text:
|Bid||161.16 x 1000|
|Ask||161.38 x 1100|
|Day's Range||160.24 - 161.90|
|52 Week Range||146.84 - 178.70|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||23.64|
|Earnings Date||Oct 22, 2018 - Oct 26, 2018|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||4.04 (2.54%)|
|1y Target Est||183.35|
McDonald's is getting a facelift. They are spending $6 Billion to renovate many of their locations. The renovations will include new furniture, refreshed exteriors and perks for mobile app users. The goal is to modernize the fast-food chain.
Yahoo Finance’s Seana Smith on the stocks making headlines in midday trading Tuesday.
Investing.com - The Dow closed sharply higher on Friday as traders cheered reports that plans were afoot for a meeting between President Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi that could pave the way for an end to the trade war.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a romaine lettuce and carrot mix that was sold at McDonald's Corp. (mcd) tested positive for cyclospora, which has resulted in 476 illness cases across 15 states. Cyclospora is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite. The salads came from a Fresh Express processor in Streamwood, Ill. Fresh Express, which was alerted to the results on July 27, says the carrot mix went to McDonald's and the romaine-only item was distributed elsewhere.
This McDonald's in London got a glamorous "mc-makeover" with the help of @MarkVandelli. @Richardvines explains the story behind #tictocnews (Source: Bloomberg)
Close to $80 million will be invested in McDonald's restaurants in Kansas in 2018 and 2019. McDonald's USA says it's investing about $6 billion to modernize most U.S. restaurants by 2020. A total of $78 million from that pool has been or will be devoted to restaurants in Kansas.
After Morgan Stanley’s upgrade on August 15, Chipotle Mexican Grill’s (CMG) stock price rose 6.6% to close the day at $525.89. Since the beginning of 2018, Chipotle’s stock has returned 82%. The strong performance in the first and second quarter of 2018 and the appointment of Brian Niccol as the company’s CEO in March have led to a rise in the company’s stock price.
On August 15, Morgan Stanley upgraded Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) from “equal weight” to “overweight” and also increased its price target to $600 from an earlier price target of $413. The new price target represents a return potential of 14.1% from Wednesday’s closing price of $525.89.
Diners like the convenience and affordability of fast-food and fast-casual restaurants, a trend that shows no sign of slowing. Many of these chains have a presence across the country as they continue to expand. Here is a quick look at stories about the leading brands in the industry as recently reported by The Business Journals and other media.
Brazilian meatpacker Marfrig Global Foods SA expects to close the sale of its U.S. chicken processing unit, Keystone Foods, in the next few weeks, executives told journalists on Wednesday. Chief Financial Officer Eduardo Miron said the company is discussing the transaction in the United States this week. Chairman and major shareholder Marcos Molina said the Keystone sale is the company's "number one priority." Proceeds will be used to reduce Marfrig's debt, Molina added.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 15, 2018 / Both McDonald’s and Macy’s saw gains on Tuesday. Macy’s shares headed to a new 52-week high as Wall Street prepared for the company’s financial results. McDonald’s revealed it is spending $6 billion on remodeling its restaurants across the nation to be more modernized.
A union-backed group trying to win better pay for fast food workers urged two of President Donald Trump’s appointees to the National Labor Relations Board to bow out of a dispute over whether McDonald’s franchise workers were fired for supporting the “Fight for $15” movement. The call by activists aligned with the Service Employees International Union for board chairman John Ring and fellow Republican panelist William Emanuel to recuse themselves comes as McDonald’s is asking the five-member panel to approve a settlement of the workers’ retaliation claims that was earlier rejected by an administrative law judge.
Despite the seeming ubiquity of McDonald's Golden Arches and the Starbucks mermaid, the sandwich chain Subway actually has the most locations of any restaurant worldwide, about 43,000 in 2017. This number, however, belies the economic reality: while McDonald's and Starbucks continue to grow their profits, Subway's have been slipping since 2014. Industry analysts point to a few reasons for this, including a lack of innovation and fraught relationships with franchise owners.
The organization is modernizing New Mexico's McDonald's restaurants with new technology features and additional customer service.
Google stock Alphabet set up a new buy point. Tech, retail, health care and banking stocks gave the major indexes nice gains in afternoon trading. Chinese ADRs fell.
The fast-food company plans to modernize about 80 percent of its Kentucky restaurants in the next two years.
McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) is testing out a new menu item at select stores. This new menu item is a McGriddles French Toast Breakfast Sandwich. The sandwich is currently going through atrial run at 200 locations in Minnesota.
McDonald's and its franchisees plan to invest $168 million in Tennessee stores as part of a $6 billion, nationwide initiative to offer new technology and a "more fun, modern experience." To see inside some already updated restaurants, click the slideshow above. In Tennessee, McDonald's USA LLC will modernize 240 locations throughout the next two years, with a focus on transforming the customer experience inside and outside the restaurant. "Clearly, we've gotten a little more sophisticated in our menu development," McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook told them in a phone interview.
Of the 32 analysts that follow Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), 28.1% favor a “buy,” 62.5% favor a “hold,” and 9.4% recommend a “sell.” On July 31, Jefferies raised its rating to “buy” from “hold.”


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Hybrid Wrangler on the Way, But Jeep Boss Still Isn't Sure What Kind
Fiat Chrysler intends to make the upcoming 2018 Wrangler a Jeep for everyone — single adventurers, families, cargo haulers and those whose hearts bleed at the thought of environmental harm — but it’s the latter category of buyer that Jeep isn’t quite sure how to please.
While the 2018 Wrangler remains on track for production late this year, the automaker recently pushed back the introduction of the much-anticipated pickup version. It now looks like any hybrid variant is also a ways off. That means buyers who hoped to emit slightly fewer hydrocarbons while crushing saplings and insects will need to wait before they save the planet.
Speaking to Auto Express at the Geneva Motor Show, Jeep head Mike Manley confirmed that there are still plans for a hybrid version of the next-generation Jeep. However, those plans don’t seem overly fleshed out.
Before it can put a hybrid Wrangler into production, FCA must first decide just how much electrification the model — and its potential buyers — can handle.
“We have continued our studies on hybridization for the Wrangler, and it’s a balance for us. Obviously there are loads of different hybrid technologies, from mild to 48v through to full battery-electric,” Manley said after confirming the model’s future existence.
“For the Wrangler you need to strike the right balance; we don’t want to do something that will leave you stranded on a hillside,” he continued. “So for me, full battery EV is not a great fit. But hybridization works well with the brand because of the attributes that come with electric equipment – not just the torque, but also the control.”
Sorry, tree embracers, electric Jeeps will remain the domain of Mattel for the foreseeable future.
While the automaker hasn’t graced us with a rendering or prototype, we know that the 2018 Wrangler will make greater use of aluminum in order to shed weight, coupled with fuel economy-minded aerodynamic improvements. Expect a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder among the available powerplants.
Production of the pickup variant isn’t scheduled to kick off until late 2019, and it’s nearly certain that a hybrid version would lag the basic Wrangler by at least a model year. The next-gen Wrangler is poised to spawn a multi-year roll-out of new models.
[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
More by Steph Willems
Latest Car ReviewsRead more
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- Probert No, they're not the future. BEV sales are growing every year, and, along with sound energy policy, result in cleaner air, lower CO2, foreign policy not based on oil, and will continue to drive like a smooth powerful nearly silent turbine. Some 19% of new car sales in 2023 were BEVs - this will continue.
- Mishab Agree with you. Thanks for sharing this insightful update about the upcoming Mini Cooper models! It's fascinating to see Mini's shift towards electrification and the unique design elements they're incorporating into the new John Cooper Works edition.Speaking of Minis, if you're a Mini Cooper owner in Sharjah looking for spare parts or considering common repairs, you might find this article on 7 common Mini Cooper repairs quite useful. ( for reading it). It covers some of the typical issues Mini owners might encounter and offers valuable insights into maintaining these iconic cars.Looking forward to more updates on Mini's electrified lineup and the exciting changes they're bringing to the automotive industry
- Redapple2 Love/lust a 110 diesel defender. Should buy one since the INEOS is gas only (and double the price). Had a lightweight in Greece. Wonder how this rides.
- Ajla There is inventory on the ground but as pointed out it is generally high dollar trims of high-dollar models and at least around here dealers still aren't budging off their mandatory nitrogen tires and Summer weather protection packages.You aren't paying '21-'22 prices anymore but it's still a long way to go.
- Slavuta Every electric car must come with a film about lithium mining

domain: news


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Florida sports betting is in full swing. And this time, it looks like it will be sticking around for a while.
The Seminole Tribe hosted a celebration at its flagship Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood on Thursday. The party was to mark the expansion of Florida gaming. Thanks to winning a legal battle over the 2021 Florida gaming compact, Seminole-owned casinos could start offering retail sports betting, craps and roulette.
It’s an exciting time with Florida officially rejoining the sports betting landscape. With a population of nearly 22 million, the Sunshine State is the third-largest in the country. Furthermore, it’s full of people itching to bet on sports.
As a result, Seminole Gaming CEO and Hard Rock International Chairman Jim Allen believes it won’t take long for Florida to compete with or top New York, the largest market in the country.
Hard Rock CEO thinks Florida will become a top 5 sports betting market
Florida online sports betting became legal through the state’s 2021 gaming compacts signed with the Seminole Tribe. Once the deal was passed in the state legislature, the ownership group of two Florida pari-mutuels filed several lawsuits.
The tribe’s online sportsbook was initially launched in the state in November 2021. But a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of the pari-mutuels, forcing the tribe to cease operations just a few weeks later.
However, thanks to recent decisions from the D.C. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court, the tribe can relaunch its online sportsbook.
In an interview with CNBC’s Last Call, Allen spoke about Hard Rock’s relaunch into Florida online sports betting. When asked about the market’s potential, he said the Florida gambling market could surpass what’s happening in larger markets like New York, which is the US’s No. 1 sports betting market.
“What’s unique about Florida is it is a state with 22 million people. But more importantly, the tax rate is much more competitive here,” said Allen. The tax rate in New York is over 50%. And frankly companies like ours, we didn’t even pursue it. Because at a 50% tax rate, you honestly can not make money.”
In November, New York sports betting operators took in $2.1 billion in wagers, the state’s highest monthly handle ever recorded. Those wagers generated $76.9 million in tax revenue. It will likely take some time before the Florida sports betting market approaches those numbers.
The new compact requires the Seminole Tribe to return 13.75% of revenue from sports betting apps to the state. The tribe will also give the state 10% of revenue generated from retail sportsbooks.
Estimates show that Florida bettors could wager around $8 billion to $12 billion yearly once the market matures. Those bets could become as much as $1 billion in annual revenue for the tribe and its partners. Based on the agreement, the state could be in line to collect about $125 million per year from sports betting.
Florida online casinos could boost revenue even more
While most of the attention in Florida right now is on sports betting, it’s never too early to find out what the landscape could look like if legal Florida online casinos become a reality.
Allen was asked about $1 billion to $3 billion revenue projections sports betting could bring to Florida. However, he did mention that Florida online casinos could be a welcomed addition.
“Certainly those numbers we have seen. I think when you have the conversation, you have to look at solely sports betting, which is the scope that we now legally have to offer to the general public,” said Allen. “But certainly, that number gets significantly higher if iGaming is eventually approved in the future.”
Allen says the potential future of Florida online casinos will look similar to what the landscape looks like in other states where iGaming is legal. He says the goal is to work directly with state leaders as well as with online casino operators to make Florida online casinos a realistic possibility.


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Coca-Cola shares jumped more than 4% after the company posted earnings and revenue that topped analyst expectations. United Technologies advanced nearly 2%.US Marketsread more
The IMF trims its economic growth forecast again as the U.S.-China trade war continues, Brexit worries linger and inflation remains muted.Economyread more
Citigroup thinks Tesla investors hoping for a post-earnings rally later this week should scrutinize a pair of related financial metrics.Investingread more
In advance of Amazon's earnings report on Thursday, Craig Johnson says the stock chart is pointing to big gains. Mark Tepper also likes the stock.Trading Nationread more
Olive branches were extended from both China and the U.S. as the two nations are set to restart face-to-face trade negotiations after a monthlong truce.Marketsread more
Lawmakers, industry representatives and advocates are testifying to the Senate committee about the challenges that cannabis companies face in states where medical or...Health and Scienceread more
Coca-Cola topped Wall Street's expectations for earnings and revenue.Food & Beverageread more
New disclosures show Facebook and Amazon each spent more than $4 million on lobbying activity in the second quarter of 2019.Technologyread more
Boris Johnson, one of the biggest voices in the Brexit movement, wins the Conservative Party leadership race by a 2-1 margin.Europe Politicsread more
Disney can nearly double its earnings by 2024, Morgan Stanley said in a note to clients on Tuesday.Investingread more
Amazon is expected to report its second-quarter earnings on Thursday.Investingread more
Business leaders have started to raise concerns with the Federal Reserve about potentially damaging effects of tariffs as the trade dispute heats up between the United States and its key economic partners.
While tariffs would directly affected sheer trading volume between the U.S. and countries like China and Mexico, company executives — and Fed officials — are more concerned about possible indirect effects, specifically how souring relations could ultimately change how businesses invest.
According to the central bank's latest meeting minutes, business contacts “expressed concern about the possible adverse effects of tariffs and other proposed trade restrictions, both domestically and abroad, on future investment activity.” Further, they indicated “capital spending had been scaled back or postponed as a result of uncertainty over trade policy.”
The problem is not so much that the current tariff proposals would undermine global gross domestic product in a major way, but that business leaders might opt to forgo capital spending and other investments given the uncertainty surrounding trade deliberations.
"Generally, the plan is on: Gradual increases in rates is still what’s on the table," said Putri Pascualy, managing director and credit strategist at PAAMCO. "The one thing I think is notable is the fact that the risk of trade policy, and specifically tariffs, has been identified as the one key factor that could derail the economic engine. The Fed seems less concerned about the economic impact of the tariffs themselves."
"What is potentially important is the impact on confidence," Pascualy added. "It could change peoples or business’ plans on investment."
Such a widespread shift could be so significant as to hamstring such of the positive impact derived from last year's tax cuts and federal spending.
“Most participants noted that uncertainty and risks associated with trade policy had intensified and were concerned that such uncertainty and risks eventually could have negative effects on business sentiment and investment spending,” the Fed minutes continued. Members saw fiscal policy – last year’s tax cuts as well as increased spending plans – as “supportive of economic growth” and posing “upside risks,” though a few worried that it is unsustainable.
"The implications [of an escalating trade war] will surely be much further reaching," said Ian Lyngen, head of U.S. rate strategy at BMO Capital Markets. "The knee jerk market reaction will likely be to the severity or lack thereof in China’s response, however the longer-term fundamental fallout on global demand/inflation remains our primary concern. Higher input costs are already flowing through to U.S. producers, and beginning Friday the additional $34 billion of goods that will now be subject to tariffs will further exacerbate the pain felt as a result of the protectionist measures."
—CNBC's Jeff Cox contributed to this report.


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A couple of years ago, e-reader manufacturers could get away with e-readers that did not offer any internet connectivity feature. That is not going to cut in this day and age. With Kindle, nook, and many other e-readers offering WiFi and 3G support, those devices that do not, at least, offer WiFi will get left behind. We can now count the new Kobo Reader among e-readers that offer WiFi capability. Borders will be releasing a new model of Kobo that will have a better processor, faster page turns, more color options, and WiFi.
Borders’ new Kobo Wireless eReader comes with a built-in wireless connection, upgraded hardware in three new colors and a new processor that drives faster page turns. Just .4 inches thick and 7.8 grams, the lightweight eReader is available in three sleek color combinations: onyx, porcelain with a metallic silver back and porcelain with a pearlized lilac back.
The new Kobo Wireless eReader allows consumers to browse more than 1.5 million books in the Borders eBook store and update their digital library wirelessly, directly from the eReader device, a smartphone or the Borders Desktop Application. With the intuitive control pad and a built-in library-management system, customers can easily navigate and organize their library by title, date last read and author. In addition, customers can add documents using an SD card, Adobe Digital Editions, or drag-and-drop. The eReader also supports EPUB and PDF documents, so customers can enjoy the option of borrowing and reading free eBooks from their local library.
The new Kobo Reader is available for pre-order and will cost only $139. That is as cheap as Amazon Kindle. That is probably not the best strategy to challenge Amazon Kindle, especially with the holiday shopping season only a short-while away.
Borders will be pushing regular tablets as well as e-readers for the foreseeable future. It already has an Android tablet lined up for release in the upcoming weeks (Cruz Tablet). How will Kobo fare against Kindle and nook? It won’t beat those devices but it can be more competitive with an aggressive pricing strategy (a $40 discount would be a good start).
Are you impressed with the new Kobo reader?


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One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to lose weight. That makes this a good time to consider fitness stocks as additions to your portfolio in 2024. Of course, that also means you'll be looking at retail stocks, which have been under pressure as consumers become more discerning about discretionary purchases.
But investing is frequently about skating where the puck is moving. And there's evidence to suggest that things may be looking up. A recent Gallup survey shows that Americans will spend more on gifts in 2023 than any holiday season since 1999.
The second is that earnings for consumer discretionary stocks may have bottomed out in the third quarter. Analysts expect the sector to post earnings growth between 10% and 15%. This means that any investment you make in the sector may not be a fad.
If you're looking to capitalize on this trend, here are three fitness stocks to consider as you make your portfolio decisions for 2024.
It May be Time to Just Buy It
Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) has been a laggard in 2023. Even with a 27% rally in NKE stock over the last three months, shares of the iconic footwear maker are only up 4.3% for the year. The company's numbers haven't been awful, and margins are improving. However, for much of the year, it wasn't enough to get investors to bite on a stock with a premium valuation at over 32x forward earnings.
That may be changing. The company has been quietly issuing layoffs in the past month. The cost-cutting move is part of what Nike says is a broad restructuring aimed at breathing life into the company's iconic brands. It can't hurt that the company's China business is showing signs of returning to form.
Nike reports its second quarter 2024 earnings on December 21, and the consensus forecast is that the company will deliver earnings per share (EPS) of 83 cents on revenue of approximately $13.32 billion. The Nike analyst ratings on MarketBeat show the company receiving several upgrades in advance of the earnings report. One of those upgrades is from The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS), which recently made Nike one of its top apparel stocks to buy in 2024.
You'll Pay a Premium for LULU Stock, but It's Worth It
Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) has been one of the shining stars among retail stocks for many years. For all intents and purposes, Lululemon created the athleisure category and has staked itself to a giant lead over the competition. The company has extensive lines of apparel for women and men.
And, at a time when the omnichannel is the buzz in the retail industry, Lululemon continues to open brick-and-mortar stores. In its most recent quarter, the company opened 14 stores, raising its total store count to 686. The company also attracts customers with its e-commerce presence.
Still, if investors are going to pay 39x forward earnings to own a stock, they have high expectations. In the last four quarters, Lululemon continues to beat revenue and earnings year-over-year. The company has also announced a $1 billion share buyback program, adding further value to shareholders.
Skechers May Pull Back but Still Looks Like a Comfortable Buy
In contrast to Nike, Skechers U.S.A. Inc. (NYSE: SKX) has outpaced the market in 2023. SKX stock is up 48% in 2023. Both revenue and earnings have been higher on a year-over-year basis.
The company has capitalized on a market for its slip-ons and laced sneakers that are both comfortable and affordable. And despite rising margins, the company has raised prices without hurting sales. In the last quarter, Skechers achieved a gross margin of 53%.
Investors may expect SKX stock to pull back from the all-time high it reached in November. But it still looks like an attractive buy for 2024. On December 14, Stifel Nicolaus affirmed its Buy rating on SKX stock and raised its price target by $10 from $62 to $72. If the company delivers strong numbers when it reports earnings in January, you can expect analysts to begin bidding the stock higher.


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Gupshup, a provider of Conversational AI to ecommerce companies and retail businesses around the world, announced the acquisition of AskSid, a leading Conversational AI provider. Gupshup’s customer experience (CX) will be enhanced as AskSid’s full-stack AI product and Retail AI brain makes the entire customer journey – from pre-purchase through post-purchase – fully conversational.
Beerud Sheth, co-founder, and CEO, of Gupshup, said, “Conversational commerce is about to transform shopping, both online and offline. Gupshup is building the most comprehensive conversational commerce solution and AskSid’s deep-domain AI offering will help us bring even more advanced capabilities to ecommerce and retail businesses worldwide. We welcome the AskSid team onboard and look forward to collaborating with major brands across the world to enable next-gen shopping experiences.”
As a result of the acquisition, Gupshup’s AI-powered conversational solutions for the e-commerce, retail, and consumer goods industry will be strengthened. Also during this month, Gupshup acquired Active.Ai, a leading conversational AI platform for banks and fintech companies. With the acquisition, Gupshup will offer greater customer experience (CX) solutions to BFSI customers.
Per a recent report by McKinsey, ecommerce could grow up to 5x faster compared to pre-pandemic times. “This presents a huge opportunity for retail and ecommerce brands – but only if they are able to provide expert guidance anytime, anywhere to their consumers, which is exactly what AskSid delivers. Together with Gupshup, we will help businesses drive richer conversational experiences.”
“We are very happy to join forces with Gupshup and look forward to helping more brands personalize their shopping experiences at scale,” said Dinesh Sharma, Co-founder, and CTO, AskSid.
The company acquired Dotgo in September last year for geographical and business expansion, which was a player in RCS and RBM.


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As of late September another recall has joined the list of recalled Blue Bell products, but this one appears to be related to their partner supplier Aspen Hills, Inc., who made the tainted cookie dough included in the newly recalled products. What does this mean for people who may have been exposed to potentially tainted ice cream?
Blue Bell Creameries: Recent Controversies
Blue Bell has populated Texan grocers' freezers since 1911, and has methodically expanded its market share throughout the U.S. since the 1960's. In 2014, its hold on the South looked something like this:
That growing empire was halted in its tracks by the news of five listeriosis cases, three of them fatal, in Kansas. Further investigation at the time found another in Arizona, three others in Texas, and one more in Oklahoma. None of those states suffered fatalities, but all afflicted parties were hospitalized.
It was believed after looking at the details of the bacterial infections that Blue Bell ice creams were responsible for the initial exposure. Blue Bell temporarily closed its plant in Broken Arrow, OK, which was believed to be the source of the tainted products. During this time, it launched an "enhanced sampling program" that checked its other factories and found a variety of tainted ice creams and other frozen treats. There were several theories about the source of the bacteria; it could have been improperly-pasteurized milk or employees who did not wash their hands before entering the factory floor. There's also the risk of bacteria from the cows who initially produced the milk used by the factory, as well as possibly improper sterilization of the machinery between uses.
After a series of increasingly-embarrassing recalls, Blue Bell took the extraordinary measure of recalling its entire stock on April 20, 2015. Somewhere in the neighborhood of eight million gallons of product were pulled from all markets for summary disposal. This may have been the most prudent measure, but naturally it threw the company into a financial tailspin. It massively scaled back operations and thousands of employees were let go. Long-time customers around the South flocked to social media and the airwaves to mourn the loss of their favorite frozen treats.
Not everyone is aware that Blue Bell's Broken Arrow facility had "repeated listeria outbreaks" up to two years before the recalls were issued. An FDA investigation found that the company had failed to adequately safeguard against health hazards in a number of its factories. A production machine in the company's Brenham, TX location was so riddled with contaminants that the company had to decommission it. Multiple instances of condensation were also found in the Brenham factory, which is a serious health concern as it provides fertile breeding grounds for bacteria.
Over the summer of 2015, the company engaged in vigorous sanitization and training in its facilities to both address current problems and prevent future ones. By August, Blue Bell had staggered back to its feet and started tentatively re-opening facilities and restocking select shelves with its products. In a five-phase plan, it began resupplying small regions of its sales area (see map above), carefully testing its products and gauging public reception to the reintroduced products. On the whole, customers rejoiced to once again see the full half-gallons in stores, and by the beginning of 2016 distribution had almost entirely resumed. They have been chugging along admirably with few hiccups since then, apparently true to their goal of avoiding further contaminations.
Not all is wine and roses, however: The U.S. Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation of Blue Bell's executives in December of 2015 to determine exactly how much they had known about the transgressions of its facilities. This stems in part from extended investigation by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) which linked further cases of listeriosis all the way back to 2010 with possible Blue Bell contamination. The investigation will determine how much warning the company had of the cases reported in 2015, and whether they could have taken action to prevent them.
How Bad is Listeriosis?
Listeriosis is a potentially fatal infection caused by the germ listeria. Found in soil, water and the byproducts of some animals such as poultry and cattle (including raw milk), it's especially dangerous because unlike many other germs, it can grow and reproduce in cold temperatures.
In full-grown, healthy adults, listeriosis feels like a mild one- to two-week flu. It wouldn't be the end of the world, but it's pretty miserable to be under the weather with food poisoning. An afflicted adult can expect a full complement of symptoms, such as headaches, fever, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
In children, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems, though, the stakes escalate. When not impeded by developed immunities, the bacteria can do more serious damage. The listed symptoms above can last longer and hit harder if the body is not able to rid itself of the infection. In fact, sustained listeria infections can develop into far worse cases of meningitis or septicemia, a blood infection. In pregnant women, infection also greatly increases the risk of stillbirth or miscarriage.
People across all demographics enjoy Blue Bell products, but the juvenile market is often among such products' most avid consumers. Their susceptibility to infection means that things could have ballooned out of control much worse than they thankfully did. Nonetheless, three casualties from an act as simple as enjoying ice cream can't be allowed to happen again, be it from Blue Bell or any other manufacturer.
September 2016: Two Steps Back
As of late last month, Blue Bell launched a voluntary recall of some of its products containing possibly-contaminated cookie dough supplied by Aspen Hills, Inc., a third-party partner.
The creamery is taking no chances this time; no injuries or illnesses were yet reported by the time the cookie-dough products were recalled. The decision to do so was made after Aspen Hills provided additional information about cookie dough lots that tested positive for listeria monocytogenes. In cooperation with the FDA, Blue Bell is "initiating this recall out of an abundance of caution." After they were nearly bankrupted by a prior lack of it, that makes a great deal of sense.
The recalled products were made from February to early September of this year, and were distributed to locations in 16 states.
While the recall is voluntary and proactive, it is strange to see a company with a spotless track record of 108 years so suddenly unsteady. If we look at that more closely, however, there might be some reasons for how they avoided a century of major scrutiny. We can assume that some of the phenomenon should truly be credited to their sanitation and training practices--nobody wants to imply they have skated by on luck alone. However, it's probably worth considering that the FDA's health audits have probably advanced in scale and thoroughness as technology has allowed. In the mid-20th century, certain testing devices and materials wouldn't have been available, and it's possible some bacterial strains made it into products without being recognized for what they were. There's also the possibility of antibiotic-resistant bacteria making it into current food batches, surviving sterilization processes that once wiped them out.
Blue Bell is hardly the only food service company to have been rocked by allegations of infectious bacteria these past few years. September 2015 saw the 28-year incarceration of Stewart Parnell, CEO of the now-gone Peanut Corporation of America, on charges of knowingly suppressing information about a 2008 salmonella outbreak in peanut butter that killed nine people and infected another 714. The restaurant chain Chipotle has also made a great deal of news lately for confirmed reports of salmonella, listeria, and norovirus outbreaks in its burrito ingredients.
Given this recent spate of headline-grabbing food contamination stories, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that the United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world. Of course, part of maintaining that distinction is to maintain vigilance when there is even the hint that something may be awry. If current reports are accurate, it appears that in this instance, Blue Bell did just that.


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Japanese analysts speculate that the PlayStation 5 may be the last of its kind
Considering that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are just out and about, it is far too early to speculate what the next generation of consoles has in store for is. Some analysts from Citi Securities Japan (via Mydrivers) are under the impression that there may not be a PlayStation 6. They prophesize that cloud gaming will eventually render consoles obsolete.
Companies like Sony and Microsoft are known to sell gaming consoles at a loss, which is subsequently recovered via exclusives titles, licensing deals and game sales. That, combined with the increasing cost associated with manufacturing the hardware, may disincentivize companies from pouring money into gaming consoles. Unlike PC hardware, console releases are few and far between. The analysts think that seven-year wait between generations will not be sustainable in the future.
Cloud gaming is still in infancy, and it'll take several years before it matures. Stable internet infrastructure is essential to the success of cloud gaming, and vast swathes of the planet do not have access to it. Perhaps that could change with easy availability of 5G and high-speed broadband services.
Despite all the benefits that cloud gaming offers, physical hardware offers one critical functionality that a cloud-based solution can never pull off; the ability to play games offline. Once that shortcoming is overcome, cloud gaming could very well redefine how we play games, but that day isn't coming anytime soon.


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Would you cool off with a BEEF POPSICLE? New York City restaurant markets frozen bone broth treats to dieters still craving a healthy soup fix in the summer heat
- Springbone Kitchen has started selling an ice pop made of coconut milk, raspberry puree, pomegranate juice, maple sugar, and bone broth
- Bone broth has become a trendy meal replacement and promises a better complexion, shiny hair, and a boosted immune system
- According to the restaurant's founder, the $4 popsicles don't have much of a meat flavor
Anyone who was left scratching his or her head at the bone broth diet craze is going to be particularly flabbergasted by the latest development in the trend.
New York City restaurant Springbone Kitchen is one of the very hotspots that spearheaded the 'bone broth' movement, which sees health-conscious dieters sipping the warm meat-flavored soup as a meal replacement.
And it seems the Greenwich Village eatery is intent on enticing customers to down bone broth even when it's hot outside — and to that end, they've debuted a new bone broth popsicle, which mixes the meaty liquid with fruit and coconut milk for a frozen dessert treat.
Steak on a stick: Springbone Kitchen in New York has begun selling $4 ice pops made with meat-based soup
Love it or leave it? So far, reviews are mixed for the inventive treat
Brnaching out: The trendy NYC spot gained popularity for its health-conscious food — but particularly its bone broth
What it does: The broth promises health benefits like a stronger immune system and a brighter complexion
Bone broth as a healthy foodie trend first started to take off in 2015, but really gained momentum during the winter earlier this year, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, and Shailene Woodley coming out as fans.
Dr. Kellyann's Bone Broth Diet, a guide book written by a nutritionist, became a bestseller, and several soup-focused stores and restaurants began popping up in major cities.
Made by slowly boiling animal bones in water, the trendy broth is specially prepared to have little sodium but plenty of collagen, vitamins, and minerals, promising health benefits like weight loss, shiny hair, radiant skin, and a stronger immune system.
So it's no surprise it became such a hit this past winter, when temps were frigid and a steaming cup of soup was a welcome meal-on-the-go.
If he says so... Springbone Kitchen's founder says customers won't even really taste the meat
Taste test: Kelly Ripe and Jim Parsons tried out the bizarre popsicles on Live with Kelly
Goop soup approval: Gwyneth Paltrow has come out as a fan of bone broth
The buzzy food trend even has its own eating plan, the Bone Broth Diet, by nutritionist Dr. Kellyann
Now, however, when temperatures are reaching into the 90s in New York City, Springbone Kitchen seems to have been searching for a way to appeal to its broth-guzzling masses with something that would help with the heat, not make it worse.
Though they tried just serving the broth cold, they found that it was 'too gelatinous', and instead decided to simply free it and sweeten it up.
Three weeks ago, they began selling a $4 popsicle made with coconut milk, raspberry puree, pomegranate juice, maple sugar, and bone broth.
'It’s a little bit sweet,' 26-year-old Jordan Feldman, Springbone Kitchen's founder, told the New York Post — adding that the meat is barely detectable.
'It’s there, but it’s totally overwhelmed by the other flavors,' he said.
Not everyone seems to agree, however. Last week, Kelly Ripa and Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons tried the popsicles on air — and though they seemed pleased with the fruity flavor at first, they were less impressed with the surprise aftertaste.
A young boy they called up from the audience had an even stronger reaction, pulling a face and remarking that he tasted 'raw meat' and 'something really disgusting'.
A reporter at Buzzfeed, however, didn't mind the pop, writing: 'It was tangy and vaguely fruity. I felt like I sensed a subtle, but not unpleasant meatness to it, but that could’ve just been psychological. It wasn’t bad!'
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An 8 gigabyte model is to sell for $199 starting July 11. A 16 gigabyte model will cost $299. The devices are to roll out initially in 22 countries.
Apple has inked deals for wireless carriers in a total of 70 countries to carry the new iPhone.
AT&T Inc., the exclusive U.S. carrier for the phone, said its plans for the phone will start at $39.99 per month, plus $30 for unlimited data. That works out to be a $10 increase from the cheapest plan for the first-generation iPhone.
AT&T also warned of an earnings hit due to the pricing, pointing to carrier subsidies as the reason for the price cut rather than a price reduction from Apple.
And Apple said in a regulatory filing that under most of its new carrier agreements, it will not receive a share of subscribers' monthly service fees, as has been the case with the first-generation iPhone.
Apple's participation in the cell-phone market has been hurt by complaints about the year-old iPhone's data download speeds, which can make simple tasks like sending pictures over e-mail or downloading Internet videos painfully slow.
Apple said the 3G iPhone downloads data twice as fast the old one.
Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said that when the original iPhone was designed, the chips used on the faster network sapped too much battery life and were too bulky. The company decided to wait to improve the device until better chip technology emerged that could fit the iPhone's slim design.
The addition of global-positioning technology improves the iPhone's accuracy in locating users. Current versions use a combination of cell-phone towers and Wi-Fi locations to help users figure out where they are.
Jobs showed off the phone at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. His announcements were widely expected.
Apple said it had sold 6 million iPhones since the first model was launched nearly a year ago, and 700,000 since March. That points to a steady slowdown in sales from the fourth quarter last year, as customers have been waiting for the 3G version. More technology news | Houston blogs | Houston headlines on Twitter | RSS feeds


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Where can you find snacks, tea, and gifts from the UK? Try Mount Kisco
For those looking for a taste of England, and for ex-pats missing home, Mount Kisco has a new store that might help.
The Hamlet British Store opened in February on South Moger Avenue.
"It's food, it's books, it's vinyl, it's culture," co-owner Drew Hodgson said. "It's a little piece of Britain in Westchester."
The British imports store offers snacks, tea and assorted gifts as well as vinyl records. Some snacks include an assortment of Cadbury brand chocolates available only in the United Kingdom, mint jellies and sauces, and a variety of teas.
Hodgson, a UK native, and his wife, Leigh, have been residents of Mount Kisco for about 8 years and talked about opening a little slice of Britain in the village. It wasn't until the pandemic hit that the couple could turn their dream into a reality.
"We thought the pandemic was the perfect time do it," Hodgson said. "We spent most of the pandemic building this."
According to Hodgson, the outpouring of support from the community has been "amazing beyond our wildest dreams."
"I think every British person who lives within 50 miles, on top of all the anglophiles and people who are just curious and the people who have been to Britain (have visited the store)," Hodgson said. "We have a map with a pin-board where (customers) can put where they're from and it's been all over."
The Hamlet is in a former Key Bank location that had been vacant for years, and included a vault. Rather than remove it, the Hodgsons have converted the bank vault into the vinyl vault.
"British music is unbelievable so being a fan of music, I looked at the vault and said 'I can build a vinyl vault,'" said Hodgson, who was a musician for 10 years when he first came to the U.S.
For more information on The Hamlet, visit its Facebook page, facebook.com/The-Hamlet-British-Store.
Go: The Hamlet, 23 S. Moger Ave., Mount Kisco; thehamletny.com. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.
Heather Clark covers business openings and closings throughout Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. Keep up on the latest comings and goings by joining our Facebook group at What's going there Westchester, Rockland, Putnam. Contact Clark via email, firstname.lastname@example.org.


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The company would raise $67.5 million at the top of this range, much below the up to $115 million it filed to raise in May.
The amount of money a company says it will raise in its first filing is used to calculate registration fees and is often a placeholder, with the actual proceeds being different.
New York-based Shutterstock owns a library of photographs and illustrations that customers can license and download through subscription deals.
It competes with other online providers of images such as iStockphoto, Fotolia and Dreamstime as well as more traditional stock content providers like Getty Images and Corbis Corp.
Shutterstock is looking to tap into a growing demand for online images that has attracted big names. Private equity firm Carlyle Group LP (CG.O) agreed to acquire Getty Images for $3.3 billion in August.
Shutterstock, which delivered more than 58 million paid downloads to about 550,000 active users last year, posted revenue of $120.3 million in 2011, it said in a regulatory filing.
The company, which will have a market value of $493 million at the top-end of the expected price range, plans to list its stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SSTK”.
Shutterstock is majority backed by Chief Executive Jonathan Oringer, who founded the company in 2003. Oringer will retain a 56.6 percent stake in the company post the offering, the filing revealed.
Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank Securities and Jefferies are lead underwriters for the IPO.
(Reporting by Aman Shah in Bangalore; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
Image Credit: Shutterstock.com


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LONDON Few things divide British eating habits from those of continental Europe as much as a distaste for consuming horse meat, so the news that many Britons may have unknowingly done so has prompted alarm.
A trickle of discoveries of horse meat in burgers, first found in Ireland last month, has turned into a stream, culminating in the revelation this week that lasagna labeled beef from frozen food retailer Findus was in some cases 100 percent horse meat.
The scandal has now touched producers and potentially millions of consumers in at least five countries – Ireland, Britain, Poland, France and Sweden – and raised questions of food safety and oversight, as well as the possibility of fraud. Already, tens of millions of hamburgers have been recalled.
The problem became clear this week when the chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Alan Reilly, said that meat was being deliberately mislabeled. “We are no longer talking about trace amounts,” he said. “We are talking about horse meat. Somebody, someplace is drip-feeding horse meat into the burger manufacturing industry. We don't know exactly where this is happening.”
Meat from horses is no more harmful than that from cattle, though there were some unsubstantiated fears that phenylbutazone, a veterinary drug, could find its way into the food chain.
The fact that the source of the meat appears to have been mainland Europe, where the consumption of horse meat is far more common, has raised suspicions of fraud because beef is more expensive than meat from horses.
The latest developments have echoes of earlier food crises, including mad cow disease in Britain and dioxin in eggs and poultry in Belgium. Those tended to grow once investigators traced products through the Continent's complex web of producers, food makers and suppliers.
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Get your daily dose of what’s going on in fashion news today here in the fashion blogger news round up.
- How Zara grew to be the world's largest fashion retailer. [New York Times]
- Connect your WordPress blog with Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr with Jetpack. [Mashable]
- “EBay Inc. is hoping the second time’s a charm as it reenters China. The San Jose-based online marketplace has struck a partnership with Shenzhen-based Xiu.com under which the Chinese firm will host eBay’s platform serving the Chinese consumer. The arrangement and its specifics will be unveiled in China on Monday, eBay confirmed to WWD.” [WWD]
- Karl Lagerfeld's take on Nicolas Ghesquiere's departure from Balenciaga, “Perhaps Nicolas wants to have his own label, which is not a bad idea … And it would not be a bad idea if somebody such as Bernard Arnault would invest in a new label because there are so many old labels (within the LVMH group).” [Reuters]
- Are you ready for Black Friday? It's coming… [WSJ]
[Image credit: Shutterstock]


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Nowegian retailers are taking the initiative themselves to boost plastic bag fees by 50 percent, and send the money to a new fund earmarked for environmental measures. The goal is to reduce plastic bag usage, but not everyone thinks it will work.
“I think only a few people will use fewer plastic bags,” grocery store consultant Erik Fagerlid told state broadcaster NRK Monday when retail employers’ organization Virke unveiled the new plastic bag fees. Fagerlid said he thinks Norwegian consumers will simply pay the higher fee, and carry on as usual.
Virke’s initiative will boost plastic bag fees from around NOK 1 to NOK 1.50 beginning January 1. The extra 50 øre (half a krone) is not a state-imposed fee or tax but rather a retailers’ fee that will be deposited into a fund set up to promote environmental causes that have not been defined in details.


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Google Neighbourly, the crowdsourced Q&A platform from the search engine giant, will be shut down on 12th May, making it yet another service from Google to be discontinued.
The app was first launched in beta in 2018 as a platform for local information sharing and Q&A app for select cities in India. It seems that the application never moved out of its beta phase and now the app is getting closed because of low user growth.
Explaining the reason behind shutting down Neighbourly, the company said: “We launched Neighbourly as a Beta app to connect you with your neighbours and make sharing local information more human and helpful… But the app hasn’t grown like we had hoped. In these difficult times, we believe that we can help more people by focusing on other Google apps that are already serving millions of people everyday.”
While the app is shutting down on 12th May, users will be able to download a copy of their Neighbourly data till October this year. The data that can be downloaded include user’s posts, replies, comments, content liked, polls voted on, saved posts, reported content, and moderated content.
Meanwhile, the technology giant is now recommending its users to try out its more popular Google Maps Local Guide.


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New VW Golf to arrive in Mideast
Dubai, June 24, 2013
The seventh generation of Volkswagen Golf GTI is set to arrive at dealers across the Middle East soon.
The compact sports car is powered by a turbocharged petrol, direct-injection engine (TSI) with 162 kW / 220 HP coming as standard and accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 244 km/h, said a statement.
The 6-speed DSG automatic gearbox helps to reach DIN fuel consumption value of 6.01/100 km; meaning that the new Golf GTI offers an 18 per cent improvement in fuel economy compared to the previous model, it said.
Thomas Milz, managing director, said: “The new Golf GTI is sportier than ever and has been one of the most eagerly anticipated new models for 2013. The model has long been a favourite among automotive enthusiasts across the region and last year accounted for 60 per cent of all Golf model sales”.
The internal engine modifications were made, including a new thermal management system which contributes towards an 18 per cent improvement in fuel economy in the 2.0-litre TSI.
The production colours are red, black and white, as it has been typical for the Golf GTI since its early days. It also features the standard, fuel-efficient newly designed 18-inch “Austin” alloy wheels, said the statement. - TradeArabia News Service
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Updated: Jul 20, 2020
ASEAN regional law firm, Rajah & Tann and Hong Kong headquartered legal tech company, Zegal have partnered up to launch ReadyDocs, a platform that enables clients to remotely create, edit, digitally sign and manage contracts from any device in any time.
ReadyDocs is a law-as-a-service (LaaS) platform providing real-time access to legal services and will debut in Singapore first before being rolled out across ASEAN. The platform empowers small- and medium-sized business owners, startup founders and general counsel to work on time-critical contracts as soon as the need arises.
Abdul Jabbar, Head of Corporate and Transactional Group of Rajah & Tann Singapore said: “As new technological innovations become available, law firms must leverage them to meet the evolving demands of our clients. Rajah & Tann is excited to launch this platform as a much-needed solution, especially during this time when remote interactions are becoming the norm and clients need to be able to access their documents on the go,”
Rajesh Sreenivasan, Head of the TMT Practice at Rajah & Tann Singapore adds: “As a firm, we are looking beyond providing legal solutions. We are offering business solutions to help our clients better manage their legal costs by integrating technology with our services. ReadyDocs is one such solution that will empower our clients to take control of their legal workflow,”
Powered by Zegal, ReadyDocs will allow users to generate commercial contracts; entire suites of contracts built as easy-to-follow workflows; or even automate their existing contracts and processes.
Daniel Walker, founder of Zegal said: “Rajah & Tann Asia is leading the adoption of LegalTech in Asia, and we could not be more excited that they have chosen our platform.
“Legal technology is not just limited to improving lawyers’ efficiency. It can and should make clients say ‘wow!’. By deploying a client-facing platform, Rajah & Tann is recognising the importance of delivering that amazing experience.”
Hung Chou Tai, CEO of Zegal said "We are extremely excited with this collaboration with Rajah & Tann, ReadyDocs will be the first platform of this kind to allow the law firm to directly collaborate with their clients online"


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BATH, England — U.K. sex toy retailer Lovehoney has launched the third-generation Sqweel Oral Sex Simulator — the pocket-sized Sqweel Go.
According to the company, following the success of Sqweel 2, Lovehoney has already experienced high demand for its miniature counterpart. Bulk orders for Sqweel Go have been taken from the U.K., Netherlands, South Africa, Norway, Italy and Russia after a successful trade debut at eroFame in Hanover last month.
At three inches in length, Sqweel Go features a wheel of ten rotating silicone tongues to simulate oral sex. Unlike its predecessors, Sqweel Go has six speeds and patterns. It is the first member of the Sqweel family to feature USB rechargeable technology.
“It was a very natural progression for us to develop a new Sqweel toy which was smaller, more eco-friendly and quieter,” Lovehoney co-founder Neal Slateford said. “It’s great to watch the Sqweel family evolve to meet customer’s needs — we know people are increasingly looking for discreet, rechargeable toys and Sqweel Go is the perfect travel toy as often people think it looks like a mini fan!”
The original Sqweel was first produced in 2009 as the winning entry to Lovehoney’s annual Design a Sex Toy competition and was later re-worked as Sqweel 2 in 2011. Sqweel has sold more than 55,000 units to date, earning Irish inventor Trev Murphy more than £100,000.
The Sqweel Go retails at $59.99 and is available from Lovehoney.com in three colors: pink, white and purple. Contact email@example.com for wholesale orders.


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Marina Bay Sands' rolling chip volume fell by 16.5%, implying softer gaming volumes.
The international gaming sector won't be expecting any uplift soon as it waits for newsflow on the Japan integrated resort (IR) concession bid that would only reach an exciting threshold in 2019, UOB Kay Hian said.
According to a report, the unexciting gross gaming revenue (GGR) growth is expected to spill over to Singapore.
Whilst Genting Singapore (GENS) targets to commendably expand its VIP volumes via prudent credit extension, the mass market segment remains sluggish and may be slightly impacted when Genting Malaysia’s 20th Century Fox theme park opens.
Genting Singapore has yet to report its Q4 results.
Despite the bleak outlook, Marina Bay Sands' (MBS) Q4 reported a lucky quarter amidst softer gaming volumes, UOB Kay Hian said.
Earnings grew 3% QoQ to $617m, thanks to an extremely high win percentage, as volumes were noticeably down. Q4 rolling chip volume (RCV) and non-rolling chip volume fell by 16.5% QoQ and 2.4% QoQ, respectively.
Do you know more about this story? Contact us anonymously through this link.


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New gymnasium in Fruit Market to create 12 new jobs on Hull waterfront
The Temple @ Humber Street is the latest venture to join the resurgent waterfront quarter and is being set up by owners Dale Robinson, Riccardo Seaton and Wayne Audsley.
Mr Robinson who founded sister gym The Temple, at Hesslewood Country Office Park near the Humber Bridge, said: “As well as having the equipment and training programmes of a traditional gym, we’re heavily focused on people’s wellbeing and helping them achieve the right work-life balance, which will not only train your body, but also train your brain.
“We all know exercise helps improve mental health, so we want to work with neighbouring businesses to achieve workplace wellness through our classes and programmes.”
Nr Seaton, who also owns neighbouring vintage clothing store Poorboy Boutique, said: “The Temple is so much more than a standard gym – we’ve created a lifestyle space.
“The Fruit Market is such a vibrant area with a good mix of residents and workers.”
The Fruit Market is being driven forward by Wykeland Beal, formed by commercial developer Wykeland Group and housebuilder Beal Homes, as part of The Fruit Market LLP joint venture company with Hull City Council.


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by Jeff Berwick, Dollar Vigilante:
Still think everything is fine with the economy? If Wal-Mart is any indication then you have to seriously question that belief!
Here is a Year-To-Date chart of Wal-Mart’s fantastical ride down.
In just the last 10 months Wal-Mart has steadily fallen from above $90 to now below $60 for a total loss of approximately 35%. And it had a one day crash of 10% on October 14th.
Considering that Wal-Mart personifies the “low end” of the market, supplying cheap products to an increasingly impoverished American public… this does NOT look good if even Wal-Mart is in trouble.
Is Wal-Mart a good buy? Far from it. But you would never know that from the mainstream media which is doing its best to gloss over its disastrous corporate ineptitude and paint a pretty picture regarding the fall of America’s largest retailer.
This fall actually acts as a metaphor for the larger failure of corporate America. We’ve already examined the tumble of Wal-Mart, but now let’s look at the bigger picture….
From a high point of over 18,000 in July, the Dow plunged to nearly 15,500 in late August. And intraday, it lost over a thousand points. It’s climbed back to regain about half of its losses, but with October a little more than half over and two more months remaining, the chances of another “market event” before 2016 – and serious further unraveling – remain in the “highly likely” category.
Here at TDV, we anticipated this event via our study of Shemitah seven-year business cycles. I made my call regarding a disastrous market drop just before the Dow started to sell off in earnest.
We have a good deal of credibility based on our track record and various market strategies that have made significant profits for our newsletter subscribers. Bearing this in mind, I will tell you that Walmart probably cannot be seen as a “good buy.”
Please follow SGT Report on Twitter & help share the message.


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Streaming TV providers like YouTube TV, DirecTV Now and Hulu with Live TV lured users with digital “skinny bundles” that were cheaper than cable. Now, many are raising prices. The latest is Google’s YouTube TV, whose price just shot up to $50.
Everyone in the tech industry wants your eyeballs. More specifically, a growing number of tech companies want to attract the millions who have ditched cable for services that stream live TV channels over the internet. To help you see which, if any, make sense for you, Business Insider has broken down the big five live-TV streaming services you can choose from today: PlayStation Vue, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV.
Hulu has officially unleashed its horse in the crowded virtual pay-TV race. The streaming-video provider announced the beta launch of Hulu With Live TV, priced starting at $39.99 monthly for around 50 channels. The service includes ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC programming — with the availability of local stations varying by market — and cable nets including ESPN, CNN, Fox News, TBS, TNT and Disney Channel. Showtime is available for $9 extra.


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NetEnt has continued its expansion across the regulated markets after securing a new distribution deal with Wind Creek Hospitality’s expanded online offering.
The agreement cements NetEnt’s position in the Pennsylvanian igaming market, following on from Wind Creek adding RMG options to its existing social offering last month.
Ken Rohman, chief marketing officer at Wind Creek Hospitality, stated: “It’s an exciting time to be adding igaming to our offering in Pennsylvania’s online arena, and with NetEnt’s portfolio of market favourite casino games we are in a strong position to quickly gain market share.
“We look forward to working with their knowledgeable team to build on our offering and deliver a first-rate online experience to our players.”
Following its initial launch in the region back in 2019, NetEnt has stated that Pennsylvania has proved to be a major success with consistent quarterly growth, with the latest agreement further increasing its market share.
Wind Creek Casino, whose online gaming platform is powered by Pala Interactive, can now offer the supplier’s casino content to online audiences, including its range of table games and what is hailed as a ‘local top performer’ in Divine Fortune.
“It’s a major achievement to be supporting Wind Creek in its online journey,” stated Brian Kraft, NetEnt vice president of commercial in the Americas. “The deal underlines our status as a go-to supplier in Pennsylvania both with established operators and emerging brands.
“Given the strong performance of our content with local players, this partnership will no doubt see Wind Creek make a big impact in the online landscape.”
Earlier this week, NetEnt entered into West Virginia following an agreement with igaming and sports betting operator BetMGM.
The MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings joint venture recently added igaming to its ongoing partnership with The Greenbrier in West Virginia, after the Mountain State opened up its virtual doors to online casino on July 15.


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New funding: Portland, Ore.-based startup Yor Labs raised $3.3 million to fund the development of a lightweight ultrasound system powered by artificial intelligence, according to a regulatory filing.
Company background: The stealthy startup was founded four years ago and plans to make ultrasound devices that are portable, handheld and wireless. It will infuse the ultrasound systems with AI to make it easier to read images and diagnose patients.
“Imagine … an intelligent, predictive and intuitive ultrasound imaging system. Imagine … all of this being produced by a wireless device in the palm of your hand!” the company’s website reads.
Competition: Fujifilm SonoSite, a longtime leader in ultrasound, is also betting that artificial intelligence will play a key role in the future of the technology. The Bothell, Wash.-based company is collaborating with the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence to use AI to interpret ultrasound images. The hope is that machine learning can influence the field to the same degree that handheld devices led to a revolution in mobile ultrasound.
Leadership: The company is led by CEO Bill Willis, who formerly led medical device firms iRhythm Technologies and Cardiac Insight. Yor Labs has deep roots at Intel. Anshumali Roy, a former senior engineer at Intel, is the chief technology officer. The startup’s principal scientist is Clark Brooks, another longtime Intel engineer. And former Intel executive Sunit Rikhi is a co-founder and investor in the company.
The startup’s board of directors is chaired by Michael Goldberg, who also leads the boards of CareDX and DNAnexus. William Starling, co-founder of Synergy Life Science Partners, is an investor and director. Synergy operates an early-stage medical device venture capital fund.
Yor Labs has 16 employees on LinkedIn. The company declined to comment on the financing.
Source: Geek Wire


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By Bob Nieman | Jun 29, 2011
When brothers Greg and Jake Battiston decided to get into the self-service laundry business, they knew that their store’s location would be crucial to their future success.
So, they made sure they found a good one – maybe too good.
In fact, between the time in which the Battistons signed their lease until they actually opened the doors to Soapy Suds, located in Hartford, Conn., three other brand new laundries had opened up in their marketplace.
“We had signed the lease, but we didn’t break ground for another 15 or 16 months,” explained Greg Battiston. “We sat on it because the landlord was trying to get funding to complete the entire plaza. I kept calling him and calling him, and he kept telling me, ‘We’re close.’ We were starting to worry as to whether it was going to ever happen.”
The brothers had chosen to place their 3,800-square-foot laundry in an old department store that had been vacant for nearly 20 years. However, their landlord needed money to complete the building renovation, and he was having a tough time acquiring the needed cash.
“When we signed the lease, I was hoping to break ground the next month,” Greg said. “However, in the meantime, once we signed, three other laundromats went up in the area – three new laundries. It’s a dynamite location, and apparently other people were thinking the same thing. None of us knew about the others, but we all had it in our minds to put in a nice, new modern laundromat.
“I think it happened because of the state of the economy,” he added. “There are a lot of vacancies, and people are able to acquire locations that they couldn’t get in the past.”
Not that this was the Battistons first laundry business. The brothers had purchased an existing store – The Washtub of Hartford, which is about two miles away from Soapy Suds – a few months earlier.
And, for 16 years before that, they were partners with their uncle in five drycleaning/laundromat operations – a business that was started by their grandfather.
“Our family has a number of stores in Connecticut,” said Battiston, who finally opened Soapy Suds last November. “The primary business is drycleaning, but we did have small laundromats in some of the locations. The coin laundries we used to have are older and smaller. It was more of an add-on to the core business, which was drycleaning.”
Although the Battiston brothers got out of the drycleaning industry in 2009, leaving the five drycleaning locations to their uncle, they didn’t want to abandon the textile care business altogether.
“I still wanted to be my own boss,” Greg explained. “And the laundry business must be in my blood because I stuck with it. I wanted to get into the laundromat business because there are fewer headaches than in drycleaning – I don’t have to worry about the environmental issues, and I don’t have as many employees.”
And, despite the glut of new competitors they hadn’t planned on, as well as an approximately $600,000 price tag to build and equip Soapy Suds, the brothers remain confident that they chose the perfect location.
“The demographics are strong,” Greg insisted. “What I liked about it is that it’s close to the inner city and a lot of apartments, but it’s also in a shopping center. That appealed to me.”
Battiston noted that the majority of the store’s walk-in customers live in the nearby apartment complexes and are mostly in the lower- to middle-income bracket. In addition, approximately 70 percent of his self-service clients are Hispanic, with the remainder of that customer base evenly mixed among African-Americans, Asians and whites.
Soapy Suds – which is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily – also has been slowly building customer interest in the business’ wash-dry-fold service, which costs $1 a pound. What’s more, the Battistons have plans to branch out into some commercial account work in the future.
In addition to the coin laundry, the shopping center currently features a supermarket, a furniture store, a nail salon and a Family Dollar location. And, according to Battiston, the landlord intends to add a 10,000-square-foot liquor store, along with auto parts dealer.
Beyond the plaza, this dense, urban neighborhood is home to a number of Hispanic markets and other thriving small businesses and shops.
To attract their fair share of the laundry business in this bustling community, the Battistons have placed ads in some of the local newspapers, while also running coupons on the backs of cash register receipts at grocery stores and supermarkets in the area.
“We have some banners on the building,” Battiston added. “We have a website and we’re on Facebook. So, if we’re running some kind of promotion, we let our customers who are on Facebook know about it. The biggest thing is word of mouth. That’s probably our strength, as far as getting people in the store.
“It’s a new plaza, so I think the majority of our customers are checking out the new plaza. They’re checking out the Family Dollar, and then they’ll come in to see us, which is why we have some banners outside. Every little bit adds up.”
Perhaps the most obvious way Soapy Suds differentiates itself from the competition is through its interior décor.
“It’s not like any laundromat you’ve been in,” Battiston said. “It’s got a completely different feel and appearance to it. When I set out to do this laundromat, I wanted it to be different. I didn’t want a cookie-cutter laundromat.”
The store’s 20-foot-high ceilings were left fully exposed during the build out to give Soapy Suds’ customers a large, airy, open feel when they first walk in.
“I wanted to keep it bright in here, so I painted the walls white,” Battiston explained. “But I also wanted to add some color.”
After giving it some thought, the Battistons decided that flags representing all of the different countries and nationalities of the store’s customers – draped from the rafters – would provide the perfect splash of color they were trying to achieve.
“I have three- by five-foot flags hanging from the ceiling, all the way around the perimeter of the store,” Greg said. “They’re a great conversation piece. As soon as they walk in, customers begin looking for their flags. By the counter, I have a list of all the flags I have up. Currently, I have more than 50 different flags in here.
“And I tell people who come in, ‘If you’re going to be a regular customer, then I’ll put up your flag.’”
In the back of the store, where the ceilings are lower, the Battistons have installed a 10-foot projection screen television.
“I wanted a Wow! factor,” Greg said.
Soapy Suds also features a customer lounge area with comfy leather chairs and 50-inch television, as well as a children’s play area with a 32-inch TV. Rounding out the store’s amenities are free Wi-Fi, soda and snack vending, a massage chair, and a number of gumball and sticker machines for the kids.
“It’s a unique-looking store, and I set out from Day One to try to be different,” said Battiston, who employees six part-time attendants. “I definitely think that’s a strength of ours, because people will come in that say that they’ve never been in a laundromat like this.
“By far, the customer has to come first,” he added. “Our two main goals are making the customers happy and keeping the store clean.”
Although it took them more than a little while to finally open for business, the Battiston brothers won’t rule out building or buying more self-service laundries down the road.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Greg said. “But definitely not in Hartford. There are too many here already. In fact, I’ve had a few distributors come in to check out the store, and I’ve said, ‘Don’t even think about putting another laundry in here. There’s no room.’ And there really isn’t.
“But, if these two stores do well, I wouldn’t mind adding another one… in another town.”


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Given the fact that the original Samsung Galaxy Watch was launched back in 2018, the hype with the next device is big However, it seems that Samsung is skipping a number because the new device is called Galaxy Watch 3.
We used to call the next device the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2, however, the moniker has been ditched, according to Thailand’s NBTC (Office of The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) regulatory body.
According to some reports, the product code numbers match with the recent documentation from the FCC – Federal Communications Commission – in the US, which is good news, because it seems that we’re getting the Galaxy Watch 3 soon.
We know that it is a bit weird to skip a number completely. However, it could avoid all the confusion when it comes to the Galaxy Watch Active 2, which Samsung also makes. The original watch is cheaper than the Active 2, but it is also older than it.
What are its features?
The name doesn’t really matter that much. We have learned a lot of rumors about the upcoming device. Remember the rotating bezels that we’ve seen in the first Galaxy Watch? We know that they didn’t implement it in the Watch Active 2 device, but it will make a return for the Galaxy Watch 3.
We have also learned about his new titanium casing, which will come with more conventional aluminum and stainless materials.
When it comes to the size, we’ve seen that, even if the Galaxy Watch 3 will come two variants – of 41 millimeters and 45 millimeters, it will still be smaller than the 42 millimeters and 46 millimeters variant that the original offered.
We have heard that the smartwatch will be released on the 5th of August, together with some other Samsung hardware, including the Galaxy Note 20 smartphone.


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Series B Round Allows RealWear To Expand Distribution of HMT Industrial Wearables
Vancouver, WA – July 1, 2019 – RealWear, Inc., the leader in knowledge transfer and training platforms for the connected worker, announced today an $80 million Series B financing round. RealWear will use the funds, which are a combination of equity and debt, to continue market expansion and accelerate its platform development. RealWear teamed with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to architect an investment syndicate led by Teradyne, Inc. (TER), a global leader in industrial automation, and includes Bose Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures LLC (QCOM), Kopin Corporation (KOPN), and investors from JPMorgan’s (JPM) Private Bank.
From its inception, RealWear has focused on products that are specifically designed for the connected enterprise workforce to improve job satisfaction, productivity and, most importantly, safety. Its industrial hands-free wearable computers enhance, rather than diminish, a worker’s situational awareness while delivering vital information on-demand in the harshest of environments.
RealWear achievements in the last 18 months include:
- 15,000+ HMT systems shipped
- 1,300+ enterprise customers globally
- 120+ workforce software applications
“The augmented reality enterprise market has experienced a great deal of hype, but long-term, real-world solutions have been thin on the ground.
“RealWear smartly recognized the need for a no-nonsense head-mounted display and has delivered no-frills products that help frontline workers to get their jobs done more safely and efficiently.”Tom Mainelli, IDCGroup VP of Devices and AR/VR.
RealWear Co-Founder and CEO, Andy Lowery, said RealWear used this same pragmatic philosophy in its fund-raising strategy. “Our seed investments came from friends, family, early customers, suppliers and business partners. Their faith carried us to our Series A, led by Columbia Ventures Corporation. CVC’s experience in heavy industry, one of our primary markets, made it a perfect match.”
Lowery continued: “It was critical that RealWear’s new investors be business and technology leaders. Teradyne, Bose Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures and Kopin fit that bill.”
‘‘RealWear has created a powerful platform that aligns with our vision for a safer, more productive work environment powered by easy-to-use, rapid ROI automation solutions.
‘‘RealWear’s strategy to leverage the power of advanced technologies like Augmented Reality to assist workers across a wide range of tasks has many parallels with Teradyne’s industrial automation strategy and we look forward to helping RealWear continue their exciting growth.’’Mark Jagiela, Teradyne CEO and President.
“Qualcomm Ventures invests in companies that drive innovation and impact across industries. RealWear has experienced strong growth and is well-positioned to become a leading platform for connected workers everywhere.
“We are excited to invest in RealWear as we believe its unique platform will help drive value to the entire IoT ecosystem.”Richard Tapalaga, Director, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Investment Director, Qualcomm Ventures.
RealWear’s Series A lead, CVC, and many early seed investors have taken this opportunity to increase their investments in Vancouver, Washington based RealWear. Mr. Lowery concluded, “The continued support of our ecosystem is tremendously gratifying for the entire RealWear team.”
Photos available here for media use only.
RealWear® is a knowledge transfer platform company providing in-situ information and in-the-field training with software and hardware to help people improve safety and increase productivity at work. The company’s flagship product, the HMT-1®, is the first ruggedized head-mounted, wearable, Android-class tablet computer that frees a worker’s hands for dangerous jobs. With an ever-growing number of hands-free software solutions, enterprise customers gain instant knowledge with remote mentor, document navigation, industrial IoT visualization and digital workflow solutions. Global leaders in energy, manufacturing and automotive industries trust the HMT-1 and HMT-1Z1® to empower and connect their global workforce.


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The PTO has Overstepped its Statutory Authority in Refusing to Register Trademarks for Marijuana
The title of this post is the key takeaway of a new article I have recently posted on SSRN:
Robert A. Mikos, Unauthorized and Unwise: The Lawful Use Requirement in Trademark Law, 75 Vand. L. Rev. __ (forthcoming January 2022).
Here is the abstract:
For decades, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has required trademark owners to comply with sundry non-trademark laws governing the sale of their trademarked goods and services. Pursuant to this “lawful use requirement”, the agency has refused or even cancelled registration of thousands of marks used on everything from Schedule I controlled substances to mislabeled soap. This Article subjects the agency’s lawful use requirement to long-overdue scrutiny. It suggests that in requiring compliance with other laws for registration, the PTO has lost sight of the one statute it is supposed to administer. In the process, the agency has overstepped the limits of its statutory authority and undermined federal trademark policy. Whether a mark owner has used its mark to sell improperly labeled soap or an illicit drug, the PTO has no mandate, and no convincing policy reason, to deny the owner the substantial benefits of registration. Simply put, the agency’s lawful use requirement has no place in trademark law.
The article should be of interest to marijuana businesses, which have been denied (unlawfully, it turns out) federal trademark protections. I am hoping the piece might help convince the PTO to abandon the lawful use requirement, or, in the alternative, that it might help convince a court to order the PTO to abandon the requirement.


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Will Hehemann | School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences
PINE BLUFF, Ark. – How conducive are some non-native, Asian vegetables to the American palate? University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Department of Agriculture faculty and students sought to answer this question at a recent food-sampling event that featured exotic recipes made from bitter melon, bottle gourd and chili pepper grown on campus.
The event was a collaboration of undergraduate and graduate lab students at the Department of Agriculture, under the direction of Dr. M. Jalaluddin. professor of agriculture-agronomy, and Dr. Jaheon Koo, associate professor of regulatory science and certified food scientist.
Department of Agriculture faculty, staff and students sampled dishes such as sautéed bottle gourd, bottle gourd pancake, bitter melon soup with chicken or beef and bitter melon chips, which were prepared at the UAPB Experimental Kitchen. They also had a glimpse of what the uncommon vegetables look like in their uncooked forms – bottle gourd, for instance, is an over-sized, green gourd that can weigh between three and 30 pounds.
After tasting the unfamiliar foods, attendees were polled as to which dishes they liked the most. A sweet bottle gourd dessert took top marks (for the winning recipe, see below), followed by bottle gourd soup and sautéed bottle gourd. Dishes made from bitter melon scored lower due to the fruit’s bitter flavor.
“These vegetables are healthy and beneficial due to their medicinal properties,” he said. “However, because of their distinct and strong or bitter flavor, extensive development of recipes is necessary to make this produce appeal to the American public.”
The recipes used for the event were found online and modified to better suit American preferences. Dr. Koo, who has been involved with the development of value-added fruit and vegetable products over 10 years, said his lab group will continue to work on new product development.
Shaila Nabi, research assistant for the UAPB Department of Agriculture, said these vegetables, which are popular in South Asia, South America and some African countries, can be cultivated in Arkansas.
“These crops are very adaptable to Arkansas’ soil and summer season,” she said. “If we can popularize them among local farmers, it could help with the food shortage in the Delta region.”
Ms. Nabi said undergraduate students of agriculture grow these vegetables from seed to learn about all agronomic and farm management operations, as well as seed management.
Sweet bottle gourd recipe
- 4 tablespoons condensed milk
- ½ cup of ghee or butter
- 4 cups grated bottle gourd
- 5 chopped cashew nuts
- 5 chopped almonds
- 1 tablespoon raisins
- Cardamom powder to taste
- Heat the butter in a pan. Add cashews and almonds and fry until golden brown.
- Add the grated bottle gourd and sauté for 5-6 minutes.
- Add the condensed milk and cook until the bottle gourd is soft.
- Stir continuously until the mixture is thick
- Sprinkle with cardamom powder.


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Nairobi’s Brookhouse School is hosting the first Google Web Rangers summit in Africa they claim is aimed at spreading awareness about internet safety and “promoting responsible digital citizenship on the continent,” whatever that means
The program which is ongoing at the prestigious Brookhouse School is composed of 26 Web Rangers from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. They are attending the summit to meet and share ideas on how they can make the Internet a safer place for young Internet users.
Highlights of the Summit programme include: a bootcamp on how to make campaign videos for online audiences topics such as diversity and inclusion, trust, tolerance and responsibility. Participants will also learn how to tackle real life policy issues – focusing on cyberbullying, sexting, sharing private personal information online and catfishing.
Web Rangers is a Google-led digital literacy programme aimed at promoting and educating the youth about how the internet is an empowering tool relevant to their lives and their future.
Started in Israel in 2011, Web Rangers has since grown to 15 countries around the world. In Africa, Web Rangers is active in 3 countries – Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.
In Kenya, Web Rangers was launched in 2015 at Precious Girls Secondary, Riruta.
Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to firstname.lastname@example.org


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Cadbury has shaken the world of confectionery by claiming Creme Egg is pronounced ‘crem’.
Chocolate fan Shawna Leigh asked the team on Twitter to explain once and for all if the correct way to say the name was ‘crem’ or ‘cream’.
It’s not just a case of ‘how do you say yours’, apparently, as there is a definitive answer.
A representative responded to say: ‘Pronounced as Crem :)’
That cute little smiley face hid the backlash which was about to fall down upon their heads, as the UK struggled to appreciate how this could be possible:
I just said to @dcturner “Cadbury is trying to say that Creme Egg is pronounced ‘crem egg’”, and he shouted “WHAT?”. This is the correct response.
— Tracy King (@tkingdot) February 20, 2018
Cadbury has now deleted the tweet, presumably because they realised what they claimed was a ‘crem against humanity’ (thanks for the pun, Dan Barker.
‘If it’s supposed to be pronounced ‘Crem’, why did you market the Halloween ‘Screme Egg’ to rhyme with ‘scream’? SCREM EGG?!’ Cass Lowe asked, with appropriate levels of anger and disbelief.
As evidence, see also:
But panic over, everyone – Cadbury has set the record straight and said it was all a mix-up.
A spokesman said: ‘Looks like we missed out the ‘a’ there! Most definitely pronounced as ‘Cream’ egg!’
Looks like we missed out the ‘a’ there! Most definitely pronounced as ‘Cream’ egg!
— Cadbury UK (@CadburyUK) February 20, 2018
Metro.co.uk has contacted Cadbury for comment.


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Last month Toyota took the wraps off the all-new 2020 Toyota Corolla and this month the new 2019 RAV4 is slated to arrive in showrooms, but Toyota still has a lot more planned. Toyota has confirmed that it will introduce 19 new models in the next 36 months.
Speaking to Autoguide, Jack Hollis, Group Vice President and General Manager of Toyota Division at Toyota Motor North America, stated, “In the next 36 months, we will have 19 all-new, minor change or major change vehicles, not including special editions.”
While some automakers have abandoned sedans and small cars, Toyota has no plans to ditch any big segments. “There’s some pretty good SUV movement in there,” Hollis stated, “But we’re making plans that we think are best for the end consumer and we still strongly believe in the car market.”
Right now we know that Toyota’s next big debut will be the new Supra next month, but after that there are several aged models in Toyota’s lineup that are due for an update, like the 4Runner, Sienna, Highlander and even the 86.
Toyota also recently revealed that it plans to add more sporty TRD models to its lineup and it’s also looking at the possibility of adding all-wheel drive to some of its cars, like the Camry.


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The heat is seriously on CFDs operating against the law. Within a very short period, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) released two tough-sounding media publications. The releases were stern warnings relating to two ventures that had broken the laws of the United Kingdom regarding financial markets. The regulatory agency issued the notice against a couple of enterprises dealing in online trading products. These were Platinum CFD and STI-Global.
The Illegal Operations
STI-Global focuses on customers in the United Kingdom by giving several offshore investment services. Such services include foreign exchange trading services. However, the city regulator insisted that the claims of registration that was on their online platform are not genuine. As a result, they were not licensed to operate at all in the United Kingdom. The venture stated that it was established n 2011 and had its base in London. There was also a claim of an international office in Hong Kong. STI Global lied on its website when it made the claim that its operations were fully licensed and under regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom.
The Second Broker
Also, the second broker mentioned was coordinated by Platinum Global Group Limited. It turned out to be a limited liability company that was incorporated in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Even though this brand did not make the same claim as STI Global that it was regulated in the country, it still had problems. The FCA submitted that it focuses on the citizens via its promotion of dangerous and very volatile trading instruments.
Regulator Sounds Warning
The regulatory watchdog of the United Kingdom is focused on ensuring there is protection and security for consumers. This is security from not just fraud alone but even loss of relatively tiny amounts to regulated brokers. Such brokers are known for having what is referred to as ‘products causing similar harms’.
The Financial Conduct Authority was also thinking that ventures may opt for ways to dodge the regulatory provisions put in place. This they can attempt or execute by making use of their foreign brands or by the sale of similarly complicated or massively-leveraged items. The regulator has said that the pattern of observation is the same as other counterparts in Europe. All the agencies knew what was going on and the products that posed the greatest risks to the consumers and investors too.
Hence, the FCA is thinking ahead so it not be outsmarted in any way. Just last year alone, it released strategies to tackle the marketing of CFDs to retail clients. These provisions were mainly for providers that had the proper license. A similar step had been taken by the prominent European regulatory agency EMSA back in 2018.
The agency did not stop there as it made another move in 2018. There was provision for the coverage of an even greater number of products and services. All these measures are aimed at ensuring that only licensed ventures are allowed to operate and investors can be very sure their investments are in safe hands.


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New Restaurant Coming To Duluth
There is another new restaurant coming to Duluth, making it the first one in the Northland. What could it be?
The quick service restaurant Pita Pit will be opening up shop in the new Maurices headquarters in Downtown Duluth (425 W. Superior St). Pita Pit was founded in Canada in 1995 and this will be the first location in the Northland.
The Pita Pit offers on the go sandwiches wrapped up in pita bread including meat options, vegetarian options, and even breakfast. According to the Duluth News Tribune, a Pita Pit spokesperson said the store would open in the next two months.
Are you excited for a new sandwich place in the Northland? Let me know in the comments below.


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Genius Sports has published its financial results for the second quarter and the first half of 2022, where it achieved year-over-year growth in revenue in both periods.
The company added that in the first six months of the year, US revenue has nearly quadrupled compared to the same period in 2021.
Reflecting on the results, CEO and Co-Founder Mark Locke noted that Genius Sports has “established a leading position” in the US, adding that the company is “confident in the continued execution” of its strategic plan.
For Q2, Genius Sports revenue came in at $71.1m, a 27.3% increase YoY (2021: $55.8m) and ahead of its guidance for the period ($75.0m at guidance exchange rate, $68m guidance).
While revenues have increased, the group has also improved its net loss YoY by 99% to $4.7m (2021: $464m net loss) following “a reduction in stock-based compensation” compared to the same period the previous year.
Group adjusted EBITDA in Q2 came in at $8.4m, beating the guidance set ($9m at the guidance exchange rate vs $8m guidance), and a 61% YoY uptick after “disciplined cost control, continued investment in the high-growth US business, and overall revenue mix”.
For the first half of the year, Genius Sports reported group revenue of $157m, a 43.3% improvement YoY (2021: $109.5m), adding that revenues in the US have nearly 300% YoY to $47.1m.
Group net loss for the company in H1 stood at $44.9m (2021: $469.4m), while group adjusted EBITDA for the period came in at $5.4m (2021: $14.4m).
“We remain highly focused on delivering profitable growth and have executed ahead of expectations through the first half of the year,” commented Locke.
“We continue to utilize our partnerships and unique technology to yield strong results and build upon our commercial strategy.
“We have maintained steady EBITDA profitability globally and established a leading position within the US, all while achieving EBITDA profitability at the group level. Genius has strong momentum and we feel confident in the continued execution of our strategic plan.”
Genius Sports revenue breakdown
Per vertical, Genius Sports has reported that its Betting Technology, Content & Services business earned the most revenue during the quarter with $44.8m, a 10% improvement YoY (2021: $40.6m) thanks to “increased utilization of available content, expansion of value-add services and new service offerings, and new customer acquisitions”.
For H1, Betting Technology, Content & Services earnings stood at $94.5m, an 18.7% improvement YoY (2021: $79.6m).
Media Technology, Content & Services followed in Q2 revenue with $15m, a 88% growth YoY (2021: $7.9m), which the firm noted was mostly due to “organic growth driven by increasing uptake of programmatic advertising services”.
In 2022 so far, Media Technology, Content & Services income stood at $39.1m, a 125.4% growth YoY (2021: $17.3m).
Sports Technology & Services came with $11.3m in Q2 earnings, a 57% uptick YoY (2021: $7.1m), impacted by Second Spectrum revenue and “expanded services provided to existing sports league and federation customers across all tiers of sport”.
For the half year, Sports Technology & Services revenue stood at $23.3m, an 85.5% increase YoY (2021: $12.5m).
During Q2, Genius Sports’ Second Spectrum technology won a Sports Emmy alongside CBS Sports for its RomoVision NFL broadcasting product.
The group also secured official data, trading, and live streaming deal with online sportsbook Betsul in Brazil, and it launched the new CFL GameZone and interactive CFL Preseason Futures game as part of its partnership with the CFL in Canada.
Looking ahead, Genius Sports reaffirmed its 2022 expectation to generate approximately $340m in group revenue and $15m in group adjusted EBITDA, despite risks related to foreign exchange rates.
The company added that in 2023 it expects group revenue in the range of $430m to $440m and group adjusted EBITDA in the range of $40m to $50m.


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The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event to hit the media all year.
Many companies are looking for opportunities to align their marketing and branding strategies with the global soccer phenomenon. Chinese companies, in particular, are buying more ad time and real estate than ever before to keep up with the trend.
As the planet’s most popular sporting event heads to its thrilling conclusion—the championship match this weekend—let’s see which ad campaigns are tallying victories. Here are four favorites:
1. Budweiser’s light-up cups and a Snapchat lens. This year’s Budweiser campaign is the biggest ever commercial creation from AB InBev. The Light Up the World Cup effort includes a video featuring drones carrying bottles of beer around the globe. Anheuser-Busch has keyed on experiential activity, too, with red-light cups containing audio detectors and LED lights. It also launched a sound-activated Snapchat filter, which responds to cheers. The brewer is also launching a new lens game for Snapchat.