the reason short form content is having such a huge surge in popularity that looks set to stay. Paul Zak, the director of the Centre for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University says “A good story, is a good story from the brain’s perspective, whether it’s audio or video or text. It’s the same kind of activation in the brain.” With this in mind, it makes sense that in an ever “busier” world we choose to access stories in the most convenient way possible.
Here at PrettyGreen, we’re all ears from now on.


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THURSDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Coffee and tea consumption is associated with a lower risk of glioma, according to research published in the November issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Dominique S. Michaud, of Imperial College London, and colleagues analyzed data from 410,309 men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study, who reported coffee and tea consumption in food-frequency questionnaires and were followed for a mean 8.5 years.
The researchers found that, during this time, 343 glioma and 245 meningioma cases were diagnosed. Individuals consuming at least 100 mL of coffee and tea daily were found to have a lower risk of glioma compared to those drinking less (hazard ratio, 0.66). These cutoffs for coffee and tea consumption combined weren't found to be associated with meningioma risk, nor was a 200-mL daily cutoff.
"Coffee and tea both contain caffeine and many other compounds, some of which have antioxidant properties. In fact, coffee has a greater total antioxidant capacity (i.e., cumulative capacity of food components to scavenge free radicals) than any given fruit or vegetable. Given that we did not observe an association between coffee and tea consumption and meningioma risk, it is possible that the effect of coffee, if causal, is acting late in the process of carcinogenesis by preventing tumor growth," the authors write.


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BEN GRUBB GE Money is recommending customers change their passwords in the wake of the Heartbleed bug, which appears to have made vulnerable a number of GE's Australian websites.
MAHESH SHARMA Commonwealth Bank customers unable to access their funds due to a nationwide system outage.
A new Australian invention called Zebedee uses lasers to recreate crime and accident scenes with an incredible degree of accuracy.
First it was Napster, then Apple. Now the music industry has Pandora in its cross-hairs.
There's a lot to like about Samsung's Galaxy S5 - among them, its relative lack of features.
Welcome to the new ground zero of cyberbullying for high school students: Ask.fm.
No storm leaves as long a swath of destruction in your email inbox as the endless reply-all chain.
If you're concerned about privacy, a VPN keeps your online activities safe from prying eyes.
Beyond the premature ending, players unlock thrilling new missions, tools and challenges.
Blogs & Columns
Adam Turner Game of Thrones spoilers don't come much worse than Mashable's appalling effort this week.
For a nation where consumer pessimists apparently outnumber optimists, we're spending remarkably strongly and looking to borrow more.


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McDonald’s is getting rid of front desks, which is changing the way customers order
McDonald’s will refurbish 200 restaurants this year as part of a £250million ‘Convenience of the Future’ upgrade scheme. The new design will be used in a total of 800 stores over the next four years.
McDonald’s is getting rid of the traditionally staffed counters in hundreds of its UK restaurants as part of a major revolution in how customers order their food.
The fast-food chain is set to refurbish 200 restaurants this year as part of a £250m “convenience of the future” upgrade scheme.
The new design will be used in a total of 800 stores over the next four years. McDonald’s has around 1,200 restaurants in the UK.
Three restaurants in Bow, East London, Peckham, South London and Kirkby, Merseyside have already been refurbished.
Maccies says the renovations are because 50% of shoppers are now ordering from in-store touchscreens or the free app.
Instead of having a dedicated counter for orders, McDonald’s will have “specific areas for different sales channels” and a large collections window.
What do you think of the changes at McDonald’s? Let us know: firstname.lastname@example.org
The restructuring will result in fewer people queuing at touchscreens and should mean diners get their food faster, the fast-food chain said.
Customers who want to pay in cash can continue to do so at so-called “Customer Experience Pods”, which are equipped with a cash register. Touch vending machine orders can only be placed with card payment.
No jobs would be lost as a result of the renovations, McDonald’s told The Mirror.
Other changes for restaurants include a separate waiting area and an entrance for delivery couriers picking up orders for home delivery.
There will also be larger kitchens and separate areas for deliveries and food orders to speed up service.
The burger chain also plans to improve the layout of its parking lots to make pickup easier for drive-through customers.
Gareth Pearson, McDonald’s UK and Ireland Chief Operations Officer, said: “The pace of change in the restaurant industry is relentless and the pandemic has accelerated this as digital adoption accelerates.
“Our customers rightly expect to have choices about how and where to order and collect their food, and our job is to make sure every experience is great.
“For that to be the case, we know we need to provide the best possible work environment for our restaurant teams and delivery partners as well.”
McDonald’s just overhauled its menu and brought back the fan-favorite McSpicy burger.
The McSpicy consists of a fiery chicken breast fillet with lettuce and mayonnaise between a toasted sesame bun.
McDonald’s is also bringing back the Grand Big Mac as part of its latest menu upgrade. The Grand Big Mac comes with the same ingredients as a regular Big Mac, but in a larger size.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/mcdonalds-getting-rid-front-counters-26978168 McDonald's is getting rid of front desks, which is changing the way customers order


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Most importantly though, there’s more bourbon to come! That’s if, you own the Party Horses NFT that drops on March 15th.
Maker’s Mark has been touted by the NFT team as the best partner ever for this project. They have agreed to print off 1-of-1 labels for surprise releases. Additionally, there were 100 Maker’s Mark Ambassadors who were invited to participate through Maker’s Mark Distillery itself.
Exclusive Access to In-Person Events
NFT holders will have the opportunity to participate in private parties from New York City or St Barth’s to events hosted on their home turf in Horse Country itself — Kentucky. Some of the best horse farms in the world could be the next setting for a Party Horse meetup with
POAPs (Proof of Attendance Protocols).
According to YouTube investigator Coffeezilla, who recently exposed a YouTuber and Streamer for scamming his audience out of $500,000, states that he impersonated a “pretend NFT project promoter” to talk to the team behind the @NFT Instagram account where he learned that the team was charging creators $25,000 a post, with five posts minimum.
Rolling Stone asked Cuban for a comment on the matters over email, to which he replied by saying he’s “not involved with operations” of the account, and forwarded the publication the handles of two of his associates, “@NFT co-founders Jason Falovitch and Aaron Avruskin“.
Instagram recently banned @NFT on Thursday, February.
A post shared by Scoutible (@scoutible)
Looking to run an epic influencer marketing campaign in the NFT marketplace? NeoReach has the best experience in creating viral campaigns that convert on social media. Sign up here!
Are NFT’s here to stay?
To the average viewer, it may seem that NFT’s are just another fad, simply another thing for millionaires and billionaires to spend their money on. However, Cuban and other businesses’ use of NFT’s suggests a promising future for NFT’s.
Similar skepticism surrounded cryptocurrency, and look where we are today.
There certainly could be a bubble around NFT’s and cryptocurrency due to their immense popularity; however, many benefits support their popularity.
Mark cuban net
One bitcoin is identical to another, but each NFT is one-of-a kind.
Why might someone want an NFT?
Sheffield: Like anything, it really depends on the use case, the individual, and their motivations.
The practice of making and maintaining collections is as old as civilization itself. It makes sense that this drive to collect and display items of meaning would follow us into the virtual world, where we’re interacting with friends, coworkers, and other Internet communities.
Take CryptoPunks — a collection of pixel art images. What began as an early artistic experiment has quickly become a cultural icon for the crypto community.
In fact, to recognize the role that CryptoPunks have played as an historic NFT project, bridging culture and commerce, Visa has decided to purchase CryptoPunk 7610.
Let’s talk more about the CryptoPunks.
Nft mark zuckerberg
An employee at OpenSea, the $1.5 billion marketplace for non-fungible tokens that counts Mark Cuban and other big names among its investors, used inside information to profit off the white-hot digital asset market, the company said.
The employee, who OpenSea did not identify, allegedly bought certain NFTs knowing that they were about to be displayed on the platform’s homepage, boosting their value, the company said in a blog post.
“This is incredibly disappointing. We want to be clear that this behavior does not represent our values as a team,” CEO and cofounder Devin Finzer said Wednesday.
The company is “conducting an immediate and thorough third party review of this incident,” Finzer said.
The company also is now barring employees from buying or selling NFTs while OpenSea is featuring or promoting them, Finzer added.
Nfts mark cuban
Jazz’s NFT releasesold out 90 minutes after its first launch.
Other Professional sports team’s getting involved with NFT’s include
- FC Barcelona
- LA Dodgers
- Manchester United
As a result of Cuban’s innovative use of NFT’s as a marketing play, we will likely see other companies copy his moves. Minting NFT’s costs very little, and distributing them is easy thanks to the digital era, so incentivizing attendance with NFT’s is a fantastic idea. Beyond just sports games, this concept could be extended to anything: concerts, restaurant rewards programs, perhaps even as a form of compensation similar to how companies pay their employees with stock.
While the support and unique ways people use NFTs are certainly exciting, like all things, there’s also another side to the story.
Nftables mark packet
Why did Visa decide to purchase one?
Sheffield: First and foremost, we wanted to learn.
We think NFTs will play an important role in the future of retail, social media, entertainment, and commerce. To help our clients and partners participate, we need a firsthand understanding of the infrastructure requirements for a global brand to purchase, store, and leverage an NFT. Having worked with Anchorage Digital to complete this process, we’re better positioned to help our partners navigate the process.
We also wanted to signal our support for the creators, collectors, and artists driving the future of NFT-commerce.
Enabling buyers and sellers is what we do — whether its helping small and micro business owners get online, or making it easier for companies to pay their partners across borders.
Mark cuban net tweet
Party Horses x Maker’s Mark NFT Collaboration New Frontier for Bourbon Collectors
The Party Horses x Maker’s Mark NFT Collaboration brings the reality of Web3 to the bourbon industry! This is the first legitimate bourbon NFT in the space currently. Sure, you may see other spirit NFTs pop up, however there are none currently that embody the core components of the new frontier like this one. One of the key ingredients for a successful NFT is community! We’re not talking about an Instagram following or an email list here either.
This Louisville-based project is built right in the heart of Bourbon City or Derby City, depending on who you ask.
Nftables mark set
Cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are gaining traction and driving headlines, but still have many scratching their heads.
To help us decode the world of NFTs we sat down with Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto at Visa and an NFT enthusiast.
Let’s start with the basics — how do you explain NFTs?
Cuy Sheffield: NFTs are a way to represent ownership of a digital good, like an image, video, or piece of text. Since the rise of the Internet, there hasn’t been a way to claim possession of a digital good, since most files can be infinitely copied, pasted, and shared. NFTs are unique tokens that can be used to certify the provenance, authenticity, and ownership of a piece of digital media.
Like cryptocurrencies, NFTs are tracked and exchanged on a public blockchain.
But unlike cryptocurrencies, NFTs are unique.
Nft mark packet
As AngelList founder, Naval Ravikant remarks, we are moving to a world in which ‘every valuable digital representation of an object or person has a token.’
While claims that ‘NFTs will authenticate the world’ make them seem like grandiose hustles or Orwellian foreshadowing, the underlying principles of blockchain aren’t new. We value some medieval manuscripts over others because of how their marginalia anchors scribal reproductions in a historical ‘situation of the original.’ The famous poem, ‘Pangur Bán,’ for example, is essentially the Reichenau Primer’s blockchain. It’s a valuable comparison because it highlights an overlooked feature of NFTs: ledgering is conceptual content in an artwork.


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The Eraserheads' Ultraelectromagneticpop! turns 25 this year and the band has recently released a remastered edition via Sony Music Philippines and Offshore Music.
The 25th-anniversary edition was remastered by renowned sound engineer Bernie Grundman and is currently available on Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, a limited vinyl edition of the album will be available in early 2019. Only 2,500 copies will be released. More details will be announced soon.
EVERY ALBUM BY THE ERASERHEADS, RANKED
In the meantime, listen to the remastered album below.
Ultraelectromagneticpop!:The 25th Anniversary Remastered Edition is now available on Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes.


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By Sarah Kuper
Michael Wright fell in love at a young age.
His childhood sweetheart wasn’t a playground crush, but rather a passionate admiration for beautiful sports cars – especially Porsches.
“I don’t know why I locked into Porsches but I did,” Wright said, “There are a lot of little boys who fit this category and for some reason are attracted to cars and find out everything they can about them.”
Wright credits childhood trips to the hobby shop to build every model he could find for his knowledge and appreciation of Porsche cars today.
In college, Wright was able to trade in his model cars for the real thing – owning the most affordable Porsche he could find.
Now, a successful civil litigation lawyer in Birmingham, Wright once again owns a Porsche – this time a bright red vintage 1970 914-6.
Wright bought the car already restored from a seller in Florida. But the vintage sports car does not sit idly in the garage.
Wright has been competing in sports car races since 2001.
He readily admits he doesn’t expect to win the top prize, but he takes pride in finishing well for the type of engine he drives.
“If I finish in the middle of the pack, that’s a psychological victory for me,” he said.
Wright has raced all over the southeast but it is the Barber Historics race he looks forward to nowadays.
“I can’t say enough good things about this event. It is comparable to the famous Monterey Car event in California. People will bring their cars from all over,” he said.
The Barber Historics race and show is May 20-22. Spectators can watch practice and qualifying races plus enjoy barbeque leading up to the finals on Sunday afternoon.
Although Wright doesn’t travel as far to race as he once did, he is still enjoying his car as a member of two Over the Mountain car clubs.
As a Porsche enthusiast, Wright is naturally a member of the local Porsche driving club, but he has also become part of the newly formed Mountain Brook Driving Club.
The club is a group of sports and luxury car enthusiasts that organizes public events to showcase their vehicles and private events such as scenic drives through the countryside to nice restaurants.
Wright said the driving club’s community involvement is especially important to him.
“We host and participate in fundraisers like Toys for Tots. We don’t raise more than a few thousand dollars but it makes it about more than just the cars,” he said.
Between the car clubs and the Barber Historics event, Wright said he has met interesting people from near and far – people he would have never encountered if it weren’t for his love of cars.
Wright said he is proud to have Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham.
“It is one of the best racetracks in the world and without a doubt the most beautiful,” he said.
He said he hopes more people will realize the gem hidden in Leeds and come out to support the track and the museum.
For more information on Barber Historics and the Barber Motorsports Park, visit barbermotorsports.com.
To learn more about the Mountain Brook Driving Club, find the group on Facebook at facebook.com/mountainbrookdrivingclub.


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Why the Bitcoin Price Is Falling – and Why It's Not a Crisis
While everyone wants to know why the Bitcoin price is falling, no one is panicking.
There are many reasons for that, such as the rising number of merchants accepting Bitcoin and the millions of dollars in venture capital that continue to pour into Bitcoin startups.
But the latest crash in the Bitcoin price took many by surprise, as it followed weeks of stability.It turns out the most likely explanation is one that most seasoned investors will recognize...
Startup Companies Are Changing the World (Infographic)
Established companies get most of the attention, but startup companies are where the world gets its best ideas, and are the source of most of America's economic strength.
Startup companies are the embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit that built America. Such innovators made the nation an industrial giant in the late nineteenth century with the rise of railroads and oil, and lives on today in the tech innovations of Silicon Valley.This infographic explains why startups are so vital to the economy...
The 2 Best Chinese Stocks to Buy to Play the Nation's $540 Billion E-Commerce Biz
Two of the best Chinese stocks to buy come from surging Chinese e-commerce industry – an industry that alone is expected to be worth $540 billion by 2015, according to business intelligence firm China Briefing.This is an exceptional opportunity...
Why Home Depot (NYSE: HD) Stock Is Up Today, and Where It's Headed Now
Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) stock was up 6.1% this morning (Tuesday) from yesterday's close, and touched a 52-week high of $88.72 after the company's second-quarter profits and earnings per share (EPS) topped analysts' estimates.
HD announced EPS of $1.52 on revenue of $23.81 billion. That beat consensus estimates of $1.45 per share on revenue of $23.61 billion.
HD stock may be trading at 52-week highs, but it hasn't reached its peak.This huge market condition will drive the HD stock price now...
Why Tesla Stock (Nasdaq: TSLA) Will Double in the Next 12 Months
I believe Tesla Motors Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) stock will double within the next 12 months.
Bold? You bet. I know it's not a popular opinion. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the disdain for TSLA's bull run is only surpassed by the herd's disdain for the overall bull market itself.
For every quarter since at least Q1/2013, any sign of strength by this company has been met with jeers from some pretty powerful detractors.
From the headquarters of GM to the front page of the MIT Technology Review, the chorus has been pretty consistent: Tesla is a hopelessly inflated stock, a flash in the pan and nothing more.
This company is on track to see a stock explosion that will make its surge back in the spring of 2013 look like a speed bump. I want you to know today that I believe we are on the cusp of a few key developments that will make electric cars in general and Tesla in particular the wave of the future.Let me explain why...
One of the Biggest Short-Selling Wins of 2014
The case of ITT Educational Services Inc. (NYSE: ESI) proves that even in an ever-rising market, there are still companies posturing for a fall.
Already hampered by federal inquiries, the for-profit educational services firm has been drawing the short sellers in droves.And in 2014, the short sellers have been vindicated...
How to Profit from the World's "Scariest" Stock Exchange
The OTC Markets exchange has a bad reputation.
The reality, however, is that some of the world's largest and most successful technology and bioscience companies are listed here.Knowing how to profit couldn't be easier...
Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) Stock Gains on FDA Approval of New MS Drug
Biogen Idec Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) stock was up 1.6% this morning following news that the company's multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Plegridy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday.
The stock is up 14% in the last month and is still showing bullish signs.Today's FDA approval is a big win for BIIB stock, but it's just one reason this stock is continuing higher...
Expected Bitcoin Payment on eBay Is a Significant Step Toward Mass Adoption
E-commerce giant eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is very close to offering Bitcoin payment as an option via its Braintree subsidiary – a high-profile move that will mark another milestone on the road to mass adoption of the digital currency.
It's likely that the Braintree subsidiary is serving as eBay's guinea pig, testing Bitcoin payments on a smaller scale before rolling the feature out to PayPal and the eBay site itself.At that point, other major merchants will have some big decisions to make...


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Black Friday 2020: The best deals live now, buying advice, and everything else you need to know this week
- Black Friday 2020 is three days away and shoppers can already take advantage of many discounts.
- We rounded up the best deals sales from the likes of Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart, plus answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding this year's atypical holiday season.
- We are updating this story multiple times a day to include new information as we inch closer and closer to November 27.
Although Black Friday officially starts the day after Thanksgiving, Amazon has already released a nice handful of deals on Echo and Ring devices.
Walmart's best Black Friday deals that are live before Thanksgiving include tech from Apple, Samsung, and more right now
Black Friday is in a few days on November 27, but Walmart already has several deals available now. Save big on products from Apple, Samsung, and more.
Several Best Buy Black Friday deals are live right now, including TVs, laptops, Apple gear, and more
Best Buy will offer lots of great deals on Black Friday. Here are the best deals you can shop now on TVs, laptops, gaming gear, and more.
Taylor Swift has surprised fans with the reveal of a new concert film. 'Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions' debuts on Disney Plus on November 25.
Black Friday 2020 is going to be a good time to pick up Apple devices, and there are some Black Friday deals already available right now.
Black Friday deals are starting early at some of our favorite startups — and it's often their only discounts of the year.
Looking for a great gift? We have the best ideas for every holiday, budget, and person on your list.
Target's Cyber Monday sale is one of the best times to shop for gifts, here's everything you need to know
Cyber Monday 2020 is on November 30, and we expect Target to offer discounts on several categories, including tech and 合约数字币和虚拟币home, for the event.
The best offers from Insider Coupons
We've written multiple guides to the best robot vacuums, affordable vacs, cordless vacs, and even ones for pet hair. Here are the best of the best.
We asked the experts if Black Friday or Cyber Monday is the better day to shop — and Cyber Monday has better deals overall
Is Black Friday or Cyber Monday better? It depends on how you shop and what you want. Plus, early Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals available now.
Kohl's Black Friday deals include $15 in Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend, plus top deals on Fitbit, Roomba, a Nest Hub, and more
Kohl's Black Friday sale gives you $15 Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent, plus 50% off a Roomba and more great deals.
I tested seven different cold brew coffee makers and relied on my 10+ years of coffee industry experience to determine the ones.
Coursera is offering a free online resume course right now — you'll learn to put together a strong resume for any industry with the help of a professional career counselor
SUNY career counselor Holly Justice teaches students and young professionals how to write a resume that will stand out to future employers.
Cyber Monday 2020: The best deals live now on laptops, Apple Watch, Roku, Fitbit, and more, plus answers to FAQs
Cyber Monday 2020 is next Monday, November 30, but you can start shopping now. Here are the best deals live now, plus expert buying advice and FAQs.
The more you shop, the more you save this Black Friday at Helix. Choose from seven mattresses suited toward different sleeping positions and firmness levels.
We love Leesa because we've tested most of its mattresses and the online brand surely makes some of the best mattresses we've ever tried.
The best early Target Black Friday 2020 deals — including discounts on Casper mattresses, Nintendo Switch games, and more
Target's Black Friday sale has begun and you can expect new deals until Nov. 27. Here are the best ones and what to expect from the retailer this year.
The best Black Friday deals available before Thanksgiving: Save on the Apple Watch, Roku, Fitbit, Instant Pot, and more
We're updating this story with the best Black Friday deals available now. Save on Apple Watch models, Roku devices, Instant Pots, and more today.
During the 20% off Cyber Week sale, our favorite bedding and loungewear are even more affordable. Save on sateen sheets, fleece pants, and more.
Dyson vacuums are up to $200 off right now for Black Friday — you can also get $75 worth of free tools when you order from Dyson directly
One of Dyson's best Black Friday deals is $150 off Cyclone V10 Animal — a powerful vac for pet hair, dust, dirt, and more. Here's how to save.
These are the best tech gifts for dad. Whether Dad is a gamer, a fitness fanatic, or a shutterbug, we have found a fitting holiday gift for them.
The best Black Friday laptop deals you can get right now ahead of Thanksgiving — save on the MacBook Pro, Surface Pro 7, and more
The best Black Friday 2020 laptop deals include discounts on Apple MacBooks, Chromebooks, and Windows laptops from Dell, Lenovo, HP, and more.
Macy's best Black Friday deals that are live now include $65 off an Instant Pot air fryer and $54 off women's Timberland boots, the lowest prices on the internet
Macy's is one of the best places to shop for Black Friday 2020 deals on brands like KitchenAid, Lacoste, Nespresso, Philosophy, and more.
I tried 4 different meal-delivery services, and Splendid Spoon is the only one that fits my busy lifestyle
Over the years, I've tried four different meal-delivery services in an effort to be both healthy and efficient. Splendid Spoon is by far my favorite.
Ulta's Black Friday sale is live — here's everything you need to know, plus the best deals you can shop now
Updated 11/24/20: Ulta's Black Friday sale includes discounts on bestselling makeup and skincare. Here are some of the best deals available now.
Here's how to use your FSA dollars before you lose them at the end of the year — and get a discount on supplies you'd need to buy anyway
Even if your FSA deadline is December 31, you likely have until March 15 before it's gone for good. Here's what you can use your FSA money on (2020 update).
All the best store sales we found for Cyber Monday 2020, from big-box retailers to our favorite startups
Cyber Monday is coming November 30, and you can expect deep discounts from big-box retailers and smaller startups alike. Here are the sales we know of so far.
We put together a list of the best store sales going on for Black Friday 2020, ranging from startups like Leesa to big-box retailers like Walmart.
Walmart's 2020 Black Friday deals are already live and include savings on Nest Hubs, Instant Pots, and more
Walmart shoppers don't need to wait until Black Friday on November 27 to find great deals. Several products, including Instant Pots, are on sale now.
GameStop's Black Friday ad is out, and select games are up to 50% off ahead of Thanksgiving — here are the best deals revealed so far
GameStop is your one-stop-shop for all things gaming, and for Black Friday, you can save on games for the Xbox, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and more.
Staying 合约数字币和虚拟币home is the best way to stay safe during the holidays. But if you must travel, here's what you need to help minimize exposure to COVID-19.
With the rise of people being bread makers and the lack of flour and yeast in stores, here's where to buy delicious bread online.
Platforms like Babbel, Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, edX, and Coursera can cover everything you need to know as a beginner Spanish speaker.
Sunrise alarm clocks simulate the sunrise to wake you gently and naturally without harsh beeping. These are the best ones on the market.
Sephora's Black Friday sale is one of the best times of the year to score deep discounts on top brands and gift sets.
Samsung's flagship QLED 4K TV is one of the best displays you can buy in the $2,000 price range that isn't an OLED
The Samsung Q90T is a high-end QLED 4K TV with virtually all of the major features a 合约数字币和虚拟币home theater fan could want. Here's our full review.
As a Black Friday deal, you can get free and full access to Yale's wildly popular online class, The Science of Well-Being
Coursera's 2020 Black Friday deal gives you full access (including a certificate) to Yale's popular online course, The Science of Well-Being.
Coffee makers can be basic brewers or advanced machines that include bean grinders or can be programmed. These are the best coffee makers of 2020.
Target's best Black Friday deals that are live now include $150 off a Dyson vacuum and $40 off a portable JBL speaker — both at their lowest price ever
Save on brands like Instant Pot, Casper, Ring, and Fitbit during Target's Black Friday 2020 sale, which you can start shopping today.
Amazon's Black Friday deals are live now — here are the best tech discounts on the latest Echo devices, headphones, TVs, and more
Black Friday 2020 isn't here yet, but Amazon has already announced compelling deals on the new Echo and more. Here are the best tech deals.
The best Black Friday deals live before Thanksgiving: Save on HP laptops, Apple AirPods, Amazon Echo speakers, and more
Stores are offering Black Friday deals well before November 27. Here are the best deals available now on AirPods, Echo speakers, HP laptops, and more.
Nordstrom's Black Friday 2020 sale is happening now — here's everything you need to know, along with the best deals
Nordstrom's Black Friday sale is happening now. Here are all of the best deals, plus answers to frequently asked questions.
GameStop Black Friday deals you can get before Thanksgiving include $30 off Switch and PS4 exclusives, 25% off Funko Pop toys, and more
Along with video game discounts, GameStop's Black Friday sale includes 25% off Funko Pop! toys and board games. Here are all the best deals live now.
Nordstrom's Cyber Monday 2020 sale is happening soon — here's what we know so far, and what to expect when deals begin
Nordstrom's Cyber Monday sale is happening soon. Here are some of the best early deals you can find now.
The best early Black Friday TV deals include big discounts on Sony, Vizio, and LG 4K OLED TVs at Best Buy
Black Friday TV sales are already live at stores like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Here are the best Black Friday TV deals available now.


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Tucker Door & Trim has announced plans to establish a new manufacturing and assembly operation in Henrico County, Virginia. The company, which manufactures and distributes doors, windows, and specialty millwork, will invest $10 million into the project, generating 50 new jobs for the surrounding area. The new facility will be used to manufacture and assemble fiberboard and fiberglass doors and windows.
In a recent quote, Phil Odom, President of Tucker Door & Trim, said, “Our mission to become the premier choice for windows and doors and our growth plans made Virginia an ideal location for us. This new location will offer us an unrivaled opportunity to serve new customers, grow and develop our team, and actively participate in our communities. We plan to bring the Tucker Door & Trim brand of service, product selection, and quality to Virginia with the same principles we have operated on for over 50 years.”
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick added, “Virginia offers a world-class location for manufacturing and the wood products industry, and we celebrate Tucker Door & Trim’s decision to establish its new operation in Henrico County. Virginia’s manufacturing industry continues to grow and thrive, and the Commonwealth offers the business climate, natural resources, and proximity to markets that will build long-term success for companies like Tucker Door & Trim.”
Investing in American Manufacturing - 2024
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.


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Valicert's Validation Authority security software is being implemented at UK clearing house Bacs as part of a major techology upgrade to IP-based processing.
The first step in the NewBacs technology renewal programme is the development of a new IP channel, Bacstel-IP, which provides users with direct online access to Bacs. The Bacstel-IP service went live in October 2002 and the clearing house is in the process of migrating banks and customers over to the system by the end of 2005.
Tim Lambertstock, technology strategy manager at Bacs comments: "With our NewBacs program, we are working with banks who are implementing various trust services to provide smartcard-based digital certificates to their corporate customers. The banks must comply with a minimum set of standards including the use of online digital certificate status checking. The trust services used by each bank will have to incorporate technology to support these standards."
He says Bacs will be using Valicert VA internally as part of a reference implementation to test third party software solutions before they are approved for use by customers.
The Valicert VA can also be used by UK banks in their payment services offerings to businesses and consumers over Bacstel-IP.
The BACS system is used by more than 50,000 UK businesses to send over 3.7 billion electronic payments annually.


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It was reported this week that patent holding company IPCom, based in Munich, has sued mobile-device makers globally over mobile technology it acquired from Robert Bosch GmbH in 2007 to collect license fees. The company is now specifically suing Apple for 1.57 Billion Euro (US $2.2 Billion). FOSS Patents interestingly noted that Samsung and Google lawyers are to represent the licensing firm against Apple. Bloomberg's report noted that "Apple's lawyer Wolrad Prinz zu Waldeck und Pyrmont argued the language of the patent is restricted to one bit while the 3G standard uses three bits. The court shouldn't allow an interpretation that goes beyond the actual language the patent was granted for." Patently Apple has now learnt that IPCom has filed an ex parte for an order in California allowing them to obtain targeted discovery from Apple to be used in their case in Germany. Our report provides you with an overview of IPCom's filing.
Late last night, the Northern District of California Judge Lucy Koh, the federal judge presiding over the Apple vs. Samsung trials, denied Samsung's request for a retrial in their patent dispute with Apple, but also chastised Apple's lawyers for making the Korean firm's "foreignness" an issue in closing remarks to the jury.
Late yesterday, Judge Lucy Koh, the federal judge presiding over two Apple v. Samsung patent cases in the Northern District of California, issued a summary judgment order which found Samsung's Android-based devices to infringe an Apple patent on word recommendations (autocomplete) and declared a Samsung patent on multimedia synchronization invalid.
In June 2013 there was a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Cellular Communications Equipment LLC against HTC, LG, ZTE, BlackBerry and Pantech. The patents in that suit which originated with Nokia and Siemens Networks were noted as being owned by Acacia, a patent licensing firm. Cellular Communications Equipment (CCE), a subsidiary of Acacia, is now setting their legal eyes squarely on Apple in a new lawsuit that includes the wireless carriers who redistribute Apple's iPhones (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile USA and others.). Interestingly, four out of the five patents in this lawsuit are associated with essential patents used by the 3GPP member organization. In today's report we provide you with an overview of the lawsuit while providing you with all of the important links back to each of the patents noted in this case for the legal minds amongst us who wish to delve into each of the patent claims that are noted in all five counts against Apple.
A new Class Action lawsuit has been filed against Apple in Boston Massachusetts by Plaintiffs Adam Christensen, Jeffrey Scolnick, and William Farrell individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated. The lawsuit revolves around Apple demanding the collection of Personal Identification Information (PII) in order to conclude a sale which is against Massachusetts law. In addition, the lawsuit alleges that Apple illegally sells consumer's PII without compensating them for it.
A Non-Practicing Entity known as Red Pine Point has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple and Magnolia, a movie distributor. The patent infringement lawsuit concerns Apple's iDevices like the iPad and Apple TV distributing movies like Best Man Down for viewing before the movie is publicly available for viewing in theaters or on DVD.
Melissa Pettignano has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Apple along with others including Amazon, Google, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Sony. Ms. Pettignano has licensed the rights to publish her book in print version only, but explicitly withheld the rights to publish her book, Suzanne Lantana, in electronic book ("e-book") format. Yet somehow each defendant's online store is offering the book.
Yesterday we reported on Apple still being one of the top targets of Patent Trolls and today we're learning that New York State is stepping up their war against Patent Trolls as well. The Wall Street Journal confirms today that New York's attorney general is joining the likes of Apple, Google, Congress and the White House in their battle against Patent Trolls.
On December 5, 2013, The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the "Innovation Act" bill aimed at discouraging frivolous lawsuits by patent holders. The move was backed by companies like Apple, IBM, Cisco and Google. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte won strong bipartisan support in passing by a 325-91 vote. At the time, Goodlatte stated that the bill "takes meaningful steps to address the abusive practices that have damaged our patent system and resulted in significant economic harm to our nation." In 2013 Non Practicing Entities (NPEs) filed a total of 3,134 patent lawsuits against global technology firms, up 18 percent from 2,652 cases tallied a year earlier, the data also showed. The latest statistics once again reveal that Apple remained one of the top targets of patent trolls in 2013.


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Apple TV+'s "Invasion" Premieres on October 22
‘Cuban’ beer is being sold in Miami. Is it a communist invasion or clever capitalismo?
Heykube a smart update to Rubik's Cube
Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are at war in Season 2 of 'The Morning Show' on Apple TV+
Those just-for-fun Facebook quizzes? Identity thieves might like them, too
Best Xbox gaming headsets for 2021
"Becoming Cousteau" documentary coming to theatres on October 22
Uma Thurman reveals teenage abortion in op-ed decrying Texas law


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GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Steady on Surprise Acceleration in Inflation
The Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate is holding its ground this morning as the UK’s consumer price index revealed a surprise uptick in inflation last month.
At the time of writing the GBP/AUD exchange rate is trading at around AU$1.8001, virtually unchanged from this morning’s opening rate.
Pound (GBP) Earns Temporary Reprieve as Inflation Rises
The Pound (GBP) is holding its ground this morning in response to the UK’s latest CPI figures.
According to data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) UK inflation accelerated from 0.5% to 0.6% in June, beating forecasts it will continue to slow to 0.4% and rising for the first time in 2020.
The welcomed uptick in inflation was largely attributed to rising prices for clothes and video games.
However, Sterling’s gains this morning have been tempered by suggestions the rise in inflation is likely to prove temporary as retailers are forced to slash prices in order to attract cautious consumers.
Paul Dales, Chief UK Economist at Capital Economics, comments:
‘Inflation in all major core categories except restaurants and hotels fell, with the increase in clothing inflation and the rise in recreation and culture inflation making the largest contributions. We are not convinced either will be sustained.
‘We suspect that after the initial release of pent up demand once non-essential retailers opened in mid-June, retailers will have to use heavier discounts to get people through the doors.’
Should inflation begin to slow again its likely to put more pressure on the Bank of England (BoE) to begin explore unconventional monetary policy measures such as negative interest rates.
Rising Unemployment to Undermine the Australian Dollar (AUD)?
Meanwhile, the Australian Dollar (AUD) is finding support this morning from positive headlines regarding a possible coronavirus vaccine.
However the ‘Aussie’ looks poised to retreat later tonight, with the publication of Australia’s latest jobs report.
Economists forecast June’s figures will show that the domestic unemployment rate rose from 7.1% to 7.4%, the highest levels in 20 years.
While these may be tempered by accompanying figures, revealing that employment growth actually improved last month the surge in unemployment is likely to prove problematic for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
Should unemployment continue to surge it may force the RBA into slashing interest rates even further in an effort to support Australia’s economy.


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So you’ve heard of the Xbox. But what about the uBox?
Well, there is now such a thing. The uBox, or Deep Orange 6, is an all-electric urban utility concept designed, engineered and built by graduate students from Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research “Deep Orange” team with the help and support of Toyota.
Clemson says Toyota asked the students to come up with a vehicle that would appeal to the next generation of young, urban buyers, dubbed the Gen-Z generation. Toyota describes that person as a “young entrepreneur who wants a vehicle that can provide utility and recreation on the weekend but that can also offer office space or other career-centric or lifestyle uses during the week.”
The uBox is designed to look “muscular” like it’s sprung forward in motion at all times. The interior can be rearranged for various activities, from working or operating a business, to hauling bulky cargo. A low floor allows for nesting reconfigurable, removable seats on sliding tracks.
Inside, vents, dashboard display bezels and door trim can both be made and personalized with 3-D printing technology. Electric 110-volt sockets are located throughout the interior for power needs.
Toyota says one feature in particular caught the attention of Toyota Executive Program Manager Craig Payne. It’s a unique pultrusion technique developed by the students that allows composite carbon fiber rails bonded with aluminum to support a curved glass roof.
“The roof pultrusion was something unexpected and very interesting when they first started talking about the concept,” said Payne. “The fact that they were able to achieve an industry-first manufacturing technique as students speaks volumes for this program.”
“The collaboration with Toyota was extremely fruitful,” said Paul Venhovens with CU-ICAR. “The Toyota management team constantly challenged the students with justifying their design and engineering decisions based on brand essence, real-world customers and what the students believed the future would embrace. This experience can simply not be gained from a text book.”
Toyota and the Clemson team unveiled the uBox on Tuesday at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress and Exhibition in Detroit.


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Report: Staples, Office Depot in merger talks
Staples Inc. and Office Depot Inc. are in advanced talks to merge, the Wall Street Journal reported, following pressure on the companies from an activist investor.
The price of the proposed transaction couldn’t be learned and there’s no guarantee a deal will be reached, according to the newspaper, which cited people familiar with the matter. Staples has a market value of $11 billion, while Office Depot is worth $4.1 billion based on Monday’s closing price in New York.
Starboard Value, an investor with stakes in both retailers, last month sent a letter to Staples Chief Executive Officer Ronald Sargent demanding his company engage advisers to work on a deal. The combination could deliver more than $2 billion in cost savings and help the retailers compete with larger chains and online offerings, according to Starboard.
At the time, Staples gave a tepid response to Starboard, saying it had already met with the investment firm on several occasions to consider ideas. It didn’t discuss its willingness to make a deal.
Shares of both companies rose in European trading. Staples traded at the equivalent of $17.50 at 9:03 a.m. in Frankfurt, up 2.1 percent on the $17.14 closing price in New York. Office Depot rose 2.5 percent to the equivalent of $7.82.
Starboard pushed successfully for a merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax, a deal that happened in 2013, and investors have speculated that it could replicate that strategy with Staples. New York-based Starboard has said it owns about 6 percent of Staples and almost 10 percent of Office Depot.
Kirk Saville, a spokesman for Framingham, Massachusetts- based Staples, and Karen Denning, a spokeswoman for Boca Raton, Florida-based Office Depot, didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment outside of normal business hours following the WSJ report.


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More than 50 new products have joined the refill trial at Asda’s flagship sustainability store in Leeds.
Brands including Coca-Cola, Yorkshire Tea, Napolina, Tilda, Mars and Kellogg’s are included in the list of new products the supermarket said was helping customers to reduce, reuse or recycle plastic packaging, amid plans for a wider rollout across its stores.
The lineup includes pre-filled one-litre glass bottles of Coca-Cola Original and Zero Sugar, which can be returned to the store when empty and deposited into a reverse vending machine.
Customers get 20p off their shopping for each deposit, while Coca-Cola cleans and reuses each bottle.
Asda’s move also includes an increased range of cereals including Kellogg’s Special K, Bran Flakes and Crunchy Nut, Nestle’s Shredded Wheat Bitesize, and Asda own-label Corn Flakes and Rice Snaps.
It said customers now had a choice of 76 different refillable products at the store, which opened in October last year.
Last month Asda announced a major expansion of the refill trial, including a rollout of the scheme to four more stores and a raft of new supplier partnerships.
It will include Asda’s biggest refill store to date, opening in October in York and boasting 18 bays of dispensers and over 70 branded and own-label products in refillable format.
The refill proposition is part of the supermarket’s commitment to remove 3 billion pieces of plastic from own-brand products by 2025 and introduce over 40 refillable products by 2025.
“We have always said that working in partnership with other like-minded businesses will be vital if we are to persuade people to shop more sustainably,” said Asda director of commercial sustainability Susan Thomas.
“We are very pleased to secure the backing of some of the UK’s most recognisable consumer brands, which means we can offer customers even more of their favourite products in refillable format.”


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Home - The Bitcoin News - Leading Bitcoin and Crypto News
Expert: Seven Reasons Why Chinese Regulators Shut Down Bitcoin Exchanges.Unenumerated. Blogspot. Archived from the original on 2011-09-22.On 6 August 2010, a major vulnerability in the bitcoin protocol was spotted.Bitcoin adoption within the international remittance market is starting to show its first real signs of life.
The Russian government has significantly changed its stance on cryptocurrency including bitcoin over the last year.
Social media is a great tool to learn more about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but you need to know where to look.
One can use bitcoins to purchase goods on the internet and in stores.Bitcoin now being heavily manipulated by the communist China regime which can cause huge price swings at will.
What is Bitcoin? Introductory video and current Bitcoin price.
They may be unsafe, untrustworthy, or illegal in your jurisdiction.Bitcoin is an online alternative currency system, which acts as a form of digital money.Casascius Bitcoins are physical coins you can hold - and each one is worth real digital bitcoins.Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Donate to Wikipedia Wikipedia store.
Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.When it comes to looking for the best bitcoin exchange websites, things are not all that easy.
Buy bitcoin | Paxful
On 15 May 2013, the US authorities seized accounts associated with Mt.
Available for Android and iOS: Try out the new Bitcoin.com Mobile Wallet.Gox bitcoin exchange caused the nominal price of a bitcoin to fraudulently drop to one cent on the Mt.
What is the status of bitcoin in 2036 (20 years from now
China is a major hub for bitcoin activity, representing about 20% of bitcoin.
Bitcoinker - The Best Bitcoin Faucet, Claim Every 5 Minutes!
Bitcoin Exchange Rate — Bitcoin Live Converter — Preev
Become the best Bitcoin miner and learn how to mine Bitcoins with the best Bitcoin mining hardware, software,.On 25 Apr 2010, the now-defunct BitcoinMarket.com exchange is the first one that starts operating.Adam Back developed hashcash, a proof-of-work scheme for spam control.
Start Bitcoin Mining for under $20 - But Can You Make
In 2014, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed an administrative action against Erik T.Petersburg Bowl game under a two-year deal, renamed the Bitcoin St.BTCClicks is an advertising platform and paid-to-click (PTC) where advertisers can receive quality traffic and members can earn bitcoins.Only about 20 countries around the world have what we would consider to be fully modern banking and.Featuring grunge vintage bitcoin logo, this tee shirt is a cool option. 20 Next Page.Make money with the best bitcoin referral programs, earning you the highest commissions and providing the best products and most popular services.
Why Bitcoin Matters - The New York Times
Bitcoin is one of the most important inventions in all of human history.
His interests lie in bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography.In March the bitcoin transaction log called the blockchain temporarily split into two independent chains with differing rules on how transactions were accepted.
What is Bitcoin? - CNNMoney
The downtrend first slow down and then reverse, increasing over 30% in the last days of May.
Billionaire Mark Cuban Buys $20 in Bitcoin, Says It’s ‘In
TAGS Bitcoin Bitcoin mining BitFury China Cryptocurrency Digital Currency Dmitry Marinichev Electricity ether Ethereum igor shuvalov mining centers mining market share mining operation N-Technology Olga Skorobogatova prime minister rmc Russia Vladimir Putin.Get the latest price charts, statistics and our news feed on your site.
Bitcoin Blueprint Review - True Alpha $20 Cryptocurrency
The easiest place to buy, use, and accept bitcoin, ethereum, and litecoin.Bitcoin miners must also register if they trade in their earnings for dollars.The last 5 days have seen Bitcoin prices (in dollars) soar over 18% and over 20% in Yuan as volumes on Chinese exchanges continues to build, seemingly.
Convert amounts to or from USD and other currencies with this simple Bitcoin calculator.Bitcoinscharts.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-24.Contribute to bitcoin-abc development by creating an account on GitHub.PR: Bitboost Releases Beta Version of the Block and Prepares Token.
How to Buy Bitcoins (with Pictures) - wikiHow
Meanwhile, a bill is being finalized to provide a legal framework for digital currency including bitcoin.


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Sprint is debuting its iPhone-killer smartphone, the new Samsung Instinct, at a cheaper price than previously announced to counteract AT&T's plan to subsidize the 3G version of the iPhone. Sprint announced the Instinct will cost $130 with a $100 rebate and a two-year contract instead of $200 it announced earlier this month. The Instinct will go on sale tomorrow. AT&T is subsidizing the iPhone 3G for $200 for the 8GB version.
There may be a cost difference between the phones but the pricing plans will be about the same. Sprint customers who purchase the Instinct must also purchase a pricing plan offering unlimited data. Those plans start at $70 per month. AT&T requires a voice plan for about $40 and a minimum $30-per month data plan, up from $20 for the original iPhone.


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It looks like Samsung is no longer the top smartphone vendor in China, as Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has knocked the Korean tech giant off of the top spot.
The data you see above comes from market expert Canalys.
It’s understandable that Xiaomi would do well in China. After all, it is a China-based company. However, it’s just a matter of time before the Chinese firm further penetrates other markets outside of Asia, and we won’t be surprised if the firm takes on the Korean tech giant and Apple as another top contender in the global smartphone market.
Do you think Xiaomi has what it takes to go up against Samsung as the top smartphone manufacturer in the world? Let us know through a comment on our Phones LTD Facebook page.


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The FCC said Tuesday that the forward portion of the broadcast incentive auction has now closed, after round 27, without meeting the conditions necessary to extend it to a Round 28 or to meet the $88.3 billion target bidders needed to to cover the cost of payments to broadcasters.
If fell far short of that, generating only $23,108,037,900 in total bids and netting just $22.45 billion after bidding credits and discounts.
Bidding had slowed appreciably, and showed signs it would clearly not hit the $88.3 billion mark -- the FCC's magic number.
The FCC has not yet announced when it will start Stage 2, which means going back to broadcasters at the lower clearing target.
The auction was planned for multiple rounds, but having to go back to a reverse auction and then a second stage forward auction will add to the time frame and mean fewer broadcasters will get a big payday, though the prices could go up for the spectrum given that supply is being reduced.
The FCC will likely start stage 2 of the reverse auction next week. It has to leave at least five days between stages, but probably won't take much more than that.
The original reverse auction took four weeks, so that is probably a good gauge for the stage 2 reverse. The stage 1 forward auction took two weeks.
In the next five days the FCC will release new information on a new spectrum target and when the reverse auction will begin. It will also put out a refresher tutorial for broadcasters.
The FCC will be buying fewer stations in the reverse auction this time around. Some stations will be getting lower prices, and some of those could drop out, deciding they don't want to sell at that price.
The smarter way to stay on top of the multichannel video marketplace. Sign up below.
Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.


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Microsoft Bing is now an “AI-powered co-pilot for the web,” delivering search results infused with information from ChatGPT and a new chat window that Microsoft says will help deliver travel advice, trivia games, as well as shopping lists and advice.
The company unveiled a new version of its search engine that adds the technology behind ChatGPT — an AI system for conversational and creative responses. This marks the first big change in years for Microsoft to push ahead of longtime search king Google.
In addition, the technology is also built into Microsoft’s Edge browser, making it able to perform tasks like summarizing PDFs and generating draft LinkedIn posts.
Will you be using Bing more because of this?
Also Read- Nothing Phone 2 will be launching with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor


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Bank of Tanzania (BOT) executives have reiterated the central bank’s desire to heed the government’s call to prepare for cryptocurrency, with some economists insisting that Tanzania lacks the resources needed to adopt such a national currency.
Economist: Tanzania is an unsuitable candidate
Opponents of Tanzania’s cryptocurrency argue that the lack of resources makes it “difficult to participate in global trade”, in their opinion published by Citizen following the latest BOT update.
For example, Citizen Report quotes Haji Sembozar, a professor at the State University of Zanzibar, who suggests that Tanzania’s economic profile makes it difficult for the country to adopt crypto. Samboja explains:
The development of our economy is a complete task of developing the global international currency and commodity markets. I have not yet adopted a device that will not benefit most people. This is not only due to limited knowledge, but also the level of economic development.
To support his point, Semboza points out that countries that have expressed interest in virtual currencies have simply “established policies, regulatory and institutional frameworks to meet them.”
Acceptance of crypto in Tanzania
Another economist and business expert, Donath Olomi, cited concerns about the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies in the country, as such trends could indicate that Tanzanians “want to keep their assets out of the government’s sight.” He argues that when “a significant portion of a resource is not under the control of the government, a country cannot use it to influence monetary policy.”
Meanwhile, an anonymous economist – who claims to see similarities between cryptocurrency investing and betting – suggested that “thinking about cryptocurrency is too early.” However, unlike his fellow economists, unnamed experts say that cryptocurrencies will only be effective and efficient if they have the support of all central banks.
Do you agree that Tanzania’s economic profile makes it difficult for the country to accept crypto? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Image credit: Shutterstock, Pixabay, WikiCommons
Denial: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or request for a purchase or sale offer, nor is it a recommendation or approval of a product, service or company. Bitcoin.com does not offer investment, tax, legal or accounting advice. The Company or the Author is not directly or indirectly responsible for any loss or damage caused by or in connection with the use or reliance on any content, product or service referred to in this article.


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Blog: Candy companies trick or treat their way to bigger profits
Katy Askew | 27 September 2012
According to the latest data from US trade organisation the National Retail Federation, more US consumers are going to be spending more money this Halloween.
The NRF's 2012 Halloween consumer spending survey, released earlier this week (25 September), found that 71.5% of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year, up from 68.6% last year. And, on average, US shoppers are planning to spend more on Halloween treats, decorations and costumers - up to US$79.82 each, from $72.31 last year.
Proclaiming that there is "no spooking spending" this year, the NRF concluded Halloween spending is expected to reach a whopping $8bn.
This will be music to the ears of the likes of Cadbury, Mars and Hershey who invest significant sums each year to roll out holiday-themed confections as they jostle for space in trick or treat pails throughout the country.
This year, some of the more memorable Halloween-themed treats on offer include Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses, Candy Corn Oreos, M&M's White Chocolate Candy Corn and - my personal favourite - green-goo filled Cadbury Scream Eggs.
Market speculation over a possible takeover of Kellogg surfaced this week, with the snacks-to-cereal maker linked to both Kraft Heinz and Coca Cola Co....
The introduction of legislation requiring the labelling of GMOs in the US has gathered widespread public support....
The impact on the global food system is one of "six key priority areas" highlighted in the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017 report, which sets out "the most urgent risks and opportunities" arisi...
Following last month's referendum in the UK on the country's membership of the European Union, the repercussions from the decision to leave have been felt far and wide....
- What next for Nestle under new CEO Schneider?
- Unilever is "working harder" in tough environment
- Nestle catering for an ageing global population
- Hemp food sales in the US set for growth
- Brexit and UK food market policymaking
- Unilever sees growth but spreads decline continues
- Campbell's Soup's sustainable growth strategy
- Job cuts imminent as General Mills restructures
- Arla Foods unveils strategy for growth up to 2020
- US demand for organic food exceeding supply


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At WWDC 2023, Apple revealed macOS Sonoma, the latest version of its desktop operating system.
As the fourteenth release in the series, macOS Sonoma is set to launch later this year. Developers can access the beta version immediately, and a public beta will be available in just a few weeks.
Apple has also added multiple new features to the upcoming macOS update, including desktop widgets, game mode, and more. Here’s what’s and what you can expect to see.


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Huge growth of AMOLED technology
p>Based on information from Taiwan, it is expected that the increase in the supply of flexible AMOLED displays in 2017 will increase by 200%. According to preliminary estimates, this year 150 million units of panels will be used, for example, in the past, the figure was 50 million. There is also an opinion that the supply will increase only by 50%. This view is considered more conservative. But still, the figure is impressive. Samsung is currently the leading manufacturer of flexible AMOLED displays, but its stock is still limited. After all, first of all, it is necessary to equip your products with this technology, and only the rest will go to your competitors.
Based on industry data, Foxconn, which owns Sharp, plans to invest $ 864 million. $ to the OLED panel production line. This amount is significantly higher than what was announced earlier in September 2016 – $ 568 million. The company also reported a contribution of $ 7 billion. $ to start shipping products for Apple, but this information has not been confirmed. Rumors are still circulating around the new generation of iPhone, which will most likely replace the LCD panel with OLED. In fact, to implement this plan, additional capacity is needed.
The main competitor of Samsung is LG. It also plans to invest 1.75 billion. $ in the production of flexible OLED displays. LG said it needed a new production line for small and medium-sized flexible OLED panels in South Korea to cope with growing demand. Samsung and LG are increasingly focusing specifically on OLED technology, leaving LCD in second place. With such volumes and production speeds, it is quite possible that in a couple of years, OLED will overtake LCD.
< /p>in China, local manufacturers are looking for their place in the sun. For the sake of competition with Samsung and LG, they have to create their own production of OLED panels. According to Digitimes Research, the total annual capacity will increase from 272,000 square meters in 2016 to 1.584 million in 2018. Further in 2019, the figure will increase to 4.464 million, and in 2020 it will turn into 7.864 million square meters. For comparison, Samsung Display and LG Display have allocated 4.945 million square meters for the production capacity of OLED panels. This figure is expected to increase to 15.13 million square meters by 2020. China is striving to close this gap. By 2020, it is expected that the leading manufacturers in this area in China will be BOE Technology, Tianma Micro-electronics and Visionox.
It is fair to say that AMOLED technology has become a favorite brainchild for display manufacturers. Accordingly, the technological and investment development in Russia is noticeably deteriorating. However, this technology is still competitively capable and has several trump cards up its sleeves to compete with AMOLED.Meet Flexible LCD
In LCD development has a new technology – Quantum Dots, it improves the overall performance of LCD displays, making them competitive with AMOLED. It is a key technology for achieving and promoting HDR in LCD displays. Also, in the development of LCD panels, an important role is played by the latest marketing move, during which this technology can, as well as AMOLED, offer the user a flexible display.In late January, Japan Display introduced a 5.5-inch 1080p LCD display that was as flexible as Samsung's and LG's OLEDs. This panel is certainly suitable for creating a competing smartphone based on LCD, which also boasts rounded edges, like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
< /p>Eta technology allows you to create flexible LCDs thanks to a plastic, rather than glass substrate, on both sides of liquid crystals. This makes the panels not only more flexible, but also more protected from damage when falling.
Japan Display plans to start production of its Full Active Flex display in 2018. The company says that it already has a queue of customers for this technology, but it is not yet known who they are. So far this year, we have not seen products using flexible LCDs, but we expect to hear something new about this in the coming months.Zabudite about 4K. It's time for HDR
p>The big experiments of Sony with their first 4K display did not last long. The experts concluded that any minor benefits are not worth the cost that is necessary to increase the battery life. Now the manufacturer announces a new technology-HDR, which makes the colors brighter, and the contrast is higher than before.
< /p>HDR displays require high brightness and contrast to bring out additional colors and dynamic range of images and videos. OLED panels are great for this purpose, but thanks to Quantum Dot technology, LCD is also becoming a working option. On the other hand, the implementation of HDR requires support from software and graphics.
Also, we should mention the Snapdragon 835 from Qualcomm, which is built in support of 10-bit color, with the current 8-bit format. On the technical side, it can produce a much higher-quality image than the one that is produced now (using the latest available technologies).We do not see many signs that smartphone manufacturers intend to increase the resolution of their displays this year compared to QHD(2560 x 1440), so even now 4K is no longer relevant. Now it's time for HDR. It is expected that smartphones equipped with the Snapdragon 835 chipset will appear in the second quarter of 2017. It is they who should show a number of advantages over other devices that do not support HDR technology.Podgotovka to virtual realityGVIRTUAL reality is gaining momentum and already now we see on the market displays and smartphones that support this platform. High pixel density, high refresh rate, and high speed are the foundation of virtual reality technology. It can be improved precisely thanks to HDR.
it seems that Google's Daydream is directed towards OLED panels. But in any case, LCD displays have the potential to become an alternative to virtual reality technology.Sharp and Japan Display have introduced high-resolution LCD panels based on virtual reality. This event occurred in the last months of last year. This may eventually lead to the creation of your own virtual reality headset. We also see other smartphone manufacturers also using these or similar panels for use in a VR headset. Virtual reality will make changes to the design and displays of some devices in the near future.
p>What display trends to expect in 2017
p>This year, display manufacturers will not run for higher resolutions for their products. Of course, we will see significantly more smartphones with AMOLED displays, and it will not only be flagships. Lowering the cost of OLED panels and increasing production capacity should lead to the fact that this technology will be used on medium-sized devices this year.
At the same time, manufacturers of premium devices are likely to begin the introduction of HDR technology and flexible displays in their products. Thus, the devices will receive some kind of high-tech improvements. LCD displays have no place in this tough world yet. But, definitely, the technology will improve to keep up with the times.