text:
Popular video-sharing platform TikTok has expressed its disagreement with the decision of Italy’s antitrust authority to impose a hefty fine of 10 million euros. The fine was levied on the social media app over allegations of its failure to adequately safeguard minors and other vulnerable users from potentially harmful content.
A spokesperson for TikTok, a Chinese-owned company, addressed the issue on Thursday, asserting the platform’s stance against the antitrust decision. “We disagree with this decision,” the spokesperson stated, emphasizing TikTok’s commitment to user safety and well-being.
The spokesperson further elaborated on the specifics of the case, highlighting the minimal impact of the content in question. “The content linked to the so-called ‘French scar’ registered a daily average of just 100 searches per day in Italy before the Antitrust authority announced the start of its investigation last year,” they explained.
Moreover, TikTok underscored its proactive measures to mitigate the visibility of potentially harmful content, particularly among younger users. “We have long since reduced the visibility of such content to users under the age of 18, even excluding them from the ‘For You’ page,” the spokesperson added, emphasizing the platform’s efforts to create a safer online environment.
The statement reflects TikTok’s ongoing dedication to addressing concerns related to user safety and content moderation. The platform has been consistently enhancing its policies and implementing technological solutions to ensure a positive and secure experience for its diverse user base.
However, despite TikTok’s rebuttal, the antitrust authority’s decision underscores the growing scrutiny faced by social media platforms regarding their responsibility to protect vulnerable users from harmful content. This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in regulating digital platforms operating on a global scale, as authorities strive to strike a balance between innovation, freedom of expression, and user safety.


text:
Gannett CNY Media welcomes two to new positions
Gannett Central New York Media on Monday welcomed two employees to new positions in the sales and marketing departments for the group's three newspapers.
Robb Scott is the new regional sales director, and Tony Valenta is the group's new marketing manager.
Scott joins Gannett Central New York Media from the Delmarva Media Group in Salisbury, Md., where he was director of sales and marketing. He has more than 17 years of experience with Gannett, including as the advertising director of The Leaf Chronicle in Clarksville, Tenn., and the classified advertising manager for the News Leader in Staunton, Virginia. Scott started as an outside sales rep at the News Leader in 1997 and later worked as a major account rep there.
Scott is planning to move to Vestal with his family.
"I'm incredibly excited to bring my energy (and) new ideas and maximize opportunities for CNY Media," he said. "Binghamton, Elmira and Ithaca and the surrounding areas are great markets, and I look forward to leading the sales team and developing mutually beneficial relationships with local businesses."
Valenta, of Binghamton, joined the Press & Sun-Bulletin full time in 1977 and has served as district sales manager, promotion manager and research manager for the paper. He was also the marketing director for the Ithaca Journal from 2000 to 2006 and the CNY Sales Manager for Circulation Sales from 2006 to 2011. He was the consumer marketing associate for the Gannett Greater Northeast Sales Hub before starting in the new marketing manager role on Monday.
"I am elated to be working with the many talented colleagues of the Press & Sun-Bulletin, Star-Gazette and The Ithaca Journal as well as our readers, advertisers and the communities we serve," Valenta said.
Follow Megan Brockett on Twitter @PSBMegan.

domain: news


text:
While PV equipment sales remain only a fraction on the boom years of 2008 to 2010, orders for new technologies are coming in. The latest is Schmids Geminus bifacial turnkey line, to a Mexican module producer. The 110 MW in equipment will be for bifaical cell and module production and will employ Schmids multi busbar solution.
Todays announcement from Schmid indicates that both multi and monocrystalline wafers can be utilized in the Geminus production tools.
ERDM has been producing PV modules in San Andrés Tuxtla, Mexico, since 2007. ERDM Solar indicates that it will use the bifacial modules produced on the Geminus line for both domestic and international markets.
The Geminus sale is a particular highlight for Schmid as it unveiled its bifacial line only three months ago, at the EU PVSEC trade show in Amsterdam, in September 2014.
According to ERDM the investment decision has been made due to the observation that the market has changed from a buyers to a seller's market for non-Chinese and Taiwanese high end solar products, said Schmid president and CEO Christian Schmid. Hence it is exactly the right timing for the upstream integration.
In light of tariffs on Chinese and Taiwanese solar products imported in the U.S., analysts report that Mexico is promising destination for firms looking to establish manufacturing outside of these countries.
While there is no standard flashing protocol for measuring the efficiency of bifacial modules, Schmid says that modules from the Geminus line can result in 30% higher yields. Yields will depend on the albedo, or reflection coefficient, which varies between different surfaces under a module. White roofs, fresh snow or seashells all result in a high albedo.
Schmid claims that multicrystalline bifacial modules can roll off the Geminus line with an efficiency equivalent of 18% and at a BoS cost advantage of US$0.07 to $0.10/Wp, when compared to standard monofacial multi modules.
Mexicos solar industry
Mexico is currently the country with the most solar module manufacturing capacity in Latin America. Most of the production is for export.
As an end market, Mexico currently has a cumulative installed PV generating capacity of around 150 MW. The Mexican Energy Regulator has approved about 2.5 GW of solar projects. There are currently no import taxes placed on modules in Mexico but this could change, according to Mexican solar association ANES alongside wider taxation reforms.
Additional reporting from Blanca Diaz Lopez.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: email@example.com.


text:
Rick Osterloh joins Google hardware
Rick Osterloh,ex-Lenovo has been hired by Google to run its hardware division.
Rick Osterloh, who was ousted from his position in March with Lenovo as head of the Motorola brand, has been hired by Google to run its hardware division.
Osterloh is Google’s latest senior vice president of hardware. He reports to CEO Sundar Pichai. It is understood that he will be overseeing the development of the company’s Nexus range as well as other consumer hardware, including tablets, Chromebooks, OnHub, and the controversial Google Glass.
As if that isn’t enough Osterloh will also be in charge of Google’s Advance Technology and Projects (ATAP) division, filling the vacancy created when Regina Dugan jumped ship to Facebook’s hardware outfit.
Dugan’s departure was widely interpreted as Google revamping the way it structures its hardware research and development as the company tries to exert some influence within the field of emerging technologies like virtual reality, wearable technology and the Internet of Things (IoT).Osterloh returns to Google like the prodigal son who has found his way. He was president of Motorola when Google was in charge but it all ended under Lenovo's steerage, two years later when Osterloh lost his job as Lenovo re-structured.
By the looks of his new


text:
LONDON--Fuller,Smith&Turner PLC (FSTA.LN) said Friday it is well positioned for the future as it recorded fiscal 2016 earnings growth.
The pubs firm and brewer said pretax profit rose 8.6% to 39.2 million pounds ($57 million) during the 52 weeks ended March 26, compared with GBP36.1 million a year earlier as revenue rose to GBP350.5 million from GBP321.5 million earlier.
"It has been another outstanding year for the Company and I am delighted to be reporting an excellent set of results, particularly in the largest part of our business - our Managed Pubs and Hotels. We are seeing the rewards of our continued investment program and the emphasis we have placed on recruiting, developing, rewarding and promoting the best people," Chief Executive Simon Emeny said.
"Our business is in excellent shape and it has been a solid start to the year. Like for like sales in our Managed Pubs and Hotels for the first 10 weeks of the new financial year are up by 2.7% against strong comparatives from last year. Over the same period, like for like profits in our Tenanted Inns are down by 2% and beer and cider volumes have decreased by 5%," Mr. Emeny said.
-Write to Razak Musah Baba at firstname.lastname@example.org; Twitter: @Raztweet


text:
Airspace Experience Technologies, LLC (AirSpaceX) has given a preview of its vision for the future of air taxi services at this year's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The company unveiled a sub-scale model of its vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, Mobi-One, an autonomous, tilt-wing electric aircraft designed to carry both passengers and cargo at speeds of up to 250 mph (400 km/h).
According to AirSpaceX, US$300 billion dollars in fuel and productivity costs a year are wasted in traffic jams and other delays in the United States alone. Additionally, urban drivers spend 42 hours stuck in traffic each year, while pumping 38 billion pounds (17 billion kg) of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Designed and built by AirSpaceX parent compant Detroit Aircraft Corporation (DAC) at Detroit City Airport, Mobi-One is targeted at the point-to-point commuter market as a clean, quiet alternative to road transport that relies on "lean automotive design and mass production techniques" to be affordable to produce.
Mobi-One uses four wing-mounted electric motors that the maker claims makes the aircraft quieter than a helicopter. It's designed to carry two to four passengers or payloads of over 200 kg (440 lb) at a cruising speed of 150 mph (241 km/h) over a range of 65 mi (104 km).


text:
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has welcomed the possible reintroduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), saying it would bolster industry growth. FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the federation also agrees with the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research’s (MIER) recommendation to set the GST at a lower rate of three per cent. “Reduce GST rate from six per cent to three per cent to boost business conditions, which would lead to higher investments and employment opportunities as well as higher disposable income for the people,” he said in a statement.
He added that FMM looks forward to being engaged in the government’s study to provide manufacturers’ views on the reintroduction of the GST. FMM highlighted the fact that over 170 countries have implemented the GST regime due to its infallible and fair tax structure. It said prices of Malaysian exports will become more competitive on the global stage as no GST is imposed on exported goods and services, while the GST incurred on inputs can be recovered along the supply chain. “This strengthens our export industry, helping the country progress even further. Given the weak external environment and amid current global tensions, we believe that priority should be given to strengthen the economy and restore more favourable business conditions. “Therefore, we note this will be the opportune time to reintroduce the GST system,” he added.
FMM also proposed zero-rating all essential goods and services to make the GST regime more consumer- and business-friendly. It also recommended reducing the tax compliance burden by increasing the GST registration threshold to RM1 million and minimising delays in refunds especially for exporters and businesses with zero-rated supplies, saying the long refund period of between six to eight months has made the GST an accumulating tax burden. “Include the provision of interest on late payments and refunds in the GST legislation to ensure strict compliance to the client charter and integrity of the system,” it added.


text:
Following the U.S. launch at CES 2019, the HUAWEI MateBook 13 won eight "Best of CES" awards and made four "Best Laptops at CES" lists, while the MediaPad M5 lite won one "Best of CES" award and was included on Chicago Tribune's "Products that Wowed Us At CES" list for a total of 14 recognitions.
The media cited the HUAWEI MateBook 13 for "one-upping" a bevy of competitors in terms of style, substance and value. A new addition to Huawei's ultra-slim notebook line-up, the HUAWEI MateBook 13 delivers powerful functions without compromising portability. It comes equipped with the latest Intel® Whiskey Lake processor, an NVIDIA® GeForce® MX150 (25 Watt TDP) option, and an industry-leading FullView Touch Screen with 88 percent screen-to-body ratio. The HUAWEI MateBook 13 will begin selling in the U.S. on Jan. 29 at Amazon and Newegg, and at additional top consumer electronics retailers in February.
The HUAWEI MediaPad M5 lite was recognized for...
Continue reading: HUAWEI MateBook 13 and HUAWEI MediaPad M5 lite Receive Fourteen Best of CES Recognitions at CES 2019 in News. - Comments (Reply To Topic)


text:
Norwegian Cruise Lines’ next two ships will be named the Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Escape, based on 100,000 votes cast by fans, the line announced Tuesday.
The ships, scheduled to be delivered in 2015 and 2017, will be similar to but slightly larger than the Norwegian Breakaway, which debuted in New York in April, and the Norwegian Getaway, which will be delivered in January and sail out of Miami. Called Breakaway-Plus ships, they will be the largest in the line’s fleet at approximately 163,000 gross tons and 4,200 passengers.
Norwegian has not yet announced the home ports of the Breakaway-Plus ships, nor said whether — like the Breakaway and Getaway — they will have decor themed to their home ports.
The cruise line invited fans in United States, Canada (excluding Quebec), Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom to vote on 10 names in conjunction with a contest. Bliss and Escape were the top vote-getters.


text:
We really haven’t seen much news about iTunes Match in a while, even though it was published a month late here, in the U.S. and internationally.
But, Apple’s ‘iTunes Match’ troubles are just getting started. Cult of Mac, a popular tech blog, has reported that they have found a bug in the iTunes Match service that replaces songs explicit lyrics with the clean lyrics.
According to the tech site, iTunes Match has been replacing the author’s songs that contain explicit (dirty) content with clean versions of the tracks, which means no cuss words. You may not see this as a big deal, but it can make a $.99 cent song sound like a bad service cellphone chat.
The author reports that it only has happened to a few of his songs, mainly Rap genres.
What do you think about this issue? For you users of iTunes Match, has this happened to you yet? Have you noticed a difference in your song? Leave a comment below.


text:
Wedding planner pleads not guilty to defrauding prestigious spa hotel
A wedding planner has pleaded not guilty to eleven charges of defrauding one of Northern Ireland's top hotels out of couples' deposits.
Nicola Currell of Coastguard Cottages in Glenarm on the Antrim coast is charged with committing the fraud at the prestigious Galgorm Resort and Spa outside Cullybackey near Ballymena.
Currell (39) faces 11 charges that she dishonestly abused her position by making unauthorised transfers of funds from accounts in the names of couples to accounts held by the hotel to benefit herself.
She also faces a 12th charge of transferring criminal property. The charges relate to dates between 2008 and 2011.
At her arraignment at Antrim Crown Court on Friday she stood in the dock her hands clasped she confirmed her name and replied "not guilty" to all charges.
Her defence lawyer said: "This case comes down to the movement of money between various accounts in the hotel."
He said the issue was "very complicated" and will benefit from being looked at "forensically" by an accountant.
The case was adjourned to April and Currell, who was wearing a black dress and carried a brown handbag into court, was released on continuing bail.
Galgorm Resort and Spa is a popular wedding venue and their website says: "We have devised a number of packages that draw on the experience of selective and highly respected experts in their field.
"Coupling these attributes to our own unrivalled standards and facilities we are confident that our all-inclusive weddings will afford you a stress free journey to that perfect wedding day."


text:
Cruise Ship Interiors Expo recognises The SMS Group at the end of its most successful year in marine refurbishment.
The SMS Group, based within the ABP Southampton footprint, in the Port of Southampton, Hampshire, concludes its most successful year in marine refurbishment and interior outfit by exhibiting at Cruise Ship Interiors Expo, at London’s Excel, and with the industry recognition of being shortlisted for the highly acclaimed ‘Refurbishment of the year’ award.
The award, shortlisted by industry experts and decided by an industry vote, will be announced on Dec 1st, which is the final day of the two day trade show.
Dan Lockyer, Head of Marine Refurbishment for The SMS Group, said: “This is a great end to our year; and fantastic to have such industry wide recognition - if you’re reading this please take a moment to vote for us!
“We’ve had a tremendously positive year with several new customers coming onboard, two, new, landmark contracts (one of which we received at Seawork), several new starters and exceptional project successes in the cruise, ferry and defence sectors."
He goes on say: “Works of varying sizes, across the marine industry, are helping to support the growth of the business and the maturity of the delivery team – as we roll into 2023 we’ll be undertaking significant works for the Royal Navy and for two major, international, cruise lines. 2022 has been a huge success and we look forward to 2023.”
Darren Smith, Head of Business Development, concludes by saying: “2022 has seen us achieve two major milestones; genuinely maturity in our supply chain, and proven delivery across multiple projects, simultaneously. This will allow the business to further scale in 2023 and onwards. As the liquidity within our core customer base rebounds post Covid we look forward to supporting larger projects and continually developing our customer base.”
The SMS Group trades from eight locations in the UK offering marine engineering and interior outfit solutions both nationally and internationally.
The SMS Group is exhibiting at Cruise Ship Interiors Expo, Stand no. 516, from Nov 30th.
It was shortlisted for Refurbishment of the Year for its work for the Holland America Line simultaneously on the Volendam and Zaandam in Cadiz.
07909 211 484


text:
Queen Rania of Jordan looked glamorous in a balloon short sleeve shirt styled by Lebanese fashion designer Maison Makarem.
The queen wore the classic white shirt while accompanying King Abdullah II of Jordan to visit the Jordanian national martial arts team. The team recently participated in the Asian Games in Indonesia, and brought home 12 medals.
According to its website, Maison Makarem was launched in 2015 by political science graduate Layal Makarem. The fashion studio has grown quickly, and is working on opening a new studio and creative space in Beirut.
In a Facebook post, Maison Makarem said this is the fourth time Queen Rania appeared in public wearing from Maison Makarem.
“The Maison Makarem team and founder, Layal Makarem, are beyond honored, humbled and grateful to Her Majesty Queen Rania for believing in the vision of Maison Makarem and the cycle of goodness and giving back that we chose to be part of,” the post added.


text:
Last week, MLB 14 was announced, Rockstar made good on its GTA Online stimulus promise, Diablo 3 PC gamers got some bad news, and Microsoft gave away full copies of Killer Instinct.
MLB 14 Coming to PS3 & PS4
[youtube video=”uj5CSgodwVc” /]
Sony has announced the release of MLB 14 for the PS3, PS4 and Vita. The title will arrive in spring 2014 with Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera on the cover. Check out the trailer above.
The game features an option to complete a full nine innings in less than 30 minutes. Other features include new social media capabilities and a few updates to the “Road to the Show” option. Gamers will also be able to carry over their seasons, franchises and Road to the Show players.
If you pre-order the game at GameStop, you will be rewarded with in-game currency.
GTA Online Cash Dispensed; New DLC Announced
The Stimulus Package has finally arrived for GTA Online. The peace offering, which Rockstar gave away to players who logged on to the multi-player mode in October, dumped $500,000 in player’s accounts. If you played the game during October and didn’t notice a recent boost in your bank account, contact the developer through their request form.
In related news, Rockstar has announced the first DLC for GTA Online. The Beach Bum pack, which is expected to be released this month, will give gamers access to new vehicles, weaponry and new ways to customize your online character’s appearance.
Diablo III for PC Won’t Have an Offline Mode
An offline mode isn’t coming to the PC version of Diablo III. Director Josh Mosqueira revealed the news during a panel at BlizzCon 2013. You can play offline with the console versions.
“So here’s the thing. When we decided to design Diablo III, we feel that Diablo plays best when you’re playing with your friends, when you have access to this awesome community that is Blizzard,” said Mosqueira.
In other news, the developer recently released another trailer for the forthcoming expansion, Reaper of Souls, which will hit shelves next year. The clip shows off the Adventure mode and gives gamers a look at the Nephalem Rifts—a place where they will face off against random monsters from various acts within the franchise.
[youtube video=”vAbnoa30mfM” /]
MS Giving Killer Instinct Away Free to Some Users
Microsoft is gifting the complete Killer Instinct game to select Xbox Live users for free. Some players started receiving emails last week thanking them for their “dedication to Xbox” and promising further instructions for redeeming the gift as forthcoming. The users were picked based on their Gamerscores and the amount of time they’ve had an Xbox Live account.
The title, which will be released Nov. 22 with the Xbox One, will be free-to-play, but gamers will be given only one unlocked character. The others can be unlocked individually for $5 each or in a bundle for $20. The version of the game given to the dedicated users includes all characters.
In other news, Microsoft Studios recently revealed the game’s Arcade mode won’t be released until after all eight characters are in play. Six will be available at launch and two others will be released later.


text:
By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Many were touched after hearing the story about Brynn Maldonado and her family. Thieves broke into their home Tuesday and stole electronics, clothes and nearly all of their Christmas gifts.
Since the story aired on NEWS 9 Wednesday, hundreds of e-mails and phone calls have poured in from people wanting to donate and help.
The outpouring of support has been overwhelming. Generous viewers have come by the station to donate toys, clothes and monetary support. NEWS 9 is gathering the contributions at the station, and will deliver them to the Maldonado family.
In an effort to deliver all the help as soon as possible, NEWS 9 is asking further donations be brought by close of the business day December 19. Donors are no longer asked to mail gifts.
Donations can be dropped off during business hours at the front office at 7401 N. Kelley in Oklahoma City. Checks can be made out to Alondra Maldonado. For clothing donations, Brynn is a size four.


text:
If you are a fan of President Donald Trump and wish to reveal your support, you might think about buying a Trump coin. Despite the fact that the president has actually not yet minted a brand-new coin, the United States Mint is presently providing $1 gold coins to honor the president.
It’s possible that you’re not aware of this fact, so let’s take a look at some of the realities about Trump’s presidential dollar coins.
The former first lady of the United States, Melania Trump, has announced the launch of a brand-new non-fungible token (NFT) venture. This NFT platform will consist of a series of digital antiques. It will likewise feature physical art work and a distinctive accessory.
According to a statement issued by her workplace, the collection is designed to highlight “renowned moments” from the administration of President Donald Trump. In addition to the collection of NFTs, the former first lady stated the earnings will be utilized to help children aging out of foster care. She will contribute an unspecified total up to the initiative.
The NFT will be sold through a payment platform called MoonPay. Credit card payments will be accepted. Payments utilizing the SOL cryptocurrency will likewise be accepted.
The collection will be sold for a cost of $50 per token. Each NFT will include a picture of the former first lady’s blue eyes. An audio recording of her voice will accompany the images. They will be readily available for purchase in between Dec. 16 and Dec. 31.
In December, the former first lady revealed that she would be offering NFTs on her brand-new platform. While the sale went efficiently, the job has actually faced criticism. Some have called it a rip-off while others questioned her intentions.
Melania Trump began her modeling career at age sixteen. She has actually appeared in many high-profile ad campaigns. Her newest NFT endeavor is her very first publicly announced endeavor since leaving the White House.
She has actually stated that she was “motivated” by the American spirit. She thinks that the NFT is a method to return to kids aging out of foster care. Nevertheless, her press contact has not responded to questions about contributions.
In addition to launching NFTs on her site, the previous first lady is likewise developing a series of ad campaigns. She cites the Be Best initiative as the factor for developing her NFTs. As part of the project, she will be donating a part of the profits to the National Foster Care Association.
Aside from her new NFT venture, the former first lady has released a line of handcrafted Christmas ornaments.
The LGBcoin has actually remained in the news for a while now, however one of its most notable champs is its tycoon developer, Madison Cawthorn.
For all of his defects, Cawthorn has proven to be a gentleman of the greatest order. He’s been a great sport in the media and has reportedly even rolled the dice on the chore in the past.
Among his more noteworthy accomplishments is the reality that he’s been named to the House of Representatives as one of the most qualified males in the land. That indicates, as the old saying goes, there’s no telling what he’ll be carrying out in the next four years.
If he’s lucky, Cawthorn could be relegated to the minors for the rest of the decade. Not a bad deal for a man with a studful of prizes to his name. Besides, a little hyphy is never a bad thing.
When it comes to the rest people, we’re a little concerned with the possibility of a lil ditty like Cawthorn in our midst. Luckily for us, he’s not the only shady congressional alumno on the loose.
Presidential Gold Coins
The US Mint started releasing Presidential $1 coins in 2007. This series honors former United States presidents. They are golden colored and feature a portrait of the former president on the obverse and a picture of the Statue of Liberty on the reverse. A motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, is engraved on the edge of these coins.
These coins are meant to be used in vending devices, parking meters, and other locations where they can be acquired. The Federal Reserve Banks disperse the coins to their members, banks, and cooperative credit union.
A group of authorities met the United States Mint to go over production, product packaging, distribution, and other issues. Based on this feedback, the Federal Reserve established strategies for future issuance and management of the coins. In the past, celebratory distributing coin programs have actually come across difficulties. To prevent similar issues, the Federal Reserve has actually carried out market research and has met the Mint to develop a program.
The Federal Reserve has integrated feedback from other commemorative circulating coin programs into its strategy for the Presidential $1 Coin Program. It has actually also implemented modifications to its distribution practices, that include automated messages for depository institutions. Eventually, the Federal Reserve will determine the level of demand for the coins before determining how to manage them.
The very first coin to be provided under the Presidential $1 Coin Act was the George Washington coin. It was released 2 weeks prior to the John Adams coin was released.
This was the very first in a series of four one dollar coins to be provided each year. The designs on these coins have actually altered with time. A few of the previous coins have actually included the slogan, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” on the obverse. Considering that 2009, the motto has actually been relocated to the obverse of all presidential dollar coins.
The Presidential $1 Coin Program has actually launched a number of marketing products. It has actually conducted outreach to local organizations, schools, and consumer groups. There are free academic materials readily available for anyone interested in the coins.
However, it will be up to the Mint to deal with these companies and schools to guarantee that these new coins get the public attention and media coverage that they should have.


text:
Today's ceramic proppants come either from overseas -- Brazil, Russia or China -- or from the "kaolin belt" in Georgia and eastern Alabama. That is because they must contain either kaolin or bauxite to work in current formulations.
Austin-based Brownwood Clay Holdings, LLC, (BCH) is announcing the development of a method for making ceramic proppant out of a type of clay found near many of the top shale formations which, if proven commercially viable, could slash the cost and the delivery time for this type of proppant.
The product is currently completing the testing phase, according to Gary Davis, co-operating manager of BCH, and is looking for a partner to manufacture the proppant. Should they find one in 2013, Davis said they could have product ready for delivery by 2015.
The idea has been under consideration for two to three years, starting with the consideration of how to utilize a clay deposit on 476 acres of land BCH owned near Brownwood. BCH consists of a number of owners of this land, some of which have been connected with the property for more than 50 years, others for just a few years. The clay had previously been used for brick and tile, but Davis and his associates were looking for greater uses.


text:
Review: Ghost Hunter Vena
LewdGamer reviews Ghost Hunter Vena, a 2018 release by vosmug that focuses on sidescrolling exploration and ghosts.
Nonoplayer Releases New Public Version of Tentacles Thrive
Nonoplayer, the developer behind the H-game Always a Good Business Deal, has released the latest public version of Tentacles Thrive, a tentacle rape game centered around management and real time battles.
Studio FOW Releases Severance, Starring DoA's Helena Douglas
Studio FOW is back with Severance, watch Dead or Alive's Helena get manhandled by a group of horny soldiers who are also looking for payback.
Developer Azurezero Launches Kate's Test on Steam and Itch.io
H-game dev and artist Azurezero has just launched the official release of Kate's Test on both the itch.io and Steam.
FutadomWorld Team is Making FutadomWorld — Binding Sim
A four-man team is working on FutadomWorld — Binding Sim, a game set in the 4Chan’s world of dominant futas with addictive semen.
Anduo Games is Making Third Crisis
An indie game development team is working on Third Crisis, a turn-based tactics RPG.
Venus Blood -Chimera- Full Fan Translation Released
Fan translation group HYBRID Translations has released a full translation patch for Ninetails strategy nukige Venus Blood -Chimera-.
Devil Rhythm -Silver Phantom- Now Available on DLsite
Development circle AlexProject has released Devil Rhythm -Silver Phantom-, a 2D side-scrolling brawler, on DLsite.
Erotic RPG Kate's Test Now Available For Pre-Order
Independent developer Azurezero has opened pre-orders for his newest RPG Maker game, Kate’s Test.
Seris the Devil Killer in Harbor Village Released on DLsite
Seris the Devil Killer in Harbor Village, an RPG Maker game developed by Migome, has been released on DLsite.


text:
Published on May 24th, 2016 | by Daniel Sherman Fernandez0
Harley Davidson Is Back With Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War
Captain America and Iron Man may have drawn battle lines for the biggest superhero fight the Marvel universe has ever seen, but Harley-Davidson and Marvel have reunited to bring Dark Custom style and horsepower to defend the city streets in Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War.
Harley-Davidson has long been by Captain America’s side in his stand for freedom, and the latest chapter of the hero’s epic saga showcases a strong pulse of torque with “Team Captain America” member –Winter Soldier riding a one-of-a-kind Harley-Davidson Street 750 customized for the film and Team Iron Man member Black Widow – riding an Iron 883.
“Harley is proud to continue to join forces with Marvel with two bold, powerful and rebellious motorcycles – The Street 750 and all-new Iron 883 featured in Captain America: Civil War,” said Dino Bernacchi, Harley-Davidson U.S. Marketing Director.


text:
As a plane with a Grumpy Cat flag flew overhead, courtesy of Friskies, the Technorati flooded into panel discussions and happy-hour spots at the annual tech festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.
Top tech influencers pondered immortality and mind cloning. FireChat, an application that lets smartphone users connect via mobile chat even without a cellular connection, was another hot topic.
Here’s a look at the most notable trending topics at the tech jamboree.
Off-the-grid mobile chat. No cell service? No problem.
An app called FireChat uses phone signals such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to other users’ phones and enable chats without any network connection. The app, created by San Francisco startup Open Garden, debuted in 2012 and was a hit last August at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock, Nev., where cellphone service is scarce.
The software links people via what it calls a “peer-to-peer mesh network,” connecting through phone signals rather than a network. The range is about 90 feet, but the connection can jump from phone to phone if there’s a crowd. It’s software-only, says co-founder and CEO Micha Benoliel. The application currently supports public group chats and hashtags; private messaging is coming.
Advances in cloning. United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt, who considers herself a “transhumanist,” discussed advances in “mind cloning” in a keynote Sunday. She said she believes people one day will be able to clone their cognitive functions, and detailed her biotech company’s advances in cloning organs and making the process of transferring organs from donor to recipient more efficient.
Rothblatt urged everyone to question authority and said that in other eras she might not have survived as a transgender person.
“I was fortunate to be born in California and to have a president who can easily say the word ‘transgender’ without tripping over it,” she said.
New trends in tech. The line to hear digital-media futurist Amy Webb speak stretched around the corner at the new J.W. Marriott hotel in Austin long after the panel started.
Webb, whose clients include Twitter, Time and ad agency Publicis, says she studies how and why people are wasting their time on mobile and where they are having difficulty with technology in order to predict new trends.
Two areas she predicts will be big in 2015: “haptics,” which add a tactile component to notifications, and mobile ambient alerts, which could buzz to notify you without being overly intrusive.
Some examples of haptics include the Pavlok app’s electric shock, which can punish users if they smoke or overeat, or a shirt by Australian company Foxtel called Alert Shirt that uses wearable technology to let soccer fans feel the body blows their favorite soccer player gets during a game.
Using ambient alerts, a finance application could buzz when you are considering a purchase – a nudge to remind you “do not try to purchase something right now,” she said.


text:
Qualcomm Demos First 10-Nanometer Server Processor
The ARM-based chip is being targeted at large players, like Amazon and Google, that are looking to lower the cost of building massive datacenters.
- By John K. Waters
The ARM-based chip is being targeted at large players, like Amazon and Google, who are looking to cheapen the cost of building massive datacenters.
Calling it the server processor that will "reshape the future of datacenter computing," Qualcomm conducted a live demonstration of the world's first 10-nanometer (10nm) server processor last week. Two years in the making, the ARM-based Centriq 2400 server chips are available now for sampling by a few Qualcomm customers, and the company plans to make them commercially available in the second half of 2017.
The Centriq 2400 is the first ARM-based server processor built on a 10nm process node, said Anand Chandrasekher, SVP and GM of Qualcomm's Datacenter Technologies group, in a blog post. The chip was "purpose-built for performance-oriented datacenter applications," he said. He demonstrated the processor on the company's software development platform running a "typical datacenter application" configured with Linux, Java and Apache Spark.
The Centriq 2400, the first offering of a planned product family, will have up to 48 cores and be a single-socket part. The chip is being built on 10nm FinFET 3D multi-gate process technology, and will feature a custom ARMv8 CPU core (called Falkor) optimized for server workloads. Falkor was designed specifically for the Centriq line, Chandrasekher said.
"We understand the importance of a healthy software ecosystem in the datacenter," Chandrasekher said. "As such, Falkor was designed from day one to be [Server Base System Architecture] compliant, which ensures that software that runs on any ARMv8 server platform would also be able to run on a Qualcomm Centriq 2400-based server platform (and vice-versa)."
The San Diego, Calif.-based mobile chipmaker is making a big bet on the ARM architecture, which has so far barely made a dent in the server chip market. In his blog post, Chandrasekher cites four datacenter trends his company expects to drive demand for the new chips: the momentum of cloud adoption, which is changing the way servers are purchased; a major power shift in the supply chain (caused by the cloud migration), with mega datacenters sourcing server platforms directly from original design manufacturers (ODMs); the growing presence of open source software in the datacenter, which will allow ARM ecosystem partners to implement support for ARMv8; and the impact of mobile on the pace of manufacturing process evolution (PC volumes have declined and mobile volumes have exploded).
Currently Intel virtually rules the server chip market, and ARM server chips have not fared well; AMD, for example, seems to have put its ARM chips on hold in favor of its new x86-based Zen server chip, due next year. Qualcomm has said Centriq will be competitive with Intel's Xeon server chip performance, while delivering lower energy consumption. It's worth noting that the Centriq processors will be hitting the market approximately a year before Intel's planned 10nm server chip offering.
The company is reportedly looking to potential customers such as Facebook, Google and Amazon, which are building mega datacenters, and might find ARM server chips an attractive alternative. (Google and Amazon are reportedly test driving the chips now.) And some software support has emerged, most notably from Linaro, which develops Linux-based software packages for the ARM architecture.
It remains to be seen how Qualcomm's new partnership with Microsoft with affect this strategy. The two companies made some headlines recently with a demonstration of Qualcomm's ARM-based Snapdragon processors running the full version of the Windows 10 operating system. And then there's the deal with Google to combine the Android Things IoT operating system with the Snapdragon chips.
About the Author
John K. Waters is the editor in chief of a number of Converge360.com sites, with a focus on high-end development, AI and future tech. He's been writing about cutting-edge technologies and culture of Silicon Valley for more than two decades, and he's written more than a dozen books. He also co-scripted the documentary film Silicon Valley: A 100 Year Renaissance, which aired on PBS. He can be reached at [email protected].


text:
A consumer confidence survey, conducted in April revealed downward movement across the board for the 14th month in a row, resulting in the lowest rating in 21 years and seven months, or since the index began, the state news agency said in its report.
The figure dropped from 50.3 points the previous month to 47.2 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic and its present and future impacts on the Thai economy, as well as rising unemployment.
The President of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), Asst Prof Dr Thanavath Phonvichai, said the Thai economy is entering a recession after experiencing negative growth for a third quarter in a row and positive growth is only expected from the fourth quarter this year onward.
The forecast is based on the expectation that businesses will restart at the end of the year and B400 billion in government stimuli will begin to enter the economy in August, helping to offset a projected contraction of 8.8%. The contraction is now believed to be between 3.5 and 5.5%.
According to the UTCC President, the pandemic has removed an estimated 50% from the normal B600bn in circulation, but up to B200bn is expected to return if more business restrictions are lifted on May 17.
The Thai economy is expected to show clear recovery in the second quarter of 2021, the report said.


text:
Out of nowhere, it seems Windows 8 has finally come of age, with a huge bump of 4.5% in the global desktop operating system market share. This gain seems to have come at the expense of Windows XP, which, following its official retirement in April, finally registered its first big loss of market share (6.7%). In case you were wondering, this means Windows 8/8.1 is now officially more successful than Vista, which is usually the yardstick for bad or failed Windows OSes.
As you’ve probably heard by now, Windows 10 will see the illustrious return of the Start menu — except it isn’t quite the Start menu that you’re used to from Windows 7 and Vista. In fact, it’s better! The Windows 10 Start menu is the best Start menu yet. There, I said it.
Microsoft has unveiled Windows 10 — not Windows 9, but Windows 10. The event in San Francisco was mostly what we expected: Microsoft wants to make Windows 10 a killer OS for all of those disaffected mouse-and-keyboard users — both consumers like you and I, and also the big enterprise customers who were rather displeased with Windows 8’s Metro interface. Read on to find out about Windows 10’s new features and changes from Windows 8.
Microsoft has sent out the official press invites for an event on September 30, where we are almost certain that Windows 9 (codenamed Threshold) will be unveiled. The Windows 9 Technical Preview should be handed out to event attendees, and should also be available online on September 30 or very soon after.
Yesterday it was screenshots — and today we have a glorious video of the new Windows 9 Start menu. The video shows in much greater detail how the new Start menu will intertwine the old Windows 7-era Start menu with aspects of Windows 8’s Metro interface. Putting aside for a moment that the Windows 9 Start menu was clearly cut from Metro cloth, I’m actually pleasantly surprised by the functionality and UI displayed in the video.
A bunch of new Windows 9 technical preview screenshots have been leaked… and I think you will either be curiously surprised, or utterly revolted. Good news: In Windows 9, it does indeed look like Desktop users won’t be thrust back into the full-screen Metro interface. Bad news: The Desktop interface now looks like it has been infected by Metro.
There is an increasing amount of evidence that Microsoft is preparing to drop all of its different brands of Windows — Windows Phone, Windows 8, Windows 9, Windows RT — and simply call them all Windows. The idea would be that, in the mind of the consumer, Windows is just Windows, and that all of these different names and flavors are just confusing. Getting rid of all that complexity and returning to the old way — where Windows is synonymous with personal computing — would certainly be a coup for Microsoft.
IFA 2014 kicked off in Berlin this morning, and already we’re seeing an interesting trend emerge: Those cheap-and-cheerful small-screen Windows 8 tablets that Microsoft promised back in April are finally arriving. Both Toshiba and Acer have announced their offerings (priced at $120 and $150 respectively), and the usual OEM suspects (Dell, HP, etc.) should unveil their offerings over the next couple of days. These tablets will all be fairly low-spec devices with either a 7- or 8-inch screen, and most of them will be powered by an Intel Atom (Bay Trail) SoC. This means you can now get a full Windows 8.1 device for just $120 — a proposition so juicy that Microsoft hopes it can entice customers away from cheap Android tablets and into the Windows camp.
In a rather odd turn of events, Microsoft China has posted a Windows 9 teaser on Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. The teaser, which featured a rather awful fan-made Windows 9 wallpaper, was quickly removed. The post by Microsoft China clearly stated that Windows 9 is ‘coming soon,’ all but confirming that we’ll get our first look at Windows 9 at a special event later this month (probably September 30).
Subscribe Today to get the latest ExtremeTech news delivered right to your inbox.


text:
Subway Systems Singapore is reviewing its creative account for the Singapore market. Marketing understands this is part of its usual review procedure, while the incumbent for the account is Saatchi & Saatchi.
The pitch is scheduled to conclude at the end of this year, according to sources.
Meanwhile, the company is currently not looking to review its media pitch with its agency MediaCom, which was appointed last year. This was part of the regional alignment across Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, India and Korea and followed a closed-door pitch with the company’s partners in each country as well as its incumbents.
Prior to this, the Singapore and India market did not work with a media agency on a retainer basis.
Most recently, the company appointed Michelle Lee as head of marketing for SEA and Korea. She moved from her role as head of marketing at Pizza Hut Singapore.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Pouring on the costs
It’s only a nickel, but the region’s beverage manufacturers say costs tied to bottle deposits drive up expenses so much that operations would be threatened if more products are added to the bottle bill
Send this to a friend
(Page 2 of 4)
All told, fewer than 40 of the 100 products at Mayer Bros. have 5-cent deposits, compared to 179 of 338 at Coca-Cola.
Coca-Cola officials wouldn’t disclose the number of bottles, cans or cases annually produced. They also wouldn’t disclose how much the bottle bill affects the company, only that it is well over $1 million. If juice, tea and sports drinks are to have nickel deposits added to them, products including Campbell’s V8, Minute Maid juice, Vitamin Water, Powerade and Fuze juice lines would increase that dollar amount by more than 50 percent.
“The cost and resources needed up-front would be the biggest issue, as that would affect about 99 percent of our products,” said Rick Horn Jr., vice president and general manager of Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
Calls to Try-It Distributing Co. Inc., meanwhile, were not returned.
Horn said he appreciates that the state is looking to reduce fraudulent redemption practices, where consumers from nearby states without deposits on cans and bottles cross the border into New York to collect 5 cents on containers with no deposits. Some attach cans to sticks as scanners read bar codes on one can many times, paying out the nickel each time the label is scanned.
Joe Erdman, director of the state Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee, said Grisanti, who chairs the committee, wouldn’t support a measure that requires deposits on additional containers. But Horn and Zak have heard that amendments on the table would add the other products.
David Bertola covers small business, energy and marketing
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
- Most popular
- 21,640 real-estate deals were registered in Erie County in 12 months
- First Niagara takes $665M loss
- Here's an advance look at the downtown Hilton Garden Inn
- Ralph Wilson Stadium back in the concert game
- Can you identify the only landing place for zeppelins in Buffalo?
- Buffalo law firm named in Facebook lawsuit
- As The Foundry develops, other businesses do, too
- General Mills mum on Buffalo plant amid closings
- Five more Buffalo firms picked for Start-Up NY
- First Niagara CEO addresses $800M write-down
Criminal Appellate Lawyer Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP | Buffalo, NY
Real Estate Agent RealtyUSA | Buffalo, NY
Time Keeper/ Payroll Processor Express Employment Professional | Buffalo, NY
Work For: Freed Maxick Freed Maxick | Buffalo, NY
Paralegal or Legal Assistant Buffalo Law Office | Buffalo, NY


text:
After Epic v. Apple, a small developer is challenging Apple’s in-app payment system
A company called Paddle has announced its own in-app payment system that will take a smaller cut than Apple’s system — 5 to 10 percent, instead of the 15 to 30 percent cut claimed by Apple. It’s a way around the commission fees that started the fight with Epic in the first place and likely to be the beginning of a new fight for developers.
Paddle’s system is designed to take advantage of the Epic v. Apple verdict, which required Apple to allow external payment links. Prior to the verdict, an App Store rule had banned “external links, or other calls to action…


text:
For Immediate Release:
July 15, 2020
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382
Sacramento, Calif. – Below, please find a statement from PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman in response to yesterday’s ruling by a federal judge that permits foie gras to be sold in California if it comes from an out-of-state seller, the transaction is processed outside the state, payment is received and processed outside the state, the foie gras is given to the purchaser or delivery service outside the state, and it is transported by a third party to the buyer within the state:
California was right to try to keep foie gras out of the state, because it’s cruel to ram pipes down birds’ throats and force-feed them grain and fat in order to engorge their livers. While state restaurants are still prohibited from selling foie gras, PETA is urging the attorney general to file an appeal to close the loophole that allows abused birds’ diseased organs to be delivered to Californians under any circumstances, no matter how restrictive.
PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat,” and we oppose speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, visit PETA.org.


text:
Reversing the dominant restaurant-to-retail path followed by operations from California Pizza Kitchen to White Castle, a Florida-based frozen-burger purveyor said Thursday it plans to open four new grill restaurants by May. Bubba Burger, which for two decades has sold frozen beef and turkey patties in groceries and on military bases, will debut the first of four planned Original Bubba Burger Grill units in the Jacksonville, Fla., area and is looking at a fifth location. Michael Biagiotti, a ...
Register to view this article
It’s free but we need to know a little about you to continually improve our content.
Registering allows you to unlock a portion of our premium online content. You can access more in-depth stories and analysis, as well as news not found on any other website or any other media outlet. You also get free eNewsletters, blogs, real-time polls, archives and more.
Attention Print Subscribers: While you have already been granted free access to NRN we ask that you register now. We promise it will only take a few minutes!
Questions about your account or how to access content?
Contact: Desiree Torres Desiree.Torres@penton.com


text:
Each month, ELLE.com wades through the blogosphere in search of just the right guest blogger—or in this month's case, guest bloggers—to post regularly on our site's dispatch blog. In honor of our June Body Issue (starring Kerry Washington, on newsstands now), we tapped Alexia Brue and Melisse Gelula, the founders of WellandGoodNYC.com, who'll bring us regular doses of their fitness and nutrition expertise.
Sometime soon, your health-conscious co-worker may ask you if you want to do a shot. At noon. Before a big meeting. Don't worry—she's likely not talking tequila, but a new school of healthy shots made from concentrated plant extracts and herbs. An increasing number of health food and juice purveyors are offering up tiny 1- and 2-ounce tinctures, each of which makes a functional promise—from giving you an energy boost (hello, afternoon meeting!) to better digestion and glowing skin.
In portion size and in purported health benefits, "they're like next-generation wheat grass," says New York City-based Juice Generation founder Eric Helms. "Shots are a simple, easy, quick way to establish healthy habits." Helms just launched a line of DD (Dynamic Do-All) shots, which includes selections like Sea Buckthorn, a hand-harvested Himalayan berry thought to have beauty-boosting properties, and Bee Pollen + Maca, which Juice Generation calls "nature's multivitamin." (You could also take this one before a date, since maca has, um, put-you-in-the-mood properties.)
On the West Coast, Urban Remedy, which makes cold-pressed juices, is launching a range of spikes on June 18. And acupuncturist-herbalist founder Neka Pasquale created them to have almost medicinal benefits. The Detox Spike, for example, includes turmeric and milk thistle, and Pasquale says it supports liver detoxification, offers antioxidant protection, and lowers inflammation. All of her shots are also made with a probiotic base, so your gut gets a healthy boost, too.
Organic Avenue has been serving a steady stream of booster shots for some time, including aloe for digestion and skin, and Enlivening E3, a blue-green algae loaded with energy- and immune-system boosting chlorophyll, vitamins, and minerals. "Booster shots have always been great sellers for us. Many of our customers have incorporated them into their daily routines," says spokesperson Jessie Gould. The company recently released two new shots, Kumquat and an oregano oil-garlic blend meant to banish Candida.
Of course, unlike your apple-sweetened green juice, many of these concentrated, potent formulas don't exactly, well, taste great. And they're not free either—most cost about $5 a pop. So is it really worth downing them?
"A shot of something concentrated will be absorbed more quickly through your digestive system," says holistic health coach Alexandra Jamieson, the author of The Great American Detox Diet and star of Super Size Me. "Some people swear by them for quick energy."
Registered dietician and Foodtrainers founder Lauren Slayton agrees, but it can be more complicated, she says. "I advise clients to take energy-boosting shots like E3 on an empty stomach because it will produce a quick boost. However, quicker isn't always better. In some cases, [sipping them] with food is better. Some nutrients require stomach acid for absorption."
Of course, whether you throw one back or dump one in your smoothie, unlike tequila, one of these shots certainly won't hurt." —Alexia and Melisse


text:
Apple appears to have taken an extreme next step in pushing ahead with its return-to-office mandate, leaving many employees facing a tough decision.
Zoë Schiffer of Platformer explained in a tweet that the iPhone maker is tracking employees’ attendance via their badge records as it stands its ground on a three-day-per-week policy.
Workers failing to adhere could face “escalating warnings” that in some cases are said to be leading to termination, however the precise details of any consequences remain undercover, for now at least.
Apple return to office
After being forced to send workers home during the pandemic, Apple gradually started to require employees to return to the office in a hybrid working setup. Its latest policy, as of September 2022, is that workers should be in the office at least three days per week.
However, the precise routine differs from team to team with some employees needed at their formal workplace location full-time, and others slightly more flexible.
More recently, the company has been slated for delaying workers’ bonuses, shifting them from twice per year to once.
Amid swathes of other cost-cutting measures, Apple CEO Tim Cook explained that layoffs would be a “last resort”, however introducing a policy whereby employees would be putting themselves at risk for failing to comply could lay the foundation for dismissals.
Apple did not immediately respond to TechRadar Pro’s request for more information on its return-to-office policy and related employee tracking.
More broadly, the general sentiment for a mass return to office seems somewhat mixed. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy gave workers a May deadline which was met with as many as 14,000 sharing their dissatisfaction via a Slack channel and subsequently creating a petition, while Google’s office policy has been partly contradicted by Google Cloud’s request that its workers share desks on alternate days - another move met with huge disgruntlement.
- Check out the best video conferencing software to stay in touch remotely


text:
| Oct 18, 2013
Joe Burbank takes you on a multimedia tour of Norwegian Cruise Lines' Breakaway, during her inaugural call in Central Florida....
| Mar 18, 2013
After 22 years of sailing the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas is leaving Central Florida again - this time for good. On April 1, right after its last trip to Royal's private island of CocoCay in the Bahamas, the cruise...
| Nov 14, 2012
| 9:09 AM
Carnival Cruise Lines had its official naming ceremony for the Carnival Breeze in PortMiami this weekend, after bringing the Caribbean-themed ship to its home port after a summer sailing in Europe.
The ship was christened on Saturday, Dec. 8, in the...
| Jan 22, 2013
| 1:13 PM
Disney Cruise Line was among the top honors in the 2013 readers' poll for Top Cruise Ships in the World. The line's oldest ship, the Disney Magic, was named the No. 1 Large Cruise Ship, one of four categories in the poll results released today.
| Feb 12, 2013
| 1:09 PM
Disney Cruise Line announced its 2014 itineraries and the highlights include a return to Europe and Alaska and two new ports for departure -- Venice, Italy and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Disney Magic will head back to Europe from May to August and sail...
| Jan 28, 2013
| 6:15 AM
Captain Jack Sparrow swings down upon the gang of pirates overtaking the ship. Swords clash before he calms the rumble and they celebrate with fireworks bursting above.
Sound like a scene from the next "Pirates of the Caribbean" flick? It's actually a...
| Apr 11, 2011
Mom treats us like royalty year-round, so why not make her Queen For A Day on May 8, Mother's Day? Here are some fun things to do with Mom at various popular spots throughout Florida. The list is arranged alphabetically by destination.
Celebration -- The...
| Jul 28, 2011
| 3:43 PM
A new gambling ship set to launch Friday at Port Canaveral has its eye on inland Central Florida residents and tourists as a source of business in the future.
Victory Casino Cruises, whose maiden voyage is scheduled for 7 p.m., said it plans to establish...
| Aug 22, 2011
| 2:42 PM
Universal Orlando and Royal Caribbean International are expanding a 2-year-old partnership to include cruises out of Tampa.
The two companies said Monday they will begin selling vacation packages pairing three- or four-night stays at Universal Orlando...
| Nov 29, 2011
| 7:32 AM
Disney Cruise Line today announced one of the new interactive features aboard the forthcoming Disney Fantasy will be an adventure game starring The Muppets.
Kermit, Miss Piggie, Fozzie, Gonzo and Animal headline a Muppet cast in "The Case of the Stolen...
| Jun 28, 2012
| 11:13 AM
That voice you've been hearing on the monorails at Walt Disney World has changed.
Disney recently made the subtle change to a new narrator aboard the monorail system, shifting from Orlando-area veteran voice actor Joe Hursh.
Hursh's voice has been heard...


text:
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that development of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart diseases & liver diseases are multi-factorial in nature and eating of junk food and/ or processed food is one of these factors. Various studies indicate that products with high content of fat, sugar or salt may increase the risk of overweight, obesity or certain Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Junk foods are high in calorie but low in nutritional value and lead to an excess metabolic weight leading to obesity. An obese individual is prone to life-threatening diseases which are not only limited to cholesterol or diabetes but also can cause stroke and other NCDs. Here's How Fast Food Damages Your Immune System.
According to the study report "India: Health of the Nation's States"-The India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative 2017, the proportion of Chronic Diseases (NCDs) have increased in India from 30.5% in 1990 to 55.4 % in 2016. The overall metabolic risk factors / causes attributable to the rise in Chronic Diseases (NCDs) include unhealthy diet as per study.
Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that a nation-wide media campaign titled 'Aj Se Thoda Kam', to encourage consumers to make dietary modifications by gradually reducing the consumption of fat, sugar and salt has been launched. A series of short videos (with subtitles in 12 languages) have been created for the same. The campaign is supported with flyers, banners, audio clips and an ‘Eat Right India’ website with useful inputs on gradual reduction in consumption of fat, salt and sugar.
ICMR-NIN (National Institute of Nutrition) along with FSSAI has recommended guidelines for High Fat, Salt, Sugars (HFSS) Food Labels on all Ready to Eat Foods so that consumption of these foods is moderated.
Several awareness initiatives have been undertaken by the Government including use of print, electronic and social media. In addition, the national Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) supports awareness generation activities to be undertaken by the States.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the LokSabha here today.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2021 06:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).


text:
"The manufacturing sector has observed moderation in growth during April-September, 2011, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The industry expects further moderation in growth in the third quarter - October-December, 2011," says the CII-Ascon survey.
FROM THE MAG: Cost increase hit companies hard
"The number of sectors recording excellent and high growth is expected to decline and shift to moderate growth category," the survey says. Out of the 103 sectors covered by the survey, those reporting excellent growth of more than 20 per cent declined to 10.6 per cent in April-September, 2011 compared to 35.7 per cent in April-September, 2010.
During April-September 2011, 43.6 per cent sectors recorded moderate growth against 38.9 per cent sectors in the previous period. The percentage of sectors with high growth rate rose to 24.2 per cent in April-September, 2011 from 16.7 per cent in April-September 2010, the study says.
MUST READ: Indian economy shows more signs of a slowdown
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded a low 1.9 per cent growth in September, 2011, compared to 6.1 per cent growth recorded in September, 2010, marking the slowest pace of IIP growth since September, 2009. The IIP growth weakened for the third consecutive month in September, 2011 to 1.9 per cent from 9.5 per cent in June, 2011, 3.8 per cent in July, 2011 and 3.6 per cent in August, 2011.
The sectors registering negative growth rate have increased significantly to 21.3 per cent during the period under review, up sharply from 8.7 per cent in the year-ago period. This is a clear sign of decelerating growth. "High input and capital cost and uncertainties in the global economy are the major factors constraining growth of the manufacturing sector," said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general, CII.
"These issues need to be addressed at the earliest to help industry overcome the ongoing decelerating growth phase," he added.
The survey also indicates a further slowdown in growth with a rising number of sectors falling in the moderate category of growth of 0-10 per cent. Out of the 85 sectors covered by the survey for the period October-December, 2011, the percentage of sectors reporting excellent growth (over 20 per cent) is expected to fall to seven per cent, from 10.4 per cent in July-September, 2011 and 20.7 per cent in April-June, 2011.
PERSPECTIVE: India needs to focus on high-end manufacturing
The sectoral classification shows that while categories such as basic goods, intermediate goods, capital goods and consumer non-durables have fewer sectors in the excellent and high growth brackets, consumer durables have a larger share of sectors growing at a high rate. The worst performing category of intermediate goods has the maximum number of segments that are expected to record negative growth. The survey says that sectors including earthmoving and construction equipment, tractors, scooters and scooter tyres will have excellent growth during the October-December quarter and the vehicle industry, tyre industry, machine tools, alcoholic beverages and biscuits will notch up high growth. Edible oil, cement, cold-rolled steel, nylon synthetic fibre, alkali and passenger cars will have moderate growth, followed by negative growth in newsprint, textile machinery, fertilisers, rubber goods, polyester synthetic fibre and natural gas, the study adds.
Courtesy: Mail Today


text:
Ever found brands on social media to be a little, um, over-eager when it comes to online customer service?
Enter Ben Palmer and Nick Price. The two US-based comics have been trolling brands' Facebook pages while posing as genuine customer service representatives. The idea is as genius as it is mischievous:
Of course, people don't always react well:
10/10 trolling, and Palmer tells Fast Company that many people who work in social media actually love what he does. "A lot of people who work in customer service and have to deal with rude people all day come to our page get kind of a release from it and tell us we made their day," he said. "Anyone who gets a laugh out of it because they've dealt with it directly or they've just been around an unruly customer—those are the people that inspired us to do this."


text:
From Bulbanews, your community Pokémon newspaper.
Journey Across Oz to visit several locations
- Wednesday, August 30, 2006
||This local article reports on an event in a specific geographical location. It may not be relevant for all readers.
Nintendo Australia has announced the Pokémon 10th Anniversary Journey Across Oz tour. It will be visiting shopping centers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth starting in September.
So far it has been revealed that the tour will host a Pokémon Trading Card Game play area as well as the Pokémon Video Game Championships. Tour dates are as follows:
- Sept. 16: Melbourne, Chadstone Shopping Centre
- Sept. 17: Melbourne, Westfield Fountain Gate
- Sept. 30: Sydney, Westfield Chatswood
- Oct. 1: Sydney, Westfield Burwood
- Oct. 7: Brisbane, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
- Oct. 8: Brisbane, Logan Hyperdome
- Oct. 14: Perth, Centro Galleria
Smaller events will be held in selected Toys "R" Us stores in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.


text:
India tried to decouple from China economically, but it messed up!
- India calls itself the most open market and expects the West to increase investment in India
With the rise of China, India, which has a similar development vision with China, has cast a hostile look. Foreign media recently disclosed that Great Wall Motor’s investment in India has not been approved for a long time, and part of its US$1 billion investment in India has been redistributed to Brazil. From 2020 to the present, the Indian government has vigorously promoted the "de-sinicization" of the economy in an attempt to decouple from China economically.
Looking back at the “de-sinicization” policy of the Indian government, we can find that this is a systematic behavior of the whole government and the whole society. Although the results are not good, the purpose is very clear. Three aspects restrict, crack down, and ban Chinese companies, and decouple from China's economy.
For example, preventing Chinese companies from participating in the bidding of Indian government projects, conducting government review of Chinese investment, and banning nearly 300 apps with Chinese background, etc., are all to restrict and crack down on Chinese capital; impose anti-dumping duties on a variety of Chinese exports to India, and increase The major safeguard tax on imported solar cells and components, including imported color TVs in the restricted category, and air-conditioning in the prohibited category are measures to restrict and ban Chinese goods; while Indian state-owned telecommunications companies refuse to use Huawei equipment for network upgrades, and the Indian government Refusing Chinese companies to participate in 5G trials is to reject Chinese technologies and standards.
As for the Chinese products to be restricted, the Indian side has carefully selected them. India’s Research and Information System Research Center for Developing Countries issued a report stating that among about 4000 imported products from China, 327 products such as mobile phones, telecommunications equipment, cameras, solar panels, air conditioners, and penicillin can find alternative sources. China may be able to produce in India, and the value of these "sensitive imported products" accounted for 3/4 of the total imports from China.
The timing of the Indian government's promotion of "de-sinicization" of the economy has also been carefully considered. China-India trade disputes have existed for many years, but India’s demand for China to reduce its trade deficit has obviously increased after the Trump administration launched a trade war with China. The Indian side believes that the Sino-US trade war will inevitably lead to a shift in the global industrial chain and supply chain, and therefore actively lobby some multinational companies to transfer their production bases in China to India.
At the beginning of the outbreak in 2020, many Indians believed that the development of "Made in India" was "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
Ironically, however, the Indian government's economic "de-sinicization" policy has not achieved significant results. Over the past year or so, India's economic dependence on China has not declined but increased. In 2020, China will again surpass the United States to become India's largest trading partner; in the first six months of 2021, the trade volume between China and India will increase by 62.7% year-on-year. This shows that the Indian government's economic "de-sinicization" policy is a failure, and it is difficult for the Indian economy to decouple from China.
But many Indians don't think so. Sahai, Director-General and CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations, said, “Most economies will be in lockdown in 2020... Only Chinese factories are still operating, so imports from China remain flexible. But this is a short-term Phenomenon."
The persistent attitude of the Indian government to promote the "de-Sinicization" of the economy reflects the economic development thinking of Indian policymakers, and also deeply reveals whose interests the Indian ruling bloc represents. First of all, the vigorous promotion of "de-sinicization" shows that the Indian government mainly pursues an import substitution strategy. They want to develop "Made in India" to replace made in China. The ultimate goal is to achieve the so-called "self-reliance."
The Indian market can only belong to Indians. This is the natural logic of Hindu nationalism in the economic field. Second, the Indian government hopes to take advantage of the contradictions between China and the United States, relying on the United States and the West for economic development, rather than integrating into the current Asian global value chain and industrial chain centered on China. It wants to transfer the global value chain and industrial chain to India with the help of the United States and the West, and replace China's position in the world economy.
This is not only a major economic choice, but also a major geopolitical choice. This decision was made at the latest when India refused to join RCEP in 2019. On the one hand, it is because the Indian chaebol represented by the Modi government has closer ties with the West, and on the other hand, India hopes to contain it by joining the US and Western camps. China realizes its dream of being a global power.
Finally, one of the main purposes of the Indian government's economic development is to maintain and consolidate the interests of the Banian caste monopoly consortium represented by Modi and Shah. Modi won the general election with the slogan of economic development, but his subsequent industrial development policies, the privatization of state-owned enterprises, and the policy of "disposing of banknotes" all benefited the development of the Banya monopoly consortium, rather than the development of small and medium-sized industries. The economic and trade exchanges between China and India have created a large number of small and medium-sized industrial and commercial workers and the middle class for India. Their growth is likely to threaten the interests of the Barnia monopoly.
India has always regarded China as the target of benchmarking, trying to catch up with China in all aspects, and the implementation of economic "de-sinicization" can not only protect the industries of the Barnian monopoly from competition, but also use political means to grab China for them. The previously unavailable market share created by companies in India is prominently manifested in the Indian government's ban on Chinese apps. The Modi government’s economic "de-sinicization" policy is not purely out of catering to domestic nationalist sentiments, but has a deeper domestic and international political and economic logic. Therefore, although India’s economy is currently facing difficulties, its economic “de-sinicization” policy may be difficult to completely change. Editor/Xu Shengpeng


text:
The Macy's 2021 Black Friday ad launched Oct. 30 as a "preview" page. That's much earlier than last year, when the ad page dropped on Nov. 10. As last year, Macy's ad isn't so much a circular, as it is a deals page on its site. However, the deals aren't shoppable yet.
According to the ad page, Macy's Black Friday sale goes live Nov. 23. That's an early start compared to last year, when deals became available online just one day before Thanksgiving.
Best deals from the Macy's 2021 Black Friday ad
- Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-quart for $59.95 ($60 off).
- Instant Pot Instant Vortex 6-quart air fryer for $69.95 ($30 off).
- KitchenAid 5-quart artisan mixer for $229.99 ($170 off).
- Up to 65% off various bedding (sheets, quilts).
- Up to 60% off clothing for the whole family.
- 20% off toys from Hasbro, Mattel and more.
One exciting thing that Macy's is doing this year is giving its customers an extra 20% off select sale and clearance items. The coupon and promotion code can be found inside of the ad or online and is valid from Nov. 23 to Nov. 27.


text:
Company executives should be concerned - and prepared - if their company ends up getting hit by a successful cyberattack, possibly leading to a data breach. However, a general misconception that the IT staff is proactive and ready to defend against cyberattacks often is not the case, especially with overworked IT teams unable to keep up.
Although there are steps to make a data breach preventable, they certainly aren't fool-proof - and every company should have plans in place if a breach occurs.
It's also worth noting that cybercrime is done for a number of reasons, and it's not just about stealing personal information, such as debit and credit card data. Although that appears to be the basis of the Target, Home Depot and other retailer breaches, there is a growing worry of cyberespionage targeting companies and their host nation.
- Stan Lee played a pivotal role in the direction of Marvel's Avengers
- Samsung executives jailed over destroying evidence in fraud cause
- In 2020, devs will have to make games for seven different consoles
- New trapezoidal PS5 render is an expensive accident waiting to happen
- Report: voice fraud attacks have 350+% from 2014-2018 = 90 per minute
- > NEXT STORY: Syrian Electronic Army hackers have attacked social media websites
- < PREVIOUS STORY: Apple's latest ad covers the Voice Text function of the iPhone 6


text:
Drone manufacturer DJI is parterning with Kansas State University to use drones in precision agriculture.
DJI’s drone technology is expected to provide more sustainable farming practices while increasing yields through projects including crop-stress monitoring, aerial imaging and precision spraying.
“Our partnership with Kansas State University is helping educators, students and researchers develop more sustainable practices that increase yields in agriculture,” said Romeo Durscher, DJI director of education. “We’re proud to part of the solution by improving agriculture for the future.”
The DJI Osmo — the handheld gimbal that brings silky smooth drone footage to the ground, is now on sale.
Osmo’s price has been slashed from $738 to $569. DJI surprised dronies in October 2015 when they launched Osmo, which isn’t intended for drones at all. It’s a tiny, hand-held device (what’s known as a “three-axis gimbal” in videography) that integrates with cameras made by DJI and allows for video shot by people on the ground to have the smooth, gliding look of footage shot by an airborne drone. It comes with a 4K, 12-megapixel camera.
DJI will also throw in two free batteries and an extra charger if you purchase through this link this summer.
Osmo is a supplemental device for filmmakers, including the crew that made Drona.
Still, with the discounts, Osmo is priced higher than the ActionCam, a similar product by its competitor, Yuneec. The ActionCam currently retails for $549 on Amazon.
Phantom drone-maker DJI has long expressed wanting to imitate Apple — and it works — DJI has been called the Apple of drones. (And hey, they even sell drones!)
So it only makes sense that construction of the Apple Campus 2 site in Cupertino, Calif. be documented via drone.
Watch it here:
Drone photographer Matthew Roberts has been documenting the Apple Campus 2 construction site with a new video every month on his DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone, which retails for $999.
The Apple Campus 2 drone footage shows the main structure — a spaceship-like building that will be covered with 3,000 glass panels — an 100,000 square foot fitness center and a solar power-topped parking structure. Apple plans to sell excess electricity generated by solar panels at its new headquarters, joining Google parent Alphabet Inc. in efforts to trade on the energy market.
But PatentYogi, a patent services company with an accompanying YouTube channel, thinks it found clues as to what GoPro’s drone could look like.
Ryan Goldstein, who on his LinkedIn profile states he works as a Mechanical Engineer in the Aerial Products division of GoPro, was awarded a patent last week for a box-like drone. The patent was filed in December 2015.
GoPro does not have a single patent on drones, so it’s unlikely that this will be the exact same drone as what we will see when GoPro’s drone finally hits store shelves. But this drone might be the reason that GoPro hired him, according to Deepak Gupta, managing director at PatentYogi.
Here’s a video PatentYogi made on the patent:
GoPro did not return Drone Girl requests for comment.
The drone patented by Goldstein is called the QuadBox, which Goldstein wrote about on his website before joining GoPro. When packed, it will look like a rectangular box, so the motors, propellers, landing gear and camera would be enclosed in the main body and protected during travel — paramount to GoPro’s ambitions in the action camera space.
Do you think the GoPro’s drone will look something like this? Or will it be completed different? Leave a comment below!
Parrot’s senseFly has been in the business of using drones for high end mapping and surveying, but it’s now in the business of airspace safety and operational tools given its new partnership with Skyward.
The Swiss-based senseFly is partnering with the Portland, Oregon-based startup to offer a package to customers that gives operators a preconfigured Skyward account with senseFly flight log import, senseFly manuals, customized preflight checklists, and other information specific to senseFly operations.
SenseFly was found in 2009 to develop and produce aerial imaging drones primarily for surveying, agriculture, GIS, industrial inspection, mining and humanitarian aid.
With such a sweet deal on the Inspire 1, does this mean a new Inspire is coming soon? With the revolutionary sense and avoid technology in the Phantom 4, it makes sense that a new version of the Inspire 1 would come with a similar technology.


text:
Pence visits Orlando to talk reopening Florida and tourism industry
Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Central Florida as the region’s biggest tourist destination begins reopening.
Pence visited Orlando on Wednesday to meet with tourism officials, talk to the governor and drop off protective equipment at a nursing home.
Theme park executives, restaurant owners and hoteliers told the vice president at a roundtable discussion that the damage caused by shutdowns from the virus was unprecedented in a $86 billion industry that survived travel declines after the 9/11 attacks and the recession a dozen years ago.
“If we don’t get people back to work quickly, it’s all over,” central Florida hotelier Harris Rosen said. “Orlando is suffering. Orlando is struggling. The hospitality industry is in deep depression.”
Pence responded, “We will get this opened up.”
Pence’s visit coincided with the limited opening of Disney Springs, an entertainment complex at Walt Disney World. Some third-party shops opened Wednesday at Disney Springs with new requirements and restrictions. All workers and visitors must wear masks, temperatures will be checked at entrances and a limited number of people will be allowed in.
Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld have been closed since mid-March.
A spokesperson for the Orange County Convention Center says 50 conventions are canceled or rescheduled, causing an estimated economic impact of more than a billion dollars.
Pence is expected to offer encouragement to the tourism industry leaders on Wednesday, but without more relief funds, experts warn many businesses will not recover.
On Tuesday, about 3,700 passengers departed from the airport. On the same date last year, 70,600 hundred departed, according to numbers from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
The Associated Press contributed to this report


text:
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Concern that the Obama administration could impose a new ban on some semiautomatic weapons is driving worried gun owners to stockpile ammunition and cartridge reloading components at such a rate that manufacturers can’t meet demand.
In Wyoming, the run on bullets and reloading components reached such a frenzy that Cheyenne retailer Frontier Arms recently began rationing sales, said Becky Holtz, co-owner of the shop. Holtz said she’s also been selling semiautomatic rifles as fast as she can put them on the shelves.
“You know there’s something wrong when I’ve got little old ladies coming in buying 5,000 rounds of .22 shells,” Holtz said.
Ammo is sold out everywhere – driving everybody to stockpile it.


text:
The Chinese Internet colossal Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. plans to increase the size of its U.S. initial public offering against a background of strong investor demand as the IPO date nears.
People with the correct statistics’ knowledge commented on Monday making the historical raise, the biggest ever.
The dominant power in e-commerce in China is set to increase the top end of the price range to above $70 from the previous $66.
According to a US Securities and Exchange Commission the filing accounts to selling of 368 million shares.
Alibaba, Hangzhou-based group of Internet-based e-commerce operates from background.
The privately owned giant was started in an apartment by a schoolteacher Jack Ma, now Alibaba Chairman and former CEO, 15 years ago. The company’s network of sites includes Taobao, China’s largest consumer-to-consumer online shopping platform similar to eBay; Tmall, a shopping hub for brands like Apple and Gap, to sell direct to customers and AliExpress, an online retail service made up of mostly small sellers offering products to online buyers. as well as Alibaba.
On June 11, 2014, Alibaba launched U.S. shopping site 11 Main, in competition with Amazon and eBay.
Two people present in the meeting told that Jack Ma addressed prospective investors today at Hong Kong’s Ritz-Carlton hotel and said that he won’t seek too high a valuation.
Li Muzhi, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Arete Research Service LLP comments: “There was so much demand in the first two days, it’s reasonable to raise the price range slightly.The company might want to not be too aggressive on pricing so it can still have some upside after the listing.”
Ma commented regarding expansion ahead the investors meeting: “After being listed in the U.S., we will develop our business in Europe and in the U.S. We will not give up the Asia market because, as I would say, we are not a company from China, we are an Internet company that happened to be in China.”
After being rejected by Hong Kong officials, Alibaba chose New York as the new site for its IPO. The offcials at Hong Kong rejected its request to allow a small group of company insiders to nominate the majority of its board.
“People say that Hong Kong lost the Alibaba deal. To me, I think it is Alibaba that missed this great opportunity to list in Hong Kong,” Ma added. “We love Hong Kong. We will continue to love Hong Kong and invest in Hong Kong.”
Alibaba’s IPO could raise as much as $24.3 billion including an over-allotment option, beating Agricultural Bank of China Ltd.’s $22.1 billion sale in 2010.
The much awaited debut on the New York Stock Exchange is planned under the name ‘BABA.’
While U.S.-based investors won’t get to order after 4 p.m. on Sept. 16, Alibaba will stop taking orders in Asia and Europe during their respective afternoons on Sept. 17, people said last week.
Alibaba spokeswoman Florence Shih declined to comment on the report.
The company is still in process to price the deal on September 18, and is expected to start trading a day later on September 19..


text:
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S auto security regulators acknowledged Wednesday they absorb opened a proper security investigation into 580,000 Tesla vehicles sold since 2017 over the automaker’s decision to permit video games to be performed on the entrance center touchscreen.
The Nationwide Toll road Web site traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) acknowledged its preliminary evaluate covers deal of 2017-2022 Tesla Mannequin 3, S, X, and Y vehicles. This functionality, known as “Passenger Play,” “would possibly merely distract the motive force and expand the likelihood of a smash,” the agency acknowledged.
NHTSA acknowledged it has “confirmed that this capability has been available since December 2020 in Tesla ‘Passenger Play’-geared up vehicles.” Earlier than then, the game feature “was once enabled finest when the automotive was once in Park.”
Tesla didn’t straight command.
NHTSA acknowledged it would possibly per chance “judge aspects of the feature, including the frequency and exercise eventualities of Tesla ‘Passenger Play’.”
Earlier this month, the Unusual York Times highlighted the game feature, prompting NHTSA to convey it was once in discussions with Tesla concerning it.
The agency famend earlier in December that distracted using accounts for a valuable quantity of U.S. road deaths – 3,142 in 2019 by myself. Safety advocates absorb acknowledged legit figures underestimate the enviornment because no longer all drivers enraged about crashes later admit they had been distracted.
The Times acknowledged the Tesla change added three video games – Solitaire, a jet fighter and conquest diagram issue of affairs – and acknowledged that vehicles absorb warnings reading: “Playing while the automotive is in circulate is correct for passengers.”
The paper acknowledged the game feature asks for affirmation that the player is a passenger, though a driver would possibly clean play merely by urgent a button.
In 2013, NHTSA issued pointers to assist automakers “to part security and driver distraction-prevention into their designs and adoption of infotainment gadgets in vehicles.”
The pointers “recommend that in-automotive gadgets be designed so that they are able to’t be historic by the motive force to kind inherently distracting secondary responsibilities while using,” the agency acknowledged.
The agency in August opened a security investigation into 765,000 Tesla vehicles over its driver-aid machine Autopilot after a series of crashes titillating the machine and parked emergency vehicles.
A preliminary evaluate is a valuable step earlier than NHTSA decides whether or now to not toughen a probe to an engineering prognosis, which must occur earlier than the agency can search data from a put off.
NHTSA acknowledged it acquired a complaint in November in regards to the game feature from a Tesla Mannequin 3 driver in Oregon, who acknowledged: “Setting up a unhealthy distraction for the motive force is recklessly negligent.”
On Nov. 29, Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz recalled 227 U.S. vehicles – 2021 model three hundred and sixty five days S580, 2022 EQS450, EQS580, and S500 — because the automotive infotainment programs “would possibly allow activation of the tv and cyber web impress while using, causing a distraction for the motive force.”
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Bettering by Kirsten Donovan and Bernadette Baum)


text:
United Industries UltraBoard, a U.S. based manufacturer of foam core boards, has launched a complete line of COVID-19 preventative barrier aids for schools and other public spaces where social distancing barriers can aid in preventing transmission. Primarily a manufacturer and supplier for the sign industry, UltraBoard experienced a downturn in manufacturing due to close parallels with U.S. retail industry performance.
“In an effort to sustain business and retain our employees’ jobs, we had to pivot our game plan,” stated Mark Ferm, CEO of UltraBoard.
OSHA’s guide for preparing businesses for COVID-19 has recommended that spaces with medium exposure risk to COVID-19 may install physical barriers or plastic sneeze guards to help aid in the prevention of transmission.
The current health crisis has rapidly depleted resources in clear plastics and acrylics that are used to manufacture many COVID-19 barriers. Due to high demand, acrylic prices have greatly increased within the shield market. UltraBoard’s barrier shield solutions offer a more cost-effective approach as they feature an all-plastic foam board frame with rigid film windows. UltraBoard Barriers are an excellent alternative to acrylic barriers for large deployments, and are easily sanitized and reused. The barriers are constructed of UltraBoard’s flagship foam board product, UltraBoard Classic.
UltraBoard’s manufacturing plant produces tons of foam board annually. Having plenty of supply stock in its warehouse locations, UltraBoard is able to provide a massive-scale solution for supplying schools, gyms, salons, and other public spaces. Utilizing foam boards and a rigid clear film window, UltraBoard has produced an affordable and easily-deployable COVID-19 preventative aid.
UltraBoard offers several different types of COVID barriers suited to the different spaces where transmission may occur. The following styles are currently available:
- The Barrier Micro for schools, educational institutions, and public spaces.
- The 3-window Barrier Trio for schools, educational institutions, and public spaces.
- The Barrier MAX panels for large spaces like salons, gyms, or museums.
- The Barrier Stand for retail spaces including cash registers or food service.
Learn more about UltraBoard’s Barrier solutions here.
Want more news about COVID-19 and its impact?
Read more news related to the coronavirus pandemic, including facility management products and services.