text:
As the Herald reported on Monday the king of bargains The Warehouse has finally decided to do something with its website recruiting direct marketing company Aim Proximity to give the tired looking site a revamp.
The Warehouse website is currently pretty useless, not even allowing searches of the company's product database.
Instead you're offered PDF downloads or JPEG quick views of the mailers the company sells out. Not very Web 2.0 and leagues behind the efforts of overseas retailers such as Walmart and Target.
Walmart, the biggest retailer in the world, has had a shaky start in ecommerce but recently went through a big revamp.
Its Site to Store programme, which allows for goods bought online to be shipped to your local Walmart store for free, has been a hit. Because Walmart basically has a distribution system as comprehensive as Fedex, it's very cheap for it to shuttle merchandise around the US.
In that area it has an edge on the pure online retailers such as Amazon.com, which currently dominate in online sales.
On a smaller scale, The Warehouse enjoys the same benefits. It has a sophisticated distribution network, a nationwide footprint of stores and buying power that no other retailer can compete with.
It's the country's biggest retailer of music by a large margin and could probably own this space online if it provided the free national shipping for CDs and DVDs that Real Groovy currently offers.
Despite that, "the group's general manager of marketing, Stu Yorston, says the move is not part of a rapid march towards online sales. The focus for the new digital marketing contract was still getting customers into the 85 Red Sheds.
So why is The Warehouse so cautious about moving into online sales? Well, as Walmart and our own Ferrit have found, doing ecommerce properly is difficult and expensive.
Ferrit, which is owned by Telecom, is basically an online mall of bricks and mortar retailers, but has failed to make an impact with consumers.
That's probably due to a mix of bad site design and the failure to make Ferrit a destination people want to go to regularly - like Trade Me is.
As a result, Ferrit, like Flying Pig before it, may prove to be an ecommerce casualty unless it radically changes what it's doing.
According to this article bookseller Whitcoulls is making a big effort across Australasia to move into ecommerce with a major revamp of its website.
Whitcoulls was also a party to the Fly Pig venture. So who will be the first New Zealand retailer to make ecommerce work or will it be left to pure online retailers to pave the way?
Would you buy online from The Warehouse or is the business, as the company seems to believe, purely about getting people into the red sheds?


text:
By Ray Smith
After nearly two years of witnessing the devastating effect of the pandemic lockdown on tradeshows, Laura Palker knew she had to act. The founder and president of National Trade Show Alliance (NTSA) created a plan to reinvigorate what was once a booming industry that supports 6.6 million jobs and generates $1.1 trillion in gross economic impact.
The result of her careful planning is the Invisible Industry Tour, organized by the NTSA. A 49-foot gooseneck quad trailer will visit multiple US cities hosting industry events in 2022-2023, including a stop in Las Vegas for EXHIBITORLIVE June 20-24. Visitors to the trailer will be immersed in interactive presentations, exhibits and time-lapse videos showing the work that goes into producing a tradeshow, from setup to teardown. The tour is touted as a mobile marketing initiative that will bring visibility to the tradeshow, convention, meeting and live events industry. Most importantly, it will help create jobs, connect, support and develop the industry’s workforce.
The tour rolls out on Exhibition Day, June 1, from Washington, D.C. Its goal is to meet with public officials, economic development directors, labor unions and other groups to drill home the importance of the tradeshow industry in those cities, Palker says, and she expresses hope that the Invisible Industry Tour prompts other tradeshow associations to launch similar mobile experiences over the next two to five years.
“This is truly an opportunity to share the voice of the industry in a collaborative way,” she says. “It has to be an industry effort because we each depend on one another to sustain ourselves. No one conference can be produced by itself.”
Conventions, tradeshows and meeting conferences were flourishing before COVID-19 shut off the valve in early 2020. It was an expensive pause. With 1.7 million exhibitors, the tradeshow industry brought $396 billion in direct spending to host cities in 2019, including $55 billion for hotels, $30 billion for restaurants and retail, and $29 billion for ground transportation, according to NTSA. Now it’s time to clear out the losses and restart the engine.
Even as virus infections decline and pandemic restrictions are lifted, the industry is challenged to replace its workforce and reconnect with meeting planners, material suppliers and trade unions, Palker says.
“You have an industry that has to work on sustainability through workforce development,” she asserts. “At the end of the day, we had a pandemic that was a blessing. It gave us a wake-up call to the importance of our workforce. If we don’t act now, in five to 10 years, a majority of the workforce will retire.”
The 6.6 million people employed in the tradeshow industry come from all walks of life. They’re show organizers, venue operators, members of the Carpenters Union and Teamsters, stagehands. They’re graphic designers and experiential designers, general contractors and independent contractors and trade suppliers.
“Thousands of small businesses work together to create the tapestry of our industry,” the NTSA president explains.
The alliance strives to build awareness about the tradeshow industry, engaging in a grassroots effort to meet with elected officials, representatives, educational institutions and the existing workforce on a local level.
“Everyone’s trying to deliver the message on a federal level,” Palker says. “We have to reach the local level harder – the Small Business Administration, Chamber of Commerce, trade organizations, high schools and colleges – to ensure that we are training our future workforce.
“If we lose our artisans and lose that opportunity for generational learning, it’ll be 10 times more difficult to recover.”
The Invisible Industry Tour will consider the feedback it receives during its summer stops, and will refine its message in preparation for its official launch in September.

domain: news


text:
Sale of angithis, choolhas, heaters sees sudden jump in biting cold
- Muslim women beaten up in Madhya Pradesh over beef rumours
- Harish Rawat confirms Chinese incursion in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district
- GST Bill: Uncertainty continues as States don’t agree on rate
- Cow was killed by lion, not Dalit men flogged by gau rakshaks: CID
- How Governor Raghuram Rajan had his way on venue for RBI interviews
The dip in the temperature over the past few days has led to a jump in the sale of heaters and traditional means used to keep houses warm.
Besides electrical heaters and blowers which are selling like hot cakes, even the traditional and the old means used in the past like Angithis, Choolahs and Aaris are suddenly in great demand.
Maana Devi, who has been making Choolhas and the Angithis for more than ten years in Sector 25 says "The dip in the temperature has increased the sale of our hand-made heaters. Earlier whereas we could barely sell even one a day, now we are selling almost three to four Angithis a day".
"Hand made heaters are very affordable and the fuel used for lighting them up is also very cheap. The price of these heaters vary within a range of Rs 50 - 200 and the fuel which is a cowdung cake costs just Rs 2 a cake," said Jayanti Kumari, another seller.
Varun Bhardwaj, a resident of Panchkula said, "I am born and brought up in Shimla, so I like the traditional Angithis more. They give you a homely feeling when you are staying away from home".
City residents are flocking to electronic shops to buy heaters and blowers to keep their houses warm. "The sale of heaters from last week has increased. This is our last stock of the season which I think will be finished soon. From halogen heaters to the quartz rod heater and the blowers, everything is in demand. Around twenty to twenty five heaters are being sold everyday since the very beginning of this month," said Rohit Kansal, owner of Bharat Electricals in Sector 18-C .
An electrical heater can cost anything between
Rs 900 to Rs 11,000.
- Irom Sharmila calling off her fast against the AFSPA reflects the state’s failure to engage
- Strengthen Centre-state relations by giving the Inter-State Council teeth
- The Patel agitation and Dalit unrest threaten BJP’s dominance in Gujarat
- The CAMPA Bill: Whose forests are these anyway?
- Arundhati Ghose will be remembered for her role in India’s nuclear diplomacy
- Nativist sentiments and a growing tendency towards looking inwards imperil globalisation


text:
By David Downs | July 19, 2021
On June 23, Canada’s cannabis regulatory agency, Health Canada, released a private document requested under the Access to Information Act (AIA), that country’s version of the US government’s Freedom of Information Act.
The document in question was a 2020 safety study of the vape cartridge additive phytol. The study was conducted by Canopy Growth, one of Canada’s largest cannabis companies.
The data contained in that report has rocked the cannabis vaping world.
Phytol is a terpene that’s sometimes used to add flavor to vape cartridges, usually by adding it to a mix of cannabis oil and the common thinning agent propylene glycol.
The AIA request had been requested by David Heldreth, the former chief science officer of True Terpenes, a major phytol reseller. Heldreth’s friend Andrew Freedman, a Canadian citizen and vape expert, actually obtained the report.
CEO/founder of both Panacea Plant Sciences and Ziese Farms, Heldreth first grew concerned about phytol in August 2020 when Tokyo Smoke, the chain of Canadian cannabis stores owned by Canopy Growth, suddenly pulled all vape cartridges that contained phytol from its shelves.
Five months later, Heldreth became increasingly alarmed when the medical journal Inhalation Toxicology reported findings that indicated phytol was not as benign as propylene glycol. “Phytol, not propylene glycol, causes severe pulmonary injury…,” the study reported.
“I wouldn’t use a product that contains it.”
– David Heldreth, terpene scientist, regarding phytol
The Inhalation Toxicology article was based on research done by Canopy Growth scientists. The study sparked an alarming headline in the trade publication MJ Biz Daily: “Phytol cited as potentially dangerous cannabis vape ingredient.”
After filing an AIA request with Health Canada (which regulates cannabis nationwide), Heldreth finally received the full study in June of this year. Its contents floored him. The data was far worse than he imagined.
Phytol, according to the data in the study, appeared unsafe to inhale. When he spoke recently to Leafly, Heldreth made his opinion very clear: “I wouldn’t use a product that contains it.”
Why is phytol a concern?
Since the 2010s, humanity has engaged in a massive, uncontrolled field trial of electronic drug-delivery systems known as vaporizers.
“This is something we should be sounding the alarm on.”
– Kyle Boyar, KB Consultations
People young and old are experimenting with liquid chemical mixtures never found in nature, aerosolized by cheap electronic hardware and misted directly into the body’s sensitive lung tissue.
“The science is just so far behind,” Robert Strongin, professor of chemistry at Portland State University, recently told Leafly. “We’re all guinea pigs now.”
In 2019, simmering quality control issues with illicit THC vape pens boiled over into a public health crisis. Vape consumers across America fell sick with what became known as VAPI, or EVALI, a lung distress that injured 2,807 people and killed 68 of them over a period of about six months. Leafly’s investigative reporting helped expose the culprit: vitamin E acetate, which had been added to illicit vape cartridges to boost profits.
The vape lung crisis largely ended by February 2020, because consumers heeded media warnings, threw out their tainted vapes, and illicit pen factories stopped using heavy cuts of vitamin E acetate.
State regulators have not heeded the CDC’s advice. Few states have instituted any rules around the ingredients in cannabis or tobacco vape cartridges, aside from attempting to ban flavored carts—a move aimed at preventing minors from vaping, and not done out of concern for the health of adult vapers.
“It’s very risky, some of these ingredients,” said Strongin. “It’s just a shame we don’t know more about them.”
Given that cautionary experience with vape cartridge additives, Leafly asked experts to take a look at the raw phytol data from the Canopy study, and answer an urgent question: Is phytol safe to vape?
What is phytol?
Phytol is a diterpene alcohol that appears naturally in trace amounts in raw cannabis plants. It’s an aromatic plant oil, though it’s not a pleasant-smelling one. It can smell grassy in its natural state. Synthetic phytol, which is more commonly used in commercial applications, is odorless.
Outside the cannabis industry, phytol is used as a chemical in products like shampoos, household cleaners, and detergents.
In the cannabis industry (both legal and illicit), vape cartridge manufacturers can use phytol to dilute pure cannabis oil. It’s part of a class of cheap diluents that are most often used by vape cart makers in the illicit market, because illicit carts contain no lab-verified potency data on their labels.
Using phytol to cut cannabis oil in a state-licensed vape cart makes less economic sense, because licensed manufacturers are required to print their lab-verified THC levels on the cartridge package. Thus, a consumer can easily see that a cartridge thinned with phytol contains less THC than a competing product.
Phytol is not difficult to obtain. It’s a colorless or pale yellow liquid sold as a wholesale product to almost anyone who wants it on the internet. In fact, phytol is just a Google search away for anyone with a credit card and a delivery address. It sells for about $100 per liquid ounce, comparable to cannabis oil, but far more available. Phytol allows dealers to stretch their supply of THC oil further, experts said.
Dominic Black, lead account manager at Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs in San Diego, CA, explained, “For example, if someone has 50 liters of [cannabis] distillate and mixes it with 50 liters of phytol, they now have 100 liters of product to sell.”
In illicit markets, where lab-verified THC potency isn’t required, consumers don’t know they’re getting a diluted product—and one that may harm their lungs.


text:
Everyone's favourite barbed-wire-baseball-bat-wielding maniac is coming to your console
The Walking Dead‘s Negan will be a playable character in Tekken 7, the game’s publishers Bandai Namco have announced.
The TV show’s iconic antagonist has been announced among a raft of new characters for Season 2 of Tekken 7’s ‘Season Pass’ scheme.
Negan’s inclusion in the game was announced alongside two other additions, Tekken stalwarts Anna Williams and Lei Wulong. It was the collaboration between AMC’s hit TV show and the video game institution that turned the most heads, however.
Some questioned whether the baseball bat-wielding villain was a good fit for the Tekken franchise, but others praised the bold move. “You have to look at that as inspiration to think outside of the box and run with those crazy ideas cause that’s a CRAAAAAAAZY move. Love it.” said one user.
It’s not the only new meeting of The Walking Dead and video games. Last month a “first-of-a-kind location based augmented reality mobile game,” The Walking Dead: Our World was released on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
The game works like Pokémon Go but instead of catching cute Pokémon, you kill zombies. They can appear almost anywhere, while you might also bump into your favoruite characters from the show including Rick, Daryl and more.
Lincoln’s character Rick Grimes – who Lincoln has played since the show debuted in October 2010 – is expected to depart the show during or at the end of its forthcoming ninth season.
The show’s eighth season received mixed reactions from fans following showrunner Scott Gimple’s decision to kill Carl Grimes – one of the shows leading characters – earlier in the season.
Season 9 of The Walking Dead is expected to air in October.


text:
Customers trust your beauty products because you take so much care to ensure that they arrive in excellent shape and elegant packages, but as your company has grown it’s become harder to be a one-person operation.If you’re considering a beauty products fulfillment service, you probably have a lot of questions about how they work. Don’t
Comedian Russell Brand has spoken of his fears for today’s teenagers, saying they could become as addicted to technology as he was to drugs and alcohol.
The Glasgow Science Centre team launched “Terry” the Teacake from Houston, Renfrewshire, at lunchtime on Friday.
The average ticket price across the Premier League this season is £32 and more than half of all fans are paying less than £30 per match, according to the league's second annual pricing survey. Based on data from each club and compiled with help from professional services company EY, the study is the most comprehensive analysis of the actual cost...
Tomasello Winery invites you to visit one of our 9 wine tasting rooms located throughout New Jersey. Each of our tasting locations offers a broad range of wines and gifts.
Bear , my favorite note-taking app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, just got a major update with version 1.3, which finally brings support for Apple Watch, as well as a new feature called the Drop Bar....
At its investor meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, Walmart discussed its plan to emphasize e-commerce growth. Company officials said e-commerce sales should increase by about 40 percent next year as Walmart adds more than 1,000 grocery pickup locations. Executives with the company also said that th...
An 85,000-square-foot creative office happens to be around the corner from Apple's Beats headquarters in Culver City.
The display includes a 65-inch 4K ultra high-definition display.
Apple has updated its iTunes Store movie promotions for the week with new deals on films like The Book of Eli, Mad Max: Fury Road, Alien Covenant, and more.
Mountain View Fruit Sales, known for its stone fruit program, is starting a California citrus deal and is partnering with Eastside Packing to add commodities to its premium quality and customer service based program. “We have been working on getting into the citrus deal for many years, but findi...
Costco Wholesale intends to expand its partnership with Instacart and has launched an online shopping service, CostcoGrocery. The deal with Instacart will continue to add locations through the end of next September. Instacart currently delivers about 1,700 fresh and nonperishable Costco items. C...
She hadn’t thought about God or spirituality since she was a teenager. But in a remote wilderness, with no other help, this author discovered that God, divine Love, was just as present as she’d known Him to be during her childhood.
Vote Now for your picks to win this year's LIVE ZBrush Sculpt-Off!
After a grueling day of competition our 24 contestants have finished their live sculpts. Hats off to all of them --...
Ford became the latest automaker to announce a big electrification push. The new Ford electric car lineup will include 13 new electrified models, which will roll out globally over the next five years.
Everybody complains about bank fees. Consumer Reports tells you how to beat them.
Copyright © 2011-2017 Hubbiz®
| Request API Access


text:
Yahoo! is circling the wagons and refocusing on its core business. It was announced on Monday that it is getting rid of its Yahoo! Music Unlimited service. Yahoo! will instead team up to offer the Rhapsody service through a strategic partnership.
Rhapsody will become the exclusive on-demand music service of Yahoo!. Yahoo! Music Unlimited subscribers will be transferred to Rhapsody “over the coming months.” Transferred subscribers will be able to maintain their existing pricing tier for a limited time.
The move comes as Yahoo! announced its acquisition of FoxyTunes, which is a toolbar plug-in that acts as a portal for more than 30 desktop and Web-based music players. That being said, it is looking like Yahoo! wants to get back to its roots of simply being a portal for access to other online services. That starts with the company getting out of some of its proprietary online services such as the Yahoo! Music Unlimited service.
Read more from the joint press release.


text:
After a monster drop, Apple’s stock has been locked in a $400-$450 range since the end of January.
And it’s probably going to stay locked in this range until Apple reveals some new hardware, says Oppenheimer analyst Ittai Kidron.
There’s two reasons Apple needs new hardware: To prove it can still create killer new product categories post-Steve Jobs and because that’s how it makes its money.
Apple can try to portray itself as a services, software, and hardware company all it wants. To investors, it’s just a hardware company, since that’s how it makes its money.
Right now, its hardware business is slowing down. The iPhone, its primary driver of sales, has peaked and is now settling into single digit growth. The iPad is growing, but it doesn’t make enough money to offset the iPhone’s slow down.
Therefore, Apple needs to create, and dominate a new category of products.
All the gossip lately has been on an “iWatch,” which would be a internet-connected device for the wrist that would work with an iPhone.
Lots of tech companies have tried and failed to create smartwatches. If Apple could actually create the defining smartwatch, it would prove that Apple has the executives in place to continue the company’s legacy of innovation.
Kidron is sceptical that an iWatch would really move the needle. He’s looking for an Apple TV.
We think a successful iWatch would be enough to show that Apple still has what it takes to lead the tech industry.
But, Kidron’s scepticism is a good reminder that whenever Apple releases its next big product it will be met with resistance initially.
For what it’s worth, Apple said it has new products in the works, but we probably won’t see them until the end of this year and throughout next year.
Business Insider Emails & Alerts
Site highlights each day to your inbox.


text:
said it is creating a worldwide Group Travel Retail Division
, based in Paris, that will be headed by Barbara Lavernos, currently managing director of L’Oréal Luxe’s travel retail worldwide. Lavernos is to report to Nicolas Hieronimus, president of Selective Divisions.
"This market, present around the world, could be considered as a 'sixth continent'," L'Oreal Chief Executive Jean-Paul Agon
said in a statement on Thursday. "L'Oreal has high ambition for the future of the channel."
The new division will oversee the sale to travelers of L'Oreal's luxury products such as Lancome creams and Yves Saint Laurent make-up as well as brands such as La Roche Posay and L'Oreal creams and Kerastase shampoo.
Already present at airports and duty-free shops, L’Oréal claimed a 21.6 percent share of the travel retail market in 2012, which was worth $55.8 billion, according to L'Oreal - but, the company says that the market should double over the next 10 years, to reach $100 billion.


text:
So what makes this better than a bandana you can produce for yourself out of an old t-shirt?
“The UA sports mask features a unique, three-layer model engineered for athletes during performance,” the company said on its online newsroom.
And what are these super-duper three layers?
Layer 1 is “spacer fabric,” the company said. “It is light but has air pockets for structure, so it stays off the mouth and nose for better airflow.”
Layer 2 is “open-cell foam,” Under Armour said. “The breathable middle layer lets air through but makes it hard for moisture and sweat to pass.”
Layer 3 is “UA Iso-Chill,” the company said. “This fabric feels cool against the skin, stretches, and is treated with Protx2, a non-metal anti-microbial technology which inhibits growth of bacteria on the mask.”
Laboratory tests have shown that Protx2 kills the coronavirus, Under Armour said.
The company’s stock price has plunged 77% over the past five years, and Morningstar analyst David Swartz thinks its woes are far from over.
“We view Under Armour as lacking an economic moat given its failure to amass a competitive advantage over other athletic apparel firms,” he wrote in a report last week.
“We think Under Armour has fallen behind on innovation and its product is not sufficiently differentiated.”
Under Armour shares recently traded at $9.45, down 10.04%. The stock has plummeted 20% over the last three months, compared to a 6% increase for the S&P 500.


text:
TikTok Users are Finding Everything from Apartments to Vacation Spots on the App
By: Natalie Downey
TikTok is no longer an app occupied solely by high school and college students. User ages now range from teenagers to the ages of their parents. A large number of these users fall into the “Gen Z” or “Millennial” Generation. Small and large businesses alike have noticed this rise in activity and have started to advertise on the app.
One industry that has been successful on TikTok is Real Estate. Since the start of the pandemic, rent has fallen in big cities as residents made the move to suburban areas. Real Estate agents are turning to TikTok to reach millennials who are looking for city apartments. Unlike popular websites like Trulia, TikTok offers a unique way to view a house or apartment that is for sale. “TikTok puts the content directly in front of the consumer, as opposed to other platforms like Instagram or Zillow where they have to depend on the consumer to find the content on their own”. Videos posted on the app serve as a “virtual tour” and app users can have conversations in the comment section about the given listing.
TikTok also filters the videos you interact with and adds similar ones to your feed. This is called your “For You Page”. If you are interested in New York City apartments and continuously like videos relating to them, eventually your feed will be littered with similar videos. This activity has proven beneficial to brokers, and many say they get enough engagement from TikTok to work full time.
One Chicago apartment agency is averaging 15 to 20 leases per month from TikTok.
One of the customers of this agency found his current apartment through their TikTok account and said he “had no idea TikTok could even be used for that” and the company’s “page [was] full of videos of buildings around Chicago, so it made [him] feel more comfortable reaching out”.
The app is helpful for more than just permanent real estate, but also vacation listings. The hashtag #TikTokTravel has more than 21.3 billion views on videos showcasing vacation destinations and rentals. Many people have found places to stay or visit solely because they saw a video while scrolling through the app.
Other industries are picking up on this as well, and companies like Chipotle have used its large presence on the app to their advantage. The company created the catchy tagline “Less Tok, More Guac” which initially got customers excited about their presence on the app. Chipotle also started a challenge to flip burrito bowl lids on top of the bowl. The challenge, dubbed #ChipotleLidFlip, generated more than 100 million views and a record-breaking digital sales day for the chain.
Not all attention on the app is good, though. Many users have gained popularity for giving honest food reviews about places they have eaten or worked at. A Panera Bread worker posted a video showing how the chain’s mac & cheese is made, revealing that it was frozen and typically reheated in a controversial way. This video received over 11 million views and ended up getting the creator fired.
Small businesses are also taking off due to their presence on TikTok. This initially started during quarantine, with a large number of users picking up new hobbies and selling homemade products through the app. Many local boutiques and Instagram-based companies have seen a large increase in sales after creating TikTok accounts. TikTok reported they earned $9 million in in-app purchases in May 2020, over a 500% increase in year-over-year growth.
“[Gen Z isn’t] just watching. They’re creating in response. You’re turning them into brand ambassadors without even doing any influencer marketing”.
Though TikTok may seem like an app designed for younger generations, it has actually evolved into something much larger. TikTok has changed some of the ways we make decisions in our daily lives, stay on top of these new developments, you never know when you will need a new restaurant recommendation or vacation rental!


text:
As 2023 concludes, China’s largest jewellery wholesale market in Shenzhen has witnesses a substantial surge in consumer interest for gold and jewellery, reflecting an escalating market demand.
Located in the Guangdong Province of southern China, Shenzhen is known for its technological innovation, but is swiftly establishing itself as a burgeoning fashion hub.
Throughout 2023, Shenzhen served as the host for pivotal fashion events, including Shenzhen Eyewear Fashion Week, Shenzhen Fashion Home Design Week, and the China (Shenzhen) International Brand Underwear Fair. These industry events not only attracted global fashion buyers but also featured renowned brands such as Dior, Chanel, Galeries Lafayette, and Versace Home, showcasing their latest collections and exploring new retail opportunities within the city.
Shenzhen has emerged as a dominant force in China's fashion landscape, propelled by an offering of original brands and a dynamic clustering effect. The city excels across various fashion-related sectors, encompassing high-fashion, luxury timepieces, designer eyewear, gold jewellery, intimates, and premium leather goods.
At the core of Shenzhen's fashion industry lies a dynamic and efficient supply chain. The city's industrial achievements are evident, from being able to assemble a drone with components sourced exclusively within the city to producing a sophisticated watch using predominantly locally procured parts and rolling out a top-tier smartphone every 28.5 seconds on a local production line.
Shenzhen’s fashion industry is home to over 2,500 apparel companies and holds a substantial 42 percent share of the world's watch production. The city's prowess extends further, with an annual production of 125 million pairs of eyeglasses.


text:
Rihanna is showing off her baby bump in stunning new images for a new Louis Vuitton’s men collection designed by fellow musician Pharrell Williams.
On June 26, the luxury French fashion house released several photos shot by Keizō Kitajima and Martine Syms that showed the “Diamonds” singer, 35, modeling multiple coats and handbags that are part of the brand’s Spring-Summer 2024 men’s collection.
In one photo, Rihanna, who is expecting her second child with her rapper boyfriend A$AP Rocky, wears a black coat that’s been coyly unzipped to frame her pregnancy bump.
The Grammy winner carries a cup of coffee in the photo, along with no less than four colorful Louis Vuitton bags.
A press release from the company revealed that the collection contains an updated Speedy, Williams’ playful adaptation of the brand’s legendary Speedy bag.
Two more photos show Rihanna modeling a black-and-red checkerboard coat while carrying several canary-yellow Speedys in her arms.
The Fenty founder also appeared in a promo video for the fashion house that highlights looks from Williams’ collection.
In the short clip, the “Umbrella” singer flaunts her pregnant belly as she makes her way through a bustling city street.


text:
Why this might be 2014's most pivotal week for financial releases (Part 1 of 7)
A pivotal week
Financial markets will train their sights on the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee (or FOMC) meeting, slated for April 29–30, in what may be one of the year’s most pivotal weeks. While the FOMC should produce little in the way of data surprises, the GDP and employment data releases as well as the forward guidance from the FOMC statement should provide market watchers something to mull over in the coming weeks.
Brace for an interesting April 30: It’s Super Wednesday
Wednesday, April 30, is expected to pull quite a punch with both the FOMC meeting announcement and advance gross domestic product (or GDP) estimates for the first quarter of 2014 slated for release. The Fed is widely expected to cut its asset purchases at the current “measured pace” by $10 billion per month to $45 billion per month.
The GDP estimate should prove more interesting, with both stock (VOO) and bond (BND) markets divided as to the exact impact of an unusually severe winter on the nation’s economic activity. The first quarter GDP number should provide more clarity.
It’s that time of the year…
Many publicly listed companies will also be declaring results for the first quarter of 2014. Major companies declaring results this week include Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (BWP) on April 28, the Carlyle Group (CG) on April 30, and Archer-Daniels (ADM), Boston Scientific (BSX), and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) on April 29. These companies, with the exception of Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (BWP), are S&P 500 Index (VOO) components.
Other major releases this week
- Pending home sales on Monday, April 28
- The Dallas Fed’s Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey (or TMOS), also due on Monday, April 28
- Tuesday, April 29, will see the Fed’s FOMC begin
- The S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index will also release on Tuesday, April 29
- Consumer confidence estimates from both the Conference Board and State Street will also release on Tuesday, April 29
- Another important consumer confidence bellwether, auto sales for April, will release on Thursday, May 1
- Retail indices, namely the Johnson Redbook and the ICSC-Goldman Sachs Same Store Sales indices, are due to release on Tuesday, April 29
- Employment, manufacturing, and construction releases will set the pace from Wednesday to Friday, capping the week with the all-important non-farm payrolls number releasing on Friday, May 2
- Factory orders will also be released on Friday
- The Chicago, Markit, and Institute of Supply Management’s PMI numbers for March will release this week, with Chicago releasing on Wednesday and the latter two releasing on Thursday
- Other releases this week include MBA Purchase Applications, the ADP Employment Report, the Employment Cost Index, and farm prices, which will all come out on Wednesday
- On Thursday, other releases include initial jobless claims, Gallup Payroll-to-Population, Challenger Job Cuts, personal income and outlays, construction spending, and the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index
In this series, we’ll cover some of the major releases due between Monday and Wednesday. Market Realist will publish a separate series covering more indicators on Tuesday.
To read about the preview to the Fed’s FOMC meeting due on April 29–30, please continue to Part 2 of this series.
Browse this series on Market Realist:


text:
Natu Patel and UK town in tizzy over £33 mn lottery ticket
Natu Patel is one of the many Patels who own corner shops across Britain, but he has suddenly become the centre of attention: his shop in Worcester may have sold a lottery ticket worth £33 million.
Two tickets matched the six winning numbers in the National Lottery’s Lotto jackpot worth £66 million on January 9. A couple from Scotland claimed half the jackpot, but the second winner has not contacted organisers.
This has sparked hundreds of claims, with a woman in Worcester claiming her winning ticket mistakenly went through the washing machine, which erased the barcode and other details. Her claim and those of others are being verified.
But Patel, 64, was thrust into the limelight since it is believed locally that the winning ticket was sold through his Ambleside News in Warton, on the outskirts of Worcester. He has never sold a lottery ticket that has won more than £25,000.
Camelot, the lottery organiser, confirmed the second winning ticket was bought in Worcester.
Patel and his wife have been running the shop for 27 years. As residents of the closely-knit community in Worcester await the identity of the winner, Patel is besieged by journalists from London and elsewhere.
He said it would be “wonderful” if the winning ticket was bought in his shop – though he wouldn’t know if it was unless he scanned it through the lottery machine. “We sell a lot of tickets so I hope the winning ticket was bought here. Camelot called me today to say that the press might contact me. It was completely out the blue and it sounded quite mysterious,” he said.
A Camelot spokesman said: “Given the interest in the missing £33m ticket-holder, we have received hundreds of claims of this nature. All of these are currently being considered on a case-by-case basis, and we will follow up with all claimants directly to advise them whether their claim will be investigated further.”
Andy Carter, winners advisor for Camelot, told a news conference in Worcester: “We are still awaiting the winner of the biggest Lotto jackpot. Today is about encouraging people to check their bags, down the side of the sofa, or anywhere where they might have misplaced it. We want to unite the life-changing prize with its owner. It’s an awful lot of money that will change someone’s life.”
Enter your email to get our daily newsletter in your inbox
- Across Africa and Southeast Asia, governments and aid groups, as well as the WHO, are calling on pharmaceutical companies to share their patent information more broadly to meet a yawning global shortfall in a pandemic


text:
Apple has been the story in U.S. tech this year. The stock is up nearly 64 percent year-to-date, helping lead the sector to a 19 percent gain versus an 11 percent rise for the broader S&P 500.
But beyond Apple , a number of big tech companies have been quietly outperforming as they ride three major trends in enterprise IT — mobile, cloud-computing \(learn more\)and “big data.”
Given all the economic uncertainty around the world, big companies are looking for ways to cut costs and operate more effectively, Bill McDermott, SAP’s co-CEO, told CNBC on Thursday. “At the end of the day, if you have a solution that gives (companies) a good return, they’ll invest,” he said.
This trend is even holding true in Europe where the German business software company was able to grow earnings 25 percent year-over-year in the second quarter. “Germany which is our most mature market grew solid double-digits for several quarters in a row now,” he noted. (Read More: .)
McDermott said SAP’s been able to turbo-charge its core business applications and analytics product offering with new mobile, cloud and big data solutions. Those new business will grow triple digits, McDermott said.
Companies want to “restructure their business in the cloud to take costs out of the equation wherever they can,” McDermott said. “And they want to innovate with mobile application to reach their consumers so they can make more money and keep their customers more loyal.”
He added, “The big data comes in by understanding what's really in these systems.” (Read More: Why ‘Big Data’ Is a Big Deal: IBM Executive.)
Companies like Oracle, Salesforce.com and Teradata have also been riding these three trends this year.
(Read More: .)
Salesforce.com, for instance, is moving into the social aspect of cloud computing, Joel Fishbein, an analyst at Lazard Capital Markets, told CNBC on Friday, after the company posted better-than-expected results for the latest quarter on a 38 percent increase in revenue.
“The fact that they are handling 10 percent of Facebook’s ad revenue is a sign of things to come,” Fishbein said. “We’re going to see that continue to show not only top-line acceleration but it is going to bring some significant profits to the company probably in the mid-point of next year.”
Even though Salesforce.com's stock is up nearly 45 percent this year, Fishbein has a 12-month price target of $200 on the stock, implying another 36 percent potential upside. (Disclosure: Lazard Capital Markets makes a market in Salesforce.com securities.)
Dell and Hewlett-Packard have fared much worse, down 22 percent and 32 percent this year, respectively, as they struggle to get consumers to upgrade their old notebooks instead of splashing out on a new tablet or smartphone.
But if the recent outperformance of some of the enterprise IT names looks to be overdone, at least one analyst sees a significant rally in H-P shares coming. (Read More: Analyst Sees 75% Upside for Tech Turnaround Stock.)
Shaw Wu, senior technology analyst at Sterne Agee, said H-P has all the elements needed for a successful turnaround — an installed customer base, a growth plan and a solid balance sheet. His price target of $31 suggests the stock could pop 75 percent. But turning a company of H-P's size around could be a long-term proposition.


text:
The food and drink manufacturing sector is continuing to perform strongly despite the uncertain economic backdrop, according to a new survey by the Food and Drink Federation.
Almost 60 per cent of the industry body's members recorded increased sales in the third quarter of the year, while only 15 per cent reported a decline. More than half expect sales to keep growing until the end of the year.
Respondents said that they had managed to keep a lid on price rises in the third quarter , but the current inflationary trends in raw materials meant that some 64 per cent expected to raise prices by the time 2010 is out.
Though still cautious about the economic picture, most of the companies surveyed said they were either maintaining or increasing investment in facilities, research and staff, boding well for the industry's longer-term prospects.


text:
Twitter is many things: comedy device, college major, a tool that makes us hyper-connected. But now a new pilot program has the potential to turn Twitter into the world’s first 140 character or less mall, according to the Wall Street Journal. Twitter and American Express have partnered up on a program that allows users to add their credit card information to their account and then buy items from vendors simply with a tweet. If you sign up for this one, you’ve gotta be extra-careful with those tweets now.The Journal notes that the program is still in the early stages and when it starts up in a couple of days, users will be able to buy Amex gift cards, Kindles and jewelry. Twitter sees it as a way to get a revenue from something other than ads while Amex sees it as a way to expand their reach with merchants. We see it as a way to speed up drunken purchases that you really wish you could take back. It’ll make for some interesting customer service calls when people claim their account was hacked and that’s why they tweet-bought the new One Direction album. And who knows, maybe they’ll be right, given Twitter’s recent problems with security.
One of the more commonly held themes (maybe even beliefs) about New York is that it is a pit of loneliness, where you can never feel more isolated while surrounded by millions of people. 30 Rock encapsulated New York’s uncanny ability to grind you down perfectly here. This can feel like a shitty city, especially during […]
Hot take: Halloween isn’t for everybody. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great holiday. It just favors creatives and DIY experts to a fault. Many people are Hallo-wise enough to start planning their costume for the following year on Nov. 1. — and if you’re one of those people, more power to you! — but that leaves the rest […]
Loitering has been a problem for coffee shop owners for so long that we’ve gone through several cycles of addressing it in New York City. First came limiting laptop hours and eliminating outlets, then things like timed wifi. Britcom hit Fleabag skewered the annoying laptop camper in its inaugural season this summer, which means it’s far from just an American […]


text:
- CONTENT TYPE
Find restaurant and foodservice publications, from blanket restaurant trade magazines to sector-specific restaurant publications
The restaurant industry is a fast-paced competitive business that requires its players to possess a true edge to be successful. One of ...
- Article By Christine Margiotta
- – June 9, 2011
Get practical advice by making the most of restaurant and foodservice publications
Restaurant industry publications are essential for new restaurant owners who learn quickly just how overwhelming the demands of running ...
- Article By Michele Vrouvas
- – November 19, 2011
Restaurant and foodservice furnishings set the atmosphere for your restaurant
Determine the formality or casualness of your restaurant by carefully selecting its furniture and decor. Whether you're furnishing ...
- Article By Angela Roe
- – July 7, 2010
Restaurants thrive on loyalty, and in 2016, the best way to tap into that is through a mobile app. Learn how to drive more business inside.
- Article By Natalie Beach
- – February 24, 2016
Find the best supplies for your business from US foodservice equipment distributors
Restaurants, hotels and the myriad other businesses that offer food and beverage as part of their services rely on foodservice ...
- Article By Mary Beth Doyle
- – December 1, 2011
Learn where to find foodservice information for the latest news within the industry
If you work in the restaurant industry, then it is extremely helpful to stay up-to-date on the latest restaurant information. Whether ...
- Article By Jason Wood
- – April 18, 2010
Find a good foodservice distributor to deliver fresh produce to your restaurant
Dealing with distributors and wholesalers to food service can be difficult. It's not hard to find foodservice distributors and ...
- Article By Christine Reeves
- – April 7, 2011
For the first time ever, restaurant spending has surpassed grocery. But there are other competitors to worry about, too.
- Article By Gerry Hays
- – January 15, 2016
Use directories of restaurants to locate potential partners or to list your own restaurant
Restaurant directories are essential tools to use when you seek restaurant partnerships or if you want to showcase your restaurant to a ...
- Article By Angela King
- – December 19, 2010
Stay focused, up-to-date, and industry savvy by subscribing to the right television publications
One of the best ways for TV industry professionals to stay informed of industry news is to subscribe to television publications. There ...
- Article By Tai G.
- – June 29, 2011


text:
Network4 (Digital Media and Communications), which describes itself as the largest independent media and TV group in Hungary, has announced a number of important changes to its services.
Quoting a statement supplied by the group, Media1 reports that they include the renaming of its streaming platform Arena4+ as Net4+.
This is because following the launch of its new sports channel Match4 alongside Arena4, along with the acquisition of more sports rights, the name Arena4+ would have been misleading.
Furthermore, the streaming platform includes not only the programmes of Arena4, but also Match4, as well as other exclusive content.
Another change will see the Network4 website come under the Net4 brand. It will provide prominent places for – amongst others – the entertainment channels TV4, Story4, Galaxy4 and Film4.
Commenting on the changes, Attila Varga, Network4’s online content development and communications director, said that as a first step its Net4+ app has been released for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, and the same is on the way for AppleTV and Android-based media boxes and smart TVs.


text:
Vitamin D and Depression
Experts aren’t sure if a lack of it leads to depression or if it’s the other way around. But studies show a link between the two. Research is ongoing to see if raising your vitamin D levels can help with symptoms and boost your mood.
Fight the Flu
Scientists are still figuring out exactly how well vitamin D can treat or even keep you from getting the virus. One study showed taking vitamin D drops in the winter helped lower the number of Japanese schoolchildren who got the flu. It’s clear it’s an important part of a healthy immune system. Your body can’t fight germs well if it doesn’t have enough.


text:
LIMA Hall of Fame inductee Leigh Anne Brodsky is trading in Peanuts for Animal Planet, among other Discovery Communications brands. She is leaving her current post as managing director of Iconix Entertainment to join the education and learning-focused entertainment giant as its new EVP of Discovery Global Enterprises in June.
In her new role, Brodsky will oversee all consumer products operations, location-based entertainment and program sales worldwide for Discovery, whose brands include flagship Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and Discovery Kids.
At Iconix, Brodsky oversaw the company’s global CP business and established the largest retail presence in the 65-year history of the classic Charles M. Schulz property Peanuts. Prior to that, she was president of Nickelodeon Consumer Products, where she led parentco Viacom’s global L&M business, building brands like SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer at retail. Brodsky was also inducted into the LIMA Hall of Fame in 2011, joining a select group that includes Walt Disney, George Lucas and Jim Henson.
In terms of Discovery’s CP operations, the company brought ex-Disney and Fox consumer products exec Robert Marick on-board in 2015 as VP of North American licensing and global location-based entertainment to help grow the business, with a focus on further building the Discovery Kids brand, targeting boys six to 11. A Discovery spokesperson confirmed that Marick will continue in his current position.


text:
Check out our 85% funny commercial to get GMOs labeled on Funny or Die. I want to thank Director/Producer Stephanie Soechtig of Atlas Films for letting me And Ronny Northrop work with her on this series. We had one more that we wanted to do that would have been AWESOME, but we ran out of time and money. I'd say "next time" but I hope the people of Califonia win Prop37 and the right to know what's in their food and there is no "next time." GMOs are not an easy thing to make entertaining so I'm sort of proud that we're 85% funny. I'd say that's probably a bit generous.
Of the top ten donors to No on 37:
- Four are subsidiaries of foreign companies (BASF, Bayer, Syngenta, Nestle).
- Nine are out-of-state companies. Only one – Nestle USA – is based in California, but it is a subsidiary of Nestle S.A., which is based in Switzerland.
- Three are subsidiaries of foreign pesticide companies (BASF, Bayer, Syngenta) that are not allowed to grow genetically engineered crops in their own countries for health and environmental reasons.
- Six are pesticide companies not based in California, which together have given $20 million to oppose Californians right to know about genetically engineered food.
“Foreign and non-California companies are trying to buy this election, and keep California mothers and fathers from finding out what’s really in their children’s food,” said Stacy Malkan, media director for Yes on Proposition 37 California Right to Know campaign.
“It’s especially stunning that the opposition is being bankrolled to such a large extent by foreign pesticide companies that are using California families as guinea pigs for their genetically engineered crops that are shunned back at home,” Malkan said.
Switzerland has banned the growing of genetically engineered crops since 2005. Germany severely restricts genetically engineered crops in Germany, and none are being planted there in 2012. The Swiss company Syngenta, along with German-based BASF and Bayer, have spent $2 million each to oppose Prop 37.
“These foreign companies are subverting our elections with a massive propaganda cocktail of lies and deception,” Malkan said.
On Friday, Oct. 19, food and consumer products companies contributed an additional $5.2 million to the No on 37 campaign. Of the 35 contributors, only two are based in California, Nestle (a subsidiary of Swiss-based Nestle S.A.) and Clorox.
“The vote on Proposition 37 will come down to a question of whom should we trust. Should we trust the world’s largest pesticide and junk food companies to make the choices about what’s in our food, or do we want to make those decisions ourselves?”
Thus far, the opponents of Proposition 37 have raised a total of $40.7 million. The Yes on 37 California Right to Know campaign has raised $5.3 million, largely from natural and organic food companies, and from more than 10,000 individual donors.
The Yes on 37 campaign is also backed by more than 2,000 health, faith, labor and consumer groups including the American Public Health Association, California Nurses Association, California Council of Churches, United Farm Workers, California Labor Federation, Consumers Union, Public Citizen, the United Food and Commercial Workers and many more. See full list of endorsers here: http://www.carighttoknow.org/endorsements
For more information about the Yes on 37 California Right to Know campaign, see www.CaRightToKnow.org.
We've posted the companies that are fighting to defeat Prop37 here before. It's amusing to contrast their sweet, happy and wholesome consumer images with the political work they do. The Cap'n, Tony the Tiger and the Trix Rabbit have all been pulled into the mud. Their images tainted and brand value eroding as they become symbols of opposition to consumer rights. Remember to vote YES on 37. http://www.carighttoknow.org/
It is a glorious Monday and what better way to start than with thoughts from the beautiful brain of Alan Watts?He is one of our absolute favorite thinkers. His question is so important when you're getting started on life's journey but it's never fully answered. It might be worth asking every few years for the rest of us too. Happy Monday.
Celebrities certainly have a certain power in our culture to get people to sit up and take notice. So when I was introduced to Stephanie Soechtig from Atlas films and she told me about the plan she had to create some short film content to help out on Prop37 I offered to help out. We called it is a guest CD role and I pulled in my buddy Ronny Northrop to help with the writing too. We're excited by the results and excited to have over a hundred thousand views in a short time but this little video and others like it are battling 30 million in advertising to defeat Prop37.
Celebrity power verses the power of money.
Money that poured in from Biochemical companies like Monsanto and Big Phood companies like Coca-Cola, and Pepsi. While we see incredible examples of social media's power to galvanize people in other parts of the world it may be that in our own country elections can still be bought. When it's a fair fight between ideals the democratic nature of social media helps bring the best ideals forward. In California the massive and deceptive ad spend has trimmed a 2 to 1 lead for labeling to a very tight race.
All we have is each other so share this and any other video about Prop37 as far and wide as you can.
Money may buy this election but as Dr. King said, "How long? Not long. Because no lie can stand forever."
In the end, the right to know what you're eating is a social issue. Today too many people know too much and the numbers of people who know too much are climbing every day. So whatever happens in California, all Monsanto and friends can really buy is some time. How long?
Usually, as an advertising person considers advertising anything, they think about how they personally feel about that product. Or, in this case, when you advertise against something, you still consider how you feel and what kind of relationship you have had with that product.
When CSPI Mike Jacobsen approached me to create work with the goal of changing the cultural conversation around soda I was just finishing off a 32oz. Big Gulp. Not actually, but I've never been militant about soda either. Like a lot of people, I really like one from time to time.
Mike and CSPI have been long-time food activists and he is responsible not just for coining the term "junk food" but for much of the ingredient labeling we take for granted on the back of the products we buy today. This guy is the real deal and he has been trying to wake us up to the costs of sugar in our diets for a long, long time.
I'm actually one of those people that has removed High Fructose Corn Sweetener (HFCS) from my diet but I don't worry too much about traditional cane sugar. Mike is a scientist first and foremost and his position is all sugar is the same. I'll take a wait and see approach, but by avoiding HFCS, which is in almost all packaged food today, my sugar (fructose) consumption is way, way, way down. It's been a good thing.
Years ago before we concieved of the TRUTH campaign to reduce teen tobacco consumption I had the same questions about tobacco that I have about soda today. At the time many of my friends smoked and so I felt compelled to create something that told the truth about tobacco and the tobacco industry but avoided attacking the smoker. Part of our brand values were that TRUTH didn't care if you smoked. We just wanted you to know the truth. Period. That pretty much mirrors my attitude with soda. I never was a smoker but I've had and enjoyed plenty of pop. I even worked on advertising for diet soda. Today I avoid the HFCS stuff but I love an occasional Clementine Izze or the Cokes that get imported from Mexico made with cane sugar. The key word is "occassional." Soda was never meant to be an everyday beverage.
So why work for CSPI? Because as a society our increase in sugar consumption has been monumental and it is making us sick and soda is the number one contributor in raw calories. This is a problem we need to figure out because although you might decide to opt out of drinking soda you can't opt out of what is happening to your friends and neighbors and country. You can't opt out of a healthcare system that is collapsing under the costs we ALL pay in taxes to treat runaway obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and more.
The costs that an industry passes on to you when they do business are called "externalized" costs. What that means is that in the course of them doing business things happen around that business but they don't have to pay those costs. Lung cancer was and maybe to some degree still is an externalized cost of the tobacco companies doing business as usual. When used as directed a large number of their customers wound up in hospitals undergoing treatments and care that they often could not afford. That cost of business was passed onto the taxpayer and state government. Eventually, the states realized how much this was costing and they began to educate citizens, tax the tobacco companies, regulate their advertising, and, finally, sue them to recoup the billions the states had spent to essentially subsidize the tobacco companies way of doing business.
With soda, we are probably in the very early stages of a similar realization. When used as suggested by the packaging and the marketing, people drink dangerous amounts of liquid sugar/soda and become so sick that they go into the healthcare system where we all pay with our tax dollars to work to repair their damaged bodies. Each one of us is paying for Big Soda to do business the way that they are doing it. Either paying with our health, our kids health, or our wallets getting lighter to pay the taxes to prop up an overburdened healthcare system. Our wallets might be the only thing getting lighter unfortunately. It's bad. And it's not just doctors, food activists and epidemiologists that are concerned. Our military has begun to sound the alarm because we are too obese to fight. In fact, they can no longer get an average 18 year old American into shape during basic training. There's not enough time to do it. Our addiction to sugar is a matter of national security.
Now Big Soda suggests that they never advertise to children as part of being responsible advertisers. So why do they have cartoon bears? It reminds me a lot of when the tobacco companies suggested that they would never advertise to children yet Joe Camel was about as well known with children as Mickey Mouse at the time. There's a big sculpture of a polar bear holding a soda at a ski resort near where I live. And I almost never see grownups crawling all over that thing. Guess they missed the mark.
We are at the beginning of a massive cultural shift and our food is at the center of it all. I believe there is a healthier future ahead if we just keep the dialog going.
Hard to know what The Real Bears can contribute to a more open and realistic cultural conversation about Soda, sugar or even HFCS. Yet that remains our sincerest hope for the project - to make a sweet world even sweeter.
A great many people spent a lot of their talent and time to produce a 3 minute labor of love. These folks make a sweet world, even sweeter. Mike Jacobson (vision), Jason Mraz (music and love), Lucas Zanotto (animation), Amanda Fox (production grit), Jeff Cronin (guidance), Todd Putmin (mentor), Mark Eckhart (glue), Adam Butler (creative), Marty Butler (creative/production), Stefanie Hermsdorf (design/rocket fuel), Ronny Northrop (lead creative/writing), Ryan Kutchner (creative/writer), and Cyrus Clemensen (digital guru) Let me know if I missed anybody and I'll add the name ASAP.


text:
Banks File Suit Against Arby’s
From October 2016 through January 2017, hackers were able to access Arby’s point-of-sale systems by installing malware on the restaurant chain’s network. Arby’s waited to notify the public of the breach until February at the request of law enforcement officials.
Scott & Scott, the law firm representing the financial institutions in this suit, alleges the cybercriminals were able to take advantage of substantial weaknesses and vulnerabilities in Arby’s computer systems. They believe cardholder names, account numbers, card expiration dates, service codes and verification codes were stolen.
The lawsuit, First Choice Federal Credit Union v. Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc., has been filed in the Northern District of Georgia. It alleges the breach was inevitable since Arby’s did not take adequate measures to protect data.
The suit further alleges that financial institutions incurred significant losses as a result of this breach, as they had to reissue millions of debit and credit cards. Not only did it cost several dollars per card to send customers new cards, there were also administrative expenses and overhead charges for monitoring and preventing fraud. In addition, the banks were forced to reimburse fraudulent charges, which made them lose money on interest and transaction fees.
This entry was posted in Credit Card News and tagged credit cards , data breach , identity theft , identity fraud , fraudulent charges , cyber criminals , card breach , cybercriminals , First Choice Federal Credit Union , Arby's , Arby's breach , Arby's data breach , Scott & Scott , restaurant data breach , bank losses , bank lawsuit , bank suit , banks lawsuit Arby's
The information contained within this article was accurate as of February 28, 2017. For up-to-date
information on any of the terms, cards or offers mentioned above, visit the issuer's website.


text:
Bhaifi: ex-telecom professional starts up to enable SMEs provide secure WiFi hotspots
At the Chaayos outlet in Galleria, Gurgaon last week, I was pleasantly surprised to find a neat login page to access Chaayos’ free WiFi network. The venture-backed tea chain has founders with a strong technology background, so I thought this might be a reason for the smooth internet access experience. But the ‘powered by’ signature pointed me elsewhere, to the startup that builds and manages the system. Meet Bhaifi -- a managed WiFi hotspot provider that lets café, guesthouse and restaurant owners have a secure and fast WiFi hotspot.
Free WiFi has almost become a necessity in cafés and restaurants, but the experience is pretty broken since the user needs to login through multiple layers. This is mainly because of the legal standards that a small business has to comply with to provide WiFi to its users (refer to page 2 of this DoT document). As of now, this area is covered by three major chunks -- the likes of CISCO, telephone companies that give away free internet for a while as promotions (Airtel, Reliance JIO, etc.), and then the players like Bhaifi, who are trying to bring efficiency to the area.
The idea for Bhaifi struck Sachin Yadav when he was sitting at a Chaayos outlet located in an IT Park in Gurgaon. He got along with Amit Raghav, a friend and colleague from SapientNitro and did some research in the space. The duo discovered that many small businesses were facing problems in the provision of internet access to users. These included misuse, legal compliance, etc., and needed to be tackled.
So the two of them built an MVP and demoed it to the co-founders of Chaayos who liked the product and were on board immediately as clients for Bhaifi. Building on the basic product, Bhaifi was ready to hit the market by December 2014.
In the short time since then, Bhaifi has started operations in NCR, Bengaluru, and Jaipur, with Mumbai in the pipeline. “We operate at over 200 outlets across these cities and handle about 50,000 sessions every day,” says Sachin. Apart from the internet access, Bhaifi has other built-in features like business marketing and collecting customer data. “Clients can market their café or restaurant among people searching for a free Wi-Fi hotspot. This helps to drive more customers from the existing internet infrastructure,” adds Sachin. For instance, a brand can ask a user to pay via social share for additional internet while at the cafe.
BhaiFi works on a freemium SaaS model. A business owner needs to purchase a specialized router onto which Bhaifi will install its software. “Our technical team will install routers after thorough testing and QA check at the business location in two to four business days,” says Sachin. Experience in the telecom domain gives the core team expertise in this area. There is competition from smaller players but the market is huge and only growing. The need for providing internet access will not recede any time soon.
Sachin had previously started an enterprise company in 2011 which shut down in nine months. That experience has come in handy in allowing the team to position itself better. On top of providing a managed hotspot, Bhaifi has added benefits like:
a) Real-time customer data and insight. An array of tools present helps a business analyze and segment their audience on the basis of user demographics, such as length of internet use, total amount of users and data usage
b) Clients can have a branded login screen with their logo and background. They will be able to segment and target the right customers with marketing that speaks to them, delivered via email to their mobile devices
Currently a team of eight, Bhaifi works from Gurgaon and is also looking to raise a seed round to scale operations and go pan-India. They have seen a surge in demand in Mumbai and this is where they are heading next.


text:
Federal contracting with small businesses is a win-win. Every year, the U.S. government awards nearly $100 billion in federal contracts to small businesses, allowing these businesses to grow their revenues and create jobs right here at home. Meanwhile, the federal government gets the chance to work with some of the most responsive, innovative and nimble [...]
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently launched a new web page and blog dedicated to educating small business owners about the Affordable Care Act. The new tools will serve as a gateway for small business owners connecting them with information provided by SBA’s federal partners responsible for implementing the law, including the U.S. Department [...]
American Airlines released results of a recent online survey of more than 1,100 American Airlines Business ExtrAA® travel managers of small- and medium-size businesses (SMBs). The survey shows 71 percent of SMB travel managers estimate the economic outlook for their companies is expected to improve in the next 12 to 18 months. According to the [...]
Hector Barreto, Chairman of The Latino Coalition and former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, was inducted in the Minority Small Business Hall of Fame during a ceremony held last month in Los Angeles. In receiving the honor Barreto joins his father in the Hall of Fame, making them them the first father and [...]
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has joined with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to launch a training program for transitioning service members and veterans to help them become entrepreneurs and create jobs. Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup is a national initiative that will be [...]
Applying for disaster recovery assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration just got easier thanks to revisions made to its electronic loan application, significantly reducing the number of screens an applicant must read while filling out the form. “Our goal is to provide support for those rebuilding after a disaster, and we wanted to make [...]
New research from The American College, the nation’s largest non-profit educational institution devoted to financial services, reveals that while the overwhelming majority of small business owners are concerned about retirement, a third of the women and a quarter of the men surveyed have not estimated how much they are going to need when they retire. [...]
The federal government’s Small Business Development Centers offer management help to current and prospective small business owners. Information and guidance are available in many locations across the U.S. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov/sbdc.
One hundred nonprofit organizations from 44 states and the District of Columbia received grants under the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act (PRIME), the U.S. Small Business Administration announced. Grants will be used to provide business-based training and technical assistance to low-income and very low-income entrepreneurs to help them start, operate, or grow a small [...]
The Small Business Investor Alliance, formerly known as the NASBIC,coordinates and promotes the activities of hundreds of small business investment companies (SBIC) nationwide. SBIC’s are privately capitalized, owned and managed investment firms licensed by the SBA that provide equity capital, long-term financing, and management assistance to small business. Learn more at wwwnasbic.org.


text:
earn money website
- earn money website
LOOK: Here are 25 ways you could start saving money toda..
LOOK: Here are 25 ways you could start saving money today
Do you have a natural talent for taking pictures? Selling your images online is one of the most inventive methods to get money. Every moment someone buys your photo, you’ll get paid.
Many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, amassing little wealth and paying the federal government a percentage of their income that rises if they earn more. In recent years, the median American household earned about $70,000 annually and paid 14% in federal taxes. The highest income tax rate, 37%, kicked in this year, for couples, on earnings above $628,300.
US President Joe Biden will hold a solo press conference following his meeting Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, the White House confirmed Saturday.
ProPublica found that none of these factors alter the fundamental picture.
MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who donated to support the textbook in a personal capacity, said: "The pandemic has shown the lack of personal financial resilience and preparedness of the UK as a whole. Not all of that can be fixed by improving financial education, but a chunk of it can. Of course, we need to educate people of all ages, yet young people are professionals at learning, so if you want to break the cycle of debt and bad decisions, they're the best place to start.
Nintendo Switch Online 12-Month Family Membership + Free SanDisk MicroSDXC Card (128 GB)
how to earn money via internet
Prev : earn more money
Next : earn money from
You may also like
- earn more money from home
- earn money for taking surveys
- how to earn money from money
- earning money online from home
- earn money games
- earn money doing online surveys
- how to earn money on paypal


text:
Welspun India share price rose nearly 10 percent intraday on September 6 after the company received USFDA approval for its 3-ply surgical mask.
".... become the first Indian company to receive one of the stringent and most recognized quality approval i.e. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510 (k) clearance for its 3 Ply Surgical Masks," company said in its press release.
Certified by BIS and CE already, this product from Welspun India Ltd has got all required certifications to supply to global markets including critical medical uses, it added.
“Welspun has always pioneered innovation and aimed to set global benchmarks for excellence. I am delighted that Welspun India is the first Indian Company to receive US FDA 510(k) clearance for its 3 Ply Surgical Masks," said Dipali Goenka, Jt. MD & CEO of Welspun India.
"This is a remarkable validation of our philosophy of keeping ‘people ahead of everything’ and we will channelize the momentum to further take the quality of healthcare products a notch higher at the global stage," she added.
At 15:11 hrs Welspun India was quoting at Rs 137.05, up Rs 10.75, or 8.51 percent on the BSE.
The share touched a 52-week high of Rs 145.45 and a 52-week low of Rs 51.15 on 29 July, 2021 and 02 September, 2020, respectively.
Currently, it is trading 5.78 percent below its 52-week high and 167.94 percent above its 52-week low.


text:
Launch of Popular Tucson Home Alarm Company's You Tube Channel Creates Enthusiasm Amidst Homeowners in Tuscon
(PRWEB) July 12, 2012
Elite Security Services, a leading player in the Tucson home alarm industry, has just launched their official You Tube video channel. The objective behind the creation of this You Tube channel is to educate the homeowners about the intricate functional features of different security devices. The company is renowned all over the United States and Canada for their economical security service. Apart from offering some of the most advanced home protection packages in Tucson, the company is also involved actively in educating homeowners by increasing their awareness about protecting their home. In addition to the just launched video channel, the company already has an official blog, to share home protection tips.
The demand for Tucson home alarm service has been increasing steadily since last few years due to the increasing crime rate. However, many homeowners have very little idea about the different components of a security system and their functional features. This is where this You Tube video channel from Elite Security Services would be extremely useful for users. Reliable sources from Elite Security Services have revealed that short videos explaining the mode of operation of different security devices would be posted regularly to this video channel. Most importantly, the videos would be presented to the viewers by noted security consultant and the owner of the company, Mr. Paul Shakuri.
The advent of Elite Security Services has been extremely significant for the Tucson home alarm industry. The low cost home protection packages have allowed the common men in Tucson to enjoy the benefits of an advanced domestic protection system. Talking about the launch of his company's You Tube channel, Mr. Shakuri stated, "We expect this video channel to help homeowners find out all they want to know about securing their home. New videos would be added to the channel on request from the viewers".
About the Company: Elite Security Services is a rapidly growing company in the home security industry. They offer highly efficient and economical home security solutions in America and Canada.


text:
The retail landscape is being remodeled as economic volatility compels stores to alter traditional formats.
Large chains are breaking out the most profitable or promising segments of their businesses, such as accessories, sportswear and denim, into smaller stand-alone footprints. Other retailers are trying to appeal to a younger demographic with new labels and edgier store concepts.
BCBG launched BCBGeneration to target a younger crowd and A|X Armani Exchange opened a new concept store in Los Angeles that doubles as an event space and features an art gallery.
Guess is revamping its accessories-only concept, and plans to open more than 40 of those doors globally over the next year. It started with a store in Aventura, Fla., in May, and a second last month in Rome. The company’s Guess denim stores also have a new look and are branded separately from other company lines, such as G by Guess.
“These days, everybody is specializing in one thing or another,” said Paul Marciano, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Guess Inc. “To have across-the-board success in all categories is very hard. Very few nondiscount companies can do it. The emporium-style shopping experience doesn’t work anymore if you want to maintain any kind of brand value or identity.
“Customers are well educated, have clear ideas about what they want and they come to shop for those items,” he said. “It’s hard to mix, in the same space, lines with different identities.…We believe the smaller footprint is easier to manage and more profitable.”
Even luxury doors are getting in on the retail revamps.
Catherine Malandrino’s Los Angeles concept boutique, Malandrino Maison, evokes a lounge atmosphere, including a Parisian-style cafe, artwork and books for sale.
“In this environment, with clientele feeling so much pressure, you have to make it a warm, comfortable environment they will want to come visit and relax,” Malandrino said when her Los Angeles store opened last year. “If you can bring them in, then the retail sales will come. But it’s getting people into a boutique now that’s the challenge first.”
Vera Wang, who scaled back plans for her Los Angeles boutique and jettisoned a store for her halted Lavender line, said her approach to retail has changed in the last two years.
“People want a more intimate experience now,” she said. “You can’t just cram things down someone’s throat — and you wouldn’t want to — especially now that they think they can get a better deal at department stores. You have to give them a reason to come in, a special experience. When the majors went 90 percent off, it changed things so much, it was unbelievable.”
That approach contrasts with the large formats of fast-fashion valueretailers, including Forever 21, H&M and Zara, which embrace biggerstores housing a wide range of merchandise.
“For us, the timingcouldn’t be better. The consumer is looking for value and the largerstore concept allows a broader array of merchandise across allcategories,” said Larry Meyer, executive vice president and chieffinancial officer of Forever 21. “There’s been a lot more opportunityfor us to get larger spaces, and in primary markets where we’ve beenlooking to grow our presence.”
Analysts said the trend towardsmaller, average store sizes will have staying power because those unitsare regarded as more profitable and easier to manage. With inventory atmany stores slashed by as much as 30 to 40 percent compared with threeyears ago, there is diminished need for storage space.
“Theconsumer is in control, and the approach of retailers to theirbrick-and-mortar stores now is a testament to the divergence in themarket — it’s a high-low approach,” said Alan J. Barocas, anAtlanta-based retail consultant and former International Council ofShopping Centers trustee.
“Some people are going the opposite,like Forever 21 and other value-oriented big boxes, but outside ofdiscounters, generally people are taking less space for less money andlooking to edit,” he said. “There are smaller door counts, too, asretailers are trying to use stores as a test ground, but at lessoverhead cost than in the past.”
As one of the most recognizable models in the world, Christy Turlington Burns has an insider’s view of the fashion industry and the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around it. “I can say that harassment and mistreatment have always been widely known and tolerated in the industry. The industry is surrounded by predators who thrive on the constant rejection and loneliness so many of us have experiences at some point in our careers,” Turlington told WWD, along with her suggestions for how the modeling world should protect younger women and men. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: Tony Palmieri) #wwdnews
@asics America has tapped a new brand ambassador: famed DJ/record producer @steveaoki. This initiative is intended to set the tone for the new brand identity and philosophy and will include partnerships with influencers and in-store and off-line activations that will continue into next year. This is Asics’ most significant marketing effort in two decades, and is expected to attract younger consumers to the brand. #wwdfashion
24-year-old Jean Prounis is redefining the rules of jewelry. Formerly a studio assistant to Jemima Kirke and a design apprentice at Ghuran, she focuses on handcrafted subtleties and ancient goldsmithing techniques. “There was a really sterile feel in the environment and I wanted to have jewelry with character that shapes how you wear it everyday,” Prounis said. Each piece is hand made in New York, either by Prounis or three other jewelers in the district. #wwdfashion
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews
“Stranger Things” is getting a new cast member for season 2. Meet @sadiesink_, the 15-year-old who will be joining the Netflix series for its new season. You may recognize her from “The Glass Castle” with Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson, but the Texas native’s next role goes in an entirely different direction. She describes her character, Max, as “a rough and tumble skater girl [who] becomes friends with the boys at school.” The second season debuts on October 27. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdeye
Amid the Harvey Weinstein controversy, there’s another sector that’s being put under the spotlight for sexual abuse: the modeling industry. While rumors about abuse and sexual harassment of female and male models — and the photographers, agents and others who perpetrated it — have circulated within the fashion world for years, model @cameronrussell started posting stories from models on Instagram last week about abusive situations they’ve encountered — from sexual harassment and molestation to attempted rape. Over 75 have weighed in so far. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdnews
To celebrate its 16th anniversary, @dylanscandybar tapped designers and celebrities to create mosaics out of candy. The mosaics will be auctioned off to support the philanthropic cause of each participant’s choice. Pictured here is the mural created by @aliceandolivia's Stacey Bendet. For a first look at some of the other artwork being unveiled tonight, go to WWD.com. #wwdeye
The annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Pacific Palisades this weekend drew Kate Hudson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laura Dern and more. See pictures of the star-studded event on WWD.com. (📷: @chelsealaurenla) #wwdeye
In his new book “Hollywood Royale,” Andy Warhol’s Protégé Matthew Rolston celebrates the Eighties revival of Hollywood glamour. Featuring more than 100 portraits taken by Rolston from 1977 to 1993, the book contains photos of icons like Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, and @drewbarrymore, pictured here in 1991. “Hollywood Royale,” out today, will be accompanied by an exhibition opening at Los Angeles’ Fahey/Klein Gallery on March 1. #wwdeye


text:
Trevco announced its acquisition of Los Angeles-based women’s fashion brand, Sub Urban Riot. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“The women’s fashion space has been long underserved in the print on demand market, especially across entertainment, music, pop culture, and sports. The best way to connect with women’s fashion is by combining great product, style and a brand story. Sub Urban Riot’s message coupled with Trevco’s POD capabilities and strong market presence allows us to reach customers at a competitive price and endless selection,” said Trevor George, CEO, Trevco, “Sub Urban Riot lives at the intersection of social commerce and fandom, an important part of licensing now and in the future.”
Celebrities including Beyonce, Rihanna, Kate Hudson, Camilla Cabello, Cindy Crawford, Jennifer Garner, Selena Gomez, have been photographed wearing Sub Urban Riot merchandise.
“We’re excited to leverage Trevco’s extensive list of licensed properties across entertainment, music, pop culture, sports & collegiate to our growing base of customers and trading partners,” said Jason Reed, co-founder, Sub Urban Riot.
“This is an opportunity to connect the right brands to an underserved customer by combining the Suburban Riot brand with Trevco’s licensing, print-on-demand infrastructure and technology,” said Nate Koach, co-founder, Sub Urban Riot.
Founded in 1990, Trevco is a vertically integrated print-on-demand technology company in the licensed consumer products industry.
Photo courtesy Sub Urban Riot


text:
In analyzing footage involving fatalities or accusations of brutality, the Visual Investigations unit pursues the truth, frame by frame.
If the president’s allies are talking about the moment “shooting will begin” and “martial law,” it’s not by accident.
While team meetings and industry conventions have moved online, the pandemic has opened as many doors as it has closed.
Pandemic policies at tech companies have created a rift between parents offered more benefits and resentful workers who don’t have children.
The sudden absence of live audiences has upended the worlds of sports, comedy and politics. What do we lose when the crowd doesn’t show?
The retail giant said it was teaming up with Microsoft, which has been negotiating for weeks to buy the popular Chinese-owned video app.
The world’s biggest social network is working out what steps to take should President Trump use its platform to dispute the vote.
The president’s restrictions on Chinese tech may be part of an eye-for-an-eye logic called reciprocity. The price could be a global patchwork of online fiefs.
Followers of the pro-Trump conspiracy theory are winning elections and worrying moderate Republicans. Sound familiar?
In her new book “Men to Avoid in Art and Life,” Nicole Tersigni harnesses her skill with a Twitter meme to illuminate the experience of women harassed by concern trolls, “sexperts” and more.
GPS, Spotify, Pokémon Go: Our readers tell us about the tech that makes their lives better.
Millions of dollars of Paycheck Protection Program loans went to China-backed businesses in critical sectors, a study found.


text:
Inflation level to keep below 5% in '06-07
NEW DELHI: With inflation rising to 4.92% during the week ended August 12, Centre on Friday said efforts were on to keep it below the psychological level of 5% this fiscal.
For doing this government would have to take steps to augment supply of pulses, wheat and sugar, prices of which have led to rise in inflation. Inflation touched 5.24% during the week ended June 10 and then 5.44% the following week.
"Our tolerance for inflation has come down. We have to have inflation at tolerable levels," Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.
The minister said government was making all effort to provide ample liquidity to soften the impact of hardening global interest rates.
"Hardening of global interest is not in our control. What we are doing is to ensure ample liquidity so that the impact of hardening interest rates is softened," he said.
During the week ended August 12, it was mainly prices of essential items like vegetables and fruits as well as some manufactured products that pushed inflation up.
(This article was originally published in The Times of India)


text:
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — Postal workers are working around the clock to make sure packages are delivered before Christmas. The postmaster serving Syracuse says they’re in full tilt right now, pulling all available resources to make those deliveries happen as well as handle a number of new challenges this year.
“This is a historic record of holiday volume we’ve been dealing with compounded by the challenges with the surge in COVID-19, which is impacting our employee availability,” Scott Jevis, postmaster of the USPS in Syracuse, says. “We also have challenges in our air network, the trucking network, and the culmination of this is leading to some temporary delays throughout our network.”
Jevis says they’re expected to meet delivery deadlines locally if the packages were shipped by Dec. 15; though, he can’t make a guarantee for every item. Another factor playing a role in the delays is the consistent volume the USPS is seeing throughout the holiday season.
“We have a first in, first out order for all of the mail and packages,” Jevis says. “Although the mailing continues, that’s the interesting thing about this season. Traditionally, the week leading up to Christmas, our lobbies die down a bit. Our input’s reduced and process and delivery catches up. This year, it’s non-stop. Today, right now, we have a line outside the door. The mailing continues. We continue to accept packages, which keeps the whole network extremely busy.”
The operations behind-the-scenes are non-stop too. Jevis says they’ve increase hiring and brought on additional vehicles. They’re also running their sorting machines almost 24-hours a day outside of preventative maintenance.
“We are definitely pushing in all directions with every piece of equipment that we own, lease, or borrow to help get everything home for the holidays,” Jevis adds.
The USPS says they don’t expect this high volume and demand to end any time soon. Jevis says they’re expecting record returns and record gift card sales, which means increased shipping and shopping will continue long after the holiday ends.
Though as they work hard to deliver mail through these final days, Jevis says their number one priority is keeping their staff safe in house, and asking neighbors for the same. They’re asking people to keep their mailboxes and walkways free of ice, snow, and your family pet.
“Patience is key but we have the most dedicated group of employees. They’re working very long hours. You will see us in the community right up until Christmas Eve. We will not stop. The process facility here will be open Christmas Day. We will not stop until everything is delivered,” Jevis says.
NewsChannel 9 has also received quite a few inquiries from viewers who say they’ve received notifications that their package was accepted at a local or regional USPS facility, but it has been sitting there for days. Jevis says there are several explanations.
There could be several different reasons for that. But this time of year, beyond our capacity constraints that we’re dealing with, if you see an acceptance scan, traditionally, you’ll see visibility of that piece through our network as it travels from point A to point B. Because of the volume we’re dealing with this year, we are setting up manual sort operations. So that mail piece, it might not run through the machine it normally runs through, which would automatically scan it and pass that visibility to the customer. So, it might give the impression that the package is not moving. Although it’s moving through the manual operation, hand to hand, container to container, so it’s moving but the visibility isn’t there.Scott Jevis — Postmaster of the USPS in Syracuse
More from NewsChannel 9:


text:
DVD players are going mobile
By Thomas K. Arnold, Special for USA TODAY
More and more, Americans like their entertainment to go. They're watching DVDs in planes, trains and automobiles, on laptops, portable DVD players, mobile DVD players that hang from the ceilings of their SUVs and Sony's PlayStation Portable.
"In a world of cell phones, Blackberries and personal CD players, consumers now demand access to the same technology on the road as they enjoy at home," says Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
Showing the entertainment-to-go trend:
• 22 new vehicle models now offer DVD players as standard features, while nearly 20% offer them as options, according to Autobytel Inc.'s Automotive Information Center.
• Sales of DVD players for vehicles are projected at 447,000 units this year, up 15% from 2004, says the Consumer Electronics Association.
• Portable DVD player sales are projected to grow 57% from last year, to 662,000 units, the CEA says.
Gary Delfiner of Global Multimedia, a leading supplier of budget DVDs, says that to capitalize on the spike in mobile DVD players, he's soliciting gas stations to sell his DVDs, priced at $1.99 or less. "We have even created a special display that sits on the counter."
Says Benjamin Feingold, president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment: "The movie business needs to migrate with lifestyles, and increasingly our lifestyles are mobile."


text:
Revealed at the New York motor show, the all-wheel drive fastback joins the RS5 Coupe and RS4 Avant in an expanded line-up of new mid-range RS models aimed at providing stiff competition to the likes of the BMW M3 and M4, and the as Mercedes-AMG C63 saloon and coupe.
UK sales for the first ever RS5 Sportback are expected to kick-off in late 2018, with officials from Audi Sport suggesting it will be priced close to the £63,575 RS5 Coupe in Britain.
“The Audi RS 5 Sportback is more than just a trade fair novelty – it offers something new,” says Audi Sport chief Michael-Julius Renz. “Our interpretation of a five-door performance coupe has neither predecessor models, nor a direct competitor.”
Distinguishing the RS5 Sportback from other recently introduced second-generation A5 Sportback models are a number of traditional Audi Sport styling cues. They include a wider single-frame grille sporting a high gloss black honeycomb effect insert, a more heavily structured front bumper sporting larger air ducts and a more prominent matt silver splitter element adorned with the word “quattro”.
As with the RS5 Coupe launched in 2017, the angular headlamps of the RS5 Sportback adopt tinted graphics and have also been altered with the addition of small vertical air ducts along their outer edges.


text:
Looks like the PSN will be down again today, this time for some scheduled maintenance that was postponed due to the DDoS issue early this week.
Monday was supposed to yield a bit of PlayStation Network maintenance, however due to the DDoS of Sony’s online services (an artificial traffic issue which slowed the service to a crawl) it was postponed. Now, that maintenance has been rescheduled for later today (Thursday), and is set to run for just over seven hours in North America and a whopping thirteen in Europe.
Here’s the times of the maintenance – in Pacific, Eastern and British Summer Time;
- Thursday, August 28th from 9:40 AM to 4:50 PM Pacific Time
- Thursday, August 28th from 12:40 PM to 7:50 PM Eastern Time
- Thursday, August 28th from 4:00 PM to Friday, August 29th at 5:00 AM British Summer Time.
If you’ve successfully signed in to your account on a PS4 before the maintenance, or in the past 5 days on any other PlayStation device (including your Vita) you should be able to play multiplayer games and use other minor services while maintenance is going on – however the PlayStation Store, Account Management and PlayStation Home will likely be completely unavailable.
PSNStores has pointed out that the PlayStation Knowledge Centre states that the maintenance is to “upgrade the software for the PlayStation Store,” while the Official PlayStation Forum post apparently only notes the update is to “deploy a series of back-end improvements to the network.”
Whether you’re unhappy about this maintenance, or simply hoping it’s that upgrade the PlayStation Store always needed – let us know what you think in the comments.


text:
Bandai Namco has officially launched its new logo
In October last year, Bandai Namco – the Japanese video game publisher responsible for series like Pac man, tekken and dark souls – announced that she was going to change her company’s logo.
This change was supposed to go into effect this year, and it’s now officially happened in early April. The new logo is visible on Company Websitesome products, Youtube and its social media accounts through Facebook and Twitter.
“New Year’s company logo changed”
The logo expresses the merger of Bandai Namco and reflects the company’s new goal of “fun for all in the future”:
“Fun for All in the Future – Bandai Namco exists to share dreams, fun and inspiration with people around the world. Connecting people and societies in the enjoyment of unique entertaining products and services, we work to create a better future for everyone.”
“The speech bubble also represents Japan’s manga culture that has become so popular everywhere. The logo represents our determination to communicate with fans around the world, connect with our fans, and create entertainment unique to Bandai Namco.”
“For the color of the pattern, we sent questionnaires to employees around the world to collect their opinion on the words expressing images associated with the Group’s objectives. Among the frequently cited words, we selected candidate colors using scientific methods linking words to colors. From these candidates, we have selected a bright red color that creates an enthusiastic, fun, active and bold impression.
What do you think of this new look of the Bandai Namco logo? Are you a fan? Leave a comment below.