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Production of Apple's rumored 12-inch MacBook Air -- along with the Apple Watch -- should enter mass production in the first quarter of 2014, supply chain sources tell Digitimes. Suppliers are allegedly beginning to accelerate work on related components. The new Air is expected to have an Intel Broadwell processor, and an even thinner and lighter design.
Top Stories | AAPL Stock: 112.5 ( + 0.72 )
2 hours ago | Posted in: Apple
Apple has expanded its presence in social media with a new Tumblr blog dedicated to iTunes. At the moment the site focuses mainly on Apple's Best of 2014 content, in categories including movies, music, TV, and books. The company has had very little presence on Tumblr so far; it launched a page dedicated to the iPhone 5c in March, but has otherwise ignored the site.
3 hours ago | Posted in: gaming, peripherals, gadgets
Gamers can be very selective in the types of things they want for the holidays, but Electronista and MacNN are offering some hints on gadgets that should appeal to any gamer on the shopping list. From smaller items that enhance play on consoles and computers to a tablet that allows gamers the ultimate on-the-go experience, out gaming gift guide should prepare shoppers for the upcoming season.
3 hours ago | Posted in: Apple
Apple's Russian online store is back online, following an almost week-long downtime. The store was taken down to review and change prices, and accordingly many products are now substantially more expensive. A 16GB iPhone 6 is 53,990 rubles, or about $988, far higher than the 34,990 rubles ($643) it sold for previously. A Retina iMac starts at 189,990 rubles, or $3,467. The same system is $2,499 in the US.
4 hours ago | Posted in: security
An intrusion into Staples' point-of-sales systems earlier this year put 1.16 million credit and debit cards at risk, the retailer admitted on Friday. Approximately 115 of the company's 1,400 retail stores across the United States were affected by malware on its systems, though the store apparently managed to eradicate the malware and improve system security in mid-September.
Air Display 2 can be used to turn an iOS device into a wireless display for any Mac or Windows computer. The app can be used to extend a computer desktop or to mirror the desktop on up to four iPads simultaneously. The latest update is strictly a maintenance release that resolves a stability issue.
Papers 3 can be used to find, read, organize, and sync research papers. Along with a hose of performance and stability improvements, the v3.2.5 update will also now run in native resolution on both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. A context-sensitive “import” feature also now appears in the web browser window depending on the type of webpage that is being viewed.
Jelly is a social network where users can ask questions, which can be accompanied by images, maps, and locations to add context. Version 1.4 resolves a crash that occurs when asking a new question.
Mint is a finance management app that can help users keep track of spending across all of their accounts. A number of tools for creating and tracking a budget are also included in the app, along with support for syncing data across multiple devices. Improvements for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are featured in this update, as well as improved TouchID support, and a new look and feel.
Movies provides users with reviews, trailers, and showtimes for all of the movies currently in theaters. Users can also find information on upcoming movies and titles recently released on DVD. The v6.19 update offers bug fixes, improved stability, and better performance.
4 hours ago | Posted in: industry
Walt Disney World in Florida will start accepting Apple Pay at bars, kiosks, stores, and other locations beginning on December 24th, Disney has announced. The move comes as a part of the company's MyMagic+ program, which is supporting more wireless payment options -- such as Google Wallet and special credit cards -- as NFC and RFID infrastructure expands. While wide variety of outlets will support Apple Pay, places that use portable payment terminals (such as table service restaurants) will have to wait.
5 hours ago | Posted in: gaming, iPhone apps, iPad apps
Earlier this month, we had talked about the falling out between Wizards of the Coast and Trapdoor Technologies over DungeonScape (or Codename: Morningstar, depending on the day), which was supposed to be the answer to every dungeon master's prayers. DungeonScape was gearing up to be an application, available for both tablets and computers, and its aim was to help eliminate the lengthy setup times and give users the ability to look up rules and equipment at a glance. Under a month after gaming company Wizards of the Coast killed the partnership, Trapdoor Technologies launched a Kickstarter in hopes of funding the project for an April 2015 release. With less than two weeks before their Kickstarter ends, they're considerably far away from their $425,000 goal. Before we discuss the lofty goal, readers should be made aware of what the application is supposed to do.
6 hours ago | Posted in: troubleshooting, software, Apple
Over the weekend, Apple published a new public beta version of OS X 10.10.2. The code is identified as build 14C81h, and follows the third developer beta of the update, which was build 14C81f. For that Apple asked developers to concentrate testing on areas such as Mail, VoiceOver, and Wi-Fi connections.
21 hours ago | Posted in: gaming
Every Sunday, Electronista and MacNN put together a one-stop article for some of the major news in the video game industry in the past week. In this week's edition of the Weekly Game Replay, we look at Valve's handling of Hatred on Steam Greenlight, Mojang and Telltale Games team up for a narrative-based Minecraft game, a judge gives the go-ahead on a Killzone resolution lawsuit, World of Warcraft is exploring in-game purchasable game time tokens, and Majesco Entertainment's receiving an investor cash infusion.
In an interview recorded on Friday, President Obama clarified his remarks last week regarding the Sony Pictures hack. The president denies swirling discussions about the hack being an act of war, and called it "an act of cyber vandalism that was very costly, very expensive." Additionally, late Sunday, tweets purport that hacker collective Anonymous is about to wade into the fray against North Korea for its role in the event.
Sun December 21, 2014 | Posted in: digital imaging, iPhone apps, iPad apps
There are two facts of photography that Lumy is built to exploit for you. First, the sun is your friend because there is a time when the sheer quality of daylight helps make your photographs beautiful. The time is known as the "magic hour," or the "golden hour," but the second fact is that you're lucky if it's really 60 minutes. Wouldn't an app to help you pinpoint how much of that limited time you actually have be helpful?
Sat December 20, 2014 | Posted in: gaming, software, accessories
[Updated with more deals!] There is less than a week until Christmas, and depending on where you live, approximately four days available for deliveries of presents. If there are more presents to get before the big day, you're likely to be spending a lot on quicker deliveries, so why not even out the cost by getting some great Friday Deals? Every Friday afternoon, we search for bargains on hardware, peripherals, gadgets, and software for you, the discerning MacNN and Electronista reader. Prices are right at the time of writing, but double-check before purchasing, as prices could change. Also, be sure to return to this post over the weekend, as more deals will be added as time goes on.
Sat December 20, 2014 | Posted in: Investor, industry, mobile phones
Cellphone manufacturer BlackBerry has published its most recent quarterly results. While the company is trumpeting a return to profitability, it still incurred a fair value debenture charge, forcing the company to post a $148 million loss on the quarter, or $0.28 per share. Without the debenture, it would have posted a modest profit of $2 million. While it appears that the cost-cutting measures are starting to pay off, given the improvement in the loss numbers, the company showed a 34 percent drop in revenue over the year-ago-quarter, suggesting that the road ahead for the company is still challenging.
Sat December 20, 2014 | Posted in: iPhone, accessories, iPhone apps, iPad
Savage Interactive has released an iPhone version of its illustration app Procreate Pocket, a scaled-down version of its iPad app Procreate. Intended for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, Procreate Pocket is powered by a 64-bit Silica engine, offering a variety of drawing tools and 250 levels of "Undo." Among its features, its 18 layers of Blend Modes allow for versatile composition, and 1080p video recording option can document all stages of the drawing process without interruption. Priced at $3, Procreate Pocket requires iOS 8.1 or later.
Sat December 20, 2014 | Posted in: industry, networking
A US district judge in San Francisco has outright rejected HP's settlement offer to settle the Autonomy acquisition class action suit in the US. Saying that "the shareholders appear to be relinquishing a whole universe of potential claims regarding HP governance and practices," Judge Charles Breyer has kicked the settlement back to the plaintiffs without suggestions for recovery. The matter is now likely to head to trial sometime in the summer of 2015.
Sat December 20, 2014 | Posted in: industry
Google has launched its own legal effort to stop Mississippi State Attorney General Jim Hood's effort with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to pin the search engine as the cause of the world's piracy problem. Google claims in the court filing in Mississippi's district court that Hood has filed a "burdensome, retaliatory" subpoena against it, which would require a massive financial and labor effort to comply, for no real gain other than extra-judiciary punishment. Hood has responded, and is "calling a time out, so that cooler heads may prevail."
Sat December 20, 2014 | Posted in: software, Graphics/Web Design, Apple
You take your life in your hands when you ask us to draw something. Look at the screenshots here, and tell us you can't tell that we're really writers with clipart. While it's obvious we don't spend all day coloring in fantastic illustrations, we do very often need to sketch out rough images -- and that's where Artboard shines. It is a fully-fledged illustration application of sufficient calibre that a full-time artist could work in it full-time -- but it is particularly suited to those of us who occasionally need a powerful tool, and don't want to dole out the cash for a monthly subscription to a software giant.
North Korea has verbally fired back at allegations that it is behind the Sony Pictures attack. Calling the recent FBI statement identifying the country as the culprit "groundless slander," the country is demanding a joint investigation into the hack, with the country's experts and US law enforcement working side-by-side. If the US should refuse, North Korea's foreign ministry promised "grave consequences," presumably to US interests. The government of North Korea continues to deny that they hack, which has caused an estimated $100 million of damage to Sony Pictures, not including less tangible problems, can on the country.
Sat December 20, 2014 | Posted in: gaming, iPhone apps, iPad apps
There's no shortage of word games on the App Store -- and for the most part, a lot of them have very similar mechanics. You have your Scrabble, your Boggle, and your Hangmen - and variations on those themes. But what about apps that combine genres of games to create something new and fun? That's why Letters and Dots, by J.D. Shultz, was created -- to add a little flair to a fairly narrow genre.
A study by research firm ITG suggest that Apple Pay -- introduced in October -- is already accounting for one percent of all digital payments - for comparison purposes, the three-plus-year-old Google Wallet system holds about four percent of digital payments. The firm also noted that those using Apple Pay increased spending using mobile payments, and tended to use the technology frequently -- resulting in a jump in sales at top merchants that accepted Apple Pay, such as Walgreens, Whole Foods and McDonald's.
Before we get into this, Video Converter Pro is currently free for a limited time, so go get it on the Mac App Store now. If you read this one minute too late and the price has gone back up, get it anyway because it is more than worth the usual asking price of $15. Or rather, it is if you need to convert videos, because that's what this just does, without fuss.
Staying on top of emails, especially when there are multiple accounts involved, is unpleasant. Of the many mail clients out there (such as Mail, included with OS X), each tries to offer users its own spin on staying ahead of the curve. Airmail 2.0, released earlier this year, provides a client designed for Yosemite, supporting iCloud, MS Exchange, Gmail, Google Apps, IMAP, POP3, and more. We got a hold of Airmail 2.0 (which we will simply refer to as "Airmail" going forward) to take a look for ourselves, and see if this email client stands out from the crowd.
Fri December 19, 2014 | Posted in: Apple
Actress Kate Winslet is currently in negotiations for "the female lead" in Universal's upcoming Steve Jobs biopic, Variety reports. Winslet is best known for movies like Titanic, The Reader, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It's not clear what the role will be, but top female characters in the film are thought to include Jobs' daughter Lisa, Jobs' wife Laurene Powell Jobs, and Katie Cotton, Apple's former PR head.
Fri December 19, 2014 | Posted in: peripherals, iPhone apps, mobile phones, iPad apps
DirecTV has announced a partnership with Fox Networks, giving subscribers to the satellite-based TV service access to all the content in the Fox Now, FXNow, and Nat Geo TV apps on multiple platforms. This includes iOS, Apple TV, Android, and Windows devices. In effect, the change means that the apps have simply added DirecTV as a service authentication option, joining other TV providers such as cable operators.
Fri December 19, 2014 | Posted in: computers, troubleshooting, upgrades/storage, Apple
This week in the MacNN Forums, members discuss temperature sensor issues, hard drive compatibility and more. After a temperature sensor blew on the logic board of a Xserve that is run by "Waragainstsleep," he turned to the forums hoping someone would have some advice on how to repair this, so he doesn't have to replace the whole board. Today, a Dedicated MacNNer was looking for help with moving addresses from Leopard to Yosemite.
This week, Apple's online store has a selection of refurbished MacBook Pro models on sale for as low as $2,549. The refurbished 2013 Mac Pro with a 3.7GHz Intel quad-core Xeon E5 processor, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and dual AMD FirePro D300 graphics has been cut by $450 to $2,549. Priced at $3,219 is the refurbished Mac Pro with a 3.5GHz Intel six-core Xeon E5 processor, 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
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Dream Trip A Reality for Brian and BeverleyAug 29th, 2017
NORTHSIDE TOYOTA AWARDS DREAM TRIP TO LUCKY CUSTOMERS
On Tuesday, August 29th, customers returned to Northside Toyota to witness the live draw for the ‘Dream Trip For Two’ contest that was part of Northside Toyota’s Summer Salebration Sale held August 22nd-August 25th.
Brian and Beverley not only get to enjoy their brand new Toyota Tundra, they now get to enjoy a dream vacation thanks to Northside Toyota. You can view the live video on our Facebook Page.
Every new lease or purchase made during the sale entered customers to win the contest, ‘A DREAM TRIP FOR TWO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD’. The prize will be awarded with 200,000 Aeroplan Miles (enough miles for a dream trip for 2).
The couple already have big plans for their dream trip and mentioned Bahamas or Hawaii as possibilities. Happy planning, safe travels and congratulations from the entire Northside team.

domain: news


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With Google Stadia now officially shut down, Bungie is offering previous Destiny 2 players a free month of GeForce Now.
While the tech behind Stadia was first previewed with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, a significant amount of the service’s early promotional materials focused on Destiny 2. In fact, until the final update ahead of shutdown, the Stadia app signup flow used an image from the game. The game’s connection to Stadia remained strong through the years, too, with Bungie highlighting how Stadia made working from home and testing games easier at the height of the pandemic.
Less than a day after Google Stadia was officially shut down — but over a week after Destiny 2’s Stadia servers were turned off — Bungie is now reaching out to former cloud gamers with a new offer. In a new email with the subject line “An exciting free offer for you,” the developers share a new collaboration with Nvidia GeForce Now.
With Stadia shut down, you might be looking for a new place to cloud game. We managed to snag some free codes for NVIDIA’s high-performance cloud gaming platform, GeForce NOW.
Notably, rather than offering a webpage on which to claim a code for GeForce Now, each email includes a unique redeemable code. So, be sure to check your inbox for a code, and redeem it before they expire on February 19. Former players of Destiny 2 on Stadia are entitled to a free month of GeForce Now Priority to see if Nvidia’s streaming service is ready to fill the gap left by Stadia and get back to playing Destiny.
This is yet another strong move by Nvidia to take advantage of the void left by Stadia’s downfall and get players onto a new streaming service. Earlier today, GeForce Now launched a major performance boost based on the RTX 4080 along with new features like ultrawide resolutions and high frame rate streams.
More on cloud gaming:
- HP’s OMEN lineup is bringing integrated cloud gaming to powerful PC’s with GeForce Now
- Nest Wifi series loses ‘Gaming preferred’ toggle as Stadia shuts down
- Searching for Stadia: Xbox Game Pass is cloud gaming’s best hope
The post Destiny 2 players get free month of GeForce Now to replace Stadia first appeared on 9to5google.com


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Vice President Joe Biden may not be the Commander-in-Chief, but he's definitely America's Horsepower-Loving-Gearhead-in-Chief. (Is that a thing? It should be if it isn't.) And now you have the chance to own what may be one of his cars.
Up for grabs on Craigslist in Wilmington, Delaware is this 2005 Cadillac STS which the seller claims was once owned by the Vice President himself. He's asking $15,000 for the Northstar V8-powered, all-wheel drive STS with an unspecified number of miles.
The Delaware News Journal and even CBS News have picked up this unusual sale, but honestly, I'm a little skeptical that it is what he claims. Here's how the seller says he knows it was Biden's, according to the newspaper: The car's Bluetooth system had the names and numbers of Beau, Hunter and Jill, Biden's family members — the latter is his wife, Second Lady Jill Biden. He says he hasn't been tempted to call any of them.
I dunno, doesn't that seem a bit suspicious, or at least, easily faked somehow? I'm not saying it's not Biden's car, because it could be, just that I'm not convinced on the Bluetooth thing alone.
Anyway, $15 grand for a loaded STS seems like a decent enough deal, so even if it's not Biden's car it should make its next owner reasonably satisfied. Too bad it won't have the bullet-like acceleration of Biden's beloved new 2015 Corvette Z06.
Thanks for the tips everyone!


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Google Translate, is one of the oldest free multilingual machine translation services which is used by almost everyone globally. But China having around 700 million mobile Internet users, they were not offered with this app.
Though people from China were able to use the web-based translation service by Google, they had to use virtual private network (VPN) software if they wanted to access the mobile app. Without any need to break those barriers, now these apps are made available in China market as well. Google officially announced this by releasing a new version of translation app in China.
Now one can access this app without having to use any censor-evading tools. The search engine giant has shut down its Chinese Google website 'www.google.cn' in 2010. It moved from China to Hong Kong after issues like cyber attacks and censorship popped up. This, in turn, blocked most of its offering by Beijing.
Providing a new version of translation app in China, the company did not explain the reason behind this huge surprise. Google spokesman declined to comment on this matter. The company also provided the link to download Android app whereas, asked iOS users to search it on the app store.
Regarding this update, Google says, "Today we're releasing version 5.8 of the Google Translate apps for Android and iOS, adding instant visual translation between English and Korean, as well as an improved experience for users in China."
Making this app available in Chinese market having a large number of smartphone users, it will surely give a good output for Google.


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2013 was a data security wake up call for the retail industry, especially in the fourth quarter – just as the Christmas season was upon us – when more than half of the reported data breaches were perpetrated upon retailers, according to information retailer network security company SafeNet.
This article will address how to keep your data safe.
In the past year, Michaels Stores, Neiman Marcus and Sally Beauty Supply all reported data breaches through in-store credit card payment systems, which resulted in the loss of customer information, and thus customer confidence in an industry that is already struggling to compete with a booming e-commerce market.
The worst breach of all though, possibly the largest breach in retail history, happened at Target, where a data breach allowed hackers access to 40 million customer debit and credit card numbers and the personal information of 70 million customers, including names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
One way retailers have sought to save money is by tackling a major cost source – their HVAC systems, but that could open up holes in retailer network security. That was the case for Target’s data breach. The hacker gained access to the network through credentials used by the retailer’s HVAC vendor.
So, how can you improve retailer network security? How can you keep your data safe? Here are five ways retailers can better protect themselves.
Reconsider what goes on the network
Credit card and financial data are the target of hackers and so guarding the access to this data must be job number one. The first step is to evaluate all network-connected systems. Are they essential? Some systems are essential to the operation, but don’t necessarily need to be connected to the network.
Train employees to identify and not respond to phishing requests
Because many breaches start out as a simple social engineering crimes committed to get network login credentials, it is important that retailers train their employees, and outside contractors, to identify these threats and respond (or not) appropriately.
Be aware of threats by sharing information with other retailers
Cyber thieves share information so why not retailers? The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) recently launched the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center (R-CISC), where retailers can share cyber threat information and gain access to training and education resources.
Secure the network – the whole network
There are many technologies that are standard operating procedure for retailers to use to secure their networks. However, if there are any contractors that need access to the network, then it’s essential that some basic level of security systems be part of their network as well. This should be insisted upon in the contract and audited on a regular basis.
Prepare an incident response plan
Even though retailers can do their very best to prepare and defend their networks from attacks, the fact is, there will always be some new threat that emerges that a firewall might miss.
After a rough 2013 of data breaches, 2014 is the year for retailers to take a closer look at data security to ensure that their network is secure from targeted attacks. In an era when most transactions are conducted by debit or credit cards, protecting this data is as important to maintaining customer loyalty as is quality merchandise and attractive presentation.


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After nearly two decades, Youngsville Home and Garden is closing its doors.
According to owner Nick Brunecz, after opening in May of 1994, the store will hold its last normal business day on April 5.
Beginning on March 18, Brunecz said he will be working to reduce inventory until April 5 before holding a final liquidation auction on April 12.
Times Observer file photo
Youngsville Home and Garden
"I'll be offering reduced prices to reduce inventory," he said on Tuesday. "I'll hold an auction to liquidate on April 12 and that'll be it."
Brunecz said that the decision to close the store came about after much consideration and wasn't an easy one to make.
"It was just a lot of factors," Brunecz said of the decision. "This building, this business has been here for a lot of years. It was a really tough decision."
He noted that prior to purchasing the store, he spent 18 years working with Agway, and he's ready to move on to new things.
"Twenty years went by really fast," Brunecz said. "I've worked in the agriculture industry for 38 years. I've got a couple things I'm working on. I'll be moving on to something new."
A new owner is already lined up for the property but will not, however, be continuing the business.
"The new buyers will actually be taking this down," he said, referring to the current building, "putting in a new... facility."
The closing was also announced to Youngsville Borough Council during its meeting on Monday.
"After a lot of work by the zoning committee and our offices the Agway is going to be closing," Borough Manager Lisa Hagberg reported. "After that the building will be demolished and a new business will be opening there."
Council members expressed regret over the closing.
Brunecz, meanwhile, said it's the people he'll miss.
"It's been great in the Youngsville area," he said. "It's been a great community. The staff and Lisa at the borough have been wonderful to work with. That's the biggest thing I'll miss, just the people, the community I see every day."


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The number of augmented apps is growing fast, so much so, we hadn’t even heard of Fitness AR, which launched a couple of months ago using ARKit on newer iPhones. That’s possibly because of we don’t jog to the nearest MacDonalds!
For those of a more healthy persuasion, you might have seen the app with the ability to visualise your run in 3D using Strava data dropped into a 3D map. Obviously, it looks more impressive out in the hills or mountains, rather than along your flat urban runs, which could see people heading further afield!
Those who like to see just how many hills they ran or pedalled up, and how steep they were, will be able to do so for free thanks to Mapbox. The new owners plan to add weather, gaming (giant relay or virtual tag races seem like an obvious addition) and other features to the app, so keep an eye out.
Is there time in your health regime for staring at maps and feeling the burn before it starts? Let us know what your favourite augmented features are.


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TOMS Shoes: a solid footing for a sustainable business
- March 25, 2010
Blake Mycoskie put a human face on the theme of community service at the centennial celebration yesterday at Radford University. The California-based entrepreneur and founder of TOMS Shoes has given away 400,000 pairs of shoes to needy children under a socially responsible one-for-one philosophy: for every pair of shoes sold, his company gives away a pair.
Since TOMS Shoes (short for shoes for tomorrow) started from Mycoskie’s apartment in 2006, it has sponsored shoe drops in such countries as Argentina, South Africa and Haiti. Mycoskie, 33, told an audience of alumni, faculty, students and guests that the pairing of philanthropy and capitalism can result in a successful business model.
While the company did not earn a profit during its first three years, Mycoskie is looking for that to change this year. Due to nationwide publicity and sales of the canvas shoes to such outlets as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, Toms SHOES has hired additional personnel and beefed up manufacturing to meet growing demand. The company ranked No. 6 this year in the retail category of Fast Co.’s 2010 most innovative companies. Its shoes retail at anywhere from $48 to $70.
Growing sales are proof, Mycoskie says, that the purchasing power of individuals can be harnessed for a greater good.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell also spoke at the 100-year celebration. He said tuition rates in Virginia have doubled over the last decade, putting a burden on students and families. Virginia needs to invest in its highly ranked system of higher education, he added, because it helps provide the trained workers that attract business.


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The Xbox has taken a step closer to the gaming grave with the news that Microsoft has as of today terminated its service repairs for original Xbox machines that are no longer in warranty.
Recently purchased machines will be supported until their warranty until it expires, though faulty machines will no longer be replaced – instead, exchange requests will receive an offer to upgrade to an Xbox 360.
Technical support and new ‘how-to’ and trouble shooting guides will continue to be available online.
The Xbox launched in 2001 in North America and in early 2002 elsewhere. Whilst it was not able to match the achievements of Sony’s world-conquering PS2 it successfully rivalled Nintendo’s GameCube in the market and won a strong following amongst core gamers that provided the platform for Xbox 360’s success.
To date the machine has sold an estimated 25m units worldwide, and was only recently surpassed by the Xbox 360.
Owners looking for more information should head over to the official Xbox Support website.


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According to data by television ratings agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), an average 105 million unique viewers watched 17 matches in the first two weeks of
Since advertisers don’t have exit clauses as per contracts with Star, they are asking for leeway in terms of extra airtime, leading media buying executives said.“We have paid at least 20% premium for advertising on IPL this year; we can’t exit, but we do need reworking of deals or compensation in terms of extra advertising mileage on Star platforms,” said a senior official of a leading advertiser which has bought prominent ad slots.
“The ratings are down, players are quitting the league, and with retail shops closed, out-of-home impulse consumption is down to negligible,” the person pointed out. The Twenty20 tournament that started on April 9 will go on till May 30. Its viewership has fallen even as the country is grappling with a massive surge of Covid-19 cases, an alarming shortage of hospital beds, medical oxygen and vaccines.
“Advertisers are justified in asking for some leeway. When they inked deals with Star, the second wave (of the pandemic) was nowhere on the horizon,” said Sandeep Goyal, chairman of media marketing company Mogae Media.
“Brands can’t exit when there’s a downside and ride the wave when there’s an upside, so a middle ground will be worked out,” he said.
A Star Sports spokesperson said the broadcaster has not received requests from the brands or advertisers for additional inventory. “We work very differently on the inventory for our Sports network. Sports is monetised separately from the rest of the network and our advertisers are aware of this,” the person said in an email revert.
The Star spokesperson said the viewership decline was “negligible”. “2020 was an outlier year for IPL viewership. This year's viewership is higher than 2019 with a negligible gap between 2020.”
Legal experts said force majeure can’t be invoked since contracts signed with Star don’t allow that. Deals have to be reworked, they said.
“Many networks have re-worked their marketing and advertising agreements to delink the termination or exit clauses with force majeure events (such as the ongoing pandemic),” said Rahul Goel, partner at law firm Anant Law.
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What weird town laws still exist in North Jersey today?
Want to move out of your home on a Sunday? Can't do that in Garfield.
Want to dress in clothing of the opposite sex or curse in public? Stay out of Teaneck.
Want to release a balloon in memory of a loved one? The skies above New Milford aren't the place to do it.
While Bergen County is no stranger to antiquated laws — just drive past the state's largest mall on a Sunday to see the thousands of empty parking spaces — the infamous Blue Laws don't even crack the top 10 of peculiar ordinances on the books throughout North Jersey towns.
The story continues below the gallery.
Among them, laws exist to prevent you from owning a cheetah in some towns, deeming "lewd" acts unlawful in your own home, and even banning ownership of a pinball machine.
But not all laws ban things, like shopping on Sundays (hey, that even earned a mention on "Jeopardy!"). Some direct their residents on how to properly treat livestock.
A Rutherford ordinance on the proper treatment of cows details how much room a stable should have and governs how a cow's udders should always be "washed, hand-rubbed or wiped with a clean, damp cloth before each milking."
And Garfield, which has slowly been updating its local laws as items come up, still has some outdated ordinances on the books.
One, approved in 1999, says that no person can move or transport personal belongings on "the Sabbath day, commonly known as Sunday."
Unless, of course, the Sunday happens to fall on the last or first day of the month, in which case the law does not apply.
In North Arlington, feline pets are strictly regulated. Sure, you can adopt a typical household cat. But the borough has gone above and beyond to ban the adoption of lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, pumas, wildcats, jaguars, ocelots and any other wild feline.
And, sorry, you also can't raise or keep any "beast of burden," like horses, pigs, cows, sheep and goats, in Edgewater. Lions, tigers and cheetahs are, for some reason, classified as beasts of burden, too, though it's unclear if anyone has ever tried to hitch a pride of lions to a sleigh or plow.
Spitting on a sidewalk or street is not only distasteful, in Teaneck, it's illegal. If you're caught it can cost you $25.
Some ordinances that may raise an eyebrow were just approved this past year.
If someone catches you deliberately releasing a balloon in New Milford, as of this past December, it can cost you up to $500 in fines.
In Dumont, you need a license not only to drive but also to dance. Under a "cabaret" ordinance, you won't be able to put on your dancing shoes unless the business obtained the proper license first.
Other laws may have you wondering: Who's enforcing this?
For instance, in Teaneck it's illegal to conduct a lewd or immoral act in public — or private — or to curse in public.
One law in particular stood out for Teaneck Councilman Keith Kaplan. This 1951 ordinance specifically says no one can dress in clothing of the opposite sex.
Kaplan said he was going through the township's code and has made it a priority to update some of the outdated rules.
"Reading through our own code right now, there's a lot that's unconstitutional or somewhere in between," Kaplan said.
Since most of the old ordinances aren't being enforced, it may not seem like a big deal.
However, Kaplan pointed out that in Mahwah, town rules governing how parks are used were seen as discriminatory by some.
"These can be used deliberately to cause a lot of strife," he said.
Teaneck has been no stranger to dealing with older laws.
In 1942, the Supreme Court of New Jersey weighed in on whether a township ordinance that prohibited a pinball machine in a place of business was constitutional. The court agreed with the town, and the ordinance remains today.
Times are changing
Some of these laws that seem odd are a product of the era in which they were written, said Michael Cerra, assistant executive director of the League of Municipalities.
"Obviously, ordinances written about horseless carriages are not current," Cerra said. "There's always discretion in enforcing and implementation in state and federal laws that really aren't relevant for the times anymore."
Laundromats technically were not allowed to open on Sundays in Garfield, although some businesses didn't know. Once the ordinance, created in 1961, was brought to the City Council's attention, it was changed last month.
For the last 100 years, you weren't able to get a cut and shave at a barbershop in Hasbrouck Heights on Sunday. It was something that wasn't actively being enforced until a neighbor complained about one of the businesses.
Last summer, three barbershops needed to close their shops for a couple of Sundays until the council reversed the law.
East Rutherford also updated an old ordinance to allow hair salons and barbershops to open on Sundays in 2015.
"It takes effort to weed through the dozens and dozens of statutes that fall in that category," Cerra said. "Sometimes it's time-consuming and there are more pressing matters. When it isn't being enforced and no one is complaining, it goes under the radar."


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About two months after the buzz about a national ban on single-use plastics made headlines, the government has come up with the semblance of a definition for ‘single-use plastic’ and a time-frame for phasing it out. On November 22, replying to a question by MPs Pasunoori Dayakar of TRS and Venkatesh Nethaborlakunta of the Congress, minister for environment, forests and climate change Prakash Javadekar, without mentioning microns or what the plastic is used for, seemingly kicked the can down the road. “The trends of using plastic in day-to-day life became so fast that most of the plastic produced is designed to be thrown away after being used only once. This type of plastic, which is commonly used for packaging, carrying or dispensing the commodities, and include items intended to be used only once before they are discarded, can be termed as ‘single-use plastic’ for ease of understanding,” he said.
The broad definition aside, Javadekar did mention that an increased demand by consumers and increasing production to match it has resulted in a situation “where the existing waste management system has to be strengthened to make the country free of single-use plastic.” The government also said it was planning on a phase-wise ban aimed at eradicating use by 2022.


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In 2014 Apple agreed to purchase Beats known for the popular Beats headphones, speakers, and audio software for $3 billion. The deal actually consists of a purchase price of about $2.6 and the rest will vest over time. Source So now here we are with not very long to wait to give Apple Music a try. The streaming service will cost $10/month and will be available on Macs, iOS, and Windows PCs on June 30th….even if you do not use Apple. Apple Music will also be available on both Apple TV and Android this fall. So what happened to all the issues Apple and Google have/had/have? Apple will put out an app with their branding on Google? It is no big deal because when it comes to money by-gones can be by-gones really quick. So in this case if Apple wants to compete with other services like Spotify they need to jump on the bandwagon. Whatever right? For more details you can click here.
I’m moving along doing my techno geek thang and what do you know, I notice a little icon on the bottom of my screen. So Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 is coming on July 29th, and I don’t even need to get out of your chair to get a spot in the upgrade line. So everyone take a peek at your Notification Area in the Taskbar and you should find a Windows icon that, when clicked will open a new Windows 10 upgrade panel. As I mentioned before, users will have a year to climb onto the……………………FREE Windows 10 bandwagon, but once you do, you will get free security upgrades for the life of whatever you are installed it on. Be picky what you choose to install it on my fellows techs.
So on July 29th get some Windows 10 goodness and be relieved that your Start Menu is back……..
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A Cork hairdresser who has refused to cut clients' hair during lockdown says the underground market is booming.
A number of professionals have expressed fears they'll lose clients for refusing to do haircuts during level five restrictions
There have been many reports of some barbers and hairdressers continuing to operate despite lockdown.
Caroline Bell is the owner of The Hair Salon in Cobh, and she's one of many hairdressers who've refused to cut hair while restrictions are in place.
She told Newstalk Breakfast the black market is a problem everywhere.
She said: “The shadow economy is booming at the moment.
“People are at their wits' end at the minute over their hair.
"As a non-essential business, people are realising how essential the hair and beauty industry actually is.
“I did have clients approach me to have their hair done, more so in the first lockdown. I think my answer has always been no - it’s not safe to do it outside a salon environment.”
She said she has seen people in her own small town who’ve clearly had their hair done.
However, she understands how they’re feeling - as many are spending a lot of time looking at themselves on computer screens and feeling low.
For now, Caroline believes hairdressers would be back in their salons if it was safe to do so.
She said: “I operate online, on Instagram at the moment… I get up every day, wash my hair, and give people hints and tips on how to manage their hair at home.
“There are ways people can look after their hair at home without using the shadow economy.”
She added that her online efforts have been doing great, and she’s confident her full business will bounce back once they’re allowed to reopen.


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If 2020 has taught us something, it’s that believing the whole lot you learn on the Web is a idiot’s recreation. Different info and pretend information run rampant throughout social media, and people who smoke trying to give up via vaping can generally grow to be confused and even intimidated from making the swap.
Rumors and unsubstantiated claims that vaping causes coronary heart assaults, is very carcinogenic, or can result in mind seizures have been fully debunked repeatedly. But, the disinformation retains coming. Right this moment, virtually 80 % of physicians wrongly believed that nicotine causes most cancers, and about 45 % of common Individuals mistakenly assume that vaping is simply as lethal as smoking.
Associated Article: Rutgers survey: 77% of docs mistakenly imagine nicotine (not smoking) causes most cancers
To be clear, Public Well being England printed scientific proof all the best way again in 2016 which signifies that vaping is 95 % much less dangerous than smoking. Moreover, analysis performed by scientists at St. Andrew College reveals that second-hand e-cigarette vapor is 99 % much less carcinogenic that standard cigarette smoke.
For extra laughs and giggles, listed below are three of the weirdest, most ridiculous lies ever informed by the vape-hating group.
Lie #1: The e-liquids utilized in vaping include antifreeze.
This outlandish lie has been touring the Web for properly over 5 years now. Each six months or so, it resurfaces and spreads but once more. It was a lie 5 years in the past, and it’s nonetheless a bold-faced lie right now.
Associated Article: If vaping is an identical to consuming antifreeze, then Betty Crocker is a mass assassin!
The rumor began when some anti-vaper found that vape juice and antifreeze share a standard ingredient. Whereas propylene glycol is certainly a element of some antifreezes, it’s also continuously present in ice lotions, frostings, and baked items discovered on the native grocery retailer. In truth, if propylene glycol is so harmful to public well being, Betty Crocker has a giant drawback on her palms.
Lie #2: The vapor produces from vaping incorporates formaldehyde.
This infamous lie was the results of an inappropriately-named “analysis paper” that was not primarily based on primary scientific analysis ideas. The January 2015 research entitled Hidden Formaldehyde in E-Cigarette Aerosols went virtually immediately viral most likely as a result of the vaping craze was simply taking off throughout the paper’s date of publication. Sadly, the paper’s findings have been instantly debunked by Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos, a world-class heart specialist in Greece.
Associated Article: New CDC research formally debunks ‘vaping and formaldehyde’ fable
Farsalinos decided that the co-authors of the report had unintentionally or maybe deliberately cranked up the warmth of the vaping gadget to astronomical proportions – ranges that no human might face up to comfortably. The consequence was a misdiagnosis of formaldehyde inside the tiny, e-cig vapor particles. The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) has even debunked the formaldehyde nonsense as not too long ago as 2018 when the company issued its personal report entitled, Analysis of Chemical Exposures at a Vape Store.
Lie #3: Vaping trigger EVALI.
This lie was a whopper. Within the late summer season of 2019, a narrative began showing in each social and mainstream media. The allegations concerned a collection of mysterious lung accidents apparently popping up in some youth vapers in Wisconsin. Inside a few weeks, extra instances have been showing throughout the nation and – finally – in all fifty states.
Associated Article: With a whimper not a bang, CDC lastly closes the case on ‘vaping associated’ EVALI
As early as September and with out proof, the CDC began issuing public well being warnings recommending that all the nation cease vaping instantly. For nearly six months, the CDC stored pushing this anti-vaping nonsense although the cannabis-friendly Leafly Journal had already solved the case. Nicotine-based vapes had nothing by any means to do with the respiratory dysfunction, California bureau chief David Downs reported. The true offender was black market THC cartridges illegally laced with vitamin-E acetate.
Relaxation assured, beginner vapers. Digital cigarettes and open-system vaping merchandise are considerably much less dangerous than smoking. Simply remember to buy your favourite vapes from an authorized vape store or respected e-commerce retailer, and you’ll have nothing to about. Earlier than buying any vapor product for the very first time, maybe carry out a fast Google search to confirm whether or not the vape juice or vape mod is each secure and worthy of your chilly, hard-earned money.
Associated Article: Don’t overthink it: 4 easy causes to modify to vaping
(Pictures courtesy of Shutterstock)


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P&O Princess Cruises (POC) has reported net income of $25.7 million, or $0.15 per ADS, on revenues of $512.1 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2002, compared to net income of $114.8 million, or $0.66 per ADS, on revenues of $542.1 million for the first quarter of 2001. Last year's net income was restated from $18.9 million to $114.8 million to include a $95.9 million tax credit.
"We will be ordering more ships," said Peter Ratcliffe, president of POC, "but not at the same pace as in recent years." He also said that no decision has been made yet regarding two options for deliveries in 2005 and 2006, which are due to expire in July.
Ratcliffe said that POC believes in the globalization of the industry. "We expect a higher rate of growth outside the U.S.," he said. "But the U.S. market is not mature; it will continue to grow, but at a slower rate." He also said that Princess continues to book well ahead of last year and that an increase in bookings was ahead of the increase in capacity year over-year. Pricing has also improved so that it is now close to where it was last year, according to Ratcliffe.
Meanwhile, in Germany, POC's SeeTours subsidiary is seeing a substantial increase in capacity with a second ship for Aida and the introduction of the new A'Rosa brand. "Aida is booking well, with little erosion of pricing," Racliffe said. "But A'Rosa is sluggish."
Overall, POC yields were down eight percent in the first quarter and are expected to be down seven percent in the second and third quarters.
Ratcliffe said that the pricing pressure was primarily in the U.S.
"We had more of our capacity deployed in Europe and on exotic programs," he explained, noting that 12 percent of Princess' capacity was redeployed for 2002. "We believe the impact of 9/11 will be limited to the first three quarters," Ratcliffe said.
POC is also introducing a new brand in the U.K. in 2003, Ocean Village. Ratcliffe said that the new brand will tap a younger market and at a lower price point than P&O Cruises.
Ratcliffe pointed out how POC will have a family of brands in the U.K. - P&O Cruises, Princess, Ocean Village and Swan Hellenic Cruises - targeting different market segments, and has the same in Germany.
Regarding the proposed merger with Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ratcliffe would only say that the "decisions are now in the hands of the authorities."
POC reported that passenger cruise days increased by 13 percent in the first quarter, including 22 percent growth in North America, due to the introduction of the Golden Princess in May of 2001 and the Star Princess in February of 2002.
Revenues were down reflecting lower fares, adverse exchange rates, and a significantly lower air/sea mix due to an increase in cruises departing from U.S. ports, according to POC. Unit costs were down by 11 percent due to the cost reductions initiated in 2001, ship redeployments, a lower air/sea mix, lower commission costs because of lower prices, and lower fuel prices.
POC has restated its 2001 Q1 earnings, which now include a one-time tax credit of $96.8 million. Analysts set a 12-month share price target in the low $30s. At press time POC was trading at $26.65.


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About Design Indaba
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Our database of African and international creatives and companies making waves in the design world.
Unconventional chair designs support children’s physical and mental health.
A new outdoor sculpture features glass blown from the sands of the world’s deserts.
Global leaders in graphic design gather for the biggest conference of its kind in the world.
The Olympic torch for the 2024 games has been unveiled.
Architecture firm Snøhetta designed a spiralling planetarium and observatory in France.
Fast food, slow packaging
Elium Studio has redesigned McDonald’s iconic red packaging to be reusable.
The Maison&Objet biannual design and decor fair in Paris will host over 700 brands between 19 and 23 January 2023.
All things shiny
Award-winning designer and director Nelly Ben Hayoun’s recent installations bring the wonders of science to visitors
A sculpture that harnesses the magic of light and electricity finds a home at Dior
The seeds and the sower
Art and design fuse effortlessly in Jan Ernst’s first solo exhibition in France
Louis Vuitton unwraps first vegan sneakers
The sustainable footwear is made from 90% recycled and bio-based materials
Timothée Mion presents his project for cleaning up space waste at antenna 2021
The global design graduate’s CSTM.01 tackles the lesser-known threat of man-made space debris
That’s a wrap!
With Arc de Triomphe recently under wraps in Paris, we look at the globe’s top wrap artists
Why KoolKiel’s cool, Kenya’s new CAMO-flage, proud LGBTQIA+ garb, & more!
A shot of Expression
Denouncing plastic, hair as art, African spirituality & the Bouroullec Brothers’s latest…
Design for people, by people.
Kenyan photographer Thandiwe Muriu’s Parisian show stands out by blending in
Thandiwe Muriu’s CAMO series celebrates being African by playing with colour and culture.
Tadao Ando, NeM and Bouroullec Brothers transform La Bourse de Commerce
La Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection bridges past and present.
Get design’s latest: Louvre’s 1st female leader, PoAD opens, & Heatherwick floats Little Island…
Innovation, engagement, and leadership are our watchwords this week.
Curating a New Future – the Louvre gets its First Female Leader in 228 Years
Laurence des Cars, new director of the Louvre, plans to take it into a new era.
Creative Campus: DI Speaker Annabelle Selldorf’s Role in the New LUMA Arles
Selldorf Architects transforms railway structures into exhibition and performance spaces.
Paris’s most famous avenue will be getting a green makeover
Champs-Élysées will be getting a green makeover to turn it from a paved paradise into a modern-day Eden.
Nike opened its first European House of innovation store in Paris with a sustainable focus
As part of their ‘Move to Zero’ movement, Nike used over 85 thousand kilos of sustainable material woven into fabric.
How Nelly Ben Hayoun is challenging the music and film industry
Her new documentary, informed by the philosophy of Hannah Arendt, explores what are the origins of knowledge.
3 Ways to save the planet with urine
Researchers call it organic waste and we’re just trying to keep it off the streets.
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Gov. Tony Evers, at an event in La Crosse joined by Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes, announced he will invest an additional $25 million into the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program, which has already helped more than 4,200 small businesses and nonprofits across all 72 Wisconsin counties.
In total, Tuesday’s announcement brings the governor’s total spending on the program to $75 million, which will enable 2,500 more small businesses and nonprofits to fill empty storefronts.
“The impact we’ve had through our Main Street Bounceback Grant Program over the last year has been tremendous, truly helping small businesses and main streets in every corner of our state,” said Evers. “We’ve heard from folks from across the state about how these funds have helped them take their businesses to the next level. We’ve also seen firsthand how these investments have helped support local economies in downtowns and communities that are now filled with unique businesses that otherwise might not be there today. I’m proud of our work making strategic investments in small businesses and I’m excited that today’s announcement means we’ll be able to continue our work supporting main streets and communities across Wisconsin.”
The Main Street Bounceback Grant Program was first announced in April 2021, and since, more than 4,200 small businesses and nonprofits across all 72 Wisconsin counties have been approved for $10,000 grants to help them move or expand into vacant commercial spaces.
“From barbershops to candy stores and from physical therapists to local economic development groups, the businesses and organizations that have received Main Street Bounceback grants vary widely,” said Hughes. “But what we’re hearing from all of the communities where these businesses are opening is the sense of excitement that they bring. Whether it’s a new restaurant, a hair salon, or an accounting business, there’s a feeling that there are new reasons to come to our downtowns and spend a little more time there.”
[Adapted from: Gov. Evers: $25 million more for Main Street Bounceback Grant Program May 10, 2022 La Crosse Tribune]


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It is rare to see a Disney Park close, as emergent conditions must be in place for it to happen. As we saw with the pandemic, it was shocking to see every Disney Park close for such long periods of time since we rarely ever see the Parks completely shut down.
Typically, if a Disney Park closes, it is often weather-related. At Walt Disney World Resort, hurricanes are often the main source of the theme park Resort’s closure, but even so, there have only been six closures due to hurricanes over the past 50 years. Today, one Disney Park has had to shut its doors due to an active typhoon.
Shanghai Disneyland has taken to their website to alert Guests that Typhoon Chanthu has caused the Park to close after the Shanghai Flood and Typhoon Emergency Response urged them to do so:
Due to Typhoon Chanthu and taking into consideration guidance from the Shanghai Flood and Typhoon Emergency Response Guidelines, Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown and Wishing Star Park will be closed on Monday, September 13 and Tuesday, September 14, 2021. We are continuing to closely monitor weather conditions, and will notify guests if there are any further changes to our operation hours.
As we can see, the Park will be closed on September 13 and 14, alongside Disneytown and Wishing Star Park. Guests with tickets for the following two days will still be able to use their tickets through to March 14, 2022. Guests who will not be able to visit again before then will be refunded.
Guests with tickets to visit Shanghai Disneyland on September 13 and/or September 14, 2021 may choose to visit the park on any other day within the next six months (by March 13, 2022 inclusive with respect to park tickets for September 13, 2021; and by March 14, 2022 inclusive with respect to park tickets for September 14, 2021). Your tickets can be redeemed at the park entrance turnstiles with the original Government Identity Card or Travel Document that was used to purchase your tickets for September 13 and/or September 14, 2021 on the day of your next visit, and reservation will not be required*.
Those staying at Shanghai Disneyland’s resorts need not worry, as both will be working as per usual.
The two resort hotels at Shanghai Disney Resort continue to operate as normal, but we do understand if you wish to change your plans due to the inclement weather conditions. For guests who have booked resort hotels for the night of September 13 and/or September 14, 2021, you can contact the original purchase channel for enquiries.
As noted by CNN, “Chanthu, known as Kiko in the Philippines, was one of the strongest storms this year, with sustained winds of 260 kph (160 mph) before landfall — equivalent in strength to a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane at its peak.” The typhoon is set to bring heavy rain and flooding to Shanghai.
We hope that all who are being affected by what weather reports are calling a “Super Typhoon” remain safe through these uncertain times.
What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below.


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Today: GoPro will begin manufacturing drones stocked with its action cameras, the Wall Street Journal reports, a possible revenue boost for the freshly public company. Also: Hewlett-Packard hits 52-week high after earnings report.
The Lead: GoPro hopes to sell drones, report claims
As more fans strap GoPro’s action cameras onto remote-controlled flying machines for a fresh perspective, the San Mateo company sees prospective profits in building its own drones, according to a Wednesday report.
The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday morning cited anonymous sources saying that GoPro plans to manufacture drones pre-equipped with the company’s cameras, with hopes of selling the devices for as much as $1,000 by the 2015 holiday shopping season. A GoPro spokesman did not confirm the report, but did tell the Journal that customers are producing “jaw-dropping GoPro footage recorded from quadcopters.”
Silicon Valley has been falling in love with drones as the devices have become more common. Google and Facebook engaged in an arms race before each bought a drone company, with the idea of using them to spread Internet access globally. Google has also confirmed interest in using the contraptions to deliver goods purchased online, joining e-commerce titan Amazon in that chase.
GoPro’s path is much less experimental than Google or Facebook’s, however. Users have been strapping the company’s devices to drones for fresh recording angles for years, as any concert festival attendee who has seen drones fluttering in front of the action on stage can attest. An executive at a Berkeley drone manufacturer admitted as much, telling the Journal that most of its customers already own a GoPro camera before buying a flying machine.
“I’m happy to let GoPro keep making great cameras and we’ll keep making great copters,” Colin Guinn, senior vice president of sales at 3D Robotics, told the newspaper.
Adding a new hardware offering could answer critics of the company’s freshly public stock. As GoPro geared up for its massive initial public offering earlier this year, it faced questions about how it would continue to grow revenues as the market for action cameras became more saturated with rivals and its own secondhand devices. GoPro answered with media ambitions that have a dubious monetization path and an expansion of its lineup for this holiday season, with new cameras on both ends of the price spectrum.
Extending into drones could lead GoPro to growth, however: Quartz pointed out Wednesday that the three most popular drone manufacturers, including Berkeley’s 3D Robotics, pulled in $200 million in sales last year, with sales growing 130 percent year-over-year for manufacturer Parrot.
GoPro stock soared after the report hit, gaining 5.8 percent to $79.05. The swing is not out of the ordinary for GoPro, which has experienced a volatile valuation since selling IPO shares for $24, with shares trading in a wide range from $28.65 to nearly $100 on Wall Street.
SV150 market report: HP hits 52-week high after earnings
Wall Street squeaked out small gains overall Wednesday, though tech indexes gained at a better rate as Hewlett-Packard zoomed to a new high after its earnings report.
HP shares reached a new 52-week high of $39.28 before closing with a 4.1 percent gain at $39.16. The Palo Alto tech giant revealed earnings that slightly missed revenue expectations Tuesday in its first report since announcing that the company will be split in half. While analysts were not impressed with HP’s sales, they liked the profit-saving cost cuts CEO Meg Whitman has undertaken in her drive to change the company’s fortunes, which includes thousands of layoffs. “HP continues to have some momentum due to improved products, cost savings to protect profits, the coming breakup that adds modest value, and the roll out of Meg Whitman’s ‘Playing to Win’ approach,” UBS analyst Steve Milunovich wrote.
HP wasn’t the strongest Silicon Valley tech stock Wednesday on Wall Street — that honor went to Santa Clara networking-software company Infoblox, which gained 6.3 percent to $17.95 after announcing a new CEO and improved earnings. On the other end of the SV150, TiVo had the day’s worst performance, falling 7.5 percent to $11.94 after detailing its earnings performance. Apple jumped 1.4 percent to an all-time closing high of $119 as a union seeks to organize the Cupertino company’s security guards. Google fell 0.3 percent to $547.73 as Europe seeks to extend the “Right to be Forgotten” ruling beyond its borders, and Twitter gained 3.5 percent to $41.13 while detailing plans to track mobile users’ other apps. Netflix added 0.6 percent to $351.16 after suing a former executive who now has a high-ranking job at Yahoo, claiming he received kickbacks while working for the Los Gatos video-on-demand company; Yahoo gained 0.4 percent to $51.93. eBay increased 0.3 percent to $54.57 after pulling its eBay Now app from Apple’s App Store, a bad sign for the San Jose company’s same-day delivery hopes, and Gilead dropped 0.8 percent to $100.30 as a competitor’s hepatitis C drug was blocked at the FDA.
Up: GoPro, HP, Twitter, Applied Materials, Facebook, Pandora, Oracle, Nvidia, Intel, VMware, Adobe, Apple, SanDisk, SunPower
Down: NetApp, Gilead, Electronic Arts, Yelp, SolarCity, Intuit, Zynga
The SV150 index of Silicon Valley’s largest tech companies: Up 15.75, or 0.93 percent, to 1,708.18
The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index: Up 29.06, or 0.61 percent, to 4,787.32
The blue chip Dow Jones industrial average: Up 12.81, or 0.07 percent, to 17,827.75
And the widely watched Standard & Poor’s 500 index: Up 5.8, or 0.28 percent, to 2,072.83


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James Fleckenstein unveiled his new Ford Platinum dually mega truck at Rednecks with Paychecks this past weekend. The 2011 Super Duty was a silver flood damage truck that was in good condition, so James grabbed it and proceeded to transform it into this replica 2016 Shadow Black beast seen here.The 6.7L Powerstroke engine needed attention due to the water ingestion, so it went under the full treatment with forged internals, heads, upgraded turbos, injectors, fuel pump, 4" to 5" exhaust, tuned, etc.
Tires are 65" tall 35.5L and are genuinely massive! Subframe was a masterpiece courtesy of DMD Offroad. Profab transfer case, dual coilovers all the way around, front/rear cameras, full LED lighting solution and internal/external sound system.
For more on Rednecks with Paychecks, be sure to check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Redneckswithand on their website at http://www.redneckswithpaychecks.com/


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In addition to the Levi's name on the outside of the structure (a deal worth a cool $220 million), the stadium is stuffed with sponsored amenities—from the Pepsi Fan Deck to the Safeway tailgate area. In all, the San Francisco 49ers inked 16 decade-long deals worth a cumulative half-billion dollars with sponsors "who wanted to establish brand equity inside of our game-day experience," according to the team's chief revenue officer Ethan Casson.
And when that game day happens to be the Super Bowl, all of these brands can expect "a significant uptick in exposure," said 49ers senior manager of corporate communications Roger Hacker.
Still, with so many brand names scattered around, will that exposure translate to new customers for those brands, too? Mario Natarelli, managing partner with brand agency MBLM, isn't sure. "They've taken this asset and sliced it into a million pieces," he said. "If you're going to build strong connections with your customers, is naming part of a parking lot the way to get there? We're skeptical."
This story first appeared in the Feb. 1 issue of Adweek magazine. Click here to subscribe.


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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Thousands of football fans are flocking to North Texas hotels just in time to see another round of severe winter weather blow through.
With the Super Bowl in town prices for those rooms by the end of the week are already expected to be pretty steep.
Some locations have already raised rates, hoping to cash in on the big game, and by the end of the week, those prices are expected to rise more.
The problem could be for local residents needing hotel rooms. If residents have to leave their homes due to weather, they might get caught paying a fortune.
As of right now, hotels in North Texas still have the vacancy sign lit up.
Julie Faver-Dylla with the Hotel Association of Tarrant County says there are rooms from $79 to $149 still available for the next two nights. “I think there are so many hotels that there are still plenty of room out there.”
The availability is there, but will prices be too high for North Texans if they have nowhere else to go?
Depending on how the weather goes, the Governor’s office could issue a disaster proclamation for the winter storm, that’s the only thing that prevents hotels & motels from astronomically raising rates.
According to the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau, at least 150 local hotels signed anti-gouging pacts where they use the rates at the time North Texas made their Super Bowl bid.
If a disaster declaration were made because of the weather, the Attorney General’s office would start enforcement, looking for price gouging.
Faver-Dylia says residents don’t need to fear, they’ve told their hotels to play fair. “We’ve gotten the message out to the hotels not to price gauge things like that, so you are still going to find an affordable price, but something that’s fair.”


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Rihanna to Produce and Star in Style Network Reality TV Show "Styled to Rock"
Rihanna has had quite the year! Her seventh studio album, Unapologetic, took the number one spot on the Billboard charts, she was just nominated for three Grammys, and now she's bringing her UK reality show, “Styled to Rock,” stateside! Ri Ri is teaming up with the Style Network to produce and star in the competition reality TV series, which will feature 12 up-and-coming designers competing for the chance to dress some of the biggest names in entertainment—including Rihanna herself. “Fashion has always played an integral part in my life and career,” Rihanna said in a statement. “I am so excited to partner with Style Network and share my creative insight with these twelve designers, and give them this opportunity to showcase their work.” The show is set to premiere in 2013. We'll definitely tune in!
Plus, see Rihanna’s best looks ever!


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Don Walker offers news, notes and perspective on the sports business landscape
Favre's Pack, Jets jerseys still selling
National Football League officials reported Monday that NFLShop.com, the online merchandising arm of the league, sold 12,000 Brett Favre Jets jerseys from last Thursday through Sunday. That's a record for a four-day period.
Favre's jersey is now the No. 1 seller on NFLshop.com since April 1.
But Favre's Packers jersey is still selling, too, a league official said. Favre's Packers jersey, which was No. 1 since April 1 until Thursday, is now the second most sold jersey.


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Last May, Facebook launched their Instant Articles program, which allowed select publishers like Buzzfeed, New York Times and NBC News to host their content directly on the social media giant’s site, rather than posting links to their content that direct Facebookers to read it over on the publisher’s actual website. Starting April 12, Instant Articles will be a feature available to all publishers with a website or Facebook page.
The main draw of Instant Articles is Facebook’s promise that the program significantly speeds up loading times for mobile users. Bypassing the typical links that direct users away from Facebook and to the actual content, and instead hosting the actual content on Facebook itself, cuts down on lengthy and annoying load times when being redirected from Facebook to another website. Noting that these turtle-paced loading times were hindering mobile users from consuming the news on their phones, Facebook’s expansion of the Instant Articles program is set to rectify this nuisance for all publishers, particularly for audiences where low connectivity is a prevailing occurrence.
Opening the floodgates of the Instant Articles program is a total coup for Facebook; not only will this greatly expand the type and quantity of content that’s hosted on the site, but by retaining users with Facebook hosted content from outside publishers rather than directing them elsewhere, the average user will theoretically be spending more time on Facebook, making the social network site even more alluring for advertisers.
It’s not all bad for publishers too, especially those that have struggled with declining ad revenue as more people shift to browsing and consuming news through mobile devices. Facebook has a strong foundation in the mobile ad revenue arena and is offering publishers quite the incentive to directly host their content to its site. Publishers that sell ads with their content keep every penny of that money earned; meanwhile, if Facebook sells the ads, the publisher walks away with a hefty 70 percent of the revenue. With Facebook lightening the restrictions on the types of ads that can be published, some publishers who directly host content to Facebook note they generate as much revenue there as they do on their own mobile sites on a page-per-view basis.
Still, there’s a catch-22 involved for publishers: they’re ultimately beholden to any changes Facebook makes to their algorithm or site that impacts what appears in people’s newsfeeds. Complaints have already been lodged at Facebook by businesses and marketers utilizing pages to promote their content on the site after Facebook retooled its algorithm so that not all user-generated content appears in people’s feeds. If Facebook can govern the amount of people who see a given piece of content, that would directly infringe upon a publisher’s use of Instant Articles to try to expand their audience and create more ad revenue. As publishers continue to look for new ways to earn money as everything goes digital, the prospect of hosting all content on an outside site could end up being a saving grace or a slippery slope.


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Commercial burglary–May 11, 4:08 a.m. S. De Anza Boulevard. Video surveillance footage recorded two Hispanic males breaking a window to enter a business and steal items.
Vandalism–May 10, 7:30 a.m. Bollinger Road. An unknown person shattered an auditorium window, causing an estimated $200 in damages.
Shoplifting–May 9, 9:26 p.m. N. Wolfe Road. Two suspects were detained for shoplifting merchandise at a store.
Theft–May 9, 8:04 p.m. Stevens Creek Boulevard. Three suspects entered a nail salon and asked about services. The suspects made no purchases or appointments. A purse was later reported stolen from the salon.
Identity theft–May 9, 4:22 p.m. Regnart Road. A suspect opened a credit, savings and checking account using a victim’s personal information. The suspect deposited and withdrew $2,025. There is no evidence, and the suspect is at large.
Theft–May 9, 9:20 a.m. Byrne Court. Someone entered a vehicle and stole an Apple iPad, the vehicle title and some food.
Missing person–May 8, 10:09 p.m. Beardon Drive. An elderly resident with Alzheimer’s was missing. He was later found a block away.
Vehicle burglary–May 8, 7:28 p.m. Tantau Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard. An unknown person broke into a Hyundai and stole a backpack and jacket from the interior.
Bicycle theft–May 8, 1:45 p.m. S. De Anza Boulevard. A $1,000 Cannondale bicycle was stolen.
Drugs–May 8, 12:44 a.m. Stevens Creek and De Anza boulevards. A driver was found in possession of 55.4 grams of marijuana, 3.6 grams of concentrated cannabis, and marijuana in individual bags for sale. The driver admitted to selling marijuana and was taken to the main county jail.
Shoplifting–May 6, 4:15 p.m. N. Wolfe Road. A shopper was cited for shoplifting $28 worth of merchandise.
Theft–May 6, 1:36 p.m. Belknap Drive. A wallet with seven credit cards, $200 cash, a driver’s license, Kaiser card and AAA card was stolen from a home. The wallet went missing while hired cleaners were cleaning the victim’s home.
Bicycle theft–May 6, 1:16 p.m. Stevens Creek Boulevard. Someone cut a bike lock and stole an $800 Fuji bicycle from an apartment building garage.
Theft–May 6, 10:27 a.m. S. De Anza Boulevard. A victim left the door to his work van open while moving tools. An unknown person stole tools from the vehicle.
Stolen vehicle–May 6, 4:21 a.m. Santa Lucia Road. A 2007 Lincoln Town Car was stolen and later found.
Vehicle burglary–May 5, 6:59 p.m. Stevens Creek Boulevard. An unknown person entered a brown 2011 Honda CR-V and stole two laptops valued at $2,400 total.


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Smartfood Has Doritos Nacho Cheese Popcorn
Another day, another new Smartfood popcorn flavor. The brand recently released Cinnamon Sugar Cupcake and Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut varieties, but has decided to go a more savory route with its latest release. Behold! The new Smartfood Doritos Nacho Cheese Popcorn.
As if a new flavor wasn’t already noteworthy enough, the fact that Smartfood has joined forces with Frito-Lay’s Doritos makes it that much better. So you’ll get the texture of popcorn, but the finger-licking goodness of Doritos Nacho Cheese. You can get the 17-ounce bag exclusively at Sam’s Club for $5.28, and the limited-edition snack will only be available through April 2022.
“There are people out there who would keep you and your beloved popcorn totally separate from Doritos. We are not those people,” reads the back of the bag.
Keith Urban is expanding on his Keith Urban Live
Las Vegas residency dates. Taking place ahead of his previously-announced Memorial Day Weekend Vegas shows, Urban’s five new dates will happen in late March and early April at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace.
Urban’s shows at the Colosseum have been happening on and off since late 2019, when he helped re-open the Colosseum with two shows billed as an extension of his Graffiti U Tour. Those turned out to be a precursor of a longer engagement, and Urban played four residency dates in Vegas in January 2020 before announcing 12 more dates scheduled for later on that year.
The newly-announced dates are March 25, 26 and 30 and April 1 and 2. Tickets go on sale on Monday, Jan. 31 at 10AM PT
You Can Own Garth’s Mirthmobile Pacer Car From ‘Wayne’s World’ As It’s Up For Auction
Garth’s quirked-up, modified coupe became just as much an icon as the movie itself. The Mirthmobile, as it’s called, notably makes its most legendary appearance in the “Bohemian Rhapsody” car karaoke scene. The 1976 Pacer coupe contains a 258 cubic-inch 6-cylinder under the hood. Features like the mismatched chrome spoked wheels and licorice dispenser are still intact, as well as its welded tow hooks. What’s been added, however, is a stereo system with 10-inch speakers, making it ready for some more enhanced rocking out.
As far as price the car is taking bids with no reserve. Based on the Pacer’s tie to pop culture history, we’re sure the final selling price will be significant.
Fake Whiskey Is More Common Than You Think
“We’ve had fans from across the U.S. contact us to tell us they’ve been duped,” explained Mary Tortorice – general counsel for Sazerac, the company that owns Buffalo Trace.
The NYT reported, “The scammers are finding fertile ground. ‘Luxury bourbon’ was once an oxymoron; now, it’s the hottest thing in whiskey.”
“Part of the problem is the culture I see around bourbon, where it is about bragging rights and being able to Instagram a bottle you just bought,” said Adam Herz – a Hollywood writer and producer who is best known for creating the American Pie franchise. “Most people I see ending up with fakes are partly to blame themselves. Any good con man knows how to take advantage of someone’s greed.”
Herz told Inside Edition, “$380 for a single bottle. Why? Because that bottle can be refilled and sold for way over $2,000.”


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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Wegmans announced that the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine is inconsistent as demand for it has increased.
According to a sign posted at one of their stores, they said that the Wegmans Pharmacy teams are working to serve the local community on a walk-in basis as supplies last.
News 8 has reached out to Wegmans for further details and they explained in a statement that there have been shipping challenges due to the launch of the new vaccine formulation. Along with the high demand, they said that these challenges are impacting pharmacies across the country.
Wegmans added that they are working with their suppliers and are expecting a more consistent supply in the coming weeks.


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Your Thanksgiving meal will cost more this year in NY. Here's why
Expect supply-chain issues to be a topic of conversation around the Thanksgiving dinner table. After all, the difficulties in getting goods to people may have an impact on what you’re eating.
According to the New York Farm Bureau, increased food prices are reflective of some of the supply-and-demand issues, much of it related to the ongoing pandemic and the surge in at-home food consumption.
For what it’s worth, the bureau's 2021 Market Basket Survey, which shows the price of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, shows the average total price, which includes a 16-pound turkey and other common items found on a holiday dinner table, is $52.59, a 1.7% increase over last year.
Fifty-something bucks is nothing to sneeze at, but the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 36th annual informal national price survey found the average national cost of this year’s feast is $53.31, or 72 cents more than New York’s number.
Turkey prices are about $1.46 per pound in New York state, which is about 5 cents per pound over last year’s average price, according to this informal survey. This price is slightly below the national average of $1.50 per pound. The Farm Bureau seems to think as Thanksgiving draws closer, turkey prices may drop, reflecting sales in the final days before the holiday.
The New York numbers revealed small price increases in several categories including for whipping cream, Libby’s Pumpkin Pie Mix, fresh cranberries, and a veggie tray. The most noticeable decrease is for sweet potatoes.
In other words, pile the sweet potatoes high on plates and make sure ahead of time guests are pumpkin pie worthy.
This year’s survey also includes a similar increase for an expanded menu that includes a four-pound ham, five-pound bag of russet potatoes and a package of frozen green beans. When those prices are included, the total meal price jumps to $67.31, or 52 cents over last year’s number.
The Farm Bureau is quick to note that despite those price increases, most of the higher costs do not trickle down to the farmer, who receives only about 8 cents of each dollar consumers spend on food at the store. The rest goes to pay for things like transportation, processing, packaging and marketing of the food.
This also is interesting.
The survey is based on what volunteer shoppers discovered at 21 different supermarkets throughout the state between Oct. 31 and Nov. 8 while trying to find the best prices available. No promotional coupons or special deals such as “buy-one-get-one free” for them. They were also encouraged to shop online.
The shopping list included 15 common Thanksgiving food items ranging from turkey and rolls to stuffing and celery to pumpkin pie mix, enough to feed 10 people around the dinner table. An average for miscellaneous ingredients, like flour and butter, also was included.
As for soda, cider, beer, wine, spirits and the rest? You’re on your own.


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The Kroger Co. has launched its Simple Truth® Recycling Program, offering customers a free and simple way to recycle the flexible packaging of more than 300 products from Simple Truth, one of the company's private label brands.
Developed in partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycle, Kroger’s new platform enables customers to recycle a wide range of flexible packaging not currently accepted in curbside recycling programs, including produce bags, bread bags and plastic overwrap from household items like tissues and bottled water. The Simple Truth Recycling Program marks another significant milestone for Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan and establishes Kroger as the first Fortune 25 retailer to offer a free recycling program for its own private-label brand.
“A key part of achieving our ambitious Zero Hunger | Zero Waste vision is offering our customers innovative solutions to recycle and reuse product packaging,” said Keith Dailey, group vice president of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer. “We’re thrilled to partner with TerraCycle to launch our new Simple Truth Recycling Program, supporting our sustainable packaging goals and enabling Kroger customers to recycle their favorite Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic products without ever leaving home.”
The Simple Truth Recycling Program is currently open to individuals, schools, offices and community organizations across the U.S. The Simple Truth portfolio includes more than 2,000 natural and organic products, with hundreds of new items launching each year.
“Sustainable packaging is a core tenet of our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact plan,” continued Dailey. “While packaging is important for preserving product quality, freshness and integrity, we also recognize the negative impact packaging — especially plastic varieties — can have on the environment. As we continue to drive progress toward our current 2020 sustainability commitments, we’re laser-focused on reducing unnecessary packaging from our enterprise, reusing where we can and striving for more sustainable packaging across our private-label portfolio.”
By the end of 2019, Kroger reduced the amount of plastic resin in its Our Brands packaging by 10.1 million pounds, achieving our goal to reduce by 10 million pounds ahead of schedule.


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Having all but taken over downtown Seattle, Amazon this month announced that it’s looking for a site to build a second, $5 billion corporate headquarters, well, somewhere.
Just where that will be, the company says, depends on a few things, including space, transit, workforce, taxes and, it strongly hinted, incentives. It outlined these stipulations in an eight-page request for proposal.
A lot of metro areas want in on this. And they’ve signaled they’ll do a lot to get it, drawing up plans to offer everything from economic development subsidies to a giant saguaro cactus (from Tuscon; Amazon politely declined the gift).
The Twin Cities metro is interested in Amazon, too, and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and economic development partnership Greater MSP are working to send the company a pitch (we hope they send a giant tub of lutefisk), by the due date, Oct. 19. Amazon says it will announce its selection next year.
But are the Twin Cities really a contender? Let’s look at the merits and demerits of our fair metro in this race.
Metro size: Amazon wants a metropolitan area with more than 1 million people.
We’re in the running. The Twin Cities, with about 3.5 million people, is one of more than 50 U.S. metros with a population that fits this specification. But the competition isn’t limited to the U.S., and some list Toronto as a feasible locale.
Workers: Amazon claims it will create up to 50,000 new full-time jobs, plus hints at its very presence spurring an indirect boom in jobs. It wants a strong university system and highly educated labor pool within reach.
Just how ready the Twin Cities’ labor force is for Amazon is depends on how you look at it.
The New York Times’ Upshot disqualified the Twin Cities from the running on the basis of slow job growth. Indeed, as of the last state economic forecast in February, Minnesota’s employment was growing at a rate of 1.3 percent — just below the national average of 1.4 percent. Projected job growth going forward was 1.1 percent.
So, a bit below average. In the future, Minnesota’s job growth may be hampered by a labor shortage. Our state isn’t an anomaly in this regard — a lot of states face declining birthrates and a glut of baby boomer retirements that are responsible for the prediction of this trend. But it is additionally handicapped by an inability to get people to move here in higher numbers than they’re moving away, at least domestically, in recent years. Thanks to immigrants — international migration — Minnesota does gain more people than it loses. But the net gain is small: around 6,000 people annually in recent years.
A common misconception is that it’s older Minnesotans fleeing Minnesota’s cold winters for Arizona and Florida who are responsible for this trend. But, it’s actually young, often well-educated people, according to the Minnesota Demographic Center — just the types Amazon would probably like to hire.
Unemployment is low in Minnesota: The job market in Minnesota, where there’s only about one job available for every person looking for one, is already tighter than in many parts of the U.S.
On the flip side, it’s unlikely any major metro has 50,000 people with the qualifications to work at Amazon who don’t have jobs, said Myles Shaver, professor of strategic management and entrepreneurship at the Carlson School of Management. Our workforce here is highly educated. Furthermore, with headquarters for companies like Target and Best Buy here, the Twin Cities already has a high share of workers to work in managerial and administrative-type positions.
And yes, it is hard to get people to move to a place that’s an ice box roughly half the year, but once they’re here, this metro has a very high retention rate, Shaver said.
It’s not clear what the criteria for a “strong university system” is, but the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, a Big Ten school and one of the largest campuses in the country, is a well-regarded research institution with computer, engineering and business programs.
Business environment: Amazon’s memo strongly suggests it’s looking for incentives, and also specifies a “local government structure and elected officials eager and willing to work with the company.”
While it doesn’t say exactly what it means by incentives or a friendly government, Amazon might not find either in Minnesota.
Boosters of the Twin Cities tout the high concentration of Fortune 500 companies per capita as evidence it’s a nurturing environment for business. But others say taxes and a government that’s not willing to bend over backwards for business aren’t likely to appeal to Amazon.
While companies have certainly been offered economic development subsidies in Minnesota — a subsidized makeover for Rochester with its “Destination Medical Center,” a public-private partnership between the Mayo Clinic, other developers, Rochester, Olmsted County and the state, Shutterfly in Shakopee and Digi-Key in Thief River Falls, to name a few, it isn’t among the most generous states in this regard, Shaver said.
Gov. Mark Dayton has signaled that Minnesota will court Amazon with a “restrained” economic development proposal.
Then there’s taxes. Whether Minnesota’s taxes are high enough to scare off companies is a subject of debate.
The Tax Foundation lists Minnesota’s corporate tax rate as the third highest in the U.S., behind only Iowa and Pennsylvania. Of course, corporate tax breaks are one of the things that could be part of whatever incentive offer the company gets, but there’s still the matter of personal income taxes, among the highest in the country.
Tax rates aren’t a deal breaker for everyone, though, apparently: CNBC ranked Minnesota as the best state for business in 2015.
“Never since we began rating the states in 2007 has a high-tax, high-wage, union-friendly state made it to the top of our rankings. But Minnesota does so well in so many other areas — like education and quality of life — that its cost disadvantages fade away,” the network noted.
But John Spry, an associate professor in the finance department at the University of St. Thomas speculated Amazon might not be interested in moving to a state with personal income taxes, especially above-average ones, pointing out that Washington and Texas, where Amazon currently has major headquarters (it acquired Austin-based Whole Foods earlier this year), don’t have such a tax.
“To the extent that you want very focused business public policy, incentives, or low individual tax rates or things like that, that’s not us,” Shaver said.
Location, location: Amazon is looking for 500,000 or more square feet of space for its initial phase of development, with up to 8 million square feet beyond 2027. It wants that space to be: 30 miles or less from a population center, within 45 minutes of an international airport with nonstop flights to major cities, not more than two miles from major arterial roads and highways, have on-site access to mass transit, and have fiber connectivity.
We don’t know the full details on Minnesota sites that will be suggested to Amazon: Local governments’ deadline for submitting ideas to Greater MSP was Friday, but Mike Brown, the organization’s VP of marketing and communications, said the organization would not release a list.
But there are a few Twin Cities sites the powers that be are mentioning as places to which Minnesota might try to lure Amazon.
Ramsey County announced Friday that it was suggesting two sites: one, the former army munitions plant northeast of Minneapolis in Arden Hills, which is near both 35W and I-694, and relatively close to downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, is one contender. Ramsey County has also offered up the downtown St. Paul, riverfront site that used to house the Ramsey County jail and West Publishing (plus an existing county building). This site is located near Metro Transit’s green line.
Others have suggested St. Paul’s Ford Assembly Plant Site, the Mississippi River-abutting spot near Minnehaha Falls whose proposed development has caused considerable tension in St. Paul. We don’t know if it’s in St. Paul’s because the city’s not disclosing the sites it pitched as of now.
Obvious benefits of being close to the river (also very close to the airport) aside, Spry speculated that the site’s distance from major road arteries could be a problem.
Spry suggested the site on the edge of downtown Minneapolis once considered for the new Vikings stadium, where the Minneapolis Farmers Market currently resides, could also be developed to Amazon’s specifications. A benefit here would be close mass transit and highways. Spry also suggested Eagan, a suburban site with airport proximity and highway access.
Are we really in the running?
Another bullet point in Amazon’s memo is diversity and cultural fit. While the Twin Cities are not generally thought of as one of the more diverse metropolises in the country, they have, over time, become less homogenous.
Then there are other things you might not consider, Spry said: highly educated, public transit-connected Boston might have an advantage over other places because it’s always three hours later there than in Seattle. It’s in vogue in some industries, especially ones that are computer code-heavy, to have teams across time zones so they can extend the work day and more efficiently finish projects, Spry said. Toronto, same story.
But whether the Twin Cities — or any city — really has a shot at this thing depends on whom you ask. Again, the New York Times’ analysis suggests no. But Axios and real estate exerts the Wall Street Journal talked to say maybe.
If he had to bet, Spry would give it a 50-50 or better chance that the company goes to Austin, Texas. Having just acquired Whole Foods, Amazon already has people there. The city has a well-respected university, a big tech workforce, and a nearby airport. Texas has low taxes and a reputation for big economic development incentive packages.
While the Twin Cities’ well-educated workforce might appeal to the company, the business climate might disqualify us — if this is a race at all, Spry added, speculating that Amazon has already picked out a site.
“If they knew where they wanted to expand, they wouldn’t get much if they just announced that, so they’re doing this game first,” he said. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up that it’s going to come here.”


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Alta Equipment Group, which sells Volvo Construction Equipment among other construction and material handling equipment, has announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.
- Net revenues increased 52.4 percent year over year to $292.7 million
- Construction and Material Handling revenue of $181.1 million and $111.6 million, respectively
- Product Support gross profit increased $13.4 million year over year to $39.5 million
- Net loss of ($15.7) million available to common shareholders compared to ($4.1) million prior year
- Adjusted EBITDA grew 40.7 percent to $28.0 million compared to $19.9 million in Q2 2020
“Our second quarter performance reflects a positive operating environment across the material handling and construction markets we serve," said Ryan Greenawalt, Alta CEO. "The constrained supply-chain affecting our manufacturing partners has driven demand for higher margin product support offerings and greater rental utilization. Tightened supply has further elevated equipment pricing across the industry and provides unique opportunities to strategically sell rental fleet, satisfy customer demand for equipment, and achieve field population targets traditionally designated for new equipment installs. We believe our performance in the second quarter further validates our ability to adapt quickly and efficiently to a variety of market conditions, which has led to healthy year-over-year and sequential adjusted EBITDA growth.
“The strength of our first half results, coupled with a record backlog in our Construction and Material Handling businesses, position us well to meet our full-year growth objectives and deliver value to shareholders," Greenawalt says.
Source: Alta Equipment