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A well-known international brand has disappeared from Southeast Asia’s largest economy. 7-Eleven convenience stores operate in 18 countries around the world—with more than half of the in the Asia Pacific. But the stores are no longer in Indonesia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.
Just a few years ago, 7-Eleven’s were booming in Indonesia.
Nearly 200 stores were in operation, most of them in the capital city of Jakarta.
The South China Morning Post reports a number of factors made the stores popular – especially with a younger demographic.
There was the free Wi-Fi, hot meals with 24-hour indoor seating, beer, and even the ability to pay utility bills.
But success brought competition, and quickly, as other mini-marts popped up offering the same services.
Two years ago, a regulatory change: alcohol sales were banned at convenience stores.
According to the ratings agency Fitch, that instantly sank about 15 percent of the company’s revenues.
The national franchise holder tried to sell the business to a Thai conglomerate, but the deal fell apart.
7-Eleven may be familiar as an American brand, but the parent company is Japanese—and has been for more than 25 years.
In fact, out of roughly 60,000 7-Eleven stores around the world, nearly a third of them are in Japan.
Seven and I holdings is the parent company—and executives there tell reporters the convenience store is not finished in Indonesia, but the search for a new local partner continues.

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Top Gear and Lego have teamed up to make a set inspired by the car show.
It will be a Technic set, which ‘will provide a more-challenging build and include real-life functionality designed after its real-world car counterparts’.
We’re guessing that means don’t get it unless you’re Pretty Good at Lego, or you aren’t and just fancy pushing yourself a bit.
While there will be no figurines included, you might still feel inspired to build your own Jeremy Clarkson and recreate that fracas that got him dropped from the show in 2015.
Or if you’re a fan of the new lineup of Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris you can have a crack at creating them instead.
The set is aimed at children aged nine and over but we’re sure there are some big kids who would love to get their hands on it too.
Top Gear Lego is set to launch globally in early 2020.
Head of licensing at BBC Studios Jason Easy, said: ‘We are extremely excited to have partnered with Lego Technic.
‘Both brands enjoy a very close relationship with their fans; it’s certainly a natural fit for both, and we’re really looking forward to seeing the Lego Technic set hit the shelves next year.’
Meanwhile Freddie seems to have fully recovered after a drag race crash during filming for the new series.
The 41-year-old was driving a trike when it veered off the track at Elvington Airfield at high speed. But thankfully he managed to come out basically unscathed with his helmet and full racing suit doing their job.
It was the same track that left Richard Hammond in a coma a decade earlier.
Insisting to Mail Online that he was ‘absolutely fine’ after the incident, Freddie said: ‘I go to great lengths to make sure I do well in Top Gear drag races but on this occasion I went a few lengths too far.
‘It will look more ridiculous than dangerous when you see it on TV.’
Got a showbiz story?


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Sneed Ace Hardware becomes Shaw Ace Hardware
Published 11:00 am Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Sneed’s Ace Hardware has been David Shaw’s home away from home for 40 years. The lifelong Lafayette County resident has worked in the local institution of a store since high school, where he started out unloading trucks and stocking shelves.
“It was just an afterschool job that has grown to become so much more,” David said. “It’s where my wife Susan and I spend most of our time. It’s where we have built friendships with customers and neighbors. It’s where we serve the community.”
That longtime commitment to the store is why David and Susan Shaw are excited about the store’s next chapter: changing the name of the store from Sneed’s Ace Hardware to Shaw Ace Hardware.
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“It’s not a major change,” said Susan. “We will still have all of the same products. All of the people the community has come to know and love will still be working here. The only thing that is changing is the name on the building.”
In a way, the name change is a full-circle moment for David. That’s because, when the store originally opened on the Square in 1951, David’s grandfather Parham Shaw was one of the co-founders.
“It was originally called Shaw and Sneed Hardware,” said David. “My grandfather started it with his friend Payne Sneed. It eventually became an Ace Hardware store in 1963.”
A couple of years before David’s grandfather passed away in 1967, he sold his part of the store to Payne and the name was changed to Sneed’s. David has been involved with the store since 1975.
He first worked there in high school and then joined the business full- time as an accountant after graduating from the University of Mississippi. Eventually, after working alongside Payne and Payne’s son Harry, David became a partner in the business in 1998 and then he and Susan purchased it outright when Harry was ready to retire in 2017. Susan joined the Sneed’s Hardware staff in 2008 as the accountant after teaching at Oxford Middle School for 12 years.
“I learned so much working with both Payne and Harry,” said David. “Over the years, we were able to build the store into the go-to place for everything from home projects to yard work to major maintenance and construction efforts. We have customers who have been coming here for generations now, and I am so grateful to be a part of that.”
The rebrand of Sneed’s Ace Hardware to Shaw Ace Hardware took effect earlier this week with the launch of a new website. In addition, David says customers can expect to see a new sign making its way onto the front of the building.
“We love the mural on the back of the building so much that we have decided that our new logo needed to mimic that style and be painted on as well,” he said. “Other than that, our customers can expect the same friendly service and same expertise that we’ve always provided. Susan and I are so thankful for everyone who has supported us throughout the years, and we are excited about this next chapter in the store’s history.”


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Tesco ‘pledges’ more stores; Eurospar looks to the future; Midcounties turns in a solid performance; shopper visits at Aldi rise
Tesco dominates the news as ever with another sales story of impressive growth; this time a 9.5 per cent rise for the core UK business (4.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis) with 2.7 per cent growth from new stores. But it is the ‘pledge’ to take over the high streets and towns of the UK - as well as accusations of ‘slashing’ fees to construction suppliers - that has caught the eye.
In its preliminary full year results for the 53 weeks ended 28 February 2009, Tesco announced plans to open more than 8m sq ft of new group space this year - including 75 per cent outside the UK.
International expansion aside, a breakdown for the UK shows that new space for the next financial year will be equivalent to an additional 6.4 per cent of sales area.
This year (2008/9) it opened a total of 2.0m sq ft of new sales area, of which 362,000 sq ft was in store extensions, principally for Extra. It opened another 11 Extra hypermarkets - six from extensions to existing stores and five new stores, bringing the total to 177, with a further 15 planned this year.
Extra now represents 40 per cent of our total sales area. It also opened 21 new superstores and 125 new Express stores, bringing the overall total number of Tesco stores to 2,282.
After confirming its stores generate sales of £1bn a week, news also emerged that it has moved to cement its place as the UK’s leading retailer by starting a trial of a new smaller store format in Scotland.
The stores - designed to meet the discount/value sector’s retailers head on - will trade off a footprint of around 15,000 sq ft.
The Henderson Group, owners of convenience retail brand Eurospar in Northern Ireland, has opened a second ‘Store of the Future’, a 6,000 sq ft outlet in Bangor, County Down.
The ‘Store of the Future’ has been built using Henderson’s low carbon blueprint, and will provide a template for new and refurbished stores.
Through a combination of measures to save energy, the store’s carbon footprint is 28 per cent less than an equivalent store built in 2006.
These measures will also deliver 22 per cent savings for the Group’s stores’ energy bill based on 2006 baselines.
Henderson’s has put aside around £14 million for expansion in 2009.
Separtely, symbol group Spar is to open the first Eurospar in England next month. Tates, a retail division of wholesaler A F Blakemore, which distributes for Spar in the Midlands and parts of Wales will open two stores: a 5,000 sq ft outlet in Nottingham; and a 6,800 sq ft one in Sheffield.
Midcounties Co-op announced record profits up 35 per cent to £16.2m (£11.9m, 2007/8). The growth was generated primarily from food sales, which were up 7.2 per cent.
The German retailers says that year-on-year growth in shopper numbers for the 12 weeks to March 22 rose 16.3 per cent.
Sales for January and Feburary rose 16.8 per cent; with shopper numbers up 12.2 per cent.
The news was released following the grocer’s opening of its 400th store in Exeter, which takes its branch portfolio in the UK and Ireland to 467.
Aldi’s group managing director says the business will invest £200m this year to reach 500 stores including the refurbishment of 36 and will look to gain market share with more price cuts as it bids for the crown of the cheapest supermarket basket.


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BISHOP, Calif. — Pestmaster Services announced the renovation and relaunching of its company website, www.pestmaster.com.
Pestmaster’s new state-of-the-art website was designed to make it easier for customers to learn about Pestmaster’s service offerings, including its green services. In addition, consumers will be better able to locate local Pestmaster franchisees in their area and many customers will have access to online bill pay.
“Already we’ve received great feedback on the look and feel of the site, and are pleased at the ease with which our customers can access the information they need and search out Pestmaster locations in their area,” said Pestmaster’s Adrienne Chandler.
The look of the company’s new website is innovative and fresh, fitting considering Pestmaster Services continues to be an innovator after more than 30 years in the pest services industry. “We’re very excited about the relaunch of our website, and feel confident that it will bring a new level of user friendliness to our online marketing efforts.”


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CONSUMER ALERT: STUDENT LOAN DEBT SCAMS INCREASING
LITTLE ROCK – Student loan debt can be overwhelming to some consumers already riddled with debt from mortgages and credit card bills. The federal government says student loan debt is the single largest form of consumer debt, aside from mortgages. According to a recent report the average student will have amassed $29,000 in student loans before leaving college.
That makes the industry ripe for scams and fraud. Some Arkansas consumers have received mailers from a for-profit entity claiming that the entity can help consolidate or defer student loan debt. Those mailed solicitations fail to mention that the services offered at a cost of hundreds of dollars are often available for free. Further, the for-profit entities most likely could not do everything they promise, anyway.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel issued this consumer alert today to encourage consumers with outstanding student loan debt to do research and be aware of scams.
“Scammers will seek any opportunity to take advantage of someone, and we are increasingly seeing more examples of how that applies to student loans,” McDaniel said. “It is best to remember that a borrower should never have to pay for the assistance they may need. Programs are available for those who need relief, and those programs can be accessed for free.”
The mailer that some Arkansans have received state that consumers may receive “total forgiveness” of student loans, or may have the opportunity to have lower monthly payments or lower interest rates. The solicitation advertises a “student loan consolidation and payment forgiveness program.”
McDaniel said both the Arkansas Department of Higher Education and the Arkansas Student Loan Authority have received complaints about the solicitation in recent weeks.
The company seeks between $400 and $800 to provide their services. However, the company and other similar businesses fail to disclose that consumers can get similar help from government programs free of charge. McDaniel encouraged consumers to contact the U.S. Department of Education (studentaid.ed.gov) or the Arkansas Student Loan Authority (www.asla.info) for more information.
Last year, the National Consumer Law Center reported on an array of problems related to student loan debt relief services. In the report, the center said many companies mischaracterized federal government programs as their own. The center said that, at a minimum, companies did not prominently disclose their programs are actually federal government programs that can be accessed at no cost. Many companies also violated multiple state and federal consumer protection laws, the report found.
In addition, the center found that companies charge an initial rate of up to $1,600 in some cases, with ongoing service fees of up to $50 a month. Further, they offered a “one-size-fits-all” approach of loan consolidation, although that might not necessarily be best for some borrowers. They focused more on sales than on actually counseling consumers, and they discouraged borrowers from handling their own cases.
For more information about this or other consumer-related issues, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at (800) 482-8982, or visit the division’s website, www.GotYourBackArkansas.org.


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Yesterday we published an article that Japanese Economy is expected to benefit out of the growth in Bitcoin. While continuing our research we found out that the growth in Bitcoin could add around 0.3% to the Japanese GDP.
Kazuki Miyamoto and Yoshiyuki Suimon, two Nomura analysts have recently revealed that the meteoric rise in the value of Bitcoin could contribute by 0.3% to the GDP growth figure of Japan. A recent note released by them pointed out that the “wealth effect” of bitcoin holders in Japan is most likely to hike up the rate of consumer spending which in turn shall have a positive effect on the nation’s GDP figure. The most interesting feature about the note released is that economists and analysts have taken the assumption that bitcoin is devoid of much connectivity with other financial institutions and also quite smaller in terms of market capitalisation for having any significant effect on the real-world economy. Bitcoin is accepted as a medium of payment by only three out of the top 500 online retailers.
Also Read: Top Global Companies Accepting Bitcoins
Traditional financial institutions have embarked on the journey towards crypto enlightenment very recently by introducing its clients with crypto world. CME Group and CBOE have already introduced bitcoin futures and Goldman Sachs is soon to open a crypto trading desk to benefit most out of this growing phenomenon. CBOE has even also filed 6 Bitcoin ETF’s Applicationto US Regulator Securities and Exchange Commission.
Users of crypto exchanges such as bitFlyer and Bitfinex have starting making leveraged bets on the value of bitcoin. Amidst criticism of Bitcoin being extremely volatile in nature, there’s no denying the fact that the holders of the same at the beginning of 2017 have surely come off richer as the value of their investment pumped up rhetorically. The analysts said that, “the scale of this increase in assets can hardly be ignored.”
The “wealth effect” in economics refer to a measurable hike in economic activity which is triggered by rise in the price of assets by making consumers feel richer which is evident when they boost up spending.
This became all the more pronounced during the acute credit crisis caused in 2008 making homeowners feel wealthier as property prices kept on soaring to record heights. As their house properties started climbing up the value ladder, those consumers increased their propensity to purchase with the spare cash they had in hands juicing the whole economy. Bitcoin is highly popular in the land of rising sun with 3.7 million bitcoins being owned by 1 million Japanese nationals as revealed by Nomura estimates. Miyamoto and Suimon have calculated that the wealth effect of such holdings could pave the path for an extra consumption worth $851 million. Nomura announced that the market cap of bitcoin which was traded in yen had hiked up to $4.52 billion within Christmas Day thus helping the Japanese holders showcase an annual rise in asset value by $3 billion.
“Generally speaking, rises in asset values often result in a rise in consumer spending too, known as the wealth effect. In this report, we estimate the wealth effect from unrealized gains on Bitcoin trading by Japanese investors since the start of FY17, and estimate a potential boost to consumer spending of ¥23.2-96.0bn. Moreover, the fact that the rise in Bitcoin prices was concentrated in 2017 Q4 could result in the wealth effect materializing in 2018 Q1, and if that is the case, we estimate a potential boost to real GDP growth on an annualized q-q basis of up to about 0.3ppt (¥96.0bn / ¥130trn × 4),” read out the Nomura announcement.
The basis of their computation is derived from an array of historical researches conducted on the wealth effect of asset rises on the Japanese economy. Although the analysts did not reveal but the data sheet clearly pronounced that rising Bitcoin price could also become detrimental to the country’s economy if volatility does not cease in days to come and the price bubble ultimately bursts.
KryptoMoney.com publishes latest news and updates about Bitcoin, Blockchain Technology , Cryptocurrencies and upcoming ICO’s.
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National Weed Appreciation Day!
News of the Day:
+ Pharrell Williams will take his first try at musical theater. The project, titled Atlantis, will bring a Romeo and Juliet-type love story to Pharrell's childhood home in Virginia Beach. The production is sure to be a hit, with Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) as director.
+ Millennials are shopping with a nostalgic eye, according to a recent study. Shopping mall favorites Urban Outfitters and Hot Topic have seen significant traffic from millennial shoppers, especially after UO's return to heavy retro branding and Hot Topic aesthetics showing up on the runway at NYFW during recent seasons. Considering other favorites like Bebe and BCBG are closing store doors, we're happy to see that some shall survive.
+ Cat ladies (and gentleman), rejoice! It turns out that your cat truly does love you (and, believe it or not, possibly even more than food). Oregon State University published a study this past Friday in which they found that approximately half of the kitties studied preferred human interaction to food. So, cats can be just as tight with their human BFFs as "man's best friend." Take that, pretentious dog people.
+ Sia joined the cast of Sesame Street this past weekend to sing a song about songs. The singer trimmed the bangs of her famous wig and donned a red clown nose for the uber-adorable ode to the letter "S."
+ Sufjan Stevens released the first peek of his project with Bryce Dessner of The National. "Saturn" is the first single from the solar system-inspired album, Planetarium, to be released on June 9. Watch the unearthly video below.
Deal of the Day
Fashion meets function with this new collab. Brompton Bicycles have teamed up with the Cambridge Satchel Company to bring three new bike satchels (aka "batchels"), in three colorways: Lagoon blue, Turkish green, and oxblood. The bags attach right to the front of the compact bike, which can be bought with the bike in store or separately online.
Advice of the Day:
“Normal is not something to aspire to, it’s something to get away from.” —Jodie Foster
GIF of the Day:


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Consumers and businesses around the globe will pour a combined $2.1 trillion into new computers and related gadgets in the coming year, up 5.7% from 2012. That’s according to IT research firm IDC, which recently came out with its tech sector forecast for the coming year.
The IDC report also highlighted other trends that will shape the IT business in the coming 12 months. We’ll look at two of these below, including ways that investors can profit. Tomorrow, we’ll look at two more.
2013 Tech Trend #1: Mobile Device Dominance Continues
IDC says mobile devices will continue to be a huge component of tech spending growth next year. The firm sees smartphone and tablet sales rising 20% from 2012. In all, they will account for 20% of total IT sales. If you strip out mobile devices, next year’s forecast growth in IT spending shrinks from 5.7% to just 2.9%.
There are a wide range of companies that will continue to benefit from skyrocketing mobile device sales. The most obvious ones are Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL), maker of the iPhone and iPad; Google (NasdaqGS: GOOG), creator of the Android operating system and owner of Motorola Mobility; and even beleaguered Research in Motion (NasdaqGS: RIMM), if it is able to successfully launch its long-awaited BlackBerry 10 devices early in the year.
However, there are lots of other ways to profit, as well. For instance, you could buy shares of companies that make components for these ever-popular gadgets. One firm with strong growth prospects is Qualcomm (NasdaqGS: QCOM).
The company operates through two divisions: Qualcomm CDMA Technologies designs and sells chipsets that are used in a wide variety of devices, while Qualcomm Technology Licensing owns patents for mobile communications.
In its latest quarter, Qualcomm’s revenue rose 18%, to $4.9 billion from $4.1 billion a year ago. Earnings per share jumped 18%, to $0.73 from $0.62. Without unusual items, the company earned $0.89 a share. Both figures topped analysts’ estimates of $0.82 a share of earnings on $4.7 billion of revenue.
As Investing Daily’s John Persinos pointed out in the December 12, 2012, issue of Personal Finance, the company recently said that it expects to grow its revenue and EPS at a combined annualized growth rate of 10% over the next five years.
2013 Tech Trend #2: More Users Look to the Cloud
IDC sees a continued move toward cloud computing—where applications are stored on centralized servers and accessed through a network (often the Internet).
Cloud computing offers a range of benefits. For example, by farming out data services to a cloud provider, businesses save the cost of building and maintaining costly IT resources themselves. As well, the cloud lets companies make better use of their resources because they can purchase applications on an as-needed basis. Cloud computing can also reduce IT issues that can lower productivity.
One trend that IDC highlighted in the report is the growth of software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, which it sees grabbing big slices of most of major software markets by 2015. SaaS firms provide software to customers over the Internet; users typically access it on a subscription basis through their web browsers. One of the best-known SaaS providers on the business side is Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM).
The growth of cloud computing, along with overall increased investment in corporate data centers, will be a big growth area for networking companies like Cisco Systems (NasdaqGS: CSCO). The company is one of the world’s biggest makers of Internet-based networking products, including switches and routers.
Cisco continues to report improved results. In its latest quarter, revenue rose 5.5%, to $11.9 billion from $11.3 billion a year ago. Earnings increased 17.7%, to $2.1 billion, or $0.39 a share, from $1.8 billion, or $0.33. On an adjusted basis, Cisco earned $0.48 a share. The latest results beat the Street’s forecast of $0.46 a share in earnings on $11.77 billion of revenue.
The company is also a frequent buyer of its own stock: in the latest quarter, it spent $1.8 billion to repurchase 108 million shares at an average price of $16.62. It still has $5.9 billion remaining on its current authorization. Quarterly dividends of $0.14 a share yield 2.8% on an annualized basis.
Tomorrow, we’ll take an in-depth look at two more major tech trends for 2013, as well as the stocks that are set to reap the greatest benefits.
What do you think of this article? Please post your feedback in the “comments” section below!


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The Apple iPhone 5 uses Apple’s latest and fastest mobile operating system, ( iOS6). It also has a triple core PowerVR SGX 543MP3 graphics chip and a dual core 1.3GHz ...
By Betsy Fallwell If it were up to my husband, the dishes would never make it from the sink to the dishwasher; clothes would remain in the dryer in perpetuity; and, most importantly, we’d still be paying a 6.75% interest rate on our mortgage. When interest rates on home loans started falling in late 2008, [...]
Summer is just around the corner, and soon teenagers will be looking for summer jobs. If you’re the parent of a teen, and you don’t want to see her spending the summer mindlessly flipping burgers and running a cash register, take the time now to think up some business ideas. Or if you’re a teenager [...]
As expected, Apple has released on September the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever, its the iPhone 5 that comes with the most advanced mobile operating system ( iOS 6 ). Whether you’re an apple loyal or not, its pretty obvious that the iPhone 5 has enough distinction as opposed its predecessor and competitors to stand [...]
Without a doubt, Apple iPhones are stunning and are very consistent in its ability to change the way we live our lives. But are we getting the right carrier for our iPhones to its fullest? Choosing the right carrier for your iphone depends on you but why people are getting plans for Apple iPhones at [...]
The Apple iPhone 5 release has taken fans into a storm. But we didn’t expect this funny skit from Saturday Night Live coming. Watch this video below and laugh your heart out!
After the much anticipated release of iPhone 5 in the market a few weeks ago, Apple is back in the market to release a new version of iPad which will come smaller this time. Apple will officially announce the new Apple iPad Tuesday to show that it has a “little more” to show. There are [...]
Apple has recently released iPhone 5 on September with massive changes most especially its larger screen, faster internet speed and new configurations. Sales were also massive with a reported of over 5 million units sold in its first three days, beating its predecessor iPhone 4s with it sales although lower than what was expected by [...]
Does it make sense to get an iPhone insurance? We know that getting an insurance is one of the most unglamorous things to do, so should you consider getting one? For a phone? An Apple iPhone, however wonderful it is, takes a lot of money to own. That is why aside from enjoying the gadget [...]
Steve Jobs has touched the lives of millions of people around the world by being an innovator, the creative genius and visionary behind the most successful products today, and a friend. His endless creativity and desire to challenge and shake the status quo made him one of the most important figures of this era. It [...]


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All forms of Guinness – including draft, cans, and bottles – are now suitable for vegans.
Guinness used to be filtered with isinglass (fish swim bladders) but the company announced back in 2015 that it would be using implementing a new filtration system that was veg-friendly.
By April 2017, draft Guinness was suitable for vegans – but bottles and cans still contained isinglass.
In a statement, Guinness manufacturer Diageo said: “Our new filtration process has removed the use of isinglass as a means of filtration and vegans can now enjoy a pint of Guinness.”
According to Diego, the recipe hasn’t changed – just the filtration method.


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Perhaps the most humane way to go about cooking is to keep tasting what you’re preparing – checking how salty, spicy or sugary what we’re making helps us get a better grasp of the process and the final dish. Cambridge University has gone a step further by training a robot to taste food as it cooks. The latter part is not uncommon – robots and machines have been cooking for years now; but the former has sparked a small revolution. The ‘tasting robot’ has a growing fanbase and for all the right reasons!
What did the robot taste while cooking?
The robot we are talking about here had already been trained to make egg omelets. All it needed now was the ‘sense’ of taste, provided to it by researchers at Cambridge University. The chef robot tasted nine variations of scrambled eggs and tomatoes at three stages of the chewing process. This was because the taste and texture of a dish changes as we chew. For example, when we bite into a fruit, juices are released. This in turn helps us secrete saliva and digestive enzymes that alter our perception of the taste of the fruit. In the same way, the robot tasted the scrambled eggs and tomatoes at three stages, inferring and accurately accounting for its saltiness.
How on earth was a robot able to taste food?
The tasting robot doesn’t have a tongue, but that does not matter. To imitate the taste testing process of humans, the researchers attached a probe to the robot’s arm. This probe acted as a salinity sensor, a tongue, and the chef was able to ‘taste’ the preparations. Once the robot tasted in grid-like fashion, it returned the reading in as little as a few seconds. After that, the chef robot produced taste maps of different dishes.
What was the need of creating a tasting robot?
The obvious question when you hear of a robot tasting food is but what was the need?. Clearly, it’s not as if the robot can enjoy or eat the food it’s preparing. But the imitation of the tasting process practiced by humans will in turn enable the tasting robot to be a better chef. Researchers claim that the robot’s ability to taste improves its cooking skills because it can see the difference in food as it’s chewed and its texture changes. Co-author Grzegorz Sochacki also suggests that it’s important the robots are able to taste the food they are involved in the making of. After all, the robot needs to know how well it’s doing. Moreover, the dishes the tasting robot chef prepares can be altered to individual tastes, so it’s given that every single plate of food will turn out tasting perfect. Then that’s one less thing for humans to focus on. Which is why we have assisting robots in the first place.
Who are the foodie researchers behind the tasting robot?
The researchers are members of Cambridge’s Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory run by Professor Fumiya Iida of the Department of Engineering. The paper that displayed the results was co-authored by Grzegorz Sochacki and Dr. Arsen Abdulali. The researchers had collaborated with domestic appliances manufacturer Beko.
The researchers hope to make the robot an even better taste-tester in the future, so that it can accurately detect the amount of spice, sugar and other flavors in a dish.
Did you like reading about this tasting robot? Here’s another chef robot who’s very popular for its omelettes!


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There’s something about cutting down your own tree. It’s an experience. Just like the Fraser fir and balsam, the Wolcyn Tree Farm, and family, continues to grow.
We all need to exercise, but it’s pretty easy to find an excuse to skip a workout if you don’t have a gym, or if you’re going to the wrong one. Whether basic, big box, or boutique — not all are created equal. Small health clubs like Snap and Anytime Fitness offer a no-frills workout. They never shut off the lights. “Obviously we’re open anytime. That’s 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, even on holidays.
Looking for a unique way to celebrate the holidays? The Dinner Detective is an interactive murder mystery dinner theater experience. Solve a hilarious murder case while you feast on dinner.
Like every other business in Excelsior, John Klick is preparing to open for the day. But there’s none like this in the area. It’s not just a brewery, and not just a bar. It’s a taproom! “It’s an awesome environment that a brewery can create all their own beers, they can only serve their own beers, you can’t serve hard alcohol, you can’t serve anybody else’s beer,” Klick said.
Derek Engler is in the third generation of the family that started Pilgrim Dry Cleaners in Brooklyn Park. “Pilgrim started in 1940 with my grandfather. It continued with his daughter, my mother, Bonnie Engler. I came on in 2009,” Derek said. He says clothes are cleaned in a solvent-based method that’s green, organic and environmentally friendly.
Eighteen-thousand kids brought the energy to St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center Wednesday for We Day. Those who earned their way in through service saw celebs like Magic Johnson, rocked out with today’s hottest musicians and heard inspirational stories from speakers like J.R. Martinez, a soldier injured in Iraq who turned tragedy into strength. “I am where I am because of the support that I received from my community, and that empowered me not to hide behind a curtain, but instead show the world my scars and be proud of them,” Martinez said.
Back in the day, every town had to have a meat market. They were a necessity, says Ryan Schmidt, owner of Schmidt’s Meat Market in Nicollet. “Meat markets, butcher shops in small towns used to service a 10-mile area of the farmers that surrounded that,” Schmidt said. “They didn’t have a cold storage, so they would rent lockers from butcher shops and meat markets.” Nowadays, only some towns are lucky enough to still have one.
This Friday, little ghosts and goblins will ring your door bell looking for a trick or treat. But if it’s real scares you’re looking for, there’s one place in Minnesota that is the best. This isn’t the kind of place that will make you jump with fright, but it may make your skin crawl.
Owners of the iPhone 6 registered more than 1 million credit cards on Apple Pay in the first three days the service was offered. The app lets people pay for goods with their phone. In theory, when enough stores sign up, you won’t have to carry a credit card. For many people, cash has already been replaced by credit.
The name is simple, but the insides aren’t. Minneapolis’ Costume Rentals holds one-of-a-kind costumes you can’t find anywhere else. It’s a non-descript building in Northeast Minneapolis. The type you’d drive right by.
Everyone dreams of turning their hobby into a job, but not many people get to do it or are brave enough to. But one young lady took a leap of faith and turned her knitting hobby into a thriving business. Her name is Jessie McShane, founder of Wool and Whiskey. In Minnesota, we fight the cold any way we can. A hot drink, a blaze in the fireplace — or maybe some wool and some whiskey?
The football field at NRHEG High School in New Richland, surrounded by a sea of corn, is home to the best cheer team in Minnesota. The NRHEG Cheer Team’s 20 members practice up to five days a week, sometimes twice per day. “It might be a little cheesy, but we’re definitely like a family,” said cheer team member Jessica Nafe.
We’ve all heard about staging homes–bringing in special furniture to make the house more attractive and marketable.
But some upscale homes add people to the equation, and if you’re willing to think outside the box, it’s an opportunity to live a luxury lifestyle at a fraction of the cost.
When baking the best apple pie in the entire state of Minnesota, there must be some kind of secret ingredient. Pine Tree Apple Orchard has been in the Jacobson family since the 1950s, and today it remains a family business — run by six Jacobson siblings. “There’s something about this piece of ground,” said Bill Jacobson.
In the past, brick and mortar stores like Target and Wal-Mart have chased Amazon.com’s low pricing. But according to Wells Fargo study, that changed in the last six months. University of St. Thomas Marketing Instructor Jon Seltzer says all three are stepping up, but in different ways.
Growing up, there’s something really special about your bedroom. But for those who battle life-threatening illnesses, their spaces feel more medical than youthful. The charity Special Spaces Minneapolis takes those rooms and transforms them into dream rooms with the help of donations and volunteers.
Whatever you like in a landscape, we are lucky enough to have thousands of spectacular views in Minnesota. And if it’s falls colors you’re looking for, there’s one spot you keep ranking the very best. For the second year in a row, your votes sent us to Taylors Falls for the best view in Minnesota.
Are you ready for some scares? And we are talking real scares. The Haunted Basement at The Soap Factory in Minneapolis is one of the most frightening haunted houses in the state, if not the Midwest.
In the town of New Ulm, Minn., you might notice a slight German influence. OK, a lot of German influence! If you want to know New Ulm’s Oktoberfest and why it’s the best, just look for the guy in lederhosen. His name is George Glotzbach, and he’s as German as they come. Ask him anything you want, but be ready for more than a short story.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, unless it’s game day Sunday. Then you need to kick off your morning with a pregame brunch. As the football season starts, we went out in search of the “Best of Minnesota” for game day brunch.
If you appreciate architecture and turn-of-the century style, you’ll want to head to St. Paul this weekend. The Summit Hill House Tour has been voted one of the best historical home tours in the nation.
Rosemount High School is known for their fine arts, and music in particular. Their marching band has played at the Rose Parade in California, for the world-champion Minnesota Lynx and even at last year’s We Day at the Xcel Energy Center.
Matt Brickman has taken WCCO viewers to see the Best of Minnesota: A lot of great food, interesting places, but most of all, interesting people.
WCCO-TV has announced today that Matt Brickman and Kim Johnson will join Jason DeRusha and Jamie Yuccas on WCCO 4 News This Morning, Minnesota’s most-watched morning newscast.
With the State Fair starting Thursday, we all know that means summer is almost over and it’s nearly time to go back to school. But you can make the transition easier if you plan ahead. Local parenting and child development expert Denise Daniels has some ways parents can make back to school easier for kids.


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NEW DELHI — Apparel factories across India will close down today, the first such strike in the country’s clothing industry, to protest rising domestic cotton prices.
The industry is seeking a total ban on exports of cotton yarn, the primary material used in the industry, which employs some 80 million Indians indirectly. In April this year, in response to pressure from the industry, the government banned raw cotton exports. Although that ban was later lifted, further export restrictions were put in place in October.
A Stella McCartney sketch of a custom dress made from protein-based silk in partnership with biotech lab Bolt Threads. The dress will be displayed at The Museum of Modern Art's upcoming design exhibition, "Items: Is Fashion Modern?"


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Cheapest 5G iPhone ever? Next-gen Apple iPhone SE may launch in early 2022 - check price
Next-gen Apple iPhone SE is on the cards says a tipster and he says it is going to shock and awe with its price.
Apple back in 2020 launched the much-awaited iPhone SE (2020) smartphone. The phone was a successor to the first-generation iPhone SE that was launched back in 2017. Now, a new report has revealed that there may well be a third-generation iPhone SE smartphone, the iPhone SE 2022.
That's because the latest set of reports suggest that Apple will launch the iPhone SE 3, which is popularly called the iPhone SE 2022, in the first half of 2022. Noted Apple tipster, Ming Chi-Kuo (via FrontPageTech), has said that the upcoming iPhone SE 2020 successor will feature an upgraded processor and that it will come with support for 5G connectivity.
‘Cheapest 5G iPhone ever'
Kuo says that the upcoming iPhone SE 2022 will be the ‘cheapest 5G iPhone ever'. It is worth noting that as of now, iPhone 12 Mini is the cheapest 5G iPhone. It retails at $699 in the US and ₹69,990 in India. If Kuo's report is indeed correct, the iPhone SE 2022 will come with a price tag of less than 70 grand. On the other hand, it would be pricier than the iPhone SE 2020, which comes at a starting price of ₹39,900 in India.
iPhone SE 2022 Design
This report follows another report by the Apple analyst, wherein he said that the next-generation iPhone SE, that is the iPhone SE 2022, will be almost similar in design to the existing iPhone SE model, that is the iPhone SE 2020, which in turn is closer in design to the iPhone 8.
iPhone SE 2022 Specs
At the same time, DSCC analyst Ross Young had shared the specifications of the upcoming iPhone SE model. He had said that the iPhone SE 2020 successor will be released in 2022 and that it would come with a 4.7-inch LCD display. In addition to this, the analyst had said that the iPhone SE 2022 will feature support for 5G connectivity with sub-6GHz band.
Goodbye notch, hello punch
Additionally, the tipster had said that Apple would ditch the notch in the iPhone SE 2020 successor and opt for a punch-hole display design instead.
Separately, reports had indicated that Apple would launch the iPhone SE Plus as a ‘pro variant' to the iPhone SE 2020. But that didn't happen either. As of now, all these details are in the air as Apple hasn't confirmed its future plans yet. That said, we'll keep an eye out for details.
Follow HT Tech for the latest tech news and reviews , also keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


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Pioneering blackcurrant research from University professor wins big at sports nutrition awards
PIONEERING research into the effects of New Zealand blackcurrants on sports and exercise partly undertaken in part by a University of Chichester academic has been recognised at an international awards ceremony.
Professor Mark Willems has published widely on the beneficial effects of the berries together with sports and health supplement makers CurraNZ. Their supplement won joint first prize for Best Sport Nutrition Product at the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance Awards 2021.
It was also awarded Best Post Workout Product of the Year, celebrating the most successful sports nutrition product for consumers looking to ensure their muscles properly recover after a workout.
The judges said: “Botanicals and plant derivatives deserve much more recognition than they currently do in the sports nutrition space. CurraNZ is backed by a remarkable amount of high-quality studies, and is presented very well on the Internet.”
Most of the research is carried out at the University of Chichester with CurraNZ, an extract made from New Zealand blackcurrants and provided by Health Currancy Ltd, a UK-based business with global aspirations.
Another judge commented: “CurraNZ is a great, innovative ingredient that is well-researched and applicable for various sports nutrition applications. A super interesting product and a clear effort from the entrant to back up its claims with evidence”.
Prof Mark Willems, who specialises in Exercise Physiology, has been dedicated to researching effects during exercise but also at rest which includes a focus on supplementation including New Zealand blackcurrants and Matcha green tea.
Speaking on the research, he said: “Blackcurrants grown in New Zealand have particularly high levels of anthocyanin which, when taken, can widen the blood vessels and improve flow. We showed for the first time the beneficial effects for endurance athletes.”
Part of the study tested athletes to measure whether blackcurrants lower lactate accumulation in the blood and if it improves cardiovascular function and performance. The research findings so far have shown lowered lactate accumulation, improved exercise performance and cardiovascular function which could enhance recovery from exercise.
Prof Willems added: “Our research findings are in our teaching material for students at our University. There is still more to come on the advantages of intake of New Zealand blackcurrants.”


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Beauty Report: Word of PPR Bid Boosts Clarins’ Stock… Neutrogena Signs Diane Lane
Speculation surrounding a possible takeover of Groupe Clarins by PPR percolated again, causing Clarins' stock to close up 8 percent to 64.71 euros, or $94.86 at current exchange, on the Bourse here Monday.
PARIS — Speculation surrounding a possible takeover of Groupe Clarins by PPR percolated again, causing Clarins' stock to close up 8 percent to 64.71 euros, or $94.86 at current exchange, on the Bourse here Monday.
Clarins' stock rose 13.4 percent at its highest level during the course of trading that day.
An article published Monday in the weekly financial newsletter La Lettre de l'Expansion states a deal should be formalized between PPR and Clarins before the end of this month. It adds that the manufacturing of Clarins' fragrances, including the Thierry Mugler and Azzaro brands, could be integrated into that of YSL Beauté, PPR's beauty division.
Pierre Milet, Clarins' secretary general, would not comment on the report. A PPR spokeswoman also declined comment.
Clarins has been ample fodder for the rumor mill of late, keeping its stock on an upward trajectory. And PPR is repeatedly said to be a suitor. (In October, for instance, it was reported that PPR might buy up to a 30 percent stake in Clarins.) But PPR is not the only possible interested party to be named in the recent past.
Rumors have circulated that L'Oréal might bid for Clarins. Just last week, the French beauty giant's announced intention to sell approximately 1.8 percent of its share capital in pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis (potentially freeing up an estimated 1.55 billion euros, or $2.3 billion) started tongues wagging again. And, as reported, speculation resurfaced in September that L'Oréal might bid for Clarins, causing a lather of excitement in the market.
Procter & Gamble Co., the Estée Lauder Cos., Shiseido and Beiersdorf AG are among other company names being bandied about by industry sources as possible Clarins acquirers.
The subject of a Clarins takeover remains a perennial market favorite. The company is viewed as an attractive takeover target due to its niche positioning.
Rumors of a Clarins buyout surged this summer, following the death of Clarins founder Jacques Courtin-Clarins this March, since it was well known he opposed the sale of his company. Other fuel has been added to the rumor mill, since Clarins has come out with somewhat disappointing numbers recently. Last month, Clarins reiterated that its operating margin will remain under pressure in the second half of this year. Its business in the U.S. remains difficult, and the Clarins brand presidents in New York and Paris recently exited the company.The Courtin-Clarins family controls 65.1 percent of Clarins' capital and 78.6 percent of its voting rights. The family has steadfastly maintained in the past that the company is not for sale. — Jennifer Weil Neutrogena Signs Diane Lane
NEW YORK — Neutrogena has signed actress Diane Lane to be an ambassador for the brand.
Lane began appearing in TV commercials for the brand Monday, and her first spot featured Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Rejuvenator, a treatment appliance designed to soften and firm the skin.
Lane joins Jennifer Garner, Kelly Preston, Hayden Panettiere, Gabrielle Union, Susie Castillo and Vanessa Anne Hudgens as representatives of Los Angeles-based Neutrogena, which is owned by health care giant Johnson & Johnson and markets acne, makeup, sun, skin and body care products in the mass market.
Jim Colleran, president of Neutrogena U.S., said in a statement, "Diane Lane epitomizes our mission through her candid, relevant voice and innate beauty."
Lane, 42, made her first stage appearance at age six and was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the 2002 film "Unfaithful." Next year, she will appear in "Untraceable" (January) and "Nights in Rodanthe" (June).
In August 2006, Lane appeared in print ads for Procter & Gamble-owned Pantene's Beautiful Lengths campaign of public service announcements to promote cancer awareness. Lane cut off 8 to 10 inches of her hair (the required length to make a wig) in July 2006 and donated it for a wig.
EXCLUSIVE: @tomford is opening its first-ever beauty store. The boutique, which opens November 20 in London’s Covent Gardens, was designed with the over-the-top glam Ford is known for. Read the full story on WWD.com, link in bio. #wwdbeauty #wwdnews (📷: Simon Wagner) #TomFordBeauty
New York-based DJ @harleyvnewton threw a party to celebrate the holiday collection of her dress and pajama line @hvn at the Ladurée Beverly Hills. It Girls @katebosworth, @rashidajones and more joined in on the fun, which included cocktails, croque monsieur sandwiches and a photo booth. #wwdfashion (📷: Owen Kolasinski/BFA.com)
For the holidays, @Burberry partnered with 20-year-old artist @blondeymccoy on a series of three outdoor murals in downtown Manhattan. The murals are McCoy’s interpretation of a Christmas eve party, the idea of charity and the spirit of family. His third mural, pictured here, is the most personal. The image depicts McCoy’s grandparents and father in London’s Trafalgar Square in the Seventies. “My work often features lots of sentimental objects.” #wwdeye
For spring 2018, designers applied bold colors and cartoonish motifs on everything from sneakers and belts to key chains. See all the top men’s accessories trends on WWD.com. #wwdtrends (📷: George Chinsee; Prop Styling by @rnasti; Market Editor: @luiscampuzano)
The @dior-sponsored @guggenheim international gala pre-party has a history of drawing cool-girl musical acts to serenade the crowd –– and last night was no exception. @haimtheband performed songs both new and old, and lured a star-studded audience with the likes of Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Mamoudou Athie and more. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)
In a partnership between the @metopera and the @englishnationalopera, “Marnie” was born. The opera, with costumes sponsored by @mrporterlive, is an adaptation of the 1961 thriller by Winston Graham. Arianne Phillips, who created the costumes, is no rookie: She’s styled Madonna for her tours and created costumes for a myriad of films in the past. Read WWD’s interview with Phillips, where she talks about her inspiration for the opera’s costumes on WWD.com #wwdfashion
@barneysnyc took a different approach to their holiday windows this year. Instead of Christmas decor, Barneys tapped @thehaasbrothers to tell a story of positivity, gratitude and inclusivity via heartwarming silliness and humor. “It’s about kids and it’s about coming together and being family and loving each other,” said Simon Haas. #wwdfashion (📷: @joshuascottphoto)
Beauty influencer @kandeejohnson makes her foray into hair care with a collaboration with @ogx_beauty — making it the first time that OGX has teamed up for a product creation. The collab includes shampoos and conditioners in three scents. At 39 and a mom, Johnson is a different profile than the emerging social media stars, but is considered one of the pioneers of the digital beauty influencer world. Read WWD’s interview with her on wwd.com, including the strangest beauty product she’s ever tried #wwdbeauty


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Well, Activision-Blizzard has just fired a gigantic warning shot towards NVIDIA by removing massive games from its just-launched game streaming service GeForce Now.
NVIDIA has announced that Activision-Blizzard have removed its entire catalog of games, something that includes massive favorites like the World of Warcraft franchise, the Call of Duty franchise, Overwatch, and more. NVIDIA said in a statement: "While unfortunate, we hope to work together with Activision Blizzard to reenable these games and more in the future".
It seems things have changed from the GeForce Now beta to the full launch, as NVIDIA was talking to the companies before its launch to make sure they were all good with their games being launched on its upcoming-but-now-launched game streaming service. It seems Activision-Blizzard could've made a last minute change, or screwed NVIDIA over completely. I don't think we'll ever know what happened here.
Activision-Blizzard had no issues with its games being played on GeForce Now during its beta, which now doesn't make sense that GeForce Now is open for millions of gamers around the world.
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Healthy vending machines, and the companies that operate them, on the rise
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The variety and sales of healthy snack foods have been on the rise nationwide in recent years, and two different local companies are taking advantage consumers who are watching their waistline at the vending machines.
SmartBox and Two Smart Cookies LLC are both based in Jacksonville, both launched in 2012 and both offer a variety of healthy options like Stacy’s Pita Chips, Brother’s Fuji Apple Crisps, Annie’s Honey Bunny Grahams, Cliff Bars and Fiji Water.
In less than a year SmartBox has deployed 40 machines throughout Jacksonville in places like law firms, attorney offices and fitness centers. Twenty more are expected to be deployed within the next four weeks. By the end of 2013, company President Brandon Stallings expects to have as many 100 machines deployed in the Jacksonville area.
Stallings, who started his concept while still attending Florida State University and started deploying the machines last summer, said his ultimate goal is to expand the machines first throughout the state and eventually nationwide in a variety of venues that also include hospitals, schools and public facilities.
“At first we had to call people. Now we’ve got people calling us and emailing us. There’s a demand for the products in the market,” Stallings said. “This is where the market is headed.”
Christina Tillman said she co-founded Two Smart Cookies in the fourth quarter 2012 to give employers healthier snack time options. She’s targeting businesses in Northeast Florida that already have wellness initiative in place or are aware of the benefits of healthy nutrition in the workplace.
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A lawsuit by victims of the Newtown school shooting, seeking to hold liable the manufacturer of the Bushmaster AR-15 used in the massacre, will test the 2005 federal law designed to protect gun companies by using an exemption normally applied to car accident cases, reports the Hartford Courant. The lawsuit by families of nine students and adults killed and one surviving teacher who was shot several times by Adam Lanza will attempt to use what is known as the negligent entrustment exemption to the law. In a negligent entrustment case, a party can be held liable for entrusting a product, in this case a Bushmaster rifle, to another party who then causes harm to a third party,
“The court needs to decide whether they want to extend negligent entrustment from a retailer selling a gun to someone standing right in front of them to the theory that the manufacturer of the weapon is also responsible when the weapon they made is then sold by another party to a third person,” said Albany Law School Prof. Timothy Lytton. Lytton, who has written a book about the history of lawsuits against gun companies, said an example of negligent entrustment would be the sale of a weapon by a gun retailer to a suicidal person. A negligent entrustment lawsuit would claim the retailer should have known not to sell that person a gun. Extending that to the gun manufacturer is unprecedented. Because it has never before been brought before a court, it is difficult to predict what will happen, says Dennis Henigan, former vice president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.


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Business supply manufacturer collapses
Monday, October 6, 2014/
A New South Wales-based manufacturer of ecologically friendly products for workplaces has collapsed into administration.
Steven Gladman of Hall Chadwick was appointed as administrator of Ecoworkz Australia on October 1. The first meeting of creditors is scheduled to be held in Sydney on October 14.
Edwin Narayan of Hall Chadwick told SmartCompany Ecoworkz Australia is no longer trading, but it is unclear if other entities connected to the company are still trading.
Narayan says Hall Chadwick is yet to receive Ecoworkz’ accounts and so the administrators are unable to comment on the company’s turnover or the reasons for the collapse.
Ecoworkz produced cleaning and hygiene products for the industrial and hospitality industries, as well as a range of animal health products for the poultry and horse breeding industries and commercial horticulture and home garden products.
According to the company website, Ecoworkz was established in 2009 and had access to “the use of internationally-patented technology” in insect and disease control in a range of applications, including agriculture, organic insecticides, water treatment and waste recycling.
At one point the company had manufacturing facilities at Penrith and Castle Mountain at Quirindi and a joint venture with the Papua New Guinea government to distribute its products in the PNG industrial, horticultural, mining, agricultural and hospitality sectors.
The Ecoworkz website also states the company produced ecologically-friendly products “that have been successfully marketed under the labels of other, major companies and sold through leading retail stores”.
It is unclear when the company’s financial troubles began, with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission publishing a notice on December 17, 2013, that it proposed to deregister the company under section 601AB of the Corporations Act.
The notice gave ASIC permission to deregister the company on February 17, 2014, or two months after the publication of the notice.
According to the corporate watchdog, it will generally seek to deregister a company under section 601AB if the company has not paid its annual review fee for at least 12 months or has not responded to a company compliance notice within six months, has not lodged any other document in the last 18 months and ASIC has no reason to believe it is carrying on business.
But Narayan says it appears that matter “was taken care of” and the company was not deregistered as Hall Chadwick did not encounter any concerns when filing its documentation in relation to the company.
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Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, Nigeria’s most popular cross-dresser, has turned to social media to proudly display his Lekki Mansion, which apparently cost a whooping four hundred million naira.
He wrote, “Sharing the photo of the magnificent residence,”
I bought myself a smart home.
This is what a home of 400,000,000 in one of the best locations in Lagos.
Fans trooped to the comment section to celebrate with the cross-dresser but that did not also stop some fans from ‘catching cruise’ or trying to ask him if the house is really his own.
See some comments below;
pressyvivian wrote – Senior man , congratulations
doktorfabz wrote – Na 450m before now it’s 400m. Maybe later it’s going to be 350m
poshest_hope wrote – Wahala for who no get smart home o 😂 Thank God I have a smart phone. Na small small
evelyn____xx wrote – Believe anything you see online at your own risk. Especially from auntcle


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Jawbone has filed its third suit in two months against rivals Fitbit.
The fitness band manufacturer has filed a new claim against its principal competitor, this time with the International Trade Commission (ITC).
The latest suit follows similar charges in May and June, which claimed that Fitbit stole Jabone's secrets via newly-hired ex-employees and infringed on Jawbone's patents with its wearable fitness trackers.
The ITC claim is based on the same allegations, and seeks a ruling within 15 months. This could, in turn, expedite the other cases, filed in San Francisco Superior Court and US District Court respectively.
Jawbone is also pursuing a cease-and-desist order as part of the ruling, which would block Fitbit from importing fitness trackers or the components to manufacture them.
This ruling, if successful, could potentially force Fitbit out of business. It is also likely to affect the company's stock price, as this accusation comers just three weeks after Fitbit's IPO.
Emily Nuttall, IP and Litigation associate for Kemp Little, isn't surprised to see this kind of case being brought to court. "The wearable tech space is becoming an increasingly valuable and competitive one, which is reliant almost wholly on IP rights", she says.
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"It is perhaps unsurprising in that context that businesses with large but, arguably, vulnerable presences in the market are deciding to take aggressive action to enforce their IP".
"Jawbone's willingness to take such serious, public and formal action speaks volumes about its conviction in its cause, and also the damage that it foresees Fitbit doing to its business."
Nuttall went on to say that Jawbone may have to be careful about the veracity of its claims, stating that "If it transpires that Fitbit has done nothing more than produce a rival product, with no breach or infringement of Jawbone's IP, Jawbone may have some very serious questions to answer as to its motives; and may even be on the receiving end of its own lawsuit."
Adam Shepherd has been a technology journalist since 2015, covering everything from cloud storage and security, to smartphones and servers. Over the course of his career, he’s seen the spread of 5G, the growing ubiquity of wireless devices, and the start of the connected revolution. He’s also been to more trade shows and technology conferences than he cares to count.
Adam is an avid follower of the latest hardware innovations, and he is never happier than when tinkering with complex network configurations, or exploring a new Linux distro. He was also previously a co-host on the ITPro Podcast, where he was often found ranting about his love of strange gadgets, his disdain for Windows Mobile, and everything in between.
You can find Adam tweeting about enterprise technology (or more often bad jokes) @AdamShepherUK.


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Posted on November 7, 2014 – 9:45 am | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Industry News, Latest News | 2014 Topps Dynasty, autographs, baseball cards, MLB, Topps | Comments (1)
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor
Topps continues to tease what is its priciest single-card pack of baseball cards in the company’s history for a Nov. 19 release and here is a selection of new images released since the last time we checked in on the brand.
The brand is 2014 Topps Dynasty and its single-pack boxes are currently pre-selling somewhere in the $375 range online. Every card is an encased autograph or a cut autograph.(Click here for our First Look at the product.)
The company touts it as having “the most carefully curated subject list in trading card history” and as being the “most-premium Topps product of all time.”
Check out a gallery of images from Topps and let us know what you think … after the jump.
Read More »
Posted on November 6, 2014 – 9:01 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News, World Of Collectibles | Chicago Cubs, game-used bats, Kris Bryant, Michael Kennedy, Twitter | Comments (1)
It started with a simple question on Twitter last week — a question from a collector to a promising baseball prospect.
It ended on Thursday with a game-used bat in that collector’s hands.
The player? Chicago Cubs hopeful and Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Kris Bryant — one of the best prospects in the game today and a guy who hit 43 home runs and drove in 110 RBI this past season. The bat? A Chandler Model D24 Maple — signed and inscribed “To Mike” with a “Game-used 2014″ notation.
For Michael Kennedy, a 37-year-old collector from Las Vegas, it’s been a whirlwind of Twitter attention and interviews — and it all started because he went straight to the source, Bryant, to find out if an $850 game-used bat he was eyeing on eBay was truly real. The future Cub saw his tweet — and offered to send him a bat.
“I was stoked when Kris replied back. I was really just hoping he would say ‘Yeah that’s one of my bats from this year,'” Kennedy said Thursday night. “[Then] I would buy it and that would be the end of it. When he said he would just give me one I was floored.”
He’s a bit of a prospector as a collector — but the bat of this prospect isn’t going anywhere.
“I was just floored by his kindness and generosity. I honestly to this day can’t believe I own a bat that was part of his 43-home run season,” Kennedy said. “It’s by far my favorite item I own. I’ll never sell it. I’ve always been a fan and talked to Kris a few times. I’ve collected a bunch of his cards. I was lucky and my Blue 2014 Chrome auto graded BGS 10-10. Have his 2013 Bowman Draft auto and his Aflac as well.”
Posted on November 6, 2014 – 1:29 pm | Author: chrisolds
Auction News, Baseball, Basketball, Beckett Auction Services, Football, World Of Sports | Alabama football, Alabama-Auburn, Auburn Tigers, Beckett Auctions, BGS, BGS 10, Chicago Bulls, Chris Davis, derek jeter, game-used memorabilia, Goldin Auctions, Heritage Auctions, Iron Bowl, Michael Jordan, New York Yankees | Comments (0)
A Collegiate Shocker | Chris Davis’ 2013 Iron Bowl helmet
One of the most-outrageous finishes in college football the last few years can be found on the field of the 2013 Iron Bowl — aka the Alabama-Auburn rivalry. This helmet was worn by former Auburn Tiger Chris Davis, who is now a San Diego Charger, during his endzone-to-endzone shocker to win the game. College football fans can be rabid — especially in the SEC — and this helmet is a high-priced example when it hit the auction block via Goldin Auctions. It collected 21 bids and sold for $47,190.
Posted on November 5, 2014 – 4:58 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News | 2002 Bowman Chrome Draft, 2003 SP Authentic, 2011 Bowman Chrome Draft, 2012 Panini Golden Age, Ben Bradlee, BGS Diary, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Hideki Matsui, Jeremy Brown, Joe Panik, Moneyball, New York Yankees, Oakland A's, San Francisco Giants | Comments (10)
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor | Commentary
Card grading is big business for the companies involved as well as for many collectors and dealers who supplement their hobby or their business by slabbing.
The reasons collectors slab cards vary as much as their tastes in cardboard. Some, like myself, do it to primarily protect cards that they they value. Some do it to make it easier to sell — and potentially get more for their money. Some do it for their registries and their interest in pop reports. All of these things are valued in varying ways by various collectors.
For the last few months, I’ve submitted five cards a month to Beckett Grading Services to finally get some of the cards I like into slabs. Selecting which cards to submit has been easier said than done — and the results can be interesting, too. Today, I got back my batch of five cards from October, so I figured it might be a time to try creating a BGS Diary entry. See which five cards I decided to submit … after the jump.
Posted on November 5, 2014 – 4:16 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News | baseball awards, Beckett Baseball, Bowman Heritage, Clayton Kershaw, Grandstand, Great Lakes Loons, Los Angeles Dodgers, Panini America, Players Choice Awards, Topps, USA Baseball | Comments (0)
Baseball’s awards season began this week with the Players Choice Awards — a player vote that should help predict what’s coming with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America awards later this month.
This month’s Beckett Baseball cover star, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, picked up a record three awards this week, winning the NL’s Outstanding Pitcher, the Player of the Year award and the Marvin Miller Man of the Year award as well. No player has ever won three awards in a single year.
Here are my picks for five Kershaw cards to own …
Posted on November 5, 2014 – 12:58 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News, Pop Culture News | 2015 Topps Garbage Pail Kids, Garbage Pail Kids, Topps | Comments (3)
Topps is adding a touch of the national pastime to its Kids.
They’re the Garbage Pail Kids as the company revealed that it will be meshing baseball with those memorable characters from the non-sports world in 2015 Topps Garbage Pail Kids, which is set to arrive on March 18.
There will be three types of baseball-related stickers to be found regularly — All-Stars (past Kids found playing the game two per box), 10 Mascot stickers and 10 cards with nods to the 1985 Topps baseball design.
Posted on October 31, 2014 – 5:34 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Beckett Updates, Box Busters & Ripping Retail, Breaker Central, Latest News, Pop Culture News | Chris Fehn, Clown, Leaf Trading Cards, Panini America, Shawn Crahan, Slipknot | Comments (10)
Before metal band Slipknot hit the stage Friday night here in Dallas for the latest stop on their “Prepare for Hell” tour, there was one thing on the minds of two members from the Grammy-winning band and one of its photographers.
They wanted to visit Beckett Media.
Why? Because when they aren’t masked musicians putting on a show Shawn Crahan (aka Clown or No. 6) and Chris Fehn (aka No. 3) are serious baseball card collectors along with their creative cohort Bobby Tongs, who helps document things along the way.
How serious? Their tour just began last week and they’d already rocked a few card shops — so much so they had an extra room at the Dallas Ritz-Carlton Thursday night purely for pack-ripping. (Rock n’ roll!) Another example? Fehn carried four yet-to-be-scratched Topps redemption cards in his wallet, and he brought a box full of new pulls — some of which ended up in BGS slabs this afternoon. Meanwhile, Tongs got his 2014 Bowman Chrome Jose Abreu autograph slabbed — and it came back a Pristine 10. Clown brought with him a baseball signed by future Hall of Famer — and Rolling Stone photographer — Randy Johnson that will end up in a BGS balldome.
It’s not every day we get rock stars who have sold 16 million albums with a No. 1 album on the charts showing up at Beckett — and they talked cardboard, music and more for three-hours plus with everyone who was interested. We might have rocked their world — they left very happy — but they rocked ours, too, because they’re big collectors.
Here’s Beckett Baseball Editor Chris Olds ripping some wax and talking cards and music with No. 3 in our latest episode of Box Busters.
Posted on October 31, 2014 – 10:30 am | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Industry News, World Of Collectibles | Alex Gordon, SB Nation | Comments (0)
If you’re a veteran collector or a regular reader here on Beckett.com, you probably know all about the Alex Gordon Topps cards from 2006 that should not exist.
SB Nation takes a more in-depth look at the cards via a former Topps employee.
“I was working a low-level editorial job at Topps at the time,” wrote David Roth, “and watched The Great Alex Gordon Destruction of 2006 happen out of the corner of my eye, while pretending to do other work. What I remember about the experience was everyone being extremely nervous.”
Check out this piece by Roth here.
Posted on October 30, 2014 – 9:36 am | Author: Brian Fleischer
Baseball, Beckett News, Beckett Updates, Latest News | 2014 World Series, Bowman, Donruss, Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants, Topps | Comments (5)
Coming as a surprise to no one, Madison Bumgarner culminated his outstanding 2014 postseason in fitting fashion – by collecting the 2014 World Series MVP trophy. Bumgarner finished the postseason with 4-1 record with 45 strikeouts and a 1.03 ERA. In the World Series, he was 2-0 with 0.43 ERA and a save in the Series clinching seventh game.
Bumgarner cards have been smoking hot for the last several weeks, as collectors have been clamoring to add some Bumgarner cardboard to their collections. But with nearly 1,500 cards in the Beckett Online Price Guide, sifting through the secondary market looking for Bumgarner gold can be a daunting task.
Below, you’ll find five key Madison Bumgarner cards. Some are autographed, some are not. Some are expensive, some are inexpensive. All are worthy of a spot in your collection.
Posted on October 29, 2014 – 10:21 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News | 2014 World Series, Giants win World Series, Kansas City Royals, Madison Bumgarner, MLB, San Francisco Giants, Topps | Comments (0)
If there were any questions about who was The Star of this year’s World Series, this guy answered it Wednesday night.
If there were any questions about the newest household name in MLB as a result of this year’s World Series, this guy answered it.
If there were any questions about who is The Man to collect after this year’s World Series, this guy answered it.
His name is Madison Bumgarner.
Posted on October 29, 2014 – 8:41 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News | 2014 Topps Supreme, Duke Snider, Gary Carter, Johnny Podres, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Oscar Taveras, posthumous autographs, St. Louis Cardinals, Stan Musial, sticker autographs, Topps | Comments (10)
This year’s edition of Topps Supreme baseball cards arrived in hobby shops on Wednesday with the newest lineup of autographs from today’s players, future stars and past greats.
One of them? Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Johnny Podres — a lefty who won 148 games in 15 seasons as well as three World Series rings.
What makes this unusual? He died at age 75 on Jan. 13, 2008 — more than six years ago.
Posted on October 29, 2014 – 7:09 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News | 2014 National Treasures, 2014 Panini National Treasues, autographs, Barry Bonds, MLB, Panini America, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants | Comments (3)
The ink of baseball’s home run king is coming back to packs.
Barry Bonds‘ first certified autographs in some time will arrive in Panini America‘s 2014 National Treasures set soon as the company teased his presence online. How long has it been? Seven years ago — 2007 — was the last time he played a big-league game as well as the last time he signed cards directly for a card company.
Posted on October 29, 2014 – 3:43 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Beckett Updates, Latest News | derek jeter, MLBPA, New York Yankees, Panini America | Comments (0)
As teased during the weekend, new Derek Jeter autographs are coming to baseball card packs.
Now we know more as Panini America unveiled its plans Wednesday — and it’s a multi-set and multi-year campaign that begins with buyback cards in the upcoming 2014 Classics product which arrives on Nov. 19. The cards in that one will be from the 2001 and 2002 Classics sets.
A selection of past Donruss/Playoff brand cards have been signed and authenticated with a Steiner Sports sticker. The buybacks date back to 1999. Panini promises them to be released in an “extremely limited” volume and there will be more to come in the company’s 2015 releases.
Posted on October 29, 2014 – 9:59 am | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News | Bloomberg TV, Jeff Heckman, Matt Miller, Street Smart, Topps | Comments (0)
Topps‘ Manager of Marketing and Product Development Jeff Heckman appeared on Bloomberg TV’s Street Smart with Matt Miller this week to discuss the company’s latest ways of venturing out to find collectors beyond just baseball cards.
“This is a product that’s geared toward the baseball fan,” said Heckman, noting the items in front of him while also discussing kids and cards, Topps Bunt and more.
The segment shows off one of the Topps Archive boxes, which we first showed off to you back in April.
Check it out.
Posted on October 28, 2014 – 9:57 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Beckett 20 Questions | 2014 World Series, Billy Butler, Bo Jackson, Buster Posey, Christy Mathewson, Eric Hosmer, George Brett, Juan Marichal, Kansas City Royals, Lorenzo Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Mike Moustakas, MLB, Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants, Tim Hudson, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, World Series, Yordano Ventura | Comments (8)
The World Series all comes down to one game on Wednesday night — the winner take all in Game 7.
In our latest 20 Questions, we want your assessment of the best from the two teams this season — the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals and to hear your take on the bests in their histories, too.
1. Which team do you think is more collectable?
2. Which team do you personally like more?
Answer the rest of our questions … after the jump.
Posted on October 28, 2014 – 6:12 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Industry News, Latest News | 1912 Plow's Candy E300, 1977 Yankees, 1986 Mets, Bobby Byrne, derek jeter, Fred Merkle, Georgia Bulldogs, Hal Chase, John Lapp, Kentucky Wildcats, Larry Doyle, Martin O'Toole, Memory Lane Inc., Miami Hurricanes, MLB apparel, Panini America, Red Dooin, Topps, Tris Speaker | Comments (0)
It’s a busy time in the sports world as well as the hobby — here are some quick takes on a few things popping up that might be of interest for both collectors and those within the industry. Let’s take a look in the Hobby Notebook …
– Serial-numbering Not Just for Cards: Topps revealed a new line of “Card Patch Hats” on Tuesday that pair custom-made caps with a patch showing a memorable baseball card on the side. The caps can be found with colors for seven memorable teams from the past and every single one of them has a stitched serial-number inside the headband. These are limited to just 99 caps per model and are $39.99 on Topps.com. Some of the teams found here include the 1972-74 Oakland A’s, the 1977 New York Yankees, the 1984 Detroit Tigers and the 1986 New York Mets.
– Busy Days at Panini America: The news out of Irving, Texas, last week affected all sports as Panini America signed deals with three major universities to use their trademarks in all upcoming products as well as produce school-specific card sets. There’s more to come on that front in all sports, but baseball alone is a busy sport, too. Between now and the end of the year, Panini also has six new baseball products scheduled to arrive – at least one will include Derek Jeter autographs — and some of them haven’t even been formally announced yet. But to come before that? A substantial number of Panini America employees are headed to the parent company’s headquarters in Italy for meetings. What do all of these things have in common? They aren’t cheap to pull off — so business must be going pretty well.
— Vintage Cardboard Bounty: Collecting century-old cardboard can have its challenges — like even knowing if cards truly exist. Tustin, Calif.-based Memory Lane Inc. has issued a $500 reward for anyone who can help find eight cards from the 1912 Plow’s Candy E300 set. The cards with a bounty are missing from the major population reports and feature Bobby Byrne, Hal Chase, Red Dooin, Larry Doyle, John Lapp, Fred Merkle, Martin O’Toole and Tris Speaker. Contact the company at the link above if you have any information.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Posted on October 27, 2014 – 4:00 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News | Oscar Taveras, Oscar Taveras autographs, Panini America, St. Louis Cardinals, Topps | Comments (5)
I’ve written it many times throughout my career writing about cardboard — every card has a story.
Whether it’s a regular card, an autograph, a game-used card or even a redemption, the face of a card — and who appears on it — can spark interest, emotion and response from collectors. Not all reactions are alike, either.
When I first heard the news of the untimely death of St. Louis Cardinals rookie Oscar Taveras on Sunday night, one of the first things that popped into my mind was a redemption card that I had left sitting — unscratched — on my desk at home. It was from a hobby box of 2014 Topps Stadium Club that I had purchased and filmed just 20 days ago. It was the rare instance where I had left a card sitting and hadn’t redeemed it, figuring I would get around to it when I wasn’t so busy with projects.
At the end of the video, after it turned out that my Taveras was probably the only real highlight from my box, I recapped it all with this thought.
“The Taveras, once I have it in hand, should be a decent little card,” I said in the video. “I don’t have his autograph, so that’s a win for me.”
Sunday night, though, the card just seemed a bit different — perhaps a bit more important to me for different reasons. It wasn’t about his promise on the field now and there were no added dollar signs in my mind. The card was my personal way that the Taveras news touched home because I had just pulled it for my collection. I had never really wanted to land a Taveras card — I certainly hadn’t stockpiled them like many prospectors have — but the card now just seemed different.
Posted on October 26, 2014 – 10:23 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News | MLB, Oscar Taveras, Oscar Taveras autograph, Oscar Taveras baseball card, St. Louis Cardinals, Topps | Comments (2)
One of baseball’s top prospects is gone.
St. Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Oscar Taveras died Sunday after an auto accident in his native Dominican Republic. He was 22.
A consensus No. 3 prospect in all of baseball from Baseball America, MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus entering this season, Taveras was a highly watched prospect on both the field and in the hobby. He made his big-league debut with the Cardinals this past season, hitting .239 with three home runs and 22 RBI in 80 games. In six minor-league seasons, he hit .320 with 53 homers and 324 RBI in 436 games.
“I simply can’t believe it,” Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I first met Oscar when he was (16 years old) and will forever remember him as a wonderful young man who was a gifted athlete with an infectious love for life who lived every day to the fullest.”
Posted on October 25, 2014 – 11:03 am | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News | baseball cards, derek jeter, Derek Jeter autographs, MLB, MLBPA, New York Yankees, Panini America | Comments (1)
Derek Jeter autographs are coming to Panini America products soon.
The company teased the fact Saturday morning via its Instagram account with a photo of a 2002 Donruss Studio card bearing the signature of the recently retired New York Yankees shortstop whose next baseball appointment awaits in Cooperstown in five years.
Jeter hasn’t had any new certified autographs in any meaningful kind of volume since 2010 when Upper Deck bowed out of the MLB card market after losing its MLB Properties license and settling a trademark infringement lawsuit. (The company did release Jeter autographs in 2012 SP Signature Edition but those did not show him on the actual cards.)
Posted on October 24, 2014 – 7:26 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Just for Fun, Latest News, Pop Culture News | Kansas City Royals, MLB, Paul Rudd, Topps, Topps Bunt, World Series | Comments (3)
Actor Paul Rudd is a big Kansas City Royals backer and baseball fans have seen plenty of him on television as his team has marched to the World Series.
Now, thanks to Topps, they can get his baseball card — and all the company had to do was trade him a 1975 Topps George Brett Rookie Card to seal the deal.
Rudd has been added to packs of Topps Bunt baseball cards — the mobile app for iPhone and Android that has let collectors hunt for virtual cards and in some cases turn them into real money. (Yep, those who can’t pull them from packs buy the rights to them in online auctions just like the real cards.)
“Pretty fired up to be able to give Paul Rudd his own card in @ToppsBUNT!” tweeted Chris R. Vaccaro, who is the head of app operations for Topps Digital. “Awesome working with Paul to get this done.”
Posted on October 24, 2014 – 11:52 am | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Basketball, Football, Industry News, Latest News | CLC, college sports, Collegiate Licensing Company, NCAA, Upper Deck | Comments (5)
By Chris Olds | Beckett Sports Card Monthly Editor
Upper Deck‘s exclusive card license with the Collegiate Licensing Company that began in 2010 will remain in place into next year, the company said in a statement Friday — a response to the news that Panini America had signed a trading card agreement with three major universities.
“Upper Deck continues to be fully committed in creating the most innovative, high quality collegiate trading cards ever produced. Previously, collegiate cards were only interspersed into professional trading card sets by the large manufacturers, and referred to as ‘Professional Prospect cards,'” the company said in a statement posted on its blog. “Over the last four years, Upper Deck has taken collegiate cards to a whole new level … In addition, Upper Deck has expanded well beyond the boundaries of traditional college sports to include a wide array of both men’s and women’s athletic programs that have never been featured on trading cards.”
Posted on October 23, 2014 – 12:08 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Basketball, Beckett Updates, Football, Industry News, Latest News | CLC, college sports, Collegiate Licensing Company, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, Miami Hurricanes, NCAA sports, Panini America | Comments (5)
Panini America is going back to school.
The card company has signed exclusive deals with three major universities — the University of Georgia, the University of Kentucky and the University of Miami — and will use their trademarks in upcoming card products that include NBA, NFL and MLBPA releases. According to a company release, there will be more schools’ deals announced soon.
“This is a significant announcement not just for us, but for the entire trading card industry,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop in a prepared release. “Some of the most-collectible players that we work with across all sports are closely associated with these three universities and we’re genuinely excited to be able to honor their collegiate accomplishments in our products.”
Posted on October 23, 2014 – 11:18 am | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Latest News, Non-Sports | 2013 Topps Allen & Ginter, 2013 Topps Archives, autographs, Axl Rose, baseball cards, Beckett Grading Services, BGS, Guns N Roses, non-sports autographs, Topps | Comments (6)
It’s a word that’s very appropriate for redemption cards — and it’s one even more appropriate for Axl Rose redemption cards. It’s also one that’s appropriate for me today as I finally received my 2013 Topps Allen & Ginter Autograph inked by the Guns N’ Roses singer who’s notorious for taking his time with everything from album releases to concert times.
It took 441 days from after my purchase and subsequent redeeming of the card to arrive — something not Topps’ sole responsibility and something far from my longest redemption wait because I have them outstanding from other companies that will probably never arrive. Why? At least one of the other companies no longer exists.
Patience is a word that also probably resonates well with Topps as the company reportedly had to reprint cards to suit the musician’s liking more than once because some detail wasn’t quite right for him — that’s his right — though they likely had already gone through approvals before being printed. That’s probably why Rose’s Heavy Metal auto from Archives doesn’t have the same logo as the rest of the cards in the set. That’s probably why his Ginter autos are, oddly, a dark background when the rest of the cards in the nine-year history of the brand are white.
Rock stars. You’ve got to love them.
Posted on October 22, 2014 – 8:44 pm | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Just for Fun | Baseball nicknames, Buster Posey, Gerald Posey, Kansas City Royals, MLB, San Francisco Giants, World Series | Comments (13)
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor | Commentary
From the Just for Fun file …
Sometimes a baseball card can create questions … like what might the San Francisco Giants’ All-Star catcher look like as a Kansas City Royal?
In 2012 the Royals hosted the Midsummer Classic and this Topps card with a piece of Gerald Dempster Posey III‘s All-Star jersey was the result. Now, with the Fall Classic in K.C., we have a different question for you …
Posted on October 22, 2014 – 11:34 am | Author: chrisolds
Baseball, Guest commentary, Latest News | 1989 World Series, 1990 Score, Beckett Baseball, Oakland A's, San Francisco Giants, World Series | Comments (1)
By Ben Aguirre | Guest Commentary
There are certain events in life that will never be forgotten, but rarely are those moments captured on a single baseball card.
Such was the case in the 1990 Score baseball set on card number No. 701, which has a black-and-white aerial shot of Candlestick Park, the former home of the San Francisco Giants. This card serves as a solemn reminder of the events of Oct. 17, 1989, the date that my life changed and I realized that life was indeed more than about sports and baseball cards. This was the day that a 6.9 earthquake struck Northern California, killing some 60 people and postponing a much anticipated World Series matchup of two local teams, the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.
For much of the country, I can imagine that the natural disaster that was the Loma Prieta Earthquake was nothing more than a speed bump that delayed the conclusion of the World Series. But for myself and others in the Bay Area, this was indeed a date that will forever be remember, including this year, which marks the 25th anniversary of the events.


text:
Landry's posts loss on financing, slower sales
Landry's posts quarterly loss on financing, slower sales
Bedeviled by weaker sales, costlier financing and expenses related to selling its Joe's Crab Shack chain, Landry's Restaurants said today it lost $6.6 million, or 41 cents a share, in the final quarter of last year.
The result was an improvement from the $8.4 million, or 38 cents a share, the Houston-based company lost in the year-ago period. Revenue in the fourth quarter was $280.5 million, slightly up from $272 million in the October-December period of 2006.
The Landry's earnings release made no mention of a $23.50 per share offer by Tilman Fertitta, its chief executive, to take the company private. However, no financing of such a deal has been announced and its shares were trading at $18.46 this morning on the New York Stock Exchange, up 24 cents from Monday's close.
The company said more expensive financing on various items, including higher interest rates paid to note holders and refinancing of its Nevada properties, cost Landry's $3.8 million.
Additionally, the company booked a $4.7 million loss from discontinued operations, including but not limited to its 2006 sale of Joe's Crab Shack. And same-store sales across the company were down by 1 percent for the quarter.
The company's chains include Landry's Seafood House, Saltgrass Steak House and Rainforest Cafe. It also owns and operates the Kemah Boardwalk and the Golden Nugget hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nev.
Rick Liem, Landry's chief financial officer, said future refinancing of debt likely will be more expensive given the current international credit crunch.
"Due to the significance of the earnings impact our refinancing is expected to have, and the lack of visibility as to timing, we will not be providing earnings guidance for 2008 at this time," he said in a prepared statement.
The Landry's earnings release warned of a platter of bad things that could hamper future results, including a "weak economy, higher interest rates and gas prices, construction at the Golden Nugget properties, negative same store sales or (Landry's) inability to continue its expansion strategy."
For all of 2007, the company turned a profit of $18.1 million, or 93 cents a share, swinging from a 2006 loss of $21.8 million, or 99 cents a share. Revenue last year was $1.17 billion, ticking up from $1.11 billion in 2006.