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Tesla’s a Good Long-Term Bet
It looks like Tesla (TSLA) is firing on all cylinders, and its growth phase is only getting started. This means shares are about to race much higher.
Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk tweeted on Sunday that the electric vehicle company has now made over 3 million vehicles, up from only 3,000 a decade ago. The company’s manufacturing growth is remarkable.
Longer-term investors should consider buying Tesla shares.
The bull case for Tesla has always been a leap of faith. Even with its heady manufacturing growth, the company based in Austin, Texas, is a tiny player in terms of total vehicles made. In fact, Toyota (TM) built 10 million vehicles during 2021 alone, and that was in the midst of a parts shortage.
Despite this, at a market capitalization of $904 billion, Tesla shares fetch two times greater than the combined value of Ford Motor (F) ($63.6B), General Motors (GM) ($56B), Stellantis (STLA) ($48.5B) and Toyota ($259.6B).
Bulls are betting on exponential future growth. It’s a good bet.
The California New Car Dealers Association announced last week that Tesla produced the two top-selling vehicles in the state during the first half of 2022. This is a huge development.
Related Post: What Bears Don’t Want You to Hear
Its EVs, the Model Y and Model 3, are more popular than long-time internal combustion engine best sellers like Toyota Rav4, Camry and Corolla.
Tesla Model Y commands 54.2% market share in the luxury compact sport utility vehicle marketplace. The 42,320 units were sold in the first half compared to 7,856 units of Mercedes GLC-Class, the runner-up. The comparable BMW, Audi and Lexus rounded out the top five, each having sold less than 5,500 units.
Among luxury sedans, Model 3 took 60.8% market share over Lexus and Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (BMWYY). Even the Tesla Model S bested its comparables in the luxury and high-end sports car category, according to a report at Electrek.
It would be easy to dismiss this data as a California thing. The state is notoriously green. It’s also the biggest and most important car market in the U.S.
All carmakers compete there, and trends that start in California necessarily sweep across the country because automobile companies are reluctant to build two sets of vehicles.
Tesla’s growth isn’t limited to California.
The company’s become a major player in China, where this week its Shanghai factory celebrated the manufacture of its 1 millionth vehicle, according to the Musk tweet. That factory began production in 2019 and today is considered to be the most advanced facility in the world.
Bloomberg noted that recent upgrades put the factory on pace to produce 21,000 cars and SUVs weekly, more than 1 million units annually.
Plus, Tesla has next-generation factories coming onstream in Austin, Texas, and near Berlin in Germany. Those facilities will use so-called giga castings to shrink complexity.
The massive rear casting reduces the number of pieces of sheet metal from 171 to two pieces of aluminum, while eliminating 1,700 welds. Musk says that casting can be optimized even further.
These are real competitive advantages that allow Tesla to build EVs faster and more efficiently. High average selling prices are maintaining profits margins. Tesla recently posted 26.5% profit margins, about 1,400 basis points higher than the industry average.
What’s more, high prices are having no impact on demand.
Related Post: Semiconductor Leader Is a Good Bet
Drive Tesla Canada reported Friday that Tesla has officially stopped taking new orders in the U.S. and Canada for the Model 3 Long Range due to overwhelming demand. The new order configuration page now states flatly that the product is unavailable until 2023.
Let’s now look at the company’s one-year technical chart:
The bottom line: Investors should see the bigger picture. Tesla’s in the pole position in the race to EVs, the future of the sector.
Analysts at Alix Partners expect EV sales to rise to 28% by 2025, up from the current level of only 3%. By 2028, the same analysts see the EV segment reaching 59%. In Europe, market share during the same time frame is expected to jump to 44% and 83%, respectively.
A close above $900 for Tesla should be the start of the next big move higher. As I mentioned earlier, longer-term investors should consider buying Tesla shares now before its next leg up. As always, though, remember to do your own due diligence.
And if you’re interested in my tailored picks for industry-dominating companies, join members of my service, The Power Elite, who are enjoying open gains of more than 172%, 164% and 151%.
Click here to learn more.
Jon D. Markman
P.S. On Tuesday, Aug. 23, Dr. Martin Weiss is offering a free tutorial for an “all-weather” strategy for consistently beating the market. Testing shows this simple strategy would’ve beaten the S&P 500 nearly five to one over the past 19 years! See how it works by signing up here.


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By Wallace Witkowski, MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Shares of LinkedIn Inc. and Yelp Inc. declined in the extended session Tuesday after the companies reported quarterly earnings after the bell. Baidu shares jumped.
LinkedIn Corp. /quotes/zigman/5131883/delayed/quotes/nls/lnkd LNKD -0.02% shares fell 3.3% to $238.98 in heavy volume after the social network for professionals forecast revenuefor the current quarter that was below the Wall Street consensus.
Shares of Yelp Inc. /quotes/zigman/9021597/delayed/quotes/nls/yelp YELP +1.57% dropped 9.2% to $62.50 in heavy volume after the online review website posted a larger-than-expected loss for the third quarter, and announced a secondary offering of its shares.
The Next 24: Bad reviews for Yelp’s report
LinkedIn and Yelp lost ground in after-hours trading in the wake of their third-quarter earnings reports. In the next 24 hours, the main event is likely to be a Federal Reserve statement on Wednesday afternoon, but investors also will take in reports related to Spain exiting its recession and Japanese industrial production.
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. /quotes/zigman/62747/delayed/quotes/nls/ttwo TTWO -1.11% shares rose 1.5% to $18.22 on heavy volume after the maker of “Grand Theft Auto V” easily topped Wall Street estimates for the quarter.
Electronic Arts Inc. /quotes/zigman/71356/delayed/quotes/nls/ea EA -1.91% shares rose 3.6% to $25 on moderate volume after topping consensus expectations for the fiscal second quarter, even though its forecast was light.
Baidu Inc. /quotes/zigman/97715/delayed/quotes/nls/bidu BIDU +0.36% shares rose 5.7% to $168.48 on heavy volume after the Chinese Internet portal reported third-quarter earnings of $1.48 a U.S. share on revenue of $1.45 billion, when Wall Street was expecting earnings of $1.47 a U.S. share on revenue of $1.45 billion. Baidu said it expects revenue of $1.51 billion to $1.55 billion for the fourth quarter, compared to the $1.46 billion consensus.
Gilead Sciences Inc. /quotes/zigman/72849/delayed/quotes/nls/gild GILD +1.69% shares rose 1.1% to $70.25 on moderate volume after the biotech reported adjusted third-quarter earnings of 52 cents a share on revenue of $2.78 billion, whereas the Street expected 48 cents a share on revenue of $2.72 billion.
IAC/Interactive Corp. /quotes/zigman/111865/delayed/quotes/nls/iaci IACI -0.32% shares fell 12% to $51 on moderate volume after the company’s third-quarter revenue fell short of Wall Street estimates.
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. /quotes/zigman/94726/delayed/quotes/nls/dwa DWA -1.68% surged 8.4% to $30.15 on moderate volume after the company reported quarterly earnings of 12 cents a share on revenue of $154.5 million. Analysts expected the company to break-even for the third quarter on revenue of $139.5 million.
Aflac Inc. /quotes/zigman/216779/delayed/quotes/nls/afl AFL -0.60% shares fell 1.5% to $66 on light volume after the insurer reported earnings of $1.50 on revenue of $5.89 billion. Analysts expected the company to post third-quarter earnings of $1.48 a share on revenue of $5.9 billion.

domain: news


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SINGAPORE(THE BUSINESS TIMES) - In line with the economy's broad recovery, rents and prices of industrial space in Singapore rose for the fourth straight quarter, while delays in completion persisted.
Occupancy in the July-September period was flat over the previous quarter at 90.1 per cent, although it improved by a mild 0.5 percentage point on a year-on-year basis, according to JTC Corp's latest market report on Thursday (Oct 28).
The rental index of all industrial properties rose 0.7 per cent from the second quarter. Year on year, rents grew 1.9 per cent.
Meanwhile, the overall price index inched up by 0.1 per cent quarter on quarter, but climbed 3.9 per cent from the year-ago period.
This also came as more industrial properties changed hands. Based on caveats lodged, the latest three months saw around 411 transactions, up 15 per cent from 358 deals in the second quarter and jumping 28 per cent from the 320 deals for the same period a year ago.
Total available stock of industrial space expanded by 228,000 square metres (sq m) in the July-September period, slowing from the quarterly growth of 374,000 sq m growth in the April-June quarter.
As for the upcoming supply, about 900,000 sq m of new industrial space could be completed in the last quarter of this year, based on approved plans as at end-September 2021, JTC said. Of this, some 45 per cent will be single-user factory space, which is typically developed by industrialists for their own use.
Multiple-user factory space will make up 39 per cent of the upcoming supply, and the remaining 16 per cent will comprise warehouse and business park space.
Between 2022 and 2024, an additional 3.6 million sq m of industrial space is expected to be completed, JTC said.
This amounts to an average annual supply of about 1.4 million sq m from now till end-2024, which is higher than the average of 700,000 sq m over the past three years.
The industrial land and infrastructure agency noted that demand for industrial space is projected to grow as the economy continues to recover.
However, any potential rise in occupancy may be tempered by new completions, although this increased supply will depend on the delays in expected completions, JTC added.
"Prices and rentals of industrial spaces are likely to remain stable, with positive upsides in the near future if the economy recovers strongly," it said.


text: Vogue Bans Too-Skinny Models Magazine also pledges not to use models under age 16 By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted May 4, 2012 12:56 PM CDT 22 comments Comments In this magazine cover image taken by Mario Testino for Vogue, model Kate Moss is shown on the cover of the September 2011 issue of "Vogue." (AP Photo/Vogue, Mario Testino) (Newser) – Vogue magazine, perhaps the world's top arbiter of style, is making a statement about its own models: Too young and too thin is no longer in. The 19 editors of Vogue magazines around the world made a pact to project the image of healthy models, according to a Conde Nast International announcement. They agreed to "not knowingly work with models under the age of 16 or who appear to have an eating disorder," and said they will ask casting directors to check IDs at photo shoots and fashion shows and for ad campaigns. The move is an important one for the fashion world, says former model Sara Ziff, who was discovered at 14 and has since founded The Model Alliance, dedicated to improving the working conditions of models and persuading the industry to take better care of its young. "Most editions of Vogue regularly hire models who are minors, so for Vogue to commit to no longer using models under the age of 16 marks an evolution in the industry," she said. "We hope other magazines and fashion brands will follow Vogue's impressive lead." The American edition will start following the new guidelines with its June issue.


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Benefit companies thrive under new law
Oregon will become the “benefit company” capital of the country if Secretary of State Kate Brown has her way.
The value of benefit companies? “Making Oregon a better place for anyone,” she said.
More than 200 companies have registered with the state since legislation establishing benefit companies went into effect in January. That’s double what the state expected for the first year, said Tony Green, communications director for the secretary of state.
“It just shows that Oregon is a great environment to both do business and do good,” Brown said.
By registering, these companies declare their intention to hold themselves responsible not only for generating money for shareholders, but also for creating a positive impact on society and the environment. They’re required to take a more holistic approach to their operations as they consider workers, the environment and their communities, Brown said.
The 219 companies are big and small, new and old, from various industries and from 52 communities.
Oregon benefit companies must assess themselves by a third-party standard to ensure they have a positive impact and must publicly report on their performance using this standard annually.
The legal protections are important for a company that desires to have a mission beyond maximizing profits. Some companies that lack benefit status could be sued if they failed to make financial profit their overriding mission, said Holly Ensign-Barstow of B Lab, a nonprofit that evaluates benefit companies.
Oregon is one of only two states that grants benefit status for limited liability companies. Although they don’t need the same protections as corporations would, becoming a benefit company allows them to publicly declare their commitment to benefiting society, Ensign-Barstow said.
Sweet Eatz, a small Salem-based bakery, is one of 20 benefit companies in the Mid-Valley.
“I registered to make sure I could touch other people’s lives and impact them,” co-owner Anthony Brown said.
He said he wanted his company to be an LLC and a benefit company after learning about them online. Having grown up in inner-city Los Angeles where money was tight for those around him, he wanted to be able to help others through his business.
Sweet Eatz regularly donates food to such nonprofits Family Building Blocks, The Salvation Army and Union Gospel Mission.
On top of baking an ever-changing menu of goods and selling meals at Capitol City Theatre, Anthony Brown has found several ways to mentor others.
He’s helping a Leslie Middle School class as they learn not only to cook, but also how to package, promote and market their goods.
“I was literally doing what they were wanting to do,” as he began his business, Anthony Brown said.
He’s helping the chamber of commerce put together hands-on seminars to show people how they can do something with the knowledge and skillset they already have.
Anthony Brown has dreams of expanding his company’s impact as the business grows. One day he’d like to be able to use ingredients from the company’s own farm.
Business owners thinking of registering as a benefit company need to make sure they’re serious about the environmental and social impact aspect of the concept, Anthony Brown said.
“It’s a commitment,” he said.
email@example.com, (503) 399-6743 or follow on Twitter @KaellenHessel


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France: Latest beverage news & analysis
Has it happened? Has China's Cognac market finally bottomed out?
In a trading update today, Remy Cointreau posted an 8% lift in reported sales for the nine months to the end of December. Here, just-drinks takes a closer look at the company's sales performance by brand in the year-to-date.
Whether you're a brewer, a distiller or a winemaker, the watchword for results announcements this season is: strategic plan.
Remy Cointreau will issue its full first-half results on Thursday (23 July). Last month, in a trading update, the group reported a near-6% fall in organic sales in the six months to the end of September, with the second quarter performing better than the first.
It has been more than a year since Cognac makers such as Pernod Ricard stopped estimating how long it will be before their China markets turn around. The downturn has lasted far longer than these companies expected, and yesterday Pernod's CFO Gilles Bogaert risked little when he predicted that this fiscal year in the country is likely to be similar to the previous one.
French wine group AdVini is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Burgundy-based Béjot Vins et Terroirs (BVT).
Sazerac has announced the appointment of Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits as distributor for three of its brands in France, including recent purchase Southern Comfort.
The head of wine producer Badet Clément has said France lags the rest of the world on creating global wine brands and has warned that the country needs a complete rethink if it wants to catch up.
Laurent-Perrier has posted a healthy set of results from its latest fiscal full year, but has warned that the trading environment in 2016 "requires considerable caution".
The 'La Cité du Vin' wine exhibition in France is set to be officially inaugurated today.
Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has seen its sales fall in the first three months of this year, although the group maintains its target of "significant" profit growth in 2016.
The French unit of Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has exited its 'continuation plan' in the country, following the clearance of an unspecified amount of debt.
Alsace-based wine company Les Grands Chais de France (GCF) is to launch a range of wines following the purchase of Château Belles Eaux in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
Spanish road tankers carrying bulk shipments of wine from the country have been attacked by French growers from the Languedoc region, protesting against what they claim are "cheap imports" from counterparts in both Spain and Italy.
Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn has partnered with Spain's Grupo Diego Zamora to create a joint venture, which will handle their combined portfolios in France.
just-drinks is in Cannes this week at the Tax Free World Association show. Here's the second part of Andy Morton's blog, which will keep you up-to-date at one of the most important dates in the Travel Retail calendar.
just-drinks is in Cannes this week the Tax Free World Association show. Here's the second part of Andy Morton's blog, which will keep you up-to-date at one of the most important dates in the Travel Retail calendar.
just-drinks is in Cannes this week the Tax Free World Exhibition. Here's the first part of Andy Morton's blog, which will keep you up-to-date at one of the most important dates in the Travel Retail calendar.
- What Brexit means for drinks industry? - Analysis
- Is there a future for the global beer brand?
- How soft drinks can win big with adult consumers
- Global director int'l brands, Heineken - Interview
- Non-Scotch Whisky Essentials, Part I
- The UK Referendum - just-drinks Live Blog
- SABMiller confirms price paid for Meantime
- Aldi dealt alcohol sales blow in Australia
- Maxxium eyes US$1.4bn opportunity in UK spirits
- Absolut rebound paints rosy picture for Pernod
- Adultifying Soft Drinks; Capitalizing on rising adult demand for non-alcoholic beverages
- Global Scotch whisky insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Spirits and Wine: Corporate Overview
- Global RTD insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Global non-Scotch whiskies insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends


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Upon the 2013 release of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, many consumers were already looking to the next generation, iPhone 6. Rumors have bounced throughout tech outlets and as usual, Apple Inc. has remained mums the word on releasing any suggestions. The Wall Street Journal has now hinted two versions of the iPhone next gen may be making an appearance. Speculating further on the release date, specs and features inclusive with the anticipated device.
The Wall Street Journal stated Apple Inc. will be discontinuing the iPhone 5C in the latter half of 2014, alluding to speculation of the newest iPhone. The article portrayed two versions for the fall 2014 release of the iPhone 6. Reportedly, one will be 4.5-inches and the second phone may just be the most desired, 5-inch iPhone model. Further yet, sources close to the story advise curved screens are not part of the design.
If two iPhones will become the norm is left up to speculation. Much like all rumors leading to the holy grail of the iPhone 6. While Steve Jobs made a previous comment during his reign to never go big, the smartphone industry consumers are devouring larger screens. Samsung has earned massive success from their Note series, the Galaxy S4 and more recently, enjoyed decent sales with their mammoth Galaxy Mega which boasts a screen over 6-inches. The specs, features and release date of the rumored iPhone 6 continue to capture the consumer storm as many determine their own concepts of the perfect Apple Inc. device.
It seems Apple Inc. will be dismissing the plastic casings for good- especially after the dismal sales of the iPhone 5C. The device was called the iPhone 5 wrapped in plastic and did not fare well against big brother iPhone 5S. Metal casings will become the standard with the iPhones and notably colors of selection will remain in place. The iPhone 5S in gold was the hottest color, seeing shelves and online markets depleted of the color for months. Consumers were selling their iPhone 5S Gold phones on marketplaces like e-Bay for upwards of $10,000 and people were buying.
In addition to the rumors of the release date, many outlets have speculated Apple will make it a first to release the phones in the late spring or summer. This is a rumor that continually is eyed critically – Apple Inc. has signified their recent iPhone releases in the fall ever since the release of the iPhone 4S. Releasing it any earlier may drive consumer demand in orbit for the following years, especially with additions for every new generation.
Specs and features include the larger screen sizes, higher speed 802.11ac WiFi connectivity, a potential retina scanner, a sapphire screen may soon replace the Gorilla Glass as well. This enhanced glass technology could create an innovative advantage. Sapphire is the second most strongest material and those moments of cracked screens may just become a thing of the past. Currently, Apple uses sapphire glass within the lens cover and TouchID on the iPhone 5S.
Tim Arcuri of Cowen and Company is a Wall Street analyst and has stated Apple is finalizing the design of the iPhone 6. The screen size reported is the 5-inches, but he was silent on the approach of a 6-inch screen device. This means the 5-inch would be the larger of the two versions released, or even more excitedly, the smaller of the two. He was able to share with the Wall Street Journal the newest gen will experience an enhanced software interface (possibly iOS 7A or 8?), and Apple Inc. will be enhancing its existing features of TouchID, Passbook and even further integration of iBeacon.
Reportedly, states the analyst – Apple has toppled the 50 million mark with its latest generation releases, marking the company as a clear winner. The iPhone 6 remains a conversation piece when it comes to the suggested release date, specs, features and just how many versions will be introduced. Further speculation will continue to mob cyber space when it comes to the desired potential of the iPhone 6. What would readers like to see developed within the newest iPhone generation? Share in the comments.


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Westfield shopping centres owner Scentre Group says its underlying half-year profit rose 3 percent, beating analyst forecasts as a strategy of revamping assets to offset a slowdown in brick-and-mortar retail paid off.
Funds from operations (FFO), the primary earnings metric of the company, came in at $657.2 million, surpassing an average forecast of $646.6 million compiled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
FFO was $638.1 million the previous year.
Statutory net profit was up 3.6 per cent to $1.46 billion, including revaluations and capital gains, while group revenue rose 6.5 per cent to $1.28 billion.
Scentre, the owner of Westfield shopping malls in Australia, said it expects FFO growth of about four per cent for 2018 and distribution per security growth of about 2 per cent to 22.16 cents per share.
Like its former owner Westfield, Scentre has been building up non-traditional attractions such as cinemas and luxury dining at its malls to extract more rent from tenants and offset the downturn in brick-and-mortar shopping.
Speaking on the company's increasing focus on diversifying its retail space offerings, chief executive Peter Allen said: "We are making excellent progress on our customer-focused strategy and real-time ability to act on customer feedback".
"This has enabled us to curate a unique product and service mix in each of our living centres and create places that people want to visit," he said.
Scentre Group securities were 1.5 cents, or 0.4 per cent, lower at $4.275.
SCENTRE'S PROFITABLE HALF-YEAR TO JUNE 30
* Funds from operations up 3pct to $657.2m
* Net profit up 3.6pct to $1.46b
* Revenue from property, development and management up 6.5pct to $1.28b
* Interim distribution 11.08 cents


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60 days of demos – Coming back from COVID
We might be back in another nationwide lockdown but rather than dwell on the negatives, we thought we would reflect on and showcase the exceptional work the WDS team have been up to in the last two months. It’s been around 60 days since demos were allowed to restart in Costco warehouses across the country, and while they might look a little different now, the feedback we’ve had has been astonishing.
Costco and their members have been overjoyed to see demos popping back up on the aisles and our team has done everything in their power to provide the same service they’re known for whilst keeping everyone safe. By working closely with Costco, we’ve been able to return product demos to the fore and as these are a major part of the Costco shopping experience, members have been delighted.
It wasn’t a move made lightly though. Indeed, the groundwork was laid months ago.
Sampling has been a part of the retail trade for decades now, particularly when it comes to groceries. The basics of the practice have remained unchanged since the early days, but in a post-coronavirus world, change is a necessity. That’s why we were determined to figure out how to change our product demos without losing what made them so special.
We decided to use Reykjavik as something of a proving ground, given that COVID-19 had taken less of a hold in Iceland. This gave us all of the information we needed to ensure that, when product demos were brought back to the UK in later weeks, proper safety and social distancing etiquette had already been tried and proven.
We started trialling our ‘new normal’ product demonstrations in Iceland back in June. With a relatively small COVID-19 outbreak, hospitality businesses were allowed to remain open and by June, with no cases in the country, live demos were allowed to be reinstated too. We then took what we had learned and applied it to a two-week trial in Costco’s Watford warehouse in the second week of August. This allowed us to conduct seven demos a day in a controlled environment while we tested, monitored and refined our new approach.
But what does that new approach look like?
A new approach to an age-old practice
The most important aspect of the new product demos is, of course, safety. The most obvious immediate visible changes are the introduction of clear acrylic ‘sneeze screens’ and PPE for all brand ambassadors, which are in the form of face masks, disposable aprons and disposable gloves that are changed regularly throughout the day. All units are also now equipped with hand sanitiser for both the brand ambassador and members, and the units themselves are also sanitised every 30 minutes.
Our first demos also underlined the importance of individually wrapped samples and one-to-one contact. Whereas in the days before COVID, you would typically have 10 or more samples on a tray that members could take themselves, we now limit our demos to one sample at a time to prevent potential contamination. These samples are served via a ‘serving hatch’ at the base of the acrylic screen in single-use, disposable containers.
Our brand ambassadors have also been fully trained with not only a health and safety refresher course but also training specific to dealing with COVID-19. They also have their temperatures checked every day and are asked to fill out health questionnaires to ensure they are not displaying any coronavirus symptoms. Add this to the social distancing measures being applied behind the scenes and an added focus on hygiene and cleaning and you’ll see that we’re more than ready to face the new normal safely and securely.
One final thing our trials in Reykjavik and Watford taught us was that, besides PPE and social distancing, signage was one of the most important safety aspects of the display. So, in recent weeks we’ve enhanced our demo stands to ensure all visual communications are as clear as possible in order to keep everyone safe.
The layout of the allergens sign has been improved with a larger, clearer font and stronger imagery. A large “sampling today” image is also now displayed on demos for products that can’t be displayed, such as frozen goods. This helps members to identify the product quickly and is yet another advancement in keeping product demos viable in these uncertain times. And finally, we’ve developed a sampling-specific social distancing notice to help remind customers of the importance of following the guidelines.
The last 60 days
October 30th marked exactly 60 days since product demonstrations returned to Costco and to say it’s been a busy six weeks would be an understatement. It might be far from ‘business as usual’ right now but in those 60 days, we were still able to achieve a great deal.
Demos – Even with the restrictions on the types of product we were able to safely demo, we completed over 7,500 demos. Not only did this mean we were able to bring all of our teams back to work but it also brought the familiar joy back to the Costco experience.
Conversion rates – The 19% conversion rate was almost double what it was pre-COVID, with many agreeing that the ‘one member at a time’ sampling allowed for a greater level of one-on-one interaction between brand ambassador and customer. The ‘new normal’ has been all about maximising returns under challenging circumstances and by spending more time with members, we’ve been able to make the best of a bad situation and find new ways to make the sampling experience feel more personal.
These results have only been possible thanks to the work of everyone involved and, with a little creativity, we were even able to celebrate Halloween with a team-wide pumpkin carving competition. It’s these kinds of ‘little things’ that make the product demo teams so beloved and so indispensable and we can’t wait to see what they’ll bring to the table for Christmas this year. Fingers crossed!
Together as one
With the second national lockdown in progress, national spirits are going to be shaken so our product demos have never been more vital. They offer a glimmer of hope and joy in the darkness and a little (quite literal) taste of the way things were and the way they will be again.
With Christmas just around the corner (we’ve never needed it more) there are thousands of incredible demos ready to delight Costco members for the next 60 days and beyond. As long as we move forwards together and continue to adapt, whatever the next two months have to throw at us we’ll be ready to face it.


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Microsoft recently announced a new feature that lets you skip ahead to the next Windows 10 release. Skip Ahead is also letting the Windows Insiders try the latest Inbox app updates. Groove Music recently updated on Windows 10 PCs (with skip ahead enabled), the update added new features and it is now rolling out to Windows 10 Mobile and PC on the Release Preview Ring.
Groove Music is receiving the major update on Windows 10 Mobile and PC, it brings two new features and as well as some improvements. You can now edit the image, change titles and as well modify the playlist description.
Another useful addition to Groove Music is the Spotlighted Playlists. Groove will be giving playlist suggestions based on your music taste, it will give new suggestions regularly and once a week as well.
Groove Music has been updated to version 10.17072.14122 and it is available for download on the Release Preview Ring. You can download the update by visiting the Windows Store or by downloading the update from the below link.


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UK-based Pace Micro Technology has agreed to buy Philips' set-top box business in exchange for 70m of its shares - equivalent to 23 per cent of the business - the two consumer electronics companies said today. Pace shareholders have to agree, of course, and so do regulatory authorities. The UK company said the deal will allow …
Crash and burn
When I worked in broadcast TV, there were two set top boxes in the transmission area. At 6am, when the line switch to GMTV occurred, the Pace one would twitch, lose signal for a few seconds and then recover.
The Philips one would crash and have to be restarted.
It's no better now
the current crop of boxes are still incredibly prone to crash. It's been this way ever since the BBC told everone that a box could be bought for £40, without checking beforehand whether a stable and reliable box could be built for that little (it can't!)
- Review Is it an iPad? Is it a MacBook Air? No, it's a Surface Pro 3
- Microsoft refuses to nip 'Windows 9' unzip lip slip
- Tesla: YES – We'll build a network of free Superchargers in Oz
- US Copyright Office rules that monkeys CAN'T claim copyright over their selfies
- True fact: 1 in 4 Brits are now TERRORISTS


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Shoppers are now using four different grocery shops on average each month and more of them are visiting two or more stores on the same trip, as savvy shopping tactics have become the norm.
IGD’s ShopperVista research shows that nearly half of shoppers (47%) say they now use several grocery stores on the same trip, up from four out of ten (42%) who said the same last year. It is part of the trend of shoppers being prepared to put in more effort when buying their food and groceries to help them get the best quality, at the best value.
Other popular techniques that savvy shoppers now use include:
- Coupons: Over half (55%) of shoppers say they used coupons when food and grocery shopping
- Planning: 46% of them report that they are planning more before they shop for their food and groceries
- Reduced to clear: 44% said they shop at a specific time in the last year in order to make the most of the ‘reduced to clear’ section
Joanne Denney-Finch, IGD chief executive, said: “While the UK economy continues to improve and some shoppers tell us they’re feeling better off, savvy shopping techniques picked up during the recession have become mainstream.
“In spite of improving economic conditions it continues to make sense to put in extra time and effort to help us get the best quality, at the best value when buying our groceries. On average shoppers are using around four different grocery formats each month, and the most popular combination is supermarkets, convenience stores as well as food and high street discounters.
“Using two or more grocery stores on the same trip is an increasingly popular budgeting technique used by shoppers regardless of their demographics. Shoppers tell us that they’re proud to talk about the savings they are achieving by researching and shopping around more.
“Using coupons is also proving popular with shoppers. There’s now less stigma associated with using them and retailers have been making them more targeted and easier to use, to help people plan.
“Technological advances mean that people have more comparative information available to them at a swipe of a smartphone or tablet. There are also more grocery choices available whether it’s additional convenience and discount stores, or extra online shopping options such as home delivery subscription services. So it’s never been a better time to be a savvy shopper.”
Notes to editors:
- IGD is a food and grocery research and training charity
- IGD ShopperVista is a monthly analysis of British grocery shopper sentiment. We’re talking to over 1,000 shoppers every month to provide insight on their attitudes, motivators and barriers to food and grocery shopping, and what they expect to be doing in the future
- The shopper data was conducted between 1st May to 31st May 2014
For more information contact:
Krishan Rama on:
[email protected] or 01923 851 924 or 07889 010262


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For years, YouTube Premium has centered round eradicating adverts, background playback (Image-in-Image), and offline downloads. YouTube is now increasing what perks are provided with a Premium subscription.
9to5Google has a rebooted e-newsletter that highlights the largest Google tales with added commentary and different tidbits. Enroll right here!
Immediately, Google Meet Stay Sharing lets Android customers watch YouTube movies collectively. An identical functionality will likely be out there for FaceTime on iOS with YouTube Premium including SharePlay help over the approaching weeks. Apple introduced this functionality with iOS 15.1+, and it’s already discovered on a handful of apps.
In the meantime, YouTube on iOS would be the first to get an enhanced bitrate model of 1080p HD high quality. Google says this makes movies “additional crisp and clear.” This particularly advantages movies “with numerous element and movement.” “1080p Premium” is rolling out over the “coming weeks” and is coming subsequent to the online as an experiment. Google is seeking to carry it to Android sooner or later.
Whether or not you’re an avid sports activities fan or locked in on the newest gaming movies, this new function will carry an excellent deeper visible high quality to our members!
There will likely be no adjustments to the prevailing 1080p high quality for all different (free) customers.
Beginning at present, YouTube Premium customers on telephones and tablets will profit from the power to Queue movies. This entered testing late final 12 months and joins the prevailing internet functionality.
YouTube is bringing “Proceed watching” prompts to extra kind elements. If you happen to begin a video in your telephone however don’t end, the subsequent time you open youtube.com, there will likely be a immediate within the bottom-right nook to proceed. That is now out there on Android, iOS, and the online for signed-in Premium subscribers.
Lastly, YouTube is making official Good Downloads that robotically retailer advisable movies for offline viewing.
Extra on YouTube:
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.


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Momentum stocks can be an investor’s best friend because these companies’ continued growth tends to reflect well in returns for their shareholders. Investors will be continually be attracted to these businesses for their potential growth strategies and consistent volume and popularity. Investors also look at stocks like Carvana (NYSE:CVNA), with its 1,000% increase in its share price year-to-date (YTD), and think — I want a piece of that potential.
These three companies below have all seen considerable rallies within the last year, primarily due to tweaking their business structure, restructuring their debt and implementing cost-cutting actions such as layoffs. These crucial steps and increased investor attention led these companies to receive massive share price appreciation.
Meta Platforms (META)
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) is primarily a social media company focusing on connecting individuals through a wide range of online platforms. They are also pioneers of the metaverse, an internet-based virtual reality platform. Meta Platforms was previously known as Facebook. The company changed its name in October 2021. Meta owns Instagram, a popular photo-sharing app; WhatsApp, a video-calling app; and Facebook Messenger, a social media messaging app.
Within the last year, the company saw an increase in its share price of approximately 108%. This increase is primarily due to the company’s restructuring, which includes a large layoff for Meta Platform and other tech companies to help with overall revenue growth and put more emphasis on generative AI technology.
Meta Platforms released its second-quarter earnings for 2023, which stated an increase in net income of 16% on top of revenue growth of 11% compared to the year before. The company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Susan Li said Meta projects third-quarter revenue for 2023 to be between $32 billion and 34.5 billion.
Carvana, based in Tempe, Arizona, operates an e-commerce platform that allows consumers to purchase used vehicles, view a wide range of eligible cars, sell and trade their vehicles and offer to finance.
Carvana has been on a hot streak recently, with shares up over 1,000% year-to-date (YTD). The company has seen quite a bit of attention lately from average retail investors and short sellers. CVNA’s short interest is just over 45%, which could spell bad or good news for the company due to the contained transient squeeze potential.
Carvana has had a large hill to climb since late 2022, when it saw share prices tumble to under $4. But, partly due to the company restricting its enormous debt and focusing on cost-cutting. The stock has continued to trend upward this year.
In the company’s most recent earnings reports, it still sees sticky earnings potential with a net loss that shrunk by 76%. And revenue that decreased by 24%. It also reported a much-improved metric of a 94% increase in top gross profit per unit sold for this current quarter compared to the year before.
Modine Manufacturing (MOD)
Modine Manufacturing (NYSE:MOD), headquartered in Racine, WI, provides thermal management products for various industries such as agriculture, automotive and industrials.
On August 2, Modine released its nearing desultory for the quarter on June 30, 2023. The company reported a net income increase that more than tripled and revenue that rose by 15% compared to the previous year. It also raised the outlook to a 6% to 11% increase in net earnings for fiscal year 2024.
Modine’s share price has grown by 197% in the last year. From consistent growth within its climate solutions and performance technology sectors, each saw revenue increases year-over-year — 11% and 18%, respectively.
The company is projected to see continued growth within fiscal year 2024. Its exposure primarily to the electric vehicle and data center markets makes it a continued momentum play for investors.
As of this writing, Noah Bolton did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.


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Focused On Urban Issues, Nightlife, & Kenny Smoov
First Peyton Manning hangs up his football career and now he's leaving the pizza business.
The former NFL star has sold off his stake in more than 30 Papa John's stores in the Denver area. Manning got into the pizza biz in 2012 when he purchased 21 locations. Papa John's saw business skyrocket as soon as he got involved with the company. But when word got out that Papa John's and the NFL were about to end their sponsorship deal, Manning decided to jump ship and sold off his stores.


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Narrow your search
It takes this engineer just less than three hours to put together Qbo, the bot that can recognize itself in a mirror.
Open-source robot Qbo gets all warm and fuzzy when it meets one of its own kind.
The self-aware robot is one step closer to existence as engineers have programmed a cute little bot to recognize itself in the mirror.
Qbot is a prototype home robot that can interact with its user and avoid obstacles. Developer Francisco Paz says it will be an open-source machine that will be cheap enough to garner many users.


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March 22, 2012
Read the full article →
When Cindy Sherman collaborated with MAC last year, we weren’t sure the new make up line would sell. Blue-eyeshadowed clowns weren’t trending. We assume somebody must have bought the stuff though because now there's a line of Andy Warhol-inspired cosmetics.


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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that they would start testing digital collectibles or non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on its photo sharing app Instagram. Initially, the testing will be limited to select users in the US only.
They will be able to see NFTs on their Instagram Feeds, Stories and in message. While there will also be a new NFT tab added to participating accounts, with a tick in a hexagon to indicate verified NFTs.
According to Zuckerberg, the testing of digital collectibles will start with a handful of US creators and collectors. They will be able to share NFTs on Instagram. He has confirmed that there will be no fees associated with posting or sharing a digital collectible on Instagram.
Zuckerberg also said that similar functionality will also be introduced to other service such as Facebook.
Sharing the details Adam Mosseri, Instagram Head said that the NFT details will appear just like tagged profiles and products on the platform. Mosseri confirmed that they will be named “digital collectibles”. Users will see more details like the name of the creator and owner by clicking on the tag.
Meta has been planning NFT integration with Instagram since a while, given the company’s CEO has already talked about it in public.
It is believed that Instagram is a good platform for NFTs as there are more than a billion daily active users on the platform. Instagram is used by many people to showcase their art.
According to the Company, NFTs minted on the Ethereum and Polygon blockchains will be supported initially, with Solana and Flow coming soon. NFT owners will be able to connect their Rainbow, Trust Wallet and MetaMask accounts to verify NFT ownership.
Also, Read Here: Instagram testing full-screen feature like TikTok for the home feed


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Late last week, while the Jalopnik Brain Trust (me, David, Raph, Rory, and a smoothly-sanded plank of pine) were discussing why MGB prices never seem to get that high, I decided to hop onto Craigslist to see just what MGBs were actually going for. I only
An appeals court denied two former Los Angeles Police Department officers’ motion to be reinstated last week after they were fired in 2017 for pursuing a rare Pokémon in the mobile game Pokémon Go while on duty. The court documents make for some pretty hi
This year’s Formula 1 cars will look vastly different thanks to a new set of rules created to bring about closer racing. But Aston Martin reserve and development driver Nico Hulkenberg thinks the new cars might fall short of this mission.Read more...
Alpha wants us to believe that it’s a real automotive company, despite not having released or sold a single vehicle to the public. As of now, the company has a full lineup of nine retro-styled vehicles, covering nearly every vehicle preference from coupes


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Scooters & Mopeds
The company sells Vespa and SR150 scooters in India, but it is yet to hit full capacity utilization at its Baramati plant.
Twenty Two Motors has been working on launching their own electric scooter which, they claim, is going to give the petrol and diesel variants a run for their money.
SMEV said the lithium battery powered scooter currently costs around Rs 80,000 and in order to push sales, cost of such two-wheelers needs to be brought down.
Equipped with sirens, traffic lights and public address systems, the Hero scooters will empower women police officers and allow them to conveniently perform their patrolling duties.
The company plans to launch a new 125 cc scooter in the fourth quarter of the ongoing fiscal, while two more new models will hit the market in 2018-19.
The Classic edition offers a variety of features such as a sunlit ivory body colour, ‘classic-edition’ decals, elegant full chrome mirrors, a classy chrome backrest, along with other thoughtfully designed features like a smart USB charger and comfortable dual-tone seat.
Total two-wheeler sales were at 2,63,336 units last month as against 2,40,042 units in July 2016, a growth of 9.7 per cent.
Scooter Boutique will offer its customers a one stop solution to both scooters and fashion accessories through a unique buying experience provided by a team of highly motivated professionals.
It also said the company has increased this years capital expenditure that is higher than the previous years to strengthen the product portfolio and operations.
As per the data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), TVS Motor sold 249,077 units in April-June to become the second largest scooter seller in India beating Hero Motocorp which sold 209790 units.
The new edition is exclusively available in the disc brake variant of the scooter and will be retailed at Rs 59,063 (ex-showroom).
The X2City has been classified as a “Pedelec25” and thus requiring no helmet or driving license for anyone aged 14 and over.
Total Segment Share Gap Now Down To 2-3% As Scooters Make Inroads Into Rural Markets Too
The new Let’s is now available in a combination of bright colours which includes royal blue / matte black, orange / matte black and glass sparkle black which provides a new look to the scooter.
Honda Cliq will be manufactured at the company's plant in Tapukara, Rajasthan and will gonon sale first in Rajasthan followed by a phase-wise launch in other states.
"We believe that over long runs as long as we provide value to our customers, the margins should remain in the range at which they are at the moment," Rajeev Mathur said.
Honda sales grow by 34% which is much faster than 2% growth of TN industry with the highest ever market share of 35%. Now one in every 3 customers is buying a Honda two-wheeler in TN says the statement.
The CNG kit for two wheelers comprises of two cylinders of 1.2 kg each, which can run up to 120 to 130 km per kg at an approximate cost of Rs 0.60 per km per single fill and is expected to be substantially economical as compared to a similar petrol run vehicle at the current level of prices as per the kit manufacturer.
A large matt black area, the technical heart, shapes the core of the concept. It stretches from the front to the rear, and in addition to the tyres and front lights, also integrating the drive unit and the suspension elements.
The BSIV compliant TVS Scooty Zest 110 is equipped with Daytime Running Lamp (DRL). It gets a 110 cc engine and claims a mileage of 62 kmpl.


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According to Da Ginn of Rocksteady, the next installment in the Arkham franchise is going to take a bit more time than we all expected. Originally set for release on October 14, 2014, the game has now been delayed until the following year. From Ginn:
The very simple reason for doing this is to ensure we are delivering the awesome level of quality that Batman fans and gamers expect from this, the final episode and the epic conclusion to the Rocksteady Arkham trilogy. The Dark Knight will face his ultimate challenge in Batman: Arkham Knight now to be released in 2015.
Arkham Knight follows a growing trend of games that have been pushed back a year, such as Mad Max, The Division, and The Witcher 3. At least Bat-fans will keep busy in the new interim months, though, speculating the identity of the titular Arkham Knight and playing the recently-announced Lego Batman 3.


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Want to join the conversation?
Stamford, Connecticut-based $SYF posted a 5.4% YoverY rise in net income to $582MM, or $0.70 per diluted share, in 1Q16. Total platform revenue grew 13% to $2.9Bil. "Each of our business platforms delivered strong performance resulting in double-digit growth in overall purchase volume, platform revenue and loan receivables," said CEO Margaret Kean.
$NFLX a monster move, going up. Expect making some money on Monday.
$AMD down more than 6% even after posting above consensus third quarter results.
$MCD stock rose more than 2% after it posted better than expected 3Q16 results, driven by global same-store sales growth. Meanwhile, earnings and revenue were lower than last year, hurt by refranchising efforts.


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Last month, we had a post about how smart phone owners are active shoppers. In fact, over 70% of smart phone owners used their device on their last shopping trip. A new study has been released that details what groups are the fastest adopters of mobile shopping activities. Knowing who these groups are can help bring success to your mobile shopping offerings. But it may not be who you think it is.
• More than 30% of African-Americans have located a retailer through a smart phone
• More than one in five African-Americans used a mobile device to read a product review
• Over 20% of African-Americans have also used a mobile device to store a shopping list
• 40% of African-Americans have interacted with a company through SMS
• While tech adoption is often considered a male first function, women have been quicker to move towards mobile shopping
• 25% of women have located a retailer via mobile device compared to 20% of men
• Women are also more likely than men to read product reviews, keep a shopping list and make purchases on a mobile device
• Hispanic consumers are more likely to compare prices on a mobile device than other groups
What Does This Mean To You?
Most tech adoption happens first by younger, affluent male consumers. But with mobile shopping, that just isn’t the case. When you are looking at targets for your m-commerce activities, you can’t afford to overlook the African-American & Hispanic segments or female consumers.
Broward and Palm Beach Adults who live in a household with a smart phone:
• American-Americans – 44%
• Hispanics – 41%
• Females – 35%
Targeting will help you get the most out of your mobile shopping efforts. Promote your programs and capabilities in relevant content. Make sure you offer your customers real value and continue to fine tune your program once it is in place. For more information on reaching the groups that can bring you mobile success, please contact your Sun Sentinel representative or:
Advertising Marketing Manager
Source: Mobile Commerce Daily; The Integer Group; M/A/R/C Research


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Research shows most Australians will be traveling in the next two years, but the pandemic has changed the way we plan our holidays. Here’s what you need to know.
According to new research, 92% of Australians are expected to travel in the next two years, but three in four holidaymakers will be more worried about their health and safety than before the pandemic.
The YouGov research, which was commissioned by Southern Cross Travel Insurance in March, involved a survey of more than 1,000 adults and found appetite for travel was strong following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
But the results indicate that post-pandemic fears are shaping travel decisions, including destinations and accommodation choices, vacation activities and travel insurance.
Southern Cross Travel Insurance chief executive Jo McCauley said the pandemic has impacted the way people plan vacations.
“It made us more aware than ever of things that could potentially go wrong during our travels and the importance of planning for these unforeseen circumstances as much as possible,” she said.
“Before the pandemic, travel insurance was something some of our customers bought at the last minute with limited understanding of what they were and weren’t covered for.
“We are now seeing that Australian travelers are much more engaged with their travel insurance policy and as a result we are seeing an increase in inquiries to our contact centre.
“Clients (are asking us) much more detailed and hypothetical questions about what would and would not be covered in certain situations.”
Main research results:
● 92% of Australians plan to travel within Australia or abroad in the next two years;
● 75% of these travelers are more concerned about health and safety;
● 89% say that a destination’s Covid-19 record will have an impact on their decision to go there;
● 80% consider travel insurance a high priority for international travel, while 65% consider domestic travel insurance a high priority; and
● 36% of people aged 18-24 do not consider travel insurance a high priority for international travel.
The research found that prolonged Covid-19 restrictions had influenced the type of holiday people wanted, with nature and being away from big cities becoming a priority.
Survey results also showed that hostel-style accommodation was less appealing, with more travelers now considering general cleanliness and Covid safety practices when choosing accommodation.
More and more people are also looking at cancellation policies.
The research also revealed generational differences, with adults aged 18-24 showing a more relaxed approach to travel than older people.
“What is slightly concerning is that the data indicates that this age group may not be taking the same precautions as older generations when planning vacations, putting them at greater risk. harm or costly mistakes here and abroad,” McCauley said. mentioned.
“Regardless of age and health, we always recommend that travelers take out travel insurance.
“You never know what might happen, and it’s better to be prepared than to have regrets and a huge bill to pay.”
Flight Center Travel Group’s global leisure managing director, James Kavanagh, told NCA NewsWire that there has been a strong recovery nationwide since the lifting of border restrictions, both domestically and internationally.
“Generally speaking, people are very keen to reconnect, whether it’s with friends and family, or for business, or to make the most of their vacation,” he said.
“We sometimes queued outside some of our stores.”
Mr Kavanagh said there had been an initial wave of leisure travel, with people visiting friends and relatives.
“Many took off as soon as they could,” he said.
“There is also a good base of future vacation bookings, especially for cruises – people have booked through to next year.”
Popular destinations so far include India and the Philippines as well as the UK, Europe, America, Fiji, New Zealand and Bali.
“We expect further recovery as people get used to traveling in the post-pandemic world,” Mr Kavanagh said.
“It’s a bit more complex right now than before Covid and we’re seeing people coming into our stores who haven’t traditionally booked with an agent.”
Mr Kavanagh said flight capacity was also holding back the recovery.
“We need more seats on international routes and we expect that to happen over the next few months,” he said.
The Australian government recommends that people be fully vaccinated against the virus and travel with proof of vaccination status.
Unvaccinated Australians are strongly advised against traveling overseas due to health risks.
People are advised to check the Smart Traveler website for destination advice.
“The level of advice at your destination can affect whether you can get insurance and what’s covered,” the website says.
Travelers are also urged to know what would happen if they tested positive overseas, including the financial implications.
Some insurance policies only cover medical and repatriation costs if you contract the virus abroad, while others offer limited coverage for cancellation costs.
It should also be noted that some insurers only cover cancellation if you test positive and the policy was taken out more than 21 days before your departure date.
Most of the Covid-19 claims received by SCTI from January 1 to April 7 were for medical care and trip disruptions that occurred when customers contracted the virus while on vacation.
The average amount of claims paid was $2,775.
Top 10 travel destination bookings since February:
- Los Angeles
Source: Fight Center


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The effects of the partial federal government shutdown are wide reaching. The shutdown, which is now in its 18th day, impacts federal agencies responsible for providing critical assistance to millions of North Carolinas. In particular, the nation’s food assistance program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formally known as food stamps) is at risk both in the near and longer term should the shutdown continue. The shutdown highlights the critical role that federal food assistance plays not just in people’s households but in communities at large.
Across the nation, more than 2,500 grocery stores and retailers are unable to accept SNAP benefits as a result of the shutdown due to their inability to renew their permits to accept food assistance benefits during the shutdown.
Retailers in North Carolina are disproportionately impacted. According to the USDA, 158 retailers and grocers in the state are no longer able to accept food assistance from families in need. These retailers are providing food access to families across the state, and many are in areas that lack many options for families to secure food for their table.
This disruption in retailer’s abilities to accept SNAP has far-reaching consequences. Nearly two-thirds of households that receive SNAP are families with children, and almost a third are families with members who are elderly or have disabilities. And while more than 42 percent of SNAP families are employed, many of those still rely on food assistance to make up for low wages and unpredictable work schedules.
A disruption in the ability of families to access foods, no matter how short or small, means that the North Carolinians who need help the most are the ones bearing the burden of this government shutdown.
Families in need are not the only ones affected. Last year, SNAP was responsible for bringing in $2.14 billion into the North Carolina economy through local retailers and grocery stores. These businesses, especially in rural and low-income communities, are vital employers. This government shutdown impacts their bottom lines, making it harder for them to employ their workers.
The ripple effects of the shutdown will continue to affect our communities across North Carolina. The multiple harms caused by this shutdown highlight the critical role that the federal government plays in the everyday lives of every American.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.


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July 16, 2009
Chinese GDP up sharply
China Thursday announced its second-quarter GDP grew 7.9 percent from the same period of last year, thanks to huge fiscal pump-priming and record lending.
The National Bureau of Statistics said the measures helped spur the economy from its less robust 6.1 percent growth in the first quarter, blamed on declining exports.The new number put the world's third-largest economy after the United States and Japan closer to achieving overall annual growth of 8 percent this year. China's GDP in the first half of this year totaled $2.06 trillion.
Bureau spokesman Li Xiaochao said positive economic factors were increasing, Xinhua reported. But he warned the recovery is still not on solid footing as many uncertainties remain.
In other developments, China's consumer price index, a main gauge of inflation, dipped 1.7 percent in June from a year earlier, the fifth straight month of decline. The producer price index, which measures inflation at the wholesale level, fell 7.8 percent year on year in June, the lowest in a decade.
China's retail sales rose 15 percent in the first half of this year to nearly $860 billion, the bureau said.
Li said consumer prices were falling, domestic demand remained inadequate and the economy was still plagued by overcapacity, Xinhua reported.
He said the government would closely watch for international price fluctuations to prevent inflation risks.
Last November, the government announced a $586 billion stimulus package that includes tax cuts and consumer subsidies.
China, the holder of the world's largest foreign exchange reserves, saw its total rise to $2.13 trillion at the end of June, up 17.84 percent from the same period of last year, the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, announced Wednesday.


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Tariffs are taking a financial toll on American consumers and businesses, and a coalition of 150 American business and agricultural trade associations says it has the numbers to prove it.
Data released by Tariffs Hurt the Heartland on Nov. 6 indicates U.S. consumers and businesses paid an additional $38 billion between February 2018, when the U.S. began imposing tariffs on imports of Chinese goods, and September 2019. The tariffs cover an estimated $550 billion of Chinese goods.
“This data offers concrete proof that tariffs are taxes paid by American businesses, farmers and consumers — not by China,” Jonathan Gold, a spokesperson for coalition member Americans for Free Trade, said in a statement.
The coalition said the most notable recent bump in the amount of tariffs paid by American consumers and businesses occurred in September 2019, when $112 billion worth of tariffs were applied at the start of the month to additional Chinese-made consumer goods imported into the U.S.
According to Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, Americans paid an additional $905 million during the first 30 days of the tariff hike taking effect, for a total of $7.1 billion in September 2019. That’s an increase of $600 million over the previous month, the coalition said.Read More
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Another Wal-Mart is on its way to Chicago, with the City Council today approving a store for the South Side's Chatham neighborhood.
Aldermen voted 41-4 without discussion to approve the store at 83rd Street and Stewart Avenue. That comes on the heels of the council's unanimous vote last month after a protracted battle to allow a Wal-Mart to be built in the far Southeast Side Pullman neighborhood. Before that no Wal-Marts had opened in the city since 2006.
Read more in Clout Street.
Click HERE for a WGN-TV report on this story.


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Dairy prices overall were up slightly in last night’s Global Dairy Trade auction.
In the overnight auction, the GDT price index dropped 1.2% over the previous event. The first event of the NZ dairy season two weeks ago saw the price index dip 1.3%.
Whole milk powder price was down 1% overnight to an average price of $US$3189/metric tonne.
AMF index down 2.5%, average price US$6,060/MT
Butter index up 0.8%, average price US$5,611/MT
BMP not offered
Ched index down 3.6%, average price US$3,847/MT
LAC index up 8.2%, average price US$769/MT
RenCas index down 2.2%, average price US$4,898/MT
SMP index down 1.1%, average price US$2,003/MT
SWP index not available, average price not available
WMP index down 1.0%, average price US$3,189/MT


text: There was a happy ending story this week in Paris. An auction house put up for sale 24 ceremonial masks from the American Hopi and Apache tribes. The Native Americans argued that the masks were sacred, and to sell them would be blasphemy. But the auction went ahead and an unknown bidder bought the lot for $530,000. But then the Annenberg Foundation of Los Angeles said it was the anonymous buyer, and it will return all the masks to the tribes.


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When Universal Studios Escape President Tom Williams was chosen last year to head the company's recreation group, some observers predicted there would be a payoff for Orlando. Turns out they may be right. Talk is that the recreation group's creative design unit is moving to Orlando. The unit is directed by Mark Woodbury, who led the team that designed Universal's new Islands of Adventure theme park.
Not a shopping adventure
Don't read too much into Michael Eisner's recent visit to Universal Studios Escape's Islands of Adventure theme park. Despite speculation that the Walt Disney Co. CEO was scouting a possible acquisition, insiders say Eisner was just checking out the competition - something he's done before. Although Rank Group PLC has said it wants to sell its 50 percent stake in Universal Studios Escape, insiders say Eisner would have little interest in buying because of possible antitrust problems and the fact that Disney is under pressure from Wall Street these days to cut costs. Seagram Co. owns the other half of Universal.
Mum on 'done deal'
Tom Ackert, executive director of the Orange County Convention Center, wouldn't name the 1 million-square-foot show that recently committed to a three-year booking in the center's upcoming expansion, but he says the agreement is "a done deal." More than 100 events have already signed up for space in the $748 million expansion, scheduled to open in May 2003.
Trademark-infringement lawsuits apparently don't intimidate Orlando restaurateur Lanny Greene. In September, Greene, a long-time Nature's Table franchisee, opened a restaurant in Maitland called Cafe Choices. That prompted Orlando-based Nature's Table Franchise Co. to file suit, alleging that Greene's new operation is too similar to its own. The suit is still pending in federal court, but that didn't stop Greene from opening another Cafe Choices last week in a former Nature's Table site inside the Orange County Public Library in Orlando. Greene contends the suit is "frivolous." Nature's Table President Dick Larsen won't comment, saying only, "It's complicated."
A St. Louis-area consulting firm is scouting the Orlando area, apparently sizing up the market for yet another out-of-state bank intent on expansion. Aragon Consulting won't reveal much, though. "It's a client who's interested in banking in Florida," Aragon researcher Deni Kogan said.
Albertson's gets a jolt
Albertson's Inc. has a new perk for shoppers: Starbucks coffee. Starbucks Coffee Co. opened its first Orlando-area supermarket coffee bar Wednesday in Albertson's new supermarket on Apopka-Vineland Road in Orlando. The deal that Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's cut with Starbucks calls for coffee bars in more than 100 new and renovated supermarkets nationwide.
A new ergonomics proposal for the workplace has many small manufacturers irate, but the rules could be a boon to other concerns - chiefly, engineers and designers. Sean Hagen, owner of Orlando's BlackHagen Design Group, has already received calls from businesses interested in having him review their equipment and work sites. The rules would require employers to adjust work stations and other equipment to fit workers better and prevent injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The proposals were released late last year by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA is accepting comments on the rules until Feb. 1.


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Titanfall Expedition DLC releases in May according to Respawn Entertainment during their panel at PAX East. The DLC will include three new maps; Runoff, Swamplands and Wargames. The back story of Expedition is:
In the wake of the Battle of Demeter, IMC Expeditionary Forces travel deep into Frontier space to recover from their recent defeat. On an uncharted world, the IMC begin construction of a new fleet operations base, using newly acquired water collection and filtration plants to support the new base. When drainage operations reveal ancient ruins and artifacts of an unknown origin in a nearby swamp, Spyglass activates an archaeological team to investigate the site. To maintain battle readiness at the new base, IMC Pilots use simulation pods to train for anticipated Militia raids, based on lessons learned in Angel City and IMC Airbase Sierra.
Titanfall Expedition is the first of three DLC packs with each pack available for $9.99 or through the Titanfall Season Pass ($24.99).
Find out more at – http://www.titanfall.com/news/titanfall-expedition-dlc


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The consumer protection subcommittee (of the Senate commerce committee) will be holding a hearing Thursday to discuss mobile privacy. Representatives from Apple, Google and Facebook will be there to speak as well as a representative from Common Sense Media.
The consumer protection subcommittee will be discussing consumer privacy rights and discussing industry procedures for mobile data collection. Last week, Apple and Google faced tough questioning from members of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee about their company privacy policies.
Representatives from both Apple and Google reiterated that customers have control over whether or not their data is collected. When their data is collected it is done anonymously; furthermore, Apple stated that their device users see an icon that appears when location services are being used.
The software chief from Apple also told the committee that the “bug” in their software that was collecting data from users who had ‘opted-out’ of location services; had been fixed in the latest software update. Senator Al Franken questioned a researcher about time-stamped location data, and if it could be used to trace customer movement.
Researcher Ashkan Soltani replied to Senator Franken that it could be used in that capacity; additionally, claims of “anonymous” data collection isn’t exactly true. The Senator also asked the group about data and information sharing with third-party companies.
Neither company representative gave Senator Franken a direct response. The companies were also questioned by other subcommittee members regarding “Spy-Fi”; Google’s street view cams collecting data from wireless networks in Germany.
Both companies listened to Senator Schumer express concerns again; regarding their hesitation to remove an app they carry that points out where drunk-driving checkpoints are. At the end of the first meeting Tuesday there were very few committee members convinced that any of the companies were doing enough to protect their customer’s privacy rights.


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Maruti Suzuki Stocks Drops: After the December quarter results, Maruti Suzuki shares are being sold today. The company’s stock has fallen nearly 2.5 per cent to Rs 7410. On Thursday, it closed at a price of Rs 7586. The company’s earnings have definitely increased in the December quarter, but the operating performance has been affected due to the higher cast. Maruti’s margins have declined on a quarterly and yearly basis. In such a situation, there is pressure on the stock today. After the results, the brokerage house has also formed its opinion about the stock. Know that after the results, Maruti should buy, sell or wait for now.
Effect on operating performance
The operating performance of Maruti Suzuki has been affected due to higher cast. The gross margin has fallen by 250 points at quarterly end. The company’s EBITDA margin on an annual basis in the third quarter of the financial year has been 9.5 per cent as against 10.1 per cent. On an annual basis, the company’s tax expense has increased from Rs 441.6 crore to Rs 508.4 crore. The management of the company has said that the rise in commodity prices and unseen product mix has negatively impacted the company’s margins.
Maruti Suzuki’s profit has increased by nearly 24.1 percent to Rs 1,941.4 crore on an annual basis. The company’s revenue has also seen a growth of 13.3 percent. The company sold 495897 unit vehicles in the third quarter, up 13.4 percent from the same quarter last year. Sales in the domestic market have been 467369 units, up 13 per cent from the same quarter a year ago. The export grew at 20.6 percent.
Brokerage House Opinion
Brokerage House Motilal Oswal Believes that demand recovery remains strong. In the next 2 to 3 quarters, a recovery in margins is also expected. The brokerage house has advised to buy the stock in view of the growth in the stock. A target of Rs 9000 has been set for the stock with a growth of 19 percent. Brokerage House Sharekhan Has also advised to buy shares, giving a target of 9000 rupees. According to the brokerage, demand is strong in rural and semi-urban areas. The company’s business is now recovering from the Coronavirus epidemic. Apart from the domestic market, the demand outlook at the export level is better.
although Brokerage House CLSA Has given a sell rating in Maruti and has fixed the target at Rs 6800. Citi Has given a buy rating on Maruti and has fixed the target at Rs 8700. There itself Goldman sex The company has set a target of Rs 9126, recommending investing in the stock.
(Note- We have given information here based on Maruti’s quarterly results and brokerage house report. Considering the risk of the market, take the opinion of the first expert on investment.)


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In March 2013,a newly built factory in Novocherkassk, Russia started production of beverage cans. The installed capacity of the production line is 2600 cans per minutein sizes: 25 cl, 33 cl and 50 cl, giving in total one billion cans per year. The plant is prepared to install a second beverage can line of similar capacity.
Can-Pack started its activity in Russia back in 1996. In 2010 company launched the factory in Volkolamsk near Moscow of annual capacity 950 mln cans.
New Can-Pack factory in Russia started production


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With the aid of the Nigeria Copyright Commission, NCC, 8 persons were arrested and over 30 containers of pirated books confiscated in the commercial city of Aba, Abia State.
The Nigeria Publishers Association disclosed this in a press conference to mark this year’s World Book Day in Enugu.
It identified piracy as a cankerworm affecting the industry just as it identified the Aba raid as one of the biggest in the history of piracy in the country.
Chairman-in-council of NPA, Chief Uchenna Anioke noted that these books are printed in China at much cheaper rates due to government policies, and imported into Nigeria.
He called on the Federal Government to initiate policies that would check piracy and as well enhance the reading culture in Nigeria for improved economic development.
The policy he suggested should include copyright and piracy education in secondary school curriculum warning that without books the quest for knowledge and education would go into extinction.
He identified some of the constraints confronting the book industry in Nigeria to include illiteracy, finance, poor reading culture, government policy, infrastructural decay.
He said, “Countries with high level of literacy and thereby with high number of readers are economically, socially and politically more viable than non-reading countries.
“Books play vital roles in national development. However, there are some huddles, constraints just confronting the book industry that tend to dwarf it’s ability in performing these role.
“Moreover, publishers are of the view that finance is a factor militating against book publishing as publishing is capital intensive and because of the shaky wacky nature of the Nigerian economy, most banks consider it extremely risky to extend loan benefits to publishers.”
He however, suggested that despite the challenges encountered in publishing books, the association had moved on to introduce dual publishing which includes, digital publishing with traditional publishing method to meet the local peculiarities.


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Singapore retail sales fall 7.8% in August on lower car demand
Retailers in Singapore saw their takings fall 7.8 per cent in August over a year ago, dragged down by slow car sales.
Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales were up 1.4 per cent compared to last August, according to data released by the Department of Statistics on Monday.
Retailers of motor vehicles reported a 41.5 per cent plunge in sales, while sellers of telecommunications apparatus & computers and furniture & household equipment also saw revenues fall 7.7 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively.
On a month-on-month basis, retail sales were 3.6 per cent higher than July, and 3.3 per cent higher excluding car sales.


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The Xiaomi Mi 5X is Xiaomi’s latest device, announced just last week. The device has some fairly mid-range specs and a nice, if slightly fruity looking design. If you felt compelled to buy the device and live in China, then you’re in luck.
The Xiaomi Mi 5X went up for purchase in a flash sale at 10:00 today. The second flash sale will be held today as well by 14:00 though you’ll need to act quickly as the device there are limited devices available and Xiaomi phones sell out quick.
Gizchina News of the week
As of right now, the gold variant of the device is no longer available, though the black and rose gold options are still there. It can be yours for the price of 1,499 yuan, which roughly translates to $220. Somewhat pricier than the standard mid-range Mi device, but not too bad for the specs. You can find the device for sale right here.


text: Latest News Jobson Medical Information and Canada’s Breton Communications Sign New Sales, Marketing Partnership By Staff Friday, September 07, 2012 12:15 AM NEW YORK and LAVAL, Québec—Jobson Medical Information, publishers of Vision Monday, 20/20, Review of Optometry and other leadership information brands in the optical industry, has entered a new sales and marketing partnership with Breton Communications, Canada’s leading information service provider to the optical market, to help both companies offer a wider reach in their communications and services to optical suppliers, retailers and eyecare professionals. Under the new relationship, which becomes effective immediately, the Jobson Optical Group will represent and sell the Opti-Promo product in the U.S. on behalf of Breton while Breton will represent the Jobson properties in the Canadian market. “Our strategic relationship with Breton Communications is an important step in providing our clients in the U.S. access to the Canadian market through Breton’s industry leading e-mail communication service,” said Marc Ferrara, CEO of JMI’s Information Services Division. “Now, U.S. ophthalmic companies can reach the full U.S. and Canadian markets through one simple and easy process.” Added Martine Breton, president of Breton Communications, "We are excited that this new relationship will enable us to bring opportunities to Canadian companies who are looking to find an effective way to reach and approach the U.S. market."


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Interesting truck news out of Germany with the Italians overlooking a homegrown product and instead naming the new Volvo FH LNG the 2018 Sustainable Truck of the Year.
The homegrown product is of course the LNG-powered Iveco Stralis, of which a new 460hp version was recently unveiled.
Related: Volvo powers ATA Safety Truck
In announcing the Swedish product as the winner of this year’s award, given by the popular Italian truck magazine, Vado e Torno, in cooperation with Italian university Politechnico di Milano, judges said “Volvo is raising the level of natural gas-powered trucks”.
Volvo, in welcoming the award, said the truck has the same high performance and low fuel consumption as a diesel-powered Volvo truck, but far lower CO2 emissions.
If natural gas is used as a fuel, emissions are cut by 20%.
While running on renewable biogas combined with HVO, emissions may drop by up to 100%.
The jury also took into consideration a range of other parameters in their decision, such as safety, comfort and recyclability.
Lars Mårtensson, Director Environment and Innovation at Volvo Trucks, welcomed the recognition.
“Our new generation of gas-powered trucks marks a milestone in our sustainability work and in our long-term aim to achieve zero emissions.
“We are delighted that our efforts are receiving such attention.
“By putting the spotlight on sustainability issues and by rewarding signficant progress, the Sustainable Truck of the Year award helps drive the development of the transport sector in a sustainable direction.”
Related: AEB comes to Volvo VNL/VNR series
Stay up to date with all the latest Volvo Trucks News at heavyvehicles.com.au.


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Apple recently released their first update since the launch of iOS 11. The new iOS 11.0.1 update was released this week. Now we have some videos comparing the iOS 11.0.1 vs iOS 10.3.3.
In the videos below we get to see the iOS 11.0.1 vs iOS 10.3.3 running on a number of devices side by side. These include the iPhone 5S, the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 7.
The new iOS 11.0.1 software update is now available to download. The update is design to bring a number of performance improvements to the iPhone and iPad. The iOS 11.01.1 software update is also said to fix the bug related to exchange email.
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
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Summer may only just be around the corner, but Jet2holidays is already offering up major inspiration for next year's sunshine season.
The brand has just unveiled its summer 2020 programme and it includes not one but TWO new destinations for the travel firm.
From May through to early November, the travel firm will be offering flights and holiday packages to Zadar, Croatia, and Preveza, Greece.
It's no wonder that Zadar was on the company's radar - after all, it's hailed as one of Croatia's best cities.
Jet2holidays and Jet2.com will be offering flights and packages departing from London Stansted and Manchester, with range of 2-star to 5-star hotels in the hotspot on the Dalmatian Coast.
Meanwhile, Preveza in mainland Greece along the Adriatic Coast will make for a dreamy beach destination with its picture-perfect sandy shores and swim-friendly azure waters.
UK holidaymakers will have a choice of flights and holidays operating from Birmingham, London Stansted and Manchester.
But it's not just the two new destinations that the company is adding to its repertoire.
In fact, it will be offering a total of 19 new routes across nine UK bases (five of which are through the Preveza and Zadar offerings).
The new routes will also include the likes:
Belfast, East Midlands and Edinburgh to Izmir in Turkey
Birmingham to Budapest, Kefalonia, Nice
Birmingham and London Stansted to Murcia
East Midlands and London Stansted to La Rochelle
Glasgow to Costa de Almeria and Krakow
London Stansted to Bergerac
Newcastle to Kos
Serving the routes will be over 100 aircraft including Jet2's fleet of 34 brand new Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft, the last of which was delivered to the company in January 2019.


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Starbucks (SBUX) is brewing ambitious growth plans, with the company outlining its vision for opening 12,000 new locations within five years.
The additional shops would rapidly boost the total number of Starbucks locations by almost 50 percent, helping the Seattle-based company achieve revenue growth of 10 percent annually and per-share earnings growth of at least 15 percent annually.
The brewer outlined its growth plans before investors in New York on Wednesday, about a week after it announced that Howard Schultz, who has built Starbucks into a global brand with 25,000 locations since joining the company more than 30 years ago, would step down as CEO in April.
Schultz, who becomes executive chairman, will be replaced as CEO by Chief Operating Officer Kevin Johnson. Shares of Starbucks Corp. have declined about 2 percent since the announcement. After the company revealed its expansion plans on Wednesday, shares advanced modestly.
Schultz stressed again Wednesday that he wasn’t departing Starbucks, and that he plans to oversee the growth of its high-end stores, called Starbucks Reserve Roasteries.
“I’m not leaving,” Schultz said at the investor conference. There has been “a lot of speculation about what I’m going to do and when I’m going to do it ... I’m here to do everything I can to lend my help and support in the areas I’m going to be focused on.”
Johnson, who was a technology executive at Juniper Networks and Microsoft before joining Starbucks, has overseen the coffee giant’s global supply chain, its human resources department, and its marketing and technology efforts, including launches of digital and mobile sales platforms. He’s also been a member of the Starbucks board for seven years.
A significant portion of Starbucks growth appears to be tied to China, where the ranks of the middle class are rapidly expanding. Schultz said he predicted Starbucks’ Chinese operations will eventually be larger than its U.S. business.
Belinda Wong, the CEO of Starbucks China, said the company’s 5,000 new Chinese locations will be spread across 200 cities, which she said would help triple its revenue and operating income.
“Over the next six years, another 300 million will also reach the middle class, reaching a total of 600 million people” in China, she said. “That’s almost twice the population of the U.S.”
In the meantime, its high-end Starbucks Reserve Roastery concept will expand into additional cities such as Seattle and Chicago next year, with plans to reach 1,000 globally. Starbucks said it’s also planning to open stand-alone Italian cafes through its partnership with Princi, a restaurant with locations in Milan and London that’s known for wood-fired breads and pizzas.


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- A coffee company filed a complaint claiming Starbucks adds potassium to its Dark French Roast coffee.
- The complaint says the alleged potassium levels means Starbucks is selling misbranded food in North Carolina.
- Starbucks said it doesn't add any potassium and the complaint is "without merit."
Starbucks is pushing back against a North Carolina-based coffee company's complaint that claims the amount of potassium in Starbucks Dark French Roast coffee "significantly exceeds the levels of potassium" that naturally occurs in coffee.
Starbucks said the complaint is "without merit."
Puroast Coffee Company, a roaster and seller of low-acid coffee, filed the complaint with the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division in September claiming that independent laboratory test results show Starbucks Dark French Roast coffee sold in retail stores "is at over 14 standard deviations above the respective average" of potassium content in raw coffee beans. "Even at the extremes," the amount of potassium doesn't usually deviate beyond five or six from the average, the complaint said.
"We are aware of the complaint Puroast has filed with the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division and believe it is without merit," a Starbucks spokesperson said in a statement shared with Insider. "We do not add potassium to Starbucks Dark French Roast coffee. Potassium is naturally occurring in coffee. Further, we are confident that the labeling for our Dark French Roast coffee is fully compliant with all U.S. Food and Drug Administration labeling requirements."
Kerry Sachs, CEO of Puroast, told Insider that the company discovered the amount of potassium in the Starbucks Dark French Roast during routine testing of different brands of coffee in the company's lab that it does about once a month.
In March 2022, Sachs said a test showed an "abnormally" high level of pH in the Starbucks coffee. A higher pH level means the coffee has lower acidity, he said. While coffee usually has a pH balance around 5, the Starbucks coffee was allegedly showing a pH of 5.7 to 5.8, or about 70% less acid than regular coffee, Sachs said.
"We thought it was a mistake, it was odd, it kept showing up," Sachs said.
Puroast sent its results to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to confirm its results, which the university did, Sachs said.
Taka Shibamoto, professor emeritus of environmental toxicology at the University of California Davis Coffee Center, told The New York Post that the finding in the complaint "is strange and hard to believe."
"A company like Starbucks must know the regulations," Shibamoto told the NY Post, adding that if the findings of the complaint are true, potassium might have been added to the coffee for taste or to lower its acidity.
The complaint accuses Starbucks of failing to disclose that potassium is added during production of its Dark French Roast coffee, and labeling it as "100%" coffee means the company has and "is currently selling and distributing, a misbranded food product within the State of North Carolina."
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture is currently reviewing the complaint, a spokesperson for the department told Insider.
Sachs said Puroast is calling on Starbucks to add a label disclosing any added potassium. He said he hopes the complaint encourages a standard to be developed for low-acid coffee.


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Picture courtesy Time magazine
Going Vegetarian has never been easier. It is one of the ways to really go Green. If everyone would avoid meat once a week it can reduce the amount of green house gases by a good amount. These days you can pretty much find vegetarian alternatives to almost every meat favorite from soy sausages and “Fib Ribs” to Tofurky jerky and mock lobster. Most restaurants including fast food chains are providing vegetarian menus and veggie burgers too.
One of the things that have been missing has been Chicken! This spring, scientists at the University of Missouri announced that after more than a decade of research, they had created the first soy product that not only can be flavored to taste like chicken but also breaks apart in your mouth the way chicken does: not too soft, not too hard, but with that ineffable chew of real flesh. When you pull apart the Missouri invention, it disjoins the way chicken does, with a few random strands of “meat” hanging loosely.
Read the entire article here
Check out the video here
FYI – By switching to a vegetarian diet, you can save more than 100 animals a year from misery.
And if you are planning to go vegetarian start with the birds and their eggs as they are smaller more of them need to lose their lives to feed a few of us.
If interested in going vegetarian check out go veg GO GREEN!!


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Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) will expand its display ad sales deal with local TV station operator Belo Corp. (NYSE: BLC) to 15 of the Dallas-based broadcaster’s markets. With local TV stations struggling to attract ad dollars almost as much as their newspaper counterparts, a number of affiliates having trying to turn to online ad sales for additional support. At the same time, Yahoo has been focusing more on the local ad markets where it has existing ties to newspaper publishers and the idea of adding more TV station website sales partnerships is part of a wider strategy to turn around its weaker than expected revenue numbers.
Yahoo’s display advertising revenue in total was up 5 percent to $467 million in Q2, but as CEO Carol Bartz noted during the corresponding earnings call, the company’s Americas display ad dollars were were flat and within the U.S., it was actually down.
Last week, Belo, the TV station sibling of the newspaper company AH Belo (NYSE: AHC), posted weak revenue results as well.
The deal between Yahoo and Belo combines the broadcaster’s local sales programs and with Yahoo’s online reach, which is second only to Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and continues to grow. According to the most recent comScore (NSDQ: SCOR) numbers, Yahoo had 178 million uniques in June, a 27 percent increase year-over-year.
The question is what took this deal so long, since Belo has been providing Yahoo with video from its stations for several years. The answer is that until TV advertising started weakening, Belo didn’t see much gain from building up its station website sales — the company says that last year, it saw double-digit increases in station site display ad dollars, but it didn’t offer specifics — and Yahoo had mainly been concentrating on building up its partnership with the roughly 800 members of its Newspaper Consortium.
Over the past year, Yahoo has signed TV station display sales deals with Gannett (NYSE: GCI) and Media General (NYSE: MEG). TV station websites represents an area of potential growth for Yahoo as it races against AOL’s hyperlocal network Patch to capture that market.


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Cromwell, CT officials to mull allowing cannabis sales, smoking ban
CROMWELL – Municipal leaders are poised to discuss a possible yearlong moratorium on the sale of cannabis in town to allow officials to research the issue in depth in order to make an informed decision.
Town Manager Anthony Salvatore is culling information and data related to the issue so he can present a recommendation at the meeting Wednesday night, he said. It’s up to council members whether they’ll take action that evening or consider the matter in future sessions.
In a recent Facebook post, Councilman James Demetriades asked the public to submit opinions and other feedback on the proposal by Wednesday. He’s also fielding opinions on the idea of prohibiting the smoking of marijuana and tobacco on public property.
“If you don’t do a moratorium … then planning and zoning will decide whether and where activity may be permissible under state law,” Salvatore said.
Although the governor signed legislation making recreational cannabis use legal in Connecticut in July, retail sales will likely will not be allowed until at least the end of 2022.
If the council were to decide to allow marijuana sales, the zoning board would write up a land use regulation that would permit in what zone and what type of restrictions would be in place for businesses, Salvatore said.
Under the bill, a municipality must hold a referendum on whether to allow certain cannabis sales if at least 10 percent of its electors petition for such a vote at least 60 days before a regular election, according to state statute.
Existing law allows municipalities to regulate activities deemed harmful to public health, including smoking, on town-owned property. The bill broadens this to include property that a municipality controls but does not own, the provision reads.
The board also will take up whether to ban the smoking and consumption of cannabis on public property, which is part of the statute.
“It’s a novel issue. This is a new one, and we want to get it right,” Demetriades said. “Since this is such a new discussion point, we want to gauge where members of the public are at.”
Several communities in Connecticut have enacted bans, most of them temporary.
Guilford, Madison and North Branford recently put in place measures that stop cannabis establishments from opening for nine months to a year from now, and Clinton has made it unlawful for any building, structure or land to be used as a cannabis establishment, producer, retailer or dispensary.
In August, Middletown Planning and Zoning commissioners approved the cultivation and sale of marijuana as well as retail sales.
If Cromwell does not issue a moratorium on the sale of marijuana, Demetriades explained on social media, such enterprises would operate much like liquor stores and would need to obtain a permit from the PZC.
The meeting will be held in at Town Hall at 7 p.m. To view the agenda, visit cromwellct.com.