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Curb on Textile Imports Is Passed by the House
By CLYDE H. FARNSWORTH, Special to The New York Times
Published: September 19, 1990
WASHINGTON, Sept. 18— The House of Representatives today passed by 271 to 149 a bill already approved in the Senate to restrict imports of apparel and shoes. But the vote was short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a promised Presidential veto.
The domestic textile industry and its shoe-producing allies lobbied hard for the legislation, arguing it was needed to protect two million jobs against low-wage competition and halt the plant closings of recent years.
In China, the leading textile supplier to this country, the average industry wage is 27 cents an hour, compared with $9.31 here, said Representative T. Cass Ballenger, Republican of North Carolina. ''How can American interests compete with this?'' he asked during floor debate.
Last Wednesday, the industry mustered 4,000 workers to march on the White House in support of the legislation. Organizers said the marchers carried more than 250,000 signatures in favor of the bill.
Warning on Retaliation
But opponents, including the Bush Administration, which fought the legislation at every turn, warned that import restrictions would increase the price of sweaters, shirts and other clothing, and prompt retaliation from trading partners, costing jobs instead of preserving them.
Opponents also warned that enactment would doom any chance of opening markets worldwide at trade negotiations in Geneva.
The legislation would restrict the overall growth of imports of textiles and clothing to the United States to 1 percent annually, freeze footwear imports at 1989 levels and prohibit the President from negotiating on textile, apparel and footwear tariffs.
On July 18, the Senate passed the same legislation by 68 to 32, only one vote more than the two thirds needed to override. Although a showdown over the legislation is unlikely until next month, after the President sends Congress his veto message, opponents saw today's House vote, nine short of the two-thirds needed to override, as a victory.
''This vote is very good news for us,'' said a senior Administration trade official insisted on not being identified.
Retailers Express Relief
Ronni Nass, vice president of imports for the McCrory Corporation, a retail chain, and a director of the American Association of Exporters and Importers, said her organizations were ''relieved that this restrictive bill will not be enacted.''
But proponents have not yet conceded. Daniel K. Frierson, chairman of the Fiber, Fabric and Apparel Coalition for Trade, the principal lobbying force for the bill, said today's vote was the ''largest victory margin ever recorded for this legislation on final passage in the House of Representatives'' and urged the President to sign the bill.
This is the third time in the last five years that the textile industry has sought protection from Congress. President Ronald Reagan vetoed legislation twice, and both times the House failed to override his veto.
One reason it has been harder for the industry to win a bigger vote in the House is that both the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Dan Rostenkowski, Democrat of Illinois, and the chairman of the Ways and Means trade subcommittee, Sam M. Gibbons, Democrat of Florida, have strongly opposed protection.
As Mr. Rostenskowski put it today in his floor remarks: ''This textile bill is protectionist, it is anti-competitive, it is regressive, and it makes the Congress appear hypocritical.''
The United States apparel industry is already highly protected. Under the so-called Multifiber Arrangement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the United States and other developed countries have taken special measures to curb imports from third world countries.
The United States has negotiated more than 1,000 quotas with 38 countries, which means that about three-quarters of all textile imports are already under some restriction.


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The artificial intelligence (AI) It is in its renaissance stage. For those who are not yet very keen on the subject, AI is a combination of algorithms proposed with the purpose of creating machines that have the same capabilities as humans. A technology that is still in development but already has many companies interested in advancing development. In order not to be left behind by the “furor” of AI, we selected 8 companies with growth potential linked to this technology and that can be operated from Argentina with pesos through CEDEARs.
The first company that became known worldwide was OPEN AI, the company that created ChatGPT that, although it cannot be operated from Argentina, there are other options to consider. It is worth remembering that CEDEARs are papers that are issued in the Buenos Aires market to be able to operate in foreign stocks without leaving the local financial system. The interesting thing is that although they are assets that are operated in Argentine pesos, their prices are tailored to the dollar value of those shares in their home markets. And at their prices in dollars cash with settlement (CCL).
Microsoft invested $1 billion in Open AI in 2019. Reports highlight that Microsoft would own a 49% stake in OpenAI. For the moment, Brad Smith, president of Microsoft also presented reservations to improve the use of artificial intelligence and greater regulation of governments. He argues that it is possible to create a risk management framework for artificial intelligence in all governments. That way you would be better prepared to deal with any problems that arise. It is worth remembering that Microsoft’s Cedear is operated on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange.
From the leading search company they have been working on the development of Artificial Intelligence for the last two decades. Among some of Google’s most popular products like Lens and Translate, they were built entirely using Artificial Intelligence, through the application of optical character recognition and machine learning.
3. Baidu (BIDU)
The Asian search engine has been working on the AI application for more than 5 years. It recently gained notoriety again because it announced the launch in March of its own version of ChatGPT, named Ernie for its acronym in English.
4. Amazon (AMZN)
The e-commerce company uses machine learning algorithms to analyze its customers’ behavior, browsing history, and purchase history in order to provide personalized product recommendations. This allows customers to find new products that may interest them and therefore increase the probability of making purchases on the platform, which improves Amazon sales.
5. Nvidia (NVDA)
The company has a strong presence in the development of graphic processing units (GPUs) – video cards – that allow the application of artificial intelligence. It was one of the companies that last week rebounded strongly due to its development with AI.
6. Salesforce (CRM)
In this case, it’s a company that empowers administrators and developers with a rich set of services to build smarter apps and customize AI for their respective businesses. recently announced the launch of Einstein GPTmaking it the first AI-powered customer relationship management technology, which is expected to exponentially change the experience of every customer.
The company is considered one of the leading companies in the application of artificial intelligence as a cloud service. In addition, through several of its segments, it offers different types of solutions with integrated AI, which range from the use of IBM Watson, to the creation of flows and use of AI for data analysis and cybersecurity.
I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.

domain: news


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By Mark Stone
Connecting to a corporate network while on vacation can be dangerous — even more so than connecting while on a business trip. Vacationing employees may not be focusing on security when they’re checking email or accessing office documents. Procedures that may be top-of-mind in the workplace can take a back seat.
“It’s at the point where I go to security conferences and come home and can’t sleep because of all the threats out there,” Irvine said.
Public Wi-Fi Threat
Irvine believes publicly accessible Wi-Fi presents the greatest threat to businesses regardless of size. The possibilities for being hacked on a public network are both numerous and terrifying.
By connecting your phone or laptop to an open, unsecured Wi-Fi network, you’re rolling the dice, putting your data and privacy on the line. Hackers are always getting smarter, and the tools they use are always getting more readily available.
Irvine says WiFi Pineapple exemplifies the risks. This hacker tool can be used to hijack a public network name, such as that of a coffee shop, airport or hotel Wi-Fi, and trick users into thinking it’s the real deal.
“What’s scary about these devices is that once you connect [through them], hackers can start capturing your data and can even redirect traffic to your device and infect malware,” he said. “You need to make sure at the very least that your phone or device is not set to connect automatically. That checkbox or setting needs to be off.”
While connecting to public Wi-Fi is never a good idea, doing so in a popular tourist spot may be the most dangerous. Hackers love going where the people are, so if you’re off to somewhere like Disneyland, don’t connect to the Wi-Fi hot spots without proper protection.
No matter where you are this summer, it’s likely you can use a mobile carrier data plan to connect online. Irvine advises using one. Those plans are getting cheaper and more generous with data allowances — so, he asks, why not use that secure data connection for tasks that require a laptop or another device?
“If you want to connect with your laptop on vacation, just tether your laptop to your phone with the personal hot spot feature,” Irvine said. “Now you have a point-to-point connection to your data that would be very difficult for a hacker to get into.”
The other solution is to install VPN software on your mobile device or laptop and encrypt 100 percent of the data coming in and out of the device. Alternatively, companies can use a third-party client, such as CyberGhost, Private Internet Access or ExpressVPN, Irvine said.
Given that the average cost of a breach is in the millions of dollars, Irvine wonders why companies don’t demand more security from their employees. One possibility is resistance from employees because security measures complicate getting online. But tethering and other methods are making things easier.
Phishing, And The Threat From Europe
Although public Wi-Fi presents the biggest risk, it’s not alone. Hackers have specific phishing and application scams just for vacationers. These may entice with headlines such as “Save 50 percent on your airfare” or “Get one night free at your hotel.” As many as seven out of 10 such pitches are scams, according to Irvine.
“Users need to be very cautious about clicking these embedded links,” he said.
When you’re on vacation, it’s tempting to share your photos on social media. Not so fast, Irvine says. By posting your photos online, you are alerting thieves that nobody is home. “Save all your photos until you get home and post them when you get back,” he said.
Those traveling outside North America will want to be especially cautious when connecting online. Public networks in European countries are notorious havens for hackers.
Irvine suggests that no matter where you travel this summer, you should turn off all services (such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) when they don’t need to be on. He also advises never leaving your devices unattended. “If someone makes off with your device, the costs to your privacy and wallet can be astronomical,” he said.
When on vacation, you may also be tempted to play more games and use more leisure-type apps. Although the apps themselves may be secure, if there are ads on them, the ad services might not be. Irvine says that hackers can target the ad servers and get control through the back end. So watch out.
“It’s a good idea to buy the apps and turn off the ads,” Irvine said. “This gives you another level of security and privacy.”
Finally, Irvine suggests that companies invest in platforms that specialize in mobile device management, or MDM.
Companies use these platforms, such as the IBM MaaS360, to manage and safeguard mobile devices, as well as protect company data.
With estimates that each day more than $7 million worth of mobile phones are lost or stolen, it’s understandable that business owners are looking for solutions to protect company data, said Sean Miller, a product manager with CenturyLink.
MDM can also enable administrators to add encryption to storage and hard drives when employees leave a company, ensuring that they don’t breach corporate policies after their exit.
“It’s not just about protecting corporate data,” said Miller. “Mobile device management platforms also allow users to collaborate in a secure environment without requiring changes to network, firewall security configurations or device virtual private networks.”
Mark Stone worked in information technology for many years before deciding to make a career out of writing about it. He lives in Canada and also covers entertainment.


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Mitsubishi Motors Philippines is aiming for higher sales in 2010 as it promises "exciting additions" to its current vehicle lineup for the local market.
Mitsubishi Philippines plans to sell 28,000 units this year, 20 percent higher than its 2009 sales of 23,247 units.
"Our positive growth projections will be supported by our refreshed vehicle line up such as the 2010 models of the Lancer EX, Montero Sport, Strada and Adventure. There will be also new exciting additions this year such as the Lancer EX Ralliart, a new compact cross over plus new variants of our core models," said Froilan Dytianquin, Mitsubishi Philippines assistant vice president for marketing services.
Mitsubishi Philippines is capitalizing on the market's appreciation of the Lancer EX with the release of the Lancer EX Ralliart--a sporty variant with modifications that are more than just sheet metal-deep.
The Lancer EX Ralliart will be the closest thing a buyer can get to the Evolution X without having to shell out P3 million. This is because the EX Rallliart will not just get the Evolution X's blacked-out jet fighter grille or its lightweight, ducted bonnet; it will also be powered by its 2-liter 4B11T MIVEC engine.
As TopGear.com.ph earlier reported, Mitsubishi Philippines is also bringing in the RVR compact crossover within the year.
The RVR, which comes with an all new 1.8-liter MIVEC gasoline engine, will also be released in markets like Europe and North America after its Japan debut.
Mitsubishi is the second strongest brand in the Philippines with a 17.6 percent market share. Mitsubishi Philippines sold 23,247 units in 2009, 32.5 percent higher than its sales in the previous year, on the back of a strong performance by models like the Montero Sport, Lancer, Galant, Strada and Adventure.


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Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple, said the iPhone 5S is "the most forward-looking phone we have ever created." It will be available in silver, gold and "space gray" and will run a new chip, the A7, that is up to twice as fast as the A6.
The new device will have a fingerprint reader, called "Touch ID," so instead of entering a passcode, you can just touch the home button to unlock the phone.
The 5S will also have a better camera with larger pixels, called iSight. There's a two-tone flash feature that is designed not to clash with the colors in the room or a person's skin color - something that has never been done on a phone before, Schiller said. The camera also has "auto image stabilization" to avoid blurry pictures and a slow-motion camera for video.
The iPhone 5S will start at $199 with a two-year contract for the 16-gigabyte model. Pre-orders begin Friday and launches in stores on Sept. 20.
The company also announced a cheaper version, called the 5C. The phone is available in five colors - green, blue, yellow, pink and white.
The iPhone 5C will cost $99 for a 16-gigabyte model and $199 for a 32 gigabyte model with a two-year wireless contract.
With the introduction of the new iPhone models, Apple will be ending production of the iPhone 5.
Apple also showed off the new operating system, iOS 7. It features an improved Siri, new notification sounds, organization tools and an iTunes Radio app. Craig Federighi, head of software at Apple, said that "downloading iOS 7 is like getting an all new device."
The new system can be downloaded for free on the iPhone 4 and later models, as well as on the tablets beginning with the iPad 2, on Sept 18.
The company isn't expected to reveal the latest model of its tablet computer, the iPad, until later in the fall.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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Go4CrossFire weekly cup featuring cash prizes begins Sunday, April 13
Toronto, Canada -- April 8, 2014 -- SG North (formerly G4Box), a leading international publisher of online games, today announced Go4CrossFire , a weekly tournament featuring cash prizes, and the opportunity to represent their country at the Global CrossFire Stars event in China. The tournament will commence on Sunday, April 13, and will feature a 5v5 team format.
Weekly prize pools are $250, with $150 for the winner and $100 for the runner up, but only the winners will go on to compete in the monthly finals for a chance to go to the worldwide championship in China and win huge cash prizes. The top four teams each month will earn the right to compete for a massive prize pool of $1,750!
Get your team in gear and sign up now at www.nationalesl.com/us/news/239514/.
For more information on the global phenomenon that is CrossFire, go to crossfire.z8games.com.
Get the latest CrossFire updates at twitter.com/CrossFireOnline.
CrossFire is a Free-to-Play First-Person-Shooter game for the PC. With over 400 million users worldwide, CrossFire offers a quick, simple, and massive online multiplayer experience. Players are able to utilize an arsenal of over 200 weapons and compete in 9 different modes across 63 different maps. The game receives monthly updates which add new content, allowing players to experience combat that is always evolving. http://crossfire.z8games.com/
About SG North
SG North (formally G4Box INC) is a leading publisher of free-to-play online games. Founded in 2006 in Toronto, Ontario, SG North's mission is to become the number one online game publisher in North America, Europe, and South America. SG North currently publishes CrossFire, Lost Saga, Grand Chase, Pangya, Arcane Hearts, and WarRock in North and South America through its proprietary online gaming portal, http://z8games.com and http://gamerage.com.


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Most softwood lumber prices drop as demand remains elusive
May 28, 2019 By Madison's Lumber Reporter
Couched between the Canadian long weekend for Victoria Day and this Monday’s Memorial Day in the U.S., the entirety of the North American sawmilling and lumber sales industries were last week at a total loss for why demand for solid wood construction framing dimension softwood lumber products was so low. Wholesaler prices (net FOB sawmill) of almost all standard lumber prices fell last week. With production order files at sawmills “prompt on everything,” sellers could do little but drop prices in an effort to get buyers to even pick up the phone and talk. It is really very unusual to be able to get any prompt wood at this time of year — apart from extremely specific higher-value specialty products — so for a sawmill’s entire range of products to be immediately available upon ordering during this normally high-volume production time of year could be troubling.
For the week ending May 24, 2019, benchmark lumber commodity Western Spruce-Pine-Fir KD 2×4 #2&Btr (RL) FOB sawmill wholesaler price dropped $22, or -6.6%, to U.S. $310 mfbm, from the previous week when it was U.S. $322 mfbm. This week’s price is -$22, or -6.6%, less than it was one month ago. Compared to one year ago, this price is down -$348, or -53%.
Be ahead of these data releases … Don’t delay, this week’s softwood lumber market comment was published to the website Monday morning.
* Madison’s Lumber Prices, weekly, are a good forecast indicator of U.S. home builder’s current lumber buying activity
Sawmills couldn’t gain traction selling into any markets and barely even sold their daily production volumes. Buyers continued to sit on their hands, only stepping in to order what they absolutely needed.
This week’s WSPF 2×4 #2&Btr KD S4S (RL) price is down -$122, or 28%, relative to the 1-year rolling average price of U.S. $432 mfbm and down -$142, or 31%, relative to the 2-year rolling average price of U.S. $452 mfbm. This week’s price is down -$61, or -16%, relative to the five-year rolling average price of U.S. $371 mfbm.
Veteran traders of kiln-dried Douglas-fir lumber and studs were agog at this “historically bad” spring building season. Sales activity just couldn’t get going and players were sick of the “one step forward, two steps back” scenario they were faced with each week.
Ugly market conditions continued to exasperate traders. Prices slid further and unseasonably weak demand prevailed. — Madison’s Lumber Reporter
Those orders that were made shipped quickly as overall volumes of lumber in transit were significantly lower than expected at this time of year. Construction activity in the major U.S. and Canadian markets were frustratingly quiet. Softwood lumber traders wondered whether there will be any semblance of a spring rally before the market runs into potential supply constraints with the arrival of summer and fire season. Confidence and optimism were at all time lows, especially considering the time of year and clement weather in construction markets.
After purveyors of Eastern Spruce-Pine-Fir commodities in Canada got back from their long weekends on Tuesday last week they were treated to a small spike of demand that quickly fizzled out. Wholesalers and distributers described “bleeding out on pricing” when they put in orders for lumber. — Madison’s Lumber Reporter
The below table is a comparison of recent highs, in June 2018, and current May 2019 benchmark dimension softwood lumber 2×4 prices compared to historical highs of 2004/05 and compared to recent lows of Sept. 2015:
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Apple promotes dating apps to children and withholds information about underage users from app developers, according to a report.
The Tech Transparency Project found that Apple actively promotes pornographic content and apps like Tinder to users it believes are underage. The report, released Wednesday, focused on popular apps in the "Lifestyle" category, with names like "Adult Hook Up & Friend Finder" and "Hahanono—Chat & Get Naughty." In at least one case, Apple hosted an app for "one-night stands" that allowed users to set their age as 14.
The report comes as Apple attempts to prevent users from endangering minors. The company recently announced it will scan all iCloud photos to search for child pornography, frustrating privacy advocates who say Apple should enforce its own rules about showing inappropriate content to minors rather than search the photos of its users.
Although Apple's terms of service formally prohibit pornography, the report found users Apple believes to be 14 can download apps that open directly onto pornography with no age filter. Users must create an Apple ID that includes their age to access the App Store. Underage users aren't barred from downloading adult content, however. It appears that Apple does not in any way use the age of users to determine what content to serve them.
The report found that other big tech companies share more age data with apps, making it easier for those apps to ban underage users. According to the report, the Tech Transparency Project "used an underage Facebook account with the same name and age as the simulated minor, and in two-thirds of the cases, Facebook blocked the attempted registration, evidently because the user wasn't old enough."
The report's authors say Apple could take a variety of routes to reduce pornography and dating-app access for minors, including by a permanent ban of underage users. Dating apps have publicly asked Apple to alert them when an underage user downloads an app, but Apple has refused to provide that information.
Apple has total control over what apps can be installed through their App Store. The company has long defended the closed system as essential for both user privacy and the protection of minors. But the pornographic and hookup apps Apple promotes to children raise questions over the value of that closed system.
Apple takes 30 percent of fees paid on most apps in the App Store, although it has struck deals with larger companies like Amazon to charge less. According to the chief legal officer of the dating app Match, Apple executives said the app should be grateful Apple doesn't take all of its revenue.
Critics say Apple's closed ecosystem is anti-competitive and easily abused. The Chinese government has successfully pressured the company to ban apps that mention Taiwan or allow open access to the Internet through VPNs. Industry groups are lobbying state legislatures to force Apple to allow downloads from outside its app store, which as of now are banned.
Apple's refusal to limit adult apps to an adult audience could frustrate Senate Republicans, who have emphasized protecting children in their salvos against big tech companies. In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) attacked YouTube for showing harmful content to children.


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Xiaomi Partners with Jio for 5G Services
Xiaomi has partnered with Indian telecom company Jio, allowing Xiaomi’s 5G enabled smartphones to access Jio’s stand-alone 5G network.
Some Xiaomi Phones Do Not Support Stand-alone Technology
There are some Xiaomi smartphones that do not support stand-alone technology and will not be able to access Jio’s 5G services.
Xiaomi Mi 10 and Xiaomi Mi 10i Not Supported
According to a report by Telecom Talk, the Xiaomi Mi 10 and Xiaomi Mi 10i are among the smartphones that do not support Jio’s stand-alone 5G network.
Jio’s 5G Network is Stand-alone
Jio’s 5G network is based on stand-alone technology, which means it does not rely on existing 4G infrastructure, unlike other companies’ 5G services.
Importance of Checking Supported 5G Bands
It is important to check the supported 5G bands before buying a new smartphone to ensure it can access 5G networks.Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe us on Telegram and never miss a update!
All content on this website is copyrighted. Unauthorized use is prohibited and may result in legal action. For details, Copyright Notice.


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U.S. President Donald Trump has attacked the Department store chain Nordstrom, because this has taken the fashion collection of his daughter Ivanka from the range. “My daughter Ivanka was treated from Nordstrom’s so unfair,” wrote Trump on Twitter. “She is such a wonderful person – you always make me do the right things! Terrible!”
Trump was criticized for immediately, because the message was dispatched by trump’s own Twitter profile, but also by the official Account of the US President (@POTUS = President of the United States). This account is Trump’s first since taking office, it was created under the predecessor to Barack Obama, and is not intended for private purposes.
“This is an abuse of public office for private gain,” said Richard Painter, a former ethics officer in the administration of President George W. Bush, the “Wall Street Journal”. It is abuse, there is also a power, because the message is clear – Nordstrom will declared “Persona non grata” in the Trump Administration.
There had never been a prior US President, to exploit his Power of office, so obviously to the advantage of his own family, criticized Jordan Libowitz of the Nonprofit organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which has set the fight against corruption in the US-policy to the target.
trump’s spokesman Sean Spicer defended the President later in the Briefing of the White house vehemently: Trump had every right to his family to assist. The decision Nordstroms it was clearly a direct attack on the President’s policies, especially his decree of the immigration stop for people from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Nordstrom’s shares responded with a significant Win
Spicer ignored the multiple Statements of the group, had justified its decision with low sales of the collection, Ivanka Trumps numbers. Nordstrom had stressed that the step was not politically motivated. Every year, about ten percent of the range would depend on the paragraph replaced, and in this case, it had taken the brand of Ivanka Trump.
Also in the financial markets Trumps was the attack on Nordstrom’s mid-week theme. The share of the Department store chain responded with a significant Win to the criticism and went ultimately with a Plus of four per cent from the US trade. The caused traders to be quite a talking point, because, at the previous Trump-attacks on stock exchange, listed companies were advised the prices under pressure.
Nordstrom’s decision, the collection of Ivanka Trump trade, was followed by calls for Boycotts against dealers who sell products to the Trump family. Behind the appeals to run in the Internet under the Hashtag “grab your wallet” (grab your wallet), an Initiative of opponents of the US President. The apparel chains TJ Maxx and Marshalls were here to target.
According to a report in the New York Times told of the parent company, TJX, the staff in the shops in the last week, advertising signs for the article by Ivanka Trump to eliminate. The products would be sold, a spokesman said. The 35-year-old Trump-daughter had brought out in 2007, a jewelry line, since 2011, also clothes and shoes are sold under their Label. The business woman had been criticised after Trumps electoral victory because of the controversial PR-actions for your products.


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TrueNorth reflects the growing trend of studios and gyms offering stationary cycling — or spin, as the workout is also called — with dozens of these classes available throughout the Sacramento region.
Arlene Mordeno is a cyber security consultant by trade, who has also written a pair of pop songs that became major hits in international markets. Mina Alali is a 19-year-old musician from Davis, a precocious singer who organized and managed a girl group that performed the national anthem at Sacramento Kings games when she was only in junior high school.
Fifty-one percent of professionals have had a workplace romance, according to a 2015 survey from Vault.com, a career resource website. This includes couples like the Obamas and the Gates. In an online poll of Comstock’s readers, 80 percent admitted to having mixed business with pleasure.
Owners Julian and Ashley Perrigo-Jimenez opened their new business this month in Folsom, Julian’s hometown. The couple says they want to provide customers with a welcoming atmosphere, in an elegant interior, where they can enjoy the smells of baked goods and fresh coffee.
In 2012, Valenzuela Garcia helped form the Sacramento Urban Agriculture Coalition to change laws that impede urban farming by first identifying the political barriers to growing food in this environment. The long list included issues such as holding farm stands on residential sidewalks, raising chickens and keeping beehives.
Roseville City Manager Rob Jensen oversees the Capital Region’s only full-service city, a task that comes with managing a $500 million budget, 15 departments and over 1,200 employees. We sat down with him to talk about the challenges and opportunities facing one of the area’s fastest-growing cities.
An idyllic, family-farm community in south Placer County, Loomis is proud of its small-town heritage and quaint downtown dotted with unique shops and cafés. This rural village of about 7,000 residents caters to outdoor enthusiasts looking for a slower pace. Loomis has managed to keep its hometown feel for decades, jealously guarding its open space and passing on chain stores and malls.
Last year was one for the history books. But as we start the new year, we wanted to take one last look back at some of our best-performing and most-read articles of 2016. Take a look and see if you missed any of our greatest hits — or if something might deserve a second read.
The start of the year is resolution time, the season when gyms push special deals to lure new customers or pull in old ones. Jeff Rizzo isn’t trying to sell you a gym membership, but if you’re into technology and fitness, he does want to equip you with the latest gear for the lowest price.
Sacramento to Stockholm: It takes about a day to travel between these two capital cities. But they have more similarities than you might think, considering they are half a world apart. They also have lessons to teach each other.


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Litecoin [LTC] – After Litepay fell apart, many were quick to write-off Litecoin. As a matter of fact, the price of Litecoin stagnated from that point on. However, Litecoin just proved naysayers wrong. Yesterday, a $99 million transaction was done through Litecoin at an unbelievable cost of just $0.44, and in under 150 seconds.
Details of the transaction were posted on Twitter and the Litecoin community was super excited about it. It is simply unbelievable! No bank or even online payment platforms has managed to achieve in their history. Sending such an amount through traditional methods would have taken days, and some unimaginable transaction costs.
So what does this mean for Litecoin [LTC]? Well, there are some people who believe that this could mark the end of PayPal and other online payment platforms. If you look at this issue critically, this could actually mark a seismic shift in the world of finance. We are about to see a world where banks could become irrelevant. That’s because the need for a third party in sending and receiving money is all but diminished.
If someone can send such a large amount of money at a cost of less than a dollar, why would anyone need a bank? This is actually a confirmation of bank of America’s assertion that cryptocurrencies are a risk to their business model. In the future, we are likely to see more people take an interest in Litecoin as their preferred method for sending international transactions, based on the positive publicity of this transaction.
The best part about all this is that Litecoin has proven to have the capacity to handle high value transactions, which is good for its long-term value. In the recent past, several of the major cryptos such as Bitcoin and Ethereum have proven inefficient in handling such large-scale transactions. That’s why in December when Bitcoin payments became slow and expensive due to increased demand, people turned to Litecoin. Therefore, this transaction is simply a validation that Litecoin [LTC] is in fact one of the few major cryptos that is fit for day-to-day transactions.
We are likely to see an increase in the merchant adoption of Litecoin. In fact, it won’t be surprising if a major corporation such as Amazon adopts Litecoin as a payment method in the near future. It has everything it takes for such a high-level adoption in terms of speed and costs.
For investors, this is probably one of the best times to get into Litecoin this year. That’s because this transaction has taken place at a time when Litecoin’s price is pretty beat up, trading at a pale shadow of its December highs. This makes it highly undervalued on the basis of fundamentals. This news has also come at a time when the entire crypto market is on a rebound. If things continue in their current trajectory, Litecoin could close the year at $1000 and above. I don’t know about you, but I am definitely HODLing Litecoin [LTC] all through 2018 and beyond. The future looks bright!


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New tech innovations to lookout for in 2018
The tech industry has witnessed lots of activity in the year 2017―with companies like Facebook utilizing Artificial Intelligence, and an increasing number of companies introducing newer technologies into their various business models. Gopalan Rajagopalan, head of TCS Scotland highlights some of the latest technological innovations to become the rave of the moment in the coming year 2018.
Artificial Intelligence Foundation
This is an IT system that is programmed to learn, adapt and act on its own volition―and would become more common in 2018.
Thanks to the rapid evolution of wireless technology, connecting with numerous devices has become very easy—which opens newer and better ways to interact and manage information in ways previously deemed impossible.
Recent studies have shown that AI would have a major impact on various industry sectors during the coming years.
The world was taken by storm with mass production, steam trains and then computers during the industrial revolution.
Currently, technologies are at the heart of every industry as the world undergoes transformation. Even businesses are affected, and tech is remodeling the way the business sphere operates. A large number of businesses have imbibed several integrated innovative technology into every aspect of their business and gone digital.
Business 4.0 is basically a collection of numerous technological innovations such as AI, Cloud, Machine Learning, IoT, Augmented Reality etc. Any business that decides not to change pattern would definitely remain stagnant and miss out on the myriad of opportunities that would avail itself to those who embrace newer technology in this digital age.
There's a chance that this tech would witness more popularity in 2018. With an increase in smartphone users, mobile phone companies are taking advantage of this innovation to excite customers—with instances such as Apple’s release of the ARkit and iPhone X.
Social media app Snapchat, are collaborating with automobile company BMW to give customers the ability to visualize how a car would look in real life before acquiring it. This should be one of the newer technologies to watch out for in the coming year, as there might be a quite competitive marketplace for it.
Voice controlled digital platforms
Platforms such as Amazon's Alexa can answer basic questions and process simple requests like current weather or song information.
These platforms are witnessing significant development and 2018 may be the year it finally possesses the ability to perform more difficult tasks. It could even get implemented into phone sex to spark up your sex life. But, there are still some hurdles left to be crossed such as language tone.
Digital Twin software
The Digital Twin is a technology that's paired with an object which is physical, and is a digital representation of that object. The development is already being utilized in several industries and applications―and is bound to become increasingly advanced and cost-effective to implement due to the Internet of Things (IoT).
While certain elements such as CAD 3D Models have been around for quite some time, a new aspect would involve saving design feedback in the cloud.
Coupled with the ability to gather data, Digital Twin also possesses physics, machine learning, analytics and even AI.
In November, an IoT announcement with luxury automobile brand Rolls-Royce revealed that an increasing number of engineering companies would integrate it in daily work life and would enquire from the Digital Twin information about a specific design or system, or past and future operational performance.
This eliminates certain costs for prototyping, design, engineering and even maintenance—while also preventing downtime.


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TELECOMS group Carphone Warehouse stuck by profit forecasts today after a strong December helped its stores produce a 13% rise in its third quarter.
A trading update showed that the improvement to £650m in the 13 weeks to December 29, included a 1% gain in like-for-like sales after total connections lifted 11% to 3.6 million.
Carphone said the pre-pay market was a little more subdued than last year, although it said it still grew its share of the sector during the period.
At its TalkTalk arm revenues rose 36% to £349m after the company added 118,000 broadband customers, taking its total base to 2.6 million.
Chief executive Charles Dunstone said: “We have enjoyed a good third quarter. Overall, our expectations for the full year are unchanged. We believe we are well positioned as a group, despite the more uncertain consumer environment.”
The company employs more than 1,200 staff at its Warrington TalkTalk and Opal Telecom operations.
Its update comes a day after it was revealed that Carphone Warehouse and its sister operation TalkTalk was warned it could face prosecution from privacy watchdog the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over mishandling customer information.
The ICO said the company had breached “basic principles” of the Data Protection Act by opening accounts in the wrong name, allowing online clients to see other customers’ account details and passing inaccurate information to credit reference agencies and debt collectors.


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Apple is gearing up for its third and final phase of international iPhone expansion during the 2008 calendar year, which will include launches in Russia, Brazil and Egypt, but not China or Korea.
Some of those launches are expected to take place as early as this weekend. E-mails sent to AppleInsider readers this week from local carriers imply the device will be available in both Brazil and South Africa this Friday, September 26th.
In total, Apple plans to announce iPhone availability in 29 additional countries, expanding its global footprint from 44 nations today to 73 by the end of the year.
A complete list of countries expected to be part of the phase 3 launch includes Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Niger, Panama, Russia, Qatar, Senegal, SouthÂ Africa, Turkey, and Venezuela.
Apple's first phase iPhone 3G launch took place on July 11th, when it announced availability in 22 countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US.
On August 22nd, the Cupertino-based company expanded distribution to 22 additional markets (1, 2, 3) with launches in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Liechtenstein, Macau, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, and Uruguay.
Apple has long stated that it planned to be selling the iPhone in more than 70 countries by the end of the year, though it had not previously provided a complete list of those nations.


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The US Postal Service has increased their rates again, starting yesterday, January 26, 2020.
If you’re a current customer of Fulfillrite, you need to be aware of these rate changes. But first, let’s answer a few common questions.
Does it cost more to send a letter now?
No. Stamps still cost $0.55. You only need one stamp to send a First Class Mail letter (not to exceed 1 oz.), and each additional ounce is $0.15 (just like last year). Postage purchased through Fulfillrite’s Client Dashboard discounted from this rate that is not available at the Post Office.
Will Fulfillrite still be discounting online shipping?
Yes. We aggressively negotiate discounted shipping rates for USPS as well as FedEx, UPS, DHL, and other carriers such as Asendia and ZoneJump. Even though the cost of postage is going up, our rates are still steeply discounted from the retail price.
How heavy can a package sent through First Class Package Service be?
First Class Package Service is only applicable to packages that weigh less than 16 oz. That is, 15.999 oz. is acceptable, but 16 oz. is not. After crossing the 16 oz. (1 lb.) threshold, packages are automatically upgraded to Priority Mail.
Can Fulfillrite send First Class Mail International Large Envelopes/Flats?
Yes, your access to First Class Mail International Large Envelopes/Flats will not be affected by the USPS rate increases.
What happened with USPS and the Universal Postal Union?
In September 2019, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) agreed to allow certain countries, including the U.S., to change the international shipping rates for small packages/bulky letters being imported into host countries. While USPS International Shipping services will remain unchanged, it’s possible the rates to ship items from the U.S. to international destinations could increase starting July 1, 2020, based on the UPU agreement.
Where can I find a detailed list of all changes to the USPS shipping rates?
ShippingEasy has compiled an excellent in-depth guide with multiple rate tables. You can find it here.


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Teajai Kimsey was sewing to pass the time during her daughter’s competitive cheer practice when another mother helped launch her small business.
“They figured out I knew how to sew,” Kimsey said. “One of the moms came to me and said, ‘Can you make cheer uniforms for their (daughters’) dolls?’ I said, ‘Sure, I’ll give it a try.’ ”
“The next thing you know, I’m making them for almost all the moms.”
That was in the winter of 2012. This week, after growing her cheer-uniform-for-dolls business in her home for over a year, Kimsey is opening a retail space on West Central. The shop is called Annique’s Nook, after what Kimsey says was her name in high school French class. A grand opening is set for 11 a.m. Saturday.
Kimsey said younger girls who participate in competitive cheering often have 18-inch dolls made by American Girl and other brands. “They take them to the competitions.”
By last fall, Kimsey said, she had so many orders for doll uniforms that she couldn’t fill any more.
“I had three people working in my house.”
Kimsey’s 1,200-square-foot shop in Robin Plaza will be used for sewing and also for retail sales. She also plans to offer the space for birthday parties and other events where attendees can make their own items.
In addition to cheer uniforms for dolls, which sell for $70 to $150, Kimsey makes covers for cheerleaders’ shoes, monogrammed towel wraps for girls and teddy bears dressed in NFL gear.
“They’ve very white, and you want them to stay white through the whole season,” she said of the cheer shoes.
Kimsey said she has owned another business that helps other people with Internet marketing for 15 years.
For Annique’s Nook, she said, “I basically followed the advice I kept telling my clients over the years (about) how to market yourself.”
That includes finding a niche product that’s in demand, but not so much that it draws a lot of competitors. An estimated 3.3 million people participate in competitive cheering, she said. Her doll uniforms, she said, are nearly exact replicas of the real ones.
“It’s intricate work. They are done one at a time. You can’t mass produce these – there aren’t that many (girls) on a team. It’s not something that Mattel’s going to pick up and say let’s make a fortune.”
She does most of her sales through Etsy, an Internet site, including an order of 26 from a California cheer team that she’s working on this week.
Another key, Kimsey said, has been cultivating a “real” presence on social media that appeals to potential customers.
“If I was having a bad day, it went out there just as much as if I was saying ‘Woo-hoo, look at this uniform I just made.’ You’ve got to just be yourself.”


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In a recent blog post on Shoot-On.com titled “Avient Partners with EZR Sport and Again Finds a Purposeful Material Solution”, a groundbreaking partnership is explored. Avient, a global leader in specialty polymer materials, has teamed up with EZR Sport, an innovative sports equipment designer, to revolutionize the world of sports gear.
This collaboration is notable for its dual focus on performance and sustainability. By leveraging Avient’s polymer expertise, EZR Sport has created a range of high-performance sports equipment that minimizes environmental impact. This partnership showcases how cutting-edge materials can be harnessed to enhance athletic prowess while keeping our planet in mind.
The blog post provides an insider’s view into the meticulous development process behind these products. From material selection to rigorous testing, readers gain insight into the careful crafting of each piece of sports equipment. This partnership not only pushes the boundaries of performance but also underscores the importance of eco-conscious innovation.
As athletes strive for excellence, the Avient-EZR Sport collaboration demonstrates that innovation can go hand in hand with sustainability. For those keen on staying at the forefront of sports equipment advancements and their environmental implications, the Shoot-On.com post is a must-read.


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Author and social researcher Maggie Hamilton will join us at 12pm for a live chat to discuss advertising aimed at children.
Sixty per cent of parents of Kiwi preschoolers are concerned at the amount of TV advertising targeting their children, an Otago University study has found.
Hamilton says growing commercial pressures on children from infancy onwards are making them more anxious and less imaginative than previous generations.
"The seeds of self-loathing and anxiety for this generation are beginning at preschool," she says.
"Like it or not, we have developed a predatory culture for our children that is based on making as much profit as we can out of them."
Ask your questions for Hamilton using the comment box below and join the conversation from 12pm.


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PhotoMedex India Private Limited, a subsidiary of global skin health company PhotoMedex Inc, has launched Vtrac certified clinics in Hyderabad. Vtrac technology is used for the treatment of skin diseases, mostly vitiligo and psoriasis.
The company, in association with city-based Medium Healthcare Consulting (MHC), has set up five clinics in Hyderabad on a franchisee basis.
MHC founder Ratan Jalan said Vtrac clinics would be set up in at least one more city by the end of this year and would be spread across the country in 4-5 years.
PhotoMedex chief executive officer, Dolev Rafaeli, said there were 2,500 Vtrac clinics across the globe, including 1,000 clinics in the US.
“There’s a growing demand for effective and long lasting treatment for both vitiligo & psoriasis in the Indian market that holds exceptional promise for VTRAC clinics,” he told mediapersons adding India has 48 million people affected by the two ailments as against 58 million in the rest of the world.
The company stated full benefit of the treatment would take 10-20 sessions. Each sessions costs Rs 2,400.


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Tesla Starts Operations in Germany
German Engineering Talent Powers Elon Musk's Move to Europe
Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk has announced that he's starting operations in Germany to produce electric cars and batteries. This is a tribute to German automation and engineering prowess. Musk flew in to the US six planeloads of robots and equipment from Germany, in the past year, to accelerate battery production for his luxury electric sedan Model 3. Germany's automation talent ended bottlenecks in his Tesla plant in California. It was so successful it's now powering his battery move to Europe via the new operations in Germany.
Direct Global Electric Vehicle Competition
By opening operations in Germany, Tesla is in direct competition with many of the world's top luxury brands headquartered in Germany, including Audi, BMW and Mercedes. All of these iconic brands are developing their own electric vehicle models.
Electric Vehicle R&D Is Very Expensive
Global automotive companies are finding that switching to a lineup of electric vehicles is extremely expensive. But it's necessary because green travel is the future. A case in point is Daimler. It just announced that it's cutting 1000 jobs including 10% of Daimler management. Its goal is to cut $1.1 billion in costs by 2022 while it transitions to building electric vehicles. Daimler adds that tougher fuel efficiency standards are also cutting into profits for the next two years. The big picture: electric vehicles are costly to develop and the sales volume for them isn't the greatest yet. But it is the future and top global automakers are jockeying for positions of e-leadership.


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Spanish firm Interquim SA, part of the pharmaceutical company Ferrer, announced that the FDA has no objections to the company’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) claim for its standardized orange extract.
DSM and Roquette are to dissolve a joint biosuccinic acid production deal citing a “strategic shift” that transfers all manufacturing plant rights and obligations of the supplement ingredient to Roquette.
Supplement brand Youtheory refreshed its branding and package design and launched new products at this year’s Natural Products Expo West Show in Anaheim, CA. The company is highlighting the use of branded ingredients in these products.
The interest in cannabidiol (CBD) use in food supplements, foods, and even as an ingredient in cosmetics has gained much momentum in the past five years, but what is the regulatory situation around the world?
NutraIngredients-USA will again honor the best and brightest in ingredients, finished products, companies, people, and initiatives in the nutrition and dietary supplements industry with the second annual NutraIngredients-USA Awards.
DuPont Nutrition & Health and Lonza Consumer Health & Nutrition are to join forces to manufacture and supply human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) in a deal that looks to meet rising demand in a €44bn global infant nutrition sector.
The body's absorption of omega-3 increased by six times after taking a supplement that used the self micro-emulsifying delivery system (SMED) from Pharmako Biotechnologies, a series of human clinical trials conducted in Australia has found.
Results from a new clinical trial suggest that participants who ingested a whey protein treated with atmospheric plasma had more circulating essential amino acids in the blood, hinting at improved muscle protein synthesis.
Third party botanical ID test results from Alkemist Labs are now available at ingredientsonline.com for select botanicals, as the online ingredient platform continues to push the transparency envelope.


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As has become a day-after-Christmas tradition, Amazon (AMZN -0.89%) released a roundup of the highlights from its holiday season. While the press release may seem like just a victory lap for the online retail giant, there's a lot of valuable information for investors if they're willing to dive past the headline touting record sales.
Here are three important details investors should take away from Amazon's press release.
1. Amazon is all about "convenience" now
It's hard to remember a time when shopping online meant sacrificing immediate gratification for the ability to shop from home. Over the last eight months, Amazon has pushed to make more items available for one-day shipping with Prime or same-day delivery with Prime Now. The efforts are paying off. Items delivered in one day or less nearly quadrupled this holiday season.
But more important may be the words Amazon used. "Customers in the U.S. Enjoyed a Season of Convenience," the press release read. Amazon same-day and one-day delivery items are focused on convenience items, like toiletries or batteries, that typically necessitate a run to the store. Now, Prime members can order them on Amazon because of the fast delivery. In fact, the majority of Prime members said they'd prefer to buy items with one-day delivery on Amazon instead of running to the store.
2. Prime is still growing
Amazon says more people tried Prime this holiday season than in any previous year. That's impressive considering it said "tens of millions" of people signed up for Prime during the holiday season last year. It also noted 5 million people signed up in one week in December. That's up from the 4-million-person record it hit in 2017 and the 3 million it posted in the third week of December 2015.
Prime membership growth was showing signs of stagnation earlier this year, as U.S. trial members weren't converting into paid members. The introduction of one-day shipping in the U.S. may be pushing more consumers to sign up for the service.
Part of the growth in membership may simply be that Amazon Prime is more widely available throughout the world. Amazon only reported numbers on a global basis. But the faster shipping speeds, broader availability of services like Prime Now, and increasing popularity of Prime Video Originals (Amazon said members watched more originals than any year prior) may be pushing membership in its home country. Over half of American shoppers will subscribe to Prime next year, according to an estimate from eMarketer.
3. Amazon is taking on the grocery store
One area of online retail Amazon hasn't quite dominated is the grocery vertical. Walmart (WMT 0.56%) has become a driving force for online grocery sales, and it plans to leverage that success to take on Amazon's general merchandise sales. Amazon has taken steps to fight back, including integrating Prime Now grocery delivery with its main website and removing the additional fee for AmazonFresh in the markets it operates.
Amazon said it saw an 80% increase in Prime members trying grocery delivery for the first time. It also saw total orders more than double year over year.
The U.S. online grocery market is expected to grow more than 17% per year for the next few years. And considering online sales as a percentage of total grocery sales in the U.S. are still below other developed markets, there's a lot of room for growth. Amazon's ability to fend off the competition in this space is important for investors to watch over the next five to 10 years.
The cost of record-breaking holidays
Amazon's success doesn't come without a cost. The company is plowing billions of dollars into its logistics and fulfillment network. It's spending hundreds of millions on Prime Video originals. It spent $14 billion acquiring Whole Foods in 2017 to provide a backbone for its grocery delivery service, and it's investing billions more to create a whole new grocery brand. While Amazon is sure to see excellent results on its top line, investors will see a significant negative effect on its bottom line as well.
But Amazon investors shouldn't expect anything less. After several years of unprecedented earnings, Amazon is in another phase of investment. It might be a long time before those investments start paying off with bottom-line results, and investors shouldn't expect Amazon to stop there. Amazon wants every December 26 press release to announce a record-breaking holiday season.


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Microsoft is dropping Twitter from its advertising platform next week, nearly two months after Twitter announced that it will begin charging a minimum of $42,000 per month to users of its API, which include enterprises and research institutions.
Users began receiving emails about its new pricing details in early March, per a Wired report that observed at the time that the new pricing scheme “prices out nearly everyone.”
With its $2.15 trillion market cap and roughly $100 billion cash on hand at the end of last year, Microsoft obviously has the money to pay Twitter what it wants, so the move appears to be a bit of a statement, even as Microsoft is declining to elaborate further about its decision.
Specifically, what it told its customers today is that, “Starting on April 25, 2023, Smart Campaigns with Multi-platform will no longer support Twitter,” and that “Digital Marketing Center (DMC) will no longer support Twitter starting on April 25, 2023.”
The moves mean users will no longer be able to access their Twitter account, or create, schedule or otherwise manage tweets through Microsoft’s free social media management service.
As Mashable notes in a related report, companies that use Microsoft Advertising will still be able to manage and create content for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn through the platform.
Apparently referring to Microsoft’s licensing arrangement with the AI outfit OpenAI — which trained its powerful AI models on a “vast corpus of diverse text data from the internet,” per OpenAI’s own popular chatbot ChatGPT — Musk tweeted today of Microsoft’s decision, “They trained illegally using Twitter data. Lawsuit time.”
There is reason for some animus between Microsoft and Twitter. In addition to striking a licensing arrangement with OpenAI, Microsoft has invested many billions of dollars into OpenAI, which Musk co-founded in 2015 and left several years later. He has periodically bashed it since, including on Twitter. He also more recently announced he was planning a rival initiative.
Either way, the move comes at a lousy time for Musk, who has been more actively working to win over advertisers after reportedly losing more than half of Twitter’s top 1,000 advertisers following his takeover of the platform in late October.
Just yesterday, he sat onstage in Miami with the chairman of global advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal, reportedly saying during the interview that he is open to hearing legitimate concerns advertisers might have about Twitter but stressing he won’t make changes he doesn’t believe in.
Meanwhile, asked on Twitter today about Musk’s decision to charge so much for Twitter’s API access — one entrepreneur with his own controversial past noted that “in some cases,” the move is killing traffic to Twitter from outside sources — Musk responded, “I’m open to ideas, but ripping off the Twitter database, demonetizing it (removing ads) and then selling our data to others isn’t a winning solution.”


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A 3D printing cafe was recently opened at the Technical University of Berlin and hopes to continue the emphasis on accessible 3D printing that the creative community deems so important.
The 3D printing cafe will provide students and non-students a space to play around with 3D printing technology. They will be able to create objects such as spare bike parts, architectural models or even customized gifts.
The cafe also plans to offer workshops and events to promote interdisciplinary projects while bringing together the university's community of creators and innovators. The business is currently funded by students and prides itself on being sustainable by promoting the use of materials that are recycled, reusable and eco-friendly.
3D Printing Cafes
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3D-Printed Classical Portraits
3D-Printed Running Shoes
3D-Printed Shin Guards
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This Student-Run Cafe in Berlin Allows People to Tinker with 3D Printing
- By: Mishal OmarMay 3, 2016


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Vitamin C May Screen Secondhand Smoke
California study finds oxidation chemical drops
(HealthDay is the new name for HealthScoutNews.)
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 6, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- New research is adding a new twist to the legendary powers of vitamin C: daily supplements may ward off some of the bad effects of secondhand smoke.
But you might not want to go rushing to the vitamin aisle just yet. While one researcher says the findings of a study released this week are reason enough to embrace vitamin C, another expert isn't so sure.
"It's taking a big leap of faith to go that far," says Dr. Linda Ford, the former president of the American Lung Association.
Previous research has suggested vitamin C may prevent some of the destructive effects of molecules known as free radicals. The molecules, found in tobacco smoke, damage cells by exposing them to dangerous amounts of oxygen. The oxidation is linked to smoking-related disorders such as clogged arteries, cancer and heart disease.
In the new study, California researchers turned to the effects of vitamin C on those who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. The researchers recruited 67 Bay Area nonsmokers who are exposed to the smoke of at least one cigarette a day.
Most were exposed to at least nine and most were spouses of smokers, says study author Marion Dietrich, an epidemiological researcher at the University of California at Berkeley.
Californians aren't usually exposed to smoking in public places because it's illegal to smoke in bars, restaurants and workplaces, Dietrich explains: "Most of the exposure happens at home."
Some of the nonsmokers took 500 milligrams of vitamin C each day. That's a common amount found in over-the-counter supplements. Others took a placebo, while a third group took daily doses of a specially created supplement made of vitamin C, vitamin E and an antioxidant called alpha-lipoic acid.
After two months, researchers analyzed the level of a chemical that is linked to oxidation. The level of the chemical dropped by 11 percent and 13 percent, respectively, for the nonsmokers who took vitamin C or the vitamin mixture compared to those who took the placebo. "That's quite meaningful," Dietrich says of the findings, which appear in the Aug. 5 issue of Nutrition and Cancer
Meanwhile, the level of vitamin C in the nonsmokers rose by 32 percent among those who took vitamin C and by 41 percent in the combination group.
"If you cannot escape secondhand smoke, it would be preferable that you should at least have a very healthful diet with lots of fruits and vegetables that can give you a good amount of vitamin C," Dietrich says. An alternative would be to take a vitamin C supplement, she adds.
But Ford, an allergist and immunologist, isn't convinced by the data because it doesn't show that vitamin C reduces any kind of disease. Only a long-term study in humans would prove that, she says.
Instead, she recommends simple avoidance of tobacco smoke.
"We don't have to go through all these hoops to get this protection," she says.
And what about smokers who light up around nonsmokers?
"The thing we want to hone in on is that if they want to smoke, they smoke by themselves," she says.


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NEW DELHI: After Delhi, three more states--Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand--today banned the sale of Maggi noodles, as the popular instant snack came under mounting scrutiny over food safety concerns.
Follow the Controversy:
The Uttarakhand government banned the sale of Nestle's instant noodles for three months while in Gujarat the ban will be effective for one month after some samples of the food had failed lab tests, officials said in Dehradun and Gandhinagar.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the state government banned the sale for one month till the receipt of reports over the fitness of the fast food for human consumption.
The three states also ordered the noodle manufacturers Nestle India to immediately withdraw the stocks.
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are awaiting results of tests of samples of the noodles taken from the respective states before taking any action. Delhi had yesterday banned sale of the food item for 15 days.
Apart from Maggi, the Gujarat government also tested one sample each of instant noodles of Sunfeast and S K Foods and has banned the latter for a month as high lead content of 4 PPM was found in it.
"Twenty seven samples collected from different parts of the state were tested by Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration. The test has shown that lead was present above the prescribed limit while Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) was also present," Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel said while giving details of the lab tests of Maggi noodles.
Of the 27 samples, lead content in 14 of them was found to be 2.8 PPM to 5 PPM (particle per million), which is above the prescribed limit of 2.5 PPM. Presence of excess lead is harmful for health, he said.
"Monosodium glutamate, which should not be present in the product, was found in all the samples tested. For these reasons, the government has banned the sale and distribution of Maggi noodles for one month in the state. The government has also informed Nestle to withdraw all its Maggi stock from Gujarat," Patel said.
The J and K government in an order said that all the District Magistrates have been directed to impose complete ban on the sale of maggi products in the state.
"This restriction will, however, remain in force for a period of one month or till the test report of sampling to be conducted by the concerned government department/agency is received, whichever comes earlier," the order said.
In Uttarakhand, Principal Secretary Health Om Prakash told PTI that a decision to ban the sale of Maggi was taken late last night in public interest by the Food Security Department as 2 of the 300 odd samples of the food product failed laboratory tests.
The decision was prompted by the presence of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in the samples sent for laboratory tests to Rudrapur in Udhamsingh Nagar district, he said.
"As the matter concerns public health we lost no time in imposing a ban on the popular food product in Uttarakhand," he added.
However, no lead content was found in the samples tested, the official said, adding that out of the 300 samples sent to Rudrapur laboratory, test results of a majority of them are still awaited.


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“Workshoppers” — employees who shop online from the office using corporate devices — are common in the office, new research shows. According to a survey by staffing firm Robert Half Technology, more than two in five professionals in Canada said they plan to shop online from work this holiday season.
But are employers OK with it? Half (50 per cent) of technology decision makers said they prefer employees refrain from shopping online during business hours or using a company device, even though 79 per cent said their company policy allows for it. Security risks (61 per cent) and loss of productivity (36 per cent) are the top concerns among tech leaders of staff using company devices for personal purchases.
“Employees are an organization’s first line of defence in mitigating IT risks, which is why it is so important that technology leaders make an ongoing effort to refresh and reiterate online policies and best practices with teams, especially at this time of year,” said Deborah Bottineau, district director for Robert Half Technology.
“Workshopping” Habits at Work
More than one in five employees (43 per cent) said they plan to make online purchases from the office this season. When asked how often they expect to shop while on the clock, here’s how they responded:
- Only on Cyber Monday: 19 per cent
- Once a week: 48 per cent
- A few times per week: 28 per cent
- Nearly every day until they finish their lists: 5 per cent
Bottineau added, “Some employees will inevitably use work devices for personal needs, but with proper guidance on safe and appropriate browsing practices, companies can help employees better manage seasonal pressures and to-do lists, without hindering productivity.”
The online survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by a leading independent research firm. The report is based on responses from more than 550 workers and more than 270 IT decision makers in Canada. All IT respondents were screened to have hiring authority for the information systems or information technology department of a company.


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The drugstore chain says it is ending its relationship with the blood-testing startup and closing all Theranos blood-draw sites in Walgreens stores, which affects 40 sites in Arizona.
Walgreens has ended its relationship with embattled blood-testing startup Theranos, the drugstore chain announced Sunday.
Theranos was once a promising company that set out to innovate blood testing. Two years ago, Theranos was valued as high as $9 billion. But Theranos has faced increased scrutiny, along with civil and criminal investigations, since a Wall Street Journal report in October suggested Theranos' blood-testing devices were flawed.
Walgreens began to step away from Theranos in January when the company ended Theranos lab testing at its Palo Alto., California, location and told Theranos to stop sending tests to its lab. Now, Walgreens will close all 40 Theranos blood-draw sites in Walgreens stores, all of which were in Arizona, the company said in a statement.
Brooke Buchanan, vice president of communications at Theranos, said in a statement that the company is disappointed in Walgreens' decision but remains "fully committed to our mission to provide patients access to affordable health information and look forward to continuing to serve customers in Arizona and California through our independent retail locations."
Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes faces a two-year ban from the blood-testing business. Though the investigations aren't complete, there is already a Theranos movie in the works set to star Jennifer Lawrence as Holmes.


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Every Vietnamese is set to have their own digital identification stored in a QR code and a smartphone by 2025.
|The NAPAS 247 service using VietQR. File photo|
The move was revealed in a national strategy to establish e-government and eventually digital government in Vietnam in the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030.
“Vietnam aims to create a breakthrough in its ranking and join the top 50 countries in terms of open data and e-participation,” noted the government in the plan.
In this context, the people and enterprises could use digital services in a convenient and simple way without having to submit any paper documents.
“Every household would have a digital address and have access to broadband internet,” it added.
Meanwhile, the government expects each people to have a digital health record, while hospitals and health facilities could provide remote consultation and treatment.
With health bills being paid via non-cash payment methods, prices of medicines, health equipment, and treatment process would be published, stated the plan.
Every student would have a digital study record as training and education facilities provide services online.
Other benefits from a digital government include an open digital database that farmers could access to trace products origin and reduce their dependence on the intermediary channels from production, distribution to consumption, while workers would have more opportunities to look for jobs and participate in online training classes in a cyber environment.
With digitalization set to be adopted in every aspect of life, including cultural and historical heritages, Vietnam expects to boost tourism in the post-pandemic world by staying among the top three countries in Southeast Asia having a fast and easy immigration process.
To realize these goals, the Government has set out key tasks, including working out a legal framework, developing digital infrastructure, digital platforms, and a national database, along with new services and apps for the process.
In the immediate future, a national database on basic and essential services for the people, enterprises, and State agencies would be a priority, especially a database on land, citizens, and enterprises.
Following the national strategy on digital transformation, Vietnam expects to join the top 30 countries in terms of digital government by 2030.
The National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) and 14 banks of Vietnam on June 15 launched the VietQR trademark and quick online money wiring service, namely NAPAS 247 using QR codes.
The NAPAS 247 service using VietQR allows customers to wireless than VND500 million (US$21,500) from their account to another by scanning the recipient’s private QR codes.


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The silent crisis can take place when there is a lack of clear communication from the leadership level down when it comes to goals you have set for your department and each person’s role they must play in order to reach those goals. Communicating with your people is the key to effective leadership in your […]
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Microsoft Corp. is introducing a series of Zune digital media players that for the first time will compete with the most popular iPod, the Nano.
Microsoft, which rolled out its first portable player, the 30-GB Zune, last year, is extending the line with an 80-GB Zune. In the latest stab at Apple’s lead in the market, it also is unveiling a smaller, cheaper 4-GB and 8-GB Zune, directly rivaling Apple Inc.‘s iPod Nano, which also comes with 4-GB and 8-GB storage capacities. Available next month, the new Zunes will cost $149.99 to $249.99.
I always like to see the heavyweights step into the ring with each other. But this tilt seems more like a Tyson vs. Spinks match-up rather than a classic Ali Vs. Frazier. To cut into Apple’s 70% market share one would think Microsoft would have to either come up with a product so innovative that it becomes a “have-to-have” item or hit a price point that Apple can’t reach or give away about a million free songs. None of which the Zune is offering. At $149.99 and $249.99 The new Zune is even more expensive than the iPod Nanos of the same storage capacity. Maybe Microsoft is counting on a self-inflicted Vista-esqu implosion from our friends in Cupertino. Speaking of which …—CRD


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Nokia has announced three Android smartphones during its Mobile World Congress press conference, lifting the lid on the Nokia X, Nokia X+ and the Nokia XL.
The Nokia X and X+ will feature 4-inch touchscreen displays, along with mid-range specs and a forked version of the Google operating system, adorned by live tiles.
Powered by 8225 Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz dual-core processors, the Nokia X and Nokia X+ come with 512MB and 768MB of RAM on board and 3-megapixel cameras on the rear.
All three of the Nokia X handsets feature an IPS LCD, 800 x 480px display.
The devices will serve as a middle ground between the Android and Windows Phone operating systems, allowing Nokia's parent company Microsoft to "reach people it has never spoken to before".
Users will not have access to the Google Play store, but will be able to sideload apps from other platforms onto their handsets.
An array of Nokia and Microsoft services, including Skype, HERE Maps and MixRadio, will come pre-installed on the devices.
The only exclusive feature of the Nokia X+ is microSD expansion and more RAM, although all three phones will come with 10GB of free OneDrive storage.
The Nokia XL comes with a larger 5-inch display and enhanced camera capabilities, with a 5-megpixel snapper on the rear and a 2-megapixel sensor on the front.
Nokia has confirmed that the standard Nokia X is available now costing €89, with the Nokia X+ and Nokia XL coming in Q2 priced at €99 and €109, respectively.
The Android phones will initially launch in emerging markets such as China, Russia and South America, and are expected to reach Western Europe in the future. They will not be released in North America, Japan or Korea.
Watch a video introducing the Nokia X family below:


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One of Katy Perry’s stage costume features a rotating candy bra with red and white spinning lollipops.
The Sun calls it “the most dangerous bra in pop.” and her tour insurance company have told her to stop wearing her trademark spinning peppermint outfit or else.
It seems that Katy Perry’s hair keeps getting caught in the wheels of her bra. Talk about a wardrobe malfunction!
“I keep being told the insurers are worried I will injure my neck,” she tells The Sun, “I seriously doubt it could be lethal but they want a new bra designed that will not allow hair to be caught up.


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Bravo Digital Media said it generated record usage across its platforms – desktop, tablet, mobile and the Bravo Now app – in the second quarter of 2015, chalking it up in large part to the recent redesign of BravoTV.com and an emphasis on The Daily Dish, the network’s digital lifestyle hub.
Bravo Digital Media did not break out all of the specific numbers, but said average monthly visits across all platforms broke a record as they were up 74% in the second quarter of 2015, versus the year-ago quarter. Records were also achieved on the BravoTV.com mobile site (average visits were up 184%), as well as via the Bravo Now app, which saw average monthly visits rise 191%, and average total video streams jump 370%.
Bravo Digital Media said some of the overall growth is attributed to December’s redesign of BravoTV.com that emphasizes video consumption and content sharing, which rose 51% in Q2 2015 versus Q1 2015, as well as deeper integration with social media – Bravo’s Facebook page saw a 495% boost in click-backs to BravoTV.com in Q2 versus Q1 2015.
The programmer also said The Daily Dish’s expansion into real-time original pop-culture and lifestyle content outside of the network also stoked growth, as the show’s page surpassed all other network shows in page visits and a record 15 million page visits in Q2 2015.


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Science has determined that people need to know 7.5 things per day, on average, about the world of business. You can't argue with science. Lucky for you, The Huffington Post has an email newsletter, delivered first thing every weekday morning, boiling down the day's biggest business news into the 7.5 things you absolutely need to know. And we're giving it away free, because we love you, and also science. Here you go:
Mark Gongloff is off the newsletter this week, so today's 7.5 Things are brought to you by Jillian Berman.
Thing One: Bad News For BP Apparently the fallout from a disastrous oil spill can get in the way of making money. BP posted a 72 percent drop in profit last quarter, largely over fines the company agreed to pay to settle criminal charges related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according to the Wall Street Journal. As is typical, the company was able to avoid paying taxes on the money used for the settlement. BP was charged $4.3 billion pre taxes over the oil spill and $3.85 billion of that was used to pay to settle criminal charges.
Unfortunately for BP, there’s still likely more money to pay, and the company probably won’t know how much more for a while. A trial scheduled to start later this month will determine how much the oil giant will pay in civil and environmental damages, according to the Financial Times. And BP could be sitting on its hands waiting for the outcome of the trial until next year. Experts told the FT that BP’s best option would be to settle, since a prolonged trial would create bad publicity for the company.
(Speaking of bad publicity, BP was also recently hit with a lawsuit from an ex-employee accusing the company of manipulating gas prices. BP denies the allegations.)
Thing Two: S&P Sued: After years of waiting, critics and angry investors may finally get their revenge against Standard & Poor’s. The Justice Department sued the credit rating agency over claims it knowingly gave mortgage bonds higher ratings than they deserved, according to Bloomberg. Those bonds ultimately went sour and blew up during the financial crisis.
The suit is the feds’ first major action against the ratings industry, according to The New York Times, and comes after officials tried to negotiate a settlement with the company. S&P ultimately rejected the settlement after prosecutors said their terms would include a fine of more than $1 billion and require the company to admit wrongdoing, the NYT writes.
S&P will likely use the same defense the industry has been using for years to explain the seemingly misguided ratings -- their right to free speech. S&P and other credit rating agencies have claimed that their ratings were merely free speech and are therefore protected under the First Amendment. But S&P may have trouble using that tired defense in court, The Huffington Post’s Ben Hallman reports, as many have grown skeptical.
Thing Three: Dell Tries To Save Itself: What does it take to save the PC? One company is hoping that going private will do the trick. Dell is close to selling itself for more than $23 billion to a group that includes the company’s founder Michael Dell, investment firm Silver Lake and Microsoft, according to The New York Times. If the deal goes through, it would be the largest buyout in the wake of the financial crisis. The goal of the buyout would be to give the company an opportunity to turn itself around outside of the scrutiny of Wall Street, according to the Wall Street Journal. It would give the Dell’s founder -- who has had trouble revitalizing the company -- the largest stake, meaning he would have control over any changes. Unfortunately the buyout won’t turn Dell into Apple.
Thing Four: Obama Enlisting Lloyd Blankfein: Major CEOs, including Goldman Sachs’ chief Lloyd Blankfein and Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer will descend on the White House today as President Obama tries to convince them to tell everyone that his immigration reform plan is good for the economy, the Financial Times reports. This isn’t the first time Obama has tried to enlist the help of major business leaders to push his agenda. The president invited several corporate chiefs, including the CEOs of Xerox and Walmart, as he negotiated a fiscal cliff deal with Congressional leaders.
Thing Five: Barclays Tries To Get On Everyone's Good Side: Barclays just wants to be loved again. As part of a plan to rebuild the bank’s reputation, Barclays said it would increase the amount of money it’s setting aside to pay back customers for mis-sold financial products by $1.58 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. That brings the total the bank will be paying to customers over mis-sold products to 3.4 billion Pounds, according to the Financial Times. The announcement comes after the U.K.’s top regulator ordered the country’s 4 biggest banks to review their sales of some of their products.
Thing Six: The Mall Is, Like, Totally Disappearing: An icon of suburbia and '80s movies is slowly disappearing. Fifteen percent of malls are slated to close in the next five years, as the meccas of brick and mortar stores face crippling competition from online retailers, according to the Financial Times. Malls that include movie theaters and restaurants will likely be spared from the downturn, but second-tier malls could be hit hard. Meanwhile another type of retailer is also in jeopardy: The dollar store. Dollar chains’ rapid expansion has hurt their sales growth and margins as competition for the recession-pinched customer has increased, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Thing Seven: Tax Evasion Crackdown: The Obama administration is cracking down on tax evasion. The White House may ask Congress for the power to force U.S. banks to disclose more information about foreign clients’ bank accounts to their home countries, according to Reuters. Obviously many in the banking industry aren’t too happy about it.
Thing Seven And One Half: Remember Linsanity? It’s now been exactly one year and one day since we all first started obsessing over Jeremy Lin. Unfortunately for America, the fascination with the underdog who proved everyone wrong only lasted as long as he was playing well. If you’re itching for a little Linsanity, you can find him in Houston where he has taken his talents for now.
Now Arriving By Email: If you'd like this newsletter delivered daily to your email inbox, then please just feed your email address to the thin box over on the right side of this page, wedged narrowly between the ad and all the social-media buttons. OR, if you are logged into a HuffPost account, you could simply click on this link and tick the box labeled "7.5 Things" (and any other kind of news alert you'd like to get). Nothing bad will happen to you if you do, unless you consider getting this newsletter delivered daily to your email inbox a bad thing.
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@robdelaney: .@BarackObama It’s worth looking into whether or not Lance’s dad Neil used drugs to ride his space bike to the moon. Thank me later. #USA
@pattonoswalt: "Exeunt, buried under car park" -- Shakespeare's RICHARD III, 1st Folio
@EpicureanDeal: JD flunked AP History. MT @saraeisenFX "If not for American productivity you'd all be living in tents and eating buffalo" Jamie Dimon


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For many, the scent of freshly brewed coffee is the first highlight of the day. Now, scientists claim to have solved the mystery of why it never tastes as good as it smells.
12:01AM BST 08 Sep 2012
For many it is the first highlight of the day, just when you need it most: the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the house first thing in the morning.
But scientists claim to have solved the mystery of why coffee never tastes as good as it smells.
The act of swallowing the drink sends a burst of aroma up the back of the nose from inside the mouth, activating a “second sense of smell” in the brain that is less receptive to the flavour, causing a completely different and less satisfying sensation.
In contrast, some cheeses smell revolting but taste delicious because their whiff seems more pleasant to us when passing out of the nose than in, experts explained.
Speaking at the British Science Festival in Aberdeen Prof Barry Smith, of the University of London, said: “We have got two senses of smell.
“One sense is when you inhale things from the environment into you, and the other is when the air comes out of you up the nasal passage and is breathed out through the nose.”
The phenomenon is down to the fact that, although we have sensors on our tongue, eighty per cent of what we think of as taste actually reaches us through smell receptors in our nose.
The receptors, which relay messages to our brain, react to odours differently depending on which direction they are moving in.
“Think of a smelly cheese like Epoisses,” Prof Smith said. “It smells like the inside of a teenager’s training shoe. But once it’s in your mouth, and you are experiencing the odour through the nose in the other direction, it is delicious.
“Then there is the example of when they don’t match in the other direction. The smell of freshly brewed coffee is absolutely wonderful, but aren’t you always just a little bit disappointed when you taste it? It can never quite give you that hit.”
Only two known aromas - chocolate and lavender - are interpteted in exactly the same way whether they enter the nose from the inside or the outside.
In the case of coffee, the taste is also hampered by the fact that 300 of the 631 chemicals that combine to form its complex aroma are wiped out by saliva, causing the flavour to change before we swallow it, Prof Smith added.


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Funding platform Liquidity Capital invests $12.5M in e-commerce retailtech startup Resident
Raising capital or seed fund is one of the challenges many startup founders face. Not many startup founders have the connection to raise money from banks or venture capital firms. Some founders only reach out to their circle of influence or high net worth seed or angel investors who provide them the financial backing to jump start their projects.
What if there is another option? Liquidity is a new financial platform that offers startups financing against future revenues. The firm intends to invest in companies with annual sales of over $3 million. The Tel Aviv-based Liquidity Capital, of Tel Aviv-listed investment house Meitav Dash, was founded to change the way startup companies deal with growth challenges. Liquidity provides unlimited unsecured, non-recourse, no dilution growth capital.
Today, Liquidity announced it has invested $12.5M trajectory-based funding in Resident, the direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailtech startup to further capitalize on its position as North America’s fastest growing e-commerce retailer and increase growth into additional home products. Resident owns and operates a house of consumer furnishing brands including: Nectar, DreamCloud, Level, Awara, Wovenly, Bundle and 1771 Living.
Founded in 2017 by Ron Daniel, Oron Maymon, and Yaron Sela, Liquidity Capital funds tech startups and SaaS providers that demonstrate over $5M in ARR and 30% year-over- year growth, with an average ticket size of $10M-$30M. Founded by serial entrepreneurs and with offices in New York, Miami and Tel Aviv, Liquidity Capital is backed by Mitsubishi UFJ Fund Services and is part of Meitav Dash Ltd., the leading Israeli institutional investment house. Liquidity Capital has already committed over $200M of growth capital in 2019 and plans to fund over $500M in the US market for 2020. Notable investments made by Liquidity Capital include Le Tote, Infinidat, ezbob, and Sweet Inn.
Liquidity Capital offers tech startups and SaaS providers a one-of-a-kind funding alternative, enabling them to double down on their hyper-growth without giving up equity. Their trajectory-based financing model allows Liquidity Capital to work with startups side-by-side, taking on all financial risk. Powered by machine learning algorithms which forecast the future business trends of its investments, Liquidity Capital is the only provider of unlimited non-secured loans in the industry.
“We are thrilled to be investing in Resident,” said Liquidity Capital Co-Founder and CEO, Ron Daniel. “Seeing as Resident is the fastest growing e-commerce retailer in North America, this investment strengthens our investment portfolio greatly. We are happy to be doubling down on e-commerce, pairing Resident with our investment in Le Tote, a leader in e-commerce fashion retail. We’re excited to watch the continued hyper-growth of Resident and give then any support needed along the way.”
Direct-to-consumer brands are disrupting the established retail market, leading to a shift in the relationship between brands and consumers. Currently operating in San Francisco, New York City and Tel Aviv, Resident provides consumers with better choices when it comes to everyday home products offering unparalleled standards for quality, style, and value. Beginning as an online retailer for high-quality, affordable memory foam mattresses, Resident continues to grow their direct-to-consumer sales, expanding their range to rugs, couches, chairs and bean bags for homes everywhere.
“We have been extremely impressed with the Liquidity Capital team from our very first meeting with them” said Resident’s Co-CEO, Ran Reske. “Ron Daniel clearly understands all the ups and downs an entrepreneur goes through, as he has already experienced this journey himself. The fact that they have been entrepreneurs was very important to us in choosing a capital partner. In addition, the new approach of non-dilutive capital for a fast-growing business like ours is the perfect solution and made this transaction a no-brainer for us. We look forward to working with Liquidity Capital as we continue to scale our business.”
“Unlike investment funds or those that provide loans, we do not ask for collateral or equity,” Liquidity CEO Ron Daniel said in a Monday interview with Calcalist. Rather, the fund finances companies according to specific milestones, he said, for the opportunity to “buy” future revenues at a discount.


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With MWC 2020 cancelled, a lot of phone launches currently linger in a limbo, and while we’re as disappointed as anyone about the annual smartphone show being cancelled due to Coronavirus fears, this new leak makes it all the more disappointing that we’ll be missing out on MWC 2020.
According to leaked images exclusively published by CNET, Chinese company TCL reportedly has a prototype phone that doesn’t fold or bend, but rather lets you expand the display to convert the smartphone into a tablet when needed.
As seen in the images, when un-extended, the phone looks like a regular smartphone with thin bezels and a curved display much like the Galaxy S10 Plus, right up to the dual punch-hole selfie cameras. However, the phone can apparently be pulled out to expand the display and get a much larger screen real-estate to work with.
It’s unclear how this mechanism works, considering the images show no crease or fold in the expanded screen, leaving us to wonder where exactly the screen goes when it’s not in use. The most likely explanation is that TCL has managed to make the screen go within the phone when it’s not expanded. That also means that the phone will likely show a remarkable crease in the display when expanded — a crease that TCL probably removed from its press renders.
It’s an interesting design concept, to say the least, and the lack of information around the phone does make it feel like just that — a design concept. Still, it’s one that we probably would have seen at the Mobile World Congress, and now there’s no telling when TCL might show it off. Still, here’s hoping we get some solid information about this smartphone. After all, as long as companies are playing around with design ideas for folding phones, this one seems to be a perfectly good way to fit a tablet inside your pocket.
Featured image courtesy: CNET