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The Pantone Color Institute named ‘Marsala’ — a muted brownish-red hue — as its 2015 Color of the Year.
While the Institute’s executive director Leatrice Eiseman characterized the earthy color as "hardy, robust, satisfying and fulfilling," some critics have compared it to the faded carpeting of a 1970s rumpus room or the curious hue of cafeteria mystery meat.
Each year, Pantone’s experts pick a color that they believe will be popular for designs and products in the coming year. Typically, Pantone’s annual selection shows up in fashion, beauty, housewares, home and industrial design and consumer packaging. The company says its pick is based on worldwide influences, such as fashion trends, art, travel destinations, entertainment and popular culture.
For 2014, it was Radiant Orchid, a tropical purple that was said to emanate joy, love and health. In 2013, it was Emerald Green, a color of elegance and beauty with obvious fine jewelry applications. In 2012, we saw Tangerine Tango, a brilliant orange hue that reflected the energy boost needed at the time to recharge and move forward.
For 2015, it’s Marsala, a shade Eiseman said "embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness."
Eiseman admitted that Marsala is "not the color that swallows the world," noting that it should be used more as an accent.
The Atlantic panned Pantone’s color selection, stating that Marsala’s food implications skew decidedly un-gourmet.
“For a color that shares associations with wine, chicken and mushrooms, the color also summons pfth-sounding glops of mystery meat in elementary cafeteria lunches,” wrote The Atlantic.
The color, according to the magazine, also evokes images of “1970s carpeting that faded to an awkward shade traversing maroon and gray.”
Jewelry-industry trade magazine JCK pointed out that Marsala translates into garnet, spinel and tourmaline for customers desiring a gemstone color match with Pantone’s Color of the Year.
Otherwise, Marsala-inspired fashions can be coordinated with complementary colors, such as pink and pale blue, as well as golden yellows, turquoise, teal and vibrant blues.
Here’s a list of the previous Pantone Colors of the Year…
PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid (2014)
PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald (2013)
PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)
PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)
PANTONE 14-4811 Aqua Sky (2003)
PANTONE 19-1664 True Red (2002)
PANTONE 17-2031 Fuchsia Rose (2001)
PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean (2000)
Color Images: Pantone</>


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(Reuters) - Meta Platforms on Thursday said it would release an artificial intelligence (AI) model designed to assist in writing computer code, furthering its push into the new technology.
Code Llama, which will be available for free, can write code based on human text prompts and can also be used for code completion and debugging, the social media giant said in a blogpost.
Since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT late last year, enterprises and businesses have flocked to the nascent generative AI market for newer capabilities and refining business processes.
Facebook and Instagram owner Meta has released a flurry of AI models, mostly free, this year, including an open-source language model, called Llama, that poses a serious challenge to proprietary models sold by Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Alphabet's Google.
The new AI model is built on top of Meta's latest Llama 2 language model and will be available in different configurations, the company said, as it gears up to compete with Microsoft's code-writing tool GitHub Copilot.
Code Llama supports the popular coding languages like Python, Java and C++ and is not recommended for general text tasks, Meta said.
(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta Agarwal)

domain: news


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Grand Theft Auto fans are eagerly waiting for the release of GTA “Halloween” DLC and the annual update is coming closer much to the relief of the desperate fans. But that is not all. There is definitely something spooky about the whole GTA 5 download.
The makers of the open world, action-adventure video game has announced the downloadable version of the “Spooky” DLC of the game and those who want to celebrate Halloween, it would be a dream come true.
DomisLive GTA 5, on his youtube profile, has released a video related to the Halloween DLC concept of the game. He has mentioned about the downloadable “spooky” content, every year to mark Halloween.
The youtube video mostly deals with the wearable items and the custom apparels you can get from the update. VineReport notes, “The first shirt that he shows viewers has a jack-o’-lantern design.” Then the viewers note his character changes his outfit to a shirt that says “Keep Calm and Give Me Candy”.
GTA fans could use this feature to customise their shirts like the way he does in the video. He was seen flaunting “This is my Halloween costume”, “Boo” which comes with a ghost print and a shirt with the word “Halloween” featuring a bloody knife along with it.
With the release of this spooky version, fans would be more than happy to download the DLC in time for Halloween.
Fans are hopeful about the release but there is no apparent word from the game developers, Rockstar Games. “We’re definitely working on more vehicles among other things for you to collect for future updates – please make sure to stay tuned here at the Newswire for more info about that soon,” the VineReport noted the developer explaining on their website.
The game is available across all platforms – Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and digital download, and is priced at $59.99 per copy.


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Latest News on Brian Mcandrews
Showing of 0 - 10 from 3 results
Brian Mcandrews - Total results - 3
Nov 17, 2015
Pandora to acquire Rdio for $75 million, Rdio to file for bankruptcyIn what appears to be the initial consolidation since the launch of Apple Music, Pandora is set to acquire technology and design assets of Rdio.
Sep 13, 2013
New Pandora CEO faces royalty fight with artistsOne of the biggest challenges facing Brian McAndrews, the new CEO of Pandora, will be renegotiating the royalty rates the Internet...
Sep 12, 2013
Pandora names ex-aQuantive head McAndrews as CEOInternet radio giant Pandora has named the former head of digital advertising company aQuantive, Brian McAndrews, as its new chief executive...


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From nuggets of entrepreneurial wisdom to insights on Twitter's genesis, Dorsey, just renamed CEO, has said some intriguing things over the years.
Bose has always taken great pride in its technical innovations and the quality of its products. But new CEO Bob Maresca is betting on a new approach to get Bose to the next level: telling people what this secretive company is all about.
After a prolonged silence on Creative Cloud's digital asset-management tool, Adobe's finally started the process of rebuilding Bridge.
Plenty of high-profile people suffered from foot-in-mouth disease this year. Here, CNET catalogs some of the silly, smart and interesting things said in the world of tech in 2014.
Free during the beta, Charlie's Chrome extension quickly and easily finds email addresses for LinkedIn users.
Spotify's premium subscribers will now be able to stream tracks and playlists to Amazon's popular smart speaker, complete with voice controls.
From the Cheapskate: Integrated Roku for the win! Plus: Free movies and a free Need for Speed game!
The ZTE ZMax 2's mediocre camera quality is a notable drag, but it's a capable phone if you're on a tight budget.
Google has always been light-years ahead of its time, thanks to its unconventional co-founders. They're shaking things up, again.
The electronics manufacturer announced that it sold 50 million phones in 2015, which makes it the world's 8th largest maker of mobile phones.


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ATLANTA — It has been in place for more than 60 years and, this week, an Atlanta institution went up in flames.
Early Wednesday morning, the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop set on fire and is now considered to be a total loss.
You ask anyone who lives in the area, and they likely have a Krispy Kreme story to share about the iconic store at the corner of Ponce de Leon and Argonne avenues.
“This is an Atlanta landmark,” said Mickey Griffin, who stopped by the store Wednesday, stopping to see the damage for himself.
David Trevino reminisced about the 90s when he was a college student and would stop by whether the “hot” light was on or not.
“Well, it didn’t matter. If you wanted doughnuts, you got doughnuts,” Trevino said.
We’ve been digging into the history of that spot, and this is what we found out.
Before it was Krispy Kreme, the Pig’n Whistle drive-in stood at 295 Ponce de Leon Avenue. The restaurant known for its barbecue, opened its doors on April 1, 1928.
- Midtown Krispy Kreme heavily damaged in overnight fire
- Shaq becomes new owner of historic Atlanta Krispy Kreme store
“The Pig’n Whistle was destined to become one of America’s iconic landmarks and noted for making history on more than one occasion,” the drive-in chain said on its website.
The restaurant was “owned by Harold T. Hagen for some years until it was taken over by the Campbell Coal Company of Atlanta until it’s closing in the 1960′s,” according to GatewayMacon.com.
And that’s where Krispy Kreme comes in.
“Krispy Kreme first came to Atlanta as strictly a wholesale store located on 451 Ponce de Leon Avenue, and moved to its current location in 1965, where it began serving like an actual restaurant,” The Odyssey Online said in a 2016 article about the Atlanta mainstay.
The first Ponce location was only the eighth Krispy Kreme store ever built at that point, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
After Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral in April 1968, the Krispy Kreme fed mourners by donating 150 dozen doughnuts to Atlanta churches.
The store was closed for two months in 2003 as it underwent a big renovation that included installing the conveyer belt to make their legendary fresh “Hot” doughnuts.
It almost closed a number of times throughout the years, which prompted former-NBA super star Shaquille O’Neal to buy the historic doughnut shop in 2016.
O’Neal and Krispy Kreme said Wednesday they intend to rebuild the store so it can remain a piece of Atlanta history for many years to come.
Cox Media Group


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Snowmass sales tax collections show best July in recent years
Snowmass Village retailers combined to generate $2.2 million in revenue in July, which translated to $247,891 in sales tax collections for the town’s general fund, according to the latest tax report available.
The town’s July collections didn’t approach what it gathered in the busy tourism months of February ($508,598) and March ($567,464). Even so, it topped the previous five Julys and outpaced July 2021 ($227,047) by 9.18%, according to the town’s July report.
The town collected sales tax revenue from the following business sectors during July:
• Lodging — $102,396, up 12.6% from July 2021
• Restaurants — $42,932, up 11.9%
• Sports equipment/clothing — $8,111, down 1.5%
• Food/drug/liquor — $23,921, down 2.1%
• General retail — $18,951, 3.7%
• Retail, construction related — $12,557, up 35.3%
• E-commerce — $16,389, down 1.1%
• Special events — $96.08, fluctuation unavailable
• Miscellaneous — $12,355, up 5.6%
• Utilities/telecommunications — $10,180, up 10.3%
Through July, the town had collected $2.23 million in sales tax revenue for its general fund, which already topped the year-end totals for 2017 ($1.95 million), 2018 ($2.14 million) and the pandemic-mired 2020 ($2.15 million).
The town’s sales tax collections for the first seven months of this year also are blowing past the same period last in 2021 by 47.79%, according to town tax records.
Those figures represent the town’s 1% sales-tax haul for the general fund and don’t include the 2.5% in sales-tax revenue that goes toward the town’s marketing coffers.
Through July, the sales tax had generated nearly $5.1 million for marketing. The town has an overall 3.5% sales-tax rate; consumers in Snowmass pay an overall sales tax rate of 10.4%, which is 2.9% for the state, 3.6% for Pitkin County and 0.4% for Roaring Fork Transportation Authority.
Village voters in November will be decide on the proposed expansion of two taxes to include the town’s worker-housing program. Village voters in 2002 approved a 2.5% sales tax to fund town marketing efforts. The 2.4% lodging tax for group sales was approved by voters in 2005.
Lodging tax collections through July of this year were $2.2 million, which is 74.9% ahead of the first seven months of 2021, according to the report.
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Like a hungry wolf, Amazon's image recognition software is now able to detect fear (plus seven other emotions) in humans.
Amazon claims that the system, Rekognition (opens in new tab), could already spot people who were happy, sad, angry, surprised, disgusted, calm or confused. It can also accurately identify a person's age range and gender, and works with both video and still images.
- How good is face ID? It depends who you're looking for
- Amazon Prime Day: what we learned for 2020
- The best Amazon Alexa skills and commands
"Today, we are launching accuracy and functionality improvements to our face analysis features," the company said in a blog post.
"Face analysis generates metadata about detected faces in the form of gender, age range, emotions, attributes such as ‘Smile’, face pose, face image quality and face landmarks."
Now look here
There are plenty of reasons why detecting a person's emotions might be useful. It could tell an advertiser how a person is reacting to a product, enable medical professionals to help patients who are non-verbal, or (in theory) help law enforcement spot people who are acting suspiciously in public.
This last application is the most controversial as it can lead to false alarms, which is why San Francisco has chosen to ban police from using facial recognition in the city.
Not everywhere is so hesitant, though. UK police forces are trialling real-time facial recognition (opens in new tab) for identifying risks at crowded events such as music festivals, and a property company in London has recently admitted to using the technology (opens in new tab) "in the interest of public safety" to widespread alarm.
Rekognition might now be more accurate, but Amazon has its work cut out making facial recognition palatable in public spaces.
Via IT Pro (opens in new tab)


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At an India-EU science conference in 2006 attended by a battery of Nobel laureates at Vigyan Bhavan, he surprised everybody by deviating from his... ...http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-missile-man-abdul-kalam-no-more-2108730
Federal regulators vowed to continue an unprecedented crackdown on car makers when uncovering significant safety lapses, a day after unveiling a... ...http://in.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=67891496
By Christina Rogers Looking to test the upper limits of what U.S. customers will pay for a pickup truck, Ford Motor Co. later this year will... ...http://in.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=67890824
Micromax had recently launched its Canvas Spark smartphone in association with Snapdeal and today it has partnered with Flipkart to bring out the... ...http://www.in.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/Micromax-Canvas-Xpress-2-with-1-4GHz-Octa-Core-processor-launched-for-Rs-5999/articleshow/48243185.cms
Strict fuel economy regulations are forcing automakers to make big changes, and some of the biggest have come to pickup trucks . These typically... ...http://www.automnews.com/?p=257613
Sreeji Petro Products is an Oil,...
The company's flagship business is...


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Every week, The Sybarite collates it’s pick of the hottest luxury lifestyle news into bite-size chunks. In this week’s edition, we cover the Hublot Polo Gold Cup winners, Louis Vuitton’s first fragrance in 70 years, Burberry’s ‘seasonless’ radical overhaul and the newest, largest hotel in the world.
China’s team Hublot win the Hublot Polo Gold Cup
A gripping final between Team Hublot and Team Banque Eric Sturdza saw China come out triumphant at last week’s Hublot Polo Gold Cup. Taking place on the picturesque Gstaad-Saanen Airfield in Switzerland, the riveting match saw a final score of 6.5-6 to Team Hublot.
With three-days of action packed polo including two sudden death chukkas, it was one of the most closely fought tournaments in the history of the event.
Louis Vuitton launches first fragrance in 70 years
Making up for lost time, the renowned fashion house is launching seven perfumes, each one based around a different flower. Vuitton’s first in-house perfumer, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, is responsible for developing some of the most iconic scents of our generation, including L’Eau d’Issey, Dior Addict, Jean Paul Gaultier Classique, and Stella by Stella McCartney. These luxurious scents are totally exclusive; only available to buy at Louis Vuitton stores (a 100-milliliter bottle retails for $240). Snap yours up while you can.
Burberry’s ‘Seasonless’ collection
Burberry’s debut “see now, buy now” straight-to-consumer collection will hit the runway and the brand’s stores at the start of London Fashion Week (September 19th). The “seasonless” collection marks the first time Burberry will combine its menswear and womenswear shows at LFW in a radical overhaul. In addition, the British brand will reduce its annual runway shows from four to two times a year, meaning people can purchase the clothes as soon as they’re on the runway, rather than having to wait six months.
World’s biggest hotel set to open in 2017
When the Abraj Kudai opens in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, it will become the world’s largest hotel. With 10,000 rooms, 12 towers, over 70 restaurants, multiple helipads and a full-size convention centre, this is a hotel fit for royalty. In fact, the Saudi royal family will have five floors to themselves when they want to visit.
The $3.5 billion project and 1.4-million-square-meter building is currently under construction, set to launch in 2017. 10 of the 12 towers are said to offer four-star accommodations while the other two will feature five-star luxury.


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Meta – the parent company of Facebook and Instagram has introduced a new premium 'blue tick' user verification mechanism. The Meta Verified service will go live in Australia and New Zealand this week. The subscription plan for Facebook and Instagram also includes additional security against impersonation. Earlier, Twitter also announced a similar verification mechanism for the platform for verification charger. Users who would apply for the verification need a government-issued ID card to have their Instagram and Facebook profiles verified.
Meta claimed that the subscription service would provide direct access to customer support as well as "increased visibility and reach," and "improved protection against impersonation attacks.".
What are verification badges?
Verified badges on Facebook and Instagram appear next to the name of the page or account.
What is the cost of a Meta verified blue tick?
Users of Apple's iOS will pay a monthly subscription charge of $11.99, while those using other platforms will pay $14.99 at launch. Although the pricing for India has not yet been made public, a simple comparison would show that this service is considerably more expensive than Twitter. The price of Twitter Blue, according to the social media platform, is rupees 650 for online users and 900 for those who use the mobile app.
When will India be able to purchase it?
The dates for the Indian launch have not been specified by Meta yet. The update provided by Zuckerberg, however, suggests that the programme will be expanded to other nations in the coming weeks.
What is the prerequisite for eligibility?
Applicants for a Meta Verified profile reportedly need to be above 18 years old, have a comprehensive profile, and have a lead image that displays the user's face. Also, they must fulfil the minimal activity requirements and provide official identification to validate the account. Business profiles are not eligible for the programme.
Changes to the account username, profile name, photo, or date of birth necessitate another round of subscription and verification.
Q: Who is the CEO of Facebook?
A: Mark Zuckerberg is the CEO of Facebook.
Q: In which country blue tick model is being imposed by Meta?
A: Australia and New Zeland


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STOMP it anytime, anywhere.
Download the new STOMP app today.
Tang Yew Liang Joseph, a 33-year-old, was fined $4,800 for pet abandonment and keeping of unlicensed dogs, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said in a press release on Thursday (Jun 1).
The AVA conducted investigations following the notification of the abandonment of two pet dogs at Blk 150 Ubi Ave 4.
The dogs were abandoned at two separate locations (Ubi Ave 1 and Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD) rehabilitation centre) since November 2016 and have been taken in by a fosterer and SOSD.
Tang admitted that he abandoned his pet dog, Momo, because he was facing financial difficulties and could not take care of Momo.
However, there was insufficient evidence to conclude that Tang had abandoned his other pet dog, Orni.
It was also during the investigations that AVA found out that Tang did not license both his pet dogs.
In the press release, AVA mentioned,"Individuals who abandon their pets are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or 12 months jail term for first convictions. Pet owners who do not license their pet dogs are liable to a maximum fine of $5,000 upon conviction."
"Safeguarding animal welfare is a shared social responsibility requiring the cooperation of all stakeholders, including the public."
While AVA continues to ensure that the necessary enforcement action is taken and raises awareness on animal welfare, you can do your part by being alert.
You should promptly report cases of pet abandonment to AVA via their 24-hour hotline, 1800-476-1600 or via this website (https://www.ifaq.gov.sg/AVA/apps/feedback.aspx).


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The digital advertising industry is in the midst of an identity crisis. Between the third-party cookie’s impending demise and Apple’s mobile app tracking crackdown, advertisers and agencies are having to figure the future of identity in digital advertising. Fortunately, that future has been a long time coming.
“For better or worse, the crystal ball has been decently clear that this is the direction we’re going from regulatory pressures, from a consolidation in terms of who is owning and controlling experiences through the lens of a browser, through the lens of an operating system. So we take solace in that there’s been a bit of a head start,” said GroupM global head of partnerships Kieley Taylor in the latest episode of the Digiday Podcast. Taylor was joined by GroupM global head of social Amanda Grant.
Further helping advertising figure out the identity situation is Apple’s mobile app tracking crackdown. That change is expected to take place this spring and is “giving us really good training wheels for the cookie-based changes that are going to come about,” Taylor said.
However, what that experience is showing so far is that advertisers may want to exchange the training wheels for off-road tires as they try to navigate the bumpy trails ahead. Although Apple has been fairly clear in saying that apps will need people’s permission in order to continue to track them for advertising purposes, “the platforms are all interpreting that very differently as it impacts their platforms. So it’s not like we have a single rules of the road for social activation moving forward,” said Grant.


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Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has evolved tremendously over the last decade to the point where it is now viable for mass production in industrial settings. Also known as “additive manufacturing,” 3D printing allows one to create arbitrarily complex 3D objects directly from their raw materials. In fused filament fabrication, the most popular 3D printing process, a plastic or metal is melted and extruded through a small nozzle by a printer head and then immediately solidifies and fuses with the rest of the piece. However, because the melting points of plastics and metals are very different, this technology has been limited to creating objects of either metal or plastic only — until now.
In a recent study published in Additive Manufacturing, scientists from Waseda University, Japan, developed a new hybrid technique that can produce 3D objects made of both metal and plastic. Professor Shinjiro Umezu, who led the study, explains


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Despite new anti-booze regulations, Russia is a brewer's dream
A disapproving look from the president
RUSSIANS are famously hard drinkers—a trait epitomised by former president Boris Yeltsin. By contrast, the current president, Vladimir Putin, is teetotal, and has declared war on the demon drink. He recently approved a new law that will soon ban beer ads featuring “images of people or animals.” On September 5th, the first phase of the law will confine beer commercials to the little-watched late night slot. Yet Russia is likely to remain a booming market for brewers.
Liquor ads have been banned from TV since 1995, but beer—regarded by vodka-hardened Russians as practically a soft drink—has not hitherto been regulated in Russia. It is sold to minors and in fast food restaurants, and is freely consumed on the streets and in tube stations. Last year was the first since the 1998 crisis that the beer market grew by less than double digits—but at 7%, it still rivals China for the fastest growth in the world. It is set to continue as Russians are weaned off vodka, still the tipple of choice. An average Russian drank less than 52 litres of beer last year, about half what an average Brit swigged (see chart).
And the binge is on. Dutch-based Heineken announced on August 10th that it would buy two regional Russian breweries, helping it to expand outside Moscow and St Petersburg and to reduce transportation costs. Heineken is now the third-largest firm in the Russian market, trailing SUN Interbrew, which has 16% of sales. On August 12th, Belgian-based Interbrew announced a buy-out of its joint-venture partner for a 40% premium. It now controls 91% of the business that sells standard and licensed brands such as Stella Artois. The market leader, with a third of all sales, is Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH)—owned 50-50 by Danish brewer Carlsberg and British group Scottish & Newcastle. BBH controls Baltika, Russia's biggest and most recognised brewery, whose shares look like a bargain in comparison with those of SUN Interbrew. BBH was a rare sales success for Carlsberg in the second quarter of this year; the Danes have vowed to maintain their market share, at all costs.
There still remain several small outfits for foreigners to swallow. But the industry has largely consolidated, and the top firms now face the challenge of organic expansion in a poor country. Brewers have established remarkably good distribution networks given Russia's vast size, but they can do little to raise prices. An average bottle in Russia costs just 14 roubles ($0.48), according to the United Financial Group, an investment bank. Sales of premium brands are growing at twice the overall rate. But with Russia's median salary just over $200 per month, these will remain niche products, albeit with better profit margins than the value brands. Meanwhile, increasing competition restrains prices even as it swells marketing costs. Double-digit general inflation has not helped either. Alexei Yazikov, consumer goods analyst at Aton, a brokerage, says that one saving grace has been cheaper inputs: brewers import over half of the malt that they use and have been paying for it with a weakening dollar.
As for the ad ban, it will largely hit micro-breweries, or newcomers with a brand to establish. Even so, advertisers are at a loss to explain how it will work in a country with 11 time zones during, say, a live broadcast, or whether trademarks based on animals will have to be redrawn. Hard-liquor producers have got round their ban by advertising other products, such as chocolates, with curiously similar logos. “The real fun will be watching what kind of loopholes [the beer industry] will find,” says Mr Yazikov. Expect a flurry of commercials for Baltika mineral water.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline "Beyond vodka"
From the September 4th 2004 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the edition
More from Business
It will take years to get Deutsche Bahn back on track
Europe’s biggest rail operator has gone off the rails
Why are corporate retreats so extravagant?
Companies’ summer camps get unnecessarily creative
Asian businesses are being dragged into the chip war
Now South Korean manufacturers find themselves in a tricky spot


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New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo and other high profile European imports are taking care of business off the field even if they are coming up a little short on the field. The former Italian international tops the list of MLS Custom jersey sales and is joined by 13 other Designated Players (10 from overseas).
Pirlo improved on his 4th place finish from last year’s Top 20 Selling MLS Jerseys.
The other DP’s to make the list are last year’s top seller, Clint Dempsey, David Villa, Steven Gerrard, Kaká, Didier Drogba, Sebastian Giovinco, Frank Lampard, Diego Valeri, Giovani dos Santos, Robbie Keane, Graham Zusi, Osvaldo Alonso, and Kei Kamara.
The most notable name on the list, however, is arguably the Seattle Sounders Jordan Morris. The only homegrown player on the list has risen from near obscurity playing collegiate soccer at Stanford to earning caps on the U.S. men’s national team as well as #4 on this year’s top sellers list.
Rank Player Club
1 – Andrea Pirlo – New York City FC
2 – Clint Dempsey – Seattle Sounders FC
3 – David Villa – New York City FC
4 – Jordan Morris – Seattle Sounders FC
5 – Steven Gerrard – LA Galaxy
6 – Kaká – Orlando City SC
7 – Didier Drogba – Montreal Impact
8 – Sebastian Giovinco – Toronto FC
9 – Frank Lampard – New York City FC
10 – Dom Dwyer – Sporting Kansas City
11 – Darlington Nagbe – Portland Timbers
12 – Diego Valeri – Portland Timbers
13 – Giovani dos Santos – LA Galaxy
14 – Robbie Keane – LA Galaxy
15 – Graham Zusi – Sporting Kansas City
16 – Nat Borchers – Portland Timbers
17 – Brad Evans Seattle – Sounders FC
18 – Osvaldo Alonso – Seattle Sounders FC
19 – Brek Shea – Orlando City SC
20 – Kei Kamara – New England Revolution
(The rankings are based on overall retail sales of adidas MLS jerseys on MLSstore.com since the beginning of 2016.)
Get these player jersey and other player jerseys customized at World Soccer Shop.


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The guys at Android and Me noticed a few pings of Android 2.2 in their Google Analytics, meaning somebody's testing out what's at least labeled as a new version of our favorite mobile operating system. (And for what it's worth, or server logs are showing hits from Android 2.2 as well.) It's no great surprise if Google's testing a new version of the OS, and we're less than a month away from the Google IO conference (we'll be there, by the way), which is where
Android 2.0 Donut first was demoed last year. Chances are we'll see the next named version of Android -- Froyo -- at Google IO. And there's a decent chance it'll be Android 2.2. Stay tuned.


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Wizards of the Coast announced via Twitter that it has shifted the next Banned and Restricted Announcement for Magic: The Gathering up to October 21 from November 18. This was an awkward move because the last Banned and Restricted Announcement was released only a few days ago on October 7, and no changes were made to any of the formats. The date change is essentially a tip-off that there is a format imbalance that needs to be addressed soon, and a ban is coming that will likely alter the course of single card sales because the metagame will shift in reaction to which card or cards are banned.
There are a few possible targets for the next ban announcement. The most probable targets are Field of Dead and Golos, Tireless Pilgrim which are both part of the “Golos” Standard decks that had claimed seven of the top eight spots at the most recent Star City Games Team Open tournament. WotC generally acts upon data-driven analysis, and with Mythic Championship V decklist submissions rolling in, they could have decided that these two cards are so over-powered and format-warping that banning one or both them in Standard is necessary.
Overall, these potential bans are fairly positive news for retailers selling singles. Field of the Dead and Golos, Tireless Pilgrim are rares from Core Set 2020, a set that has already run its initial sales cycle over the Summer into Fall. A ban won’t affect that set’s product sales all that much, especially because players and collectors have already moved onto Throne of Eldraine. Also, should the “Golos” decks become defunct as a result of a ban, it will open up single sales for some of the more lagging Mythic rares and rares from Throne of Eldraine as the second tier decks will start filling in the power vacuum left by the ban.


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Facts & Stats About:
53% of urban Russians who own mobile phones feel disconnected when they are without their devices, compared to 29% in Western EuropeThe Data Digest: Mobile Behaviors in Russia | Forrester Blogs
19% of urban Russians who own mobile phones are concerned about privacy issues when brands contact them on their devices, compared to 36% in Western Europe more...
67% of EU-5 mobile users want more messaging services more...
69% of US mobile phone owners have received unwanted spam text messages on their devices more...
68% of US mobile phone owners have received unwanted sales or marketing calls on their devices more...
Western Europe will account 20% of worldwide mobile TV and video viewers by 2017 more...


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Lidl has taken shipping in its own hands and has chartered three panamax containerships and has also set up its own shipping line Tailwind Shipping to operate the vessels.
The discount retailer has also bought another containership recently to launch a standalone Asia-Europe service this year.
Liner shipping company Alphaliner explained that, “big brands such as Amazon, Costco, Home Depot, IKEA and Walmart have organised shipments on their own, but typically used the services of third-party vessel operators, such as BBC Chartering, G2 Ocean, Pasha Hawaii or Saga Welco.”
READ MORE: Lidl renews partnership with Tough Mudder
Lidl’s Tailwind on the other hand has already secured 4,957 teu sister ships Wiking and Jadrana and a 3,868 teu Merkur Ocean which is believed to have a 24 month charter deal.
Alphaliner also estimated that considering the ships current charters will end in spring or summer, “a delivery to Tailwind around this time of year would make sense.”
“Lidl’s move into ship operations comes at a time that sees a number of high street and online retailers move to take back control of their shipments,” Alphaliner said.
“Cargo owners have repeatedly accused the established shipping lines of profiteering from supply chain problems through astronomical freight rates. At the same time, shippers complain about persistent space shortage and poor service quality.”
the liner company added: “Tailwind has not yet disclosed where it intends to deploy its tonnage, but, given Lidl’s retail footprint, the Far East-Europe corridor appears the most likely.”


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New Opal Cards - what you need to know.
As you may now know the NSW Government has introduced a new ticketing system for commuters on trains. Unfortunately the Minister has failed to see it necessary to have these tickets available at the stations.
Commuters will need to order a registered Opal card.
These are estimated to take 5-7 working days.
You can visit the website www.opal.com.au or phone 13 67 25.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SENIORS: Later this year the new Gold Senior/ Pensioner Opal card will be released. It is not available yet. For now the Pensioner Excursion paper tickets will still be sold after September 1. Check back here for updates throughout the year.


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(Reuters) – Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto shares slipped 2.1% below their offer price of HK$118 in the company’s trading debut at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Thursday.
The company raised $1.52 billion by pricing its stock at HK$118 each in its dual primary listing in the city.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was flat in early trade.
The weaker debut followed a 1.1% rise in New York-listed Li Auto shares on Wednesday.
At HK$118 each, the price represented a 3.2% discount to the level where the New York stock was trading at before the Hong Kong deal was launched on Aug. 3.
Li Auto had aimed to raise more but the stock dropped 4% in the United States last Thursday before the price was finalised which reduced the amount investors were willing to pay.
Source: Read Full Article


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While battery-powered trucks continue to garner headlines, hydrogen fuel-cell technology likely will be a “better solution” for U.S. over-the-road fleets in the coming decades, suggested John O’Leary, president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America.
“A lot of fleets, as they look at battery-electric technology, fully understand that the physics would preclude a battery from having a 1,000-mile range—and when you're driving coast to coast, that's a problem,” O’Leary said. “Hydrogen takes that range anxiety that you have with battery-electric [trucks] off the table. The further your routes get, the more you start migrating to hydrogen in a lot of people's models.”
O’Leary spoke to North American trade journalists via video conference from Stuttgart, Germany, where he participated in Capital Market Day for DNTA parent Daimler Truck on Thursday. The world’s largest truck maker, a recent spinoff of Daimler, intends to offer stock on the Frankfurt exchange beginning Dec. 10 and is expected to qualify for the DAX—the group of Germany’s most valuable listed companies—in the first quarter of 2022.
Another potential advantage driving the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology is the fueling infrastructure, which “scales a lot easier and a lot less expensively” than does the charging infrastructure required for battery-electric vehicles, especially for heavy-duty trucks, O’Leary suggested.
But the U.S. is 18 to 24 months behind Europe “in terms of the conversation and awareness” of hydrogen as a viable technology for powering vehicles, O’Leary noted.
Indeed, earlier this week Daimler Truck and TotalEnergies signed an agreement to “kickstart” the development of ecosystems for heavy-duty trucks running on hydrogen. TotalEnergies hopes to operate up to 150 hydrogen refueling stations in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, and France by 2030, while Daimler Truck will supply the hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles. Daimler Truck also has a similar agreement with BP in the United Kingdom.
And earlier this year, Daimler Truck and Volvo Group completed launched their joint fuel-cell company, Cellcentric.
Still, O’Leary emphasized that DTNA is “not going to zero diesel engines anytime soon,” even as the Daimler has targeted 2039 for being carbon-neutral. For the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan, diesel engines “will typically be outlawed by the government,” O’Leary noted.
“2039 is a long ways away, so between now and then we are going to continue to build diesel engines,” he said. “But as the emissions regulations dictate more electric and more hydrogen going forward, we need to have an answer. A lot of people try to make it an either/or thing, but it's not. We'll have both [diesel and electric].”
Vocational market, supply chain
In other discussion, O’Leary explained that DTNA, whose Freightliner brand has led on-highway Class 8 sales for years, is targeting growth in the vocational segment—a segment set to surge with the new U.S. infrastructure funding plan.
“Even though we'd always had offerings in the vocational space, we pretty much had our lunch handed to us by competitors—and that’s not good enough,” he said, adding that DTNA has introduced Western Star 49X and 47X models to better compete for market share. “Share isn't the underlying goal for us, but certainly it's a nice descriptor of how well you're doing as a business. So for us, that aspect is really bright going forward.”
As to supply chain challenges, O’Leary conceded that “it’s been tough,” and DTNA procurement teams have been making “yeoman efforts” in the global search for computer chips. Indeed, if not for the chip shortage, 2020 and 2021 would have been “tremendous” for the industry due to fleet demand.
“We've had good weeks and we've had bad weeks in terms of being able to meet our [production] count,” he said. “It's not going to get perceptibly better in Q4 but, certainly, as we get into next year, we do think that things will start improving. It’s a great unknown right now.”
So, as to delivery schedules, all DTNA can tell customers is “the absolute truth that we know on that particular day,” O’Leary explained. He added that deliveries have varied, depending on products: A Cascadia sleeper cab typically needs more chips than a vocational truck, for example.
Similarly, recently announced price increases are not to “fatten up our margins,” but just to cover increased costs, O’Leary pointed out.
Globally, DTNA has been assigned a goal of 12% Return of Sales by 2025, the highest target among the Daimler Truck geographic markets. The worldwide goal for Daimler Trucks in 2025 is 10% RoS, compared to an expected 6%-8% for 2021, according to the Capital Market Day presentation.
But DTNA customers shouldn’t expect significant changes in the wake of the corporate organizational changes in Stuttgart.
“The customer won't notice anything different, in a negative sense,” O’Leary said. “What they will notice going forward is the things that we're doing on a global scale, such as fuel-cell development, battery-electric development—all the technology that we're working on that will be developed at a much higher level and with our own expertise, and then using the cost base of our global manufacturing output.
“So what they will ultimately see is better technology at a lower price over time.”


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VSA Partners, the 28-year-old branding firm, took steps Monday to expand its foray into the consumer advertising business. VSA said it has brought on board two new executive creative directors -- Hans Hansen and Eric Sorensen -- in its Minneapolis office. VSA also has major outposts in Chicago and New York.
Both Hansen and Sorensen will work in tandem with VSA's new Minneapolis-based chief operating officer John Colasanti to expand the firm's consumer advertising efforts. Hansen and Sorensen were most recently group creative directors at Fallon/Minneapolis, where for the past four years they handled creative work for clients such as Citibank, Holiday Inn, Chrysler and Traveler's Insurance. Each also previously worked with Colasanti at Carmichael Lynch/Minneapolis for clients such as Porsche, Northwest Airlines and Harley-Davidson. "There are very few creative teams out there that can match what Hans and Eric have accomplished for the brands they've worked on across the vast media landscape," said VSA partner and CEO Dana Arnett.


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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Samsung and Apple Inc. have agreed to end all patent lawsuits between each other outside the U.S. in a step back from three years of legal hostilities between the world's two largest makers of smartphones.
However, Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday that the two smartphone rivals will continue to pursue existing cases in U.S. courts. The two companies did not strike any cross-licensing deal.
"Samsung and Apple have agreed to drop all litigation between the two companies outside the United States," the South Korean company said in a statement. "This agreement does not involve any licensing arrangements, and the companies are continuing to pursue the existing cases in U.S. courts."
The announcement is a significant lessening of corporate hostilities after years of bitter patent disputes over the intellectual property rights for mobile designs and technology. The legal fights spanned a dozen countries in Asia, North America and Europe.
Now, lawsuits and other legal actions by Samsung and Apple will come to an end in countries including Germany, England, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, Japan and Australia.
The patent cases in the U.S. have come with bigger awards for damages than other countries. In May, a California jury awarded Apple $119 million in a patent battle with Samsung.
The series of high-stake lawsuits over some of the world's most popular gadgets began in April, 2011 when Apple accused Samsung, the maker of Galaxy phones, of slavishly copying the iPhone. Samsung responded by charging Apple of stealing its mobile technology.


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Michigan restaurant supplier works to raise money for food service workers
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – With little government assistance, the food service in the United States has been decimated by the pandemic. In lieu of government assistance, one Metro Detroit supplier is stepping in to help as much as they can. That’s why they set up the Local Love campaign, an online application for restaurant owners to fill out and also a GoFundMe page to raise money for these restaurants. So anyone that is able to help should help,” Floyd said. According to the National Restaurant Association, 83% of restaurants owners expect sales to decline over winter and 37% believe they’ll be able to remain open in six months without government help.
‘It’s a band-aid’ -- Detroit nonprofit raises money for food service workers in need
DETROIT – Like many other bars and restaurants, everything changed for Batch Brewing Company when the pandemic hit. Batch Brewing Company spent the summer building a large outdoor pavilion to prepare for a potential indoor dining-shutdown. “We take the profit from that all that money, minus food cost, and we’re contributing that from Batch Brewing Company to the Feelgood Tap,” Roginson said. “It’s a surreal sensation to just be sitting and sending people, money, money. People you don’t know, just clicking and sending money,” Roginson said.
Metro Detroit essential workers push for vaccinations
PORTAGE, Mich. – With the shipments of the Pfizer vaccine out of Portage on the way, Michigan’s essential workers -- especially those in the food industry -- are hoping they will be next in line after medical workers to be vaccinated. For months, workers in grocery stores and the food industry have been subjected to some of the worst outbreaks during the pandemic. essential workers are urging they should be next -- as stores continue to fill with holiday shoppers. Michigan’s covid outbreak tracker shows the food industry and retail shops account for nearly 40 current outbreaks statewide. They are still part of the first wave with hundreds of thousands of other workers in essential industries all looking to get vaccinated.


text: Lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret is “rethinking” its annual fashion show, according to a memo sent to employees Friday by L Brands CEO Les Wexner, which was obtained by CNBC. Wexner said network television is no longer the “right fit” for the event, which has been broadcast on ABC and CBS for almost 20 years. He said the company instead will focus on creating a “new kind of event.” Viewership for the fashion show has been dropping. The last show, televised in December, suffered the worst ratings in its broadcast history. That’s as Victoria’s Secret has been facing more criticism from women, its core customers, for trying to sell bedazzled bras and skimpy underwear on slim supermodels. Read more at CNBC.


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Latest News on Digital Assistant
Showing of 0 - 10 from 46 results
Digital Assistant - Total results - 46
Mar 10, 2018
Lawsuit filed against Apple's digital assistant Siri for infringement of patent related to natural language abilitiesThe company alleged that Siri infringes on each of the patents-in-suit, as the voice assistant is capable of understanding the natural language queries
Mar 08, 2018
Amazon to fix Alexa's creepy laughter which has been spooking Echo usersAmazon said that sometimes Alexa mistakes a command as “Alexa laugh”
Mar 06, 2018
Microsoft is internally testing Cortana integration within its Outlook mobile app for iOS and AndroidCortana's integration into Microsoft Outlook for mobile will also allow it to scan through emails and read them aloud whenever necessary.
Feb 17, 2018
Microsoft's digital assistant Cortana to support more smart home devices and integrate with IFTTTCortana running on Windows 10 Operating System (OS), iPhone, Android and the Harman Kardon Invoke speakers, can be used to control these devices.
Jan 08, 2018
Amazon's digital assistant Alexa will soon be available on Windows 10-powered PCs and laptopsTo access the digital assistant, Amazon's Alexa would be available in a separate app in the Windows 10.
Nov 17, 2017
Google adds a number of new features to Assistant; brings developer support for Indian EnglishTo increase user-engagement, third-party apps will be featured in the Google Assistant app. Users can access these apps with help of contextual queries.
Oct 25, 2017
More than 50 games added to Google Assistant; to work on Google Home and Android phonesThe kids can use these games on their own (and to sign up some new Gmail users seriously early). Google is also adding in voice identification for children.
Oct 20, 2017
Samsung Bixby 2.0 to release soon; will be seen on home appliances in a move to compete against Amazon AlexaThe new Bixby 2.0 will be open to developers in a move to put the personal assistant on more devices, the company announced at its developer conference in San Francisco.
Oct 11, 2017
Microsoft to integrate Cortana in the Skype app on Android and iOS soonMicrosoft's Cortana integration would be similar to what we have seen Google do with its assistant in Allo and Facebook with Messenger.
Oct 06, 2017
Google Assistant app now makes its way to the Play Store, adds nothing new but promises faster updatesIn the latest move, a Google has added a Google Assistant app on the Play Store in a move to ensure faster updates.


text: HomeColumnistsThe luxury market in an age where experiences are worth more than products Terapia do Luxo 8 October, 2019 Columnists, Luxury“The world is changing through retail. Big stores are no longer just places of consumption to become places of experience. Consumers are looking for a pleasure to have not only a product but a souvenir. People don’t buy products, they buy values. And the values have fans. ”It was with this definition that Javier Fernández Andrino, El Corte Inglés’ International Strategic Director of Marketing and Luxury, addressed the transformations the network has been going through to serve the new consumer and provide differentiated experiences during its first visit to Brazil to participate in LATAM Retail. Show.Javier Fernández Andrino’s thoughts can be considered a perfect synthesis of the moment in which he crosses the luxury market worldwide. The interest of consumers, especially those from the younger age groups, has shifted from the product to the values of brands and companies.An example that perfectly illustrates this panorama is Gucci. Those who buy Italian brand products, in addition to the interest in design and almost centenary quality, also connects with the values spread by the brand. Sustainability, diversity and plurality are the hallmarks of Gucci’s recent production and, consequently, are reflected in its consumers.It is not without reason that the brand founded in 1921 is currently considered the luxury brand that most tunes with the young millennials. Gucci has realized that far more important than producing attention-grabbing fashion is the dissemination of solid values that debate sensitive topics and, most importantly, seek greater harmony across the planet.Contemporary retail, and especially high-end stores, must realize that consumers increasingly enjoy activating and promoting experiences inside or outside the store on their journey. The virtual environment, in this sense, has become a privileged space for the potentialization of these experiences.It is never too much to remember that quality at every stage of the supply chain, excellence in service and the launch of innovative and connected products today play a central role in the market, but, as customers are increasingly proving, experiences and values tend to be the real differentials in luxury consumption.


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Verona-based supplier of large OTR tyres, Maitech Tire was one of the 530 exhibitors at the recent The Tire Cologne exhibition, held between 29 May and 1 June. Stars of the 84 square metre Maitech stand were two examples of the company’s new range of premium, all-steel radial OTR tyres; the MT111, making their exhibition debuts.
Maitech Tire will launch a new range of radial OTR tyres at The Tire Cologne. The new tyres will be displayed alongside other examples from its product range, including small bias construction, industrial and solid tyres on its 84sqm stand at Koelnmesse from 29 May to 1 June 2018.
Maitech Tire, the manufacturer of speciality, OTR, construction, mining and industrial tyres, has established a new, purpose-built European techno/commercial office at its headquarters in Verona, Italy. The company is holding a series of open days at its 16,000 square metre complex for selected customers, OEMs and companies from Maitech’s global network of dedicated partners.


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RR Donnelley & Sons announces plans to split into three new publicly traded companies
The printing giant also announced second quarter earnings, reporting revenue fell 5.3 percent, while net income declined as the company looked to maintain margins
The spin-off bug has caught up with the printing giant RR Donnelley as the company announced today that it would split into three separate, publicly traded companies: PRSCo will be the printing company, FinancialCo will focus on financial communications services, and CMCo will be a multichannel communications management provider.
The track record of spin-offs is decidedly mixed, but generally they succeed where the business is growing so fast that maintaining a unified company structure would hold back the business segment being spun-off. But few spin-offs are announced these days because of explosive growth, rather they are announced in order to dump print publishing business, or it is sad to say, because spin-offs can be terribly lucrative for the executives involved.
It is hard to see growth being a factor here, the company also announced earnings today and reported that net sales declined 5.3 percent to $2.7 billion, while net income fell to $43.6 million from $65.6 million in the same quarter the previous year.
“Despite a challenging demand environment, we aggressively managed our cost structure to achieve a non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.3%,” said Thomas J. Quinlan III, RR Donnelley’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As we look to the back half of 2015, we will continue to aggressively manage costs, which is reflected in our improved non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margin guidance for full-year 2015.”
Companies diversify their portfolios of products in order to be able to weather downturns in any one area. Newspapers fought for years to be able to buy broadcast properties in the same cities they published in to both diversify and take advantage of joint sales opportunities. For the most part they failed to gain permission for such acquisitions but they bought into broadcast any ways in order to create more diverse media companies. Now many are spinning off their print properties leaving the new companies in a disadvantaged position.
Will RR Donnelley be a better company split into three parts? I don’t know, but I’m sure the execs and shareholders like the idea… a lot.
“As independent companies, each will have an enhanced ability to focus more intently on its customers’ unique needs,” Quinlan wrote in an online letter to customers. “Each will be even more nimble, with the ability to anticipate and respond quickly to changing conditions. Plus, each will have the talented employees, scale, proprietary solutions and the other resources needed to be a leader in its industry… right from its first day.”
Here is the spin-off announcement:
CHICAGO, Ill. – August 4, 2015 — RR Donnelley & Sons Company today announced that it intends to create three independent, publicly traded companies: one business focused on financial communications and data services; one business focused on publishing and retail-centric print services; and one business focused on customized multichannel communications management.
Thomas J. Quinlan III, RR Donnelley’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Over the last decade, we have strengthened our business portfolio through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, developing new products and services, inventing fresh ways to serve customers, attracting additional talent and building information technology systems.
“We see a significant opportunity to unlock value by allowing these three businesses to pursue their own strategies and invest according to the unique dynamics of their respective industries. Each company will have the strategic focus, management resources and capital structure to enable it to strengthen its market position and pursue its growth opportunities, enhancing long-term value for stakeholders.”
The creation of these three independent businesses is expected to deliver the following strategic and financial benefits;
- Each business to focus on its distinct strategic priorities, driving opportunities to accelerate growth and enhance long-term value
- Greater flexibility to execute tailored business strategies and compete in evolving markets
- Even more focused brand strategy to support each business’s marketing plan
- Tailored capital structures reflective of each business’s financial and growth profiles
- Better-optimized investment policies
- Market recognition of standalone growth prospects and profitability
- Enable investors’ valuations to reflect each business’s unique operating and financial dynamics
Quinlan continued, “We recognize that parts of the current portfolio will be more successful pursuing different strategies, and that these particular businesses offer the scale, expertise, product and service mix and other resources to excel as standalone companies. Creating three independent companies will allow each to more quickly capitalize on opportunities created by continued technological innovation and globalization within the markets they serve.”
Financial Communications Services Company (FinancialCo)
FinancialCo will be a leading, financial communications services company serving both the investment and capital markets worldwide. With proprietary technology, extensive capabilities and deep subject matter expertise, FinancialCo will support its customers with content management, multichannel content distribution, data management and analytics, collaborative workflow and business reporting tools and translations services. FinancialCo’s one-stop-shop offering leverages a unique combination of technology, service and regulatory expertise built through the combination of RR Donnelley’s financial print business, Bowne Financial and EDGAR Online.
As a standalone company with trailing 12-month net sales for the period ended June 30, 2015 of approximately $1 billion, the company believes FinancialCo will be positioned to aggressively invest in leading technology and workflow tools to support its customer communications requirements in a growing and fast evolving marketplace and to generate strong margins and cash flow to capitalize on significant opportunities in content collaboration, data analytics and compliance/regulatory services.
Publishing and Retail-Centric Print Services Company (PRSCo)
Publishers, merchandisers and retailers worldwide trust PRSCo to prepare, produce and distribute their periodicals, catalogs, inserts, books, office products and directories.
As a standalone company with trailing 12-month net sales for the period ended June 30, 2015 of approximately $3.5 billion, the company believes PRSCo will continue to expand its unmatched scope of print-related capabilities to better serve customers worldwide and will be well positioned for further value creation through continued cost restructuring and accretive acquisition opportunities. The company’s expertise, deep customer relationships and strong cash flow generation are expected to support both organic and acquisition opportunities.
Customized Multichannel Communications Management Company (CMCo)
CMCo will be a global, customized multichannel communications management provider that assists organizations around the world in creating, managing and executing their multichannel communications strategies. CMCo will offer customized digital and printed communications services, including direct mail, short-run commercial printing, statements, business process outsourcing, supply chain management, logistics, creative design, content management, forms, labels, packaging, kitting and fulfillment and more.
As a standalone company with trailing 12-month net sales for the period ended June 30, 2015 of approximately $7 billion and deep relationships with Fortune 1000 customers, the company believes there are clear growth opportunities for CMCo driven by increasing demand for customized multichannel communications and it is well positioned to capture these opportunities by offering integrated solutions that help customers better manage their brand execution, marketing and supply chain strategies. CMCo is expected to have capital flexibility to fund growth investments and develop additional capabilities.
Transaction Details/Next Steps
The transaction is expected to take the form of a tax-free distribution to RR Donnelley shareholders of FinancialCo and PRSCo in two new, independent, publicly traded stocks. The company expects to complete the spinoffs prior to the end of 2016. Immediately following the completion of the transactions, existing RR Donnelley shareholders will own shares in all three companies.
The leadership, governance, corporate branding and other matters for each company are still being developed and the company will provide interim updates as appropriate.
RR Donnelley management intends to continue to recommend to the Board of Directors a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share, consistent with its current level, until the transactions have been consummated. Following the completion of the transactions, each company will determine its appropriate capital allocation policy. While the capital structures of each company have not been finalized, it is expected that the currently outstanding RR Donnelley notes will remain at CMCo and that CMCo will receive certain cash proceeds in connection with the capitalization of each of PRSCo and FinancialCo.
The transactions are subject to customary conditions, including obtaining rulings from the Internal Revenue Service and/or tax opinions, execution of inter-company agreements and final approval by the company’s Board of Directors.
Centerview Partners LLC and BofA Merrill Lynch are serving as financial advisors to RR Donnelley. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal advisor.


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- Source: Politika
- News clipping (1)
The negative influence of the coronavirus pandemic on the... More info
President of HORES Georgi Genov stated for the Danas daily that representatives of hoteliers and owners of hospitality establishments, travel agencies, as well as event organisers will gather in a working group this week, in order to discuss in what manner could the government help overcoming the crisis caused by the coronavirus, as it was agreed at a yesterday's meetings at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (PKS) with the Ministry of Finance Siniša Mali. Members of the working group will discuss and propose ways for overcoming the enormous losses in the services and tourism sector caused by the coronavirus epidemic. The tourism sector will suffer close to EUR 1 billion in losses this year - according to preliminary estimates mentioned by the Minister of Tourism Rasim Ljajić yesterday.


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Most people know that getting plenty of fiber helps keep your digestive system in good, working order. But a study shows anti-aging benefits to having a consistent amount of fiber in your diet as well.
In a 2016 study, older people who ate fiber-rich diets were 80 percent more likely to live longer and stay healthier than those who didn't.
According to Consumer Reports health editor Patricia Calvo, Americans aren't getting enough fiber every day.
"You need to get 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber a day," said Calvo.
Eating foods like beans, vegetables, fruit, nuts and whole grains allows fiber to work its anti-aging magic.
"Fiber helps your health in so many ways," said Calvo. "It can protect against Type 2 diabetes. It helps to lower cholesterol levels. It helps in weight control because it helps you feel full. And, of course, it helps your digestive system run smoothly."
Calvo suggests adding more fiber to your diet gradually. Don't add it all at once.
Looking for anti-aging benefits? Try adding more fiber to your diet
CIRCLE OF HEALTH
More TOP STORIES News


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The airline is a keen proponent of focusing on how all the different senses can deepen the customer experience.
"It [sensory marketing] does not have to be done in a creepy way," says Arnold. "It is about enhancing the experience for the customer."
An example of this is Virgin Atlantic changing the positions of the galley and the bar on its aircraft so passengers are greeted by the smell of fresh orange juice when boarding the plane.
Virgin is also investigating the possibility of developing a "scent" that can be used throughout all its touchpoints.
Therefore, an upper class customer will be exposed to the same scent during all the touchpoints of their journey, ranging from the limo to the airport to the private security and executive lounges.
The idea is being toyed with due to the strong connection between smell and memory as Virgin Atlantic seeks to forge deeper connections with the brand.
Arnold was expanding on his views on how far sensory marketing could be taken by Virgin following a panel discussion at Naked Communication’s Brew series event about challenging senses.
Virgin Atlantic is also planning on rolling an upper class virtual reality (VR) sales experience to experiential marketing for its premium economy seats.
The upper class VR experience, which launched in November, involves a Google Cardboard-style virtual reality experience via a mobile app and Microsoft goggles.
Other sensory experiences are added by the sales agents wafting scents under the nose of the customer to replicate the smells they will experience when travelling with Virgin, while they also get to taste the food served on the flights.
Arnold says it is too early to reveal if the experience has provided a sales lift, but claims anecdotal feedback has been "really positive".


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German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Monday said it will increase prices of select models in India by up to 2 per cent from October to offset the impact of weakening of Rupee against Euro since the last 6-7 months and the rise in other input costs. While the company did not specify the specific models, it is understood that the price hike will impact its volume models, C-Class, E-Class and GLC by up to Rs 1.5 lakh.
The upward revision of the price will be effective from first week of October. The price correction would be up to 2 per cent, varying across select model range, Mercedes-Benz India said in a statement.
The company sells a range of luxury vehicles, starting from the C-Class sedans starting at Rs 40 lakh to S-Class priced at Rs 1.4 crore.
Commenting on the price hike, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director & CEO Martin Schwenk said,"The weakening of the currency since the beginning of the year, combined with a sharp increase in the input costs have been a matter of concern, creating significant pressure on our bottom line."
He further said, "To offset these costs and drive a sustainable business, we have few options but to make some nominal yet necessary price adjustments. We as a customer centric brand will be absorbing most of the impact, however passing on a portion of it up to 2 per cent, seems inevitable."
Schwenk said despite the price revision, the company's specially designed financial programmes like 'Wish Box 2.0' and a host of service packages will enable discerning customers "to drive home their favourite Mercedes-Benz and enjoy the vehicle ownership associated with Mercedes".
The company said it has launched 'Unlock with Mercedes-Benz' customised financial solutions offer which includes complimentary first year insurance with loan interest rates at 7.99 per cent for C-Class with EMI starting at Rs 39,999; E-Class with EMI starting at Rs 49,999 and GLC, EMI starting Rs 44,444.


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By pat anson, editor the u. food and drug administration wednesday announced the recall of three brands of dietary supplements containing kratom, the latest move in what appears to be a concerted government campaign to stop all sales of the herb. the recall involves a large volume of kratom supp. you can see the long list of recalled products, along with the brand, package weight, and lot codes at the fda web site. the brands include kraken kratom, phytoextractum, and soul speciosa. another kratom recall is underway, adding to the long list of such products recalled for salmonella risks. the new recall follows a research report showing a 52- fold increase in kratom reports at. sunstone organics issues voluntary nationwide recall of select kratom products due to potential contamination by salmonella. when a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert. the fda issued a mandatory recall for all kratom products manufactured, processed, packed or held by triangle pharmanaturals llc after some tested positive for salmonella. kratom salmonella recalls since, the fda has been issuing warnings about kratom. cbd co2 oil.
this month, they’ ve released an additional warning about the recall of certain kratom products due to salmonella contamination, which is increasing this drug’ s dangers. [ 1] the fda has already issued nu. kratom recalled after salmonella bacteria found in products sold by oregon company. an oregon company is warning customers that certain batches of its kratom product may put them at risk of. on tuesday, the fda ordered the mandatory recall of products that include kratom, from the plant mitragyna speciosa, produced by triangle pharmanaturals. photo by uomo vitruviano/ wikimedia commons. several companies recalled kratom products because they might list be contaminated with salmonella. rapid releaf cbd gummies. the list of recalled kratom products external is available on the u.
food and drug kratom recall list administration website. kratom is also known as thang, kakuam, thom, ketom, and biak. kratom is a plant consumed for its stimulant effects and as an opioid substitute. food and drug administration announced it has issued a mandatory recall order for all food products containing powdered kratom manufactured, processed, packed, or held by triangle.


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Fintech startup EarlySalary, which offers instant cash loans and salary advances, has raised $110 million in a Series D round led by TPG’s The Rise Fund and Norwest Venture Partners along with the participation of existing investor Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited.
The company confirmed its valuation to $300 million. The latest investment will enable EarlySalary to grow its business significantly in the next 24 months. The Pune-based company provides accessible financial lending solutions of up to Rs 5 lakh to working professionals.
Akshay Mehrotra, Co-founder and CEO, EarlySalary, said, “We believe in a customer-first approach to providing credit to young middle-income Indians and we are thankful for the trust millions of Indians have put in us. The funding will not only help us in expanding our cash business but also build an array of capabilities to efficiently serve a larger segment of customers. We are confident in our ability to keep innovating and achieving 10x large growth in our customer base.”
EarlySalary claims to have rapidly expanded its presence from 18 cities to over 150 cities and increased its customer base to 1 million customers with 12 million app downloads along with a team size of over 500 members. The company expanded into the affordability segment and introduced the buy now, pay later (BNPL) service to customers, with a focus on education, health, and consumer product financing.


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U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday that it would expand hours of operation for south-bound commercial traffic at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry as part of a public-private partnership with Dell Computers.
Dell will be funding four additional hours for southbound commercial traffic Monday through Friday for one year, according to a news release from U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.
The Reimbursable Services Program allows private companies to enter into agreements with the government to expand services on a reimbursable basis.
Last month, Udall and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. sent a letter of support for Dell's application to CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske and invited him to tour the Santa Teresa POE and border industrial zone in southern New Mexico to see firsthand how federal and private investments in the region have improved interstate commerce and bolstered the local economy.
"Our state's border region is a bright spot in our economy," Heinrich said. "By collaborating with strong private sector partners, such as Dell, we can capitalize on that momentum and increase trade, create new jobs, and diversify New Mexico's economy,"
"I supported this expansion to help grow southern New Mexico as an epicenter for international trade, and I look forward to visiting the Santa Teresa Port of Entry soon to continue working to expand commercial opportunities in the region," Udall said.


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Credit Cards & Merchant Processing
11 Helpful Invoicing Tips for Small Business Owners
The NFIB Research Foundation released data on how prepared small business owners are for the credit card chip transition that h...
Starting October 1, 2015, business owners will be responsible for fraud liability if they don't accept EMV cards. Here's some b...
The EMV payment system is growing in popularity. Here’s how it’ll affect your small business.
This e-commerce company offers a cheaper way to process payments.
Apple’s payment system has been adopted by consumers and retailers—how’s it working?


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Republic Airways, the owner of Frontier Airlines and Midwest Airlines, said Tuesday it has picked Frontier Airlines as the name it will put on its branded operations.
The decision retains the brand with the cute animals on the tails, and ends the name synonymous with Milwaukee for the past quarter century.
“Although both brands have built strong affinities with air travelers, our customer research concluded that Frontier is the brand best positioned to meet the needs of today’s consumers with its affordable-fares brand promise,” said Ian Arthur, Republic’s vice president of marketing and branding.
“With an expanded network and an even stronger Frontier brand, we are confident we can meet and exceed the needs of even more consumers,” Arthur said.
In its announcement, Republic said it will take 12 to 18 months to complete the brand integration.
Republic bought Midwest on July 31, 2009, and obtained Frontier through bankruptcy court proceedings on Oct. 3. In fact, Midwest Airlines doesn’t exist any more as an airline; Republic let its air carrier operating certificate lapse on Nov. 3.
Here’s what Republic’s chairman and CEO, Brian Bedford, had to say in Tuesday’s announcement:
“Combining two customer-focused, highly complementary brands is a singular opportunity to improve efficiencies throughout our company while offering more value to our customers.
“During our dialogue with our stakeholders, we were grateful for the passionate input we received throughout the process. We will continue to draw upon it as we preserve and enhance the brand promise so valued by the passengers and communities served by Frontier and Midwest.”
He said the combined brand will continue to grow in both Denver and Milwaukee.
Midwest Airlines, which in a previous life flew Kimberly-Clark executives to and from Milwaukee, was known in the 1980s and 1990s as a high-service airline with ample legroom and elbow room, fine meals and chocolate cookies baked on board.
Maybe Republic is keeping the chocolate chip cookies?


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Addict a Ball, an addictive toy from Kidult, has appointed Brainstorm as its exclusive distributor for the UK and Ireland.
The firm has already placed orders, and plans to have stock on the floor from early January 2016. Brainstorm has also outlined its plan to use TV advertising to promote the brand, which will commence from February and will continue throughout the year.
The Addict a Ball brand has already sold well in the UK. With Brainstorm consolidating supply, the company will be able to build a marketing strategy for the items with a promise of a new product to bring the range up to three SKUs.
Sales and marketing director, Nick Saunders, commented: “I’m a massive fan of Addict a Ball and it’s always fun to sell something you love. The multitude of positive consumer comments I have seen tell me I am not alone.”


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Santa Cruz, CA - July 1, 2015 – Looker, the business intelligence platform that is powering data-driven companies, today shared impressive new customers, 5X year-over-year growth and the appointment of Jen Grant to Chief Marketing Officer. Grant was previously CMO at the big data search company, Elasticsearch, and Senior Vice President of Marketing at Box where she spent five years building the content-sharing powerhouse. As CMO of Looker, she will be responsible for overseeing Looker’s marketing and brand strategy.
Looker has seen explosive growth over the last year with a 5X jump in revenue and usage doubling every three months. The company now has over 140 employees and is actively hiring around the world. Over the last quarter, Looker welcomed 100 new enterprise customers, including Autodesk, Birchbox, Harvard Business Review and Relay Networks and more, to join its already impressive list of customers which includes Yahoo!, Gilt and Sony.
“From early on at Box to nearly the company’s exit, Jen led one of the most effective and successful marketing programs for one of the fastest-growing enterprise tech companies,” said Frank Bien, CEO of Looker. “There are obvious parallels between Box and Looker, including wildly enthusiastic customers, disruptive technology that’s changing the way companies share information and a rapidly growing company. We couldn’t be more thrilled that Jen has joined the team and look forward to her leadership and marketing expertise as Looker continues to take off.”
Grant was the first executive marketing hire at Box, overseeing its growth from a small start-up to an IPO-ready and industry-leading enterprise content collaboration company used by the majority of Fortune 500 companies. After Box, she spent a few years advising Homebrew's portfolio, sitting on the board of directors of nonprofit K-12 Team, and leading the rebranding of Elastic as CMO. Prior to Box, Grant spent four years at Google leading the Google Apps EDU, Gmail and Book Search marketing teams. She holds an MBA from Wharton and a Bachelor’s from Princeton University.
“Happy customers are synonymous with great companies, and I’ve never seen customers as enthusiastic as Looker’s. Combine that with Looker’s solid executive team, technology, rapid growth and company culture, there was no question - I was all in,” said Grant. “Looker is fundamentally changing the way work is being done by bringing insights and data-driven decision-making to businesses of all sizes. This is the next big enterprise technology company.”
Looker is the business intelligence (BI) and analytics platform part of the Google Cloud data and analytics suite. Transcending traditional BI, Looker powers data experiences that deliver actionable business insights at the point of decision and infuses data into products and workflows to allow organizations to extract value from data at web-scale. More than 2,000 industry-leading and innovative companies, such as Cisco, Sony, Amazon, Essence, Home Depot and IBM, have trusted Looker to power their data-driven cultures. For more information, visit Looker or Google Cloud and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
About Google Cloud
Google Cloud provides organizations with leading infrastructure, platform capabilities and industry solutions. We deliver enterprise-grade cloud solutions that leverage Google’s cutting-edge technology to help companies operate more efficiently and adapt to changing needs, giving customers a foundation for the future. Customers in more than 150 countries turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to solve their most critical business problems.


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This week in the world of self-publishing:
This week’s featured interview was posted to HuffPost Books on January 23rd, courtesy of contributor Rajesh Setty. In it, Setty speaks with Linda Stirling, author and CEO of The Publishing Authority website. “There are two ways for authors to keep books in print long-term,” says Stirling:
1. Sell a lot of books without ceasing so a traditional publisher will keep the book in print
2. Self-publish your books
[But] What a lot of writers are unaware of with book sales by traditional publishers is there are many variables to how these books can make enough sales for publishers to keep them in print.
As a result, Setty transcribes, well-known authors profit and midlisters suffer from a lack of creative control in addition to limited rights and revenue. The solution? According to Stirling, the answer is simple and easy and one that you already know: self-publishing. “Bookstores and publishing houses are in business to make money, not to nurture authors,” says Stirling. “They need to see a return on investment, so if an author doesn’t earn out their advance, it’s unlikely they’ll see another one.” With self-publishing, however, “none of these concerns need call the presses to a halt. Competition is seen as a plus; promotion is in the author’s hands and can continue indefinitely; and there is no selling window, so writers can go on to make income from their books indefinitely.”
Stirling makes for an excellent self-publishing ambassador and advocate. For the rest of her interview with Rajesh Setty, drop on by the complete HuffPost Books article.
Good news for Cincinnati residents, writes Sara Gadzala in this January 22nd article for Cincinnati.com: the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has unveiled new additions to its nine-thousand-square-foot MakerSpace, including an Espresso Book Machine! The machine, which is only the third in the nation to be made available to the public in a library setting, prints and binds high-quality books so quickly you barely have time to sip your coffee while you wait. (See what I did there?) Says Gadzala, library patrons can “Consider it a birthday present for MakerSpace, and a gift to anyone who wants to self-publish or print content from OnDemand Books, which has a database of more than seven million titles.” According to the team leader of the Cincinnati MakerSpace, their offerings are “much more than a thrifty business tool. Anybody with a library card can make a reservation on the larger machines” even though a reservation is recommended due to high demand. We’ve written about the Espresso Book Machine before––several years ago, here and here––here on Self-Publishing Advisor, so it’s nice to see this technology being made available to more people.
“Save the Date!” declares the website banner over this January 20th press release published to the Digital Book World website. If you’re free March 7th – 9th to travel to New York City, you couldn’t pick a better way to spend your time than by dropping by the annual conference put on by BookExpo America (BEA), which self-advertises as “North America’s premiere event for the publishing industry today” and which aims “to engage and educate booksellers, librarians, agents, authors, and industry insiders by delivering insights on the latest trends and unparalleled networking opportunities.”
Conference organizers have just released the program’s schedule and themes, and as it turns out it’s a good year for self-publishing conferencegoers, as one of the conference’s eight “tracks” or themes is dedicated to studying self-publishing concerns: “Within the self-publishing track authors and service providers will explore the opportunities to reach readers, build sales, and establish a social presence with readers.” That’s some handy information. (Other tracks include: Children’s Publishing, Marketing & Engagement, as well as Analytics, Tech & Mobile.) For more information, visit the original press release here, and the conference website here.
As a self-publishing author, you may find it helpful to stay up-to-date on the trends and news related to the self-publishing industry.This will help you make informed decisions before, during and after the self-publishing process, which will lead to a greater self-publishing experience. To help you stay current on self-publishing topics, simply visit our blog every Monday to find out the hottest news. If you have other big news to share, please comment below.
ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT: Kelly Schuknecht is the Executive Vice President of Outskirts Press. In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog, kellyschuknecht.com.


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With the iPad 2 out and in short supply, the rumor mill's attention is now shifting to what we could expect to see in the new iPhone and iOS 5, the next iteration of Apple's mobile OS. And while the new iPhone 5 is set to arrive some time this summer...
NetQin Mobile on Friday denied reports that claimed it had deliberately installed viruses on customers' mobile phones along with its antivirus software and then charged customers to remove the malware.
Sony Ericsson has announced its XPERIA Play Android phone -- dubbed the 'PlayStation phone' -- will launch on Telstra, Optus and Vodafone in May or June. The XPERIA Play promises an 'immersive gaming experience' with 50 games available at launch.
Apple received good and bad news from the U.S. International Trade Commission on Friday.
Looking to sell more phones and tablets to enterprises -- and get around Android's reputation as not yet enterprise-ready -- Samsung is developing its own software, helping customers build their own app stores and reworking its sales operation.
Sony Ericsson is planning to upgrade the Xperia X10 to Android 2.3 at the end of the second quarter or the beginning of the third quarter, the company said in a blog post on Friday.
Telstra will introduce unlimited text messages on a selection of its new 'Freedom Connect' mobile phone cap plans, available from 29 March.
Verizon Wireless CIO Ajay Waghray ORLANDO -- IT innovations at Verizon Wireless have been put to work behind recent online customer account management systems and upgrades to Verizon store kiosks, said Ajay Waghray, CIO at Verizon Wireless.
Microsoft is recognizing enterprise realities with its new accommodations for rivals' smartphones in an upcoming version of System Center Configuration Manager, an industry analyst said on Thursday.
Motorola is investigating voice quality issues that some users of the Atrix -- the phone notable for its ability to dock with a laptop-like device -- are reporting.
Microsoft has put up a website that allows owners of Windows Phone 7-based smartphones to find out when they will be offered the copy and paste update, the company said in a <a href="http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/201...
Lower-than-normal rainfall around a major technology manufacturing area in Taiwan, the Hsinchu Science Park, has prompted the government to cut water pressure at night and study more stringent measures going forward.
Makers of applications that locate drunk-driving checkpoints are misunderstood, defenders said Wednesday, a day after four U.S. senators called for smartphone makers to pull applications from their services.
An iPad app that may soon play a pivotal role connecting soldiers on the street with airplanes hovering high above will be shown for the first time next month at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas.
Microsoft hates when customers buy products that weren't built in Redmond, but Steve Ballmer and crew aren't going to miss a moneymaking opportunity, even if that means managing iPhones, iPads, Androids and, yes, even Linux computers.
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First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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Uber Entertainment’s Super Monday Night Combat is now available. The game was officially expected on April 18 but slipped onto Steam overnight in response to confusion over a batch of weekend invites. Super Monday Night Combat is the sequel to a hit MOBA-shooter- hybrid, which launched on Xbox Live Arcade in 20120 and went free-to-play on PC last year.
Thanks, PC Gamer.
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Tim Spicer, owner of his own music store, Spicer's Music in Auburn, Ala., checks out the unique acoustic guitar selection at Two Old Hippies in the Gulch during a visit to Nashville on Tuesday. / Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean
Mandolins are sold at Two Old Hippies at 401 12th Ave. S. in Nashville's Gulch area. / Dipti Vaidya / The Tennessean
IF YOU GO
Summer NAMM Music Industry Day
Where: Music City Center
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Admission: $10 until Friday; $20 at the door.
Details: visit namm.org/summer/2013/ musicindustryday
When the National Association of Music Merchants kicks off its summer trade show this weekend, one group of instruments will be grabbing more attention than its high-tech peers.
Acoustic instrument sales are spiking, according to The Music Trades’ industry census and responses from major instrument manufacturers. Guitars, mandolins, banjos and other members of the acoustic guitar family are generating sales that are up 32 percent since 2010.
Chris Martin IV, chairman and CEO of C.F. Martin & Co., says this isn’t the first time acoustic instruments have boomed.
“Periodically, musicians rediscover just how cool acoustic instruments are,” said Martin, who heads one of the largest guitar manufacturers in the country. “It’s a roots thing.”
Martin credits popular artists such as Mumford and Sons, the Avett Brothers, the Lumineers and others for reintroducing acoustic instruments to a wider audience. But while the use of acoustic instruments by mega-successful artists helps get people interested, Martin is sure to note the company’s primary clientele.
“The majority of our customers are dedicated amateurs,” Martin said. “We wouldn’t have the business we have if not for them.”
Martin says retailers such as Guitar Center, Martin & Co.’s largest distributor, have been “pedal to the metal” since the recession of 2009.
George Gruhn, owner of Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, says the rise in acoustic instrument sales is a result of the market “bottoming out” about four years ago.
“The fact that sales have risen since then are not all that surprising,” Gruhn said. “The basic market for fretted instruments is actually surprisingly resilient. Fundamentally, people like guitars, banjos and mandolins.”
NAMM is expecting exhibitors to take advantage of the trend this weekend at its annual summer trade show at the Music City Center. More than 400 merchants, representing about 1,150 brands, will take part in the event, the largest NAMM summer show in five years.
Martin says he believes people are buying more acoustic instruments because they’re fun, portable and are more present in Top 40 music today. Another reason for the uptick, according to Martin, is the ease with which amateur musicians can record their own material.
“The ability to record music is affecting sales for sure,” said Martin. “You can record music now on your iPad — it’s easy, and it’s making people want to buy instruments.”
Acoustic instruments are known for being central to the bluegrass and folk music scenes, but Gruhn adds that “acoustic instruments are versatile enough to be used in a wide variety of different music.”
Brian Majeski, editor of The Music Trades, says the fretted instrument market’s strength comes from the guitar’s important role in making music. “The guitar is a fixture,” he said. “It’s so tightly woven in American culture.”
Contact Hamlet Fort at firstname.lastname@example.org or 615-259-8071.


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The Whirlpool tumble dryer CRISIS has been rolling on for well over a year, with machines made by the company and its sub-brands of Indesit, Creda and a few others linked with hundreds of cases of fire. Finally, after endless battering to do so, it's told owners of affected machines to turn them off instead of continuing to use them with crossed fingers.
The new safety advice from Whirlpool is to unplug any machines included in the safety notice, which covers units made by Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda between 2004 and 2015. That is thought to cover 3.8 million dryers. Whirlpool says 1.5 million owners have registered to have theirs fixed, with 1.3 million repairs being made in the UK. So there's as many as 2.3 million potential fire hazard tumble dryers still out there, ominously spinning away, slowly building up a collection of bone dry fluff ready to ignite.
The likes of Which? are extremely happy about the new advice to stop using the machines entirely, as it's been complaining and petitioning the manufacturer to do more than fix dodgy machines as and when breakages occur. [Which?]


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Fife Chamber of Commerce appointed Brian Horisk as its new president at its annual general meeting.
Perth-based transport firm Stagecoach will take the government to court after it was disqualified from bidding for the West Coast rail franchise.
More than £15 million has been invested into a Fife distillery which plans to release a single malt in 2029.
The director of V&A Dundee was recognised with an award for ‘transforming Scotland’ at the Institute of Directors Scotland awards last night.
Carl Morenikeji’s Cupar shop has supplied props to several major motion pictures
The new owners of a Highland Perthshire holiday park have announced a significant investment programme.
The businessman behind a new customer contact centre in Fife has outlined his plans to create more than 200 jobs over the next two years.
Luxury Perthshire hotel Gleneagles’ revenues passed more than £1 million a week for the first time as it continued an extensive refurbishment programme last year.
A rise in occupancy levels helped Perth-based care home group Balhousie to record sales of £41 million last year.
Videogames start-ups should plan for their financial and legal futures as early in their business journey as possible, a trio of industry experts has advised.