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Samsung has released the Galaxy F41 smartphone. With the F41, the manufacturer brings a new series which focuses on a stylish device with solid specifications and a considerable battery capacity.
Samsung Galaxy F41
Samsung has released the Galaxy F41. The new smartphone is the first device in the Galaxy F series. The tech giant focuses with the F-series mainly on the life style and younger generation of consumers.
The smartphone has only been released in India for the time being. The Galaxy F41 is focused on young people through online sales and therefore focuses mainly on one strong price-quality ratio.
Samsung has the smartphone features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a U-shaped screen notch. The screen has a resolution of 2340 by 1080 pixels. There is also still a 3.5mm audio jack on the device.
If we look at the performance of the device, there is an Exynos 9611 chipset along with 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage. One of the most striking specifications is the battery with a capacity of 6000mAh.
There is a triple camera at the rear. This offers a 64 megapixel main camera, an 8 MP wide-angle lens and a 5 megapixel depth sensor.
In India, the F41 is for sale for around 200 euros. Whether the smartphone will also come to the Netherlands is as yet unclear. If we look at the Dutch market, the Galaxy M31 is quite equivalent to the F41.


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Enhancing the customer experience for our personalized party favor products has been a big focus for us during 2010, and these new enhancements allow our clients to see in real-time examples of what their products will look like when they are delivered
Enumclaw, WA (Vocus) September 23, 2010
Bellissimo Favors announced today it has significantly expanded its offerings of personalized party favors in an effort to better serve clients seeking to create high-end customized favors for their weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, and other celebrations. Leveraging investments it has made throughout 2010, the BellissimoFavors.com website offers a series of enhanced capabilities allowing clients to easily create, preview, and approve personalized and customized favors for hundreds of new products.
The web site now features over 3,600 party decoration and favor items, with a significant new set of personalized baby shower favors being front and center in the new site layout.
“Enhancing the customer experience for our personalized party favor products has been a big focus for us during 2010, and these new enhancements allow our clients to see in real-time examples of what their products will look like when they are delivered” says General Manager Traver West. “Combined with our expanded décor offerings, we feel like we have the best destination site for someone planning a bridal or baby shower.”
The company has also expanded product offerings in several categories including tableware, decorations, and favors. “With the onset of the Autumn season, we have been working hard to enhance our offering of fall and autumn themed favors for weddings and other seasonal events” shared Customer Service Manager Kim Sales. “Our new line of fall colored favor boxes, and some new personalized offerings is being received really well by our clients.”
Another area of focus for the product team at Bellissimo Favors has been to find new and innovative offerings for clients who want to use favors in the decoration design-scape of their reception or event. To better serve these clients, the company has sought our new suppliers of a variety of table decorations and place card holders that can be used both as a décor item, and a favor.
These enhancements are part of an ongoing set of efforts to reposition the e-commerce website to serve a broader range of clients, with a deeper product line. The goal is to allow consumers to have a single event planning source for decorations, party supplies, and favors for adult oriented celebrations.
BellissimoFavors.com is operated by PartyPail, Inc. from offices in Enumclaw, Washington. The company currently operates four e-commerce retail party decoration websites with a focus on adult milestone celebrations such as weddings, baby showers, baptisms, bridal showers, and 1st birthday parties. Having served almost 100,000 customers, the company is committed to operating as a family friendly organization to both customers and staff alike.
All trademarks used are properties of their respective owners.
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Remember those autographed tongue depressors Green Bay sports memorabilia dealer Johnny Adams Jr. was auctioning off? Well, the framed set of 18 sticks finally has a home. In Glencoe, no less.
Bob Tarnoff, an attorney for 20 years who opened a sports memorabilia store in Glencoe in February, said ``aahhh`` and won the unusual collectibles for $175. Now, Tarnoff owns signatures of Joe DiMaggio, Wesley Walker, Johnny Miller and other celebrities on one of the most unusual pieces of memorabilia ever offered.


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In its 2020-2021 Sustainability and Social Impact Strategic Summary Report, titled Enriching Lives Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow, Mary Kay unveiled its vision and goals for 2030 and beyond.
As part of its sustainability commitment, the company already uses biodegradable plant-based packing peanuts to ship products worldwide and powers its world headquarters, global manufacturing facility and global distribution and automated storage and retrieval system by 100% renewable energy.
“It’s about more than us—it always has been,” said Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer at Mary Kay Inc. “The cosmetics and personal care industries are in transition as companies evolve to meet the growing demands for environmentally conscious, transparent operations and cleaner, ethically sourced products. Mary Kay believes in and supports this evolution.”
Mary Kay’s report included five pillars: business excellence, product stewardship, responsible manufacturing, women’s empowerment and social impact. Among these pillars are three key targets the company commits to achieving by 2030:
- A 30% reduction in plastic intensity, carbon and water utilization.
- The empowerment of 5 million women worldwide through entrepreneurship skills development.
- Providing support to over 10 million survivors of gender-based and domestic violence worldwide.
“While there have been meaningful initiatives implemented throughout the industry—and within Mary Kay itself—so much work remains to find long-term solutions to the environmental and socio-economic challenges ahead,” Gibbins said. “For nearly 60 years, Mary Kay has strived to enrich women’s lives, advance the field of skin health, and create positive community impact around the world. We’re thrilled to take the next important step on our journey.”


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- The three partners form the DOLCE consortium to address sugar and sweetening solutions challenge in different markets and applications.
- Many of the largest Fortune 500 global consumer product goods companies are known to have significant interest in this field.
Zwingenberg, Potsdam (Germany) and Lestrem (France), August 29, 2016: The bioeconomy company BRAIN AG (ISIN DE0005203947 / WKN 520394), the natural product specialist AnalytiCon Discovery GmbH and Roquette, a global leader in specialty food ingredients from plant-based raw materials, announced today a strategic partnership under the form of a consortium by the name DOLCE. Within this unique strategic partnership, the partners will jointly develop natural sweeteners and sweet taste enhancers with the goal to achieve sugar- and calorie reduction in a variety of food and beverages. These developments will benefit the global market and will address pressing needs in terms of sugar replacement.
Always striving for innovation, within the DOLCE consortium, Roquette intends to benefit from the proprietary BRAIN screening technology and AnalytiCon’s access to a huge variety of all-natural ingredients with a particular focus on edible plant material. Roquette’s role will be to take care of the late stage development, production and supply of the compounds to different markets and application fields.
The goal of the DOLCE consortium is to develop cutting-edge natural sweet taste enhancers and sweeteners for nutrition and improved food formulations for their customers, and to deploy a brand strategy on the new solutions, addressing the requirements of global customers. Many of the largest Fortune 500 global consumer product goods companies (CPGC) are known to have strong interest in this field, and the market for consumer goods and beverages is expected to greatly benefit from the development of these new sweetening solutions.
"In the field of food and beverages, there is a high demand for natural sweet solutions, which help to make food formulations lower in calories," says Thierry Marcel, Executive Vice President R&D at Roquette. "We are convinced that this DOLCE consortium will be a reference in the development of new sweetening solutions and will address a formidable and presently unmet market need for all natural sweetening alternatives."
"The DOLCE program has the aim to provide next generation natural sweet solutions and will trigger attractive value for the stakeholders. These sweet solutions will open up new opportunities for different consumer goods markets and products. We are happy that Roquette, one of the leading global food ingredient suppliers, joined forces with BRAIN and our subsidiary AnalytiCon as important partner to enable the manufacturing of natural sweetening solutions", states Dr Jürgen Eck, CEO of BRAIN.
"Together with Roquette we will embark on a joint program and manage the consortium to develop sweetening solutions in different markets and applications fields, deploying a brand strategy on the new solutions and addressing the requirements of global consumers of food and beverages for alternative sweetening solutions," says Dr Martin Langer, Executive Vice President Corporate Development at BRAIN.
"The combination of the BRAIN screening technology, the experience in accessing the toolbox of nature for identification and the development of new solutions together with the availability of the natural ingredient library at AnalytiCon is unique and will give us access to the next generation of all-natural sweeteners and sweet taste enhancers," explains Dr Lutz Müller-Kuhrt, CEO of AnalytiCon.
This DOLCE alliance will enable to further bridge the gap between the discovery and development (BRAIN and AnalytiCon), formulation and production (Roquette) and marketing and sales (CPGCs) of novel sweet innovations into different food and beverages segments, creating new opportunities for consumer product goods companies in different fields.
According to a report recently published on www.marketsandmarkets.com, the sugar substitutes market in 2015 is valued at US$ 13.26bn and it is expected to reach US$ 16.53bn by 2020 (CAGR of 4.5%). In terms of volume, the market is projected to reach 17.03 million tons by 2020. There is a growing demand for new solutions for natural sweetening to mimic the taste of sugar in a healthier way. The global market for high potency sweeteners in 2013 was calculated to be US$ 1.2bn according to a recent study of Credit Suisse. According to a study of Lux Research, sugar substitutes today account for 22% of the total sweeteners market, yet natural sweetener alternatives represent only 1%. Along with trends towards natural and healthy ingredients, these natural alternatives have the potential to replace between 2% and 25% of total sucrose across product categories like bakery and cereal, beverage, and confection.


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Discover more about all things organic. Do you want to plant some veggies? Interested in learning more about organically grown products and produce? We with some information and ideas. Keep checking back as we are going to talk about GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in food and recommend other great producers of tasty organic foods.
Harvard Study Links Pesticide-Laced Corn Syrup to Bee Colony Collapse
The decline of the bee population over the last few years has been blamed on many causes, but a recent Harvard University study gives “convincing evidence” that pesticide-laced corn syrup may be the cause of colony collapse. The study shows that odd behaviors such as abandoning hives, disorientation and confusion could be the direct result of farmers feeding their bees high-fructose corn syrup, which was not an issue until U.S. corn crops started to be sprayed with the pesticide imidacloprid eight years ago. Scarily, the first outbreak of Colony Collapse Disorder occurred just a year afterwards.
Lethal doses of the neonicotinoid family of pesticides (which imidacloprid belongs to) are not the cause of death for bees. Instead, little by little, the bees are poisoned, which gradually deteriorates their fragile nervous and immune systems. This leaves the bees susceptible to parasitic diseases and other sicknesses.
The Harvard University study, which will be published in the Bulletin of Insectology this June, also found that the exposure to neonicontinoids creates the effect of colony collapse, which can confuse bee instincts. Some examples include the production of fewer queen bees and male bees not returning to their hives in winter, both are which completely destructive to the breeding process.
Neonicontinoids are widely used chemicals in pesticides, first used as a pesticide alternative as it has been deemed “safe” for humans, without information on its effect on the bee population. The US Environmental Protection Agency will continue Harvard University’s study, and examine whether the chemical is the true cause of colony collapse, and if it should therefore be banned.
Via The Scientist
3 Reasons Pesticides Are Making Teachers’ Jobs Harder
Today's teachers are dealing with student problems that were unheard of half a century ago, creating unique challenges for educators and students alike. Scientists and leading doctors are increasingly linking environmental chemicals, including many pesticides, to lower performance levels in school. Here are three ways pesticides and kids don't mix.
Loss of Motor Skills
A new study published in the journal NeuroToxicology found strong evidence that a pregnant mother's pesticide exposure could lead to significant damage to a child's motor skills years down the road. In the study, scientists compared prenatal pesticide exposure using mothers' hair, blood, and cord blood samples, along with samples from newborns' hair and meconium, a baby's first bowel movement. (Meconium starts forming during the last months of pregnancy, giving researchers several months of prenatal pesticide exposure data.)
As it turns out, a pregnant mother's exposure to Propoxur—a common bug-killing carbamate pesticide—was linked to significantly poorer motor development in her child by the time the child turned 2 years old. Motor skills are those that shape the ability to perform complex muscle and nerve interactions that produce movement, ranging from writing and tying shoes to using a scissors and writing on a chalkboard. Carbamate chemicals are used to kill bugs in the home and in agricultural fields; the pesticide works by affecting the bugs' brain and nervous systems. It's believed that those same kinds of neurological disruptions are what's harming the children as they develop.
Brain-Draining Pest Killers
A new report looking at environmental chemicals and IQ found that children exposed to organophosphate pesticides, a popular type of chemical used to kill bugs in fruit and vegetable farming, suffer lower IQs. Looking at 25 million children ages 5 and younger, the analysis found that exposure to these pesticides accounts for a collective 17 million lost IQ points. This loss of productivity affects the economy over the long-term and stresses schools and healthcare systems, according to experts.
Vanishing Attention Spans
Diagnosed ADHD cases in kids have been on the rise, with increases between 3 and 5 percent reported annually over the last decade. Mounting studies suggest pesticides are partly to blame. For instance, a 2010 study published in the journal Pediatrics found that children with higher urine levels of neurotoxic organophosphate pesticides were twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Diet is generally the biggest source of pesticide exposure in kids, but a primarily organic diet can slash pesticide levels in the body by about 90 percent, according to pediatrician Phil Landrigan, MD, professor and chair of preventive medicine at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York.
U.S. Organic Industry Praises U.S.-EU Partnership in Organic Trade
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2012–Earlier today, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced that the United States and the European Union formed a partnership that will recognize the two organic programs as equivalent and allow access to each other's markets. Formal letters creating this partnership were signed earlier today in Nuremberg, Germany, by Merrigan; Dacian Cioloş, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development; and Ambassador Isi Siddiqui, U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator. The signing took place at the BioFach World Organic Fair, the largest trade show for organic products in the world.
Under President Obama, USDA has continued to expand markets for American goods abroad, worked aggressively to break down barriers to trade, and assisted U.S. businesses with the resources needed to reach consumers around the world. Together, the U.S. and EU organic markets are valued at more than $50 billion. Under this agreement, estimates show the market for U.S. organics sales to the EU could grow substantially within the first few years. In 2010, the U.S. organic market grew nearly 8 percent to nearly $28.6 billion. And USDA has worked to promote international organic trade. Organic exports reached approximately $1.8 billion in 2010, and that number is expected to grow 8 percent annually over the next several years. Today, more than two-thirds of U.S. consumers buy organic products at least occasionally, and 28 percent buy organic products weekly.
Representatives from the U.S. organic industry—including trade associations and organic producers—praised the U.S.-EU partnership.
Senator Patrick Leahy, United States Senator (Vt.)
"I commend the Department of Agriculture for reaching this important agreement with the European Union, one of our largest trading partners. Since I wrote the organic standards and labeling law in 1990, organic production has become a vital component of Vermont's agriculture and the fastest growing sector of U.S. agriculture. Demand for organic products is growing even faster in Europe, at 10 to 15 percent per year despite the recession. By expanding our farmers' opportunities to sell their organic products overseas, we are expanding the job opportunities and economic growth for organic agriculture in this country. This industry has come so far in the last 22 years, and reaching this new milestone will open doors to even more economic opportunities for our organic farmers and processors."
Matt Mclean, Organic Trade Association's Board President and President of Uncle Matt's Organic-Florida citrus grower and marketer
"This is truly a great day of celebration for U.S. producers of organic products. This monumental agreement opens new possibilities for our farmers, and expands the value of their crops. The EU market will beckon more U.S. producers who have the capacity to produce organic products for export. At the same time, the agreement will make it easier for U.S. manufacturers to obtain ingredients that they need to import from the EU.
Lynn Clarkson, President of Clarkson Grain Co. Inc.
"This is welcome news for the U.S. organic grain industry, which will see its products more easily traded and welcomed in the burgeoning EU market. Organic grains are a vital part of organic offerings, and crucial to global trade."
Jake Lewin, Chief Certification Officer, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
"Eliminating the distraction of multi-standard organic certification will strengthen the application of organic standards nationwide. As a result of this agreement, we expect that more than 800 CCOF farmers and processors will see a reduction in their overall fees and complexity of certification. I cannot wait to tell this to our farming and processing clients who have been managing multiple certification programs for years. These dedicated individuals can now turn their attention to managing their operations and producing more organic goods instead of chasing paperwork for overlapping standards. "
Cathy Calfo, Executive Director, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
"This agreement is vital to specialty crop growers, who number more than 2,000 in California alone. These producers will be able to expand sales in a vibrant European Union market, inspiring growth in a sector that is already creating jobs and economic opportunity. Organic is the sole U.S. agricultural sector that is realizing growth in sales and jobs, according to 2011 reports.
Matthew Holmes, World Board Member, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and Ambassador under the Global Organic Market Access project
"We are very pleased today to see this achievement of organic equivalency between the United States and European Union. This is a major milestone in efforts to further harmonize and facilitate the trade of organic products globally. With the world's major organic systems working together, the impact on agriculture will be as profound as the potential for trade is massive."
Gary Hirshberg, Co-Founder and Chair, Stonyfield Farm; Advisory Member, Advisory Committee for Trade Policy & Negotiations ( ACTPN)
"This agreement is good for trade, but more importantly it's a win for American farmers and consumers. It's a win for farmers because it opens up new markets, and a win for consumers because it upholds Americans' high expectations for the integrity of the organic standard, including a provision that will ensure that any dairy or meat that is exported from the EU to the US can't be treated with antibiotics."
George Siemon, C-E-I-E-I-O and founding farmer, Organic Valley Cooperative
"This is an historic agreement toward building the organic movement and industry. Organic Valley as a farmer-owned cooperative continues to support the hard work of USDA to standardize and protect the organic program. Equivalency will expand and enable the organic farming movement on both continents."
Travis Forgues, Organic Valley farmer in Vermont
"As an organic dairy farmer, I am heartened by news of the EU-U.S organic equivalency. Organic standards have long been something we have shared with Europe, and exports can help more U.S. farmers stay farming the land."
Jenny Lester Moffitt, Sales and Marketing for Dixon Ridge Farms
"We increasingly live in a global economy. Any time countries can collaborate to eliminate or reduce trade barriers, the market is strengthened. This agreement will allow our company to expand our market for organic walnuts, and increase organic production here in the United States."
Andy Berliner, founder of Amy's Kitchen
"All of us at Amy's Kitchen truly welcome this news. We are especially encouraged that the larger shared values and practices relative to organic and sustainable food production between us are no longer overshadowed by minor, technical differences. This new understanding now facilitates an unimpeded flow of Amy's products into the European market, creating jobs in both our U.S. and UK production facilities and making our organic offerings available to the many EU consumers who are seeking a higher-quality organic vegetarian meal option."
Christine Bushway, Executive Director and CEO of the Organic Trade Association
"This long-awaited agreement is a momentous step toward growing organic trade between the world's two largest consumer markets for organic food. It will mean more open avenues for organic producers, and will encourage U.S. farmers to expand their acreage to produce more environmentally sustainable crops."
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
The country of Bhutan plans to be completely Organic by 2020.
Organic farming is fast gaining popularity in the picturesque valley of Bumthang. Organic farming was introduced in 2008 with the formation of a farmers association in Choekhor Geog. The association had only five members. Now the number has swelled to 50.
Farmers grow vegetables like spinach, potato, onion, garlic, cabbage and coriander. These vegetables are in high demand among hoteliers, office goers and the business people.
Tshering Lhaden, a farmer in Chhoekhor Geog, said “there is no dearth of buyers. Hoteliers and civil servants rush to buy them soon as we bring them to the market.”
Encouraged by the success, more and more farmers are taking up organic farming. One of the most recent farmers to take up organic farming is Ap Chechey.
“I saw my friends making good money by selling organic produce. Hoteliers who cater to tourists and civil servants prefer organic produce. So I decided to go organic,” said Ap Chechey.
The officiating district agriculture officer believes that “in a few years time, Bumthang will be one of the leading dzongkhags in organic farming with more and more farmers taking interest in organic farming.”
The local market is only going to grow with the construction of Mangdechu Hydropower Project in Trongsa scheduled to begin by the end of this year.
How I became the smallest farmer in the Midwest
A Chicago gardener discovers that the 'mistakes' in his vegetable garden are easily sold at a neighborhood market, making him arguably the smallest farmer in the Midwest.
Gardeners are widely known as generous folks, eagerly giving away home-grown flowers and food to anyone who asks. The late-summer surfeit of produce often forces us to be extra-generous.
But this year, I took the exchange a step further. This year, I sold a good part of my harvest, making me arguably the smallest farmer in Midwest.
Like any less-than-expert gardener, my vegetable patch generally turns out about 50 percent different than I planned.
This year, for instance, I wanted to try companion planting, so I sowed zinnias with my baby broccoli. An early heat wave murdered the broccoli, leaving the flowers to take over an entire bed. I now have enough to cover a Rose Bowl float.
The same mad, Murphy-esque method left me with an enormous sage plant but no potatoes to season with the herb; hundreds of grape tomatoes but only a handful of slicing ones; and an equal number of delicious but pea-sized heirloom cucumbers.
You could say I specialize in hard-to-eat crops.
Found: a solution
To buy all the ingredients I had failed to grow, I headed to a storefront grocery in my Chicago neighborhood, a friendly shop called Open Produce. It’s a small operation run by young people that stocks a little bit of everything, including lots of local produce.
One day, bummed out by my inability to grow anything approaching a staple, I propositioned the store manager: "Would you like some flowers? For the store, I mean?" Darned if the answer wasn’t yes, with $5 of store credit as my reward.
Emboldened, I offered again and again. "Would you like some sage? Tomatoes?" I got only a few bucks per sale, but it felt like big sums because I had converted my produce into a few dollars.
Moreover, to learn that someone would buy my mistakes made me wonder what other oddly desirable things I could grow. Super-hot peppers? Decorative gourds? Pink peppercorns?
The booming interest in heirloom edibles has meant that seed houses are selling some truly obscure quasi-useful varieties that became rare for a reason. Invariably, they end up in my small plot.
I just planted marshmallow and licorice. Place your orders now.
Why We Should Label Genetically Engineered Food
I’ve recently been activated on the genetically engineered food, or GMO, issue: If nothing is done, any crop or animal with significant market volume will be genetically engineered within the next 10 to 20 years, and consumers won’t know. The main arguments for labeling are:
1) American consumers have a right to know and judge for themselves what they put in their own and children’s bodies. We don’t need Mama-Monsanto-knows-best force-feeding us untested, potentially unhealthy GMO food because we can’t be trusted to make our own informed decisions.
2) GMO presents health risks, for example pesticide from GMO corn showing up in mothers’ and babies’ blood.
4) GMO is contaminating the non-GMO seed supply, interfering with farmers’ right to farm free of GMO.
5) Yield improvements are negligible, and GMO equals chemical-intensive fertilizer/herbicide/pesticide farming, which is not economically or environmentally sustainable.
6) If GMO supporters think GMO is so great, then they should proudly embrace GMO labels. Great quote from a Consumers Union spokesperson in a Chicago Tribune piece: “‘If companies say genetic engineering is fine, then OK, let’s label it and let the consumers make their own decisions,’ said Michael Hansen, a senior scientist at Consumers Union, which produces Consumer Reports. ‘That’s what all the free market supporters say. So let’s let the market work properly.’”
GMO as applied to agriculture is a tragedy, especially in the developing world. Biotech likes to market GMO as vitamins in drought-resistant rice to starving people, but GMO varieties that have been commercialized are generally pesticide/herbicide resistant so Monsanto can sell more chemicals, which is breeding resistant superweeds, and yield improvements are marginal. There’s also been an epidemic of farmer suicides in India as farmers go into debt for GM cotton and then kill themselves. GMO is basically chemical companies selling more chemicals, which farmers in the developing world neither need nor can afford. And synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are all petroleum based so will continue to climb in price, and that isn’t sustainable environmentally or economically.
The UN published a great (and relatively short) report last year about how “Agro-Ecological,” ”less chemical-intensive, more knowledge-intensive” agriculture is what the world needs, and it’s worth reading through. Knowing what plants to intercrop to minimize pest pressure, promote water retention, and build soil fertility naturally is agriculture that is knowledge based, which can’t be monetized and thus is universally opposed by biotech. Biotech concerns own the Obama U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as much as every other previous administration. Obama’s USDA just commercialized Roundup-ready alfalfa—only 7 percent of alfalfa right now is even sprayed with herbicide, and contamination of non-GM alfalfa is inevitable. Also, a GMO corn for ethanol was recently commercialized, which is a sad, perverse incentive of the subsidy schemes in place that promote huge overproduction of corn; corn kernels should not be making biofuel, as the energy return is almost nil versus the energy inputs (compared to sugar cane or cellulosic feedstocks like switchgrass and waste straw).
On a personal front, my dad developed the industry-standard, most-used firefighting foam concentrate for Monsanto in the ’80s, used in structure and forest fires in the U.S. and around the world. (Phoschek WD 881). I grew up selling firefighters on foam with my dad, and we have a rad fire truck in his honor you can check out at AllOneArk.com. In addition, our company had to drop our Dr. Bronner’s food products in the late ’90s because they were based on soy ingredients that we could no longer obtain in non-GM form (about 5 percent of our business at the time).
I’m fine with cool uses of genetic engineering, like E. coli making insulin, better algae for biofuels, and stuff that is not about Monsanto controlling and contaminating the agricultural seed supply and selling more chemicals. This has to stop, or we all will be living on Planet Monsanto within a couple of decades.
Ways to Farm even if you are not a Farmer
If you want to experience the benefits of chemical-free farming yourself—besides buying and enjoying the food—there are several ways you can get a farm experience without quitting your day job or selling your house and heading to the countryside.
Don't own a farm? No problem. Here's how to farm without being a farmer:
1. Start or join a crop mob. A recent New York Times article described the phenomenon of "crop mobs," in which dozens of volunteers gather on a farm for a day to perform tasks that could take an individual farmer days or weeks to complete, such as erecting a hoophouse, mulching field beds, or painting a barn. Participants include other farmers as well as people who want to help out, meet local farmers, and get some exercise. To set up such a group in your area, query local, sustainable farmers in your county about projects they need help with (and when), ask how you can help, and then find like-minded helpers and schedule your own crop mob event. If you belong to a CSA (see below) or shop at a farmer's market, start the conversation with the farmers there.
2. Become a WWOOFer. The World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms program lists organic-farm host families from all over the world who allow people of all different backgrounds the opportunity to spend a week or even months on sustainable farms. Each host family lists the length of stay and expertise level required for volunteers, but many require a visit of just a week or two (perfect for a volunteer-vacation experience) and no immediate farming skills. The volunteers get room and board, and take home invaluable advice they can apply to their own garden—or who knows, maybe one day to a farm of their own. Experiences range from vegetable farms to organic dairy or shiitake-mushroom-growing operations.
3. Join a CSA. Community-supported agriculture involves buying a share of the season's harvest, and it's a great way to ensure a variety of healthy food during the growing season. Some CSA programs even offer meat, cheese, and eggs. But if you want a more hands-on experience, ask your CSA farmers if you can lend a hand. Some programs even let you pay a lower fee if you provide a weekend of volunteer time during the growing season, and some farmers may welcome your help on packing and distribution days. It's a great way to get your hands dirty and become friends with your local farmer. Find hundreds of CSA programs at LocalHarvest.org.
4. Grow a farm crop. Even if you only have a small patch of land, you can still grow a farm crop, and what could taste better than sweet corn grown in your own backyard? Contrary to what you're used to seeing on farms, you don't need to plant rows of the starchy vegetable. For growing sweet corn at home, opt for a square plot in lieu of rows, to maximize use of space. According to Organic Gardening magazine, you can use a Zuni Native American trick and plant the corn in hills in the square patch. For details on growing sweet corn, visit OrganicGardening.com. For other ideas, check out our story, Grow Your Own Farm on Less Than an Acre.
Nothing but Flowers
The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake left many of San Francisco's urban freeways structurally unsound. (Back then, there were many, carving up the core of the city.) But the flipside was a boon: The teardown of broad segments of elevated road has led to the revitalization—the reinvention, really—of neighborhoods like Hayes Valley. It has also given the city chunks of unused space, including the stretch between Laguna, Octavia, Oak, and Fell Streets, where ramps to the old Central Freeway haven't led anywhere in years.
San Francisco plans to develop this lot eventually, probably with mixed housing and green space. But a clever new project has been conceived for the interim years: an urban agriculture cooperative called the Hayes Valley Farm. "The Hayes Valley Neighborhood association contacted the Mayor's Office of Economic and Workforce Development to 'activate' the lots," says Chris Burley, now the project's director. Agriculture was the idea that moved everyone. "We've all seen the power of gardens to transform a space," he says.
First, they had to transform some soil. Raising crops around an ex-expressway has meant thorough testing of the ground to ensure safe lead levels (all but one patch of the site have passed), and extensive layering of organic matter. But now they're off and planting. "[We've] potted up one hundred and fifty fruit trees which will be available for sale to homeowners around the Bay Area," Burley says. "We are also planning on growing vegetable starts in a greenhouse."
As importantly, residents have gotten the chance to work their own urban acres. Much of HVF's labor happens at "work parties," where locals—including young students—learn farming skills and something like the value of tilling with a neighbor. When Burley comments, "at this stage we are allowing things to grow organically," it's interesting to realize he's talking about the community, not the crops.
Build your own Orchard Mason Bee Habitat
We’ve been hearing a lot about the decline in bee populations. Orchard Mason Bees are a type of bee that rarely sting and provide a huge benefit to your garden by pollinating your vegetable garden and flower beds.
The Orchard Mason Bee does not live in a nest like other bees; it lives in wooden blocks, but does not drill holes and destroy wooden items like other bees. It uses holes that are already available. The male Orchard Mason Bee can not sting and the female rarely stings.
Be sure to be cautious of the use of insecticides around bees and especially during open bloom. Use products that are recommended, and during times that the bees will not suffer.
It is a great idea to have bee boxes in our backyards because the blue orchard mason bee will only lay eggs in pre-existing holes. She is not capable of making nesting holes herself and will potentially lay fewer eggs if she can't find adequate housing.
Bee boxes are easy to make, and having mason bees around will help your garden grow. To make your own bee box, follow these simple steps:
• Find an old or new 4x4" block of wood that has not been treated.
• Find a piece of wood that is 7 inches long and 1 inch thick. Nail this piece to the top of the bee box to protect the holes from rain water.
• Hammer a hook into the back of the bee box. Using this hook, hang up the block in an area that is south- or east-facing (exposed to morning light). The box should be about 4 feet off the ground and is most efficient if it is placed near native plants and/or fruit tree blooms.
GM Crops Kill Lady Bugs; Science Suppressed
A recent article in Nature Biotechnology (PDF) reveals data, formerly suppressed by the biotechnology industry, that demonstrate a transgenic variety of corn is fatal to ladybugs. In 2001, at the request of seed company Pioneer Hi-Bred International, university scientists conducted research on a new variety of transgenic corn containing the binary toxin Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1. The scientists found that nearly 100% of ladybugs fed on the corn could not survive past the eighth day of their life cycle.
Pioneer prohibited the scientists from publicizing their data and, when applying for regulatory approval for a corn variety containing the same toxin, submitted different data that made no mention of potential harm to ladybugs. Scientists are often barred from publicizing data that is unwelcome to biotechnology companies, particularly when the corporations themselves commissioned the research.
Based on claims of business confidentiality and strict contracts with researchers, companies are able to keep unwelcome data under wraps and scientists’ hands tied. Companies routinely deny scientists’ research requests and suppress research by threatening legal action, a practice one scientist describes as “chilling.”
In February 2009, 26 corn-pest specialists anonymously submitted a statement to U.S. EPA decrying industry’s prohibitive restrictions on independent research. “The risks of genetically modified crops are coming to light in spite of industry’s attempts to strangle the science,” observes Kathryn Gilje, executive director of Pesticide Action Network North America. Ireland recently banned GM crops in favor of developing agriculture that emphasizes proven agroecological solutions.


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As of March 29, the Bureau of Marijuana Regulation (BMR) joint with the Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) have issued guidance on CBD and Industrial Hemp in Michigan. This comes following the recent legalization back in 2018. However, as many of the rules and licences have been surrounding medical and recreational marijuana specifically, it’s also a great idea to outline the guidance on both CBD and Hemp according to LARA too.
Source: Fowler & Williams
Guidance on CBD and Industrial Hemp in Michigan


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Speculation in India over importers boosting US dollar purchases cause the rupee to fall by 0.2%, the largest drop in a week. Recent gains in the dollar and the demand for the US currency are starting to take its toll on the rupee, and analysts are predicting that the rupee will struggle against the dollar. Despite the rupee’s shortcomings against the dollar, it has performed admirably in October, climbing by 1%. This month’s growth, coupled with last month’s 1.4% gain in September, puts the rupee at the top for emerging market currency exchange rates.
Are you looking to buy or sell currencies? Contact your trader now for live rates, news and currency purchasing strategies.


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According to an August survey by New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, 2 in 3 certified public accountants expect commercial cannabis to help New Jersey’s economy.
NJCPA surveyed 924 CPAs for the report, released Wednesday.
The majority of those surveyed – 68 percent – also either “strongly agree” or “somewhat agree” that state lawmakers need to take steps to mitigate the impact of federal regulations on the industry, including the inability to deduct business expenses.
The NJCPA has sponsored legislation that would decouple New Jersey from Internal Revenue Code Section 280E, the rule forbidding companies engaged in the cannabis business and all other illegal drug activities from deducting business expenses.
Medical cannabis businesses are already adversely affected by 280E. Decoupling would eliminate this burden for state tax purposes and allow the state’s cannabis businesses to have access to the same tax benefits as businesses in other sectors.
“This is clearly a hot button for our members, who feel strongly about the importance of revenue growth in the state. As trusted advisors, CPAs are well versed in a variety of industries, including cannabis, and stand ready to assist business owners,” said NJCPA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Ralph Albert Thomas in a prepared statement.
Adult use cannabis, which would be subject to state sales tax, is on the ballot for November’s general election, perhaps allowing Gov. Phil Murphy to make good on his promise of legalization.
“A commercial cannabis industry is replete with many challenges for business owners, but thankfully CPAs are at the forefront of helping businesses navigate federal tax and banking regulations,” said Melissa Dardan, who leads the NJCPA Cannabis Interest Group.


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The Prime Minister has announced Canada will be imposing tariffs on US steel, aluminium, and other products.
This is in retaliation for US President Donald Trump's tariffs on the same Canadian products announced earlier this morning.
Justin Trudeau said the federal government will impose dollar for dollar tariffs for every dollar levied against Canadians by the US.
The Americans will charge a 25 percent levy on steel and 10 percent on aluminium.
Other products will include: yogurt, coffee and prepared meals among others.


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Mortal Kombat’s first tournament is about to shake up the fighting esports world
While fighting games aren’t as popular as first-person-shooters or even as popular as MOBAs, they do have a dedicated fanbase with plenty of activity around the globe. Specifically, in Asia, and even more specifically in Japan, fighting games are incredibly popular, but even in the West there are countless people that love this type of game – of course, one of the biggest names when it comes to fighting games is Mortal Kombat. Along with names like Dead or Alive, Street Fighter, Tekken and Soulcalibur, Mortal Kombat is incredibly popular… and that despite the fact that when it comes to esports competitions, the latest title in the series – Mortal Kombat 11 – has been surprisingly quiet.
Set to release in just a few days, the announcement for the first series of tournaments came as a bit of a surprise – after some rumours and little definitive information on the matter, the publishers have finally announced their plans… and big plans they are indeed!
Amidst a bit of worry from fans in regard to loot boxes – after what EA did with the Star Wars franchise, a genuine concern among gamers – and the promise that the only sort of microtransaction would be for cosmetics, the anticipation for what is supposedly an ‘amusingly weird’ game steadily rose.
As for the announced tournament series – just a month after release on the 23rd of April, namely on the 24th of May, the first tournament will be held. Nine live tournaments in total will be taking place in the Americas and Europe. The one on the 24th of May will be held in St. Charles Illinois, followed by an online NA competition on June 8th and another competition in Daytona Beach Florida in late June.
These competitions continue through the year, until the total prize pool of $155.000 is used up and the 16-player Final Kombat event is filled up with competitors from around the world. This event is going to take place in March 2020 in Chicago. Further details are still to be announced – we do know that only 15 spots will be filled via the various tournaments throughout the year – the very last spot will be determined via a last-chance qualifier the day before the Final Kombat.
Final Kombat itself has a $100.000 prize pool – a significant amount for a single fighting esports competition, and thus brings the overall prize pool to more than a quarter million dollars – probably roughly what one would need to spend on loot boxes in order to get all the content available in certain other EA games!
NetherRealm – the actual developer of the game series – and thus also Mortal Kombat itself saw its beginning in the very place the first tournament is being held – Chicago. This makes for a fun ‘back to the roots’ event here – a by now cult-series like Mortal Kombat can certainly afford some nostalgia!
If you are already gearing up for the big day – that is to say, April 23rd – that the game is released, you can pre-order the game for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC if you want to. That gives you the maximum amount of time to practice before the tournament series starts!


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The end of Netflix’s DVD-by-mail service marks a significant shift in the way people consume entertainment, highlighting the rapid growth of streaming platforms and the environmental impact of physical media.
Streaming Takes Over: The Rise of Digital Entertainment
The recent news of Netflix sending out its last DVD signifies the end of an era for the company. Over the past 25 years, Netflix’s DVD-by-mail service has played a crucial role in its growth, enabling it to become the streaming powerhouse it is today. Founder Reed Hastings’ frustration with Blockbuster’s exorbitant late fees led to the creation of a subscription-based DVD rental service, which eventually paved the way for the shift to streaming.
The introduction of streaming services revolutionized the way people watch shows and movies at home. No longer bound by physical discs and waiting for mail deliveries, viewers now have instant access to a vast library of content at their fingertips. This convenience and accessibility have propelled the popularity of streaming platforms like Netflix, with the company currently boasting 238 million subscribers worldwide.
The Environmental Impact of Streaming
While the convenience of streaming cannot be denied, it is essential to consider its environmental impact. Physical media, such as DVDs, require the production, packaging, and transportation of discs, contributing to carbon emissions and resource consumption. With the discontinuation of Netflix’s DVD-by-mail service, the company is taking a significant step towards reducing its environmental footprint.
Streaming, on the other hand, eliminates the need for physical media, significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with entertainment consumption. However, it is worth noting that streaming services themselves have their own environmental challenges. The energy required to power data centers and transmit data over the internet contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the increasing demand for streaming has led to the production of more devices, such as smart TVs and streaming sticks, which have their own environmental impacts.
The Future of Entertainment: Balancing Convenience and Sustainability
As we bid farewell to Netflix’s DVD-by-mail service, it is evident that the entertainment industry is rapidly evolving. Streaming has become the dominant form of media consumption, offering unparalleled convenience and a vast selection of content. However, it is crucial to address the environmental implications of this shift.
To ensure a sustainable future, streaming platforms must prioritize energy-efficient data centers, invest in renewable energy sources, and promote responsible device production and disposal. Additionally, viewers can contribute by being mindful of their streaming habits, avoiding unnecessary streaming and opting for eco-friendly devices.
The end of Netflix’s DVD service marks a significant milestone in the entertainment industry’s transformation. As we embrace the convenience of streaming, let us also strive for a more sustainable future, where entertainment and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.


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Spotify and Amazon ‘sue songwriters’ with appeal against 44% royalty rise in the United States – Music Business Worldwide
On January 27, 2018 MBW reported on the CRB’s landmark decision, which stated that royalty rates paid to songwriters in the US from on-demand subscription streaming would rise by 44% over the next five years. That decision was ratified last month (February 5), when the CRB published the final rates and terms for songwriters.
Streaming companies were given 30 days to lodge official opposition to the ruling if they wished. The likes of Apple Music declined to do so – but it’s a different case for Spotify and Amazon, which have now both filed a notice of appeal. Pandora and Google have also asked the CRB to review its decision.
Thank you Apple, and shame on you Spotify, Amazon, Pandora and Google.


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Intel announced today that it's set to invest $100 million over the next five years into U.S. university research.
We love our gadgets. But they treat us with an indifference that sometimes feels like contempt. They're like cats.
NEW ORLEANS -- The rush to build more powerful supercomputers is part of a larger race to solve some of mankind's biggest problems and threats, and one person on the front line of that effort is Thomas Jordan, the director of the Southern California ...
Physicists at the University of California at Riverside have made a breakthrough in developing a "spin computer," which would combine logic with nonvolatile memory, bypassing the need for computers to boot up.
Solid-state processor maker SandForce today announced a new line of controllers for enterprise-class drives that promise to double I/Os per second (IOPS) for those products.
Google is reportedly set to announce later today that it has developed a JPEG alternative that should speed up the Web.
A majority of mobile application developers see Google's Android as the smart bet over the long run even as they vote for Apple's iOS in the short term, according to a survey published Monday.
Panasonic has developed a hair-washing robot that uses 16 electronically controlled fingers to give a perfect wash and rinse, the company said Friday.
Designer Billy May's concept smartphone, the Seabird, might never be produced. But the underlying concepts in the phone -- and inside May's head-- are a wonder, nonetheless.
The future of computing is all about devices that are not just smarter than today's, but are also more aware of the habits and day-to-day lives of their users, says Justin Rattner, Intel's Chief Technology Officer.
Intel CEO Paul Otellini kicked off the company's annual IDF conference today by announcing that Intel is on track to ship a 22-nanometer processor in 2011.
Google is being somewhat circumspect about whether Android or Chrome will run on future tablet computers, with two top executives hinting recently at different possible directions. Analysts also disagree in their predictions.
Starting Wednesday, September 1, if all goes according to plan, you will be able to order one of the first in what will surely be an avalanche of Android -based tablet computers. That's the day the eLocity A7 , running Android 2.2 and based on the Nv...
Remember wristwatches? With the surge in smartphones and their instant access to time and other information, fewer people seem to wear a watch these days.
MIT researchers have used nanotechnology to develop a robot that can autonomously navigate across the surface of the ocean to clean up an oil spill.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
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My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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text: If you're reading this, then you likely already know about Magic: The Gathering (MTG) — a game that has captivated millions since its inception in 1993. Unfortunately, the popular TCG has recently found itself at the center of controversy. Amid growing concerns about overproduction and a shift in distribution strategies, the MTG community is grappling with the potential consequences for the game's long-term health and the impact on the beloved Local Game Stores (LGS) that have fostered its growth for nearly three decades. The Overproduction Conundrum In recent years, Wizards of the Coast, the company behind MTG, and its parent company Hasbro, have ramped up the release frequency of new sets, supplemental products, and special editions. This accelerated production schedule has led to concerns about overproduction, reminiscent of the infamous "Junk Wax Era" of the sports card industry in the late 1980s and early 1990s. One potential consequence of overproduction is the dilution of card value, as increased supply can lead to decreased demand. With more cards entering the market, it becomes increasingly difficult for collectors and investors to identify the "next big thing" or even to simply keep up with the game's rapidly expanding card pool. Additionally, overproduction can put pressure on players to spend more to stay competitive, which may ultimately lead to consumer fatigue and a decline in the game's player base. The Shift in Distribution Strategy Compounding the issue of overproduction is Hasbro's recent move to prioritize direct-to-consumer distribution over the traditional LGS model. By selling products directly to customers through online platforms, Hasbro can maximize profits and control the supply chain more effectively. However, this approach has left many LGS owners and players feeling sidelined, as it undermines the very foundation of the game's community-oriented roots. The Impact on Local Game Stores Local Game Stores have long been considered the lifeblood of the MTG community, providing a physical space for players to gather, trade cards, and participate in tournaments. By cutting back on allocation to LGS, Hasbro is inadvertently threatening the survival of these community hubs. As players are increasingly driven to purchase products online, LGS owners are left grappling with reduced sales and dwindling foot traffic. Furthermore, the limitation of LGS allocations has created a surge in demand for exclusive products, leading to price hikes and a growing secondary market. This, in turn, has generated feelings of frustration among players who are unable to secure sought-after products at a fair price. The Community's Response The MTG community has been vocal in its disapproval of these recent developments. Players and LGS owners alike are concerned that the overproduction and shift in distribution strategy will erode the game's core community values, negatively impacting the social aspect of MTG. Many fear that if these trends continue, the magic that has made MTG a captivating and enduring game for nearly 30 years may be lost. Seeking a Sustainable Solution To preserve the long-term health of the game and its community, it's imperative for Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro to address these concerns and find a sustainable solution. By striking a balance between product release frequency and maintaining card value, the companies can mitigate the risks associated with overproduction. Additionally, reevaluating distribution strategies to better support LGS could help ensure the continued growth and vitality of the game's grassroots community. Interestingly enough, this recent drama surrounding overproduction and distribution shifts in Magic: The Gathering has highlighted the delicate balance between profitability and community preservation. This is a balance that companies like MetaZoo and Pokemon, at times, have both gotten wrong. As Hasbro continues to navigate these turbulent waters, it will be very interesting to see if the game, and the community, persevere.


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Rediscovering Britain’s forgotten foods.
Persuading the British to eat the kind of dried beans that have been off the national diet for several hundred years sounds like a tall order, but an East Anglian business has found that many people are ready to try something new.
Hodmedod, an eight-employee enterprise based in Halesworth, Suffolk, has been working to create new markets for fava beans and dried peas, alongside other less usual pulses, seeds and grains. Since starting out in 2012, the company has uncovered strong demand that has boosted sales of many of its products by about 40 or 50 times in just five years.
The enterprise has been spreading the word about nutritious and tasty varieties of UK-grown crops such as fava beans, quinoa and naked barley by encouraging chefs to use the foods and food writers to tell their readers that it’s time to get away from the stigma that such foods are only for people who can’t afford meat.
Promotion events can also be found throughout the year, such as a Wine Tasting & Cheese with a £5 free bet.
“Our aim is to make these forgotten foods every-day again. We’re doing that by getting them into recipe books, websites and national newspapers. Doing this helps build people’s confidence and encourages them to cook with them.” said Josiah Meldrum, 43, co-founder of Hodmedod, which means ‘snail’ or ‘hedgehog’ in East Anglian dialect.
With market intelligence gleaned from wholesalers, distributors and their own retail website, the team at Hodmedod has been able to show farmers the demand that has allowed their own volume and sales to double almost every year since 2012.
Hodmedod’s vision for a better food system and the quality of the pulses and grains its network of farmers grow won it Best Food Producer at the BBC’s Food and Farming Awards for 2017, an accolade that suggests they are winning hearts and minds, Josiah says “It was a recognition that what we were doing represents a real change in the way that these crops are grown and traded, re-localising crops that are otherwise anonymous, globally traded commodities.
Find out more about the range of products and the Hodmedod story at: www.hodmedods.co.uk.


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These moves mark the next phase in virus fallout: What happens to billions in rent owed for businesses that have been closed? The stakes are high. Retail has a slew of big chains in turnaround mode. And if they do withhold payments, there would be a ripple effect. Landlords can’t afford to stop collecting rent for long, with many property owners sitting on loads of debt.
The situation is likely to get messier. The U.S. relief packages being considered don’t directly address rents. But the Federal Reserve’s actions may give banks the leeway to defer mortgage payments, allowing property owners to delay rent. It’s also unclear if retailers can declare a so-called “force majeure,” a contract clause that covers highly unusual events, and if landlords could then make the same case to insurers.
“The court system is just going to get flooded with a million of these disputes between tenants and landlords,” said Vince Tibone, an analyst at Green Street Advisors. “If the government doesn’t step in in any form or fashion, it could get ugly. They need to respond quickly.”
Mattress Firm, with about 2,400 stores, sent landlords a letter last week saying it would cut rent in exchange for longer leases and offering two options to do so. This week, it sent a more urgent note revoking its earlier offer.
“The decline in revenue and forced store closures across the nation are more drastic, compressed and immediate than we originally anticipated,” the company wrote in a letter reviewed by Bloomberg. “Our need is now more severe,” the firm said, invoking the virus as a force majeure event that “will prevent or prohibit us” from paying rent.
After being contacted by Bloomberg, Mattress Firm confirmed that it has requested a temporary suspension of rent.
“We appreciate our landlord partners, and the responses have been encouraging so far,” Randy Carlin, chief real estate officer for Mattress Firm, said in a statement. “We will continue to do everything we can to maintain business continuity and to ensure there are jobs available for our people to return to when this crisis ends.”
Subway Restaurants, which has more than 20,000 U.S. locations, sent out a letter to landlords last week saying that it might cut or postpone rental payments due to the virus, according a person with knowledge of the situation. The Real Deal, a real estate trade publication, reported on the communication earlier.
In a statement, Subway said it was looking at ways to help franchises mitigate the virus fallout.
Some landlords have recognized they need to help smaller tenants. Irvine Company Retail Properties, based in Irvine, California, is allowing rent to be deferred for 90 days and then paid back with no interest over a year starting in January, according to a document reviewed by Bloomberg. The firm confirmed the practice without further comment.
Bedrock, a Detroit developer, said it will waive rent and other fees for three months for its smaller retail and restaurant tenants.
Retail real estate investment trusts may need to provide leeway on rent, Bank of America said this week after downgrading several REITs. The bank sees store closings lasting through May and the possibility of some locations going away as more fragile retailers are forced into bankruptcy.


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BizBeat Ep. 107: Smart cars a hit at Auto Shanghai 2021
Auto Shanghai 2021 delivered a bevy of electric and new-tech vehicles this year. Even the ultra-luxury brands and the tech giants are going full electric, because the market trend is there. The stakes are really high for all players in this market. How will old-world auto makers and e-car makers survive the game? CGTN's Xia Cheng has the answer.


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NEW YORK: IT management software company CA has selected Access Communications to handle its product PR and Hill & Knowlton for corporate PR. The agency selection follows a competitive search that began late last year.
Bill Hughes, SVP of global communications at CA, told PRWeek the RFP was issued to less than 10 agencies, then narrowed to four firms at the end of February. Incumbent on the product PR account, Blanc & Otus, declined to rebid the business, but several people from the firm participated in sister agency, H&K's, pitch. The new agencies will transition into their roles in May.
“We had a long process and long evaluation process,” Hughes said. “And it was debated by PR, marketing, and senior executives.”
He added that while procurement was involved in the process, “They did not lead the discussion, nor did they dictate hourly fees.” He confirmed the business totals seven figures.
The new agencies join the company at a major inflection point. CA recently named Bill McCracken as CEO following John Swainson's five-year tenure. The company faced scandal after former CEO Sanjay Kumar was indicted on financial fraud charges in 2004.
“The five years John [Swainson] was CEO was about fixing the company and making sure customers knew that CA was going to be around, be stable, and produce great products,” Hughes explained. “Now it is about regaining leadership in the areas where we want to focus.”
The company wants to showcase its range of products, as well as build awareness for its strides in virtualization and cloud computing.
“We are refocusing our efforts on where the industry is going,” Hughes said. “We're going to continue to maintain our core revenue driving products and solutions, but now moving the discussion toward virtualization and cloud, while still talking about mainframe.”
CA forecasts revenues totaling up to $4.4 billion in FY 2010.
“A few years ago, CA decided not to pursue major media, because we wanted to make sure that we were in position to do that,” Hughes said. “We've decided we need to reconnect with major media and start up-leveling the messaging from a corporate perspective.”
The PR efforts will include traditional media relations, internal communications, AR, government relations, branding and marketing, thought leadership, and social media and digital. Hughes commented that CA hasn't always made its PR agencies an extension of its team, but it plans to change that going forward.
For its corporate task, H&K will also tap into its M&A and government relations experience. Access will focus on vertical and horizontal publications, in addition to social media. Thought leadership is going to factor heavily into the work of both agencies.
“[We feel] thought leadership is really about having a point-of-view and perspective and putting a stake in the ground about what your perspective is – no matter what it is,” he said. “We have permission to actually come out and speak not just on behalf of the industry, but even on issues outside the industry.”
For example, the team is considering thought-leadership opportunities around sustainability and measuring carbon footprints for businesses.
Mark Hampton, CEO of B&O, said the agency “had a great seven-year relationship with CA and we are very proud of the work we've done.” He declined to say whether the loss would result in layoffs in the Boston office, which was the hub for the business.
“Boston is still one of the very important tech hubs and we want to grow that business in Boston, not shrink it down,” Hampton said.
“CA is a classic tech brand that now has a revitalized future opportunity with new leadership and market direction,” said Josh Reynolds, global tech practice leader for H&K. “And H&K's sweet spot has been with working with companies who are starting that new chapter in their history.”
Michael Young, SVP at Access Communications, added that he believes CA “is well-positioned given the growth of cloud and data management. Those are areas where Access also has brand strength.”
CA continues to work with Zeno Group for its Internet Security business.


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B Capital Group, the second biggest thing Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has worked on, has closed an $820 million fund, bringing the total assets under management by the firm to $1.44 billion. The firm plans to use this money to revolutionize all large industries in the near future by investing in growing industry disrupting startups.
B Capital has set its eyes on the long game. B Capital co-Founder and Managing Partner Raj Ganguly said, “We believe the next ten years will see a major shift in innovation as entrepreneurs examine industries and practices from new angles and find ways to accelerate connectivity between systems, companies and people.”
Thus, for the ominous “10 year change” that Mr. Ganguly is rooting for, companies need to be prepared, both mentally and financially. And that is what B Capital is gunning for. The fund will be used to invest in growth-stage startups transforming large industries and scaling rapidly. The firm, which already has 30 companies under its portfolio from Asia, Europe and the United States, has been investing in promising, industry disrupting startups left and right, including Synack, a crowdsourced cybersecurity testing platform powered by the world’s most skilled ethical hackers, and Khatabook, the Bangalore-based startup that digitizes local businesses through bookkeeping and online payments.
The firm has a multinational presence, with offices in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Singapore.
Moreover, if you are thinking that the timing of the fund is a little odd, you are right. The world itself, and specifically world economy, is in a precarious state, with many promising and revolutionary ideas dying due to bad timing. That is a big reason why B Capital planned this fund in the first place, to help companies grow despite the trying times. Moreover, with the advent of the virus, new opportunities have opened up for technological companies, which is seeing never seen before traffic.
“Although technology is already embedded in nearly every sector and aspect of daily life, the last three months show us there is still extensive unmet need when it comes to digitization,” said Ganguly, addressing how this was probably the perfect time for this fund.
Additionally, the B2B and B2B2C investing firm has become a pioneer for the investments it has made in the technological startup market. The company’s “unique multinational presence and deep industry knowledge” has enabled it to “o build a portfolio of startups in Enterprise application software, Infrastructure, Security, AI/ML, Fintech and Insurtech, and HealthcareTech and Bio IT that are transforming large traditional industries across borders and geographies.” Thus, for a company so deep in the technological market, the opportunity is ripe.


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CardFlight Raises $1.6 Million In Seed Round
After launching a private beta of services in May, New York-based CardFlight has raised a $1.6 million seed round to expand the company’s mobile payments platform led by venture capital firm, ff Venture Capital. CardFlight, which provides apps and tools for large and medium-sized merchants, allows developers to incorporate in-person card payments into their own app.
Developers essentially get the benefits of an integrated product without having to deal with the complexity of building payments solutions from scratch, while still customizing their mobile application, according to the company.
“Our first clients have integrated and deployed CardFlight, and are already enjoying the benefits of tying payment data to their app’s other functionality such as CRM, inventory management, fulfillment, reporting and analytics,” Derek Webster, CardFlight’s founder and chief executive officer told Street Fight. “Developers already love our product, and we look forward to serving even more customers with an even better product in the future.”
Five months ago, CardFlight began allowing developers to use their technology to accept card payments when the company announced the launch of their private beta. With money in the bank, CardFlight plans to use the capital to increase the speed of its product development efforts and to expand clientele. “This funding will allow us to grow our team, which enables us to add new features to our product and to integrate with even more credit card processors beyond the 23 different ones we already support,” Webster Added.
Myriah Towner is an intern at Street Fight.


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In a novel twist, and what should be taken as a lesson by other Android tablet manufacturers, Lenovo has decided to leave owners of the discontinued IdeaPad K1 Android tablet with a parting gift in the form of a plain Android Ice Cream Sandwich build as a gesture of goodwill. The IdeaPad K1 was one of Lenovo’s first tablets when it was launched in 2011 with an Nvidia Tegra chipset and HDMI output and is now superseded by the S2109 and S2110, both of which ship with Ice Cream Sandwich as default.
As Lenovo has discontinued the tablet from general sale, it has also decided to discontinue official support for the device past the last officially supported update in Android Honeycomb 3.2, which means that while the offering of an official Ice Cream Sandwich build for the tablet is notable for the manufacturer, there are two key caveats to keep in mind:
First, the build of ICS for the IdeaPad K1 as built by Lenovo does not feature the Google Apps suite, which requires seeking out the widely available zip file for the complete Google Apps experience. Second, the build will not be supported by Lenovo in any official capacity, leaving that task up to the development community to which this offering is targeted.
With Lenovo moving on to its latest generation of tablets, it seems the company did not want to completely abandon those that bought its first generation tablet completely and instead came up with a compromise, but whether the compromise is suitable depends on your personal feelings regarding the lack of long-term device support as a result of flashing the build.
To make the offering even easier to digest for those that may not be as technically inclined but still want the Ice Cream Sandwich update, Lenovo has even created a step by step guide to installing the build, but is again targeting the release to developers and enthusiasts because of its uncustomized nature, owing to the lack of the aforementioned pre-installed Google Apps and Lenovo customization most users expect.


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Users of gaming platform Twitch recently got the chance to control three days in the life of a man camping in the woods. The interactive live stream, “Nature Man,” got more than 2.3 million views – a victory not only for Twitch, but also for consumer goods maker P&G, which sponsored the live stream to promote its brand Old Spice.
Gaming is one of the more unusual digital advertising avenues explored by P&G, which had the highest average Digital IQ in L2’s Home Care Index and spends more on ads than any other company in the world. The enterprise estimates that half of its product purchases are influenced by online search or marketing, even though e-commerce accounts for less than 5% of sales. Consequently, P&G is pouring funds into digital advertising – both innovative campaigns like the Old Spice live stream and more traditional ads. The company has more unique display ads and relative impressions than any other home care enterprise, according to L2’s Insight Report on home care enterprise investments.
P&G also set a goal last year of buying 70-75% of digital media programmatically, signaling its commitment to digital. Fellow industry giant Kimberly-Clark has been moving in a similar direction, setting up demand-side platform Turn in 2011 to escape the issues caused by working with digital agencies. Between July 2014-2015, Kimberly-Clark bought 79% of desktop advertising for its Cottonelle, Scott, Kleenex and Viva brands through programmatic channels.
Amazon is one of the major channels for these ads. Along with other home care enterprises like Georgia-Pacific, Procter & Gamble used the e-tailer as an advertising platform, buying sponsored links and product ads as well as standard display ads. Amazon’s digital display ad revenue is estimated to reach $660 million this year.
Walmart enjoyed more popularity as an advertising platform, with more home care brands opting to advertise on the platform over rival Amazon. But Amazon ads were served six times more frequently, suggesting that overall impressions were significantly higher – and that advertising there might be more effective. The effectiveness of sponsoring a game where users control another person’s life, however, is still untested.


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India extends 4.5% tax on import, goods will be costlierStaff Writer | January 21, 2017
India will impose a total of 4.5% service tax over freight on cargoes imported on a delivered or CFR basis from January 22.
Trade and taxes There will be additional burdens on importers
The move is significant because it will make cargoes of commodities such as oil and coal costlier since shipowners will pass on the service tax to Indian importers, shipbrokers said, Hellenic Shipping News reports.
“The implementation of changes in India’s local service tax clause implies that there will be additional burdens on importers of cargoes,” one broker in Singapore said.
Any cargo imported into India such as crude, refined petroleum products, coal, coke, phosphoric acid, gypsum and limestone among others, will become costlier.
The total tax on imported goods will include the 4.2% service tax along with the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Cess and Krishi Kalyan (Farm Welfare) Cess at 0.15% each.
When the service tax was first introduced on freight for imported goods in June 2016, most experts were of the opinion that the service tax was not payable if the owner and the charterer of the ship were not residents of India.
Since June last year, when the contract of supply was on a FOB basis and the vessel was chartered by the Indian importer, the service tax on the freight was paid by the Indian importer, the tanker broker said.
On January 12, the Indian government made a fresh attempt to bring the freight component of CFR or delivered contracts — where the foreign supplier chartered the vessel – into the service tax net. The new notification removes the exemption given to non-resident service providers of freight. ■


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 17, 2020
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced today that he is seeking restitution for more than 200 consumers and sanctions against a Philadelphia towing company for violating the terms of a previous agreement it had with his Office of Attorney General. The settlement agreement, in the form of an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, or AVC, resulted from an investigation that found George Smith Towing had illegally towed cars from various locations throughout Philadelphia, and for violating the city’s towing ordinance.
As a result of the initial investigation, the Office and George Smith Towing, of South 61st Street, Philadelphia, settled the matter through the AVC. However, the Office of Attorney General received more than 200 complaints from consumers alleging similar conduct after the originally announced agreement, but the company has refused to pay additional restitution, and it has engaged in additional conduct that violates the injunctive terms contained in the AVC.
“When businesses and individuals make commitments and enter into agreements with my Office, I expect them to deliver on their promises and hit the brakes on their bad behavior,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “This settlement was to ensure consumers received restitution for the company’s violations and to stop these bad towing practices. George Smith Towing has abandoned its responsibilities in our settlement and, today, we are taking further action to make sure they don’t evade their responsibilities to those they ripped off.”
The company was originally alleged to have violated Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, the Towing and Towing Storage Facility Standards Act, and Philadelphia’s towing ordinance.
The motion for sanctions filed by the Office alleges George Smith Towing and its owner, Anthony D’Angelo, violated the AVC by failing to accept credit cards, towing vehicles when respondents’ signs were not clearly displayed or were missing, charging vehicle owners more than the lawful amount, damaging consumers’ vehicles when towing them, and failing to pay additional restitution.
Shapiro said the Office of Attorney General is asking the court to enter an order revoking the company’s towing license, shutting down the business, directing the respondents to pay restitution to harmed consumers, and directing the respondents to pay a civil penalty for violating the AVC.
The motion for sanctions has been filed in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas by Senior Deputy Attorney General Saverio P. Mirarchi.
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By Catherine Kavanaugh
Daily Tribune Staff Writer
Historic bank building ready for proposed beauty school
ROYAL OAK — The renovation of a former downtown bank building is nearing completion and a new tenant is waiting in the wings for city approval to open a cosmetology school and day spa.
The $4 million makeover of the city’s only Greek Revival building could be followed by the makeovers of Oakland County residents as Scott Weaver, co-owner and president of Douglas J. Aveda Institute, envisions his third location at the corner of Main and Fourth streets.
The institute provides students in Ann Arbor and Lansing with a learning environment that emulates upscale salons and customers get all the pampering at a reduced price. The site plan for Royal Oak calls for one large retail area for Aveda products, three classrooms, four spas, nine manicure/pedicure stations and 24 hair styling and coloring stations. Students also will give facials, hair waxings and massages.
Building owner David Strosberg is optimistic he is finally dealing with the right tenant after five years. National chain stores expressed interest in the stately building with ornate columns until lease talks covered historic issues with display windows and the challenge of turning the old bank vault into usable space.
In 2003, a restaurant called Small Plates won city approval — and the city’s 48th liquor license — but the operators couldn’t get the financing to make it happen. Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar tried last year, but a different City Commission denied the liquor license in a 4-2 vote, saying the downtown doesn’t need another business serving alcohol.
The Plan Commission will have the final say on the Douglas J. Aveda Institute on April 12 because no liquor license is involved. In the meantime, Strosberg is finalizing the lease terms.
“They really want a Detroit-area presence,” he said of Weaver and his partner. “They’re looking for younger demographics and an active area and Royal Oak fits that.”
If plan commissioners OK the new building use, about $1 million of interior work will start to prepare the space for the salon, Strosberg said.
He is pleased with preservation steps taken to date, including a new roof, flashing to make the building water tight, tuck pointing, relocating the entrance to its original location and shipping out the clock for repair.
“It’s night and day compared to what it was,” Strosberg said.
Contractors also discovered the original lettering of Royal Oak Savings Bank under some false facade.
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This is not investment advice. The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Wccftech.com has a disclosure and ethics policy.
Today Qualcomm, maker of all things Snapdragon mobile SoC, posted a mild beat on earnings, and revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018.
The company, based in San Diego, California, reported earnings of 90 cents a share versus Wall Street expectations of 83 cents a share, and $5.8 billion in revenue versus an expected $5.52 billion.
As this is Qualcomm's (NASDAQ:QCOM) final quarter of its fiscal year, the firm counted revenue of $22.7 billion in FY2018, up slightly from $22.3 billion from the previous year.
If you don't follow the company closely, perhaps the most important thing to be aware of is its ongoing battle with iDevice giant, Apple Inc. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has halted licensing payments, claiming that they are unreasonable and illegal. Qualcomm Technology Licensing, QTL, states that it did not receive any royalty payments from Apple for all of fiscal 2018 and reckons the owed figure to sum around $7 billion.
Qualcomm gearing up for battle against Apple
CEO Steve Mollenkopf stated on the call that Apple and Qualcomm were engaging in ongoing conversation in regards to the licensing dispute. With that somewhat ambiguously encouraging statement, and given the mild beat on earnings, shares rose about two-and-a-half percent in after hours trading on Wednesday. However Qualcomm stock has sank even further since, now down almost four percent as of this writing.
Apple spokespeople seemed to contradict Mollenkopf's comments to investors, stating that they are not in talks with Qualcomm 'at any level' earlier this morning. They go on to say they are gearing up for a full trial here in the States against Qualcomm on this matter, and all things considered, settlement is looking less and less likely at this point.
Qualcomm is still hoping to drive growth with the impending release of 5G handsets.
We are executing well on our strategic objectives, including driving the commercialization of 5G globally in 2019 and returning significant capital to our stockholders.
Things are looking choppy for the chip giant. Just yesterday we brought you the news that Qualcomm is going to be forced to license its patents that are integral to modems that allow handsets to access cellular networks.
Now instead of selling modems, the firm will be reluctantly selling patent licenses that will allow others to build their own modems. Previously, Samsung wasn't able to leverage its in-house Exynos chipsets in US handsets as they lacked the tech to access US networks. Now, Samsung could produce its own modems that will allow future Galaxy phones to use Exynos processors (instead of Qualcomm's Snapdragon SoCs) in the lucrative American market.


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Go to your new Bitcoin Cash wallet and tap on the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen.Using Coinomi, you could have your Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash in two separate wallets on the same Android device.Money has piled into bitcoin, portending an eventual stampede to sell, according to 26% of fund managers surveyed by Bank of America.If Coinomi finds a Bitcoin Cash balance go ahead and proceed to sweep that into your new Bitcoin Cash wallet.Bitcoin, bitcoin cash, and Ethereum are all falling against the dollar on Tuesday after big price rises Sunday and Monday. Get updates in your inbox.
Weekly Range Update – Bitcoin Trading SignalsBitcoin Price Update for August 16, 2016 Market Commentary (BTC): As the stagnation in the bitcoin markets intensifies once again, patience and discipline become a.
By Lutpin - June 7, 2017. SHARE. The new update shows the protocol as what could be the most effective proposition to.Potential network disruption 12 July 2017. we will update this post as best we can with relevant information,.BTC-e says it will publish more frequent updates about its recovery plans after August 31, according to a newly released statement.On 1 August 2017 bitcoin split into two derivative digital currencies,.
UPDATE: Bitcoin Hard Fork / Bitcoin Cash – GeminiOn August 1st, the Bitcoin network split resulting in the creation of a new chain with a new token called Bitcoin Cash (also known as BCH).In sum, as anticipated in our communications to our clients before the fork, the process for accessing your BCH in Xapo will take some reasonable time, until Xapo can meet the high security standards that we offer to our clients.The price of a single Bitcoin has risen nearly 50. forums that they do not plan to update the software in. in print on August.They will have the option to have Xapo sell the BCH and convert the value to BTC or to withdraw the BCH from Xapo.
Bitcoin All Time High Bitcoin Cash Segwit Update. bitcoin-August 4, 2017. 0.You swooped into my life in November of last year and I was absolutely obsessed with you for days.Bitcoin News: Buying Bitcoin: August Updates, Bitcoin Cash And Litecoin.
Weekly Bitcoin Update – 11 August 2014 - Deep Dot Web
Today, in order to safely manage your BTC, the necessary keys to sign transactions are accessible only after several layers of security, both technical and physical.That means that, if you had bitcoins (BTC) in Xapo at the time of the fork, you now have your bitcoins and an equal amount of Bitcoin Cash (BCH).It further addresses the Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) hard fork.
Bitcoin Classic updates the 1.3 version to add the ability to switch a datadir from BTC to the BCC.
John McAfee “Bitcoin is Not a Bubble” August 2017 Update
This is what makes us the safest and most reputable place to store your BTC.


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Textile/Clothing Technology Corp - [TC]²
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'Natural fibres are appreciated for traditional authenticity'
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Kerem Durdag, CEO, Biovation II LLC, provides an insight into future...
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The glass mat industry is growing by five to eight per cent annually. Kai...
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In March, Greenwood co-founder Ryan Glover told CNN Small business that the Black and Latinx-owned electronic banking company’s prepared early 2021 start date was pushed back to July thanks to unanticipated superior desire after its web-site was unveiled in October. Greenwood’s leaders say ensuring the digital platform can manage the inflow of expected customers is also the bring about for the newest delay.
Greenwood Main Marketing and advertising Officer David Tapscott mentioned the fintech company’s leaders now foresee every person on its waiting around checklist will be in a position to open up accounts ahead of the close of this 12 months, and the system will be offered to the normal community in early 2022.
The firm’s leaders stopped acquiring advertisements asking customers to signal up for its waitlist previously this year, shifting their aim to rolling out providers to those who currently signed up to open accounts.
“Adding [more] people today on to a waitlist just delays how prolonged it’s going to choose us to get by way of it,” Tapscott explained to CNN Company on Wednesday. “Our initial motivation is to supply the ideal products attainable to the market and we’re not likely to rush that. We imagine our prospects have more than enough self esteem in what we are carrying out that they will continue to be with us on that journey.”
Glover arrived up with the strategy for Greenwood in 2018. The firm’s leaders reported in March that Glover couldn’t have predicted the overwhelming desire Greenwood would obtain pursuing the 2020 murder of George Floyd and the nationwide Black money empowerment movement that erupted in its wake.
That motion enthusiastic extra than 500,000 people today to signal up to open a Greenwood account prior to the firm formally opened for company, in accordance to Tapscott.
Greenwood just lately employed fintech chief Dylani Herath
to provide as its new VP of engineering to assure the company’s software can tackle all its customers and expedite the rollout course of action. Herath has invested the last four months serving as technology lover at JPMorgan Chase, wherever she executed system for the company’s little small business banking platform to help it develop and supply merchandise to sector additional swiftly.
Prior to joining Chase, Herath spent 11 decades doing work as director of engineering at FIS (FCUUF)
, the world’s premier payment processor, where by she spearheaded the launch of the firm’s Digital A single
banking platform suite whilst foremost its world engineering group.
“Ryan [Glover] felt it was important to have a dedicated concentration to get to market faster. That’s why I was employed,” Herath advised CNN Small business.
Greenwood has obtained potent allies in the fiscal expert services sector because Glover and Render initial shared their vision for the system very last slide. In March, the business explained it elevated almost $40 million in Collection A funding from traders which include JPMorgan Chase (JPM)
, Lender of The united states (BAC)
and lead trader Truist Financial institution.
“6 of the seven major banks in the nation ended up traders in our Sequence A round,” Tapscott explained. “We have not carried out any additional rounds.”
The business will take its identify from the former Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the early 20th century Black business neighborhood recognized as Black Wall Road ahead of it was ruined by a White mob through the Tulsa race massacre in 1921. Survivors of the massacre and their descendants commemorated its 100-yr anniversary in Might.


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Ever since Defense Distributed made available the blue print for its Liberator plastic hand gun, thousands have nabbed the schematics despite not owning any type of 3D printing equipment. Even so, it was only a matter of time before DIY enthusiasts with 3D printing equipment followed through with printing out their own hand gun, which is exactly what a Wisconsin engineer did using this $1,725 Lulzbot A0-101 consumer 3D printer.
The engineer, vaguely known as “Joe”, printed his hand gun (the Lulz Liberator) using a mere $25 worth of materials. Although the Lulz Liberator didn’t cost as much as the actual Liberator, it did prove itself worthy by making it through a test drive late last week. Joe loaded his version of the Liberator with 0.380 calibers rounds and fired it nine times.
“People think this takes an $8,000 machine and that it blows up on the first shot. I want to dispel that,” Joe reported to Forbes. “This does work, and I want that to be known.”
It is not known yet whether or not Joe and his companion intend to release their modified blueprint for the 3D printed hand gun, but what we do know for sure at the moment is that the Liberator hand gun works.