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Arab Turkish Economic Relations
The recent conflict between Russia and Turkey have revealed a new trend in the relations of these two countries, however, the remarkable Arabic support which came right after what Russia called sanctions on Turkey, where activists called for the support of turkey, by purchasing its merchandise and products, whether they are the ones Russia stopped importing or any other, considering that Turkey is an Islamic country and a supporter for Arabic countries since AKP started ruling 12 years ago.
The Arabic Turkish economic relations started 12 years ago. The convergence started politically then turned to economics as well, plus the Arabic investments in Turkey, and the exports to Arab countries.
The Turkish economy is one of the most developing ones in the region, as it has a wide industrial base, based on a variety of raw materials (excluding energy) and developed human resources that qualifies for it to be an economic pole around the economics of Arab counties.
Also, the Arabic world is the focus of a regional and global strategic energy, and a market with a wide absorptive capacity in the fields of industrial, agricultural and consumer products, telecommunications, the construction industry, finance and mutual investment, tourism services, and others. The economic statistics indicate that 16 percent of Turkey’s foreign trade is with Arab countries. The Arabic investments in Turkey reached 36 billion dollars.
The Turkish economy is ranked number 17 worldwide, and number one in the middle east, according to the international bank, after it was ranked 111 about 10 years ago. Plus it’s one of the members of the G20 economy group.
Turkey has attracted in the past decade forgiven investments which reached about 40 billion dollars, and it convinced over 150.000 company owner to invest here. Turkey hopes to attract 53 billion dollars in the next 3 years of foreign investments
Economic analysts are pointing out to the continuing economic development and stability, whether its foreign investments or local, especially after the results the AKP has reached in the past ten years, by doubling the local and individual income, and paying their debts which they were in for over 40 years.
The Turkish Arab relations has took a big leap recently, where many new Arabic investments have emerged of about 20 billion dollars, with significant growth in the trade exchange movement, and the growing role of the Turkish construction companies in the implementation of projects in some Arab countries
One of the many reasons that drove Arabs to invest in Turkey is its political and economic stability, which differs Turkey from other Middle Eastern countries. Plus the many facilitating laws, which guarantees the rights of the foreigners who wish to buy a property here, as they can have a long term residency, renewed annually.
According to statistics of the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning of Turkey that there are 14.600 foreign property investor in Turkey. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are number one on that list. The Total investments flow in Turkey has reached 425 million dollars from gulf countries. In 2015 the Turkish Institute of Consumer Protection Law predicted that the Arab investments will increase of about 6 million dollars.
All of these and other indicators confirm the depth of Arab economic relations with Turkey and its evolution, both coming from the Gulf countries and the rest of the Middle East countries to invest in Turkey, or Turkish exports to Arab countries that has developed over 10 years ago.


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Nyon, Switzerland - The global market for amine catalysts for polyurethanes will reach a volume of nearly 55'000 tonnes by 2016, and have a value of $350 million, at present exchange rates, according to a market report on the sector by Swiss-based consultant Dr.Joop Koster.
Data on the amine catalyst market in the three major regions - Europe, Africa, the Middle East (including India ), Nafta and the Asia Pacific countries, including China - are included but Koster's 14 Oct announcement on the report said he has not included any detailed country-by-country data in this field since these data are unreliable.
The report starts from an estimation of 2006 PU global consumption data, which Koster said he, "discussed and agreed with PU colleagues."
Koster, who has worked in the amine catalysts field for many years, with Bayer and then with Union Carbide, predicts usage of amine catalysts in the PU foam industry will continue long term, since few alternatives exist that are economically viable and offer good characteristics.
"But their usage in flexible foam applications will definitely change, the trend is to zero-emission amine catalysts, at the cost of BDMAEE [bis-(dimethylaminoethyl)ether] for example," he commented.
Demand for zero-emission materials may be satisfied by current or newly developed zero-emission amine catalysts, or by so-called autocatalytic polyols, where the tertiary amine function is built into the polyol polymeric matrix, Koster comments. This can be done for newly developed biopolyols as well, the additives specialist adds.
Such a route would affect the present supply chain in PU amine catalysts, resulting in decreased PU amine catalyst sales by the established suppliers, Koster added.
Meanwhile, producers of 'active' ingredients could profit from this trend.
And Koster adds that the new EU REACH legislation, which will bring extensive self-regulation into all chemical sectors, is a worrying aspect: not all the currently used active ingredients are fully tested for environmental impact, Koster points out. "It has to be seen if the producers want to continue marketing some of the low-volume products," he added.
An extensive list of major users of PU amine catalysts from all areas is included in the report.
Koster's 44-page study on amine catalysts is available for Euro 5000. For more information, contact Dr Joop Koster, CH-1260 Nyon, Switzerland, Tel +41 22 36 17 960.
Email [email protected]"

domain: news


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Ohio Weekly Roundup
Magnanimous (mag·nan·i·mous): adj.
1. showing or suggesting a lofty and courageous spirit
2. showing or suggesting nobility of feeling and generosity of mind
3. dark sour ale aged in OYO honey & vanilla whiskey barrels, available starting today at Pretentious Barrel House in Columbus
Details at facebook.com/pretentiousbh
97.1 The Fan radio personalities Common Man and T-Bone have dueling beers on tap at Land Grant Brewing this week. Head to the Franklinton taproom to try Man’s Common, a crushable California Common, and International House of Bone, a maple-laden breakfast stout. Vote on your favorite and the winner will be canned and released later this year. Learn all about it on the Land Grant University podcast.
Stop by Gordon Biersch in the Arena District and try one of their two new infusion brews: Mocha Rye Stout and Blood Orange IPA. They also tapped their summer seasonal Sommerbrau Kolsch this week. (614) Columbus has a great piece on the history of Gordon Biersch’s Columbus location and the parade of excellent brewers that have worked there over the last two decades.
Cheers to four years of beers from Platform Beer Co.! Their anniversary party will be held at the Lorain Ave. taproom on Saturday, June 30 starting at 10 a.m. Two limited edition collaborations will be released in cans to commemorate the occasion. Beyond Borders is an American Saison collab with Taxman Brewing Co. from Bargersville, Indiana. Chasing the Horizon is a Black NEIPA collab with Louisville, Kentucky’s Against the Grain Brewery. Details at facebook.com/platformbeers
Forest City Brewery has released another baseball-themed beer. Grey Eagle DIPA is named for Cleveland’s Hall of Fame centerfielder Tris Speaker. Speaker holds the all-time MLB record for doubles and has a lifetime fielding percentage of .971. Grey Eagle is a Double IPA with an ABV of 9.71%. Well played…
The mug club at Hansa Brewery will restart on Sunday, July 1. Mug club members get a unique mug stored at the brewery, discount mug pours, “Das Birthday Boot” for the price of a half liter, mug club exclusive events and early admission into beer releases. Stop into Hansa’s Ohio City brewpub for details on how to join.
Big weekend at Hoppin’ Frog Brewery in Akron. Saturday, June 30 marks the release of Sattler’s Lakeside Ale, a hazy Belgian-style Imperial Wit Ale with crisp citrus aromas and hints of spice. You can also try Andy & Fred’s Excellent Adventure, a Russian Imperial Porter collaboration brew with Gänstaller Bräu in Schnaid, Germany. Hoppin’ Frog’s Independence Day cookout starts Saturday at 11 a.m., details at facebook.com/hoppinfrog
Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. will tap their new 330 IPA on Thursday, July 5. 330 IPA is made with locally sourced barley from West Branch Malts and uses Summit hops to drive a citrusy, spicy, herbal flavor. Meet the brewers and the maltsters at the new Thirsty Dog Taphouse in Akron; 330 IPA will be tapped at 5 p.m. Details at facebook.com/thirstydogbeer
Starting July 1, McArthur’s Brew House in Cuyahoga Falls will open on Sundays from noon – 5 p.m. Next weekend, the brewery will begin opening earlier on Saturdays at well, throwing open the doors at 1 p.m. Stop in and enjoy your weekend afternoons on McArthur’s patio with the new Citra SMaSH ale.
Mark your calendar: Catawba Island Brewing Company will celebrate their five year anniversary on Saturday, July 7. The Port Clinton brewery will throw a gigantic summer bash to commemorate the occasion with live music all day and multiple food trucks on hand. Full details available at facebook.com/catawbaislandbrewingco
Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Brew-B-Que, to be held on Saturday, August 25 at 4KD Crick Brewery in Defiance. Ten Northwest Ohio breweries will be on hand pouring craft beers to complement a generous spread of smoked meats prepared by Sweetwater Chophouse. For more details or to purchase discounted early bird tickets, visit the Brew-B-Que page at eventbrite.com
DAD JOKE ALERT… Q: How do you make a pig float? A: Add ice cream!
Wooly Pig Farm Brewery is teaming up with Pit Stop Creamery this weekend to make Baltic Porter Floats. Wooly Pig’s rich and malty Baltic Porter is complimented perfectly by sweet, creamy vanilla ice cream for a unique summertime treat. Available at the brewery in Fresno this Friday and Saturday. Details at facebook.com/woolypigbrewery
Y Bridge Brewing in Zanesville will hold an Ales for ALS fundraising event on Saturday, June 30. Breweries around the world participate in the fundraising program, receiving a special donated hop blend from Loftus Ranches and YCH Hops. Y Bridge’s beer is a red ale called Ryan, named for a brewery regular who lost his father and a close friend to ALS. One dollar of each pint sold will be donated to the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Event details at ycitynews.com
Fifty West Brewing Company’s third annual Punch Out charity boxing event will be held on Saturday, July 7. Eight brewery-on-brewery bouts will be fought in a professional ring under the big lights at Fifty West’s production facility on Wooster Pike in Cincinnati. Fighters will be announced this week as the card is finalized. 80+ craft beers from participating breweries will be on hand, including Fifty West’s Punch You in the EyePA. For Punch Out tickets and event info, visit fiftywestbrew.com
‘90’s kids will appreciate the new beer release coming today from Taft’s Brewing Company. Salute Your Schwarz is an easy-drinking black lager/schwarzbier, clocking in at 4.8% ABV and 22 IBU. This flavorful beer is perfect for hot summer nights at Camp Anawanna, but you can only get it at Taft’s Ale House in Over-the-Rhine or at Taft’s Brewporium.
Narrow Path Brewing is celebrating the red, white and blue on July 4 with a special beer release. They’ll tap Kickstand Wheat – an American wheat beer – at noon on Independence Day at the brewery tasting room in Loveland. You can also try some infused Kickstand variants: Redcoat Raspberry and Bluecoat Blueberry. Details at facebook.com/narrowpathbrewing
On Thursday, July 5, Warped Wing Brewing Company will launch their summer seasonal Liquid Picnic from their downtown Dayton brewery taproom. Liquid Picnic is a Farmhouse Pale Ale brewed with American hops and fermented with Belgian yeast. Available on draft and in 12 oz. cans starting at 5 p.m. Details available at facebook.com/warpedwing
Branch & Bone Artisan Ales unveiled a new beer this week that pays tribute to Dayton hometown heroes Guided By Voices. Salty Salute – named for the opening track off GBV’s landmark 1995 album Alien Lanes – is a gose, sour and slightly salty with a hint of citrus from the coriander addition. They’ve also introduced a version infused with cucumber and lime, making a light-bodied, crisp and refreshing summer crusher. The club is open…


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Top 10 April Fools news stories
Love them, hate them or love to hate them, or hate to love them, or, indeed, love to hate to love them, prank news stories are as much a part of April 1 as the word ‘April’ or the number ‘1’ – until the clock strikes midday, of course.
In the pages that follow db presents its top 10 drinks industry April Fools stories which had a fair crack at making us all look a bit silly…
1. Wine tap
Intaplonk – Midlands manufacturer creates first wine tap for the home:
It’s time to ditch the bottle and reach for the spout after a Midlands-based manufacturer creates its first-ever wine tap for the home.
The IntaPlonk, created by heating and plumbing product manufacturer Inta, will allow homeowners to enjoy a glass of red or white straight from their tap, making it the ultimate luxurious addition to any modern home.
The first of its kind, the tap’s stylish chrome finish makes it appear like any other, with the only difference being that instead of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ functions, the IntaPlonk offers ‘red’ and ‘white’.
Stuart Gizzi, Director at Insta, says: “We’ve all been there – cracked open a bottle of wine after work, only wanted one glass, and then the rest of the bottle ends up spoiling and going down the drain. With the IntaPlonk however, simply pour as little or as much as you want and no wine will go to waste.
Plus, as it’s coming straight from a tap, it means no more empty bottles, so gone are the days of your neighbours spying how many empties end up in your recycling. We reckon it’s going to completely revolutionise the industry.”
Speaking on how the product works, Gizzi adds: “We’ve worked very closely with a team of designers and plumbers to ensure that installation of this product is easy and cost effective. Once the specialist tap is fitted, all that is required is a diverter valve and the attachment of a bag of wine via the rubber gasket – then wine will be flowing from the tap. It’s really that simple.”
Designed in association with the manufacturer’s Italian partner Amore Chianti, wine enthusiasts will be able to buy specialist 5 litre bags of wine from a number of wine merchants across the UK, including Boxed Vino in Bridgwater.
Berry DeCanter, sommelier at Boxed Vino, said: “There’s this belief that wine must always be served from a bottle but in fact, a bottle is actually harmful to the delicate and elegant notes of fine wine. There are a tonne of things that can disturb a great wine just from it being stored in a bottle – from a broken cork to oxidizing – which is why I always urge connoisseurs to enjoy wine from a tap. The introduction of the IntaPlonk is a sommelier’s dream and something that I can’t wait to install in my own home.”
Inta’s IntaPlonk will be available online at www.intatec.co.uk on Friday, 1st April only.
2. ‘Ginder’ gin-based dating app
Master of Malt unveils Ginder Dating App – Find Your Perfect Junipartner!
Master of Malt are launching a new dating app designed to bring kindred spirits together based on their drinks preferences.
Built entirely in-house by their development team, Ginder is available to try now on mobile.
Once you’ve swiped right to at least six gins, the app will find you somebody with similar tastes!
The full version is due to launch soon on iPhone and Android will allow users to swipe right or left through hundreds of gin botanicals, brands and serves on Ginder’s extensive database, teaching the app more about your preferences and increasing the accuracy of your matches.
3. South African Wine and Spirit Board announces legislation changes
The South African Wine and Spirit Board today announced several amendments to current SA wine legislation including the introduction of new categories of wine and spirits.
According to Eugene Mousepractice, a senior staff member at the board, the move is intended to bring SA wines and spirits further in line with international styles whilst still retaining a distinctive South African heritage.
“Wine has been made in Africa for over 350 years,” he explains “and whilst it has obviously benefitted us to follow European trends in the past, we do need to incorporate our local traditions and customs as well.”
With that in mind, plans include the introduction of an African version of the famous Hungarian wine, Bulls Blood of Eger involving pedigree Nguni cattle, as well as the launch of a local rendition of mezcal or tequila which will allow for the use of preserved mopane worms.
“We had intended also to incorporate an interpretation of Chinese snake wine involving Cape Cobras, but one of our researchers was very badly bitten whilst carrying out a feasibility study into this wine style so we decided to abandon this,” said Mr Mousepractice. “Also, the snakes are a bit too big for 75cl bottles.”
The trend towards more natural wines, including so-called ‘orange wines’ is set to continue according to senior executive Festus Raisinbran, and this will be extended to include a new category of what will be termed ‘yellow wines’. These will be made by footstomping the grapes in a traditional Portuguese manner in a lagare, but without permitting the footstompers to leave the lagare at any time over the first 48 hours.
“Obviously if people are footstomping over a considerably long time they will get thirsty,” says Mr Raisinbran, “and that means they will want to drink more and if they can’t leave the lagare for any reason at all as the new law will clearly state, then undoubtedly nature will take its course, if you see what I mean, hence the term ‘yellow wine’. To be honest, most natural wine tastes of piss anyway so we don’t really think this will be a problem for most aficionados and other lovers of this style.”
But probably the most shocking announcement is that the decision has been taken to include beer and craft beer into the remit of the Wine & Spirit Board. This will now be renamed the Beer, Wine and Highly Alcoholic Hooch-makers Association (BWAHAHA for short), and one of the first regulatory measures will be to control facial hair on the part of the brewer.
This follows several complaints of froth being trapped in beards leading to that common problem ‘hairy brew’. In future, although all brewers will now have to have facial hair in order to be able to actually brew beer in South Africa, this must be covered with beard guards and moustache nets.
This very controversial move has already caused much anger, with one craft brewery warning against future possible job losses.
Corlea Fourie, winemaker at Bosman Wines and part owner and brewer at The Brew Crew says: “I’m really upset at this decision for two reasons. Obviously, I strongly object to the discriminatory nature of this new ruling which is going to severely curtail my career in brewing.
“But I’m even more upset at the idea that my husband (Bertus Fourie, also a winemaker and partner in The Brew Crew) is now going to be a dead ringer for ZZ Top. And I hate their music. I really do.”
With feelings running very high on this issue, it is clear that for BWAHAHA, the issue of facial hair is no laughing matter.
4. Germany introduces beer scare labels
The German Health Ministry announced on Friday plans for mandatory warning labels on alcohol, similar to those used on cigarette packages.
The plan is part of a larger effort by the ministry to fight alcoholism and binge-drinking, and was pushed by the state-funded Netzwerk für Alkoholismus und Rauschgifte Recherche (Network for Alcoholism and Drug Research, or NARR).
“Alcoholism is a serious problem in our country and one which we need to tackle head-on,” chief NARR researcher Carl Doofmann told The Local.
Germans consume more alcohol per capita than the European average, according to the World Health Organization, and are among the top beer drinkers in the world, beat out only by the Czech Republic and Austria, according to Kirin Beer University.
Officials are especially concerned about growing trends of binge-drinking among young Germans between the ages of 15 and 20. Between 2000 and 2014, the number of youths hospitalized due to alcohol and acute intoxication rose from 7,320 to 19,444, or by 165.6 percent, according to the Federal Statistics Office.
A previous proposal had entailed a government alcohol monopoly like Sweden, Norway and Finland have to regulate consumption, but this was shot down as too impractical.
The health ministry said it plans to keep the labels simple, imitating those found on cigarette packets which say “smoking can be deadly” by declaring “drinking can be deadly”.
“Young people are extremely concerned with how they look and taking good selfies, so we want to remind them that drinking can actually make you look not so cool,” he explained.
NARR’s suggestion would include an image of a man or woman with a beer belly, along with the caption “drinking can be ugly”.
“We can’t force people to stop drinking in excess, but at least we can subtly remind them what the impacts are on their future well-being,” Doofmann said.
But not all are enthused about the new labels.
Alcohol producers will be required to foot the cost of placing the extra labels on bottles themselves, just like cigarette manufacturers, or face a hefty fine.
This could force companies to raise prices, which business owners say in turn may cause them to lose customers, especially in the beer market as Germans have over time been chugging back less and less beer.
Germans’ consumption of the nation’s beer last year fell to the lowest it has been in 25 years, the national statistics office said in January.
“Germans are already drinking less and less beer, and now they [NARR] want to remind us about beer bellies,” Bielefeld-based Flunkerei Brewery said in a statement.
“There are better ways to fight alcoholism than with these scare tactics.”
*This story from The Local is actually not that far-fetched; however the keen-eyed will notice that Flunkerei – the name of the brewery quoted in the article – also means story/fib in German. Also, the brewery doesn’t exist.
5. Boutinot plants Manchester’s first vineyard
More used to tending grapes in France, South Africa and Italy, we have just established our first vineyard in our home city of Manchester.
MD Dennis Whiteley explains: “Hunting for new office space, we stumbled across Burgess Farm in Salford, Greater Manchester, and secured planning permission to build a new Boutinot HQ. However, the preliminary site survey showed a deep layer of Kimmeridgian soil just like in Champagne. So we thought, what if we grew vines here instead?”
In view of southern England’s recent success with quality still and sparkling wines, we began exploring the viability of growing wine grapes in Salford and brought in English wine experts from Plumpton College to consult on potential plantings in this historically wet and cool region of the UK.
“Last year, we established test plots of Seyval Blanc on various rootstocks which thrive in cool and wet climates, particularly on limestone and calcium-rich soil,” explains Chris Foss, head of Plumpton College’s Wine Department.
“We were excited when Boutinot contacted us about their site and it was a perfect real-life project for our viticulture and oenology students to explore the importance of rootstock selection in marginal climates”.
After a 10-month trial period which evaluated the vigour and health of the vines, a single rootstock has been identified.
“We chose to use rootstock 125AA,” says Matteo Marangon, course leader for MSc Viticulture & Oenology. “It’s particularly useful for wet soils and it has high limestone tolerance which is necessary for this site”.
The results of the trial will be presented at The International Cool Climate Wine Symposium in Brighton in May.
We plan to produce our first vintage from the two hectare plot in 2019. Meanwhile the hunt for the perfect space for our new office continues…
6. Majestic launches Definition Water
“The essence of palate-cleansing purity, Majestic’s Definition Mineral Water races across the palate like the first gusts of a moorland rainstorm. Chill and serve by itself or with dishes ranging from the completely bland to tongue-burning curries.” Olly Smith
Flavours: minerality, purity
Origin: A versatile liquid, found predominantly in the sea, rivers and rain. A particular speciality of the British Isles, where they age water in underground caves to mature.
Taste: Our water, from the incredibly wet 2013 vintage, chosen for its soft, luxurious texture. Find notes of absolutely nothing.
Enjoy: Great with water biscuits and crackers
Country: United Kingdom
7. The Wine Society tastings to include karaoke
Wine tastings can be perceived as rather stuffy affairs. While this is far from the truth for Society tastings, we feel that a certain amount of levity would not go amiss from time to time.
To this end it has been decided that tutored tastings, in future, will begin with 15 minutes of optional karaoke. Society staff and our honoured guest presenters will start the ball rolling, but it is hoped that in time members too will be forthcoming in wanting to display their penchant for belting out some chart hits before getting down to the serious matter of tasting.
We had a trial run in February already, with Head of Buying Tim Sykes giving a great rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s apposite Mrs Robinson just before Jancis Robinson MW introduced her presentation with Robbie Williams’ Let Me Entertain You to a suitably impressed audience.
Our next tutored tasting will begin with excerpts from the Broadway & West End hit show Chicago, with Head of Tastings Simon Mason giving members the old Razzle Dazzle, before Tastings Co-ordinator Emma Briffett will echo members’ reaction to this by singing those legendary lines from Cell Block Tango: “He had it coming!”
Written by Ewan Murray
8. World Whisky Day celebrated on-board International Space Station
For the first time ever a World Whisky Day celebration will be taking place in space.
After months of deliberation with between the organisers of World Whisky Day and the International Space Station (ISS) and its constituent space agencies, an agreement has been reached to allow an event to take place on-board the satellite on Saturday 21 May.
A legislative loophole was navigated to allow for a consignment of whisky to be sent up as part of a cargo drop 250 miles above the Earth’s surface.
Due to a UK law prohibiting the presence of open alcohol containers on-board the satellite, the crew will be enjoying the whisky in a bar module called Dramnik, specially designed for the occasion.
The module, which will be berthed between the satellite’s five existing Russian modules, will be classified as an ‘external safe zone’ under Russian jurisdiction, meaning that the crew (Tim Peake included) will be permitted to consume alcohol on-board for this one-off occasion.
Hans Kessel, head of design for Dramnik, said: “We’ve left nothing out for the boys on-board. This is a fully functioning whisky bar, complete with a pool table, dartboard and a cantina band. We can’t wait to see it attached.”
The module will also come fitted with a renowned mixologist who has been undertaking an intensive training course at NASA’s Zero Gravity Research Facility in Brook Park, Ohio. The course has been designed to adapt his bar skills for the satellite’s zero gravity environment.
In the interests of responsible drinking, the crew will be issued with three servings over the course of the day – and these only when off-duty.
“This one event is representative of what World Whisky Day is all about,” said an ISS representative. “We want to prove that people all over the world can bond together over this incredible spirit.”
The cargo drop is due for take off on 27 April, with Dramnik taking off on the 1 May, both from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Be sure to follow the day’s events on social media.
To view the official event registration visit: http://www.worldwhiskyday.com/event/world-whisky-day-2016-on-board-the-international-space-station/
9. Bibendum PLB and Instil launch UK’s first craft kumis
In a major announcement, Instil and Bibendum PLB today launched the UK’s first Craft Kumis. The fermented Mare’s Milk drink has been popular among Mongols, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz for centuries. Now it’s set to be the next big thing on the UK’s increasingly adventurous bar scene.
“This is going to change the face of the Brandy Alexander forever” said Lindsay Castling, sporting a white moustache from the foam on her fermented horse-milk cocktail.
“We’re constantly looking for ways to bring innovation to the bar scene. To be honest, we’re surprised nobody’s done this before”.
Alex Linsley, head of the market insights team, agreed. “With their big beards, top-knots and skinny-jeans, London’s hipster ‘cocktail curators’ are always on the lookout for something more bizarre than they are. This is the perfect product. It sounds disgusting but if you add enough vodka it tastes slightly less like baby sick.”
The precise formulation is a family secret, handed down by generations of Yakut tribesman from the Central Asian Steppe.
“Make sure you put Yakut,” says Alex. “Not Yakult. That’s a yoghurty thing people drink when they can’t poo.”
10. Pimm’s to sponsor Big Ben
Pimm’s, the quintessential drink of the British Summer, has this morning unveiled the result of an unprecedented sponsorship deal to display its logo on the world’s most famous clock tower.
The drinks brand’s logo will be displayed across the dial of Elizabeth Tower, better known as Big Ben, throughout the summer months until Wednesday 31st August.
Marketers at Pimm’s approached officials at the Houses of Parliament with ‘a generous offer’ to contribute towards the restoration of the Grade I listed timepiece in exchange for the unique sponsorship placement.
A 23ft transparent vinyl overlay has been installed behind the hands ensuring that the historic face remains protected while the famous Pimm’s logo will be discretely visible to tens of thousands of Londoners in the streets below.
The sponsored clock face was unveiled in the early hours of this morning with a team of abseiling workers revealing the advertising artwork.
Jo Segesser, Pimm’s Senior Brand Manager said “We’re delighted to be playing our part in restoring the monument. Pimm’s O’Clock is a national catchphrase and so the opportunity for us to sponsor Britain’s most famous clock was too good to pass up.”
Respected TV broadcaster Peter Sissons was one of the first reporters on site and has recorded a special video report on the landmark event.


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Wednesday, 10 March 2021
5-4-3-2-1… The first-ever international Gerry Anderson Day is go!
Online events, special product releases and content , appearances by celebrity fans, and much, much more planned for 14th of April celebration of Thunderbirds creator
The 14th of April is an important date for Gerry Anderson fans – it’s the birthday of one of the entertainment world’s most creative and innovative programme-makers – the man behind such iconic shows as Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, UFO, Space:1999, Terrahawks, Space Precinct, Captain Scarlet and many more – some of the best -loved sci-fi favourites from the past six decades.
But this year the 14th of April is even more significant: it’s the date of the first-ever international Gerry Anderson Day.
Celebrating the life and works of the legendary producer, Gerry Anderson Day will be a bonanza for fans of all ages everywhere, featuring special events, live streams, unique new content from Gerry’s own production company Anderson Entertainment, one-off and limited edition products, and a special YouTube programme.
There are also guest appearances planned from some very big-name celebrity fans. Expect some fun – and a lot of surprises – finding out who they are!
The timing of Gerry Anderson Day is perfect in what is looking like one of the biggest years ever for the company that Gerry founded. More and more of Gerry’s classic shows are appearing on TV and streaming services. Thunderbirds, Fireball XL5, Stingray, UFO and Anderson Entertainment’s 2005 reinvention of Captain Scarlet, as well as many other favourites, continue to enjoy strong sales on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Meanwhile the very popular online Gerry Anderson Store (shop.gerryanderson.co.uk), now celebrating six years as a favourite destination for fans, is planning to add many new product ranges throughout 2021.
New series are on the way too, overseen by Gerry’s son Jamie, himself a celebrated writer and producer and MD of Anderson Entertainment, including the brand-new sci-fi drama Firestorm and a reboot of 80s hit Terrahawks. The second series of the popular audio drama hit First Action Bureau – developed and produced during the spring lockdown – will also arrive this year. Series one has just been released on CD.
All in all, there’s a lot to celebrate on Gerry Anderson Day – and a lot of celebrating going on! Check out anderson-entertainment.co.uk for updates on the big day!
About Anderson Entertainment
Anderson Entertainment is a content production company set up by the late Gerry Anderson, creator of Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Thunderbirds Are Go, Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons, Thunderbird 6, Joe 90 and The Secret Service, along with live-action productions Doppelgänger, UFO, The Protectors, Space:1999 and The Day After Tomorrow, as well as the more recent Terrahawks, Dick Spanner, Space Precinct, Lavender Castle and New Captain Scarlet. Today, with Gerry’s son Jamie, a respected writer and producer, as its managing director, the company develops its own IP and projects from Gerry Anderson’s personal archive and manages Gerry Anderson’s estate and existing works. Anderson Entertainment has also developed brand-new content for delivery across a variety of viewing and audio platforms and has an ecommerce offering – the Official Gerry Anderson Store – which makes official and exclusive merchandise available to Anderson fans across the globe. www.anderson-entertainment.co.uk
Jane Garner / Sian Dorrington
1 Mallows Green Road
Herts CM23 1DG
t + 44 ( 0 ) 1279 887 101
Wednesday, 10 March 2021


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There are many extra bonuses ISPs offer you to try and influence you into signing up for one of their packages, and now BT is joining the fray by offering a new Infinity package that gives you TV, Broadband, Netflix, and a YouView box.
The contract itself is 18 months long, and for the first six months it costs a mere £6 a month, and £21 a month for the remaining twelve. Both prices are not including the £16 a month line rental. Essentially this means for the first six months you get your TV and Broadband free, only having to cover the cost of the Netflix and the line rental.
Unfortunately there are a couple of clauses to adhere to. New customers have to pay a £49 activation fee, plus £7 to have their Hub router delivered, and existing BT customers have to have at least 12 months remaining on their current contract.
So if you’re in the market for a new broadband connection, remember to consider BT Infinity as one of the potentials.


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ANB Bank offering soon-displaced downtown Glenwood tenants relocation help
Glenwood Springs Post Independent
Downtown Glenwood Springs businesses that stand to be displaced by plans for a new bank building in the 900 block of Grand Avenue are being offered relocation assistance, according to the local ANB Bank president.
That assistance is in the form of free rent starting this past June 1 through May of next year, as well as cash payments for time remaining, should an affected business find a place to move in the meantime, said Randy Diers, community bank president for ANB Bank in Glenwood.
“We have been listening … and as a result we pushed our timeline back,” Diers said Monday of concerns expressed by tenants — as well as community criticism in general — about the displacement of seven mostly retail businesses that now lease space in the century-old building at 910 Grand Ave.
“Basically, it’s relocation assistance,” Diers said. “We’re also refunding full security deposits, and giving them the opportunity to remove any fixtures or improvements that they may have put in place.”
Architects for what is planned to be a brand new, 9,428-square-foot, two-story ANB Bank facility — replacing two existing, adjoined structures dating back to 1917 — go before the Glenwood Springs Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night.
This spring, several tenants expressed concerns that the new bank building would come at the expense of what they viewed as prime retail storefront space in the 900 block of Grand, between the White River National Forest headquarters and Vicki Lee Green Realtors.
That, as well as concerns about the loss of a historic downtown structure, prompted an online petition that reportedly generated over 1,000 signatures in just two days in mid-May.
The P&Z meeting is expected to be attended by many of those who have weighed in on the issue. But the application itself is pretty straightforward in terms of meeting the downtown zoning and design requirements for a new commercial building.
No city code variances are being requested, and planning staff is recommending approval of the building project, with a few conditions.
One recommendation from the city’s Historic Preservation Commission does call for an inventory of any “significant artifacts or architectural elements” to be done by the city during demolition of the building.
To preserve that history, the commission also asked that the bank consider incorporating any of the salvaged architectural elements from the original buildings into the exterior design of the new building. And, the bank should “consider including a photo display of the original building in the bank’s interior.”
ANB Bank purchased the building in October 2018 and began informing tenants soon after that time that there had been a change of ownership, and later that they would need to make plans to vacate the building by the end of this year. That timeline has been moved forward into the middle of next year, Diers said.
“We are hopeful that, with the assistance we have offered, they will be able to find new locations,” Diers said of the affected businesses, which include KC’s Wing House & Sports Bar, Jewels & Gems, Bellini’s Fashion, Glenwood Spa and Nails, Tesseract Comics and Games, CPA Services Pro and the Glenwood Escape Room.
One of those businesses, the Glenwood Escape Room, operated by Glenwood Adventure Co., has already found a new location, according to owner Ken Murphy. The business is planning to relocate just across the alley to a building on Cooper Avenue, next to the downtown parking garage, he said.
The Escape Room — which offers different rooms for groups of people to use clues and solve puzzles in order to escape — won’t move out of the current location until Oct. 31, Murphy said. But renovations will begin in the new space in September.
“We’ll have two new rooms, and will be opening up as soon as we’re out of the other facility,” he said. “The game has evolved since we first opened, and we need to be able to adapt and offer new games and technology.”
Diers said the second floor of the new bank building will be leased out for other commercial uses. But, given the second floor location, it would probably be more conducive to professional services, rather than retail operations, Diers said.
“We’re retailers, too, in that we are buyers and sellers of money,” he said. “Anything that brings people to a core area, and certainly banking does that, there are repetitive transactions as a result.
“We think it’s going to be a positive, ultimately, for the downtown,” Diers said of the planned new banking facility.
The plan also includes a larger parking lot on the south end of the new building that will be reserved for bank uses and other tenants during the day, but available for the public to use during non-business hours, he said.


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Carrier consolidation proving little benefit to customers
The new alliance structures were supposed to fix issue of late deliveries and poor service for container lines’ customers. So far there has been little improvement, shippers say
The problems will continue until carriers and shippers find answers together, says Nestlé head of global logistics procurement
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Kodak Gives Apple and Google ANOTHER Chance
Eastman Kodak extended its patent auction on Monday to continue discussions with bidders. Kodak began an auction of 1,100 digital patents last Wednesday, and had been scheduled to designate a winner on Monday ahead of a Manhattan Federal Bankruptcy court hearing on August 20.
Don’t Miss: Is Manchester United the Next Facebook?
Kodak, which filed for bankruptcy in January, said in a statement that the auction was ongoing, but offered no further details. A spokeswoman for the company declined to comment on the length of the extension.
The money from the auction would be used to pay back investors, though it is still unclear how much the sale will raise. The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported that Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) made bids, but that they were significantly below Kodak’s estimates for the patents’ value. Kodak said earlier in the year that an outside firm had estimated the value of the portfolio at $2.2 billion to $2.6 billion.
Kodak’s digital patents are grouped into two lots — one of 700 patents and another of 400. While they have been for sale for more than a year, the sale was complicated by the bankruptcy and lawsuits over the ownership and authenticity of the patents. Kodak is still in the midst of litigation with several companies, including Apple, Samsung, and Research in Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM).
Kodak has said it wants to be out of bankruptcy by early 2013.
Don’t Miss: Is This When New iPhone Pre-Orders Will Start?


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RUSSIAN RUBLE DEVALUATION BLAMED FOR FALL IN ARMENIAN EXPORTS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
ECONOMY | 27.02.15 | 16:13
Armenia registered a 27-percent decline of exports of alcoholic
beverages at the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015, Avag Harutyunyan,
head of the Armenian Winemakers Union, said, adding that official
data is not published yet.
Harutyunyan told reporters Friday that in the past Armenia experienced
such crises also in 1998, 2008 and 2009.
“The decline of brandy export in 2014 is explained by tendencies
that started in November of 2014 connected with the Russian ruble’s
devaluation and that got more intense gradually, and in January of
2015 we could see no light,” he said, adding that if this situation
continues till June they will not be able to purchase the whole
harvest from villagers.
Armenia became a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) since
January 2, 2015, and the Russian ruble has been in fluctuations since
earlier in 2014.
According to the data published by the National Statistical Service
(NSS), in January this year, compared to January 2014, a 4.3-percent
inflation was registered, electricity production fell by almost 20
percent, a 7.4-percent decrease was registered in sales, a 6.3-percent
decline in the volume of industrial production.
According to Harutyunyan, in 2014, compared to 2013, export volumes
of wine grew nearly by 49 percent, and brandy exports declined by
“2014 was the best year for vodka, it is the second year Armenians,
unfortunately, have restored their lost tradition. In 2014 we imported
an unprecedented number – never in our history had there been such
an amount – 9 million bottles and nearly 250,000 liters of vodka,
mainly from Russia, and we imported a huge amount, 700,000 liters of
alcohol,” he said.


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Source: The Borneo Post
MIRI (Jan 11): The Sarawak government’s import ban on bakkwa or Chinese dried meat from Peninsular Malaysia still stands, confirmed Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud.
When contacted today, he said the ban is necessary to curb the spread of African swine fever (ASF).
“Yes (the ban is) because of ASF. There is a current outbreak in Penang,” he said.
He pointed out that those found importing the delicacy into Sarawak may face a maximum compound of RM25,000.
Dr Adrian added that the ban would stand until the peninsula is ASF free.
Recently, a traveller travelling from the peninsula to Miri claimed that the bakkwa that he brought in for the upcoming Chinese New Year was seized by a DVS officer upon arrival at Miri Airport.
The traveller also claimed that he had been fined RM5,000.
Sarawak began imposing a ban on bakkwa and other pork products as well as live pigs from the peninsula in 2020.


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EghtesadOnline: So long as gas station attendants' cards are usable, the plan to reintroduce fuel cards cannot be implemented efficiently and transparently, a board member of Al-Zahra University in Tehran said.
"As per the directive issued by the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, car and motorcycle owners in four mega cities -- Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan and Tabriz -- are obliged to use fuel cards as of August 13. However, they will not comply up until attendants’ cards are removed for good from stations," Mohammad Javad Noforsati told Fars News Agency.
NIORDC has announced that vehicles without a card cannot buy fuel over a certain limit (40 liters) in one day, but the expert says such stopgap measures will not compel vehicle owners to play by the rules and use their own cards, (not at least in the short-term).
Referring to the plus pints of the scheme (when and if it is fully implemented), he said gasoline consumption in 2006, one year before the fuel cards were introduced, amounted to 73 million liters per day. The figure fell to 64 ml/d in 2007 when the plan came into force, Financial Tribune reported.
"Interestingly enough, gasoline consumption between 2007 and 2015(when the plan was revoked) barely increased by eight million liters and reached 74 ml/d in 2015."
It is expected that the new plan can reduce consumption by 10 ml/d in less than six months. As per official data, average daily gasoline consumption has increased from 87 million liters last year to 95 million liters now.
Highlighting other benefits, the expert said "the longer it takes to carry out the plan, the more fuel will be smuggled".
Fuel cards do not necessarily mean rationing fuel, but they help curtail consumption and smuggling.
He added that fuel cards can provide oversight bodies detailed information to track consumers and tankers across the country.
Although a great deal of fuel is smuggled before reaching the gas stations, "fuel card data centers make it more difficult (if not impossible) for the tankers to change course after they leave the refineries," he added.
Noforsati insists that by not raising gasoline prices (gradually) over the last three years the government made a mistake because the wrong policy, among other things, paved the way for massive smuggling across the borders.
Iran has one of the world's cheapest gasoline. While average international price for the fuel is about 100 cents/liter, it is sold for 10 cents in Iran.
Comparing fuel prices in Iran and neighboring countries shows that despite the high risks, smugglers dare to engage in the illicit trade because of high profits.
For instance, a 20-liter container of gasoline costs $1.4 in Iran and can be sold for at least $20 near the borders.
Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan are common destinations for the smugglers and their cohorts. Daily gasoline consumption in Iran is 95 million liters of which 10 million liters is smuggled from the porous frontiers.
Shifting to CNG
"Iran has one the biggest gas grids in the world and although CNG is less expensive than gasoline, we continue to manufacture gasoline-powered cars instead of natural gas vehicles (NGVs)," he rued.
One cubic meter of CNG costs 4,140 rials (3.5 cents), while a liter of gasoline is sold for 10 cents, meaning filling a tank with 20 cubic meters of gas costs almost 3 times less compared to the eco-unfriendly fossil fuel.
NGVs use natural gas as opposed to fuel. These vehicles typically use one of two varieties of natural gas: CNG or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Referring to the billions of dollars the government pays in fuel subsidies, observers say shifting from gasoline to CNG is a compulsion the state can continue to delay at its own peril.


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Orlando, Fla. — New CEO joined company as a college student.
Orlando, Fla. — Craig S. Meddin has been promoted to president and CEO of US Postal Solutions, a mail-delivery-management firm that serves student housing rental communities and on- and off-campus residence halls.
Meddin first joined the company in 2000, as a college junior, and has served as manager, vice president of sales and service and chief operating officer over the past 11 and a half years. In his previous positions, Meddin has helped increase service to more than 30,000 residents and created online and Web-enabled smartphone changes-of-address and delivery capabilities.
– Lynn Peisner


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Using UV-C Technology To Disinfect Retail Stores During The Pandemic
By Mark Beeston, Vioguard
Retailers across the country are preparing for a holiday season unlike any other. Usually, they’d be stocking up with the latest styles and newest electronic gadgets to attract as many shoppers as possible. This year, it will likely be the extent of safety precautions that retailers are taking to keep everyone safe that will attract customers to a specific store. Implementing technology like UV-C light into sanitation protocols can help set the bar high above the competitors, bringing customers back in the doors.
In a recent survey of 6,000 people from Social Media Link called “COVID-19 Brand Sentiment Nagivator Report,” it was found that the most imperative action retail outlets can take while reopening in any capacity is to keep both employees and customers as safe as possible.
Shopping in physical stores is all about developing both a relationship and experience and the importance of a safe experience is more relevant now than ever before. It’s routine practice for stores to have basic cleaning routines but now they will need to regularly disinfect. This means that staff need to receive the proper training and comply with the CDC guidelines to diligently follow the new procedures. But the need for traditional cleaning solutions stay on surfaces for a certain time to truly disinfect combined with the rising number of times per day in which things need to be cleaned requires a sales associated to practically become a full-time custodian. Introducing UV-C disinfecting products into sanitization protocols can both ensure effectiveness and optimize manual labor time.
We know now that COVID-19 can be spread through either direct contact with an infected person or by contaminated surfaces. Employees and customers wearing face masks and social distancing can minimize the direct contact spread, and UV-C sanitizing solutions can minimize the spread of the virus from surfaces.
The use of UV light to eliminate viruses and bacteria has been around for many years. Ultraviolet light within a particular wavelength can disable microorganisms by affecting both RNA and DNA. Moreover, UV-C light has been proven to be the most effective solution to obliterate antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Recently, even consumer UV products have increased in popularity. However, UV-C light is effective because the wavelength of 250-270nm is absorbed by the nucleic acids of microbial cells. This wavelength is by far the most lethal when it comes to destroying pathogens.
Using ultraviolet sanitization products in retail is the most effective solution when it comes to cleaning small items that are shared or touched frequently. While bacteria can evolve to resist chemicals, this cannot happen with UV-C light. Several chemical solutions need to stay on a surface for several minutes to disinfect, making them ineffective for quick cleanings. Products like sanitizing wipes and sprays can remove germs when used properly, but most are unaware that there is a two-step process when using them. First, the surface is cleaned to remove germs and then sprayed or wiped with an EPA approved sanitizer to kill bacteria. Cleaning a surface alone will unfortunately not kill the coronavirus, but ultraviolet light will.
In a retail space, small and portable devices like the Vioguard Cubby and Cubby Plus eliminate 99.99 percent of harmful viruses and bacteria in under one minute and can sanitize multiple items at the same time.
This type of UV-C product is perfect for a store to disinfect items like keyboards, pens, binders, and ID badges. Our smartphones are magnets for germs, studies show that 92 percent of handheld phones are contaminated. So, running staff’s phones through the device can immensely reduce the chance of spread amongst employees and customers. For owners of shopping centers, simply placing a compact UV-C device in places like entrances, cash registers, information booths, and outside of restrooms can significantly reduce surface spread in the area.
In addition, UV-C technology can benefit certain types of retails in keeping merchandise germ-free, such as jewelry or eyewear shops, technology stores, and mall kiosks.
As states across the country continue to relax safety regulations, retailers that make the most effort to keep their customers and employees safe will thrive as we continue to adjust to the new reality.
About The Author
Mark Beeston joined Vioguard in June 2017 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Before Vioguard, Beeston lead a sales team for Option Care in the post-acute business sector. He spent six years in various sales leadership roles from Regional Sales Director to Director of Strategic Solutions at Hill-Rom Company. Before joining Hill-Rom, he served as a Regional Sales Director for the Hospital Products unit for Hospira Worldwide (formerly Abbott Labs). During his 13-year tenure at Hospira/Abbott he filled several diverse roles such as Senior Engineer in new product development, Sales Executive, Contract Marketing, and District Sales Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from Brigham Young University. He enjoys snow skiing, water skiing, and multiple other outdoor activities with his wife and six children.
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On 21 March, Starbucks hosted its 27th annual meeting of shareholders, with nearly 4000 shareholders, partners, invited guests, and board members in attendance. Key presenters at the meeting included CEO and President Kevin Johnson, Americas Group President and Chief Operating Officer Roz Brewer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Patrick Grismer, and Senior Vice President of Global Coffee & Tea Michelle Burns. “Starbucks is a different kind of company – and we have been since our founding,” Johnson says. “Our long-term plan for growth with focus and discipline is built on the acknowledgement that the pursuit of profit is not in conflict with the pursuit of doing good. We are a part of millions of people’s everyday lives around the world, and I believe we are uniquely positioned to be one of the most enduring brands of all time.” Starbucks says brand endurance requires evolving with customer’s changing needs. To that end, Brewer revealed the company’s plans to reimagine its position as “a third place between work and home”, with a focus on three key attributes: convenience, comfort and connection. “I don’t want anyone to walk away today thinking this is about furniture or a new renovation strategy,” Brewer says. “Reimagining the third place is about listening to our customers, so we can better position our business now and for the future.” Starbucks aims to learn directly from its customers and adapt changes to new and better experiences using technology, product innovation, and reimagined store formats. The company also reiterated its commitment to the continued expansion and evolution of programs like Starbucks Delivers – now available in 12 countries – and Starbucks Rewards. “Our relationship with our customers starts the moment they think of Starbucks. They connect with us through their barista and the quality of what’s in the cup they take with them,” Brewer says. “Their third place is everywhere they’re holding our cup. No matter their journey, after leaving our stores, that feeling of comfort stays with them. And in an increasingly busy and on-demand world, it’s that feeling that keeps the third place growing.” Furthering its efforts to focus on new ideas and technologies, Starbucks announces an investment of US$100 million in Valor Siren Ventures.
Managed by Valor Equity Partners, the new fund will identify and invest in companies who are developing technologies, products, and solutions relating to food or retail. The investment is the first of its kind for Starbucks, and the new fund will seek to raise an additional US$300 million in the coming months from other strategic partners and key institutional investors. “We believe that innovative ideas are fuel for the future, and we continue to build on this heritage inside our company across beverage, experiential retail, and our digital flywheel,” Johnson says. “At the same time, and with an eye toward accelerating our innovation agenda, we are inspired by, and want to support the creative, entrepreneurial businesses of tomorrow with whom we may explore commercial relationships down the road. This new partnership with Valor presents exciting opportunities, not only for these startups, but also for Starbucks, as we build an enduring company for decades to come.”


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USMEF Meets with Panamanian Agriculture Leadership
“This was an excellent opportunity before the implementation of the Panama/U.S. Free Trade Agreement for USMEF to give an update on the issues facing the American and global meat industry and provide information on the programs USMEF is conducting in the region that are developed for the welfare of the local market,” said Huerta.
USMEF’s commitment to public education and corporate social responsibility was a key theme, and Huerta outlined a wide spectrum of programs introduced in Mexico, including:
- Education of more than 2,500 butchers to help improve meat handling and hygienic and merchandising practices in the retail sector
- Seminars in elementary schools to provide dietary information to help prevent diabetes and obesity.
- Development of materials for use by local health professionals on the role of red meat in a healthy diet.
- A train-the-trainer program regarding HAACP.
- Scholarships for young livestock leaders who participate in the International Livestock Congress.
- Science-based research and development initiatives conducted in collaboration with local academics, including a study on the prevalence of bacteria in the Mexican marketplace, and a characterization of quality and nutritional attributes of domestic beef and pork and their imported counterparts.
- USMEF and the USA Poultry and Egg Council, with the support of a number of other industry partners, launched a one-year project to assist Mexico’s ministry of agriculture (SAGARPA) in developing and implementing science-based procedures, protocols and training programs for controlling and eradicating classical swine fever and exotic Newcastle disease. This was done through the FAS Global Based Initiative project.
- USMEF is conducting a campaign in Mexico to educate consumers about the taste and eating pleasure of pork in order to support increased pork consumption, which would help both domestic pork producers and importers.
“The opportunity to have face-to-face discussions with top government and industry officials and build personal relationships in Panama was very valuable,” said Huerta. “Our competitors have not been given similar openings, so we are very appreciative.”
The U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement is expected to be implemented before the end of 2012.
The U.S. is the No. 1 supplier of both imported beef and pork to Panama, according to the Global Trade Atlas. Through the first half of 2012, U.S. pork exports to Panama are up 29 percent versus last year to a value of $5.9 million, making Panama the 18th largest destination for U.S. pork in terms of value. For beef, exports are up 51 percent to $3.2 million, which ranks Panama 33rd among global destinations for U.S. beef.


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Surprisingly, a fresh piece of information has leaked, and it claims that Honor is planning to launch another handset – Honor 50 Lite – in Europe. And the publication has shared the specifications, features, renders, and pricing details of the upcoming Honor 50 Lite.
The rumor mill says that the upcoming Honor 50 Lite may debut alongside the Honor 50 in Europe. But Honor is yet to release any official statement confirming the claim. So, you’d want to take that information with a grain of salt.
Specifications of the Honor 50 Lite
The upcoming Honor 50 Lite handset will debut with a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD screen with a pill-shaped cutout for the 16-megapixel selfie snapper. And the phone’s rear panel features a triple camera system consisting of a 64-megapixel primary lens, an 8-megapixel ultrawide snapper, and a 2-megapixel depth shooter.
Under the hood, the Honor 50 Lite sports the Snapdragon 662 chip alongside 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. The phone will ship with the Magic UI 5.0 based on Android 11 OS.
The Honor 50 Lite relies on a 4,300mAh battery for backup. And it supports SuperCharge fast charging. Other features to expect from the handset include dual 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC, and a side-fitted fingerprint snapper.


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FOSDEM, the Free and Open Source Software Developers' Meeting is coming soon, and in preparation, the organizers have published interviews with some of the participants: David Faure for KDE and Michael Meeks for GNOME.
David Adams Archive
When it comes time for you to buy toys for all the good little boys and girls on your shopping list, don't forget OSNews' price comparison engine. It will help you find the best price on electronics and computer stuff, even factoring in shipping charges. There's even a new feature that allows you to search for mail-in rebate information. If you've never used the price comparison engine before, give it a try, and let us know what you think.
A survey recently released by IDC finds that large networks of Windows servers are cheaper to run and maintain than Linux servers, even taking into account the higher software licensing costs for Windows. The catch? That survey was commissioned by Microsoft. A Reuters article about the study covers mostly how this study indicates a shift in Microsoft's marketing strategy toward Linux -- moving away from criticizing open source toward focusing on Windows' benefits.
A ZDNet article details the upcoming arguments in the antitrust suit brought by Sun Microsystems against Microsoft over Microsoft's treatment of the Java platform. Sun claims that Microsoft has distributed a crippled and incompatible version of Java in its (monopoly) operating system, which serves to undermine the Java platform. The article covers mostly background and history. It's pretty clear what Sun's case is, but less obvious how Microsoft will choose to defend itself.
A Yahoo Mac Central article notes that, due to the new Apple OS' support for familiar tools and services, IT managers that formerly turned up their noses at the Macs in their organizations are now embracing them. This is particularly true in organizations with a lot of Unix workstations, of course, though the efforts that Apple has made to integrate the Unix tools that make interoperability with Windows easier have benefitted OS X in Windows-heavy offices too.
CNN is running a review of the latest Solaris Release, calling it "stylishly cryptic" -- as fitting a description of the leading commercial UNIX OS as I've ever heard. Oh, wait a second . . . Steven Soderbergh? Oops, never mind.
The Economist is running a cover article on the next great battle of the computing age, and one that may be even more far-reaching than the PC war: the truly personal computer, the so-called smart phone.
ZDNet is reporting on a recent Butler Group report that estimates that by 2009 Linux will have greater market share than proprietary OSes from Sun, HP, and IBM.
A company called Stratus Technologies, that makes expensive, multiply redundant server hardware, guarantees that its high end four processor machine running Windows 2000 Advanced Server (cost: $150,000) will not have a hardware or OS-related failure or they will pay you $100,000. Stratus works on the device drivers to further ensure that they will not bring the OS down. See a Stratus Press Release for more information.
Samsung has licensed Symbian OS for a new line of PDA-enabled mobile phones. Now all five of the major mobile phone manufacturers have licensed the OS, though only Nokia has released a major handset running Symbian. Samsung will release a phone that uses Nokia's Series 60 user interface. Some handset manufacturers have licensed more than one OS. Samsung has licensed OSes from all three major makers: Symbian, Palm, and Microsoft. A ZDNet article and and PC World article have more. Update: A PC World article reports that the first Microsoft powered smart phone has been launched by European carrier Orange SA. AT&T will be the first US-based company offering a Microsoft-powered phone, in mid 2003.
A ZDNet article discusses Microsoft's upcoming version 11 of Office, that will use XML to make Office files more interoperable with "Web Services." Analysts quoted in the article note that this is a risky strategy for Microsoft since it will chip away at the file format stranglehold that Microsoft has had for many years. The more open and interoperable Microsoft makes Office, they say, the more likely that alternatives to Office will be able to co-exist, or even replace it in the corporate sphere.
The information that I could find on the web about Sprint’s new '3G' high-speed data service was a little short on solid information, so I spoke with Kevin Packingham, Senior Manager of Business Marketing for SprintPCS’ new Vision service. I sought him out because Ubiquitous, affordable high speed wireless data services are something of a holy grail for tech-savvy road warriors like myself, so I received each morsel of information about Sprint’s new service with great interest. Mr. Packingham spoke over the phone and he clarified many of the questions that I had about the new service.
Hewlett Packard has begun to sell Intel Itanium 2-based workstations running Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation. Advanced Workstation is the desktop companion to Red Hat's Enterprise-oriented Advanced Server. HP also sells versions of these workstations running HP-UX, and will probably sell Windows versions eventually, following a future OS release my Microsoft. This is yet more evidence that Red Hat sees some opportunity for Linux on the corporate desktop, at least in the engineering workstation area, where high-priced Unix workstations have traditionally ruled but have been pushed out by NT/2000-on-Intel in recent years. Read more about it at Silicon.com.
Lindows and Earthlink have entered into a partnership wherein Earthlink dial-up services will be pre-configured on Lindows systems, much the way that dialup access is available with a few clicks on Windows and Mac computers. More at internetnews.com.
An eWeek article notes that Apple Computer is reorganizing the OS 9 engineering effort, presumably re-assigning engineers to work on OSX-related projects. Also, a former head of OS Engineering at Apple will be moving to Apple's Powerschool division.
A builder.com article discusses the increasing use of Java as a tool for developing embedded systems. Primarily because of the portability benefits that java brings, it has become a very popular option in the past year or so. The article covers the upsides and downsides of Java in embedded systems.
The OSNews team needs to rid itself of a snazzy Sony Superslim Vaio Z505HS. It's happily running Red Hat Linux 7.2, and to sell it on eBay would mean going to the trouble of installing Windows on it again. (perhaps only to have someone buy it and want to install Linux). Instead, we've decided to see if any OSNews reader wants it. Best offer over $700 gets it. Read more for specs.
The court decided yesterday, at a trial where an internet cafe's owner was charged of letting his customers play Counter Strike, that the law that prohibited playing games is unconstitutional. This paves the way for the law to be struck down. There's some additional information at ZDNet UK.
Today is a solemn day of introspection and rememberance here in the United States, and we here at OSNews would like to send our condolances to those who lost loved ones in the attacks on the Pentagon and Twin Towers. Though most of the people of the world did not experience the attacks first hand, there are very few people in the world who were not affected by them in some way. I know it's a bit off-topic, but I'd like to open up a discussion thread today for people to air their feelings about the events of a year ago, and where they think things stand today. And if you read on, I'll get things started by talking a bit about what happened to me on that day and since.
Microsoft has posted a position available for an engineer who will be responsible for researching modification chips that can be used to circumvent security on the Xbox, according to a ZDNet article. It looks like Microsoft is interested in heading off the efforts of the Xbox Linux Project. Currently, it is possible to install Linux on an Xbox and use it like a PC, but you must install a mod chip to circumvent the Xbox's "feature" that prevents an outside OS from booting from a CD.


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Norton Shores, Mich., May 6, 2020 – Smart Vision Lights (SVL), a global leader in the design and manufacture of innovative LED illumination solutions for machine vision and other applications, is proud to announce the addition of Martin Sulavik as Regional Sales and Application Manager in Europe.
In his new role, Sulavik joins Tony Carpenter, SVL’s Director of Sales in Europe and Asia; to support growing demand for the company’s products in the European region. Based out of Bratislava, Slovakia; Sulavik will take responsibility for developing new business and fostering current relationships with partners, customers, and OEMs throughout Northern and Central Europe.
“Smart Vision Lights has a prominent and growing reputation for innovation and quality in Europe’s machine vision industry, and I look forward to working with the company and its partners to continue growing business in the region,” says Sulavik.
Sulavik joins Smart Vision Lights from Cognex Ireland Ltd., where he served as Sales Manager for three years. His industry experience also includes engineering and team leadership roles at Keyence International Belgium, which he had joined in 2014. Sulavik is fluent in several languages, including English, Slovak, Czech, Spanish, and German.
“We are excited about the addition of Martin to our European Sales Team,” says David Spaulding, President of Smart Vision Lights. “In addition to his multilingual fluency, Martin brings a unique combination of industry and sales experience to SVL, making him the right choice to help us strengthen our business and strategic relationships on the continent.”
About Smart Vision Lights
Smart Vision Lights (Norton Shores, Michigan) is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-brightness LED lights for industrial applications, including machine vision. Smart Vision Lights products come with universal internal current-control drivers, offering constant or strobed operation, reduced wiring requirements, and easy installation. Smart Vision Lights products are also the safest on the market thanks to the company’s in-house IEC 62741 light-testing laboratory, guaranteeing conformity and compliance for your lighting systems, regardless of where they are installed around the globe. Learn more at smartvisionlights.com or by calling 231-722-1199 in the U.S.


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Marketers love Line’s new ad formats, but they won’t use them
This week, chat platform Line announced a new way for advertisers to goose engagement: Users who interact with its new ad units are rewarded with in-app credits. In theory, it’s a win-win: The advertiser gets undivided attention of Line users, and Line keeps people on Line.
Messaging apps appear to be poised to overtake social networks, but no one has answered the question of how to advertise on the so-called dark social platforms. And while agencies in the U.K. are excited about Line’s new ads, they aren’t sold — yet.
Adrian Lee, Vizeum’s global digital strategy and innovation director, said the rewarding users with in-app credits for watching ads “makes sense” and will likely see increased engagement rates for advertisers, but with the caveat that incentivized ads don’t always offer much else beyond that.
“Does an incentivized ad mean genuine engagement or someone just trying to get some points?” he asked. “It’s a bit of a toss-up.”
Incentivizing users in a tit-for-tat fashion is nothing new. But unless an advertiser’s targeting is on point, they may end up with a highly clickable campaign that has little lasting impact on metrics like brand awareness or uplift.
Whatsapp irked users in August when it announced it would share data including phone numbers with its owner, Facebook. But marketers, who were excited by said data, were equally worried about how users could opt out (or get mad).
Messenger apps feel more private — and personal — than social platforms. Kim Hoeu, head of paid social at agency Essence, said while she was excited about Line’s new format, she added that the platform will need to clarify how it will use customer information for targeting. “We’ll need to understand how we can target users, but we don’t want to be intrusive to the point of being creepy,” she said.
Sally Barr, head of social media at Saatchi & Saatchi, was less concerned about appearing creepy. According to her, the new format marks an opportunity to provide users something of value in their personal space.
“We get so restricted with the other platforms, so if they are giving a lot of creative freedom that’s wonderful for all marketers,” she said.
Plus, the new Line format is more likely to offer advertisers a guaranteed set of results, which is crucial for agencies aiming to plan their spend effectively, she added. “I think the reward element is something other platforms will have to come up with to compete.”
Line is looking to expand beyond its Asia-Pacific stronghold following its IPO earlier this year. But the biggest issue here for marketers is Line’s market share in Europe. While it dominates on home turf, its growth has been slow further west.
Sill, Paul Mead, chairman of VCCP Media, said cracking advertising in messaging is top of the agenda for many in the industry. And while he praised the Line team’s capacity for trying new things where platforms have tiptoed around advertising, he also acknowledged that advertisers’ top priority is their audience.
None of the marketers included in this article had plans to spend money with Line in Europe, despite the new format. Though they could be persuaded by the same features on other platforms.
“If you haven’t got the audience then it doesn’t matter how good you are,” said Mead. “Just look at Bing.”
More in Marketing
With companies diverting resources to adapt to the sandbox, there’s less room for innovation within their own technologies.
Digiday+ Research deep dive: Brands are still on Facebook, but they’re spending a lot more on Instagram
Between Meta’s two platforms, Instagram is the clear winner when it comes to marketing spend — and that’s because it drives conversions and branding in a big way.
‘It’s going to make our jobs harder’: Effects of Google’s third-party cookie fallout compound for marketers
As the fallout from Google continues, agency executives expect to see compounding effects on trends like the rise of retail media, streaming and audio ad spend, and the role of display ads.


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RoadLog ELDs to be discontinued, company announces
April 30, 2020
•Land Line Staff
Continental Automotive Systems recently began informing its customers that it is discontinuing its RoadLog line of electronic logging devices.
In an email to its customers, the company said “unforeseen market conditions” and the “dynamic requirements” of the ELD business led to the decision. Land Line’s attempts to receive comment from Continental were unsuccessful.
According to the email, the company will quit selling RoadLog ELDs on May 1, and it will continue to provide service and technical support to existing customers through Aug. 14.
“For the next four months ending Aug. 14, 2020, Continental will continue to provide you with access to the RoadLog service for your subscribed devices and with technical support related to your devices and the service,” the email notice stated. “During such time, we will work to assist you in your transition to an alternate ELD compliance solution. Effective Aug. 14, the RoadLog Office services are hereby terminated.”
The company said in the email that it is working with KeepTruckin to provide an offer to RoadLog customers to make the transition to a new ELD provider. In addition, Continental said it will provide customers with detailed instructions on how to download and save their user data, including hours of service and IFTA records, from their RoadLog accounts.
More information about the company’s decision can be found here.


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In fact, we're celebrating the 13th day of each month by featuring all the fabulous stuff that's been happening to The Lucky 13s.
Please raise a glass to our super-awesome-bomb-diggity news....
There's going to be an audio edition of Elsie Chapman's DUALED. It'll be published by Listening Library for simultaneous release with the print edition in February. Read all about it here.
The OATHBREAKER'S SHADOW (and sequel) by Amy McCulloch sold Canadian rights to Doubleday Canada.
Emma Pass has been interview in the Derby Telegraph as part of a feature about the Derbyshire Literature Festival, which she's taking part in along with Chelsey Flood. Read the article here.
Steph Kuehn sold UK rights for CHARM & STRANGE.
Kristen Kittscher sold the sequel to her book WIG IN THE WINDOW. The sequel will be called TIARA ON THE TERRACE.
Steven Dos Santos' revealed his cover this month, and it's a great one!
Woo-hoo, Lucky 13s!


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Parts ways after 14 years of service.
While RIM struggles to get back on its feet amidst poor sales of its devices, it’s just been dealt another blow.
Patrick Spence, Head of Global Sales based in the company’s London office, decided to leave the company after a 14 year stint with them. Spence originally joined the company back in 1998, but was only in his current position of SVP and MD of global sales and regional marketing for the past 10 months. “Patrick will be taking on a leadership position in a different industry,” a RIM spokeswoman commented in an email. “The sales function will report directly into Kristian Tear, our newly appointed COO when he starts this summer. In the interim, the sales function will report to [CEO] Thorsten Heins.”
Spence’s departure comes at a time where RIM continues to lose market share against other mobile players such as Apple and Samsung. While the company has looked to international stores as a way to boost its dwindling sales, the company’s internal structure is preventing it from making any true progress. The recent reveal of the Blackberry 10 OS, the company’s next update to its smartphone OS shows promise, however it will be a while before it’s ready to hit the market.


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Everybody loves this digital assistant named Amy Ingram, and now 'she' is coming to Microsoft Outlook
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Today, x.ai is finally coming to Microsoft calendars, with support for Office 365 and Outlook.com, as the company moves closer to the release of its paid business edition later this year.
"Microsoft pretty much owns the enterprise, and as we move towards the launch of our professional edition, this could not come at a better time. Getting market share and working with Microsoft somewhat rhymes," x.ai CEO and founder Dennis R. Mortensen says.
Just copy "firstname.lastname@example.org" to your email, and "Amy Ingram," your personal AI assistant, will handle the annoying parts of finding a time that works for both parties.
People love Amy Ingram, and not everyone realizes it's a robot, not a human. Since 2014, Amy (and her "brother," Andrew), "have scheduled hundreds of thousands of meetings and processed millions of scheduling-related emails," x.ai says in a press release. The company has raised $34.3 million.
The reason for the delay, Mortensen, was just in getting the core technology right before expanding past Google. It takes time and effort to train the x.ai technology to automatically make a meeting, and with lots of Microsoft customers out there, the startup wanted to make sure all was well with Amy Ingram.
"The question asked most often over the last two years has consistently been when we would support Microsoft calendars. This is a fair question but we've stayed focused on the AI challenge itself," Mortensen says. "As we mature, it is only natural to add support for Microsoft calendars and expand our addressable market."
In fact, Mortensen jokes, the move towards Microsoft was basically inevitable: 67 of x.ai's 68 employees might use Macbooks, but Mortensen himself is the lone holdout with a Samsung-made Windows PC, and he's in charge.
Importantly, x.ai doesn't yet work with corporate Microsoft accounts: The startup promises that support is coming soon, but it requires an integration with the Microsoft Exchange calendar server software that isn't quite in place yet.
The overall ambition of x.ai is to schedule "every single one" of what it estimates are the 10 billion meetings held every single year. Going to Microsoft Office, where the majority of the business world lives, is an important part of that.
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Event: Anushka Sharma looked hot as ever as she walked the ramp for Rina Dhaka on Day 4 of the HDIL Couture Week.
Guest List: Anushka Sharma, Rina Dhaka
Venue: The Grand Hyatt, Mumbai
Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma was snapped at the airport.
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra was snapped at the airport with husband Raj Kundra and mother.
Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi, fashion designer Manish Malhotra among others snapped at the airport.
Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon was spotted outside her residence.
Bollywood's 'HASEENA' Shraddha Kapoor was spotted at Hakkasan.


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We’ve been hearing a lot about the recent introduction of paywalled features in cars lately. And while the trend is a cause for concern, it’s not yet as bad as some people believe. But, the concerns still remain.
Recently a Redditor posted a short clip on a subreddit called r/Mildly Infuriating.
The post depicted a tale of opting out of purchasing Audi’s tri-zone climate control (cooling and heating) in an SUV, but it still came with the sync button that a driver would use for temperature control.
Video credit: Reddit
In short, the driver pushed the button, and a message popped up on the digital dashboard saying, “This function has not been purchased.”
They were concerned enough to film this, and Reddit went wild about what over-the-air (OTA) updates and digital subscription services could mean for car ownership.
The post received over 119K upvotes and 6,000 comments at the time of writing. It also lit up other Reddit subreddits such as r/Technology.
Never let facts get in the way of a good story
Let’s be clear on the facts. The new Audi owner is from Denmark. He didn’t need climate control, so he opted out. The dashboard did not ask him to purchase the feature via some over-the-air (OTA) update. The owner thought it odd that:
1) The car came with the button ordinarily used to activate this feature.
2) Pushing it led to a display message.
The existence of this “dumb” button is a nod to the fact that traditionally cars with buttons used to power unfeatured features are left blank, and if you click them, nothing happens.
So that’s kinda all there is. That’s the story.
A portal to wider fears of evil car makers about OTA updates
But of course, Reddit users ran with it, imagining a dystopian world of software lockouts, where auto companies disable essential safety features like brakes or airbags at the click of a keyboard.
Even better if it occurred due to an error in payment for a previously purchased software feature that left you stuck on a freeway or, in a precarious situation:
Your brake subscription has expired, please renew to continue using your brakes.
Put new brake pads in” Sorry but we have detected unapproved non-OEM [ automaker ]. brake pads in your vehicle. Braking system has been disabled for your protection.
People imagined scenarios like a locked car full of babies or beloved pets freezing to death, or being roasted alive due to an evil car maker willfully or accidentally taking away the temperature control functionality with the click of a keyboard.
There’s also a gloomy vision of a future where over-the-air software functionalities come with conditions. Like the need to view a compulsory dashboard advertisement:
Before I deploy the airbag, let’s have a moment to talk about Raid Shadow Legends.
The reality is not all that far from these fears
For over a decade, carmakers have offered over-the-air optional software as an upsell. These include Tesla’s Level 2 “Full Self-Driving” software, and Mercedes Benz’ opt-in subscriptions to increase the steering angle by a few degrees for a tighter turning radius, and access the additional driving sound “Roaring Pulse.”
We’re talking about enhanced functionalities. These are nice to have but — at least for now — not crucial to driving a car effectively and safely.
Car owners’ fears are not without merit. We know that a car maker can technically take away all subscription services if they decide to sunset them.
Just last year, we saw a Tesla lawsuit settlement in response to an OTA update. According to Reuters, Tesla agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle claims that it used software to cut usable battery capacity on 1,743 Model S sedans.
Owners initially saw a 10% reduction lasting about three months, then a smaller 7% reduction lasting another seven months. Tesla restored total capacity in March 2020.
We’ve also seen the impact of 3G sunsetting, making some auto software obsolete, with some requiring a payment to upgrade.
These issues are far more significant than a dumb cooling and heating button, and automakers are doing little to assuage the concerns of car buyers. Owners and the media should voice concerns about anti-consumer business models in the auto industry — but not without losing sight of what’s actually important to fight for, and what’s really at stake.
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(May 3, 2013) The Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals discussed the following matters during its April 25, 2013 session:
Continuance granted for Boardwalk property
The board granted a continuance for a proposed redevelopment at 407 Atlantic Ave., allowing the project’s applicants to come back to the board later with revised plans without having to file a new case.
“Our intentions are to revise our request substantially … and resubmit it after we have had conversations with some of the other folks involved,” said attorney Joe Moore.
The anticipated revision of the plans for the property, currently occupied by the Hampton House, on the Boardwalk between Fourth and Fifth streets, were due to considerable public outcry and consternation about the size and configuration of a new building proposed for the site.
Moore said that he had been recently retained by the property’s new owner, and would be meeting with unit owners of the adjacent condominium buildings as well as with the city’s non-profit urban development company, the Ocean City Development Corporation.
“I was not aware that we had not reached out to OCDC,” Moore said.
Plans for the property entailed the demolition of the Hampton House and the construction of a mixed-use condominium building, with two floors of retail units and three and a half levels of residential space. Exemptions to city code requested for the site included a reduction of building setback from 32 feet to 20 feet, which residents of the El Capitan condo, to the south of the site, feared would block their northward view.
Zoning officials and City Council members received a bevy of letters last week, many of which were forwarded to Ocean City Today, objecting to the size, setback, and parking burden of the proposed construction.
Board OKs Boardwalk shop, Bagels & Balls
The board waived parking requirements for Bagels & Balls, a new eatery slated to occupy Boardwalk storefronts beneath the Royalton Hotel on 11th Street.
According to city Zoning Administrator R. Blaine Smith, the 15 customer seats that are slated to be installed will necessitate, by city code, that the facility provide eight parking spaces. However, such spaces would be nearly impossible to obtain within an accessible distance, and may not be necessary given the property’s use.
“Although we are classified as a restaurant, all of our ordering is take-out,” said Bagels & Balls proprietor Mark McConnell. “Our primary business, probably 99 percent of it, is pedestrian traffic on the Boardwalk. There’ll be no waiters; everyone will come to the counter to order.”
As indicated by its name, the restaurant will serve mainly bagels and crab balls. It will occupy what are currently two separate eateries below the Royalton, with a hole being cut in the wall to join the spaces. A walk-in freezer will also be installed.
Due to plumbing code, 15 is the maximum number of seats the restaurant may offer with a single customer toilet. The property has a second bathroom, but that will be located behind the freezer and accessible to employees only.
“Just to be clear, you have no intention of using the other bathroom for the public and expanding the seating,” reiterated board Chairman Alfred Harrison.
The Ocean City Development Corporation also advised the board to require that at least 10 percent of the property’s Boardwalk frontage feature planters, benches, or other public amenities. OCDC also requested that the large, unused sign in front of the property be removed when the eatery is remodeled.
Midtown TCBY granted parking waiver
The board also granted a parking waiver for a TCBY Yogurt franchise, to be established in the 33rd Street Shopping Center.
Under city code, Zoning Administrator R. Blaine Smith said, shopping centers are allowed to have up to 25 percent of their space used as restaurants without incurring the more stringent restaurant parking requirements. Given that the center already has other restaurants, however, the new yogurt franchise would be subject to parking provisions above what it is nominally allotted out of the 54 spaces in the parking lot to the center’s rear.
“If this was the only food and beverage facility [in the shopping center], they would be subjected to the retail parking requirements instead,” Smith said.
However, as with the previous applicant, business owner Wally Salem said that the vast majority of his business is take-out, and seating at his other two locations on 56th and 127th Streets is rarely more than a third full. The 33rd Street location will have 42 inside and 16 outside seats.
Shopping center landlord and Anthony’s Beer and Wine owner John Christ said he did not anticipate his new tenant creating any more of a parking burden than previous tenants.


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Around one month after laying the foundation stone for a bus plant, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) announces more good news: The wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG has crossed the threshold of 10,000 sold BharatBenz trucks since market launch in September 2012.
Selling roughly 2,200 vehicles in the first quarter of 2014, the youngest brand in Daimler Trucks’ portfolio also achieved a growth of 67% as compared to the same period in 2013. BharatBenz’ sales success is even more remarkable considering the development of the Indian truck market above six tonnes which decreased by around 20% in the first three months of the year.
“It is a tremendous success for us that we have already sold 10,000 BharatBenz trucks within just 18 months”, says Marc Llistosella, Managing Director & CEO of DICV. “Despite a challenging market environment, we rely on high-quality products and transparent pricing without any discount. This is how we have gained the trust of our customers in a quite apparent way.”
In September 2012, DICV started its product offensive with the market launch of the first heavy-duty truck models. The product portfolio grew by several variants and medium-duty trucks in the months that followed. Along with the trucks presented in January 2014, three tractor trailers and one truck for construction-mining purposes, BharatBenz now offers vehicles in the range from nine to 49 tonnes GVW (gross vehicle weight). In the segment above nine tonnes, the newcomer has achieved a market share of 5.3% on the Indian commercial vehicle market.
Since May 2013, DICV has added FUSO trucks to its production portfolio at its plant in Chennai. They are determined for Asian and African growth markets; with Tanzania being added as the latest market. Under the umbrella of Daimler Trucks Asia, the company works closely together with the Japanese subsidiary of Daimler, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC). Next to trucks, BharatBenz- and Mercedes-Benz-branded buses will roll off the assembly line in Chennai starting in the second quarter of 2015. Daimler is investing around 50 million EUR for this purpose.


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Angry Birds is set to make its first appearance on home consoles under the publishing wing of Activision.
The first sign of Angry Birds on consoles was spotted by The Escapist over on Activision's E3 booth. A video showed the Activision logo getting hit by a red bird which then explodes into feathers.
The publisher later confirmed that Angry Birds is coming to consoles.
"We'll have some news for you in about two weeks," Activision told the website. "Wait until you see Angry Birds on consoles in HD."
Activision blogger Dan Amrich also chirped in with a comment on the One of Swords blog, stating "some sort" of Angry Birds game is coming to consoles.
Earlier this week Rovio announced that Angry Birds Space has been downloaded 100 million times in just 76 days.


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With Batman busy cleaning up punks over in Arkham City, it’s up to a bunch of wannabe superheros and villains to cause some chaos in Gotham. Warner Bros. today announced that the download title Gotham City Imposters will be seeing a release date of Janurary 12, 2012, and it will be available on XBLA, PSN, and PC.
Even better, they’ve also announced plans for an open beta, set to start up in December. If you want to get in on the action, simply glide your way over to the game website and register. It’s so easy, a clown can do it.


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Swiss alternative protein start-up Planted Foods AG has secured CHF 7 million ($7 million) in funding, as it aims to scale-up production and expand abroad.
Investors of the seed rounds include Blue Horizon Corporation, Hiltl AG, Good Seed Ventures, Mica Ventures, Joyance Partners, and the ETH Foundation, as well as private investors.
The Swiss ETH Spin-off uses technology to create alternative meat from plant-based ingredients to meet the demand for sustainable protein. The company plans to use the capital to scale-up production, accelerate research and development, as well as enter ‘key European markets’.
Planted claims to have found a way to ‘retain the positive attributes of traditional meat while removing the negatives’. Its technology reportedly mimics the fibre structure of various meat types, uses all-natural ingredients without requiring additives, and adds the ‘juiciness’ otherwise absent from conventional meat analogues.
The start-up’s first product Planted Chicken was launched in late Spring 2019 and is made from pea protein, pea fibre, sunflower oil and water. Planted also offers a BBQ version of its chicken product and plans to launch its new pulled pork product line.
“This seed round will allow us to match the strong demand for our all-natural, 100% clean Planted Chicken in Switzerland and abroad,” said co-founder of Planted Christoph Jenny.
Co-founder Eric Stirnemann said: “We will increase our production capacity to transform plant-proteins into meat by more than ten times.”
Co-Founder Lukas Böni added: “The funding will allow us to further strengthen our cutting-edge R&D and continuously craft the tastiest products.”
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2019