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July 26, 2017
GCI rolls out new No Worries plans for America’s northernmost city
ANCHORAGE, Alaska—Many GCI customers in Utqiaġvik will see the amount of data included in their internet plans increase this week as GCI introduces its new No Worries internet plans. No Worries plans will be more affordable than current plans for the majority of Utqiaġvik customers and prevent unwanted overage charges.
We listened to the concerns and recommendations from the community and worked to create a new product, the No Worries plans, that will better serve our Utqiaġvik customers,” said Paul Landes, senior VP of GCI Consumer Services. In addition to more data and lower costs, customers will no longer have to worry about exceeding their data limit.
With the No Worries plans, a customer who has used their monthly data limit will have the option to continue their use at a reduced speed for the remainder of the month or purchase additional data at a reduced cost.
|Current Alaska Xtreme Plan||10 GB||$79.99|
|New No Worries Plan||20 GB||$59.99|
|Current Alaska Xtreme Plan||40 GB||$169.99|
|New No Worries Plan||50 GB||$149.99|
Customers were notified about the plan changes in recent weeks and can expect an automatic upgrade. Customers with questions or concerns can call 1-800-800-4800 or visit the GCI store in Utqiaġvik to ensure they are signed up for the plan that best fits their needs.
GCI is the largest communications provider in Alaska, providing data, wireless, video, voice and managed services to consumer and business customers throughout Alaska and nationwide. Headquartered in Alaska, GCI has delivered services for nearly 40 years to some of the most remote communities and in some of the most challenging conditions in North America. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com.
Heather Handyside, GCI
(907) 301-3481; firstname.lastname@example.org


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The wait is finally over, as new iPhone models have been announced. And right on cue, case vendors have announced a slew of new protective accessories. Welcome to a special edition of our weekly iPhone-case roundup.Read Full Article
Apple's new iPhones haven't been announced yet, but cases are already available for them, with plenty more on the way.
Not a day seems to go by without some new leaked image of an iPhone 5S or 5C part, which has taken a lot of the mystery out of what Apple will unveil on September 10. But that's a good thing for accessory makers who want to have cases ready to go at launch (if you remember, Apple didn't have any cases in its stores when the iPhone 5 launched, which frustrated a lot of consumers).
Yes, you read the headline correctly. Hard Candy Cases has beaten Apple to the punch by sending out a press release for cases for products that don't officially exist at this point. The company is jumping on the hopeful rumor bandwagon by pinging the tech press with word of these cases -- which (conveniently for the manufacturer) aren't available until October 2013.Read Full Article
There is no “iPhone 5C,” at least officially. Still, that hasn’t stopped Hard Candy Cases from announcing a new line of cases for the new device. The HarvestCraft Slider is available now for preorder at hardcandycases.com.
Priced at $39.95, the new cases are available in nine different colors. These include: red, antique white, beige, black, dark green, orange, pink, silver, and teal blue.
Hard Candy Cases is the latest company to unveil new cases for Apple’s upcoming iPhones, debuting its HarvestCraft Slider ($40) for iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. The slider cases come in three different color combinations per base color package.Read Full Article
We have no clear idea what Apple’s next iPhone(s) will look or feel like, but that hasn’t stopped accessory makers from getting a jump on the competition. Hard Candy has unveiled a new line of smartphone cases that it says are made specifically for Apple’s rumored iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.Read Full Article
Last Christmas, my husband bought me an iPad and I absolutely fell in love with it but I was concerned about letting the kids play on it because I didn’t want it to get damaged or scratched up. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hold out for long and eventually started letting them play games on it and watch their favorite movies and television shows on it.Read Full Article

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Amazon has launched a monthly video streaming service, ‘Prime Video’ which starts off at just $8.99 per month. Amazon’s new standalone service will put them in direct competition with the world’s most popular video streaming service, Netflix as well as Hulu.
Although Amazon launched its subscription video service five years ago, it has always been a yearly subscription at $99 per year but it in a bid to increase its market share,
Like Netflix, Amazon is developing its own original content but it will definitely find it an uphill task to match the success of Netflix shows like ‘House Of cards’ and ‘Orange Is the New Black’.
Amazon has developed content like “The Man in the High Castle,” “Red Oaks”, “Transparent,” “Mozart in the Jungle,” “Catastrophe,” “Bosch,” and “Hand of God.”
Prime Video also offers older HBO programs like ‘Suits’, ‘Vikings’, ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘Black Orphan’.


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Casper Sleep Inc., the privately held American e-commerce company primarily engaged in retail sales of sleep products online, headquartered in the New York City, investors of which included a number of high-profile personnel and entities such as Leonardo di Caprio alongside Rapper 50 Cent, had downgraded its initial public offering valuation forecast below $1 billion, much lower than a previous estimate that the online mattress retailer announced last year.
On Monday, the 27th of January 2020, in a regulatory filing, the company said in was expecting to offer 9.6 million shares which would likely to be priced between a range of $17 to $19 per share, which would proffer the Initial Public Offering a valuation of $182.4 million and the company a market cap of $768 million.
In point of fact, Casper had been valued at an above $1 billion figure less than a year earlier during a fundraising campaign, however, latest forecast suggested a lack of appetite from the investors for Initial Public Offerings following the money-draining attempt of WeWork, which had sidestepped an Initial Public Offering back on September last year.
Meanwhile, suggesting investors have become more and more selective over Initial Public Offerings, a senior research analyst at IPO Boutique, Jeff Zell said on Monday (January 27th), “Valuations in the private market are currently under the microscope, especially with unicorns, as they attempt to tap the public markets. ”


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The North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) announced that it is relaunching the annual buyer’s guide. According to a press release, the 2015 NATDA Trailer Manufacturers Buyer’s Guide is designed specifically to show dealers “at a glance” what is being offered by leading manufacturers in the trailer industry.
“We are very excited about developing the industry’s only buyer’s guide. Our goal is to provide resources that benefit and connect our industry, which continues to be a top priority for NATDA” said Jesse Battle, executive director of NATDA.
NATDA reported that this year’s buyer’s guide will now be interactive, allowing dealers to go straight to each manufacturer’s website and/or social media sites. All segments of the trailer industry will be represented in the buyer’s guide, including: cargo, race, horse, , livestock, enclosed, light utility, equipment, heavy utility, tilt, toy hauler, fifth wheel, gooseneck, towable RV, car hauler, ATV, motorcycle, snowmobile, living quarter, concession, truck beds, marine, dump, flatbed and toy hauler markets (26,000 pounds and under).
If interested in participating in the 2015 NATDA Trailer Manufacturers Buyer’s Guide or for more information, contact Karen Anderson at (310) 384-5385 or [email protected]. To view the live 2012 NATDA Trailer Manufacturers Buyer’s Guide, visit http://natda.org/assets/magazines/BG_2012/.


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The first Utah ski resort opened Tuesday.
Brighton Ski Resort opened three lifts, Snake Creek, Majestic and Explorer.
The resort received nearly four feet of snow last weekend when a winter storm moved through the Wasatch Front.
According to Brighton's snow report, the mountain has a snow pack depth of 39 inches and has received 63 inches of snow so far this year.
A Brighton representative said there are a few groomed trails as well as fresh powder in the trees. Tickets have been discounted to $49 because of the limited lifts and terrain.
Solitude, Snowbird, Brian Head and Alta are all expected to open later this week. Details on resort opening dates.


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LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Scores of Peruvian shoppers stepping out of a popular market in a run-down area of Lima clutch bags of Britney Spears CDs, Adidas sweatshirts, Calvin Klein watches and videos of recent block-buster hits.
What's the secret in a country where the minimum monthly wage is $117 and 54 percent of Peru's 26 million people live on $1.25 a day or less?
It's all fake.
While the traffic of pirated goods -- illegally copied videos and software, clothes with false labels, sham toys -- is a worldwide phenomenon, dealers and shoppers in this poor Andean nation say the trade is booming as hard times make originals unaffordable and technology facilitates reproductions.
"Selling originals just doesn't work because of the (economic) situation. One CD costs 63 soles ($18) -- with that much you could feed a family for a week," said David, 17, whose tiny stand is packed with pirated CDs that go for about 10 soles ($3) apiece and music videos.
He won't reveal his last name though because he, like the hundreds of vendors up and down the aisles nearby, fears he will be identified by police, who occasionally raid markets and street vendors to confiscate illegal merchandise.
"It's a risk," David shrugs. But in a country where 50 percent of the workforce are unemployed or under employed, that's a risk he says is worth taking.
The demand for cheaper, pirated goods is even higher in Peru as consumers pare back on full-price luxuries amid a three-year economic downturn. Officials forecast near-zero economic growth for this year.
BUYING IN BULK
"The prices are super cheap, and here I can buy four to five times as much as I can in an (electronics) store," 23-year-old student Jose Carlos Miranda said as he browses pirated video games with friends.
Monica Diez, 29, paced the aisles of the vast market in search of the vendor who sold her faulty videos that she bought for her 3-year-old son. "I bought them because they were cheap but they didn't work," she said.
Authorities say piracy is a plague that robs the revenue-starved government of taxes, inhibits creativity, and often leaves consumer with a defective product.
The government of President Alejandro Toledo's government, which took office in July and has pledged to kick-start the ailing economy, has said the 2001 budget deficit could reach 2.3 percent of the gross domestic product.
International ratings agency Moody's said recently it would maintain a negative outlook for Peru as it worried about the government being able to get its hands on much-needed tax revenues. So piracy is all the more worrying.
"It might be convenient for people's pocketbooks but in the long term it's a problem stemming from ... poverty," said Ruben Ugarteche, head of the copyright office in the state anti-monopoly and intellectual property rights agency, INDECOPI.
While it's hard to estimate the effect of traffic in pirated goods in the economy, Ugarteche said the trade is rampant. In the United States, for example, some 40 percent of software is pirated. In Peru, that reaches 98 percent.
FIGHTING BACK THE TIDE
Many pirated goods -- sold in markets, on street corners, at stoplights -- are produced in Peru, but more are brought from abroad, adding to a contraband trade that customs officials say costs some $80 million in lost import duties a year.
"This is another channel for contraband -- they're intrinsically related," said Raul Saldias, who chairs an anti-contraband commission at the National Society of Industry.
Officials are trying to curb the business, but they admit a tight budget and the sheer volume of pirated merchandise being trafficked make it a tough fight.
Police make about three raids a week, said Col. Victor Mateo Tueros of the intellectual property rights special police task force, which was launched in February. But he said what his force could control was only the tip of the iceberg.
"We're trying, but this is everywhere," he said.
Ugarteche said the government periodically disposes of confiscated goods like CDs and videos by piling it up and running a steamroller over them or by building giant bonfires of seized CDs and videos.
"This needs to parallel the drug trafficking fight," he added. Peru is the world's No. 2 producer of coca leaf, the raw material for cocaine.
But treading the line between booming demand and promises of a government crackdown, some retail officials played down the thriving illegal trade.
Hermitano Cordova, an official with one of Lima's vast markets packed with fake goods, denied the market he helps supervise sells pirated merchandise.
"Some 99 percent of what we sell is original. To have pirated goods, that would be immoral," he said.


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A new powdered drink called Ample is all set to be a healthier, tastier version of the meal shake loved by tech millennial. The maker claims it to be non meal replacing product.
As per the makers, every ingredient on the Ample bottle is recognizable, save for the probiotic blend, and can be found in our local Whole Foods. It contains organic materials like sweet potato starch, macadamia nut, chia seeds and algae oil. A vegan option is available that doesn’t include whey protein.
Ample’s healthier version has already attracted interest from heavy-hitting investors across Silicon Valley, including fitness buff and former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo and Instagram founder Mike Krieger. The San Francisco-based company also recently hired Clif Bar exec Julie Zimmerman to lead product development.
Ample, founded last year, recently closed a $1 million round of financing led by HawksHead Capital. Meanwhile, it raised an additional $370,000 earlier this year through a crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo.


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BURKE’S GARDEN, Va. —
Mattie Schlabach, an Amish resident from Burke’s Garden, Va., knows the difference between homemade and store-bought ice cream. Her first taste —homemade, of course — was when she was a child, “just knee high to a grasshopper,” she said.
“We always had homemade ice cream growing up,” Schlabach added.
Owner of the Burke’s Garden Country Store since April 1, Schlabach, along with her husband David, are giving residents and tourists a taste of summertime.
“We make chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and peach,” she said.
The fruit-based flavors depend on the growing seasons.
This summer, the Schlabachs have been bringing their homemade treats to local fairs and festivals, including the Fiddlers’ Convention, Cedar Bluff Heritage Festival and the annual Varmint race in Burke’s Garden.
When folks try their ice cream, Schlabach sees all kinds of different expressions.
“They just say it is so good,” she said.
Her favorite ice cream at home is butter pecan; the family will also add toppings and fruits to vanilla. They enjoy the treat all the time, but in the summer, its extra special.
“I think summertime is just ice cream time,” she said. “July is just hot. We like it year round, but the summertime has always been an ice cream time.”
The Schlabachs use a 1940s hit and miss John Deere tractor; the engine runs the ice cream freezer, which makes about five gallons of ice cream. In a wooden bucket, it takes 15 minutes to freeze the dessert. In a plastic bucket, it can take up to 30 minutes. After the first batch, it takes about 10 minutes.
They hope to begin offering ice cream at the store, which is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
July is national ice cream month in America. The celebration started in 1984. According to the International Dairy Food Association, 90 percent of the U.S. population enjoys ice cream every year and the average American eats 48 pints a year. But ice cream wasn’t always accessible until the 1800s and more modern inventions started to develop in the food industry. By the 1940s, ice cream was a consistent treat in the U.S., and could be found in stores and shops.
— Contact Jamie Parsell at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Hedge funder Phil Falcone has agreed to step down as the public face of Lightsquared so the embattled company can negotiate the extension of a debt payment deadline in order to avoid bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal reported.The move comes after the WSJ reported Friday that Falcone was facing pressure from Lightsquared’s board to step down from his post on the board of directors and his role publicly representing the company. It has been reported that Falcone has nearly $3 billion invested in the wireless satellite provider.
Just two weeks ago, Falcone told Businessweek that he was willing to put the company in bankruptcy and engage in legal battle to regain control of the company. But now that Falcone’s stepping away from the limelight so the company can attempt to extend their debt payments, bankruptcy is definitely not the first option anymore. Despite all the money Falcone has funneled into the venture, he’s obviously not the only person in charge at Lightsquared anymore.
As part of the short-term deal, Mr. Falcone would agree to make LightSquared a “bankruptcy-remote” company through provisions that would make it difficult for the wireless communications firm to seek Chapter 11 protection, the people said. Lenders have proposed Mr. Falcone be personally liable if it can be demonstrated that he supported, encouraged or caused a LightSquared bankruptcy at a later date, the people said. That liability—known in restructuring circles as a “bad boy” clause—could result in Mr. Falcone repaying the lenders’ $1.6 billion in debt from his own pocket, one of the people said.
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Laguna Niguel, Calif.—DuChâteau has joined Fuse Alliance, a member-owned organization of professional, commercial flooring contractors, as a preferred supplier.
“DuChâteau is a world leader in sustainably produced engineered hardwood, high-performance vinyl plank products and luxury wall coverings,” said Geoff Gordon, executive director for Fuse Alliance. “We are thrilled to have them as a preferred supplier in our network. Our partnership with DuChâteau gives our members new business opportunities in the market-leading hard surfaces category.”
Founded in 2007, DuChâteau flooring products blends old-world craftsmanship with modern innovation. DuChâteau produces on-trend designs and manufactures luxury architectural finishes, including wall coverings, engineered hardwood and luxury performance vinyl plank. As a major proponent of sustainability, DuChâteau is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, and all DuChâteau wood products contribute to LEED points. In partnership with the National Forestry Foundation, DuChâteau recently launched the DUGOOD initiative which focuses on actions that responsibly help restore the nations forests.
“All of us at DuChâteau are excited about our partnership with Fuse Alliance’s network of talented flooring contractors,” said Gary Cissell, buying group manager for DuChâteau. “Combining our product innovation and design trends with the commercial expertise of the Fuse network will definitely bring growth and success to both of our organizations.”


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Just moments ago, Subaru shared the above picture through its social media pages with the caption, “See you at the New York International Auto Show“, which kicks off for the press on Wednesday, April 16.
The photo suggests that it’s the newly launched 2015 WRX STI sedan, but with an aqua-blue painted rear wing with an added carbon fiber inner spoiler, and a carbon fiber trunk with a spoiler lip.
We don’t have any information on the car at this point, but we will be on the lookout and bring you up to date as soon as we find out.
Unlike the 2015 WRX that sports a new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 268hp and 258 lb-ft, the latest interpretation of the WRX STI sedan retains the 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer unit that churns out 305hp at 6,000 rpm and 290 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm.
By John Halas


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5 ways to celebrate Mother's Day in Sumner County
Celebrate Mom in honor of Mother's Day with these Sumner County events this weekend.
Mother's Day Market
Hosted by Wildflower Farms, the market will have craft vendors, local artisans, food and family-friendly fun.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sycamore Springs – A Country Gathering Place, 3712 Hwy 31E in Bethpage
Visit mothers who have passed on at these local cemeteries, where staff will provide complimentary roses and a keepsake bookmark for all mothers.
When: noon-3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Hendersonville Memory Gardens, Crestview Memory Gardens, and Sumner Memorial Gardens
Mommy and Me Event
Enjoy a fashion show, crafts, Disney princess meet and greet, prizes and more.
When: 1-3 p.m. Saturday
Where: Rivergate Mall food court, 1000 Rivergate Pkwy
►Related:18 ways to celebrate your mother without spending much money
►Related:Spend Mother's Day at a Sounds Game
Free strawberry pie at Shoney's
Families can also enjoy a buffet of slow-roasted turkey, dressing, fried chicken, meatloaf, coconut shrimp, squash casserole, edamame succotash, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and more for $11.99.
Where: Shoney's restaurants, including 307 Long Hollow Pike in Goodlettsville
Mother's Day Open House
Carmen's Day Spa and Wellness Center celebrates the day with light refreshments, complimentary gift bags for mothers, and Mother's Day spa packages, plus deals.
When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Carmen's Day Spa and Wellness Center, 127 Walton Ferry Road in Hendersonville
Reach reporter Jen Todd at 615-575-7143, firstname.lastname@example.org or on Twitter @jentoddwrites.


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BOSTON — A month after letting its chief executive officer go, fast-casual restaurant chain Cosi, Inc. has filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. The filing sets into motion a process the company said is “intended to preserve value and accommodate an orderly going-concern sale of Cosi’s business operations.”
Cosi said it has obtained approximately $4 million in post-petition debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing. The financing is expected to be used to provide the company with liquidity to maintain its operations in the ordinary course of business during the Chapter 11 process.
“We worked very hard to avoid this step,” said Mark Demilio, chairman of the board at Cosi. “With the advice and support of outside advisers, we’ve explored multiple paths, including raising capital through equity and/or debt in either public or private transactions, selling the company outside the bankruptcy process, selling certain assets of the company, and other transactions to restructure the balance sheet or raise capital, while also focusing on attempting to improve sales, reduce costs, and exit underperforming locations. It’s become clear that, despite the extensive efforts by the company, no such transactions are achievable at this time, that the company cannot continue to operate in its current financial condition, and that the best alternative for the company and its creditors would be to accomplish a sale through the bankruptcy process.”
Prior to the Chapter 11 filing, Cosi said it entered into a non-binding term sheet with its lenders, AB Opportunity Fund L.L.C., AB Value Partners, L.P., and one or more entities affiliated with Milfam II L.P., pursuant to which the DIP lenders or their designees have proposed to purchase substantially all of Cosi’s assets. Subject to bankruptcy court approval, the lenders would serve as the “stalking horse” in a sale process under Section 363 of the bankruptcy code, according to Cosi.
Under Section 363 of the bankruptcy code, notice of the proposed sale to the DIP lenders or their designees will be given to third parties and competing bids will be solicited, Cosi said, adding that its board of directors will manage the bidding process and evaluate the bids, in consultation with independent professional advisers and as overseen by the bankruptcy court.
Prior to the Chapter 11 filing, Cosi said it closed 29 of its 74 company-owned restaurants, while its 31 franchised locations are unaffected by the filing.
“This was a difficult step, but it was necessary to address our liquidity issues," said Patrick Bennett Sr., interim c.e.o. of Cosi, Inc. “Cosi’s core business and franchise base remain intact, and we filed with the liquidity resources necessary to carry out the restructuring plan. We believe this process will allow the company to right-size its balance sheet, reduce its debt, and focus on improving the business and stabilizing the brand.”
Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie & Loungee, LLP is serving as legal counsel, and the company said it will appoint a chief restructuring officer within 7 to 10 days.
Over the past year, Cosi has implemented several steps it hoped would help it avoid its current situation. In March, then-president and c.e.o. RJ Dourney said the company would reduce its menu in an effort to steer customers to what it considered its more “cravable” items. But in August, with its strategy failing to pay off, the company let Mr. Dourney go. At the same time, the company said its chief financial officer, Miguel Rossy-Donovan, submitted his resignation to accept the position of c.f.o. at another company.Founded in 1998, Cosi operates and franchises fast-casual restaurants that sell made-to-order hot and cold sandwiches, salads, bowls, soups, appetizers, flatbread pizzas, breakfast wraps and other breakfast products. In fiscal year 2015, Cosi sustained a loss of $15,655,000 on revenues of $89,890,000, which compared with a loss of $16,625,000 and revenues of $77,758,000 in fiscal 2014.


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The scores—especially in the aggregate—offer a quasi-statistical answer to what is an arguably subjective question: Has the advertising industry—and the brands behind the ads—made progressive gains in its portrayals of gays and lesbians? The overall results offer a mixed picture. Of the 4,000 ads, only 35 percent earned a positive rating, while 36 percent earned a neutral score and 11 percent were classified as purporting stereotypes and 18 percent earned a negative rating, which in most cases indicates violent themes.
Indeed, surfing through the library is a paradoxical exercise. Of course, signs of progress are not hard to find, for example, a 2007 TV spot, via Bartle Bogle Hegarty, for Levi Strauss & Co., of a male couple walking down the street hand in hand (Score 100). Then there’s a 2008 print ad from Levi with the message “We support the right of every American to marry” on a black and white photo of the backsides of two men donning the brand’s jeans, the hand of one man resting gently on a back pocket.
But spots with homophobic underpinnings are also in abundance, including the controversial 2007 Snickers Super Bowl spot from Mars Inc. via TBWA Worldwide. In the spot, two auto mechanics share a candy bar until it is gone and they kiss. The pulling out of chest-hair follows. (Score: 44. “The ad suggests that accidental contact between two men of the same sex is worthy of self-mutilation in order to assert the authenticity of one's heterosexuality,” the site notes.) As a result, the spot was pulled. But Mars Inc. fared far better in a 2007 spot, via the same agency. In this ad, a man strums a guitar, singing a song about the candy bar as he serenades a co-worker. “The first man originally seems perplexed, then begins to nod his head and sway to the music. The men exchange glances that could be interpreted as homoerotic,” the site notes. Score: 100.
“In many ways, things have been in a similar place for several years. From an advertising standpoint, there’s a lot of good stuff happening in terms of the creative even though there’s a reasonable amount that’s problematic,” said Michael Wilke, founder and executive director of Commercial Closet. “We are in a transitional period. Some companies are understanding these issues and others are not. And it’s not consistent either. From the same agency we can get both types of work and sometimes from the same client.”
Despite this consistent inconsistency, some things are rather reliable when it comes to gay-themed ads, like the reaction from conservative right-wing groups, including Focus on the Family, the AFTAH (Americans for Truth About Homosexuality) and the American Family Association. In an age of e-mail and online alerts, the potential for controversy continues to deter some brands from utilizing more progressive, convention-busting strategies. “Anti-gay groups will always try to scare organizations who are trying to be inclusive or gay friendly,” Mr. Wilke said.
This backlash can sometimes influence where gay-themed ads end up. “The gist of efforts to reach the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) audience by corporations is still in the LGBT media,” he said.
Even so, Mr. Wilke believes it is not just fear driving media-buying decisions, but practical considerations.
“It’s simply a more effective way to reach the largest number of consumers in that target audience. It’s a matter of spending and budgetary opportunities,” he added.
For advertisers that do make the effort, the upside is big, especially considering the US$ 641 billion in estimated spending power.
Blaine J. Branchik, associate professor of marketing at Quinnipiac University and the author of the recent article, “Queer Ads: Gay Male Imagery in American Advertising” that appeared in the June 2007 issue of the journal Consumption Marketers Culture, said many hurdles abound despite plenty of tangible examples of progress.
“Sometimes it feels like two steps forward and six steps back. You can find great examples and then just horrible ads and you have to ask, what were they thinking?” Mr. Branchik said.
In his research, Mr. Branchik has defined four stages in the depiction of gays in advertising: invisibility, ridicule and scorn, opinion leadership and diversity.


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Simple Energy outlines its EV gameplan
Simple Energy will soon deliver its first product to the customers. While the e-scooters will be available in 13 major cities, co-founders, Suhas Rajkumar and Shreshth Mishra talk about the One and other new products which will soon be revealed in the coming months.
Bengaluru-based Simple Energy will start deliveries of its Simple One by September or October. Autocar Professional participated in the first ride of the e-scooter, and spoke to the co-founders and the engineers to understand what went into the making the electric scooter. But hitching a ride at the Simple One and meeting the Suhas Rajkumar and Shreshth Mishra, one thing became very clear. It is that the term simple does not just apply for the company, it also can be seen in the way this entrepreneurial duo and their team carry themselves, interact with people and even accept comments and feedback.
Their vision is very clear: To make the product safe and best for the consumers. Whenever a question is raised or an issue pointed out, they both either accept that and say it will be changed in the near future, or explain the reasons for it. Co-founder, Suhas Rajkumar in a free-wheeling conversation, spoke a lot on the engineering aspect of the e-scooter and what exactly went into designing it. He also shared his company’s plans going forward. This clearly indicated that the company is ready for the next step post the launch of Simple One.
“There will be no more first rides post this. We want to enter the market and give our potential buyers a glimpse of what we are. I think we have done it, and there will not be any more first rides for new bikes. We will introduce the product directly to the market,” he says. Rajkumar is a Bengaluru boy, growing up in the city and graduating from the Siddaganga Institute of Technology, on the outskirts of the city, in 2013, specialising in Architecture. In 2019, using the designing interest, he set up the EV startup and the product. Prior to this, he had founded another startup, Exar Solutions, an adtech company in 2017.
One: The beginning
And, it does not just stop at One. The Bengaluru based startup is working on other new products, a more affordable scooter and a bike. While Rajkumar confirmed it, Mishra, co-founder, Simple Energy said, “We are working on a more affordable scooter that will be launched in around eight months and will showcase it very soon. And, there is another bike project that we are working on. All these things are planned for the future. Also, a four-wheeler is in the works as well but it will take time. We have the Simple One task now in India and we should get it done.”
Dwelling on the affordable scooter, Mishra added that the basic principle remains the same. “Safety comes first and performance will not be compromised. It would be different from the One and that makes it a unique value proposition for the customers. And, we believe that the market would really like it,” he added.
So far, as a part of Series A funding in 2021, the startup raised around Rs 170 crore. The company is in talks to raise more funds in the coming months. “We are in talks to raise 100 million dollars and that would help us fulfil the needs that we require now. In the next 12-15 months we will be looking for another 500 million dollars which will be used for expansion of product portfolio and expansion across India in terms of dealers, sales and service networks,” says Mishra.
The Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler also signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government for an investment of up to Rs 2,500 crore for constructing the largest electric two-wheeler manufacturing plant in Dharmapuri. As part of Phase 1, the first plant of 200,000 square feet is being constructed near Shoolagiri (Hosur) and has the capacity of up to a million units on an annual basis. Both the founders pointed out that Tamil Nadu gave them the confidence in creating the EV ecosystem which can be sustainable in achieving our long-term goals.
“We will also invite our vendor partners to set up their shops inside the newer larger facility. We are also talking to multiple cell manufacturers to do the same. With this, we can have joint R&D and maybe in the future we can work on products designed for a particular model. Also, we are in the process of setting up the plant near Hosur. The machines have come in and it is ongoing. We had few supply chain issues and they were managed. Soon after the rides get over, we would be rolling out the first product. This stays as per our previous plan of September/October,” Mishra said.
“Around 1.5 lakh vehicles can be made on a per annum per shift basis. This can be scaled to 3-3.5 lakh vehicles by multiple shifts. But it will be a slow process,” he signs off.
This article appears in the August 1, 2022 issue of Autocar Professional.
Multiphysics Simulation can help improve EV drivetrain efficiency by considering various parameters such as electromagne...
Case Study: Shell’s waste-to-value approach offers sustainable solutions to Mahindra & Mahindra dealerships across India
The initiative is one of the many ways that the company is working to reduce the industry’s footprint on the environment...


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Intel launches more silicon and software for 5G wireless networks
Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021.
Intel made the case today that its silicon chips and software are accelerating 5G wireless networks at the edge, and the big chip maker is launching new chips to further improve its position in 5G technologies such as virtual radio access networks (vRAN).
Dan Rodriguez, Intel corporate vice president of the network platforms group, made the announcements in a keynote speech for the virtual Mobile World Congress event today. By 2023, it is expected that 75% of data will be created outside of the datacenter — at the edge, in factories, in hospitals, in retail stores, and across cities. Developers want to converge various capabilities at the edge, such as AI, analytics, media, and networking. Intel wants to be there with the right technology.
In a recent survey of 511 information technology decision-makers, over 78% said they believe 5G technology is crucial to keep pace with innovation, and nearly 80% said 5G technologies will affect their businesses, Intel said.
With this in mind, Rodriguez said that Reliance Jio, Deutsche Telekom, and Dish Wireless are transforming their networks on Intel architecture. The vRAN brings cloud-like agility and automation capabilities that can help optimize the RAN performance and ultimately improve the quality of experience for users.
Intel is also expanding its Agilex FPGA (field programmable gate array) family, or highly programmable chips. It is adding a new FPGA with integrated cryptography acceleration that can support MACSec in 5G applications. This adds another layer of security to vRAN at the fronthaul, midhaul, and backhaul levels.
Above: Intel is unveiling new 5G wireless network tech at MWC 2021.
And Intel said the Intel Ethernet 800 Series family is expanding, with Intel’s first SyncE capable Ethernet Adapter that is designed for space-constrained systems on the edge, and well-suited for both high-bandwidth 4G and 5G RAN as well as other time- and latency-sensitive applications in sectors such as industrial, financial and energy.
Intel summed up the tech as its Intel Network Platform. Intel Network Platform is a technology foundation that can reduce development complexity, accelerate time to market and help to ensure customers and partners can take advantage of the features in Intel hardware, from core to access to edge. No other silicon provider offers this type of flexible, comprehensive software environment. Intel Network Platform includes system-level reference architectures, drivers, and software building blocks that enable rapid development and delivery of Intel-powered network solutions offering an easier, faster path to develop and optimize network software.
Rodriguez said nearly all commercial vRAN deployments are running on Intel technology. In the years ahead, Intel sees global vRAN base station deployments scale, from hundreds to “hundreds of thousands,” and eventually millions.
Why it matters
Above: Intel’s Mobile World Congress in 2018.
Intel said operators of 5G networks want a more agile, flexible infrastructure to unleash the full possibilities of 5G and edge as they address increased network demands from more connected devices. At the same time, the digitalization of the world is creating new opportunities to use the potential of 5G, edge, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud to reshape industries ranging from manufacturing to retail, healthcare, education, and more.
According to a recent survey of 511 information technology decision-makers, 78% believe 5G technology is crucial to keep pace with innovation.
These decision-makers also revealed that they view edge as one of the top three use cases for 5G in the next two years. With Intel’s portfolio delivering silicon and optimized software solutions, the company can tap into an estimated $65 billion edge silicon opportunity by 2025. Intel technology is already deployed in over 35,000 end customer edge implementations.
Operators like Deutsche Telekom, Dish Wireless and Reliance Jio are relying on Intel technology. Reliance Jio announced it will do co-innovations with Intel in 5G radio and wireless core, and collaborate in other associate areas that include AI, cloud and edge computing, which
will help it as they deploy 5G.
Deutsche Telekom is using Intel FlexRAN technology with accelerators in O-RAN Town, in the O-RAN network it is deploying in Neubrandenburg, Germany — a city of 65,000 people spread out over 33 square miles. The company is relying on Intel as a technology partner as it delivers high-performance RAN at scale.
Dish Wireless relies on Intel’s contributions to the 5G ecosystem as it builds out the first cloud-native 5G network in the United States. The launch in its first city, Las Vegas, as well as its nationwide network, will be deployed on infrastructure powered by Intel technology in the network core, access, and edge.
Cohere is pioneering a new approach to improve spectrum utilization by leveraging capabilities in FlexRAN. It is integrating and optimizing spectrum multiplier software in the RAN intelligent controller. Cohere’s testing shows its Delay Doppler spatial multiplexing
technology is improving channel estimation and delivering up to a two-times improvement in spectrum utilization for operators. That’s what Vodafone has seen in 700Mhz testing in its labs.
And Cellnex Telecom, with support from Intel, Lenovo, and Nearby Computing is delivering edge capabilities based on Intel Smart Edge Open. It will allow Cellnex to act faster on data and provide service-level management, improve quality of service, and deliver a more consistent experience to its end users. Deployed in Barcelona, this solution will extend to more markets using this same blueprint developed with Intel and Nearby Computing.
Intel said that from 2019 to 2020, its network business grew by 20%, from $5 billion to $6 billion. Intel’s position is the result of early investments in hardware and software.
Intel predicted a bright future. As 5G blooms to meet its full potential alongside edge computing, artificial intelligence, the cloud and smart cities will become the norm; factory automation will flourish with Industry 4.0; and retail locations will redesign the shopping experience. For consumers, cloud gaming and virtual and augmented reality over mobile networks will become an everyday experience, Rodriguez said.
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- Danielle Wightman-Stone |
Kidswear trade show Bubble London, which held its bi-annual exhibitions at the Business Design Centre in Islington, has confirmed that it is closing its doors after 10 years.
In a message on its website, organisers ITE said: "After 10 wonderful years Bubble has closed its doors for the last time. Goodbye from the team and thank you for all your support and the great times we’ve had. I hope to see you at our other exhibitions Moda, Jacket Required and Scoop."
The trade show, which is billed as the ‘London’s biggest and most comprehensive kids’ show’ is still currently advertising its spring/summer 2019 exhibition on July 15-16. However, that show has also been cancelled with all exhibitors informed last week.
Bubble London event director Lindsay Hoyes, said in a statement: “The childrenswear industry has changed hugely over the last ten years, and throughout that time we’ve grown and developed the show to reflect those changes."
"Over the last twelve months however it’s become clear that the scale of today’s industry, and the budgets available to individual brands, makes it difficult for the kidswear industry to support a major national event such as Bubble London. We’ve therefore made the decision to close the show rather than compromise the values for which Bubble London has come to represent."
Bubble London, the childrenswear trade show, is to close doors after 10 years
The news must be disappointing after the success of the autumn/winter 2018 show in January, which included new features such as the Bubble Runway and the introduction of agent showrooms pioneered by the Scandi-focused Breitenstein Agencies who presented collections from Angulus, Veja, Bobux, Fub, Mar Mar Copenhagen, MP Denmark, Huttelihut and new Icelandic brand Iglo + Indi.
Hoyes added: "It’s been an amazing experience working on Bubble London for the last ten years, and myself and the team would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of the show’s success over that time."
"Having spoken to a large number of brands and retailers over the last few days, and having seen the response to our announcement on social media, it’s clear that Bubble London will be fondly remembered by everyone who showed or visited the event."
Images: courtesy of Bubble London


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This article presents key takeaways from a fireside chat at Bridge Forum 2019 CEO Summit, where we heard from Keith Rabois, General Partner, Founders Fund on the future of FinTech. The session was moderated by Jeremy Kranz, Co-Head of GIC’s Technology Investment Group. Bridge Forum is a unique experience co-created by GIC and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to guide businesses through technology disruption.
In the US, banks arguably do not have strong brand affinity with their consumers. Most customers would have some unaddressed pain points with them. As a result, converting this customer unhappiness into happiness has become a major opportunity for FinTech start-ups. But what are some of the other qualities that would make for successful firms?
The future is mobile
The banking industry’s future is mobile. Beyond that, there are not many macro trends you can just tap into. It is more a matter of bringing many of fragmented innovations to bear. It is a matter of taking advantage of data to serve customers better, and asking questions about using data better, stitching innovations together better, and turning customer disappointment into loyalty.
For young companies, it can be easy to overdo innovation. Most of the start-ups that receive venture capital today are not going to work or change the financial services industry. The ability to be both contrarian and right simultaneously is rare. Yet, a few have ventured and succeeded. There is a lot of innovation in a handful of companies, including Square, Stripe, and Shopify, which has led to success.
Tolerating failure for success
If the CEO of a traditional bank walked into a successful FinTech today, what would they see that their own company needs to do differently? Three things would stand out: (1) a willingness to experiment, (2) a focus on the customer relationship; and (3) – the most important of them all – a tolerance for failure.
The future of consumer banking and the future of banking itself are one and the same. A few of the most successful companies have created mechanisms to enable such innovation. One example is Square, where the product team is protected from criticism from the CEO. While this was initially met with opposition, the idea eventually blossomed. One of its projects, the Square Wallet, failed but the company quickly moved on to a cash app. It was this tolerance for failure that allowed the company to experiment and eventually find the ideal formula. Banks will do well to learn from this as the general sentiment is that they have not been able to catch or act on market signals early or quickly enough.
Today, the conventional wisdom is that there is not one trendy platform that will transform an industry. What this narrative neglects is the widespread opportunity to tap into different technologies, to create meaningful innovation and experiences for consumers, even if they are not visible to the naked eye.
Take satellites for example, which today orbit at a fraction of their previous costs, and the role robotics plays in many organizations. Place this alongside machine learning and AI, and an entire universe of opportunities in autonomous driving, manufacturing, and logistics springs to life.
While AI today receives a significant amount of VC funding, it also creates potential pitfalls for young companies. Many start-ups today make the mistake of pitching themselves as AI companies without explaining how the technology strengthens their offering. As the panel shares, AI companies who lead the industry are the ones where the inputs and the outputs of using AI are clear, where an economic transformation or an accuracy improvement can be clearly demonstrated. One example is Opendoor, which uses AI for its core operations – customers care little for the AI technicalities, but significantly for the instant liquidity it provides for real estate sellers.
The future of venture capital
Moving on to how the VC space will evolve, the panel suggested that the most logical change would be decoupling advice and mentorship from capital. There is no inherent reason that the ability to counsel and be of service to an entrepreneur needs to be bundled with capital.
What will be important will be one’s ability to unearth raw – and often young – talent and turning them into stars. In many ways, this is key to building truly strong companies and where start-ups may have an edge over more established, larger companies, who will be looking for different qualities. While the Valley often focuses on products and technology, success ultimately boils down to team and talent.
After all, the team you build is the company you build.


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YouTube has released a new update to take advantage of the Galaxy Z Flip’s “Flex Mode,” allowing the app to split the screen in two.
While watching a YouTube video on Samsung’s new flip phone while the phone is partly unfolded, the top and bottom of the screen will now switch into separate displays. The top of the screen shows the actual video, and the bottom portion of the screen displays the YouTube interface, including comments and other videos you can browse through.
Samsung says it worked collaboratively with Google’s engineers to develop Flex Mode and that the split-screen feature can be integrated into other apps. In February, Google confirmed that the Flex Mode was not exclusive to Samsung and that other foldable phones could have the feature built-in as well.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip launched back in February with a retail price of $1,380. However, reception for the foldable smartphone has been mixed. My colleague Dieter Bohn reviewed the Galaxy Z Flip, and although he was impressed with the phone’s “solid-feeling” hinge design, he said the Z Flip — along with its current competition — is more like “an expensive experiment than a real product.”


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AN ANTIQUES Roadshow couple GASPED as they learned the life-changing value of their late mother’s jewels – despite making a BIG mistake.
An episode of the BBC show saw expert Joanna Hardy examine the heirloom earring and brooch set, saying they were “absolutely gorgeous”.
A couple were left stunned by the valuation of their items on Antiques Roadshow
The lady brought in her late mother’s brooch and earrings
The lady revealed her mother had died last year and left the items to her, and she admitted: “I didn’t really know what they were.”
She added: “My father used to buy her jewelry a lot, and in fact bought all the girls in the family jewelry quite a lot so that was lovely.”
The family had acquired the jewels – by Cartier – in the 1970s but Joanna revealed they originated in the 1940s.
Joanna explained how a lot of jewellery was made with stones like citrines – which were in the guest’s pieces – because diamonds and emeralds were not as readily available after World War II.
Joanna added the stones were in an 18-carat gold setting but told viewers the earrings had been altered from their original clip on style to a pierced fitting.
She then turned to the valuation and said: “The earrings, because they’ve been altered, you’d be looking in a region of about £10,000.”
The couple were shocked but more surprises were in store as Joanna moved on to the brooch.
She said: “This brooch, which I would run away with,’ Joanna said. ‘I just think it’s spectacular, I love it.
“At auction I could see there would be a little bit of a fight over these, and I would say you’re probably looking in the region of around about £30,000.”
As the guest’s husband gasped behind her and said “My God”, she said: “That is a lot more than I thought!”
The earrings were altered to be for pierced ears as opposed to clip ons
The expert revealed the earrings were still worth £10,000 while the brooch could fetch up to £30,000
Antiques Roadshow is available on BBC iPlayer.
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Answering the question “what is CBD oil” would be incomplete without mentioning the many CBD oil benefits. In addition to positively affecting the endocannabinoid system, CBD has been the focus of more than 23,000 published studies about cannabinoids in relation to various medical indications including anxiety, epilepsy, inflammation, cancer and chronic pain to name few. You can even find CBD for pets that is specially formulated to safely allow your pets to experience the natural benefits of CBD. For a more comprehensive look at these and other studies, visit our medical research and education page. Stay up-to-date on the latest developments in CBD and cannabis in our medical marijuana news section.
Although CBD oils aren’t regulated by the FDA, purchasing products stateside from one of the nine states where recreational and medical cannabis use is legal will likely result in a higher-quality product than buying one made with hemp-derived CBD oil imported from abroad, says Martin Lee, director of Project CBD, a nonprofit that promotes medical research into CBD.
To make matters more confusing, nine states (including California, Washington, and Colorado) let residents buy cannabis-based products with or without THC. Nearly two dozen other “medical marijuana states” allow the sale of cannabis, including capsules, tinctures, and other items containing CBD or THC, at licensed dispensaries to people whose doctors have certified that they have an approved condition (the list varies by state but includes chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, autism, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis). Sixteen more states legalized CBD for certain diseases. But because all these products are illegal according to the federal government, cannabis advocates are cautious. “By and large, the federal government is looking the other way,” says Paul Armentano, deputy director of the Washington, DC–based National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), but until federal laws are changed, “this administration or a future one could crack down on people who produce, manufacture, or use CBD, and the law would be on its side.”
A study published by David Cheng, Postdoctoral Scientist, Neuroscience Research, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia, says that CBD has a potential as a preventive measure against symptoms of Alzheimer’s. This presents yet another exciting development for medical researchers, given the persistent challenges to finding effective solutions for this condition.
California has some of the most rigorous safety standards in the world. Our commitment to these lofty standards allows us to create top quality finished products for your family every time. Our San Diego manufacturers are registered with the State of California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug and must adhere to the strict regulations the department puts forth.
For applications where pure CBD isn’t required, full spectrum CBD oil is the better alternative, as it provides patients the ancillary benefits associated with the many other cannabis compounds. However, important to note, is the issue of what medical conditions are best treated by either pure or full spectrum CBD oil, given the research is in its infancy.
If this is not sufficient for calming your symptoms, a gradual increase of another 25 mg per day, over the course of 3-4 weeks, is recommended. While there have been no reports of more serious side effects when this oil is taken in larger concentrations, it is best to slowly increase your dose to find a comfortable and effective level, given your individual characteristics and needs.
The cannabidiol oil is derived from flowers of cannabis plants and is concentrated in its resin glands or trichomes. These glands contain oil that is rich in CBD which differs in quality and quantity between different strains of the cannabis plant. The active CBD available in the flower can be purified and concentrated using precise production techniques. When oil of high potency and concentration is derived from the glands then it can be used in lesser dosage. This lesser dosage saves money as CBD oil is an expensive product but produces the desired effect.
Along with its better-known counterpart, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical that produces the marijuana high), CBD is one of more than 400 compounds found in the oils of cannabis plant species, which include marijuana and hemp. Unlike THC, CBD will not make you high. That said, this doesn’t mean CBD is not at all psychoactive, as many assert, says Jahan Marcu, Ph.D., director of experimental pharmacology and behavior at the International Research Center on Cannabis and Mental Health in New York City: “CBD does change cognition. It affects mood, which is why people take it for anxiety. And some find that it makes them more alert.”
There has been a fair amount of confusion surrounding the legality of CBD oil. But while the vast majority of cannabinoids are controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act, rest assured that CBD oil is legal across the UK for medicinal purposes, provided it has been derived from an industrial hemp strain that is EU-approved. These strains contain very little to no THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid).
Many people are familiar with cannabidiol (CBD), which is found in highly concentrated amounts in our products, but there are actually dozens of cannabinoids found in hemp, which have shown many benefits in studies. We choose to make all our products with full-spectrum hemp oil, which includes all of the cannabinoids found in the plant, so you don’t miss out on any of the benefits.
Full spectrum CBD includes hundreds of active compounds, each in varying amounts and potencies, each with their own subtle action. The Entourage Effect predicts that some of these compounds can work in concert with each other to produce larger effects than they could individually, and that some compounds support the actions of others or even help render active compounds that normally wouldn’t be.
exhaustion and pain that kept her on the couch much of the day. The 58-year-old Seattle speech coach didn’t want to take opioid pain-killers, but Tylenol wasn’t helping enough. Roth was intrigued when women in her online chat group enthused about a cannabis-derived oil called cannabidiol (CBD) that they said relieved pain without making them high. So Roth, who hadn’t smoked weed since college but lived in a state where cannabis was legal, walked into a dispensary and bought a CBD tincture. “Within a few hours of placing the drops in my mouth, the malaise and achiness that had plagued me for weeks lifted and became much more manageable,” she says. She took the drops several times a day and in a few weeks was back to her regular life.
When looking at isolate, it is important to verify the purity. While many are in the 99.9+% range with no identifiable amounts of THC, there are lower purity ones (such as 99.5% or lower) that may still have trace amounts that show up on the labs. This small amount is typically negligible, and is nowhere near the amount usually found in full spectrum products. But it’s still something to be aware of for those seeking the purest they can find.
In other words, many popular claims remain unfounded – and overlook the fact that there's a difference between CBD that's studied in labs for particular conditions and CBD products that are sold to consumers for general well-being. "What happens is people say, 'Look, CBD is harmless and it doesn't get me intoxicated, so I'm going to take it for what ails me," says Dr. Jordan Tishler, a Harvard physician and CEO of InhaleMD, a Boston-area practice specializing in cannabis therapeutics. "Then they're going to get some perceived benefit because that's the way the placebo effect works, and then they go and trumpet this."
Dosage is important, because CBD can have side effects—the most common are tiredness, diarrhea, and changes in appetite and weight—so it’s best not to take more than you need. As CBD becomes more prevalent, says J. Michael Bostwick, M.D., a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, “I’m reasonably certain new kinds of side effects will emerge.”
Not much, as far as humans are concerned—at least not yet. The vast majority of studies have been on animals, as of yet, and there are few high-quality studies on humans. Even the oil’s effect on pain—something that CBD oil is popularly used for—isn’t proven. “The studies available are small or not well designed,” says Dr. Devinsky. “There’s a lot of religion out there, but not a lot of data.”
We also grow our hemp in close rows, limiting the ability of weeds to establish themselves among our fields. Since we sow our hemp seeds close together, the shade from the fast growing hemp plants inhibit the growth of common weeds, negating the need to use herbicides that could cause contamination. Like with pesticides, we avoid using herbicides because they can affect local biological communities or be absorbed by our hemp plants and transferred residually to our customers.
CBD and THC interact with our bodies in a variety of ways. One of the main ways they impact us is by mimicking and augmenting the effects of the compounds in our bodies called “endogenous cannabinoids” - so named because of their similarity to the compounds found in the cannabis plant. These “endocannabinoids” are part of a regulatory system called the “endocannabinoid system”.
“What is CBD oil” may be your first question, but the real question we have to answer is, “What does CBD oil do?” CBD interacts with the body through the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) or endocannabinoid system. First discovered in the late 1980’s, the endocannabinoid system regulates the body’s homeostasis, or general state of balance, impacting such functions as mood, sleep, appetite, hormone regulation, and pain and immune response. Like an acrobat on a highwire, as the environment around us impacts our normal balance, the endocannabinoid system “corrects” by mediating our body’s reaction to keep us level.


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Cochin Port is planning a new cruise terminal project at Ernakulam Wharf to accommodate cruise vessels in the most professional manner comparable to international standards.
Pon. Radhakrishnan, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, has expressed keen interest in the cruise tourism promotion activities of Cochin Port and assured support for the new cruise terminal project.
He also noted that the prospects of domestic cruise tourism in India with cruise ships home-porting at Cochin are high.
There are new opportunities for Cochin Port with prospective cruise liners showing interest in the circuit, Colombo-Cochin-Male-Colombo, and circuits connecting Mumbai and Male, calling Cochin enroute.
Cochin Port is implementing RFID based Gate Access System and Online Berth Allotment System towards facilitating trade and enhancing efficiency. Radhakrishnan noted that with the waiver of penal interest, the creditworthiness of Cochin Port has been enhanced, allowing it to vigorously pursue new projects.
Pravir Krishn, Joint Secretary (Ports) noted that the hurdles faced by the Port are of short term nature, and that the Port should aggressively promote industrial manufacturing
and related activities in its vast land area.
He said that Cochin Port should go for sizeable projects leveraging the Smart City project it has initiated. He directed Cochin Port Trust
to prepare a futuristic 10-year plan to sustain itself in a profitable manner.


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Cautioning the public against mischievous correspondence, RBI on Monday said an email sent carrying its name for offering a 'new online security protection' is a fraud.
"It has come to the notice of the Reserve Bank of India that an email has been sent in its name from mail id: Reserve Bank Of India and signed by RBI, Security Team offering a 'new online security protection' called 'Netsecured' to "reduce fraud and theft in various banking system (and) to enable all customer's online banking in all Indian Banks to get protected and Secured," an RBI release said.
The RBI also cautioned the public that it has not developed any such software. RBI has not sent any such mail asking online banking customers to update their account details to secure their online accounts, the release added.
"Reserve Bank does not have any mail id with extension @rbi.com," he said.


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Like I guessed about two years ago, Google are now trying to undermine the ad blocking market by releasing their own ad blocker, which will of course not block ads served by Google. It will probably also not block other privacy invasions or tracking systems that would benefit Google or its customers. Since Google is the world’s largest advertisement company, that’s quite a few.
This is likely just the first step of several that they might take while abusing their browser dominance. Watch carefully as things get worse the higher Chrome’s market share climbs.
You can still use an independent web browser, but who knows for how long? The effects I described in that old article linked above might lead to content no longer working correctly on anything but Google Chrome, and by that time Google’s control of what you can and cannot see, and also of how much of your privacy you are forced to surrender, will be total.


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A report by Bloomberg revealed that the average range of electric vehicles (EVs) has increased significantly, an added bonus to their already cost-efficient nature that simultaneously solves one of the main hangups for prospective buyers.
Many potential EV owners have long been concerned about “range anxiety,” or the concern over whether EVs can travel long distances on a single charge. Another worry? Finding charging stations on long trips.
But new advancements have allowed for the range of EVs to steadily increase, with the average range going from 260 miles per charge in 2020 to 291 in 2022. Overall, the average range since 2011 has quadrupled, according to Axios.
EVs can now match the range of gas-powered cars, with Evercharge reporting that the average gas-based vehicle travels between 250-300 miles on a single tank.
In addition, the number of charging stations in the United States is growing. The International Energy Agency reports that public EV charging stations were up 40% in 2021. And in the coming years, 35 U.S. states will be getting a combined 500,000 chargers, thanks to new government policies.
EVs offer a wide range of benefits for buyers, the biggest being that you’ll never have to stop for gas. While you will need to pay for the electricity that charges the car, that typically costs the equivalent of $1.20 per gallon, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
An added bonus is that EVs are more environmentally friendly than gas-powered cars.
When gasoline is used to power a car, it sends polluting gases into the atmosphere, which are both dangerous for humans to inhale and a major source of rising global temperatures. A typical car creates 10,000 pounds of these gases per year.
The range of EVs can vary based on factors like climate control, weather, and speed, but they are on the right path to becoming an even more popular, cost-effective transportation option. Companies like Toyota are expanding their production of EVs, and even delivery companies like Domino’s are expressing interest — showcasing just how much money these vehicles can save.
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.


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A major new development on South Congress Avenue means several local businesses will soon be forced to relocate. So, what’s next for the iconic Austin corridor?
On a quiet Wednesday morning, a few customers stop in for haircuts and blowouts at Wet Salon and Studio. Co-owner James Haddox said like his clients, his South Congress business has tried on some different looks over the years.
“Over the course of 17 years, the layout and everything has changed quite a bit, and that’s part of what our business is,” Haddox said. “It’s all about change and growing.”
And more change is on the horizon. In a few months, Wet Salon will be moving to make way for a new, mixed-use development. The project’s engineering firm, Big Red Dog, declined to comment. The design firm, Lake Flato Architects, also did not respond to interview requests, but documents filed with the city show the development includes more than 130,000 square feet of office space, retail and restaurants, along with a parking garage.
The property spans five lots on a 1.5-acre stretch of South Congress. It encompasses businesses including Texas National Outfitters, United Apparel Liquidators, Ignite Fitnez and Strut. Next door to Wet Salon, the Sfanthor House of Wax has already closed its doors. Haddox said it’s a shame to see those local merchants go, but he’s focusing on moving forward.
“I truly believe that just like when we came to South Congress 17 years ago, the area that we are planning to move to is going to be the next cool area, and a lot of businesses that are going in there are not new,” he said. “They’re established Austin businesses.”


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Hamza Farid Malik
According to Bloomberg, opportunists bought a much less expensive NFT worth more than $ 1 million ($ AU1) in total because of a bug in OpenSea.
One boring ape NFT sold at 128 ether was purchased at 87 ether. That is, the seller missed $ US90,000 ($ AU126,011).
OpenSea said it closed the loophole that redisplayed the old list when the item was returned to the wallet.
Opportunists have exploited OpenSea loopholes to buy over $ 1 million (AU1) NFTs for just a few thousand dollars. Bloomberg report.
Market buyers were able to buy popular NFTs at older prices, well below market prices, from a list created some time ago. In short, sellers noticed that their products were significantly cheaper than expected.
One missed a profit of $ 90,000 ($ 126,011 AU) when he discovered his profit. Boring ape yacht club According to Bloomberg, the NFT was priced at 128 ethers, which was almost $ 286,000 ($ AU400,434) at the time, but was purchased at 87 ethers for about $ 194,000 ($ AU271,623).
OpenSea, the largest market for NFTs, said: Monday tweets..
The loophole occurred when the seller transferred the NFT of the old list to another wallet and created a new list without canceling the original list. Along with the new price, the old price was still available to those who delved into it.
Buyers bought NFTs at older, cheaper prices. Then they sold them at a higher market price.
According to media reports, list items from other NFT collections popular in some wallets, such as Cool Cats, Mutant Ape Yacht Club, and Cyber Kongz, were affected.
NFT (short for “Non-Fungible Token”) is a crypto asset and represents an intangible digital item such as an image, video, or in-game item. They soared last March when artist Beeple sold collage as an NFT at Christie’s for $ 69 million ($ 97 million).
Sellers wishing to cancel their original list on the NFT platform will need to send a message over the blockchain. This requires a transaction fee. Bloomberg reported.. To avoid these fees, the seller may have transferred the NFT to another wallet.
OpenSea admitted a loophole on Monday, saying it couldn’t take action on behalf of the seller.
“We can’t cancel these orders for Lister, so we launched a new list manager today to solve the problem,” he said on Twitter.
OpenSea did not respond to Insider’s comment request.


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A colorway from 2001 will be joining the Air Jordan releases 2018 scheduled to hit the shelves during the Holiday Season. As you likely know, 2018 marked the 30th anniversary of the Air Jordan 3. Jordan Brand recently released the Air Jordan 3 “Chlorophyll” on November 10, 2018. It drew inspiration from and mimicked a Nike Air Trainer 1 colorway of the same that originally made its retail debut back in 1987. As the Air Jordan 3’s 30th anniversary celebration continues, next in line to hit the shelves is its “Mocha” colorway. The Air Jordan 3 Retro “Mocha” is actually making a comeback after 17 years.
Nike‘s latest collection celebrating the opening of its new flagship store includes one of the latest Air Jordan releases 2018. Nike’s “House of Innovation 000” in New York City brings together the digital and physical realms of retail. This new “cross-category premium” store, which is located at 650 Fifth Avenue, is a six-storey building, with each level covering a space of 68,000 square feet. Its grand opening is taking place on November 15th, and it will remain open between 10 AM and 8 PM every day. In commemoration, Nike has put together a “Noise Cancelling” Collection comprising of five sneaker models, one of which is the Air Jordan 1 High.
The Union x Air Jordan 1 colorways will be joining upcoming Air Jordan releases 2018 as a part of “Flight” Collection. You may not know this, but the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG collaboratively designed by Jordan Brand and Union Los Angeles was already made available near the end of October, albeit secretly. As a prank, Union LA set up a “fake” booth with hidden cameras, selling real vintage Air Jordan and Nike sneakers and apparel at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Amidst them, the two Air Jordan 1 colorways and apparel from the Union x Jordan Brand “Flight” Collection were also put up on sale.
One of Jordan Brand‘s Holiday Season collection of Air Jordan releases 2018 will include a “Not For Resale” colorway. With this year’s Air Jordan 1 “Not For Resale” colorways, Jordan Brand seems to be sending a message to sneaker resellers. The fact remains though, profiteers have purchasing and reselling Air Jordan pairs on the secondary market at outrageous prices for as long as sneakerheads have been collecting. Jordan Brand may not be particularly fond of this practice, but they cannot really do anything about it. Apart from perhaps designing colorways like this upcoming Air Jordan 1 “Not For Sale” that officially hits the shelves next month.
One of the upcoming Air Jordan releases 2018 is going to be a part of the recently unveiled Nike x Doernbecher Freestyle 2018 Collection. Jordan Brand and Nike have a long-standing annual tradition of collaborating with the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital since back in 2007. Every year, some of the young patients at the hospital are selected to design specific Air Jordan and Nike sneaker models to be a part of the annual Doernbecher Collection. Nike recently unveiled the Doernbecher Freestyle 2018 Collection, along with the names and photos of the children involved. The collection contains an Air Jordan and several Nike sneaker models.
One of Jordan Brand‘s most recent Air Jordan releases 2018 drew inspiration from an original Nike Air Trainer 1 colorway from 1987. Although not Tinker Hatfield’s favorite (that would be the Air Jordan 11), the Air Jordan 3 was the first Air Jordan model he designed. For its 30th anniversary and Tinker Hatfield’s birthday, the Air Jordan 3 was even transformed to resemble his original sketches of the model. Coincidentally, the Nike Air Trainer 1 was also designed by Tinker Hatfield and one of its original colorways was dubbed “Chlorophyll.” The Air Jordan 3 “Chlorophyll,” which sports a similar color blocking and scheme, recently made its retail debut.


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He did not want to speak.
"His mother and sister are still under the rubble," a neighbour, Mustafa Bahcivan, said.
The stench of dead bodies wafted through the cold, dusty air in Elbistan, epicentre of a powerful aftershock that struck hours after the devastating earthquake that killed more than 33,000 people in Turkey and neighbouring Syria one week ago.
While rescue workers continue to pull people alive from the rubble in some areas, the freezing temperatures in Elbistan, situated in a mountainous area of southeast Turkey, make it all the more unlikely more survivors will be found here.
Residents were trying to retrieve whatever they could from the destruction when Reuters visited the town on Sunday, as excavator trucks dug through the debris.
Bahcivan, 32, owned a mobile phone shop in a street that was almost entirely wrecked. He said he had returned to sift through rubble in the hope of finding intact phones that he might be able to sell.
"This is our home," Bahcivan said. "This used to be one of the busiest streets. Now it's completely gone," he said, as his wife and six-year-old son sheltered in a nearby cafe.
Up the street, four members of a family climbed another mound of rubble, trying to salvage belongings.
"We just want to get some food," said Bilal Bolukbasi, the father. They formed a human chain, passing whatever they could find from the rubble to the pavement, where bags of frozen meat, boxes of crushed tomatoes and jars of grains had been placed.
Around town, residents walked with their phones held up, documenting what remained.
"For memories," one man said.
A team of civil engineers toured the main road. Savas Karabulut, a seismologist from Gebze Tech University, said they were inspecting the damage for an academic report.
By studying the rubble, the team aimed to assess whether some of the newer buildings were erected in contravention of building regulations, he said, criticising the government which he said had failed to heed warnings of a big earthquake.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Sunday that 131 suspects had so far been identified as responsible for the collapse of some of the thousands of buildings flattened in the 10 provinces affected by the earthquakes.
A telecommunications engineer who had toured damage in the area said Elbistan was particularly hard hit.
"It's just like hell," he said.
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Only My Share reports 82% increase in sales in midst of pandemic
- Sales up by 82% between March and September 2020 in comparison to the same period for 2019
- Website rebrand driven by increased demand
- COVID-19 pandemic making renters more aware of financial liabilities
Rent arrears protection service Only My Share has reported a steep rise in demand for its joint and several liability cover from tenants and landlords alike, as the COVID-19 pandemic serves to make renters more conscious of their financial liabilities.
Part of the Housing Hand family, Only My Share offers rent arrears protection to those who rent rooms individually (along with their guarantors), to prevent them from being liable should a housemate fail to pay their rent under a joint and several clause. The company saw its sales numbers climb by 82% between March and September 2020, in comparison to the same time period of 2019.
“The COVID pandemic has caused many renters to reassess their living arrangements. With challenges and uncertainties around everything from job security to university placements, everyone is being a lot more cautious about their financial futures. For instance, as students have returned back to universities, parents do not want to be potentially liable for thousands of pounds of somebody else’s rent. This is driving demand for arrears protection for those renting out rooms.
Terry Mason, Group Operations Director, Only My Share
Driven by this increase in sales and the need for rent protection, Only My Share has taken the opportunity to rebrand its website. As well as making its site more intuitive for customers and delivering enhanced information, the new B2B service will allow landlords to purchase Only My Share protection on behalf of the tenant.
Only My Share primarily serves university students living in houses in multiple occupation (HMO) properties. However, 44% of its users are in the 25- 44 age bracket, meaning that it’s a product for the emerging “generation rent,” as renters of all ages realise the need for rent protection in these turbulent times. By enhancing the user experience, the company is ensuring that all those who need it get the best out of its website.
While the increase in interest in Only My Share has been driven to an extent by the global health crisis, it has served to make many more renters aware of the precarious position they are in. Potentially being liable for somebody else’s rent is never an ideal situation, so Only My Share is looking forward to continuing to help protect individual renters. The company is also on the brink of revealing a new business to business service offering.
“As understanding of rent arrears protection grows, we foresee a continuing increase in demand. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t yet been fully felt. It’s encouraging that so many more people are protecting themselves from becoming liable for other tenants’ rent arrears before it is. The launch of our new website and our new B2B service will help those who are being cautious renting in the private market.”
Jeremy Robinson, Group Managing Director, Only My Share


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Sony Corp. this week began sale of the Playstation 3 12GB SKU at $199.99.
The SKU includes the latest slim PS3 model and a Dualshock 3 controller at under $200.
The PS3 and PS2 sold 1.1 million units combined in the three-month period between Apr. and June 2013.
It forecasts sales of 10 million PS3 units by fiscal Mar. 2014.
Sony will release the Playstation 4 this holiday.


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2 hrs ago | Livonia Observer
Joe Thompson was chosen to lead the new division as its president to develop propane autogas technology for fleet vehicles for companies to deliver products or governmental entities that needed to use vehicles, driving them frequently and accumulating hundreds and hundreds of miles.
5 hrs ago | USA Today
General Motors paid special attention to smoothness and quietness, neither normally associated with big pickups, in redesigning its full-size trucks for 2014.
9 hrs ago | Automobile Magazine
Since CEO Alan Mulally took the helm in 2006, Ford Motor Company morphed from a multinational enterprise characterized by regional fiefdoms, to a truly global operation building cars on common platforms worldwide.
13 hrs ago | AutoWeek
SENIOR EDITOR AT LARGE J.P. VETTRAINO: Go ahead, laugh at the old guy. He's geeked at the prospect of seat time in a 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van .
John Force ended a 19-race No. 1 qualifying slump with a track-record Funny Car run Saturday in the NHRA Kansas Nationals.
While Cadillac sells more models every month than Lincoln, Ford's premium brand offers more SUVs.
Joel oversees High Gear Media's social media channels, video, and OEM outreach, while also reporting the latest automotive news.
At a special event to celebrate the title's 15th anniversary, its creator said he hopes the brand will eventually build its own car.
Ram Truck Director Bob Hegbloom on the 3500 Diesel: Ram Truck Director Bob Hegbloom speaks about the 30,000-pound towing capacity of the new 3500 Ram diesel, 5/15/13. Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press Mike Cairns, Head of Ram Truck Engineering speaks at Chrysler Chelsea Proving Grounds, Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
Gentlemen : I hope you guys could do a piece for me on the relic category, the large sedan.
When the Ford C-MAX Energi was launched, Ford had an agreement with Best Buy's Geek Squad to provide Ford customers with easy installation of 240-volt charging stations in their homes.
Ford Motor Co.'s shift to beef up car offerings that appeal to coastal markets is accelerating ahead of schedule.
First the bad news. During a week of mixed driving, the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid did not get its EPA-estimated 47 miles per gallon.
I happened to be driving the 2013 Ford Flex when editing Tom Sedens' review of Ford's other seven-seat SUV, the Explorer Sport , and I couldn't help but think that this is the car he would have wanted.
Editors of the automotive vehicle valuation and information company have released their "10 Best Family Cars of 2013" and only one, the Honda Odyssey, is a minivan.


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Soundgarden performed their 1994 breakthrough album, "Superunknown", in its entirety for the first time ever, at the iTunes Festival in Austin, Texas on Thursday during South By Southwest and video of the complete set is available.
The concert news comes on the heels of the band's announcement that they will be releasing a 20th anniversary reissue of "Superunknown" on June 3rd.
Videos of the concert can be found here.
Propelled by the singles "Spoonman", "Black Hole Sun", "Fell On Black Days", "My Wave" and "The Day I Tried To Live", "Superunknown" debuted at No. 1 in the US and went on to sell more than 9 million copies worldwide, including 5 million in the States alone.
The "Superunknown" reissue will be released in two versions, a 2-CD Deluxe Edition and a 5-CD Super Deluxe Edition.
Read more about the "Superunknown" reissue here.


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Luxury Daily’s live news from Oct. 28 – Kering pushes sustainability through London College of Fashion partnership; Burberry shows dedication to young talent through BAFTA initiative; Starwood’s North American properties reach record occupancy for sixth consecutive quarter; Bloomingdale’s plans second international store in Abu Dhabi.
Articles Tagged ‘Audi’
German automaker Audi will unveil its limited-edition R8 Competition model at the Los Angeles Auto Show Nov. 21-30.
Luxury Daily’s live news from Oct. 15 – Kering’s climate efforts gain credibility with awards; Karl Lagerfeld gains access to UAE consumers via Galeries Lafayette; Audi’s head of design unveils first concept car; Four Seasons brings James Beard dining experience to Silicon Valley.
German automaker Audi is shifting design directions as Mark Lichte, the brand’s new design director, demonstrates his first concept car at the Los Angeles Auto Show Nov. 19.
NEW YORK – As Audi of America unifies the digital strategy of its independent dealers, customers are given greater control of their buying experience, according to an Audi executive Oct. 14 at Luxury Interactive 2014.
Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Burberry were ranked among the top 100 global brands, according to Interbrand’s 15th annual Best Global Brands 2014 report.
Today in luxury marketing – Nina Ricci confirms Guillaume Henry; Jimmy Choo IPO books covered within price range; Audi said to plan cost-growth reduction of $2.5B; Reinventing the department store.
Luxury brands read from scripts, practiced the art of hand puppets and got to know store employees in videos from the third quarter of 2014.
Luxury Daily’s live news from Oct. 1 – Dior aligns with charitable cause through online auction; Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, Audi see record US September sales; Louis Vuitton teases art center opening with multimedia runway show; Chloé thinks pink for exclusive Lane Crawford capsule.
The U.S. distributors for automakers Porsche, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz saw an increase in sales in September compared to the year-ago period.


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April 12, 2023
Wynne, AR — Retail operations have been restored at the Wynne, AR, Post Office, located at 402 Merriman Avenue East, Wynne, AR, 72396, after being temporarily suspended due to power outages from a tornado. Retail hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday, and 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.`
Delivery has resumed in some areas, but for residents in the areas that remain impacted, mail is available for pick up in the Wynne Post Office lobby from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday, and from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Residents are reminded to bring proper photo identification for mail and package pickups.
Residents in impacted areas are asked to submit a Change of Address (COA) so that their mail can be forwarded to their new address. The Postal Service offers two options for submitting a COA. For a $1.10 identity validation fee, a domestic COA request can be filed online at www.usps.com, or by filling out the COA form found in the Movers Guide at any post office.
We apologize for any inconvenience customers may experience, but the safety of both customers and employees remains our highest priority.


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Kelly Killoren Bensimon of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York" held a shopping event to raise money for charity at in Amagansett on Saturday.
Proceeds will go to Generosity Water, a foundation which constructs wells in unprivileged areas around the globe. Bensimon works closely with the charity in Haiti.
"We're shopping for a good cause," said Bensimon, who has a house in East Hampton, on Saturday evening.
She teamed up with designer Lisa Shaller-Goldberg and the two joined shop-owner Megan Leary for cocktails and to host shoppers.


text: Our very own COO, Tracey McCoy, was recently featured on Forbes.com. Her incredibly insightful article takes a deeper look into influencer marketing and the skyrocketing influencer rates seen across the industry. Tracey addresses the rising concerns of high rates threatening partnerships between agencies and influencers. She recommends 3 tips the industry should consider when faced with this impending situation. Read the full article here.


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Tuesday morning we’ll get to see earnings out of GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME). The estimates for the largest pure-play video game retailer from First Call are $1.12 EPS on $2.89 billion in revenues. Next quarter estimates are $0.29 EPS on $1.55 billion in revenues. Estimates for fiscal Jan-2009 are $2.23 EPS on $8.15 billion in revenues.
Analysts have an average price target north of $63.00. Back in January we had asked if these were recession proof, and then just last week we saw some strong sales data at a time when overall sales are coming in soft elsewhere in retail. One thing that is different about GameStop versus many other retail names is that earnings expectations have climbed slowly over the last quarter, while the opposite has been the case in other electronics sellers.
This is an odd juncture for GameStop, and for that matter the entire video game sector. 2007 saw major gains because of video game console launches in 2006 and a series of stronger and stronger game title sales. As this is the leader in video game retail sales in the U.S., they may be able to offer some unique insight that other more diversified retailers might not see quite as clearly. GameStop Corp. closed down 4% today at $47.00 and its 52-week trading range is $26.50 to $63.77.
Jon C. Ogg
March 17, 2008


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Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has released via its PlayStation Blog new screenshots and a gameplay video for Koei Tecmo’s upcoming hack-and-slash game Samurai Warriors 4: Empires.
Samurai Warriors 4: Empires will be released for PS Vita, PS3 and PS4 in Japan on September 17, 2015.
Check out the new screenshots for Samurai Warriors 4: Empires:
Check out the Samurai Warriors 4: Empires Gameplay Video:
Source: PlayStation Blog Japan
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest PS Vita, Nintendo Switch and 3DS news.


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Boval BioSolutions Acquired By Proliant
Proliant Biologicals, LLC (Proliant), an LGI company (Lauridsen Group Inc.), today announced that it has acquired Boval BioSolutions from Lifecycle Biotechnologies of Fort Worth, TX. The acquisition concluded on September 2, 2019 and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
According to Stephen Welch, President of Proliant, “Boval possesses proprietary technologies that align well with Proliant’s core strengths. This acquisition will further strengthen Proliant’s position as the industry leader in protein fractionation and albumin manufacturing. We are excited to welcome all of Boval’s customers and are eager to work with them to ensure business continuity, while providing an unparalleled level of supply security and technological innovation.”
Proliant has a robust pipeline of new products to broaden its folio as it continues to seek innovative ways to serve the markets it operates within. Among the new products are Alburich™ and Precision Grade™ BSA, both of which target specific applications within the IVD and biologics manufacturing markets. The addition of Boval further enhances Proliant’s ability to bring value and innovation to its customers.
“With nearly four decades of protein fractionation expertise and unmatched, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in two hemispheres, Proliant is in a unique position to supply Bovals’ customers with high quality BSA.” said Cody Yarborough, president of Boval. “It is a great fit, we could not be happier to see our products and technologies come under Proliant’s leadership and to know our customers will be well served.”
To read the full press release, click here.


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The Detroit Speed Open House will take place Friday, October 26th from 5PM - 9PM at Detroit Speed Inc. A BBQ dinner will be available to all who come for a price of $5.00. One hundred percent of the proceeds for the dinner will go to The Todd Gartshore Memorial Fund, which donates to the Victory Junction Gang. Detroit Speed will also have music, games, and chances to win great prizes throughout the evening.
DSE has hosted this Open House for seven years, and they always have a great time opening up their shop for fellow car enthusiasts. Come check out the DSE facility to see all of the new builds and all the other cool cars that will be in the parking lot. They also offer a rod repair for anyone that needs a little help with their hot rod.
"This is always a fantastic chance for us to take some time to show our customers where we work and what we do," said DSE's Stacy Tucker. "We are more than happy to open up the shop to the public and let them get a first-hand look at what it takes to produce our parts and projects. We look forward to seeing everybody out here!"
For more information, go to www.detroitspeed.com


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China will open its market to Argentine beef consolidating the end of a conflict that started earlier this year when Beijing decided to suspend “on sanitary reasons” the import of soy-oil from Argentina, a ban that was only lifted last month.
”The government has just finished a round of talks and negotiations with Chinese officials in order to open the market to Argentine beef” announced Friday Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman in his Twitter, adding that the “(Argentine) export model is steaming full ahead”.
Argentina’s International Trade Secretary Luis Maria Kreckler had anticipated on Thursday that the government of Cristina Fernandez was involved in trade negotiations with Beijing “with the purpose of opening the Chinese market to beef, barley and dairy produce” among other products.
An official release said that negotiations also included other traditional Argentine exports such as apples, pears and wines in the framework of the trade agreement signed last July when President Cristina Fernandez made an official state visit to China.
However praise came with complaints.
“For Argentina the opening of the Chinese market is most significant, the problem is we don’t have what to export. In the last few years government policies have seen the national herd loose 12 million head of cattle”, said Javier Jayo from Argentina’s Rural Confederations.
But Jayo also admitted that conditions are changing and there has been “an evolution” in government policies which means that the doubling of the price of beef in the domestic market in the last two years “generates the conditions to start rebuilding the national rodeo, for which we will have to wait two to three years”.
Argentina currently has less than 50 million head of meat cattle and since the government policy privileges the domestic market, exports in 2008 reached 1.5 billion US dollars which is well below the country’s potential.
Besides the advance of soy fields with high yields have taken over 12/14 million hectares of prime pasture land. Argentina’s farmland is estimated in 180 million hectares.
Argentina in the last two years has been relegated to position eight among beef exporting countries, behind Uruguay with only 12 million head of cattle.
Brazil has become the world’s second beef producer behind the United States, but first exporter with 25% of world beef traded.
Argentina also lost to Uruguay its world’s first position as per capita beef consumer having dropped from 68.7 kilos in 2008 to 56.5 kilos last year, according to official FAO statistics.
The significance of the Chinese market is given by FAO numbers: the annual per capita consumption of meat has risen from 13.7 kilos (mostly pork and chicken) thirty years ago, to 59.5 kilos in 2009.
Last month it was announced that China had resumed soy-oil purchases from Argentina (an operation of at least 200.000 tons) following several months of ban, allegedly for “sanitary” reasons.
Beijing’s decision at the time was also seen as a reaction to tariffs imposed by Argentina on certain Chinese consumer goods which the government of Cristina Fernandez considered were flooding the domestic market.
The Chinese soy oil market represents two billion US dollars a year for Argentina which is the world’s leading exporter. In 2009 according to Argentine sources China imported 4.6 million tons of soy oil which, equivalent to 70% of its demand.
China/Argentine trade has soared from 4 billion USD to 14 billion in 2008, making China Argentina’s second partner behind Brazil and ahead of the European Union.