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The ocean covers 70% of Earth’s surface and contains 99% of the planet’s living space. It is, without a doubt, our largest ecosystem. But with 245 kg of plastic entering our oceans every second, ocean ecosystems are drowning in plastic. The time to act is now.
This is a critical issue that we all have a responsibility to act on. Ultimately, it’s going to take everyone—companies, governments, consumers—to solve this important issue.
As is often the case, the ocean-plastic crisis is much more complicated than it first appears. Many of the readily available alternate materials have their own environmental challenges; for example, glass and aluminum can create more greenhouse gas emissions than that for plastic as they generally require more energy to manufacture, transport and recycle, and bioplastics require air and sunlight to fully decompose.
The uncomfortable truth is that plastic has become indispensable to our lives. Plastic has driven a boom of societal advancements in areas ranging from medical devices to food preservation, but our overdependence on it threatens our future.
“For years, plastic has played an instrumental role in delivering some of society’s most impactful advancements and helped to transform so many elements of modern life,” says SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson. “The consequence is that no matter what we produce in years to come, vast amounts of plastic have already been produced and just 9% of that has been recycled.
“The key to tackling this crisis is not to eliminate plastic, but rather to eliminate waste,” Johnson continues. “That’s not to say that the CPG industry doesn’t use an excessive amount of plastic that needs to be reduced, but at SC Johnson we have a vision for a waste-free world, and we believe it’s going to take all of us coming together to achieve that. We need to capture the plastic already going into the waste stream and make sure we recycle it, making sure we can protect its integrity and ensure it remains fit for purpose.”
THE BLUE PARADOX
The ocean-plastic crisis was the subject of a recent panel discussion hosted by SC Johnson and Conservation International on September 14 as part of the launch of The Blue Paradox, a 13-day immersive experience that opened in London the following day. The panel, moderated by the Financial Times, included marine biologist Tamara Galloway; the Managing Director of Iceland Foods, Richard Walker; the Chairman of the U.K. Climate Change Committee, Lord Deben; Member of Parliament for Truro and Falmouth, Cherilyn Mackrory; and the founder of Ocean Generation, Jo Ruxton; alongside Fisk Johnson and M. Sanjayan, CEO of long-term partner Conservation International. The group explored tangible ways in which this plastic “blue paradox” can most effectively be addressed.
The challenge ahead is complex. The answers aren’t straightforward and there is no single or simple solution. But what all of the panel experts agreed on was this: We need big action, and we need it now. Recent research from The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that around 11 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. On this current trajectory, which Pew calls the “business as usual” scenario, the annual flow of plastic into the ocean could nearly triple by 2040.
Perhaps more shocking is that even if all current major industry and government commitments are met, that 11 million metric tons would only be reduced by a mere 7%, relative to business as usual. With numbers like these it’s easy to feel helpless, but there is hope. The ocean plastic crisis was created over a lifetime, but it can be solved within a generation, if not sooner. “We’ve already seen great momentum building awareness around this issue, but it’s important not to give up,” Johnson says. “We’re at a tipping point and we have a collective responsibility to embrace change and act. We can’t afford to slow down.”
THE BUCK STOPS HERE
When it comes to sustainable packaging, consumers are calling out for innovation. SC Johnson wants businesses to help take charge. “As a company that uses plastic in our packaging, we know we have a responsibility to lead, but if there is one thing I’ve learned in the last 20 years of trying to address the plastic waste issue as a company, it’s that business cannot solve this issue alone,” Johnson says. “It’s going to take stronger legislation, more awareness and sustainable behavior on the part of individuals, building scale in recycling systems, as well as a large effort on the part of business to create more sustainable and more recyclable products. Key to all of this on the business side is looking at the entire cradle-to-cradle impact and choosing packaging designs and materials that can have the least environmental impact for the intended application.”
SC Johnson has been working with organizations such as Plastic Bank to help collect plastic waste that would otherwise end up in the ocean and reincorporate it back into new packaging for its products, including Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles and Mr Muscle, thereby closing the plastics loop.
Consumers all over the world are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging, but consumers didn’t create this problem and the responsibility shouldn’t solely lie with consumers—brands, retailers, leaders and governments must do more.
NOT ONE SOLUTION, BUT MANY
Too often the debate focuses around “upstream” (before products reach consumers) or “downstream” (post-consumer, such as recycling) solutions, but solving the ocean plastic crisis requires integrating the two—a combination of manufacturing solutions upstream paired with downstream efficiencies in recycling, both at an industrial and an individual level.
The panelists were clear: We have the answers, and with the force and energy of global collective action, we can solve this waste crisis.
You can listen to the panel discussion, hosted by FTLive here.


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Telestream Acquires Sherpa Digital Media
Expands market presence into hosting and distributing live event productions
Nevada City, CA(26 Aug 2021)
Telestream®, a portfolio company of Genstar Capital and a leading provider of digital media tools and workflow solutions, today announced the acquisition of Sherpa Digital Media, a live event hosting and distribution platform used around the world by Fortune 500 companies and others to stream content to their customers, employees, and members. Sherpa Digital Media has built its platform to handle virtual events at any scale reliably and with a high degree of security.
“Sherpa Digital Media has built a solid platform that many rely upon to stream their live, interactive events, and we intend to continue its development to expand into new areas such as using our Wirecast product to produce events distributed on the platform,” commented Dan Castles, CEO of Telestream.
“The Sherpa Team is very excited to be joining Telestream and are looking forward to contributing to continued growth as well as venture into new markets by leveraging the strength of Wirecast and the rest of the Telestream portfolio of solutions,” said Mark Strathdee, CEO of Sherpa Digital Media.
The fully featured live and on-demand event platform enables customers to create live events and webinars in just a few clicks. The platform includes breakout rooms, video hosting, marketing automation integration, secure streaming, customized look and feel, and the ability to scale up to hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Sherpa Digital Media is a privately held company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area that has been serving its customers with their streaming platform for 10 years. The team, based initially in the San Francisco Bay area, also includes a remote workforce which will be fully integrated into the Telestream family. Existing customers can expect to see additional resources being deployed to support the platform around the world.
For over 20 years, Telestream® has been at the forefront of innovation in the digital video industry. The company develops products for media processing and workflow orchestration; live capture, streaming, production, video quality assurance, archive and content management; and video and audio test solutions that make it possible to reliably get video content to any audience regardless of how it is created, distributed or viewed. Telestream solutions are available on premises or in the cloud as well as in hybrid combinations. Telestream is privately held with corporate headquarters located in Nevada City, California and Westwood, Massachusetts.
Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com) is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high quality companies for over 30 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Genstar currently has approximately $19 billion of assets under management and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, healthcare, industrial, and software industries.
For company and product information, visit www.telestream.net.

domain: news


text: According to the Shanghai Securities News, Alipay recently launched an epidemic prevention information service platform, which can be seen by searching the same trip query function. It is reported that the Zhejiang Province Medical Materials Security Group has launched the first material requirements list, which includes medical masks, protective clothing, work caps, etc. According to reports, unlike other material information platforms, this platform uses ant blockchain technology and is led by the Zhejiang Provincial Health and Construction Commission and the Economic and Information Department. It will review the information on the demand, supply, and transportation of materials and store them on the chain. . At the same time, Alipay also provides blockchain program power to the epidemic-related small program developers for free forever and special funding support.


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FC Barcelona launches online Barça Store
FC Barcelona has launched its own ecommerce channel for the sale of products from the Barça Store at Camp Nou. In the online store, fans will find club merchandising and retail items. There are also items that can only be bought at point of sales managed directly by the club.
The new ecommerce channel is part of FC Barcelona’s online retail strategies, complementing its own point-of-sale network. The soccer club is determined to expand its retail business, both in Spain and abroad.
First Spain, then the rest of Europe
The new online store opened last week for sales throughout Spain, but plans are to gradually expand this to other countries in Europe in the coming months.
Aside from the standard football kits and merchandise, one of the surprises in the online store is the ‘Gallina de piel’ collection in homage to Johan Cruyff. Until now, these items could only be purchased in person at Camp Nou Barça Store in Barcelona.
Regaining control over its merchandising rights
Since 2018, FC Barcelona has been trying to regain control over its merchandising and retail rights. Previously, these were in the hands of a Nike-owned company called FCB-Merchandising. FC Barcelona has now directly taken over the management and operation of the business.
Network of official points of sales
FC Barcelona now has a network of official points of sales that are managed entirely by the club. These include the stores at the Camp Nou, Canaletes, Passeig de Gràcia, La Roca Village, and Terminal 1 and 2 at Barcelona Airport.


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CANTON, Ohio — The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that fans will be able to attend this year's enshrinement ceremony.
Tickets for the event go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
You can purchase them online here or in person at the hall's box office.
The ceremony will take place on August 8.
Ticket prices range from $29 to $199.
Members being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame include Alan Faneca, Tom Flores, Calvin Johnson, John Lynch, Peyton Manning, Bill Nunn, Drew Pearson and Charles Woodson.
Enshrinement Week will be kicked off with the annual Hall of Fame game on August 5.


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Anderson candidates share ideas on jobs, growth
As Anderson residents go to the polls, jobs and the economy likely won't be far from their minds.
The North State continues to lag the rest of California in job growth — in August 2016, California averaged 2.2 percent non-farm, non-seasonally adjusted job growth year-over-year, according to the Legislative Analyst's Office.
Shasta County had zero growth — only the Salinas and Hanford-Corcoran areas were worse, according to the office.
At a recent forum, all four candidates identified job growth as a key priority. The Record Searchlight reached out to explore their ideas to attract businesses and jobs to Anderson. In some cases, all four candidates, Susie Baugh, Melissa Hunt, Stan Neutze and James Yarbrough, share the same opinion, such as opposing marijuana businesses in Anderson. But they also differ in their approaches. Their responses follow below in alphabetical order:
Susie Baugh (incumbent)
Baugh sees light industry, especially technology and health care, and retail as two promising sectors for growth in Anderson.
She wouldn't want any heavy industry with toxic by-products. Environmental regulations limit the potential for the logging industry to grow, she said.
She points to previous council actions to spur development, some of which are in the works: Baugh and the other incumbents gave the city manager, Jeff Kiser, the power to waive impact fees for some commercial developers; she and Kiser went to a big business conference to network and sell businesses on Anderson, including the shovel-ready land along the freeway.
'We heard back from quite a few. You can't force them to come in but you can show them the way,' she said.
The Anderson New Technology High School, along with Shasta College and Simpson University, also provide a tech-savvy worker pool with opportunities for additional training, she said.
Melissa Hunt (incumbent)
Hunt praises those trips to the big-box retailer conference to woo employers as developing contracts.
But she said the biggest asset in Anderson's toolbox is its city staff's helpfulness with new business owners navigating the rules. She also cited the council's waiver of some impact fees. The tech industry and restaurant markets also appear fertile ground for recruiting, the latter because it can attract people from other areas to Anderson for a night out or a day shopping.
'We used to have Golden House. It drew people,' she said, adding that Anderson's downtown would provide a perfect location for a series of specialty shops.
'It'd be great to get everything from a book store, to a candy store, wine, cheese,' she said. 'Things that are going to cause people to come and walk and shop. It's ambiance.'
She also wants to attract businesses to the Redding area because, even if a store picks Redding or Shasta Lake, it could employ Anderson residents.
The only non-council member in the race, Neutze is plain about his pessimism on growing Anderson's economy — the state's regulations mean few businesses, in his mind, would be willing to move from out of state.
'People are moving out because of the high taxes and onerous burden of regulation,' he said. 'You're going to have to bring somebody from Southern California.'
Part of that is networking, said Neutze, who has a master's in business administration from Chico State. He praised the trips to conferences to establish ties with other businesses and highlight Anderson's positives, including its relatively safer streets than other parts of the state.
He favors increasing the police force even more after Anderson voters passed a public-safety tax for its police department. City staff already are good about making the permit process easy, he said.
Shovel-ready lots fronting Interstate 5 are attractive to retail stores, he said. The city should also focus on developing its former Roseburg site as an industrial area for light manufacturing, such as lithium battery packs.
James Yarbrough (Incumbent)
Yarbrough said the city should eye industry, especially light industry, because such companies bring good paying jobs. The city could also support more retail stores, given the surrounding communities' populations.
'Our city limits are pretty limited. People live just outside the city limits but their kids go to school in Anderson, they work in Anderson and they support Anderson,' he said.
Nonetheless, he praised Kiser, city staff and the council members' recent actions, including the impact fee waivers. But he added that part of the battle is convincing some residents that Anderson needs to grow.
'A lot of people that live here want a small community, they don't want it growing,' he said. 'We have to go against that attitude, we know that if we don't grow, we'll become stagnant and people will have to move out of the area to find jobs. We don't want that to happen.'


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It is with both optimism and sadness that Oni Press announces the departure of a longtime employee and the addition of two new members to its sales and marketing team.
Thomas Shimmin and Amber LaPraim are taking joint positions as Marketing Coordinator, while the current Director of Marketing, Cory Casoni, is leaving Oni Press to consult for NAMCO BANDAI Games, Inc. as the Head of Marketing for ShiftyLook.
Casoni joined Oni Press in 2008. Prior to becoming part of the company he had been manufacturing T-shirts for Oni Press, including the well-known Scott Pilgrim limited edition shirts. Casoni was the first hire in a series that led to the current complement of employees now at Oni Press.
“Transitions are always a little difficult, and always a little bittersweet,” Oni Press publisher Joe Nozemack said. “We hate to lose any of our valued workforce, but at the same time, we can’t begrudge Cory for accepting a great opportunity when presented. He’s got a passion for gaming and comics, and this new job combines both. In his time with us, Cory has been integral to growing Oni Press’ presence in the existing marketplace and finding us new markets to sell our comics. Under his guidance, we have successfully launched some of our best-selling titles, including The Sixth Gun and the award-winning graphic novels One Soul and Petrograd. He was also at the marketing helm during the height of Scott Pilgrim mania. We couldn’t have weathered that without him.”
Both Shimmin and LaPraim joined the Oni Press Marketing Department earlier this year. Shimmin has been working with Casoni interfacing with direct market comic retailers, including a concentrated push for Brian Churilla’s buzz book The Secret History of D.B. Cooper. LaPraim has been operating as Oni Press’ logistics coordinator and organizing convention appearances, including recent stops at the Emerald City Comic Con, Stumptown Comics Fest, and Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.
“Having the staff already on board makes the switchover all the easier,” said Oni Press editor in chief James Lucas Jones. “Tom and Amber are more than ready to step into this position and we’re excited to have them on full time.”
Founded in 1997, Oni Press, Inc. has become one of the comic industry’s most well respected independent comic publishers; focusing on genre, character, and story driven creator-owned work.


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Rapper Sage Francis has been a part of the indie hip hop scene for nearly 20 years now, having created his own record label Strange Famous Records back in 1996 to release his own music.
Now, he’s announced a new label imprint under the Strange Famous Records banner: Strange Famous Digital (SFdigi for short).
“SFdigi is, in essence, an analogue digital label,” Francis explained in a statement. “The main thing we want our supporters to know is that they’ll be able to access, stream, and purchase the music released on SFdigi as they normally would.”
Through SFdigi the artist hopes to eliminate “as many middlemen as possible,” as well as create an alternative to the 360 deal that has essentially become commonplace in today’s music industry. In other words: offering an artist as much autonomy as possible.
“The ‘Digital’ in SFdigi is there because SFR administers the digital distribution of the artist’s music,” Francis said. “The artist themselves retains the rights to all physical merchandise, so if they want to manufacture CDs, Cassettes, Vinyl, T-Shirts, 8-Tracks — really, anything — they are in total control of that with no label interference or kickback whatsoever.”
How the process will work is that SFdigi will press a limited 7-inch first single for every release, which will also include a download code for the full album. That way even if the artist forgoes doing any physical product of their own, fans are still able have some analog component paired with their digital purchase.
So far the roster includes a handful of artists including Prolyphic, Dope KNife, Jivin’ Scientists and more (a complete list of the roster is below). SFdigi will kickoff on September 30, when Wheelchair Sports Camp drops their first official album through the newly formed imprint.
Aupheus (London, UK)
Dope KNife (Savannah, GA)
Duncan Jewett (Santa Fe, NM)
Jivin’ Scientists (Tucson, AZ)
Kurtis SP (Brisbane, AU)
Prolyphic (Providence, RI)
Seez Mics (Washington D.C.)
Wheelchair Sports Camp (Denver, CO)
Xaul Zan (Scribble Jam, 00)
Yugen Blakrok (Johannesburg, SA)


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Kaylene Hong was Asia Reporter for The Next Web between 2013 and 2014, based in Singapore. She is bilingual in English and Mandarin. Stay in Kaylene Hong was Asia Reporter for The Next Web between 2013 and 2014, based in Singapore. She is bilingual in English and Mandarin. Stay in touch via Twitter or Google+.
Chinese messaging service WeChat has over 270 million active users worldwide at the last count — how do you compete against its overwhelming popularity?
Well, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is now paying users who refer new people to its chat app Laiwang.
An update is being rolled out to Laiwang which will feature an “invite” button for users to refer their friends, Alibaba told TNW. Every successful invitation will see both the referrer and new user get CNY5 (about $0.80) deposited into their Alipay account, and the credit can be spent on any of Alibaba’s Tao shopping platforms such as Taobao.
This latest initiative comes as Alibaba launches a CNY200 million ($33 million) fund to help traditional companies, online and offline businesses, the media, as well as individuals, to cement a presence on Laiwang.
Paid referrals are but only one of the many ways Laiwang hopes to attract more users — last year, it rolled out an interesting initiative to stand out from the crowd, by sharing the profiles of 100,000 female models with its users.
Alibaba announced its Laiwang app clocked 10 million registered users in its first month in November last year, still a long way to go before it even comes close to garnering WeChat’s numbers. However, with such aggressive marketing, Alibaba is obviously giving its all in the mobile messaging battle.
Headline image via Mike Clarke/AFP/Getty Images
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- Discover the HHC, a legal alternative to THC, which promises a similar experience for adults. 🌿
- Enthusiasm is building with the five-month campaign for SQ 820, uniting diverse voters in Oklahoma.
- Legalising and regulating cannabis for recreational use: huge potential for the local economy and industry.
The world of cannabis is changing fast, and one of the most exciting developments is HHC, or hydrocannabinol. As a reference site, we at wiki-hcc.com keep you up to date with the latest developments. HHC is a hot topic, especially when special elections like Oklahoma's are on the horizon, ready to decide the future of recreational cannabis.
The impetus for legalisation Imagine a wave that brings together diverse voices in powerful harmony. That's exactly what's happening with initiatives like SQ 820 in Oklahoma. As the mid-term elections approached, committed groups like Oklahomans for Sensible Laws took the lead, inviting voters to become agents of change. They didn't just ask for support, but for active engagement, a sign of a vibrant and healthy democracy.
A question of timing Have you ever wondered why certain initiatives take so long to see the light of day? Take Oklahoma, for example, where an initiative backed by over 164,000 signatures had to wait, not because of a lack of support, but because of administrative processes. These delays reveal the workings of our system and the importance of patience and perseverance in achieving our goals.
25% Reduction with our
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The executive viewpoint When governors like Oklahoma's speak out on issues such as cannabis legalisation, it highlights a fascinating tension between the federal and state levels. Their positions reflect a tapestry of perspectives that, while disagreeing on the approach, recognise the potential impact of legalisation.
The economics of recreational cannabis When it comes to legalising recreational cannabis, the figures speak for themselves. Taxes such as the one proposed by SQ 820, amounting to 15%, could irrigate various sectors, from education to justice, underlining the significant economic impact of such legislative changes.
A step towards freedom : With SQ 820, Oklahoma could soon see a new era of freedom for adults 21 and older. This includes not only cannabis consumption but also a thriving and regulated commercial sector, a change that could transform the societal and economic landscape.
Voices from the industry Cannabis professionals, like the CEO of The Nirvana Group, are optimistic about the future. Legalisation could mean an opening up to new economic opportunities and greater accessibility to products for consumers.
The campaign for change Groups like Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws are working tirelessly to advance cannabis legislation. Their dedication reflects a growing grassroots momentum in favour of legalisation, and their campaign is a celebration of democracy in action.
By focusing on the future of HHC and the dynamics of cannabis legalization, we offer an unprecedented view into the potential of this emerging market. While our focus is on Oklahoma today, it's a conversation that resonates globally. Each step towards legalisation reflects a deeper understanding of the potential benefits of cannabis, a plant that has long been misunderstood and whose shadowy days seem to be slowly dissipating.
As the debates and votes continue, we remain privileged witnesses to a history in the making, where each vote is a link between the present and a greener, more serene future.
What is the HHC?
HHC is a cannabinoid similar to THC but legal, offering comparable effects in a safe environment for adults.
What does SQ 820 mean for Oklahoma?
SQ 820 could legalise the recreational use of cannabis, boost the economy and review past cannabis-related convictions.
What are the economic benefits of legalising cannabis?
Legalising cannabis can generate significant tax revenue, create jobs and boost the local economy.


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Walmart entered India in 2008 by setting up a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises, an Indian conglomerate, to open wholesale stores.
Currently, the think tank does not include global internet firms such as Amazon, Facebook, Google and Uber, and some of these companies are now looking to reach out to the government to be included in policy-making.
Lines are being drawn across the board, with Soft-Bank squaring off against two of Snapdeal’s early backers — Kalaari Capital and Nexus Venture Partners.
"Hiring from the US means that the culture that we are trying to build here is second nature to those we hired," says Kavin Mittal.
For now, Hike has no revenue to show. What it has, apart from the dizzy valuation, is a 100 million user base that it says is hooked to the platform.
Anandan also said the country's technology and telecom ecosystem also had figure out how to grant increased access to its billion-plus population, especially to those in rural and semi-urban areas, at affordable prices.
Big Indian startups like Ola, Saavn, Paytm put on-board corporate heavyweights to play advisory roles
Leading Indian startups such as Flipkart, Paytm, Snapdeal and Urban Ladder attract big names from the corporate sector to advise and mentor them.
The company also plans to monetise the platform once the 100 million customer mark is reached through paid stickers or games.


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After more than two years of sluggish sales brought on by the recession, restaurateurs in Atlanta say business is beginning to improve and that they're optimistic about a rebound in 2011.
Operators in the city pointed to an increase in private parties and convention business, which they expect to continue as the holiday season nears. And while diners remain value-conscious, some restaurateurs reported that increased drink and appetizer orders are giving check averages a boost.
“The economy, I think, is starting to come back,” said Kevin Rathbun, chef and co-owner of the upscale Rathbun’s, Krog Bar and Kevin Rathbun Steak restaurants in midtown Atlanta. “I’m starting to see an upward trend as opposed to downward. 2009 was a rough year, but we’re starting to move in the right direction.”
The return of private parties and conventions
Rathbun said he is seeing more customers frequenting his restaurants in Atlanta for special occasions as well as business meals.
“We’re seeing some private parties come back, and a lot of pharmaceutical companies are coming back into play; that’s helped us," he said. "Also, conventions are starting to play a big part. A lot of them canceled in 2009, but they’re starting to [return now] It’s looking even better for 2011.”
Robby Kukler, a partner at Atlanta’s Fifth Group Restaurants, which operates such upscale establishments as South City Kitchen, La Tavola and Ecco, said he expect 2010 to end on a strong note, thanks to the upcoming holiday season.
“For us, my gut feeling is that holiday dining and group dining is going to be pretty good,” Kukler said. “This year, I think, there is some pent-up demand for those corporations who maybe haven’t done anything for the last two years and to go a third year might be a long time."
However, he noted that company holiday parties likely will not be as lavish as the affairs held before the recession hit.
"Corporate clients will want more for their money so events won’t be as extravagant as they had [been] in the past," Kukler said. "There might be a large number of attendees, but maybe they won’t be as overdone in terms of ingredients or décor or the amount of beverage served.”
Alcohol and appetizer sales up
Kukler said his restaurants are starting to experience an uptick in check averages as customers order more drinks and appetizers.
“We have seen that coming back to being more like it was prior to the recession,” he said. “But people are still looking for value and are really thinking about what they’re ordering. They’re making sure its something they will enjoy.”
Kukler noted that wine sales are back up at some restaurants, and that a growing interest in mixology is driving cocktails orders.
“Really, there has been an ongoing increase in spirits and cocktails that is due to the continued growth in mixology and [the creation of] interesting cocktails," he said. "We’ve seen that happen at all of our concepts where we previously had seen dips during the past 12 to 18 months.”
Value remains key
More casual restaurants in Atlanta also are seeing improving sales trends as residents continue to seek value.
At J. Christopher’s, a 22-unit family-dining chain that specializes in breakfast and lunch, sales are up 1 percent over last year, said Dick Holbrook, the company’s president and chief executive.
“I think people see us, with our average per-person check of about $10, as still affordable,” Holbrook said. “We don’t do liquor, appetizers or dessert; we’re basically a beverage and an entrée so they know what they’re going to spend.”
Reginald Washington, a partner in Lush Life Group, which owns such concepts as Rolling Bones Premium Pit BBQ, said focusing on value is key to succeeding in a tough operating environment.
“People really are conscious of how much money they are spending,” Washington said, “and they’re really thinking about where and how they’re going to spend it."
Value is more than just price, said Bob Campbell, co-founder and chief executive of Tappan Street Restaurant Group, parent company of the 27-unit Taco Mac casual-dining chain. Customers expect to get their money's worth, regardless of how much they spend, he said.
“If they feel they’ve gotten bang for their buck, they’ll be happy at any price level,” Campbell said.
Karen Bremer, executive director of the Georgia Restaurant Association, agreed saying, “Restaurateurs that operate consistently and provide consistent value to their customers are doing and will continue to do well. This restaurant industry is slowly but surely coming back.”
Health care costs looming
While many Atlanta operators are optimistic about the rest of 2010 and next year, they fear implementation of the health care reform bill will erode their profits with increased labor costs.
Holbrook of J. Christopher's said he expects costs to increase for both businesses and consumers as a result.
“I think the overall thing that’s misunderstood by Congress and most Americans is that if you impose health insurance on us as restaurateurs, as business people, we are going to turn around and pass it along to you as a guest in the price of our food,” he said. “There’s this misconception that it’s going to be free. Well, there’s nothing for free and … we’re going to see the cost of everything we buy and consume go up. We need to be realistic about that because our margins have been pinched."
Holbrook noted that many in the restaurant industry think health insurance should be provided to employees, but in a more cost-effective way.
“I think we come across sometimes like we do on minimum wage — as not caring, but we are a caring group,” Holbrook said. “We’re in the people business so finding the right ways to provide our employees with insurance certainly would be on our agenda but we have to do that in a way that’s realistic from a financial standpoint.”
Contact Elissa Elan at [email protected].


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The battle over Brexit spills onto the streets of London on Saturday when many thousands of people are expected to march through London to demand a new referendum just as parliament decides the fate of Britain's departure from the European Union.
Reuters | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 23:08:48
Award Winning Woman Andy-d 3900 Leather shoes Sneakers White and gold Welcome to what might be one of the most important days in British political history.
CNN | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 23:05:27
Sz 7-7.5 38 new ECCO bluema sport black leather toggle sport sandals NIKE Womens Air Max Plus Womens Av8424-600 Size 6.5
The upcoming Commons vote on Boris Johnson's new Brexit deal dominates Saturday's front pages.
Arcopedico Santana Yellow Nylon Sandal EU 38 (US 7 to 7.5) BBC | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 22:38:46
FT | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 21:56:03
Born Nome Boots Leather Suede Shearling Sz 6 Ivory Cream Lace Up UK 36.5 Warm Prime minister secured a new Brexit withdrawal agreement with the European Union on Thursday.
Al Jazeera | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 21:54:54
Prime Minister Boris Johnson puts his last-minute Brexit deal to a vote in an extraordinary sitting of the British parliament on Saturday, a day of reckoning that could decide the course of the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union.
Reuters | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 21:36:02
Offer of votes on matching EU standards post-Brexit in last-ditch bid to secure opposition support
FT | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 21:30:57
Britain's exit from the European Union hung on a knife-edge on Friday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson scrambled to persuade doubters to rally behind his last-minute European Union divorce deal in an extraordinary vote in parliament.
Reuters | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 21:18:23
The deputy chairman of the ERG group of Brexiteer Conservative lawmakers Mark Francois will back Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal, Sky News reported on Friday.
Reuters | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 21:18:16
Barclays, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche order staff to prepare for gyrations on market opening
FT | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 21:00:33
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Craig Erlam / OANDA | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 20:49:33
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Governor of the Bank of England says deal takes away the threat of a 'disorderly' Brexit.
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Al Jazeera | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 20:29:44
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent Friday attempting to drum up support for his Brexit deal, telling lawmakers there's "no better outcome." A vote in the House of Commons is set for Saturday, in the first weekend gathering since the 1982 Falklands invasion. Britain is due to leave the European ...
IBTimes | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 20:19:56
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The dollar headed for its worst week in almost four months on Friday, pummelled by sterling and euro rallies driven by a deal on Britain's departure from the European Union, while China's weakest growth in nearly three decades weighed on equities.
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After a week of intense diplomacy with the EU, Boris Johnson brokered a new withdraw...
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Bank of England governor says 'flexible' British economy will cope with life outside EU The Brexit deal agreed between London and Brussels will boost growth and could be a turning point for the global economy, the governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has said. In an interview with ...
Larry Elliott Economics editor / Guardian | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 19:28:59
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a Brexit showdown with parliament on Saturday after clinching a last-minute divorce deal with the European Union that his Northern Irish allies oppose.
Reuters | Fri, 18 Oct 2019 19:26:00
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ARSO to regulate farm produce standards
The African Organisation for Standardisation is set to regulate the standards of agricultural produce in Africa.
A member of the ARSO Council and Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Paul Angya, who disclosed this, said the African body had set up new strategies to ensure that the standards of farm produce from the region had positive impact on the economy.
He added that standardisation of produce would boost end-product competitiveness.
Angya, in a statement from SON, spoke at the 22 ARSO General Assembly and Made-in-Nigeria Expo in Arusha, Tanzania.
He said that the organisation intended to help African countries revolutionise agriculture and adopt new technologies.
The development, he said, would help Africa move away from its reliance on food imports.
He said, “Africa’s year of quality infrastructure will be used to chart new priorities and strategies for agriculture.
“With the new standardisation, the input supply and product processing sectors will become more consolidated, more concentrated and more integrated.”
On harmonisation of standards to boost international trade, Angya expressed optimism about the great improvement that would accrue from African countries aligning with international standards to improve their market access and boost regional trade.
He noted that standards had become a tool in the fight for competitiveness and for creating barriers for regional trade, emphasising the need for African standards to be a benchmark for international standards.
According to him, Africa regional cooperation and deeper integration of services and standards will increase trade among Africa countries, saying this is given priority in ARSO.
“There is the need to strengthen Africa’s economic independence through standards and empower the continent to play its rightful role in the global economy.
“I wish to emphasise that global competition has become more intensified in terms of quality, price, supply chain management and dependability of delivery systems. Changing consumer preferences is changing producers’ responses to market signals.
“This has further reinforced the need to harmonise standards if we have to play in the global market.”
He stressed the need for ARSO to forge collaboration among national standard bodies, regional blocs, pan-African quality infrastructure bodies, the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
The Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Charles Mwijage, used the platform to uged ARSO to fast-track the harmonisation process, saying it was long over-due.
He also urged ARSO to develop concrete proposals in this area of harmonisation of standards, given that it is a key component of competitiveness.
He said, “To be part of a regional or global supply chain, the standards of a country remain key. It is important at this stage to take the work of ARSO and technical bodies to the political level if harmonisation goals must be realised.
“International standards should also be part of African standards because there is no need to reinvent the wheel except developing the ones that are peculiar to the regions to increase the economies of scale.”


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THE government is prepared to enact a privacy and data protection law to address the growing concern among Internet users about invasion of their privacy via the Web, Second Finance Minister Datuk Jamaludin Jarjis said.
BEIJING: Dun & Bradstreet, a global business information firm, said some of its local employees in China may have violated US anti-bribery laws and it had suspended operations at one of its local units pending an inquiry.
PARIS: The French government has summoned Facebook Inc managers to appear before the country's data watchdog to explain how some of its users came to believe their privacy had been infringed on the social network, it said in a statement early on Tuesday.
NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO: Google Inc's shares have clung tenaciously near record highs after a three-month, 30 percent rally fueled by rising optimism about Internet advertising, but Wall Street fears it may be running out of steam. Google stock has hovered near an all-time high of $774.38 since touching that peak on October 5.
NEW YORK: Internet search king Google’s shares pushed past US$800 for the first time despite a tough new challenge from Microsoft and looming European Union action over alleged privacy violations.
NEW YORK: Matthew Winkler, editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News, apologized on Monday for allowing journalists "limited" access to sensitive data about how clients used Bloomberg terminals, saying it was "inexcusable", but that important customer data had always been protected.
The next time you walk into a shop, consider this: You may not be using your phone, but it is giving out a unique signal that the retailer may be monitoring.


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Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed a new MP3 watermarking technology for tracking pirated audio files in peer-to-peer file-sharing networks.
Apple’s website was the world’s 10th most popular online destination in January 2006, receiving just under 35 million visitors, according to Nielsen NetRatings.
The BBC plans to expand its podcast lineup and add several new shows including Radio 4’s Start the Week, Broadcasting House, Today in Parliament and Front Row.
Earphone Solutions is offering a $50 rebate on the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5PRO earphones until Feb. 28. The company said the $50 rebate will be mailed by Ultimate Ears.


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Shares of Overstock.com (NASDAQ:OSTK) fell 47.3% in the first half of 2018, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The e-tailer's troubles had almost nothing to do with online retailing.
Overstock shares skyrocketed in 2017 thanks to the company's efforts to make a business out of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. That surge continued into the first week of 2018, where cryptocurrency prices still appeared to have some fresh boosts coming their way.
But when bitcoin and other digital coins ran out of rocket fuel, so did Overstock. The company also presented two disappointing earnings reports along the way, but the market largely shrugged them off and continued to tie Overstock's share prices very closely to the ups and downs of leading cryptocurrencies:
Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne is still taking his company deeper into the blockchain market, and maybe that's all for the best now that Wayfair (NYSE:W) has emerged as a crushing rival in Overstock's traditional playground of online home goods retailing. Overstock's tZERO securities trading platform has found some third-party capital to back its long-term plans, but it's still an unprofitable and risky business.
These days, Overstock's shares can be seen as an indirect bet on blockchain technologies, which would be fine if it were tied to a financially stable business platform. But Overstock is unprofitable as a whole, leaving more risk than promises of future rewards in this volatile stock.


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The short answer is no, at least not yet. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has been working on a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for several years now, but it’s still in the testing phase and not available to the general public.
When it does launch, it’s unlikely that it will be available on Coinbase or any other major cryptocurrency exchange.
The PBOC first started researching a CBDC back in 2014. In 2017, it set up a special research group to explore the possibility of issuing a digital version of the yuan.
Then, in 2019, the central bank announced that it was working on a prototype of the digital yuan.
However, the project is still very much in the experimental stage. The PBOC has been working with a number of commercial banks and other financial institutions to test the digital currency.
It’s also been conducting test transactions using the digital yuan. So far, there’s no word on when the digital yuan will be launched or what it will be used for.
Some have speculated that the digital yuan could be used as a tool to combat money laundering and other financial crimes. Others believe that it could be used to replace cash entirely.
However, it’s still too early to say what exactly the digital yuan will be used for.
In any case, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to buy digital yuan on Coinbase or any other major cryptocurrency exchange anytime soon. The PBOC is still testing the waters and has not announced any plans to launch the digital currency.
Even if it does launch the digital yuan, it’s unlikely that it would be made available on Coinbase or any other major exchange. So, for now at least, you won’t be able to buy digital yuan on Coinbase.


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Facebook without targeted ads? That would be a “paid product” says COO Sheryl Sandberg
Facebook continues their PR blitz to recover from the dramatic fallout from the Cambridge Analytics revelations from a few weeks ago.
Last week Facebook COO Cheryl Sandberg appeared on a number of TV programs, interviewed at Facebook’s HQ.
In one interview with the NBC Today show’s Savannah Guthrie, Sandberg was asked by Guthrie “Could you come up with a tool that said ‘I do not want Facebook to use my personal profile data to target me for advertising’? Do you have an ‘opt out’ button? Please don’t use my profile data for advertising”.
Sandberg’s seven-second answer (shown below — see the full interview in context here) was telling.
It was the first time she stumbled in the whole interview. For most of her responses, she seemed to be replaying a heavily rehearsed set of lines. For the response to this question, she seemed to be sharing thinking that had not yet been made public.
Her response, including the verbal stumble was:
“We have different forms of opt-out. We don’t have an opt-out at the highest level, that would be a..a..a..a paid product.”
This to me seemed very telling. What Sandberg was saying in effect was: allow us to use your data for targeting (you are the product) and you can have Facebook for free. If we can’t target the advertising and have to serve generic advertising (as most TV shows do, as well as print publications), then you have to pay to use Facebook.
I immediately thought of my relationship with other services I already pay for. The £10 per month I pay both Spotify and Netflix ensure that I see no ads. The premium I pay Vimeo for hosting my videos ensures that none of the visitors to my website see any ads either.
Could there be a time when we have an option to pay Facebook? Possibly. I wrote recently about how Facebook’s whole business model was because of their total dependence on advertising.
Having users pay for Facebook AND STILL have to see ads goes against the “pay to remove ads” model that Spotify and Netflix have championed. Sandberg’s hint that they may have to offer a paid product model to appease privacy fears os very interesting, and I am sure that the other “free with ads” platforms (many also owned by Facebook such as Instagram and Whatsapp) will be watching this space very closely.
Would you pay for Facebook if it offered a “no-ads” or “no-targeted ads” option?


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When it comes to Thanksgiving, Americans have no trouble tracking down a turkey worthy of being the centerpiece of their holiday table. Some 46 million of thebirds are expected to be devoured on the big day, according to the National Turkey Federation, a trade group.
But good luck finding a turkey egg.
Though they take a back seat to the chicken variety, turkey eggs have become a prized delicacy of late, with chefs and home cooks praising them for their creamy texture and rich taste. They are enjoyed in traditional breakfast scrambles or more creative fare (say, turkey-egg sushi). Baking enthusiasts say they go especially well in cake recipes, too.
But the eggs, which are slightly larger than chicken ones and can easily cost 10 times as much, are generally in short supply. Turkey farmers make far more money raising their birds for meat, so major producers forgo the egg business altogether. While some smaller farms, particularly backyard operations, will sell the occasional egg, even they typically see it as a byproduct, the turkey equivalent of pig’s feet or beef hearts.
Making matters worse for egg seekers at Thanksgiving is another simple fact: Turkeys produce far fewer eggs—about two to three a week—than chickens, which can lay almost daily, according to Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton, a poultry expert at the University of Arkansas. Turkeys generally produce most eggs in the spring and summer and peter out by November.
All of which became a daunting realization for Yvan Lemoine, executive chef of Union Fare, a New York “modern gastrohall” that is hosting a Thanksgiving feast. Mr. Lemoine had been planning on offering a side dish of a whole roasted squash, stuffed with grits and topped with a turkey egg as part of his $85-a-person spread.
But about two weeks before the holiday, Mr. Lemoine learned the eggs were nowhere to be found—not at the nearby greenmarket and not through his regular meat-and-dairy suppliers. Further stymying the situation: One of Mr. Lemoine’s key suppliers, Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors, sources whatever eggs it can gather from Amish farmers, many of whom limit their use of telephones, making it hard for the chef to place an “emergency” Thanksgiving order.
“How is this so difficult?” said Mr. Lemoine, though he vowed to keep his search going.
In Cambridge, Mass., Tony Maws, chef of the French restaurant Craigie on Main, was also coming up short. He had hoped to feature the eggs in a delicate sauce, or sabayon, to accompany a Thanksgiving Day appetizer of foie gras, saying their flavor is one of a kind in the egg world. “There’s almost a nuttiness to them,” he said.
Also on the hunt: Nick Korbee, a partner in New York’s Egg Shop, a restaurant that specializes in all things egg. He has been looking forward to using turkey fried eggs around Thanksgiving time for his holiday-themed variation on a Reuben, the classic deli sandwich. (The runny yolk would take the place of the Russian dressing.) He too was striking out with his many egg sources but wasn’t ready to give up. He borrowed the tagline from one of his favorite TV series, “The X-Files,” to frame the situation.
“The eggs are out there,” said Mr. Korbee.
A few egg seekers have been successful, though they say their victories were hard-earned. Kelly Fields, chef and owner of Willa Jean, a bakery and restaurant in New Orleans, was planning a holiday-themed sandwich too—a biscuit stuffed with everything from turkey meat to cranberry sauce to turkey eggs. After putting out numerous feelers, she finally heard from a farmer about an hour away in rural Mississippi. He agreed to sell her three dozen turkey eggs for $4 apiece.
“I met him at a gas station,” said Ms. Fields of the transaction, adding that it “kind of resembled a black-market deal.”
Karen Godwin, who runs a backyard farm in the Memphis, Tenn., area, has a commercial baker who insists upon an “exclusive” for her eggs.
“She said, ‘If somebody approaches you, call me first,’” said Ms. Godwin. “I felt like, ‘What is this?’ ” (The baker couldn’t be reached for comment.)
Some farmers do what they can to increase the yield from their birds and extend the egg-laying season. To speed her turkeys through the molting period—when the birds shed and regrow feathers and typically stop laying eggs in the process—Janine Kuntz, a farmer in Monument, Colo., buys bags of unsweetened coconut flakes to feed her flock, since coconut oil is supposed to hasten the cycle.
Besides, said Ms. Kuntz, the turkeys devour the flakes. “Oh, they love it,” she said.
For chefs who can’t get the turkey eggs they need this time of year, there are ways around the problem. Tim Cushman, the chef at O Ya, a restaurantwith locations in New York and Boston, likes to use turkey eggs for his take on tamagoyaki, a Japanese-style omelet served sushi-style on rice. While Mr. Cushman said “it would be great if we could get them all year long,” he substitutes duck or chicken eggs when turkey ones are out of season.
For Mr. Lemoine, of Union Fare, there was no substituting for the real deal, despite the fact that he had never tried turkey eggs when he conceived the Thanksgiving side dish incorporating them. He just thought the idea was too clever to resist.
So imagine his relief when he finally got word late last week that one of the Amish farmers had come through with a stash of eggs. Within an hour of their arrival at his restaurant, Mr. Lemoine was frying up one to savor his find. “I’m like a kid at Christmas,” he said.
Then the chef had his first bite. “It kinda tastes like a chicken egg,” he said.


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General Motors Invests $300 Million in Chinese Autonomous Driving Startup Momenta
【Summary】GM announced on Thursday that its making a $300 million investment in Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta, which will help the company accelerate the development of self-driving technologies for future GM vehicles in China.
Automakers around the world are entering into partnerships with tech startups to accelerate the development of autonomous driving technology for their model lineups. Some examples are Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen's partnership with Argo AI and the General Motors partnership with San Francisco-based Cruise. Now GM is making another big investment in China.
GM announced on Thursday that its making a $300 million investment in Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta, which will help the company accelerate the development of self-driving technologies for future GM vehicles in China.
China is an important market for GM, as well as for many of the world's carmakers, as it's the world's biggest auto market. Backed by strong government support for advanced mobility technologies, China is emerging as a world leader in the development of self-driving technology and electric cars, including building autonomous vehicles for commercial mobility services.
"Customers in China are embracing electrification and advanced self-driving technology faster than anywhere else in the world, and the agreement between GM and Momenta will accelerate our deployment of next-generation solutions tailor-made for our consumers in China," said Julian Blissett, executive vice president of General Motors and president of GM China.
Momenta was founded in 2016 and is based in Beijing. The company bills itself as a tier 2 software provider developing solutions for Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs adding autonomous capability to their models.
Momenta's fully autonomous driving solution is designed to replace drivers and be widely deployed in taxis and private vehicles.
As a young startup, Momenta was part of the Nvidia Inception Program, an accelerator which provides deep-learning support from Nvidia for exceptional startups who are revolutionizing industries with advances in AI and data science. As part of the program, Nvidia provides market support, expertise and access to its powerful hardware technologies.
"Momenta is committed to developing breakthrough artificial intelligence solutions to push beyond the frontier of possibilities today and significantly improve personal mobility experiences. Together with GM, we will jointly invest in autonomous vehicle technologies to enhance driving safety, convenience and efficiency," said Xudong Cao, CEO of Momenta.
Momenta's advanced technology has led to investments from other automakers as well. In March, Momenta announced a $500 million funding round led by Chinese automaker SAIC Motor, Toyota Motor and auto parts supplier Bosch. Other investors in the funding round include Daimler AG, Yunfeng Capital and Tencent.
In 2020, Toyota partnered with Momenta to develop a high definition (HD) mapping platform in China for autonomous driving vehicles.
GM envisions a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. To address these three goals, GM will require advanced autonomous driving technology that can prevent accidents, become an electric automaker like Tesla, and develop autonomous vehicles for commercial mobility services.
Investments in companies like Momenta will help the automaker reach its goals. GM is investing billions of dollars in electrification and self-driving cars over the next five years. In June, GM announced it will invest a total of $35 billion from 2020 to 2025 as it looks to take on companies like Tesla, which has grown to become the world's most valuable automaker.
GM is also facing growing competition in China from EV startup automakers NIO Inc and XPeng, both of which are developing advanced autonomous driving technology tailored for China's roads.
As a result, GM said it's expanding its design and engineering facilities for EVs and autonomous driving in China. It includes bigger investments in increasing capability to deliver over-the-air software updates via GM's Vehicle Intelligent Platform, as well as 5G-powered connectivity services. GM is also preparing to roll out its global Ultium EV platform which will serve as a platform for GM's future EVs sold in China.
GM said the timeline for the deployment of next-generation advanced self-driving technologies in China and other details will be shared closer to production.
Originally hailing from New Jersey, Eric is a automotive & technology reporter covering the high-tech industry here in Silicon Valley. He has over 15 years of automotive experience and a bachelors degree in computer science. These skills, combined with technical writing and news reporting, allows him to fully understand and identify new and innovative technologies in the auto industry and beyond. He has worked at Uber on self-driving cars and as a technical writer, helping people to understand and work with technology.
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- The Mercedes-Benz Unveils the ‘SUSTAINEER’ Electric Concept Van, Designed for Sustainable Urban Mobility
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- Shares of Electric Truck Maker Rivian Will Start Trading on the NASDAQ on Wednesday


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These rules cover staffers at grocery stores, whose use of masks has gone way up since Polis made face coverings mandatory for such employees interacting with the public on April 17. But based on our visits to retailers such as Safeway and King Soopers over the past two months, not many employees are wearing gloves — 20 percent or fewer on most days.
Why not? Despite the state health order, neither Safeway nor King Soopers require employees to don gloves while on the job, since there's considerable debate about how much good they do.
In a recent Q&A, CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, among the country's most prominent advocates for hygienic measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, pointed out that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is essentially ambivalent about the use of gloves by grocery-store customers (and, by association, employees), since the virus can stick to them and be transferred to an individual's face just as it might if they'd gone without gloves entirely. Even those who choose to wear gloves should wash their hands frequently, he advised.
Safeway spokesperson Kris Staff echoes these observations via email. "Safeway food service workers (deli, bakery, meat etc.) have always worn gloves (and still do) as a requirement as part of our food safety protocol," she writes. "The rest of our associates (cashiers, baggers, etc.) are not required to wear gloves. The CDC guidelines recommend frequent hand washing throughout the day, and all associates are required to wash their hands at least once every hour."
Jessica Trowbridge, a spokesperson for Kroger, the parent company of King Soopers, notes that "in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, King Soopers has taken extensive measures to safeguard our associates, customers and supply chain, ensuring local communities always have access to fresh, affordable food."
Here's her list of "measures we are implementing and continually updating to protect the safety of our associates, customers and our communities":
• Gloves and face coverings for every associate, every shiftBut even though "gloves and masks are provided to every associate for every shift," Trowbridge adds that "while masks are required, gloves are optional. We know that proper sanitation, including frequent hand washing, is critical to preventing the spread of disease. As such, our associates are washing their hands and cleaning high-touch areas every thirty minutes. We continue to seek and follow guidance from federal, state and local agencies, including the CDC, regarding best practices during this unprecedented pandemic."
• Plexiglass shields installed at checkout stands
• Educational floor decals to ensure physical distancing
• Handwashing and cleaning high-touch areas every 30 minutes
• Limiting store capacity to 50 percent of normal (1 person for every 120 square feet of store space)
• Increased store sanitation processes when restocking
• Mandatory temperature and symptom checks for associates prior to starting their shifts
• Communication with all employees to review, confirm and reinforce safety and social distancing best practices


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£6m Combined Authority Funding Could Create More Than 500 Jobs
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has agreed to provide £6 million funding, from its Single Investment Fund, for two developments that could create more than 500 jobs.
£5m was approved for a new Digital Innovation Factory on the University of Liverpool’s campus, which will serve as a centre of excellence in virtual reality.
Through collaboration between business and academia, the Digital Innovation Factory is forecast to create approximately 400 jobs over a ten-year period, while boosting the city region economy by £44.5 million.
More than £750,000 was also approved for the construction of Project Olympus – a 105,000 square feet distribution and logistics facility on a 1.6 hectare brownfield site within the Atlantic Park Business Park in Sefton.
The facility is expected to create 104 jobs and boost the economy by £39 million over a ten year period.


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UNFAIR OIL PRICING
SHAMIM AHMED RIZVI
Oct 27 - Nov 02, 2008
In a shocking development, the so called people government has stunned the people of Pakistan by refusing to pass on the benefit of the reduction in the price of oil in the international market. Despite recommendations of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority to cut prices of Petrol and diesel by Rs.5 and Rs.3 respectively from October 15, the Government announced to keep the oil prices unchanged.
In the International Market crude oil prices have sharply declined, coming down from $147 per barrel by $73% over last few weeks. In violation of its own declared policy to pass on the benefit of falling prices of oil to the consumers and its repeated claims of working for people welfare, the Government has decided to use this opportunity to boost its own revenues. The Government has revised upward Petrol development levy (PDL) from Rs.17.57 a litre to Rs.23.12 from October 16 in addition to general sales tax of Rs.11.26 per litre. It has been done by a Government which has been pledging to its voters and general public to provide them relief from the rising prices. It has been done at a time when consumers were desperately expecting some relief from ever-rising inflation as a result of reduced prices of petrol and petroleum products. You do not have to be an economic expert to understand that the ever rising transport cost is the biggest single contributor to rising food prices and other consumer's items.
A source in the Ministry of Petroleum told this correspondent on condition of anonymity that the decision of the Government also came as a shock to them because the ministry had fully supported the proposal given by the OGRA. It was taken at the highest level on the intervention of the Ministry of Finance who was all out to boost its revenue by hook or crook. It was of the view that the public at large had mentally accepted the existing level of prices and there would be no serious protests from the public if the previous level of pricing is maintained. The government, with the move to increase PDL, will generate windfall additional income of Rs.5.5 billion per month just on petrol if kept in view its consumption in 30 days which stands at 1 billion liters. The government may also pocket additional more than Rs.2 billion by increasing the PDL by Rs.7.14billion on HOBC meaning by that the government would pocket in to around over Rs.7 billion per month additional. The government is at present earning over Rs.25 billion on petrol. With this increase the net government taxes have gone up to Rs.34 per litre, the source confided.
It appears that the so-called people government is totally oblivious of the difficulties of the people as it is taking measure after measure to add to the burden of the common person contrary to all its promises made to the masses during its election campaign; the present government is also following pro-rich and pro-elite policies of Musharraf/Shoukat Aziz Government. Instead of increasing taxes on the fabulously high profits by big business mafia like oil companies, cement, sugar, CNG and other corporate sector and bringing the surging black economy under the tax-net, they are resorting to indirect taxes to enhance its revenues.
Last month when the Government increased the prices of diesel and kerosene oil by Rs.3.5 per litre, the Government came out with a lame and misleading explanation that it cannot afford to pay for the subsidies given to the consumers on these items. In spite of high subsidy claims the government was earning over Rs.70 billion annually from the sale of oil and oil products. The government collected about Rs245 billion as sales tax and other levies on oil and gas during financial year 2007-08 and subsidized their prices by about Rs. l75 billion earning a net profit of about Rs.70 billion on oil business. The government has been talking about subsidies it provided to the consumers on oil products without mentioning much higher revenues it recovered from the consumers on the same products. Had the government removed taxes and surcharges on petroleum products or at least freased them with unprecedented increase in prices of oil in international market, there would have been no need for subsidies and the economic growth would have remained unaffected, an insider told page.
Instead, higher economic growth might have resulted in higher tax revenues, he said, adding this could be one reason for the decline in revenue collection from 21.7 percent of GDP in 2006-07 to about 19.2 percent of GDP in 2007-08.
According to the financial data released by the federal government recently, the government collected about Rs89 billion as development surcharge, royalties and others discounts on oil and gas during 2007-08. Besides it recovered general sales tax of about Rsl20 billion on oil products and about Rs35 billion on natural gas sales during last financial year. As such, total revenue collected on the sale of oil products and natural gas stood at Rs245 billion. In contrast, the government provided about Rsl75 billion as subsidies on oil products during the year 2007-08. Therefore, the government earned about Rs70 billion of net profit on oil and gas business as a whole after paying Rsl75 billion in subsidies. Official data suggests that the government recovered about Rsl4.5 billion as development surcharge on petroleum products, Rs20.7 billion development surcharge on natural gas, Rsl8.6 billion discount retained on crude oil and another Rs35 billion as royalties on oil and natural gas, making a total of Rs89 billion.
These sources said as the petroleum prices increased in the international market, the government's share proportionately went up because of 15 percent general sales tax. For example, the GST on motor spirit that stood at Rs7 per litre on petrol in February 2007 increased to about Rsl2 per litre in July 2008, and jacked up government revenue by about Rs5 per liter. Likewise, the GST on HOB (High Octane Blending Component) increased from about Rs5.50 per liter in February 1 to Rsl3 per liter in July 2008, providing a windfall of about Rs4.5 per liter. The GST on kerosene also increased from Rs4.60 per liter in February to about Rs8 per liter by end of June 2008. The GST on kerosene also increased from Rs4.60 per liter in February 2008 to about Rs8 per liter by end of June 2008. The GST on diesel also increased from about Rs4 per liter in February 2008 to Rs8 per liter in June 2008, providing a substantial revenue increase to the government. Apart from GST, the government also kept on charging development surcharge on petrol and HOBC that fluctuated between Rs3 to 12 per liter with the exception of a couple of months when surcharge was done away with on temporary basis. Oil and gas sector was the single largest contributor in the Rs385 billion of total general sales tax collection during 2007-08, the officials said.


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Economic Development Coordinator Shaun Gately said recently that the retail chain will be building a new store in between the professional building at the intersection of Merline Road and the Tractor Supply store on the 400 block of Route 83.
The local address is 426 Talcottville Rd., but that might change after construction, Gately said.
The plans call for a store measuring 9,100 square feet, Gately said. The parcel consists of 4.2 acres, Gately said.
Construction could be in full swing this fall, according to Gately.
Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based Dollar General touts itself ads "the nation's largest small-box discount retailer," on the corporate Web site.


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A popular audio product these past several years has been portable speaker systems and sound bars for audio and TV. Sonos is clearly the market leader, making great-sounding, great-looking products.
But there's a problem. Despite being a high-end tech device, once you've set up your home or your Man Cave with your Sonos system, you're done. Like buying a mattress, a refrigerator, or most other appliances and home goods, you're not going to need a new one for a while – probably years.
Yet, we're living in a subscription economy where recurring revenue is a key to growing brands. In our Techsurvey 2020 conducted earlier this year, we learned that six in ten radio fans subscribe to an audio service, like Spotify, Pandora, and/or SiriusXM. More than one in four describe to two or more subscription products.
Do the math. That's a lot of money. And since COVID, more and more content subscription services have popped up, all leveraged on the power of a small monthly fee that's hopefully appealing and affordable to millions of entertainment seekers.
However, companies like Sonos have been left out in the cold. That's because their product is essentially hardware. And there's no need for monthly payments. Perhaps, until now.
They've been dabbling in content for their unique distribution system. You may recall that earlier this year, Sonos launched an app, aptly called “Sonos Radio.” It provided the ability to stream platforms like TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Radio.com.
And it opened the door to Sonos creating its own product – a bunch of formatted, curated radio stations. Yes, the beginnings of a software subscription model.
The other shoe dropped yesterday.
Sonos introduced “Radio HD” – a monthly service, apparently designed to compete against other streaming players, including satellite radio.
According to CNET, they've signed Dolly Parton to a content deal with her “Songteller Radio,” along with 45+ other genre stations.
And to get that subscription revenue model going, Sonos will be charging $8 for the privilege of signing up for yet another content service. All of this speaks to the power of content. Even for a great distribution platform like Sonos, without a content or “software” model, the company underperforms its potential.
But then there's the branding story.
Yes, the launch of “Sonos Radio” (the italics are mine) was yet another indication of the power of the R-word.
But “Radio HD?”
Doesn't that have a ring of familiarity to it? At least, to radio people who have been connected with a product called HD Radio.
I'll leave it to the Xperi legal team to determine whether the Sonos' reversal of their brand name constitutes a copyright violation.
Confused? Maybe you're supposed to be. Perhaps that's part of the Sonos calculus.
Interestingly, I've heard many people over the years – mostly who work in radio – claim that HD Radio always was “a stupid name.” Many have cynically asked, “What does HD mean anyway?”
Well, here we are in 2020, and we've come full circle. Sonos has ripped off the name – sort of – especially if you're afflicted with dyslexia.
Whether HD Radio has sufficient top-of-mind awareness is another conversation for another day. But this Sonos launch is a reminder about the value of RADIO – the brand, the platform, the medium.
In the past few years, many industry people are pointing to AUDIO as a better, hotter platform. Some have even wondered if brands like “The Radio Show” couldn't take advantage of the trend by transforming to “The Audio Show.”
There's no question that thanks in no small part to streaming and podcasts, audio IS hot.
But “radio” is a gold standard brand that some of the biggest tech companies – hardware and software – continue to incorporate in their branding.
The broadcast radio industry – now celebrating its 100th anniversary – would be smart to think long and hard before jettisoning one of its biggest core strengths: its brand name.
And if you think there's any need for cautionary tales, think about Radio Shack and their hapless attempt to modernize their image. A decade ago, they dropped the “R-word” from their handle, electing to go with the sleeker “The Shack.”
Since then, Radio Shack has filed for bankruptcy – twice. The only place you see their stores anymore is in rural communities. And yes, they're back to calling themselves Radio Shack.
Saying goodbye to “radio” didn't work out so well.


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Ronish Baxter CEO, Suncom Infotech believes that all this is made possible by bringing together decades of research into cryptography, game theory, distributed computing systems to mention a few of the key building blocks.
Apart from that, Ronish Baxter said that Suncom Infotech has developed and is launching the blockchain technology platform, keeping in mind that an economic identity is essential to break loose from this poverty cycle. In the coming months, the company is going to introduce a feature in the innovative application that his company is building which would help build a vetted, recognizable identity that would be a prerequisite to participate in any form of transactions or ownership in the global economy. The secure and established nature of the blockchain will provide a means to share sensitive data without the need to bother about the information getting altered along the way or getting lost.
We asked Ronish Baxter, CEO of Suncom Infotech for the core reason for this development to aid the poverty sector. Ronish Baxter said that it can help in many ways like:
- Send aid without corruption
- Economic Identity & banking
- Allowing access to digitally secure and politically neutral ‘store of value’ as a means of saving


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HTA Director General, Carol Paris, comments, “2012 was a tough year for the garden industry. The wet weather combined with the effects of low consumer confidence and increasing competition has been challenging.”
She adds, “Older, affluent consumers do remain comparatively insulated from the economic downturn, standing the industry and particularly garden centres in good stead. But younger consumers’ spending on gardening is increasingly squeezed by the stuttering economy and falling levels of home ownership. Finding ways of getting these consumers into gardening and adapting to how they shop is going to become increasingly important for us in the coming years”
The Garden Market Retail Analysis 2013 shows varying performances for different garden categories. Overall spending on garden products was down by 14% compared with 2011. Consumer spending on garden furniture by contrast was down 21% as consumers made increasing use of the internet to research and make purchases in the category. Garden plants were down by 11% compared with the previous year.
Despite these challenges, the report shows that consumers continue to enjoy gardening and their gardens. There are opportunities to appeal to customers’ desires for natural, authentic goods, home entertaining and socialising and the satisfaction to be gained from a great looking garden. And with more than six out of ten British adults visiting a garden centre in 2012, the nation’s appetite for gardening and great garden retail environments remain in good health.


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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.
Gov. Mike Beebe said Friday he returned from a visit to Cuba optimistic that Arkansas can increase its agricultural exports to the communist country.
Beebe, who joined a growing roster of governors and members of Congress who have visited the island to promote trade, wouldn't say whether he thinks the federal government should end its 47-year-old trade embargo with Cuba. But he noted he traveled there amid signs that trade restrictions may ease.
The governor said he thinks there's a chance for Arkansas to boost its trade with Cuba, primarily in rice and poultry.
"I'm optimistic because, just on the pure merits, we've got something that is better than most folks in the rest of the world and can do it better and can do it efficiently and can do it more productively," Beebe told reporters at a Capitol news conference. "I don't think anybody can grow rice or can have the kind of livestock and poultry efficiency that Arkansas has, and I think that's proven by the relative stature that our companies have."
Arkansas already has limited trade with Cuba under terms of the U.S. embargo. Exemptions were created to the embargo in 2000 to allow limited agricultural trade with Cuba.
Last year, the state exported $32,996 in goods to Cuba, all of which was cotton and fabric, said Scott Hardin, a spokesman with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
That was a steep drop from 2007, when the state exported $1.3 million in meat and poultry to the island. In 2006, the state exported $1.4 million worth of goods, mostly rice and cereal.
Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Richard Bell has blamed the dropoff on a rise in rice prices and a rule requiring cash in advance before shipping products.
With the trip, Beebe became the latest in a string of governors, including those from Nebraska, Idaho and Maine, who have traveled to Cuba to promote trade. The potential market also has led Arkansas' congressional delegation to visit the nation in the past.
Representatives from Riceland Foods Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc. also traveled to Cuba on the latest trade mission.
Experts say Beebe's trip comes amid the potential for even more trade between the United States and Cuba under the Obama administration. Officials from Cuba and the U.S. discussed immigration this month for the first time since 2003, and the Obama administration has lifted restrictions on Cuban-Americans who want to travel or send money to the island.
"I think it's fair to say there is a new climate," said Kirby Jones, founder and president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade Association. "I think people are seeing a change in attitude, and so companies and states are looking at this and saying there may be a new day here."
Jones, who also is president of Alamar Associates, a consulting firm that works with companies seeking business in Cuba, said he traveled to the nation last year with officials from New York, Delaware and California. Jones said he wasn't aware of any governors who have traveled to Cuba since Obama took office in January.


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Pen Centre aims for the ‘wow’ factor.
Pen Centre employee Terry Venus works on the Christmas decor at the mall.
As if the transformation brought forth by a $13-million investment wasn’t enough for the Pen Centre.
Now Niagara’s largest shopping centre is upping the ante in a big way for the ever-important Christmas shopping season. In an effort to “own the feeling of Christmas”, the mall has created a significant holiday display, spending about three-quarters of a million dollars in its common area.
A release issued by the mall states they were certainly aiming to create a “wow” factor. After they put together their bid requirements, the mall received submissions from seven Christmas decor manufacturers from the United States and Canada. After reviewing each proposal, the Pen’s Christmas decor oversight committee chose Studio Artefact, a Montreal firm, to build and supply the shopping centre with its decor presentation.
On Sunday, the first of two tractor trailers arrived at the mall, carrying the decor that is transforming the common area. The company’s artists, technicians, craftsmen, woodworkers, designers and artisans have been working in tandem with a team from the mall to create a customized display that incorporates the latest technology.
At the brand new Santa set in Sears Court, children will be able to board a train and ride the Polar Bear Express to the Jolly Elf’s magical sleigh for their special visit. As well, in Danier Court, there is a giant polar bear sitting on ice cubes to create a picturesque display for family photographs.
Outside the mall’s main entrance will stand a 25-foot tall reindeer that will be illuminated with thousands of LED lights.
And this Saturday at 11 a.m., Santa himself will arrive at the mall courtesy of the powers of Niagara Falls magician Greg Frewin. The mall is offering a Santa Fast Pass to allow families to hop on its faster VIP entrance line for a photo. For more information, visit www.thepencentre.com.


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Development company Red Sea Global has installed an off-grid charging network in Saudi Arabia to power electric cars driving through the emerging tourist destination. Gemma Harris reports
The multi-project developer, Red Sea Global, has developed and completed the installation of the largest off-grid electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The network includes more than 150 charging stations integrated into phase one of the Red Sea tourism hub.
The strategically positioned stations have been set to power 80 guest transport vehicles, including the electric Lucid Air and Mercedes-Benz EQS models.
John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global, says: “Our ambition to combine sustainability and luxury like never before takes a new form as we drive The Red Sea into the future of next-gen, smart mobility, fully powered by sunlight.”He adds: “Our electric transport fleet and charging network not only elevates our environmental credibility with yet another global benchmark in carbon-neutral operations but does so in a way that matches our guests’ expectations for high-end style and comfort.”
The fleet is reserved for exclusive guest use, facilitating transportation between the airport, resorts and the various destinations, including dining locations, luxury marinas, golf courses, and other high-end leisure amenities, during their stays at the Red Sea destination. The vehicles can be booked in advance or requested on demand.
This project is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader goal to achieve net-zero emissions to become the world’s largest destination to run on renewable energy. To power this introductory phase of the electric fleet and charging network, the group has constructed five solar farms complete with 760,000 photovoltaic panels.Andreas Flourou, group head of mobility at Red Sea Global, says: “Red Sea Global heralds a new era of cutting-edge mobility with Saudi Arabia’s premier luxury EV fleet marking a milestone in sustainable transportation.”
Moreover, the establishment and operation of this new fleet will create an estimated 1,500 jobs, including chauffeurs, hub managers, EV charging specialists and skilled technicians.
“Our carbon-neutral operations provide guests with a seamless and stylish travel experience while creating new jobs and empowering young Saudis,” says Flourou.
Looking ahead, the group plans to introduce Saudi Arabia’s first fleet of carbon-neutral electric buses in the destination for staff transportation. The company is also actively exploring other sustainable transportation solutions across various means, including e-bikes, vans, trucks, yachts, ferries, boats, airside vehicles and off-road leisure pursuit vehicles.
The first phase of the Red Sea destination is well underway, with the newly operational Red Sea International airport welcoming its inaugural guests in September 2023. Bookings are now also open for the first two hotels, as well as the recent launch of the first seaplane company in the Kingdom, Fly Red Sea.
Upon completion in 2030, the destination will feature 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms with more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites.


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A representative for the corn industry says sugar makers should compete in the marketplace instead of the courtroom over the use of the term "corn sugar."
A federal judge ruled Friday that a lawsuit can go forward as the sugar industry seeks to stop the use of the term "corn sugar" for high fructose corn syrup.
Audrae Erickson, president of the Corn Refiners Association, said Sunday that sugar makers are attempting to shut down free speech.
Erickson praised the judge for granting a defense motion to drop individual corn companies as defendants, leaving only the trade association, and dismissing a part of the lawsuit claiming that the corn industry violated California law in addition to federal regulations.
Sugar industry lawyers who brought the suit say the ruling is "very encouraging."


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Due to current world events, CBE Software has been forced to delay its upcoming, Czech Republic based horror game, Someday You’ll Return. However, this news isn’t all doom and gloom, because the wait hasn’t been extended much, or indefinitely. Instead of releasing on April 14th, the mind messing experience will now launch on May 5th.
“Having to make the decision to delay the launch of Someday You’ll Return has been very difficult for us at CBE Software. The beta testing of the game has gone great, the game is almost ready to be released and we were really looking forward to launch this month. However, there are some elements, including live studio recording sessions, that were just not possible with the current crisis which have set us back. The most important thing is that everyone stays safe and does everything they can to minimize exposure to Covid-19. While we’re disappointed to have to wait to bring you our game, the health and safety of everyone involved is paramount.” says CBE Software co-founder Jan Kavan.
“Originally we thought we would have to postpone the release until the situation gets better globally, possibly for months, but that is not the case. We worked really hard to secure modern organizational tools and technology to help us complete our recording sessions remotely. Luckily for us we’ve been able to set up and implement these tools which has made the delay much shorter than originally feared. With these tools and the cooperation from our esteemed musicians. we are happy to be able to launch the game with only a minor delay.”
Please note that the aforementioned release date applies to the PC version of this game. While Someday You’ll Return is also apparently coming to Xbox One and PlayStation 4, the console versions do not currently own release dates.


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- 26 August 2021
- Transport / Logistics Services
A new delivery robot company, LA based Coco has raised $36 million in Series A funding.
The funding round has been led by Sam Altman, Silicon Valley Bank and Founders Fund, with participation from Sam Nazarian, Ellen Chen and Mario Del Pero. It brings the company’s total funding up to around $43 million.
“I strongly believe the delivery service industry in its current state is massively under-serving merchants. We have an enormous opportunity to create a better experience for hundreds of thousands of merchants and their customers, today,” co0founder and CEO Zach Rash said in a release. “This is not a research program experimenting with technology to be productised at some unknown point in the future.”
Launching in February 2020, Coco was originally known as Cyan Robotics and has emerged from UCLA research. It now must compete with big players like Nuro and Starship that have been far quicker to market. Instead of full automation, the Coco delivery robot uses remote drivers that the company feels is a selling point due to some industry discomfort about full automation.
The firm currently has 120 staff but plans this to be more than 1,000 by the end of 2021. As well as growing staff numbers the funding is to cover building more robots and to begin operations in new cities. It says it has achieved a 97% on-time rate.
“We are currently operating in Santa Monica and in five different L.A neighbourhoods,” the company said in a statement. “Later this year we are expanding into a number of other major U.S. cities. We have partnered with national restaurant brands like SBE (Umami Burger) and are actively scaling across many locations, and we are serving a wide range of family operated restaurants like Bangkok West Thai in Santa Monica and San Pedro Brewing Company in Los Angeles. We are out of the pilot phase and are launching with dozens of new merchants every day.”


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Fallout 76 was briefly shown off at Microsoft's E3 2018 presentation. This was just hours of ahead of Bethesda's own E3 2018 show, later that same day.
Todd Howard appeared on Microsoft's stage to firstly reveal that Fallout 4 was available on Xbox Game Pass right now. He then moved on to detailing the upcoming Fallout 76.
The Bethesda director revealed that Fallout 76 is four times the size of Fallout 4, and that it's set in the hills of West Virginia.
This was all the information we had on Fallout 76 in the Microsoft presentation, and we'll have to wait until later in the Bethesda presentation for more.