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Digital Deep Dive: Center for Digital Strategies Visits ChinaFebruary 8th, 2019
In our first meeting as second year CDS MBA Fellows this past fall, we crowdsourced a list of “must know” technology companies: Ping An, an insurance-tech giant based in China made that list though half of us had never heard of it. The moment underscored a gap, also known as an opportunity, for us to gain a firmer handle on digital innovation outside the U.S., particularly in China, where some of the most advanced software and technology is now developed. Fortunately, MBA Fellow Yinong Ding, was very familiar with the company from her internship and able to enlighten us to the company’s scale and importance.
The center provided the perfect avenue to help bridge this knowledge gap through an immersive visit to China this past fall. The inaugural trip to China brought a small group of students together with Associate Director Patrick Wheeler to dive deep into Shanghai’s digital scene. We visited a diverse swath of digital companies in various sectors and at various stages, and we are excited to share some of our key takeaways from the trip.
Chinese consumers are ready tech adopters
The sense on the ground as visitors to China is that Chinese consumers are still excited and eager to embrace new technologies. In a country of over 1.4 billion people, nearly 800 million1 had internet access via a mobile device as of the end of 2017, and that figure continues to grow. In fact, mobile payments via WeChat or Alipay are the preferred and sometimes only method of payment accepted by commercial vendors. The payment QR codes were ubiquitous, from restaurant tabs to subway tickets – even street musicians in a main square were looking for QR code transfers rather than cash in their guitar case. And conversely, in the few times that we tried to use a credit card, we either were declined or ended up having to use cash.
Consumers are also benefitting from rapid releases of new products and applications, thanks to the relatively low costs of local prototyping available in China. That said, competition for consumer attention is cutthroat. Any successful idea is swiftly copied. Scale for any venture is easy as a “niche” segment can contain several million customers. In this hyper competitive environment, we heard that companies are now starting to look beyond increasingly penetrated Tier 1 & 2 cities. Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities, while perhaps viewed as less developed, are now becoming viewed as ways to fuel the next stage of growth.
Still early days for Chinese B2B
As high tech as the Chinese consumers are, we discovered that Chinese businesses are more reticent in adopting increasingly sophisticated technologies. We had the opportunity to visit a couple of the flourishing B2B companies: Black Lake Technologies and Baozun.
Black Lake Technologies, a smart manufacturing company founded by Dartmouth Alumnus Yuxiang Zhou, is working to modernize the approximately 400,000 factories in China still using paper to track production lines. The company originally sought to provide data analytics software to these factories but realized most data was not even captured digitally, hence the pivot. Baozun, which is Alibaba’s largest partner, provides the full spectrum of ecommerce services to the world’s leading brands looking to establish their presence in China.
These companies are great examples of digital approaches to B2B problems in China, but they certainly have their work cut out for them. The availability of affordable labor and traditions of Chinese manufacturing mean technological evolution is slow and keeps the Chinese B2B space slightly behind its American counterpart in sophistication.
China is well positioned to win the AI race
We visited AI and facial recognition firm YITU and were amazed at what we saw. The combination of massive scale and availability of data due to a lack of restrictions on privacy and the government’s metered dissemination of data to key companies left us feeling like China would likely pass the U.S. in AI sophistication, if it had not already. YITU makes use of its technology across a wide range of applications, including medical imaging (used to detect lung tumors, for example), security (it boasts 1.8 billion faces in its databases and has aided in arresting fugitives on the run for almost two decades), and in the retail environment where it helps with in-store pathing analysis, among other solutions. China has been investing heavily in AI and has both vast data sets and an educated population to outpace other countries in AI.
Smart infrastructure should develop rapidly in China
The incredible magnitude, expected growth, and expanding needs of the Chinese population bring certain inherent challenges.
We saw first-hand into one of these areas as we visited NIO, an electric vehicle manufacturer also working on developing autonomous driving software. With air pollution continuing to be a major issue in most large urban centers, we saw several other electric vehicle brands currently competing with NIO on the roads as well as many electric buses, demonstrating the urgency and attention the space is receiving. NIO has found ways to stand out, though, including through a steadfast focus on building not just a customer base but also a community. The company offers its clients access to a series of clubhouses, exclusive events, and even childcare.
While improvements to existing infrastructure have their limits, China has the unique opportunity to build new and smarter city infrastructure basically from scratch. To address population needs, China is developing multiple cities, which would be considered large in U.S. city terms, each year. With access to the data from existing megacities and less vocal privacy concerns from citizens, the Chinese government can work with both leading technology and infrastructure providers to develop the most advanced cities seen to-date as well as continue to learn and improve its process going forward. It is hard to imagine a world where China is not a leader in “smart” cities in the coming decades.
This trip was just the beginning
We see this trip as the start of deepening our understanding of China and Chinese innovation in the center. As such, we plan to make a trip of this sort an annual tradition. To truly learn about digital strategies around the globe, it’s important to immerse yourself into that environment and build lasting relationships. That is especially true when talking about China, and we are all thankful to have been part of the inaugural group.
We would like to thank the following companies and people for sharing their time so graciously with us.
|Ant Financial||Financial subsidiary of Alibaba||Shuo Huang, T’14|
|Baozun||Ecommerce provider and Tier 1 Alibaba partner||Yiqing Yang, T’17|
|Black Lake Technologies||Provider of digitalization and collaboration tools for factories||Yuxiang Zhou (Dartmouth grad) and Min Ying (Thayer grad)|
|CEIBS||Premier business school of Shanghai||Jeffrey Towson, Professor focused on business in China|
|NIO||Electric vehicle manufacturer and autonomous driving software developer||Louis Liu and Annie Hsu T’11|
|PAG||Large private equity firm||Yang Zhang, T’12|
|YITU||Developer of image recognition technology utilizing AI & ML||Joy Xue and Ran Zheng|
- Per the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC)


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The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet is holding a hearing on the Internet of Things this Wednesday. Given the breadth of its jurisdiction, it is unclear what precisely the subcommittee is looking for in its examination of the IoT but it's likely that privacy and security issues are on the list.
An appeals court ruled against the NSA's mass phone data collection practice. But this is far from the end of the story. Businesses must pay attention because what happens next could curb data collection in the private sector too--as in you may have to dump a lot of customer data from your databases and stop collecting certain forms of data.
While U.S. lawmakers are reconsidering new rules and oversights on what the public perceives as unfettered surveillance, lawmakers in France are moving to increase surveillance.
A new GAO study released this week found that half of the federal agencies reviewed fail to collect demographic data for federal research grant recipients to determine whether gender discrimination is a factor in grant distribution.
It's tax day! Yeah, I know, I don't like paying taxes either but here we are and those returns have to be filed. But once you've done that, you can look at the following data on the relationships between accountants, taxpayers, legislators, and lobbyists surrounding tax day. More data is always better right? We may not like what we find but at least we will know where we stand.
A new report (pdf) by Data Justice, a consumer group, is taking on big data as an economic justice issue, saying corporate use of big data is a driver of economic inequality. The report outlines steps the country can take to put individuals and corporations on equal footing with big data.
According to recent research, nearly every medical information website--from About.com and CDC.gov to Health.com and university websites--is collecting and monetizing information based on searches about symptoms or diseases.
A recent FTC report says identity theft is the number one consumer complaint for the 15 th consecutive year. But there is more data in the FTC report than many headlines would suggest. One interesting thing is the ranking of identity theft hotbeds.
American and British governments hacked the largest SIM card manufacturer, Gemalto, in order to steal encryption keys and spy on private mobile phone conversations and communications. The details of this hack were provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
MapLight data shows ISP contributions to congressmen supporting a bill that would kneecap the FCC's efforts to ensure fair competition in broadband providers and to provide ubiquitous Internet access and speeds needed for the success of the Internet of Things.

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Sustainability demands from major food companies are steadily increasing. Why? There is a growing recognition that sustainability isn’t a feel-good proposition and as food-related businesses delve into the supply chain, sustainability makes for good market sense -- whether from the perspective of a farmer or a major company.
When Walmart and other businesses in the food supply chain began focusing on sustainable farming practices, United Suppliers recognized opportunity. United Suppliers, a cooperative of more than 600 locally owned and controlled agricultural retailers across the U.S., sought out the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) for help in developing a platform focused on fertilizer optimization and soil conservation, as well as good business sense for their agriculture customer base.
The fruit of their collaboration was SUSTAIN, a platform designed to benefit growers and retailers while still addressing consumer concerns. “The end-consumer in agriculture is certainly not the grower; it’s the person buying food from grocery shelves. Consumers are demanding to know where food came from and how it affected the environment,” says Matt Carstens, United Suppliers vice-president. “If we can meet that demand and still increase bushels and profitability, why wouldn’t we do it? SUSTAIN does precisely that: increases bushels, boosts profitability, and addresses consumer needs.”
SUSTAIN is aimed at helping growers and retailers address three agronomic pillars: two which are highly active, while a third remains in development: Nutrient management, conservation of soil and water, and green fertilizer. The big push of SUSTAIN currently is around nutrient management and tackling nitrogen, and phosphate to a lesser degree. “Des Moines Waterworks, Lake Erie, the Gulf, or Chesapeake Bay – those spots are giving agriculture a black eye and need to be addressed. We’ve got to dig deep to get answers for nitrogen and phosphate management, and that’s part of why we came up with SUSTAIN,” Carstens says.
United Suppliers has made a commitment to have 10 million acres utilizing the best management practices advocated in the SUSTAIN platform by 2020. The greatest portion of acreage will be in the Corn Belt, but will include farmland coast-to-coast. The focus of SUSTAIN is on improving efficiency in ways that reduces nutrient loss in the soil, yet still maintains or even improves yields. Getting the maximum from applied nutrients, reducing waste, and preserving soil is a plain recipe for long-term, good economics.
In addition, SUSTAIN bolsters the trust and confidence of buyers and customers, describes Suzy Friedman, sustainable ag director, EDF. “It’s important to have a program like SUSTAIN helping farmers with innovative technology that also helps them document how they’re managing their operation. Consumer concerns are coming at a fast pace and sustainability is playing a significant role in how food companies make decisions. They want to know more about where their grain is coming from and how it was produced.”
According to Friedman, SUSTAIN addresses risk issues in ways that are economically smart and offer consumers and food companies the information to know the sustainability footprint of a crop in a given region. Improving sustainability and tracking performance in growing regions is of growing interest for food companies and will become the norm. “For crop consultants and retailers, SUSTAIN is good business sense because it offers services that are of growing interest in the food and supply chain. Retailers and growers participating in a program like SUSTAIN are in a better position with food companies that want to buy their crops.”
United Suppliers has a footprint across millions of farmland acres and has positioned itself at the spearhead of sustainability measures – ahead of mandates that may be inevitable. Carstens believes the future is hazy, but some sort of shift is just around the bend. “I know this about fertilizer regulations: Things are going to change. I don’t know which will be first, food companies wanting something different or mandated government regulations, but one of those or both will bring guaranteed change. United Suppliers and our retailers owe answers to growers. Whoever can guide those growers first will have more victories instead of waiting on mandated regulations to come down the pipe.”


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2016 Mazda MX-5 world reveal
MONTEREY, CA: The 2016 Mazda MX-5 was revealed Sept 3 during simultaneous events in Tokyo, Barcelona and Monterey, CA, and seen globally on Mazda’s YouTube channel.
While the highlight of the show was Mazda’s fourth generation two-seat roadster, star power was added by the internationally acclaimed rock group, Duran Duran.
“Duran Duran and the MX-5 Miata both made their world debuts in the 1980s and captured the hearts and imagination of an entire generation,” said Russell Wager, vice-president of Marketing, Mazda North America.
“In 25 years, both the car and the band have evolved while staying true to their roots. It is this combination of authenticity and endurance that makes the pairing of the MX-5 and Duran Duran so appropriate for this reveal.”
While Duran Duran has sold more than 100 million records over that time, the MX-5, also known to millions as the Miata, had sold more than 940,000 units and holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling two-seater sports car of all time.
At the gala media launch, details were sparse but it will remain front-engined with rear-drive as the Miata has been since it was launched in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show.
We do know the car is more than 100 kg lighter than the current version which is expected to dramatically improve performance.
The new MX-5 adopts the brand’s KODO design language but it is also the most compact MX-5 yet.
Power will come from Mazda’s new breed of Skyactiv engines that are very fuel frugal but not with any sacrifice in performance.
Mazda officials I talked to said the company has clamped down on specs and details to the point they don’t know when the press will be able to drive it.
We do know the car retains the same double front and rear wishbone suspension as the original car.
Visually, the new MX-5 is much tidier with a hint of Maserati at the nose and a hint of Jaguar F-Type at the rear.
Slightly wider, it was described as having a front end “impossibly low” in relation to the overall design.
Tom Matano, who penned the original Miata 25 years ago, told me “they nailed it” in relation to the spirit of the design philosophy behind the MC-5.
Interestingly, the MX-5 is being built in concert with Fiat which may surface next month at the Paris Motor Show.


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UK startup Motorway, connecting used car sellers to buyers via its online platform, has secured £48 million in a Series B round led by Index Ventures. New investors BMW i Ventures and Unbound along with existing investors Latitude and Marchmont Ventures have also joined the round. The funding will be used to extend its platform and further grow its 160 team. Motorway has raised a total of £62 million so far over 4 funding rounds.
Founded and based in London in 2017 by Alex Buttle, Harry Jones and Tom Leathes, Motorway connects sellers directly with dealers looking to acquire stock as well as allowing used car transactions to be made faster, easier and more cost-efficient. Their website allows customers to compare instant offers from over 3000 professional online car buyers and dealers, select their best offer whilst giving a sell fast option for up to £1000 more than any other way could bring.
“For half a century, inefficient offline processes have led to bad deals and a bad experience for both car sellers and car dealers.” said Tom Leathes, CEO of Motorway. “Motorway has fundamentally changed a broken experience where everyone ends up dissatisfied – and we’ve transformed it with a superior online experience where everybody wins. Cutting out the middlemen leaves both the consumer and car dealer with a better deal, all from home and without the stress. Our incredible growth so far is testament to our focus on delivering more value through technology – and this investment will provide us with the fuel to take Motorway to the next level.”
The company reports that £50 million in sales have occurred in May of this year alone. Motorway is witnessing over £2.5 million in transactions on a daily basis and completing more than 4,000 sales a month. Based on these figures, Motorway is projecting over £650 million in sales this year, a number that would triple its 2020 performance. It was also estimated that 5% of all Motorway’s car deals were sold online raising the price by an additional 8.2 per cent on used car prices.
Danny Rimer, Partner at Index Ventures, said: “We’re always looking to invest in companies that are truly disrupting an industry and meeting a real customer need. We have found that in Motorway. The team has built an incredibly powerful platform, underpinned by great technology and a deep understanding of the challenges both consumers and car dealers face. Motorway has quickly become the first port of call for tens of thousands of people selling their car.”
Source: Techcrunch “Motorway’s auction platform for second-hand cars raises $67.7M Series B led by Index Ventures”


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Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly sided with COO Jeff Williams to launch the company’s AR/VR headset this year, despite the fact that Cupertino’s design team wanted to wait a few more years to launch a sleeker pair of AR glasses.
The headset’s launch time frame has been a point of contention inside Apple. Until 2019, when Jony Ive led the design deapartment, it was unimaginable to go against his team’s wishes.
As soon as AirPods Pro (2nd generation) launched, I ordered them. I got them into the shipping queue so fast, in fact, I skipped any option that looked like it might take extra time or add expense. That included “Personalize them for free,” which would have done neither.
Apple has been letting users monogram AirPods cases with letters and numbers since 2019. It added emojis the following year. Now you can even choose your own Memoji via the Apple Store app.
What I didn’t realize at the time is that whatever you have etched on the case shows up on your devices wherever your earbuds are indicated, like when you pair them. Now I wish I’d monogrammed mine because it’s so much easier to identify your own personal AirPods.


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Neutrik Donates to InfoComm
Neutrik, a designer and manufacturer of cable connectors, recently donated thousands of connectors to InfoComm International's educational services.
Neutrik, a designer and manufacturer of cable connectors, recently donated thousands of connectors to InfoComm International's educational services. InfoComm Academy offers a range of AV courses designed and taught by an expert faculty that represents a broad spectrum of technical, sales, management, and professional disciplines.
"Neutrik's generous donation of thousands of connectors will play a vital role in the hands-on installation training that InfoComm provides to AV professionals," says InfoComm executive director Randy Lemke. The donation included several of Neutrik's products, such as 2,000 XX series and XLR cable connectors in both male- and female-mated conditions (NC3MXX, NC3FXX), 400 SpeakOn loudspeaker connectors (NL2FC), 400 three-pole 1/4 professional phone plugs (NP3X), 400 NYS Budget series 3.5mm plugs, and 400 RCA-male professional phone plugs.
InfoComm's audiovisual education and certification programs have had more than 50,000 enrollments since 1997. Courses can be taken online; at the organization's Fairfax, Va., headquarters; or at the annual InfoComm trade show, to be held in Las Vegas, June 14-20, 2008.


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Fiat Chrysler showcased the latest iteration of its Jeep Cherokee at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The new Jeep Cherokee offers a 4-cylinder option with more power and solid fuel economy.
What has changed in the new Jeep Cherokee?
The new Jeep Cherokee will be one of the few vehicles to come with 2-liter inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine. Fiat Chrysler manufactures its Global Medium Engine in Termoli, Italy, but the new Jeep Cherokee will be fitted with a 270-horsepower motor built in Michigan, notes USA Today. It is believed that the same 2.0-liter turbo engine is powering the new Jeep Wrangler, according to CNET. Performance-wise, the engine scores well, but in the Wrangler, it is integrated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Similar to last year, this year’s new Jeep Cherokee will also come with a nine-speed automatic transmission. However, the company claims that it’s adding new software to scale up the driveability.
Maverick Capital's flagship hedge fund lost -22.9% in the first quarter of 2022 according to a copy of the firm's quarterly update, which ValueWalk has been able to review. The firm's flagship fund, Maverick Fundamental Hedge, accounts for $3.7 billion of the group's $8.1 billion of assets under management. Even after losses in the first Read More
Moving on to the looks of the new Jeep Cherokee, the new bi-LED headlamps look better than those of its predecessor, and they give a more traditional look. Further, Jeep has added chrome tow hooks to the top-of-the-line Overland trim. The new Cherokee also gets a taller front end, new front clip and a compact liftgate which is 17 pounds lighter, notes The Detroit News.
“We took the geekiness out of it,” says designer Mark Allen, a 30-year veteran of Jeep. “Now Cherokee is more closely aligned with the rest of the brand.”
In addition, Jeep boss Mikey Manley admitted that the first Cherokee was very “progressive,” but added, “We needed to do it to break through in the segment.”
The award-winning Uconnect infotainment system has also been overhauled. The center touchscreen has grown from five to seven inches in size and gets smartphone app connectivity. An 8.4-inch screen option is also available.
Further, the new model offers more space in the rear cargo area, which is now 3 inches bigger. In addition, there are 80 available safety and security offerings, including a parallel and perpendicular parking assistance feature.
With the new Jeep Cherokee, consumers get 12 exterior color options: Blue Shade, Sting-Gray, Velvet Red, Firecracker Red, Granite Crystal, Billet Silver, Diamond Black Crystal, Pearl White and Bright White, Olive Green, Hydro Blue, and Light Brownstone.
Will it help boost the Jeep brand?
Previously, the Cherokee has been the star of Jeep’s lineup, but in 2017, it tumbled to number three after Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. Cherokee sales dropped by almost 15% last year, while the overall Jeep brand witnessed a 10% drop. Hopefully, the Cherokee’s facelift will help the brand get its reputation back.
“The SUV segment is highly competitive, and the Cherokee is extremely important to helping Jeep regain market share,” said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds, as quoted by Freep.com. “The good news is that car shoppers will recognize the Cherokee name and that should help FCA capitalize on this lucrative segment and boost its bottom line.”
The Cherokee competes with the Ford Escape, Honda CRV and even Jeep’s own Grand Cherokee. As of now, pricing and fuel mileage numbers for the new Jeep Cherokee have not been revealed.


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Hospitality Tomorrow: The virtual Conference on the future of Hospitality
As many as 5000 hospitality professionals participated in the virtual conference called “Hospitality Tomorrow” yesterday on 7 March to unite as “one” community encountering the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and society.
Although assessing the impacts of the pandemic on the hospitality industry is not certain right now, the tourism and hospitality professionals took part in the conference to discuss three main concerns regarding the world’s unprecedented situation:
- Changes in our world and people – operationally, financially, and psychologically
- Where, when and how signs of recovery can be anticipated
- The role of Travel & Tourism in accelerating momentum for recovery
Most of the specialists who gave a speech in this show expressed an optimistic view of the future of the hospitality industry.
Paul Stoltz, chief executive of Peak Learning and a leading resilience analyst argued that “companies should grab this opportunity to create a new experience, one that is safer, better, more relaxed and enjoyable than even a guests’ own home.”
Roger Bootle, chairman of Capital Economics, a leading independent macroeconomic research firm also stated his optimistic view on the crisis: “although some countries will see falls in GDP of 20 percent or more in a very short period, there is every chance we will get a ‘v’ shaped recovery – a very fast pick-up once the worst is past.”
Discussing changes in our world and people he believes that the situation may damage the personal finance of people even for a year or two, but after this time the memory will fade in the longer term.
Roger Dow, chief executive of the United States Travel Association said: “tourism would be a key part of the economic recovery.” Regarding the anticipation of a recovery, he stated: “we must be prepared in the right time for the recovery”. However, as he argues the recovery will also come in waves, first shows itself in domestic tourism and then internationally.
Richard Haddad, chief executive of Jannah Hotels & Resorts pointed out that the “hospitality industry is facing, joining hands and knowing that everyone is working globally towards the brighter ‘tomorrow’ is vital for the travel and tourism world.”
These are just some of the optimistic viewpoints expressed by the professionals of the industry in this virtual conference. We are all now united as “one” community gets prepared for a brighter future when tourism and hospitality will be flourished again. Hope we all benefit from sustainable tourism around the world once more.
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Feel free to contribute!


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If you go:
What: International Interior Design Association rally for Capitol Day
Where: Fletcher Farr Ayotte offices, 520 S.W. Yamhill St., suite 900, in Portland
When: Tuesday, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Agenda: Overview of the state licensing bill and Capitol Day activities
Proposed legislation to create a state-approved licensing program in Oregon has caused a contentious rift in the interior design community.
As it stands, interior designers in Oregon cannot stamp their own construction drawings, but must instead rely on architects or contractors to move forward on some projects.
A group of design professionals – the Interior Design Collaborative – has pushed for legislation that would require interior designers to obtain a license in order to work in commercial spaces. But opponents argue that such a program would unnecessarily limit clients’ rights.
“I’ll sit at the table with registered architects and engineers and licensed contractors, and I’m the only one not licensed or registered, even though the role of a commercial interior designer is as important as everyone else’s,” said Debora Souza, who is on the IDC’s board and has been a designer in Portland for more than 30 years. “We want to make sure we have the same recognition that our fellow team players on our projects hold.”
The IDC contends that licensing would provide a level of accountability not present now. The existing nongovernmental system does not provide any enforcement for interior design qualification, even though some projects call for knowledge of building, fire and electrical codes.
“Here in Oregon, anybody who is a decorator on the street, picking out material or something else, can pitch themselves as an interior designer because nobody is telling them they’re any different from anyone else,” said Rikka Seibert, the IDC’s marketing and public relations chairwoman.
Under the licensing proposal, a board of industry professionals would issue licenses to designers who have achieved certain standards for education and experience, and have passed a national exam administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. Residential interior designers, kitchen and bath designers, and consultants at furnishing stores would not be required to register.
But the proposal has faced some major opposition, which thwarted last year’s attempt – House Bill 2491.
“I have been actively fighting this legislation in Oregon, Washington and around the country for five or six years,” said Diane Plesset, principal of D.P. Design in Oregon City. “We don’t need it. We don’t need a government agency to tell people who to hire – people should be able to do it for themselves.”
The National Kitchen and Bath Association, which has more than 640 members in Oregon, strongly opposes the state-approved licensing proposal in Oregon and similar ones in other states.
“These regulations are introduced by a small handful of designers who have passed a test that’s independent of Oregon laws, and they’ve decided that that test determines qualifications,” said Edward Nagorsky, the general counsel for the National Kitchen and Bath Association. “Let the consumer decide which designer best meets their needs.”
But Alicia Snyder-Carlson, president of the IDC, says the interior design market has shifted more toward the realm of interior architecture, which means commercial designers are making decisions that impact occupants’ safety.
“We need to be knowledgeable of fire, accessibility and building codes, and should be able to show that we’re qualified to do that work,” Snyder-Carlson said. “We believe the program will create competition and stir some job creation in areas that we were restricted from before.”
Opponents, however, argue that health and safety issues are not enough to justify creating a licensing program.
“It’s a fallacy – another layer of bureaucracy is not going to do anything to protect building owners,” Nagorsky said. “The public isn’t out there asking for this legislation; it’s only designers saying, ‘Please protect us from our competition.’ ”
The IDC has planned several events in the coming weeks in hopes of rallying support from legislators. An event is planned in Portland on Tuesday as preparation for “Capitol Day” on Feb. 2, when the IDC will join other organizations to lobby for the licensing bill in Salem.
Plesset, meanwhile, believes the opposition’s strength is starting to wane. Last year she was the West Coast liaison for the Interior Design Protection Council, a group that fought state licensing proposals but has since disbanded.
“I’m tired of being the lone voice of reason and trying to get Oregon designers to understand what their plight is,” Plesset said. “I’ll fight it like I have been every year, but not by myself.”
The biggest issue last session was that opponents told legislators that a licensing program would put unlicensed designers out of business, according to Alan Tressider, the lobbyist working with the IDC.
“That’s absolutely not true,” he said. “We’ve clarified some points that seemed to be unclear to people.”
The bill, which will receive a number after the legislative session opens next month, will be introduced to the Senate Committee on General Government, Consumer and Small Business Protection. But it may not move quickly enough to pass.
“We all understand that this special session is primarily about adjusting the budget,” Tressider said. “Bills like this will not be the high priority. I’ll do everything in my power to get it passed this session, but if not we’ll be there in January 2013.”


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We will work with the creative industries in the North East to significantly increase the 70,000 jobs in the sector.
There is huge potential to invest in culture to create more and better jobs and enhance the value from cultural tourism.
Already the creative and cultural industries in the region are estimated to generate more than three quarters of a billion* additional economic impact. But we know we can do more, building on the investment that has already been made.
We want to support our sector to become more entrepreneurial and outward-looking, attracting more tourists and creating more jobs.
We will enhance our links with creative industries, developing a dialogue with key national partners including Creative England, the Creative Industries Federation and UKIE, the trade body for the UK’s games and interactive entertainment industry.
We will pioneer the creation of ‘Cultural Investment Zones’ offering incentives to support private investment.
Latest from Twitter
- Interesting plans from @SadiqKhan To create six “Creative enterprise zones” @northeastlep @TeesValleyCA https://t.co/JjlOvVgvXp
- North East Growth Hub has prepared a Brexit Toolkit to help businesses prepare: https://t.co/x8TEpoWg8i @northeastlep
- The NE Brexit Group, led by the North East LEP, is conducting an online survey to understand business perceptions a… https://t.co/rI7St9vXNS


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Washington—tomorrow the senate agriculture committee will hold a hearing on school nutrition issues, a move that the nonprofit center for science in the public interest (cspi) says signals new hope for strong, national action to get junk food out of schools. Junk food ad ban attacked from both sides the debate over advertising junk food to children is a microcosm of the wider debate around obesity and the damaging effects of pester power the. Healthy food vs unhealthy foodthe big debate don't have a full day of junk food ie don't have something bad for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Looking for a new reason to cut down on junk food the debate and proposed policies have not sufficiently questioned the proliferation of junk food products that use scarce resources to. The junk food debate the bill forcing food stamp recipients to buy healthy food doesn't address that it's often unavailable in inner city neighborhoods.
We've created a perfect storm for childhood obesity-media, advertising and inactivity, says victor strasburger, md, faap and a member of the american academy of pediatricians (aap) american society couldn't do a worse job at the moment of keeping children fit and healthy-too much tv. This blog is a support for any esl students who need resource to work on a debate or an opinion essay opinion essays and debates offer many links to help the students building their arguments on different current issues. This house would ban junk food from schools concerns about the long-term health consequences of being overweight have ignited a debate about school policies that.
Top 5 reasons to avoid junk foods sometimes, when the day isn't going your way, you may dream of dinner from a fast food restaurant, a snack out of a vending machine or a quick pre-packaged meal from the local grocery store. Should schools ban junk foods in the past, during school years, children had to bring their own lunch, which was more convenient and less expensive. Debate about should junk food be banned in schools: yes or no junk food are typically ready-to-eat convenience foods containing high levels of saturated fats. The junk food debate, as it relates to food stamp beneficiaries, is the belief that parents who are beneficiaries of the food stamp program purchase nutritionally depleted junk food rather than high nutrition items. Taking a different approach: the question assumes that if we outlaw junk food, people will be healthier, which doesn't necessarily follow first, it seems unlikely that everyone will stop "using" second, the question assumes that junk food is t.
Alcohol and cigarette products are usually subject to high taxes this occurs because the economic theory acknowledges that the price of these. Should junk foods be allowed in schools let's try to get some pointers in with this following piece this write up will give you a brief idea of the pros and cons related to this issue, which will help to clear your thinking. Explore the pros and cons of the debate junk food. Marketing 'junk' food to children is raising blood pressure all round - and that's just the debate foodnavigator looks at some of the arguments that have been made in recent years and asks you, the reader, what you think. Opinions about cat food run strong, especially between wet food/dry food for cats let's weed through the prescription diets & separate fact from fiction.
The standing committee on health is discussing vaping regulations, tobacco plain-packaging rules, an act to strengthen drinking water guidelines and amendments to a ban on marketing junk parliament debates junk food ads, vaping | cmaj. Read the arguments about whether or not schools should ban junk food and add your opinion thus far, 60% of those polled voted no. Hi, im 12 and i go to a school in australia were doing a debate on junk food in school were on the positive side meaning that we have to agree that there should be junk food sold in the canteen and the negitive side has to say that kids should ask there parents if they can by food at the school canteen. It is junk food and i can't imagine you will achieve much physical wellbeing with a diet based on these foods in the uk they have this guy called jamie oliver he is a chef and he did a show all about school lunches and he showed what ingredients went into the foods the kids were served in the lunchroom.
Competitive foods availability is a long-standing issue in the policy debate in-school purchases of junk food typically provide up to an. A healthy debate on healthy choices in schools of calories of junk food at school every year it is good that the department of agriculture is updating decades-old standards for foods sold in. Speech of junk food essay writing service, custom speech of junk food papers, term papers, free speech of junk food samples, research papers, help.


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With the recent announcement that Kaleb’s Organic Dog Treats have earned Non-GMO Project Verification, this product joins at least two other pet food or treat brands earning independent verification that they do not contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In July, Castor & Pollux (owned by Merrick Pet Care) earned the verification for its Organix wet pet foods made with organic chicken, and in August, Wet Noses Organic Dog Treat Co., also achieved that status for all of its US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-certified organic treats.
Given consumers’ interest in non-GMO foods and pet foods, we likely will see more of these announcements in the coming months and years. The Non-GMO Project, which claims to offer “North America’s only independent verification for products made according to best practices for GMO avoidance,” lists on its press room page 26 brands or products, both human and pet food, achieving verification just from June 1 through October 13 of this year, including Organix and Wet Noses. (The Kaleb’s Organic announcement has not yet made it on the page.) Previously the Project has provided data estimating GMO-free volume in the US in 2014 at US$8.5 billion in sales and more than 22,000 products from over 1,500 companies; it says it has verified more than 31,000 products since its standard was developed in 2007.
The rise in non-GMO products is happening globally, too. Data from Innova Market Insights on new food and beverage products show that the fastest-growing label claim worldwide is GMO-free, with more than a 40% rise in new product claims from 2010 to 2014.
This is apace with consumer sentiment. According to a 2014 study of 16 major consumer markets by Health Focus International, a market research firm, 87% of consumers worldwide believe non-GMO foods are “somewhat” or “a lot” healthier. The study also found that GMOs are the fifth top food concern among consumers globally, at 48%, just behind food preservatives and irradiation of fruits and vegetables, each at 49%, as reported on FoodNavigator.com. (The top two concerns were pesticides in foods and contaminated food ingredients, each at 58%.)
US research this year from Mintel supports that finding, with 37% of consumers surveyed saying they are interested in non-GMO foods. Among US consumers whom Mintel identifies as “free from” consumers (those seeking products free of certain types of ingredients; the method of identification is not clear in the report overview), 58% said GMO-free claims are important to them, and 35% ranked that as among their top three most important claims.
Specific to pet food, at least pet treats, Packaged Facts data indicate 9% of cat owners and 10% of dog owners in the US have purchased treats labeled non-GMO this year, and 15% of cat owners and 21% of dog owners said they have purchased organic pet treats. (Because products certified as organic cannot include GMOs, this aligns with non-GMO purchasing preferences.)
Other validation programs, possible legislation
In addition to the Non-GMO Verification Project, USDA also offers a certification program for labeling of non-GMO ingredients in products. The Process Verified Program is voluntary and has existed for some time, with companies paying to have their products verified to have followed specific manufacturing processes. As of May, the program also now offers a Non-GMO/GE Process Verified Seal, which to date, at least one food company (SunOpta) has received.
More like what the Non-GMO Project offers, NSF launched a Non-GMO True North program at the end of September, according to Non-GMO Report.com. The program includes a standard with requirements for traceability, segregation and GMO testing. Author Ken Roseboro also reported that “some organic certifiers are extending their organic claims to include non-GMO with labels that say ‘Organic is Non-GMO and More.’”
On the US legislative front, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1599 in July. According to Steve Kooperud, executive vice president of Policy Directions Inc., reporting on the bill for the American Feed Industry Association, H.R. 1599 would allow USDA to pre-empt state labeling mandates for GMO ingredients; create a voluntary USDA program setting standards by which companies wishing to label for the presence or absence of GMO ingredients must operate (possibly building on the current Process Verified Program?); require USDA to define the label claim “natural”; and clarify and enforce the cooperative safety evaluation of GMO ingredients by USDA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Critics of the bill, including the Non-GMO Project, have dubbed the bill the DARK (Deny Americans the Right to Know) Act. They likely don’t need to worry about it progressing very quickly; while Kopperud reported that the bill was expected to be introduced to the Senate this fall, little action seems to have happened to date. With 2016 being a US federal election year, members of Congress, especially those up for re-election, are not likely to push to consider a hot-button issue.
Update: On November 19, two days after this was posted, FDA issued guidance documents for human food manufacturers who want to voluntarily label their products as not containing any ingredients from genetically engineered (GE) sources, including GE Atlantic salmon and GE plants.


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The Federal Trade Commission spent a full day yesterday, listening to 22 representatives from publishing, technology and academia to tackle that most thorny of questions: How to label native advertising.
There were arguments on all sides, with one academic even suggesting the need to study how the eye’s fovea perceives various labeling. Publishers hedged, they cautioned against the dreaded “one-size-fits-all” approach since native ads can apparently vary so widely. That’s why there is a BrandVoice on Forbes, Featured Partners on BuzzFeed, “From Around the Web” from Outbrain, “You May Like” from Tablooa, and so on.
Coincidentally, most also paid fealty to paid search listings, hailed as the original native ad format: a form of content, perfectly suited to the environment, and found genuinely useful to consumers who click away to the tune of billions for Google’s coffers. Perhaps then the industry should keep it simple and cast its gaze on how Google has settled on labeling this “native” format:
More in Media
During the Digiday Publishing Summit, execs from companies including Condé Nast, Dotdash Meredith and Thomson Reuters assessed the industry’s readiness.
Publishing executives shared their honest and unfettered opinions on the rise of generative artificial intelligence technology and its impact on traffic, IP protections, content production and jobs at the Digiday Publishing Summit last week.
Here is A sampling of other AI-related news from last week.


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Chrishun Spencer is taking time off as a San Francisco waiter to visit old friends in Sacramento. Despite working two jobs at two different restaurants, the aspiring pharmacy technician finds it hard to live on minimum wage.
"Of course I'll knock out rent first, but they you still have your electricity, your water, your everyday expenses: food, gas," said Spencer.
From restaurant servers to retailer clerks, valets to car washers, help may be on the way.
The California State Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment just approved a bill that would adjust the state's minimum wage annually according to the rate of inflation, and it can't ever decrease.
Assemblyman Luis Alejo (D-Salinas) wants to address the widening income gap, which the Public Policy Institute of California says is the highest in the state in at least 30 years.
"Here in Sacramento, as we're talking about giving tax breaks and helping out businesses, let's balance that out, also thinking about, What plan do we have for working families across California so that they can also have some relief in this tough economy?" said Alejo.
While local cities can mandate a higher minimum wage, the last statewide increase took effect four years ago.
But Southern California businessman Tom Benson says tying wages to inflation is a job-killer if employers can't predict how much wages will be year to year. Many of his workers at his automobile upholstery shop are paid minimum wage.
"Labor is the biggest expense we have," said Benson, owner of Bud's Beach Cities. "And if you don't have predictability in that, you're either going to go out of business or you're going to cut jobs."
For Chrishun Spencer, tying the minimum wage to inflation would help him and millions of other Californians live a better life.
"We could at least start catching up and go from there, rather than us struggling and everything else going up," said Spencer. "If gas is going up and I'm still making minimum wage, it kind of screws me in the end."
Ten other states already tie their minimum wage to the rate of inflation. The California Catholic Conference found that a single adult needs to make nearly $15 per hour to support a modest standard of living.


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Toyota Supra manual reliant on “mass market demand”
A business case is standing between enthusiasts and their three-pedal Supra. Damn!
The idea of a manual Toyota Supra had enthusiasts very, very excited last year. When Masayuki Kai, assistant chief engineer on the project, told journalists a three-pedal variant is in development and could be coming to right-hand drive markets, the CarAdvice comments caught fire.
Turns out, the equation might not be so simple. Speaking with media at the Detroit motor show, Tetsuya Tada, chief engineer, said a stick shift Supra will only be launched if "a persistent, overwhelming demand" is present.
"Obviously, if the mass market demand is there, it would be something that would have to be considered. It depends on the right timing,” he said, in an interview quoted by Auto Guide.
That's a high bar to breach, especially considering Tada-san says he's "very satisfied" with the eight-speed automatic ZF transmission being offered at launch.
Speaking with CarAdvice last year, Masayuki Kai said the manual Supra has been developed already, and the relevant parts are ready for action.
"We have developed it, yes, there is hardware ready. Right-hand drive? Yes, of course. It needs to be sold in Japan, which is a right-hand drive market," he explained.
Although his bar for production seems higher, Tada-san seemed to echo the idea money has been spent developing a manual, describing the project as in "test development phases".
“I’m very aware of the requests and needs for a manual transmission out there, but with the new sports automatic transmission, I am very satisfied with the results of the performance of this transmission system," Tada-san said.
"It is completely different from any other automatic transmission that has been released.”
Would you be keen for a three-pedal Supra?
REVIEW: 2019 TOYOTA SUPRA DRIVEN


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The global market for cloud-based video surveillance, also known as Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS), will continue to grow in the coming years due to an increasing demand for simple and affordable solutions that provide exceptional safety and security features.
Large companies are already making big bets on this burgeoning market through acquisitions and other initiatives. Recent acquisitions show that the market is indeed moving toward fee-based premium services and products, while mediocre _freeî solutions that offer minimal value propositions to end users are becoming increasingly unviable from both a business model perspective and a customer retention perspective.
_The IP video surveillance market has to evolve its business model to better adapt to changing market dynamics. Remember Kodak? Your children wont. It dismissed digital photography as a passing fad, and its arrogance prevented it from seeing a world where photographic films was becoming increasingly irrelevant; as a result, the company itself became irrelevant,î said Luc Deleu, President of ioteo. _Hardware prices are dropping with each passing day, and camera manufacturers need to devise new strategies to ship more units and build recurring revenue. In mature markets like the EU and U.S.A., consumers welcome new technologies that can improve their lives and are willing to pay for superior serviceÜthis represents a huge opportunity for camera manufacturers.î
_We offer an innovative cloud-based video surveillance solution that can help camera manufacturers capitalize on their strengths and take advantage of this opportunity. Our firmware empowers an IP camera with more efficient bandwith optimization, enhanced security and more reliable motion detection, not to mention 30 days of continuous recording stored in a highly secured environment,î added Henry Ho, VP Asia of ioteo. _It is easy to install and even simpler to use. In fact, installation is so simple that even analog surveillance installers love it! The much lower acquisition cost also means more sales to end-users.î
ioteo is a leading provider of IoT solutions in Europe. Beginning 2014, ioteo will further strengthen its relationship with camera manufacturers around the world. A new office in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan, will support the companys expansion strategies; the company also has plans to upgrade its infrastructure in major European markets to support a larger user baseÜup to 150,000 cameras. Furthermore, the company is constantly establishing stable distribution channels to drive business growth and has recently rolled out a multilingual web portal and call center to more effectively support professional installers.
BECOME OUR PARTNER
Is there real business value in cloud-based video surveillance services? In short, yes. Many manufacturers have already integrated ioteos firmware into their cameras to support the use of ioteoCloud. With ioteos solution and an optional ioteoCloud subscription, IP cameras can incorporate cloud-based features and services that replace expensive video surveillance systems and all the troubles that come with them, such as the use of NVRs and complicated installation processes.
_We are continuously looking for new hardware and channel partners,î Luc said. _Our technologies provide our partners with access to cloud-based services free of charge, while revenue sharing opportunities create a win-win situation where everyone can benefit from this transitioning market.î


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OSSINING, N.Y. Westchester residents typically need to travel nearly two hours to experience New Jersey-based dairy farmer John Whites cheese. But on Wednesday night, White came to Ossining to show local cheese enthusiasts how to do it themselves.
John White gave a cheese making demonstration Wednesday night as the featured guest in Ossinings Community MarketsMeet The Farmer series that spotlights local farmers and vendors. There are no dairy farms in Westchester County. The Whites Bobolink Dairy Farm in Milford, N.J. is not only one of the closest to Westchester, but is also a regular at Ossinings Farmers Market.
Through Bobolink Dairy, the Whites also promote the idea of grass-based and healthy dairy farming. John White said their website cowsoutside.com is more than just a name.
When we say cows outside we mean it, White said. All of our cows live outside. Our barn is a bakery. Thats how we get the cheese that we do.
Frankie Rowland, marketing director at Community Markets, said its vital that residents learn farming techniques and get to know the local farmers.
The basis of our business is to support local agriculture and provide opportunities for consumers and farmers to interact, Rowland said. People want to know the farmer and want to know what their lives are like. And people should be able to ask the farmers who make their food about how its done. So the series helps them do that and makes it more intimate.
Rowland said the idea becomes more important in densely-populated areas like Westchester.
Westchester is very limited when it comes to farming. Because of that, its a little harder to become familiar with what is locally available, she said. Its also important for kids to know where their food comes from. If you ask most kids that live in the city where it comes from, theyll say it comes from the supermarket. So a lot of what we do is trying to get everyone familiar with that whole process and not just rely on the supermarket.
Ossining resident David Montague said shopping locally was important not just for the economy but for his health.
Im worried about my cholesterol and dropping dead of a heart attack. But I love cheese, he said. So I wanted to learn more about it and I think getting it locally could be the start to eating more healthy. But I also want it locally because I dont want to see Ossining to turn into a parking lot.
Maureen Morgan, a member of Transition Ossining and the Green Ossining Committee, said residents learning farming techniques is going to become more popular.
Meeting the farmer is great but coming away with knowledge you can actually use in our kitchen is really exciting, Morgan said. If youre not making it yourself, getting it locally is very important. It grows jobs and I think thats not a small thing to consider. The closer the economy is to home the better it is for everyone.
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Posted: August 26th, 2014 | Author: Michael Courtenay | Filed under: Grilled Motoring News, News From the web, UPDATED! | Tags: Inflight Devices, Jetstar, Mobile Devices, QANTAS, Virgin Australia | Comments Off
Australian flyers will from today be allowed to use their mobile devices during the entirety of their flight on Australia’s two most popular carriers.
Qantas and Virgin Australia had applied for permission to allow passengers to use electronic devices during take-off and landing on flights within Australia last month.
Under current rules, passengers are told to switch off their smartphones, tablets and e-readers before their plane takes off. The devices can then be used during the cruising part of the flight but must be switched off again before landing.
CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson said Virgin and Qantas lodged applications for the lifting of the ban last month. It should be noted that CASA had no specific ruling on the use of electronic devices, the issue is covered by regulatons requiring operators to ‘ensure safety is maintained at all times and passengers comply with the safety instructions given by crew members,’ implying that a simple script change is all it took?
In November last year we reported that the US aviation authority, the FAA had lifted the retarded rule that’s barred the use of electronic devices during taxi, take-offs and landings had been in place for more than half a century. The initial change in the US didn’t include mobile phones
The ban is expected to be lifted for flights this afternoon according to QANTAS “Qantas customers will be able to use their personal electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets and music players in flight mode, for the duration of each flight, providing uninterrupted access to work and entertainment.
Qantas was approved to revise its personal electronic device policy by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority today following new guidance on the safe use of personal electronic devices inflight,” the airline said :: Read the full article »»»»
Posted: May 9th, 2014 | Author: Verity Penfold | Filed under: Facebook, Technoid Computer News | Tags: Advertising, Business News, facebook, Mobile Advertising Platform | Comments Off
Facebook reckons its better than expected first quarter result were in the main thanks to rapid uptake of its mobile advertising platform.
Revenue in the three months to March jumped by over 70 percent to $US2.5 billion, versus analyst estimates of $US2.35 billion. After costs, net profit came in at $US642 million.
Revenue from mobile ads made up almost 60 percent of the total earnings compared with 30 per cent the same time 12 months ago.
Facebook’s active users also grew, hitting 1.28 billion by the end of the period, with just over a billion of those users accessing the service on mobile devices.
However, while the growth in mobile users and ad revenue growth was viewed as a positive development, the company said its still has some way to go to make advertising content relevant to consumers :: Read the full article »»»»
Posted: May 9th, 2014 | Author: Verity Penfold | Filed under: Apple, Technoid Computer News | Tags: apple, Beats Electronics, Business News | Comments Off
Apple has been in a funk of late, it hasn’t truly done anything outstanding for close on 4 years. hard to believe it released iPad in 2010, since then the consumertech behemoth has been treading water.
According to Bloomberg, Apple is about to buy its way out of its funk with the imminent purchase of übercool Beats Electronics.
If indeed the deal does go ahead, it would mark the biggest acquisition for the company to date, $US3.2 billion.
The waters around the deal are still a little murky, however sources are saying the deal might be announced as early as next week. As part of the deal Apple will pickup both the hardware – headphones – and music streaming sides of Beats’ business.
Beats was founded by rapper Dr Dre and music producer Jimmy Iovine in 2008, the company employs around 300 :: Read the full article »»»»
Posted: April 1st, 2014 | Author: The Technoid | Filed under: Gaming, Technoid Computer News | Tags: Facebook Texas Hold em, Ivey Poker Free, Online Poker, PartyPoker on Twitter, TonyBet Poker, World Poker Tour, World Series of Poker, WSOP, Zynga | Comments Off
For more than a decade now, poker has undergone a dramatic transformation from a fairly niche card game into a legitimate global sport. This can easily be seen by the constant expansion and international television broadcast coverage presently enjoyed by the World Series of Poker – WSOP – and the World Poker Tour – WPT – circuit. Online poker websites have greatly contributed to the current success of the poker boom :: Read the full article »»»»
Posted: March 26th, 2014 | Author: Michael Courtenay | Filed under: Facebook, Hardware, Technoid Computer News | Tags: facebook, Gamer News, Minecraft, Oculus Rift, Oculus VR, Reddit, Virtual Reality | Comments Off
Facebook has announced it’s buying virtual reality specialist Oculus for about $US2 billion in cash and shares.
The social media behemoth said it would build on Oculus’s technology, particularly its virtual reality headset aimed at gamers, and seek to develop the technology for other areas such as communications, education, and entertainment.
The deal will see Oculus shareholders receive $US400 million in cash plus 23.1 million Facebook shares in the deal. Facebook called hailed Oculus as the leader in immersive virtual reality technology, with a strong following among developers.
The company has already garnered more than 75,000 orders for the $350 Oculus Rift headset development kits :: Read the full article »»»»
Posted: March 19th, 2014 | Author: Marcus Dangerfield | Filed under: Facebook, Hack!, Technoid Computer News | Tags: Facebook Scam, Malaysia Airlines MH370, Online Scam, Yahoo News, Youtube Scam | Comments Off
Scammers are a lowly bunch, they’ll use almost anything as bait to lure in the unsuspecting, the latest scam doing the rounds is targeting people searching for news about the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, steering them to a fake Facebook page which is designed to generate money for scammers.
According to a blog-post by Websense’s Carl Leonard, the faux Facebook page looks completely legitimate at first glance. “The lure websites have been configured to appear like a legitimate Facebook page, complete with sharing button, suitable graphics, and relevant links.” :: Read the full article »»»»
Posted: March 14th, 2014 | Author: Diana Detaux | Filed under: Favorite New Thought, Hack!, News From the web, ONLINE SECURITY, Technoid Computer News | Tags: ACMA, Australian Online Security, Google Search, OAIC, Online Security, Privacy Breach, Privacy Commissioner, Telecommunications Consumer Protections Code, Telstra | Comments Off
Australia’s largest telecomunications company ‘Telstra’ has been fined $10,200 and warned about privacy after a data breach saw the information of more than 15,000 customers made available online.
Last year a Fairfax journalist discovered that the telco had published the names, phone numbers and addresses of customers. The journalist alerted the telco to the breach, and also informed the – OAIC – Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
The OAIC launched a year-long investigation with the Australian Communications and Media Authority – ACMA – and the agencies have now handed down their reports.
They have found Telstra made the information of 15,775 customers available for 15 months during 2012 and 2013. The information included more than 1,257 customers with silent line numbers, and related to customer data from 2009 and earlier. There were at least 166 unique downloads of the records :: Read the full article »»»»


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Are you looking for unique holiday gifts to give your friends and family? The Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary is sponsoring a Holiday Market Dec. 4-5.
Crafts, purses, jewelry, candles, cosmetics, food and decorations will be on sale from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 4 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at Main Street Village, 6298 Veterans Parkway.
All money raised will go towards funding projects of the nonprofit Fraternal Order or Police Auxiliary.
For more information, call the FOPA at 706-322-3172.


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If you're like most Americans, you're a subscriber to a streaming service.
A recent Digital Media Trends survey by Deloitte found that 55% of American households now subscribe to one or more streaming service, the first time more than half of Americans have been streaming customers. In 2009, that number was just 10%.
That wasn't the only piece of good news for Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) and its ilk. Based on the survey's findings, there should be a long path of growth ahead for streaming services as more Americans realize that they offer a significantly better value than traditional pay-TV options; customers also generally pay for more than one service. Let's take a dive into some of the key lessons from the research.
1. Customers pay for multiple services
The streaming field is becoming increasingly crowded. In addition to longtime incumbents like Netflix, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Hulu, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Disney (NYSE: DIS) are both angling for a piece of the pie, and premium channels like HBO and Showtime also operate their own stand-alone streaming services.
However, streaming isn't a zero-sum game. More often than not, customers subscribe to multiple services, meaning the different subscription packages are complements rather than competitors. In fact, Deloitte found that Americans on average subscribe to three streaming services, spending a total of $2.1 billion a month on such entertainment, and that total grows every month.
Deloitte also said, "Consumers' appetite for video and streaming is insatiable," as time spent consuming video has also increased. With Apple and Disney set to launch their own streaming services, the takeaway seems to be that the number of services subscribers join will only increase from three as content improves.
2. Originals are king
Ever since Netflix broke the mold with House of Cards, streaming services have been increasingly focused on their own original programming. Hulu and Amazon have both had success: Hulu won an Emmy for The Handmaid's Tale, and Amazon has won awards for a variety of shows, including Transparent.
The Deloitte survey found that Americans have a strong desire for original content, as half of subscribers say they value the quality of the original content, and 54% said they had signed up for a service to watch original programming. The availability of original content should continue to draw new customers to streaming platforms, as should the availability of other popular features, such as allowing users to watch content when and where they want and to watch without commercials.
That result helps explain why Netflix is investing billions into original content, with plans to release 700 original seasons of TV series and 80 original movies in 2018. That strategy helps explain why users subscribe to multiple services, as originals provide unique value for the services that host them.
3. Pay TV is fading
The so-called cord-cutting phenomenon, the process of Americans' ditching their cable services for streaming services, has been going on for years, but Deloitte seemed to find that cord-cutting was accelerating. The research firm said the "value gap" between streaming and Pay TV is expanding, meaning that streaming is becoming an even better deal for Americans compared to cable than it was before.
Deloitte said there was a widening gap between what pay-TV subscribers expect and what they actually get, and the survey found that nearly half of those subscribers are dissatisfied with their service. Seventy percent said they feel that they don't get enough value for their money.
The survey also said that pay TV penetration had fallen from 75% to 63%, and that 27% of respondents said they cut the cord last year.
What that means for streaming services like Netflix is that even more customers will be signing up in the coming years as dissatisfaction with cable grows and streaming options improve. That increase in the customer base is a boon for all streaming competitors, as it should only grow the pie for all services.
Netflix looks well positioned for the upcoming changes in the industry as its massive library of originals gives it a strong position even as deep-pocketed rivals like Apple and Disney join the fray.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has repeatedly dismissed the idea that Apple and Disney are direct competitors, and predicted at a conference that internet TV viewing would rise every year for the next 20 years, while traditional pay TV declines. As the Deloitte survey shows, Hastings seems to have his finger on the pulse of the industry. Expect Netflix's rapid growth to continue even as Apple and Disney join the party.


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SunPower makes minority investments in two solar dealers
Residential solar system by SunPower.
Image by SunPower Corp.
US solar provider SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) on Thursday said it has made minority investments in two solar dealers as part of its Dealer Accelerator Programme.
The two companies are Renova Energy, active in California and Arizona, which employs more than 300 people and last year installed 11.5 MW of solar, and EmPower Solar, serving Long Island and the greater New York area, which in 2021 installed 7.79 MW of distributed solar.
SunPower launched its Dealer Accelerator Programme in March to assist promising solar dealers with capital financing and business strategy support. The dealers in the programme exclusively sell SunPower solar systems and also offer the company’s SunVaul battery storage and its financing products. SunPower has also invested in Freedom Solar Power and Sea Bright Solar as part of the programme.
"With an increasing need for more affordable and resilient energy coupled with new federal incentives to adopt clean energy, consumer demand for solar is at an all-time high. Through these investments, SunPower is enabling local dealers to capture this strong demand and grow their business," said SunPower chief executive Peter Faricy.


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NEW private home sales rose month on month in July, according to data released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Monday (Aug 15).
Developers sold a total of 834 units excluding executive condominiums (ECs), while 402 units were launched. These was up from 488 units sold and 397 units launched in June.
Including ECs, 846 units were sold in July with 402 units launched, compared to the 496 units sold and 397 units launches recorded in June.
URA data showed that more than half of the take-up of private residential units (excluding ECs) were in the outside central region (OCR) with 485 units sold. This was followed by the core central region (CCR) and the rest of the central region (RCR) or city fringe with 185 and 164 units sold, respectively.
Highlighting a 70.9 per cent jump in sales for the OCR in July from just 111 units sold in the same region the previous month, Huttons Asia’s senior research director Lee Sze Teck attributed this to “astounding sale results” for AMO Residence, with 366 units sold in the month.
The Ang Mo Kio project being built by UOL Group : U14 +0.41% marks the first major launch in the OCR for 2022, and is also the largest suburban condominium launch so far this year.
“The good sales at AMO Residence could be attributed to the severe lack of new home supply in the suburbs. There has not been a mid-size condominium launch for almost a year. AMO Residence is the only OCR condominium new launch above 350 units (not an EC) since the launch of Watergardens at Canberra (448 units) in August 2021,” commented Christine Sun, senior vice-president of research and analytics at OrangeTee & Tie.
Other best-selling projects in July highlighted by OrangeTee & Tie’s Sun include Hyll on Holland, Riviere, Parc Clematis, Ki Residences at Brookvale, Perfect Ten and The Florence Residences.
While Sun highlighted “significant pent-up demand for new homes in the suburbs” and a lack of significant impact of the recent interest rate hike on new home-buying sentiment in July, she believes Singapore’s property market will continue to face headwinds from the rising global inflation, interest rate hikes and supply chain disruptions.
“Homebuyers may not feel the increase in monthly instalments due to the progressive payment schedule for new launch private properties, and home loans tend to be smaller in the initial repayment period,” she said.
Lee of Huttons also noted a rise in mass market homes priced above S$2 million, with 40.6 per cent of July’s transactions in the OCR recorded at S$2 million and above compared to a low of 9.9 per cent in August 2021.
“During this period, the average size of S$2 million homes in the OCR decreased from 1,447 square feet (sq feet) in January 2021 to 1,222 sq ft in July 2022. However, the average price per square foot (psf) increased from S$1,579 psf in January 2021 to S$2,066 psf in July 2022,” observed Lee.
Going forward, he expects the proportion of homes at an average price of S$2,000 psf to rise.
Knight Frank’s head of research Leonard Tay believes July’s URA developer sales data reflects growing demand for new high-rise homes in the suburbs, as “HDB upgraders and new families who have the financial means harness steadily-improving affluence to purchase private homes”.
He sees the current pace of sales as indicative of the type of demand that has resulted from an increase in the overall household net worth of Singapore residences over the past decade.
“Looking at the remaining 5 months of the year, quality projects with preferred attributes such as proximity to MRT stations and popular schools, good layout and design, will be able to capture public imagination and the interest of homebuyers, translating into headline news on the launch weekend,” said Tay.
Huttons’ Lee is however anticipating a “quiet” August for developers this year as they hold back on launches during the lunar seventh month.
“The number of units sold (in August) is estimated to be around June’s sales volume. Launch activity will pick up rapidly in September with a number of launches – Enchante in CCR, Lentor Modern and Sky Eden@Bedok, both in the OCR,” he said.
He projects developer sales to come in at around 9,000 units for the whole of 2022, with private home prices expected to increase by 8 per cent.
ERA Realty Network thinks total sales volume could range between 8,500 and 9,500 units for the whole of this year. Like Huttons’ Lee, ERA chief executive Marcus Chu foresees upward pressure on residential prices in the coming months as strong demand depletes the current stock of unsold residential units.
“Furthermore, developers are unlikely to lower prices of their residential projects due to the rising land and construction costs,” said Chu.
He added that homebuyers “may not be too perturbed” by the prospects of higher mortgage rates as they “do not expect interest rates to stay at an elevated level for very long”.


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GamesIndustry.biz inks partnership with GC Asia
Leading trade news website and network to become international media partner
GamesIndustry.biz has been confirmed as the international media partner for this year's Games Convention Asia and Games Convention Asia Conference, and will provide extensive coverage of both events as they take place next month.
The GamesIndustry.biz team will provide interviews with keynote speakers as well as the latest news on the show, while the GamesIndustry.biz Network will partner with the event to welcome GC Asia Conference attendees into its business-only networking community.
"The Asia-Pacific region is on the minds of a lot of people in the industry right now, and it's going to be particularly exciting to see how the business there will evolve," said Phil Elliott, editor of GamesIndustry.biz. "Games Convention Asia is a great event to watch that transition first hand, and get to know the people at the forefront of it."
"GamesIndustry.biz is a truly international player and its readers are interested in the global games industry," said Jorg Zeissig, managing director, Leipziger Messe International Asia. "By partnering with them, and introducing our audience to the GamesIndustry.biz Network, we will be able to share the opportunities we're seeing in the Asia-Pacific region with the rest of the world."
GCA and GCAC take place from September 18-20, 2008, at the Suntec International Convention Centre in Singapore.


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INDO INTERTEX 2021
INDO INTERTEX 2022
is South East Asia’s largest trade show and most anticipated event on the textile and garment industries, bringing together thousands of leaders to experience world-class manufacture, technology and solutions.
Taking place between 10 – 13 August 2022, the 18th edition of INDO INTERTEX will once again deliver…
NEW DATES ANNOUNCED - Due to the escalation of COVID-19 globally, Peraga Expo has announced that the next edition of INDO INTERTEX - International Textile and Garment Machinery Exhibition and INATEX – International Apparel Textile and Accessories Exhibition will now take place on March 30 – April 1, 2021.
INDO INTERTEX 2018
4 - 7 April 2018 (Wednesday - Saturday)
Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran
Indo Intertex 2017
19 – 21 April 2017 (Wednesday – Friday)
Jakarta International Expo – Kemayoran, Jakarta- Indonesia
“Be Ready with More Market Opportunities Ahead”
ITMA ASIA & CITME 2016
National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai, China
21-25 October 2016


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To celebrate the launch of the Galaxy S23 series and the first Galaxy Experience space in Southeast Asia, Samsung is releasing a non-fungible token (NFT) collection.
There are 253 NFTs in the “Epic Beginnings” series, each portraying Singapore’s first Galaxy Experience Space surrounded by sustainable landmarks Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay.
In four-color schematics, these NFTs highlight one of the core values of the Galaxy S23 series — sustainability.
NFTs will be awarded to the winners of the #SharetheEpic Photo contest, in which participants are invited to use their Galaxy smartphones to take photos of what “epic” means to them and submit them.
Entries will be accepted until February 28, 2021, 11:59 PM Singapore Time, and the photos with the most likes will be chosen as the winners.
As a prize for winning, each winner will receive an NFT that will provide free access to 29 Rooms — an art exhibition space featuring 29 connected and themed rooms — which will be held for the first time in Asia.
The NFTs will be minted on the Aergo blockchain and offered through the CCCV NFT marketplace.
This is not Samsung’s first endeavor to commemorate the debut of the Galaxy S23; Samsung Germany collaborated with Ledger, a maker of crypto hardware wallets, on a Web3-related program that provides a phygital experience.
Apart from that, Samsung has also tapped into the metaverse to educate people about its products; in October, it unveiled the “House of SAM,” a Decentraland metaverse experience where users can learn more about the company’s brand and products.


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An evening of ritmo caliente or âhot rhythmsâ feted the ISES winners.
Seven generational trends and how seven Minnesota companies are finding value in
The Twin Cities Business virtual technology trade show.
The bottom line: by not making a pig of itself.
Movers, shakers, tinkerers, thinkers, celebrated executives, accomplished entrepreneurs, inventors, innovators, providers of finance, and purveyors of culture throughout Minnesota.
To people not directly involved in technical-support roles, corporate information technology (IT) operations may seem to be all alike—the servers, the helpdesk, the software upgrades, the mysterious jargon and acronyms.
The nine people that made Target Field possible.
Built in a cold climate on a scrap of ground that time forgot, Target Field seemed born with two strikes against it. But the designers hit a dinger.
After a half decade when it seemed to lose its way, the iconic ad agency has reorganized and landed one of its biggest accounts ever. In its work for Chrysler, look for signs that a once TV-centric Fallon is taking alternate routes.
The effects of the $3.78 billion Ponzi scheme spearheaded by former Wayzata businessman Tom Petters did not dissolve when he was sentenced in April to 50 years in prison. Minneapolis
Pure Market Express brings the raw-food movement to grocery store shelves.
Back from the brink of bankruptcy, ShopNBC has re-adjusted and refocused. Will consumers and investors buy what it's selling?
At Frattallone's Ace Hardware, the handyman's creative side gets its due.
For businesses selling to other businesses, Web sites are no longer an afterthought—they've become central to the selling process.
Marketing and IT experts explain how their quest for a better Web site has resulted in a better working relationship.
Jacquie Berglund's volunteer-led beer company is a career starter.
Any guy in a red suit can generate a little mall traffic. But an extraordinary Santa can build a small dynasty.


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Best Buy's big comeback in the face of online retail competition isn't just a Minnesota success story anymore – it's national news.
The Richfield, Minnesota-based retailer's survival is the subject of an extensive CNN Business profile of the company and its CEO, Hubert Joly.
The network notes that although Best Buy "was on the brink of collapse" six years ago, it has now become known as "last man standing" in consumer electronics, with competitors like Circuit City and Radioshack going extinct in recent years.
The dramatic turnaround is credited to Joly, the company's French chairman and CEO who pioneered a number of new initiatives to make Best Buy competitive in the age of Amazon.
The main ingredient of his success? "Strengthening Best Buy's customer service," CNN Business says, pointing out that the retailer's ability to make face-to-face connections with customers is "a key advantage over Amazon."
"The result has been six straight quarters of comparable sales growth above 4%," CNN adds.
That's part of a larger winning streak of four consecutive years of full-year, comparable sales growth, and over the past couple of years, revenue has grown by more than $2 billion.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Best Buy had beat not only Wall Street's expectations, but its own, with a giant 7.1 percent sales increase in the First Quarter.
The company credited sales of cellphones, appliances, computers, tablets and smart home products with driving that growth.
In May, it was reported that Joly had raked in a whopping $16.7 million as CEO over the previous fiscal year. That's roughly 699 times more than the median Best Buy employee pay of $23,980 for the year.
But there's an argument to be made that he's worth it, at least that's what the Business Journals argued last year when it was revealed Joly had earned $14 million.
It named him one of Minnesota's most "appropriately paid" CEOs, measuring CEO pay with a company's performance.
You can read CNN's interview with Joly by clicking right here.


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Misha Nonoo to Present Collection on Instagram
Fashion's obsession with the app finally has come full circle.
While Brandon Maxwell and Coach will be presenting their first runway shows at September's New York Fashion Week, womenswear designer Misha Nonoo is opting for a different scene — she's going all-digital, with an Instagram presentation during NYFW.
WWD reported that the New York-based designer — who has fans in Allison Williams, Emma Watson and Bella Hadid — will be presenting a "full collection" online. Details surrounding the digital-only display have yet to be announced.


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“It is extremely positive to note that there has been a 5% increase in the number of motorists planning to use a franchised dealer for servicing.” said Sue Robinson, National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) Director.
A report from Motoring.co.uk revealed that 50% of consumers over the last six months said they will used a franchised dealer for servicing, compared with 45% at the end of 2012.
Robinson continued “Franchised dealers have worked hard to stay competitive within an ever changing market. They have adopted new approaches to retain their customer base and continue to explore even more ways to retain value-conscious customers.
“Franchised dealers are committed to offering specialist in-depth and up to date brand knowledge to ensure the service they offer is at the highest possible level. They continue to invest in equipment, facilities and staff training.”


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By Aerol B. Patena
MANILA, Feb 22 (PNA) — The Philippine food manufacturing sector faces challenging times as it braces for the ASEAN economic integration in 2015 which would result to the lowering of trade barriers to enable the entry of food products from the country’s neighbors.
The local food industry must sustain its competitiveness and be at par with ASEAN countries by innovating and improving on their products.
However, food processors, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are having difficulty in setting up facilities that would help ensure the safety and quality of food products and preserve their shelf-life.
To address this concern, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched food innovation centers (FICs) that will further develop food processing in the country.
In an interview with the Philippines News Agency, Engineer Rey Esguerra, Deputy Director for Research and Development of the DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI), said that FICs will help food processors develop products that will generate a strong demand in the ASEAN region.
Esguerra related that these facilities are part of the DOST’s High Impact Technology Solutions (HITs) program which aims to provide technological innovations in support of the growth and competitiveness of the country’s small and medium enterprises and improve the economic conditions of the Filipinos.
“FICs are common service facilities that will assist food manufacturing firms through providing local technologies to ensure the freshness and quality of their food products,” Engr. Esguerra said.
Meanwhile, DOST-ITDI Director Dr. Nuna Almanzor stated that the project aims to substitute the imported equipment with locally designed, developed and manufactured equipment.
“This project aims to locally design and fabricate food processing equipment and make our own technology work for our local industry needs. We also hope to do away with imports, which are always expensive, especially for the small and medium food processors, and those starting to put up their own businesses,” the ITDI Director said.
Seven equipment were designed and fabricated as an alternative to imported equipment.
Water retort is a cooking vessel capable of withstanding extreme pressures and designed to destroy all microbes to prolong shelf-life and make product safe.
Freeze dryer dehydrates heat sensitive materials through the sublimation process, or changing solid ice into gas, under vacuum conditions. This process preserves perishable items and makes them more convenient for transport. This equipment can be utilized in prolonging the shelf life of buko pie; vegetables, meat and fish for instant meals and soups; cheese; yoghurt; proteins; enzymes, etc.
Vacuum fryer is designed to fry food in deep fat under reduced pressure and in a closed system that lowers the boiling point of both oil and water in food. Vaccum fried foods include potato chips, durian, pineapple, kiwi, and others.
Spray dryer turns liquids into a spray of droplets, and then converts these droplets into powder. This equipment is used in making milk powder, coffee, spices, flavorings, medical ingredients, additives, and even paint pigments, ceramic materials, and others.
Vacuum packaging machine removes air before sealing food products in retort pouches.
Immersion freezer serves as a freezing agent for food products (meat, fish, fruits, vegetables) that are submerged in cold liquid.
Vacuum evaporator concentrates heat sensitive liquid food material such as herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
Most of the equipment have already been tested in function and performance and the rest will be tested within this year.
DOST’s Project Management Engineering Design Service Office designed the equipment while the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) was commissioned to fabricate the prototypes. On the other hand, DOST-ITDI provided performance testing for the equipment.
The equipment will be available for use at the food innovation centers in Region 2 at Cagayan State University, Region 5 at Bicol University, Region 6 at the DOST Regional Office 6 in Iloilo City, Region 8 at Eastern Visayas State University, Region 10 at Mindanao University of Science and Technology, and Region 11 at Philippine Women’s University.
The DOST aims to establish food innovation centers in every region that will come up with innovative and add-on products based on the major products in the region. (PNA)


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Free Hulu is coming to an end.
Continue Reading Below
Don't cry too much. We've all known that the streaming video service has been emphasizing its subscription offering over its free service for the past couple years. But Hulu's deal to license its free content to Yahoo, announced Monday, is the last nail in the coffin.
Over the next few weeks, Hulu says, it will phase out its free offering, which until now has allowed people to watch the most recent five episodes of several ABC, NBC and Fox shows for free, after an eight day delay.
Viewership of free Hulu has declined and relatively few Hulu visitors today stream those episodes. As Hulu has beefed up its subscription offering with originals like "Casual" and library deals for big titles like "Seinfeld," it has promoted those on its site, making the free episodes increasingly difficult to find.
"Our limited free offering simply isn't aligned with our focus on creating the best experience possible and delivering the best content we can to Hulu subscribers," said Hulu Senior Vice President and Head of Experience Ben Smith.
The move shows how far Hulu has evolved from its origins. The company launched in 2007 as a free, ad-supported service carrying full-length episodes of recently-aired broadcast TV shows, in a bid by its media company owners to battle digital piracy and offer an alternative to YouTube.
It launched its subscription tier in 2010 and then began offering a higher-priced ad-free service last year. The company is now in talks with TV channel owners to create a virtual cable TV service with live channels and on-demand programming that would launch next year.
Time Warner Inc. last week said it has agreed to buy a 10% stake in Hulu, joining existing owners Comcast Corp., Walt Disney Co., and 21st Century Fox.
Hulu's news came as Yahoo said it would launch a new online video portal called Yahoo View just seven months after shutting down its previous video hub called Screen. Hulu's free show episodes will anchor the new offering, but Yahoo said it would also make available short video extras as well as posts from Tumblr about the content.
Eventually Yahoo may include a section showing users the outfits worn by characters in a show, powered by Polyvore, said Jess Lee, vice president of product at Yahoo. Yahoo said it has no plans to get back into original programming, which proved to be a money-losing venture.
Hulu and Yahoo will split advertising revenue with ads sold by Hulu. "Hulu, through its partnerships and ownership structure, has very high (advertising rates), that's a known fact in the industry," said Phil Lynch, Yahoo's head of media partnerships.
Already, the free episodes available on Hulu can also be found elsewhere on the web. Hulu has other distribution partners like Comcast's xfinity.com, People.com, Time.com, and Vulture. In addition, each of the broadcast networks' sites, like abc.com, nbc.com, and fox.com, carry those recently-aired episodes.
Yahoo's Mr. Lynch said it is too "premature" to say if this content would appear on Verizon Communications Inc.'s Go90 online video service after Verizon's deal to buy Yahoo is finalized.
After Yahoo started Screen in 2013, it spent more than $100 million to produce its own shows, excluding the cost of employees, and brokered deals to syndicate high-profile shows like "Saturday Night Live." Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer hoped it would bring in premium advertising dollars, but Screen failed to gain traction with users or create a meaningful source of revenue.
By Shalini Ramachandran and Deepa Seetharaman.


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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two new business housed at the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center are reaching out to brides and fishermen to ease their way to the altar and the sea, respectively.
The companies are in the Innovation Center’s Business Incubation program, the second in a four-stage process that focuses on a client’s potential growth. Clients receive access to resources such as fund-raising opportunities, web development and a customized plan based on business model approaches and business networking plans.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi established the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center in 2009 as part of the College of Business to encourage entrepreneurial economic of companies that, once established, are committed to remaining in the Coastal Bend. A key component of the Innovation Center is the incubation program that targets resources and other services to accelerate their growth and ensure long-term success. Learn more at innovation4texas.com


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AT&T to Acquire Cable Giant Tele-Commuications Inc.
ALEXANDRIA, VA (June 24, 1998) /FOOLWIRE/ -- Cable TV operator Tele-Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: TCOMA) jumped $3 1/516 to $42 5/8 this morning on news that it will be acquired by telecommunications powerhouse AT&T (NYSE: T) in a stock-swap valued at around $48 billion. AT&T will issue 0.7757 of its shares for each TCI Group Series A share and 0.8533 shares for each TCI Group Series B share.
Ma Bell will join its current consumer long-distance, wireless, and Internet services units with TCI's cable, telecommunications, and high-speed Internet businesses to form a new subsidiary, AT&T Consumer Services, which will trade as a "tracking stock" on the New York Stock Exchange. AT&T also plans to issue separate tracking stock to holders of TCI's programming arm, Liberty Media Group (Nasdaq: LBTYA and LBTYB).
In addition, AT&T announced that its second-quarter earnings will beat analysts' expectations of $0.80 to $0.82 a share by $0.08 to $0.10 thanks to earlier-than-expected benefits from its ongoing cost-cutting measures. Taking into account the merger with TCI, the company anticipates 1998 EPS of $3.35 to $3.45.


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A majority of car shoppers are optimistic about the health of the economy. The economic experts, not so much.
Signs are indicating that the next recession is looming right around the corner, but 65 percent of respondents said they expected that their household would be better off financially in a year than it was currently, a recent survey by Autolist.com has found.
Sixteen percent said they expected to be worse off, and 19 percent were unsure.
This optimism was echoed by consumers’ relatively positive outlook on a possible recession.
And about that recession that many experts say is just around the corner? Consumers disagree there, as well.
Just one-third of respondents said they believed the U.S. economy would enter a recession in the next 18 months, Autolist found. Thirty-eight percent said they did not expect to enter a recession, and 29 percent were unsure.
Autolist also pointed to findings in a Duke University survey released in early December, where 49 percent of chief financial officers expected a recession in the next 12 months, while 82 percent of them said a recession was due by the end of 2020.
The auto industry, of course, hope consumers are right on this one. New-vehicle sales are expected to dip only slightly in 2019 compared to 2018. Autolist cited WardsAuto and the National Automobile Dealers Association data predicting 16.8 million new-vehicle sales in 2019, a slight decline compared to the 17.3 million vehicles sold in 2018.
These predictions were mirrored in Autolist’s survey. Sixty-four percent of consumers said now was a good time to buy a vehicle; just 12 percent said it was not and 24 percent were unsure.
The optimistic outlook of consumers was also apparent when Autolist asked car shoppers how or if they would change their next vehicle purchase, should the U.S. economy hit a recession. Thirty-two percent of consumers said it wouldn’t affect what vehicle they chose at all.
The most common behavior change was a switch from shopping for new vehicles to shopping used vehicles; then a move to a less-expensive brand and then a switch from leasing to buying.
Autolist surveyed 2,280 current car shoppers in late December 2018 and early January 2019 for the results.