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Candle business glows with success
Twenty-three years ago, Jackie and Alan Carberry started a candle-making business in the basement of their home.
Today, Warm Glow Candles are sold in 2,000 stores across the nation. The Carberrys manage an 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that during peak season employs more than 20 and produces as many as 10,000 candles a day. Almost half of those candles go to their own retail complex down the road, another nearly 25,000 square feet filled with home and garden décor, food and wine, works by regional artisans, Christmas and seasonal ornaments, and candles.
Lots and lots and lots of candles. In 72 fragrances that give both retail and manufacturing spaces a unique and distinctive scent.
Warm Glow is an impressive story of business success, and Jackie Carberry credits much of that success to the company’s location in Wayne County, Indiana.
“This area is so receptive to entrepreneurs,” she said. “Every door that needed to be open to us … was opened.”
Local banks, insurance companies, accounting firms and attorneys “helped us every step of the way,” said Carberry. Without that help, “we couldn’t have become what we’ve been blessed to become.”
The company – especially the retail complex, which employs as many as 25 – also has benefited from having Interstate 70 run through the heart of the county. The Warm Glow shops are right next to the interstate, just feet from Exit 145 and easily recognizable because of the gigantic candle nestled among the buildings.
That candle caught the eyes of Scott Grider and Laura Helm of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, as they were passing through Wayne County several months ago. Curious, they decided to stop, not realizing it would be the beginning of a long-term relationship.
Grider and Helm were in the process of creating their own retail business, CU Over the Rainbow, which they describe as a nostalgic candy/variety shop. One look, one sniff and they were certain they wanted to feature Warm Glow Candles in their shop. They were referred to the manufacturing plant, where they set up an order immediately. They also inquired about the possibility of a custom candle in orange and blue, the team colors of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
No problem, they were told. Although Grider and Helm don’t yet have a brick-and-mortar store, they have no trouble selling whatever they pick up during their regular trips to Warm Glow. “Everybody’s just been falling in love with the candles,” said Grider, as Helms nodded enthusiastically.
That’s not to mention the coconut cream pie and Indiana wine the pair always purchases for their own use. The Warm Glow retail staff makes sure to have those favorites on hand when they know the CU Over the Rainbow folks are coming.
This kind of effort is more than excellent customer service. Carberry knows that for many visitors, the Warm Glow shops form the first impression of Wayne County. “It’s important to be a good ambassador,” she said. Within the main shop, there is a Welcome Center made available rent-free to the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau, so shoppers can learn more about the region’s attractions and events.
Billboards along the drive back to the interstate invite interested travelers to go a mile or so out of their way to explore the many antique shops in Centerville and Cambridge City. Ron Purcell of Purcell’s Main Street Antiques in Centerville said those signs bring him new customers all the time.
To Jackie Carberry, it’s a way of paying the county back for the support she and Alan have been given. “We think about what’s best not just for Warm Glow, but for the whole of Wayne County,” she said.
The Carberrys moved to the area in 1991, attracted by the beautiful architecture. They purchased a home on Richmond’s Main Street. Alan got a job as an electrical engineer in nearby Brookville, Ohio, and Jackie found work in her field of food service.
Then Jackie was diagnosed with cancer.
That “eye-opening experience” changed her life.
When she recovered, she didn’t have the stamina for food service, so Jackie and Alan began selling antiques at a small shop. At the same time, they began experimenting with candles in the basement of their home. Once they were satisfied with their product, they offered the candles for sale at the antique shop.
Before long, the candles were the staple of the business.
“That was kind of our market study,” Jackie Carberry said with a laugh.
They heard about a wholesale candle company for sale. “I was thinking that would be a good direction,” she said. When the sale fell through, they decided to expand their own operation. In 1995, Warm Glow candles made their wholesale trade show debut.
“We had tremendous success,” Carberry said.
Alan was still working as an engineer and helping Jackie with the candles at night. They closed the antique shop and hired two people to help them with the candles – still manufactured in their basement. The dining room of their beautiful period home was filled with cartons of candles ready to ship. Jackie found she could never get away from the fledgling business. And carrying cartons of candles – each of which weighs over two pounds – up the basement stairs was becoming onerous.
They rented a 6,000-square-foot building and expanded the operation to six employees. Jackie said she remembers thinking, “I can’t imagine ever needing anything more than this.”
It didn’t take long to prove her wrong. A neighbor saw the difficulties they were having with wax deliveries, now by the semi-load. “You need a bigger building … with loading docks,” the businessman said. He happened to have something available.
After five years of continued growth, the Carberrys again were looking for more space when another businessman dropped in. He showed them the current manufacturing facility “so conducive to our needs.” The long, narrow building was well suited to hand-dipped candle production and the Centerville location had easier access to the interstate than their Richmond facility. It was also about a mile from the small retail space they had opened in 2000.
In 2002, they bought the factory.
In 2004, they broke ground on a 10,000-square-foot building on land next to the small retail store. That opened in 2005, but by 2010 the shop was full to bursting. In 2011, they opened a 10,000-square-foot addition to the main building and a rebuilt version of the 3,000-square-foot original store to house The Watering Can, a specialty garden shop. The two are connected by a 1,500-square-foot outdoor pavilion.
“It was quite a ride,” said Carberry.
The company’s growth has, ironically, freed up some of her time. In the early days, she often put in 100 hours a week. Now, working with her trusted team, she has got that down to 40 to 50 hours. Alan, retired from his engineering job, stops by the plant afternoons to supervise, help with shipping, or take care of anything else that needs attention.
And things continue to change.
The garden products have been moved into the main store, and the small shop recently was renamed Artisans & Java. It features artwork, jewelry, pottery, wood carvings and more from regional artisans, and soon will include a coffee shop.
Many people who stop at the Warm Glow store want to buy something from Indiana. Indiana wines and beers, as well as some regional sauces and other foods, have been available in the main store for the past few years. The artisan shop seemed a logical extension.
Carberry, an avid gardener herself, is philosophical about change to the small shop’s identity. “I had one vision and the public quickly changed that vision,” she said. “You have to be flexible.”
Flexibility was one of the things required during the retail complex’ recent Fall Festival. It wasn’t the first year for the event, but for some reason, this year’s festival grew exponentially, resulting in a major traffic problem.
Interstate 70 was actually backed up with cars trying to get off at Exit 145. Centerville Road, which leads to the shops’ driveway, also was blocked. For a while, it was a major headache for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, the Centerville Police Department and the Warm Glow staff. With cooperation and volunteer help, the problems were solved, and plans already are in the works to avoid a similar situation in 2018.
To Carberry, it’s one more example of the advantages of doing business in Wayne County.
“I think it’s a wonderful place to start a company,” she said. The price of land and the cost of living are “very conducive to attracting corporations that might think of relocating here.”


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Rumours of a nationwide tea shortage have proven little more than a storm in a tea cup, after Tetley workers agreed to a 7% pay rise.
However, the workforce – employed at Tetley’s factory in Teesside – has now accepted a new, improved offer from Tetley owner Tata Consumer Products.
The pay offer would be backdated to 1 April, GMB said.
Union organiser Laura Maughan hailed the resolution and praised Tata for “finally listening to their workforce”.
She said: “After years of real terms pay cuts, these low-paid, predominantly women workers have stood together and demanded more – and they’ve got it.
“This pay rise will enable them to support their families and stop replying on food banks.
“These workers should be rightly proud of themselves and Tata should be congratulated for finally listening to their workforce.”
A spokesperson for Tata Consumer Products added: “We’re pleased that the continued constructive discussions we’ve had with the unions have reached a positive conclusion with a strong majority acceptance of the revised pay award offered.”
The company has said it has contingency plans in place to prevent disruption to its supply.

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A University of Strathclyde spin-out company that’s raised two funding rounds from FTSE100 giant Croda International is poised to unveil its prototype technology next week at the In-Cosmetics Global trade show in Paris.
Cutitronics has created a suite of patented technologies and software that can analyse a customer’s skin and then dispense exactly the right amount of beauty products and cosmetics for their specific need.
The device and accompanying smartphone app can be tailored to suit any brand, giving skincare and cosmetic companies the chance to create a bespoke package to suit each customer’s skin.
Cutitronics’ disruptive technologies are poised to usher in an age of personalised skincare, allowing brands to bring the scientific rigour of clinical studies into customers’ homes by receiving feedback from users and measuring the results on the health of their skin.
Dr David Heath, Founder and Chief Executive at Cutitronics, explained: “Our CutiTron technology is like a Fitbit for the skin – it opens the door to personalised skincare for brands and their customers.
“Our prototype can analyse the hydration of a customer’s skin and draw on a wide range of external information, such as their location, the outside temperature and the humidity in the air.
“It can then recommend and dispense the right amount of a product that the customer should use on that particular day to get the best results for their skin.
“The system is tailored to what their skin needs depending on whether they’re at home, travelling for work or lying on the beach on holiday.”
Dr Heath added: “This is just the tip of the personalised beauty iceberg – our technologies can be tailored to offer different services for different brands.
“As well as dispensing the brand’s products to their customers, our technology can also gather information that the customer can choose to send back to the brand.
“That data can be invaluable to help brands improve their formulations or learn more about their customers’ skincare routines.
“Customers could even receive feedback from brands and advice from their beauticians, as well as automatically reordering products if they’re running low.”
As part of his doctorate and subsequent research work in biomedical engineering at the University of Strathclyde, Dr Heath investigated how drugs could be delivered through the skin.
His investigations led him to realise that the same principles could be applied in the beauty and cosmetics industry, which has previously relied on chemistry for its innovation.
Sandra Breene, President of Personal Care & North America at Croda, which creates, makes and sells speciality chemicals for some of the world’s biggest and most successful brands, and a Non-Executive Director of Cutitronics, said: “David and his team have created a really innovative technology that’s going to disrupt the beauty market.
“This is a great opportunity for brands to partner with Cutitronics and produce white label devices and apps that will strengthen those brands’ relationships with their customers.
“The opportunities to gather feedback from customers to help in product development and build further brand loyalty are second to none.”


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Illinois sportsbooks won nearly $80m during the month of November.
With the third-most revenue in the country in November, Illinois is a significant contributor to a month-long surge in revenue. So far, the state has totaled $658.5m across legal US sports betting markets, according to PlayIllinois, which tracks the state’s regulated online gaming and sports betting market.
Bettors poured $779.8m in wagers into the state’s retail and online sportsbooks in November. This fell short of the $840.4m in wagers that were placed in October, according to official data.
Betting volume dipped to $26m per day over the month’s 30 days. This was a drop from $27.1m per day over the 31 days in October. Year-over-year, wagers were up 74% in November from $449.2m in November 2020.
Gross revenue rose 112% to a record $78.2m in November from $37.0m in November 2020.
Football betting slipped to $257.1m in November from $330.1m in wagers during a five-weekend October. This was due to November having four full weeks in it, with the Chicago Bears only playing three games. Exuberance over the Chicago Bulls helped fuel $226.3m in betting on basketball, up from $93.3m in October. Tennis generated $39.8m, soccer $27.8m and hockey $24.8m.
DraftKings/Casino Queen topped the state with $288.7m in combined online and retail handle, including $283.8m in online wagers. The combined handle was down from $315.3m in October but produced $21.9m in gross revenue.
FanDuel was second with $216.2m in online and retail wagers, including $214.4m in online wagering. The combined handle was down from $236.7m in October, producing a market-best $30.2m in gross revenue.


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By Min-Jeong Lee and Jenny Hsu
Samsung Electronics was underperforming its peers following news reports that a German court has ruled Samsung Electronics’ tablet computer cannot be sold in most of the European Union. Samsung’s shares were up 1% at 731,000 won ($675), while LG Electronics rose 2.8% to 62,600 won and Hynix advanced 4.5% to 21,100 won.
The Kospi was up 1.4% at 1,825.95, after rising by as much as 4.2% earlier, as foreigners dumped 996 billion won of net worth in local shares, which weighed on the overall market amid fragile investor sentiment following Kospi’s 17% dive over the last six sessions
Meanwhile, in Taiwan, Apple-concept shares such as Hon Hai, Foxconn Technology and Catcher were tipped to extend gains on the news. Hon Hai was up 3.2% at 73.30 New Taiwan dollars (US$2.53), Catcher rose 4.7% to NT$244.50 and Foxconn advanced 5.7% to NT$110.50.
Taiwan shares overall were up 2.3% to 7,662.18 on a technical rebound and bargain-hunting after dropping to low valuations in recent sessions, said a local stock analyst, who tips the Taiex to hover in a 7,600-7,800 band.
He said the Taiex could be choppy throughout the day as some profit-taking will also take place.
“The short-term selling pressure has subsided but investors are closely watching how U.S. bond prices will fare in the next few days,” he adds.


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Tata Motors is expected to launch a new version of the Nano. Dubbed GenX, the car will be equipped with a Generation 3 automated manual transmission (AMT). The gearbox is expected to make it easier to drive. According to a media report, the ... Team-BHP.com, 1 day ago
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Starting with Nano, its Twist XE variant is being offered at INR 1.60 lakhs as against its original price of INR 2.28 lakhs. In the case of Nano Twist XT the price has come down to INR 1,99 lakhs from INR 2.68 lakhs. Nano emax CNG for that matter ...OnCars.in, 2 days ago Zoomcar offers Nano on rent at Rs 19 per hour! Gaadi.com, 2 weeks ago Zoomcar offers the Tata Nano at Rs. 19 per hour Team-BHP.com, 2 weeks ago
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Follow @AutomobilesGuru on Twitter for important updates) Business Line reported that Mr Ranjit Yadav, Tata Motors President (International Business), who joined the automaker from Korean telecom giant Samsung Electronics in 2012, has put in his ...Steel Guru, 4 weeks ago Tata Motors President Ranjit Yadav quits Hindu Business Line, 1 month ago Tata Motors Nano Celebrates for Entering the Guinness World Record 24Dunia, 2 months ago
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Crafty thieves have figured out a way to break into your car that doesn't involve smashing a window or picking a lock. They're using some sort of mystery device that lets them open the door and help themselves to what's inside. It's a mystery device because no one, not even cops or auto manufacturers, know what it is.
Surveillance footage of break-ins have shown crooks walking right up to a car and simply opening the door, as if it had been left unlocked. It appears that the device they're using gets them into newer cars with the keyless entry system. These thefts are expected to become a more widespread problem, so be careful. (BroBible.com)


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Consumer Reports ranks the best fast food burgers in America
NECA's 7-inch figures of Tonto (Johnny Depp) and the Lone Ranger (Armie Hammer) from "The Lone Ranger."
Take a look at some of the action figures for movies coming out in July and August.
Russia is preparing the transfer of more powerful weaponry into Ukraine and it could happen at any time, the Pentagon spokesman said Friday, citing the latest U.S. intelligence.


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The Spanish based automaker Seat has released the first presentation video with the brand new 2013 Leon SC, revealing the model from just about every angle possible.
The new generation of the Seat Leon SC will be officially presented to the public for the first time next month, during the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The model has been unveiled hours ago following a tease and an eventual leak. The 2013 Seat Leon SC is 4.23 meters long and its wheelbase is 35 mm shorter than the one found on the five-door version. Seat says that the Leon SC has been inspired by the IBE, IBL and IBX Concepts.
The 2013 Seat Leon SC is getting the same suspension system found on the five-door Leon, along with the same engine lineup, ranging between 1.2 and 2.0 liter units with outputs varying from 105 HP (77 kW) and 184 HP (135 kW). A new version of the 2013 Seat Leon will be added later on this year, in the shape of an ST estate, and next year the carmaker will introduce the Cupra variants on all three body styles. Additional details on the 2013 Seat Leon are limited for the moment and will probably be announced in Geneva next month.


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Blue Bell Creameries has recalled its product from all retail stores due to possible Listeria contamination. The Blue Bell Creameries are currently working towards finding solutions to fix the contamination issues, in order to prevent further recalls from happening in the future.
The recall includes taking all of the products such as ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet, and frozen snacks, off the market until the problem solved. CEO and President of the Texas-based company, Paul Kruse, told WBIR, they were heartbroken about the situation, and are committed to do right by being safe, and by removing all the products from the market. The company’s history has been about making the very best products for their customers, and fixing the problem is their main concern.
Blue Bell Creameries is working towards fixing contamination issues, which arose after results from a new enhanced sampling program created by Blue Bell that showed its half gallon Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream, made on March 17 and March 27, contained the Listeria bacteria. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria which leads to infections that sickens or kill elder adults, pregnant women, and adults with weak immune systems.
Listeria is an organism that is found in soil and water. Animals can carry the bacteria without any signs; and it contaminates foods that comes from animals such as dairy products, and meats. The bacteria is also found in raw foods as well as processed foods. The bacteria is usually destroyed once food is cooked or processed, but contamination can also occur after cooking and right before packaging.
The Center of Disease Control (CDC), has began to work continuously to correct any contamination sources. Blue Bell Creameries has had several positive tests within their distribution plants. The CDC has also confirmed that 10 people have suffered from the bacteria since 2010, and are now connected to the recent outbreak. All 10 were hospitalized and three in Kansas have died. CDC has recommended to all retailers to stop selling the product, and customers that have recently purchased the brand to not consume the product.
Twenty three states such as, Tennessee, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming, and international locations will all be affected by the recall. Blue Bell has gone into brand management crisis mode, and its website has been taken over by ads displaying the company’s President apology statement.
A procedure called test and hold will take place to determine if all products made at the manufacturing facilities are safe for distribution. The procedure will ensure that all products are tested and held before release to the market until results indicate that the products are safe. Until this procedure is put in place, the Broken Arrow, OH facility will be closed until investigations have been completed. Kruse told Food Safety News that the company did not know how the Listeria was introduced into the facility, and they are working with their team to eliminate the problem as soon as possible.
In addition to the test and hold procedure, Blue Bell Creameries plans to expand their safety steps to prevent future contamination from taking place. They are adding more daily cleaning routines, carefully sanitizing equipment, expanding their swabbing system, and testing the plants environment to include more surfaces. The are also sending daily samples to a leading microbiology laboratory, and adding more safety training for their employees.
Blue Bell Creameries hopes to begin distributing its products soon, but the CDC believes they will be off the market for at least two to three weeks. As far as sales, the CEO will need more than an apology to its customers in order for people to want to continue to eat the product again, since its recall was triggered by serious illnesses and deaths.
Blue Bell Creameries and the CDC are working to find solutions that will prevent prevent future recalls. Customers that purchased their products are asked to return the merchandise back to the retailer for a full refund. If consumers have any additional questions, they can call 1-866-608-3940, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT. Symptoms such as sudden onset of vomiting, chills, gastrointestinal symptoms, severe headache, fever, influenza-type symptoms, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea (diarrhea lasts up to 1-4 days), medical assistance should be contacted immediately.
By Krystle Mitchell


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Now, Ruiz works out at least four times a week, thanks to a video game.
In her bedroom, she sprints, squats, stretches and performs other exercises such as knee lifts and shoulder presses, all while battling a muscle-bound dragon and her toads in “Ring Fit Adventure,” a new game from Japanese tech giant Nintendo. .
“I’m so focused on beating the high score or defeating an enemy that 30 minutes have passed before I know it,” said Ruiz, 26, who is studying to become a nursing assistant in Bakersfield, California.
“Ring Fit Adventure,” created for the Nintendo Switch console, is the latest attempt by the video game industry to try to entice consumers to get off the couch and become more active. Developers are plugging fitness into games as part of a dual strategy: retaining players by offering a physical twist on traditional gameplay and attracting new ones like Ruiz looking to break the monotony of working out.
The campaign is appealing to parents and other caregivers who are worried about the amount of time children spend being carried on screens. And the games help counter the stereotype of the sedentary player, sitting in a chair for hours on end.
“Developers are trying to reach people who want fun and fitness at the same time,” said Rik Eberhardt, program manager at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Game Lab. “They know that fitness is good for them, but it can feel like a task in their busy lives.”
Fitness games make up only 1% of the market, but the industry is growing steadily. Sales of games across all platforms generated $ 35.4 billion in the United States last year, up 2% from 2018, according to NPD Group, a market research firm.
“Our latest data shows that 73% of US consumers play video games of one sort or another,” said Mat Piscatella, industry analyst for NPD. “Given the wide range of players, the industry has a” great opportunity “to provide a greater variety of gaming experience.”
Exergaming, an exercise and gaming portmanteau, has been around since the late 1980s, when Bandai introduced Power Pad, a gray mat with pressure sensors, for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Games now use motion sensors, smartwatches and even virtual reality to track player movement.
The gameplay has changed, too. Some games hide fitness habits in the form of role play, dancing or other activities like running from zombies. Others are fitness and health apps that guide users through work sessions with gamelike features like scoreboards, real-time feedback and multiplayer options.
The Nintendo’s Wii game console brought exergaming to the mainstream in 2006. Its “Wii Fit” game incorporated a balance board so players burn calories through calisthenic and yoga.
“The Wii had the fastest adoption rate in the United States of any console in the first three years,” said Piscatella. “Wii Fit” remains one of the best-selling games in the United States, according to NPD.
Nintendo’s two main competitors, Microsoft and Sony, followed it, adding motion-sensing cameras to their consoles. Games like “Just Dance” and “Zumba Fitness: Join the Party,” available on Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony consoles, were “breakthrough successes” during the bidding era, Piscatella said.
Since then, the industry has been overtaken by the rise of mobile devices, which allow games to be played on the go.
“Consumer expectations have changed dramatically,” said Piscatella. “People are no longer just playing on their TVs in their living room. They now want to be able to play games whenever and wherever. ”
“Zombies, Run!” trains runners to complete hundreds of missions, including one with author Margaret Atwood, to escape the zombie apocalypse while running a 5K. In “Pokémon Go,” players capture creatures in real-world locations using augmented reality and GPS on their phones.
Hoping to build on that trend, Nintendo in 2017 introduced the Switch, which acts as both a traditional console and a handheld device. The Switch was the fastest-selling console in the United States that year and has sold more than 52 million units.
“Part of the Switch is a recognition that Nintendo’s main rival is not just Microsoft and Sony but Apple and Google as well,” said Philip Tan, creative director of MIT’s Game Lab.
He added that Nintendo is drawing on its strength in creating games that bridge the digital and physical world. “Instead of trying to compete with other console makers with better cinematography, they have created an innovative new console,” says Tan.
The company has focused on games, such as “Ring Fit Adventure,” which are using consoles in new ways, said Bill Trinen, senior director of product marketing at Nintendo.
“Nintendo wants to create games that encourage people to be active and motivate them to stay active,” said Trinen. He added that the company hoped that the role-play adventure format would encourage people to play longer.
Tiffany Ruiz works out with a Nintendo game Ring Fit Adventure at home in Bakersfield, Calif on December 4, 2019. The New York Times
Part of the popularity of “Ring Fit is” comes from its unique controller, a flexible resistance ring that Nintendo calls Ring Con. When players press, pull or hold it above their movements, their movements are tracked in the game.
Other games incorporate new hardware as well. Beat Games’ Beat Saber, a music game, relies on virtual reality goggles; it sold more than 1 million copies in nine months after being introduced in 2018.
But “Ring Fit” is attracting an increasing number of fans to the gameplay. “I love this fun, goofy story that is much denser than ‘Wii Fit.’ It hides the exercise, and you can’t cheat, “said Tristan Scatliffe, a 33-year-old product manager who lives in Brooklyn, New York.” The first time I played it, I was dripping with sweat. ”
Late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon posted on Twitter a video of himself playing one of the Ring Fit minigames, Spinal Erectors Challenge.
Many exergames promote movement, but there is debate about whether they increase physical fitness. Critics have said they feel the exercise routines are phenomenal, and a study at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found that Wii games didn’t help children meet the demands of daily exercise.
Some researchers create their own energy. Eefje Battel, project manager at the Sports Innovation Campus at Howest University of Applied Sciences in Bruges, Belgium, uses Makey Makey in many of the centre’s children’s exergame projects. Developed by JoyLabz, Makey Makey is an “invention package” that allows users to connect everyday objects to the internet through alligator clips and a simple keyboard.
Battel created a version of “Tetris,” an 80s puzzle game where falling blocks are manipulated to fit in a straight line. In its version, conductors are attached to bananas and other fruits, and children have to run from fruit to fruit to move the tiles in the game.
Regardless of the fun factor, exergames are not without risks, Battel said. One missing element of “Ring Fit,” he says, is a trainer to make sure players perform exercises correctly and safely.
“If you squat, the system will measure up and down movement, but it doesn’t track posture,” he said.
Nintendo hopes that “Ring Fit” will become a best-selling game as “Wii Fit” did in its heyday. Game analysts like Piscatella haven’t decided yet.
“What makes Nintendo unique is their willingness to push boundaries, and when Nintendo is really weird, they’re at their best,” he said. “Ring Fit Adventure could be the biggest thing or not. It’s still hard to predict. ”
c.2020 The New York Times Company


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Ahead of the new Sonata's Korean market launch on March 24, several images of the sedan's service guide have leaked on the internet thanks to LF Sonata Club.
Contrary to earlier reports about the Sonata's 2.4-liter engine being replaced by a downsized 1.6-liter turbocharged unit, LF Sonata Club says that the larger engine will continue to be seen on the 2015 Sonata. In addition to the 2.4-liter GDI unit, the new Sonata in Korea will be available with a 2.0-liter petrol engine which will also support LPG fuel.
On the outside, the new Sonata looks less fussy and more elegant than the outgoing model. Certain parts of the sedan resemble Hyundai's newly launched Genesis sedan. The service guide confirms the availability of HID (High Intensity Discharge) Bi-Xenon headlights and LED taillights.
From these images, its easy to see that the steering wheel on the new Sonata sports a four-spoke design and comes with an array of integrated controls. In terms of safety, the new Sonata will feature at least six airbags apart from other safety features such as ABS, EBD, ESP and TCS.
The new Sonata launches in South Korea next week, with Hyundai having received over 10,000 pre-orders already.
[Images from LF Sonata Club]


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Asus has started rolling out Android Marshmallow update for the Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE500KL) with build number 188.8.131.52_M3.6.44.
According to the official changelog Asus has removed the following apps from the Marshmallow build of the device:
Google settings (Integrated in ASUS Settings)
Although Google Calendar, Google Messenger and Dr. Booster apps would still come pre-installed while Asus Email, Asus Calendar and Asus Messaging have also been removed.
The company also recommends that before installing the Marshmallow update on your Zenfone 2 Laser you should move apps to the internal storage. The update is being rolled out slowly and you can check for software updates from settings, if you haven't got the notification yet.


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Unique Wedding Invitation of Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain
Unique wedding invitation of Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain
Leading actors Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain announced the date of their marriage, the unique and hilarious card of the couple's wedding soon went viral on social media.
Iqra Aziz and Yassir Hussain announced the wedding date on social networking site Instagram. The wedding card has a beautiful illustration of the two.
The text of the card is also very interesting. The card says, Yasir (late come right), servant of the servant, Iqra, the daughter of Aziz Sahib.
According to the card, the couple is going to be in a marriage on December 28 this year, which is why it was written on the card that there will be further inflation in 2020.
Gifts are written at the end of the card, no gifts needed, however, like greetings, open-heartedly.
It may be recalled that Iqra Aziz has got his iron in acting very soon with few dramas while the number of his fans is increasing day by day.
Yasir Hussein offered marriage to Iqra this year at an awards ceremony, which some people liked, while some criticized him for calling it a publicity stunt.


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NFT Industry SuperRare Cuts 30% Of Team – TechCrunch
The NFT market SuperRare is reducing 30% of its personnel, according to a Slack message from CEO John Crain. Crain published a screenshot of the message on Twitter.
” During the current bull run, we expanded in tandem with the marketplace. In current months, it’s ended up being clear that this hostile development was unsustainable,” Crain created. “We over-hired, and also I take complete possession of this blunder.”
TechCrunch connected to Crain for remark.
SuperRare increased a $9 million Series A in March 2021, led by Velvet Sea Ventures as well as 1confirmation. The round additionally consisted of celeb financiers like Mark Cuban, Marc Benioff an


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Plenty of folks point out that the U.S. is lagging when it comes to 5G, but researchers are hoping to spur 5G R&D in the U.S. with the new Wireless Innovation Lab at National Instruments headquarters in Austin, Texas.
Nokia reported stronger sales in North America in the first quarter, and in its networks business overall. However, the underlying profit of the company's networks business fell, and investors grew worried about drooping margins.
Verizon Communications will move to a software-centric network architecture to reduce costs and deliver new services to customers faster. The company today announced that Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Juniper Networks and Nokia Networks will be its five initial software-defined network vendors.
Verizon is implementing software-defined networking throughout its networks to improve service timelines. For the company's wireline network, the initial focus will be on migrating legacy elements and functions onto software-based platforms.
Nokia shot down reports it is gearing up to launch a new range of Android smartphones in 2016 in an official statement released in response to feverish speculation that the world's former number one device maker is set to re-enter the market.
Nokia's integration of Alcatel-Lucent following the proposed acquisition of its rival will be difficult and messy. Some significant rewards will take many years to achieve, if ever. However, very large research and development demands with economies of scale and scope in 4G, 5G and with fixed-mobile network convergence make this kind of transaction inevitable and indispensable.
Nokia reportedly attracted four potential bidders for its HERE mapping business, after announcing it is reviewing the division's future alongside a proposed acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent.
Nokia is preparing to jump back into the handset market as soon as next year, likely via licensing its brand and technologies, according to a Re/code report.
Now that the Q1 2015 earnings season is getting underway, FierceWireless is tracking the performance of large carriers and vendors, including T-Mobile US, Sprint, and Nokia. Special report
Speculation over Ericsson's future strategy has intensified following Nokia's announcement this week that it plans to buy Alcatel-Lucent, with some saying the Sweden-based vendor will be forced to expand its fixed-line business.


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Rising geriatric population and increasing cases of disabilities around the globe are driving the global market says Fortune Business Insights in a report titled “Mobility Devices Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Product (Wheelchairs, Cane, Crutches, Mobility Scooters, Lifts), By End-User (Homecare settings, Hospitals & Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities), And Geography Forecast Till 2026.” Growing demand for safe and affordable mobility devices among disabled people is driving the global market.
Browse Complete Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/mobility-devices-market-100520
Top Key Players Covered:
Key players are involved in mergers and acquisition to strengthen their market position. Owing to increasing competition frequent innovations are taking place in the global Mobility Devices Market. Some of the companies operating the global Market are;
- Sunrise Medical LLC
- Invacare Corporation
- Medline Industries
- GF Health Products Inc
- Hoveround Corporation
- LEVO AG
- Permobil AB
- Merivaara Corporation
Mobility Devices Benefits People with Disability
Mobility devices and transportation equipment are designed to aid individuals suffering from mobility impairment. Mobility devices are utilized to extend independent mobility to physically impaired or geriatric people. The devices are built in a way to assist while providing various benefits to the users, such as a reduction in pain, independence, confidence and self-esteem. The rising geriatric population around the world is supporting the growth of the global market. Mobility devices market on the basis of product is segmented into, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, and mobility scooters.
Mobility scooters are the most widely used mobility devices around the world. The rising elderly population and growing prevalence of disabilities around the world are some of the factors likely to boost the growth of mobility devices in the forthcoming year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) around 10% of people globally require mobility devices for their daily activities and physical movement. Rising prevalence of disability, growing technological advancements, growing geriatric population, and increasing incidence of knee and bone disorders are some factors predicted to drive the global mobility devices market during the forecast period. In addition, rising demand for safe and cost-effective mobility devices among people with disability associated with Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, dystonia and spasticity are expected to aid in the expansion of the global mobility devices market during the forecast period.
North America to dominate the global market
Geographically, the global market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is predicted to dominate the mobility device market during the forecast period, owing to the rising geriatric population. The growing prevalence of diseases, improving healthcare infrastructures by the government along with growing economic development is likely to drive the in the U.S. Europe is predicted to hold the second-largest share after North America, owing to the rising prevalence of disabled population, for instance, approximately 13.3 million people in the United Kingdom suffered from disability every year, according to a report by Disabled living foundation (DLF). mobility devices market in Asia Pacific is predicted to grow at a considerable rate during the forecast period, owing to the technological advancements.In addition, rising geriatric population and growing research and development activities for the development of efficient mobility devices are also the factors responsible for boosting the market in the region.
View More Related Reports:


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Moody Tongue to Open New Restaurant & Bar in Baderbrau’s Old Space
With his culinary background and his craft beer experience, it was only a matter of time before Moody Tongue’s Jared Rouben opened a full-service restaurant to bring together two of his passions.
The actual move from their current brewery/taproom in Pilsen to the recently vacated Baderbrau space is actually not that far: less than two miles away, to be exact. But as space grew tight in the first taproom, Rouben knew it was only a matter of time before they would need to move. However, he also didn’t want to rush anything.
“We wanted to first and foremost set up a brewery to make culinary beers,” he said. “We were fortunate enough, two years after the production side started, that we got to open up a tasting room. We wanted to make sure we could execute what we were providing to our guests.”
To run the culinary program at the new space, Rouben has partnered with nine-time Michelin star chef Jared Wentworth. He first met Wentworth in 2011 when they brewed a beer together at Longman & Eagle where Wentworth was the executive chef.
“This is the most exciting opportunity I’ve ever had,” Rouben said. “The timing was right with Chef Jared. The beer stars align sometimes and you get to work with people you’ve dreamed of working with. It’s nice I can focus on beer and he can focus on food. That’s so important to have a singular focus.”
Since it was already set up to brew beer, the move to the new space was relatively easy; Moody Tongue has begun brewing in their new location while there’s still quite a bit of construction going on at the restaurant and bar.
There will be two separate experiences at Moody Tongue once it opens. There will be The Dining Room at Moody Tongue, which will feature an intimate 25-seat dining room with a 10-course pairing menu (each course will be paired with a beer).
The other option will be The Bar at Moody Tongue, featuring a full a la carte menu with upscale bar food also created by Wentworth.
If you were a fan of the aesthetics and ambiance of the Pilsen tap room which featured a marble bar, top of the line glassware and warm atmosphere, Rouben said the new location will have a very similar feel but now they’ll have a full kitchen.
Rouben wants the 10-course tasting menu to pair beer and food like it hasn’t been done before and he’s excited he gets to do it in Chicago.
“People are looking for beer and food options and people are looking for restaurants where beer is the highlight,” Rouben said. “Chicago is a leader when you look at bringing food and beer together.”
The beer and food pairings will be a collaborative effort between Rouben and Wentworth with each of them trying the pairings before they ever hit the menu.
“We will both consume the pairings and give our approval,” Rouben said. “We’re taking the time to do it right and think about the flavors so the guest doesn’t have to think about anything.”
Rouben has also brought along long-time brewing companion JT Ray, who he first met at Goose Island years ago, to be the brewery’s head brewer. With extensive experience with wilds, sours and bourbon barrel-aging, Ray will be an integral part of the brewery.
“Everyone brings something different to the table and that’s so important,” Rouben said. “Everyone contributes in a different way but without one we couldn’t deliver what we’re doing today.”
The Pilsen brewery will continue serving through June 16; after that, it will close for good. Rouben is aiming for the new space to be open in late summer of this year but also said he won’t rush the timeline.
As for the chocolate cake and oysters that were a staple at the Pilsen taproom, will they make it to the new space?
“You know it,” Rouben said. “Oysters and chocolate cake are a part of Moody Tongue.”


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We are now in the next phase of marketing: the transition into the digital realm. Experimentations with ads in video games and social networking sites are being done. But with the ease made available by the very nature of the digital scene, ads run rampant and perhaps are creating an oversaturated environment.
"The [supposed] solution to everything at the moment in the digital space is adsupported," Sir Howard Stringer, chief executive of Sony, told the Financial Times. "While advertisers are happy to talk that up, there is a limit to the amount of money available."
They also suggest that people are more then willing to accept the intrusion caused by ads if the content they receive is free.
Advertisers cited research showing that consumers found mobile, video game and social network advertising intrusive, but many were willing to put up with it in exchange for free content.
I'm not all that sure about that. With websites and social networks that can work - to an extent - but with gaming? I know a lot of people who are rather frustrated with that. The presentation and form of their advertisement needs to readjust itself to better appeal to the new market that they are finding themselves in.
What do you think about ads in video games or on websites in general?
Source: Financial Times


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The Independent— Sony says the headset will have a new controller, but users will have to wait until 2022 to see it properly
VentureBeat—Sony announces new PSVR for PlayStation 5. Sony announced today that PlayStation 5 is getting its own virtual reality system, a successor to PSVR for PlayStation 4.
arstechnica.com—Sony announces new PSVR hardware for PlayStation 5. New headset coming after 2021 will have higher resolution and new controllers.
Engadget—Sony is working on a new PlayStation VR headset for PS5. Sony is finally hinting at how PlayStation VR will evolve for the PS5. The console maker has revealed the first details of a brand new PSVR headset for its latest console, and the focus will be as much on streamlining the overall experience as it wil


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With glittering cocktail numbers and lush eveningwear, designers were clearly in a celebratory mood as they brought party-worthy wearables to the runway on Friday as spring-summer collections wrapped up at Toronto’s World MasterCard Fashion Week
Luxury timepieces have become the ultimate accessory in this era of adornment. For men, it is the only accessory that is actually worn
Men looking to have children should opt for going full commando, preferably under a traditional Scottish kilt, a new study suggests
You remember that Beatles classic I Wanna Hold Your Hand? Turns out Yoko Ono had other things in mind
Never has being manly required so many beauty products.
Facebook users in the U.S. will soon be able to see which of their friends are in close proximity using a new feature the company is launching on Thursday
If tech reviewers say Samsung’s new Galaxy S5 isn’t as awe-inspiring as some of the company’s older phones that’s fine with Samsung Canada's senior vice president of mobile and enterprise
A look inside Samsung's testing facilities in South Korea and the lengthy process it goes through to make sure every aspect of the Galaxy S5 works


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LAS VEGAS -- Ultrabooks made a big splash at last year's CES, but sales over the course of 2012 were disappointing. Intel yesterday made a determined bid to change all that.
Craig Stice, an analyst at HIS iSuppli, said one reason Ultrabooks didn't gain much traction was the $1000 price tag. At a CES press conference yesterday, Kirk Skaugen, general manager of Intel's PC client group, acknowledged this misstep, announcing that the company's manufacturing partners will soon roll out "dozens of platforms [priced] below $750," including touch-enabled devices for $599.
IN PICTURES: The best of CES 2013
In his analysis of what went wrong with Ultrabooks, Stice added that Intel never made clear to consumers exactly what an Ultrabook was or why it was better than a notebook or tablet.
Intel's Skaugen announced that the second-generation Ultrabooks would feature touchscreens and a convertible form factor, in addition to longer batter life.
Intel executives showed off a handful of convertible notebook/tablet Ultrabooks, including the Lenovo Yoga 11s, whose screen can be folded all the way around to take the traditional notebook, tablet, and tent-style form factors, and the Acer Aspire, whose screen can be detached from its keyboard to act as a 10-millimeter-thin Windows 8 tablet.
In terms of battery life, Intel delivered in this category, announcing that new, lower-power, third-generation processors shipping today will drop to 7 watts of power consumption. The previous generation consumed 15W, and many had expected the upcoming Haswell processor (which Skaugen said will launch within the next few months) to consume around 10W.
Skaugen showed a concept platform called Northscape that, even at 17 mm thin, boasted 13-hour battery life. The update is the largest increase in battery life Intel has ever made between two generations of the same processor, Skaugen said.
Much still needs to be done for Intel to climb out of the hole it dug itself into last year. Stice says marketing and advertising were particularly weak last year, for example. How Intel and its manufacturing partners handle that from here on out remains to be seen.
But it could be that Intel accomplished exactly what it set out to last year. Stice says the true value of the Ultrabook's release in 2012 can be better measured by its impact on the design of future devices than its first-year sales. Given the leaps that have been made since then, CES 2013 may one day be seen as a turning point for the Ultrabook.
Colin Neagle covers emerging technologies and the startup scene for Network World. Follow him on Twitter @ntwrkwrldneagle and keep up with the Microsoft, Cisco and Open Source community blogs. Colin's email address is email@example.com.
Read more about data center in Network World's Data Center section.


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Uzbekistan plans to start selling highly liquid commodities, including oil, gas condensate, silver, and cement on the local market this year as a part of the ongoing reform of the ex-Soviet country’s economy.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s decree said that liquid and monopoly products will be sold exclusively in in domestic commodity exchanges in line with market principles.
Mirzyoyev’s government has embarked on an unexpectedly swift effort at economic, as well as some political reforms, to welcome international investment to the Central Asian country of 34 million. Until the last couple of years, Uzbekistan was considered one of the most closed countries on Earth, on a par with with North Korea and Turkmenistan. It was consistently ranked in the world’s “bottom ten” on indexes of transparency, corruption, and repression.
Mirzoyev, a former prime minister, pushed through changes involving a five-year development strategy, introduced in 2017.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), formalin, silver, consumer and technical ethyl alcohol will be put on sale in the Tashkent exchange from June 15 by companies and enterprises who in effect are state monopolies – that is – where the state holds a controlling share – 50% or more, according to the document.
Oil and gas condensate, cotton seeds and cotton seed oil will also go onto the commodity market by the end of the year, it said, adding that cement producers will sell 50% of their product in the same manner.
The measures are part of the reforms that Uzbekistan has been carrying out in recent years to introduce market economy rules.


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Earlier this year Ford released a hybrid police vehicle based on the Ford Fusion and now Ford has introduced a plug-in hybrid version. The Special Service Plug-in Hybrid Sedan can travel up to 21 miles in electric mode.
Ford says that the Special Service Plug-in Hybrid Sedan is designed specifically for police and fire chiefs, detectives, and other government personnel whose jobs don’t require a pursuit-rated vehicle.
“This is the first Ford police vehicle that can potentially get through an entire shift using no gasoline whatsoever,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager. “Anyone can plug this in to any wall outlet to run gas- and emissions-free on battery-only operation.”
A 3.3-kilowatt onboard charger allows agencies to fully charge the 7.6-kilowatt-hour battery in just 2.5 hours on a 240-volt, level-two charger. Once the battery is depleted, the vehicle still has a driving range over 500 miles.


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Sep 2, 2009
Fast Retailing eyes M&A, new markets for sales boost
Sep 2, 2009
By Taiga Uranaka
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Fast Retailing, operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, said it wanted to boost annual sales more than seven-fold to $54 billion by 2020 as it seeks acquisitions and expands in overseas markets.
Uniqlo spring-summer 2009
The company, which runs about 780 Uniqlo stores in Japan and 80 overseas, said it planned to enter Russia next year and would expand rapidly in China, looking to beef up its global network to 4,000 stores by 2020.
The expansion could mean tougher competition for Gap Inc of the United States, Spain's Inditex and Sweden's Hennes & Mauritz.
Shares of Fast Retailing were down 2.8 percent as of 0522 GMT, paring earlier losses of more than 4 percent. The benchmark Nikkei average was down 2.6 percent.
Fast Retailing, which also operates shoe stores and other chains, said it was aiming to lift sales to 5 trillion yen ($54 billion) by the financial year to August 2020, up from a forecasted 682 billion yen for the year ended last month.
It said it could secure more than 400 billion yen for acquisitions to help it reach that goal.
"It would be good if we could achieve 5 trillion yen organically but for growth in the U.S. and Europe acquisitions will be indispensable," Fast Retailing CEO Tadashi Yanai told a news conference.
Of the 5 trillion yen sales target it has set itself for 2020, the company said it would target 3 trillion yen in sales from its Uniqlo overseas business. That business has been forecast to post 37 billion yen in sales for the year just ended.
The firm said its Uniqlo domestic business would aim for 1 trillion yen in sales in 2020, up from 538 billion yen expected for the year just ended.
Investors have generally praised Uniqlo's strong performance, especially its ability to grow during the economic downturn. The firm has successfully rolled out a series of hit products, such as clothing made of heat-trapping fabrics and camisoles with built-in bras.
But they say the company needs to present a solid overseas business plan to convince investors of its growth potential, given that the Japanese retail market has matured.
(Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
© Thomson Reuters 2023 All rights reserved.


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Last week, Open Source Initiative president Michael Tiemann went public with the more agressive stance the OSI is now taking on the use of the "open source" label. On the organization's blog, Tiemann wrote:
The topic of "what is really open source and what is not?" has been simmering for quite some time. And until last year the question was trivial to answer, and the answer provided a trivial fix. But things have changed, and its time to regain our turf.
He chastised companies like SugarCRM and Centric CRM for calling their offerings "open source" when the licenses under which they released their software are not OSI-approved licenses, and expressed concern that such labeling practices were misleading to customers. His solution:
Let's all agree -- vendors, press, analysts, and others who identify themselves as community members -- to use the term 'open source' to refer to software licensed under an OSI-approved license. If no company can be successful by selling a CRM solution licensed under an OSI-approved license, then OSI (and the open source movement) should take the heat for promoting a model that is not sustainable in a free market economy. We can treat that case as a bug, and together we can work (with many eyes) to discern what it is about the existing open source definition or open source licenses made CRM a failure when so many other applications are flourishing.
Centric CRM responded this week, and the company does not agree that its license is not open source. A Computer Business Review piece quotes the company's executive vice president and chief marketing officer as follows:
Our current license is not OSI-approved, nor have we ever claimed it is. But it is open source... Our software is developed and supported by an online community open to all; ships with full source code and grants customers the freedom to modify their software or any part of it for internal use; and is available for unlimited use, free of charge, by anyone who visits our web site.
The story also indicates that Centric CRM does plan to release additional software under OSI-approved licenses in the future. As for calling its current offering something other than "open source" -- Tiemann points to Microsoft's "shared source" label as an example -- it doesn't look as if Centric CRM will be quick to comply.


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Not long after the presence of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 at Mobile World Congress, is now audible leaks on the presence of its 3G version.
It is verified through a newspaper as reported endgadget.com (12/03), the series Galaxy Note 8.0 3G has entered [...]
Compel Apple to admit mistakes.
The adage “already fallen, hit by the stairs anyway” seems to fit the subject at Apple in the case of the lawsuit in the UK. After the appeal was rejected British High Court, in London, the U.S. tech giant [...]
Update Facebook app for iOS brings free phone features such as who has owned his messenger application.
Through this feature, users can make phone calls at no cost via Wi-Fi or 3G. Want to know how? Consider the following steps.
1. Go to the Facebook [...]
Apparently, the business particularly those managing IT security will work harder. Because the business is now a prime target for hackers.
52 percent of IT specialists are confident that these targeted attacks will be more frequent, based on findings [...]
Beat the record photo teen star Justin Bieber.
Obama seems destined to be the person who created history. Being the first black president in the United States and the second democrat politician who was elected president for two terms in a row since World [...]
Computer’s security applications are competing to produce the best protection applications. One of them Kaspersky Lab, which has launched the latest version of its flagship product, Kaspersky PURE Total Security 3.0, on Wednesday (03/13).
One of the most popular mobile game, Fruit Ninja, in the foreseeable future can be downloaded for free for iOS devices.
Quoted from Slashgear, Friday (12/4), it also makes Fruit Ninja as ‘App of the Week’ in the iTunes App Store.
The owners [...]
Amazon, one of the sites online stores which previously launched the Kindle Fire, is currently preparing the set-top box itself.
Set-top box (STB) is a device that plugs into the receiver where the TV is capable of displaying special display or like [...]
Samsung finally sealed on March 14, 2013 as the beginning of the emergence of new smartphone, Galaxy S4.
Excerpted from The Verge, Monday (2/25), is the boss of Samsung, JK Shin, which ensures that date when he was commenting on the 2013 MWC Barcelona.
Will spend 140 days in the mission.
A Russian rocket carrying two cosmonauts and a U.S. astronaut blasted off into space on Tuesday (10/23). The three astronauts will be on duty on the International Space Station (ISS).
Oleg Novitskiy and Evgeny Tarelkin [...]
This feature can be used to create a reminder.
For the Pinterest users, now comes a new feature for the application of various writing and drawing.
Pinterest recently announced Secret Board, which allows the users to be able to make a writing board in [...]


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Update: Sony's confirmed that the UK release date will indeed by 2nd November.
Original story: Sports Champions 2, Sony's PlayStation Move version of Wii Sports Resort, now has a rock solid release date.
The European PlayStation blog outed the date as "available from" 31st October "in PAL regions". That's a Wednesday. In the UK, video games release on Friday.
Sony has announced Sports Champions 2.
The PlayStation Move exclusive is developed by Zindagi Games, creator of 2010 game Sports Champions, with support from Sony San Diego Studio.
Games include skiing, bowling, tennis, golf, archery and boxing, with support for up to two players and four PlayStation Move controllers.


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The millennial generation (also known as Generation Y) often gets a bad rap for being overeducated, underemployed, entitled, lazy and narcissistic. Ouch. But recent buzz over one such millennial who works for Google and lives in the back of a truck has shed light on a segment of millennials who are embracing a different lifestyle.
They’re residing in sparse, tiny houses, and living under self-imposed, multiyear shopping bans. They are even clipping coupons.
“Millennials are really innovative when it comes to saving,” Stefanie O’Connell, a millennial financial expert and author of “The Broke and Beautiful Life,” told TODAY.com.
Indeed, the 2015 Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress Study found that 53 percent of millennials — those born between 1980 and 1995 — have set financial goals, compared to just 38 percent of folks age 35 and older. And 64 percent say they are more inclined to save rather than spend.
Cait Flanders, 30, is proof of the trend. The Canadian writer is currently living under a two-year shopping ban. That means no new shoes, takeout, Starbucks or books — and she’s still saving 25 percent of her income.
Anna Newell Jones, the creator of savings blog “And Then We Saved,” adopted a similar year-long program while living in Denver in 2010. Calling it a “Spending Fast,” Newell Jones lived on only a list of limited expenditures like rent, bus passes and store-bought food, and put every extra dime toward reducing her mountain of debt.
After she paid off her almost $20,000 balance, she adjusted to a slightly less strict spending diet. O’Connell was so bent on staying debt-free that she sublet her apartment and couch surfed, took advantage of New York’s resources to score free haircuts (beauty school students), shared rides, babysat to earn extra cash and rarely went out. So much shrewdness earned her a reputation as “the frugal friend,” she said.
Why so extreme?
“It’s efficient,” Newell Jones told TODAY. “And by making that one decision to ‘fast,’ I ended up making a million little decisions about fancy boots or clothes, because the answer was always no.”
And neither Flanders nor Newell Jones is going back to their old spendthrift ways. Newell Jones and her husband are currently building a tiny house after having also rid their home of extraneous clutter. Flanders got rid of 75 percent of her stuff and said that adopting a minimalist lifestyle actually freed up a lot more than counter space.
“Minimalism is about more than just stuff,” said Flanders. “It's about removing all the excess in our lives, so we can focus on what really matters.”
O’Connell agrees and says that by saving for the future, avoiding any kind of debt and limiting consumerism, “millennials are showing our value system through our actions.”
She added, “We are concerned with building personal capital rather than accumulating stuff.”
Scott Rick, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, said it’s all well and good that millennials are dedicated to an extremely economical lifestyle. But, he says, eventually “they will age out of it.”
“But if you are in a stage of life and you want to free up money for travel or life experiences instead of mowing lawns, it makes a lot of sense,” said Rick.
He also noted that part of the maximum miserly movement may be related to its current popularity on social media and television — a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.
So while living in a vehicle on your employer’s parking lot might have seemed unimaginable just a few years ago, “extreme isn’t so extreme anymore,” said O’Connell.
And another bonus? Rick also found that savers are viewed as more romantically appealing than spenders.
That’s just one more reason to save money.


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Fresh Plus -- Minus Dave
Hyde Parkers mourn Dave Rackel's departure from the Fresh Plus grocery store.
Last week Dave Rackel, the popular store manager of the Hyde Park Fresh Plus and for many regulars the face of their neighborhood grocery, resigned after 17 years with the company. Rackel says he left his post on good terms with owners Jake and Arnette Knippa (who could not be reached for comment) because "it's time to move on and establish other goals." But not everyone is convinced that the story is as simple as that.
For many regular customers, the news of Rackel's departure dealt a blow. "He was fabulous in every way," said Peter Ravella, who has been shopping at Fresh Plus for about seven years. "Fresh Plus is overpriced, of course, like all small grocery stores, but it's a great place. When you go to get your jar of Prego, you're not really looking for much, but when you get your Prego at Fresh Plus, you get to talk to Dave."
Rackel, who is now looking for employment, says he will keep in touch with Fresh Plus' new management staff if they want his aid. "I did not die," he said. But he admits the transition has been difficult, especially because he's been employed there so long and watched many customers' children grow up. "I've been told by a few people in the past weeks thanks for helping my kid -- I got them jobs while working through college. But I left of my own accord. I wasn't forced out. There are some people angry because it happened so suddenly."
Several Rackel supporters, among them local novelist, columnist, and former Fresh Plus employee Spike Gillespie, believe Rackel did not in fact resign, but was fired by new managers who want to streamline the store and crack down on the quirkiness that Rackel helped cultivate. When Gillespie learned of his departure, she began hanging out in front of the store with a "boycott Fresh Plus" sign, fliers, and her dog.
"I was out there because I don't like the way the store's being run," Gillespie said. She doesn't wish ill will on new management, she added, but doesn't think they're a good fit. "I just wish it could go back to the way it was -- the atmosphere."
Early this past Saturday morning, Gillespie invited fellow Hyde Park residents and Rackel supporters for a quasi-political "Celebrate Dave Rackel" party in front of the store. Signs featured marker drawings of broken hearts or gushed "Thank you Dave and Josy" (another Fresh Plus employee who recently left the store) -- the latter bearing the names of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Assn., the Cub Scouts, and other groups whose members had received help from Rackel in the past. As children played chess or chased each other in the parking lot, adults drank coffee and pondered how Rackel's absence might affect their neighborhood grocery. Many of the roughly 35 partiers wrote poignant farewells in a hardcover notebook they'll pass along to Rackel, who did not attend.
Calle Lacouture, a college student who worked at Fresh Plus for a year, praised Rackel for his laid-back style and sense of humor. "He was the best boss in the world," she said. "It's going to suck without him." Added regular customer Debbie Marasco, "Dave was really part of why I stopped in here to get stuff. I'm kind of scared it's going to change a whole lot now that he's not here ... He always knew who you were. Now it's going to be like, 'who are you?'" Marasco said she hasn't noticed any price increases since new management came on board, "but I'm a cat-food-and-coffee kind of buyer."
The store manager on duty during Saturday's party said she was told not to comment on accusations that Rackel was fired as part of store "streamlining." But office manager and wine buyer David Wildermuth, who has worked at Fresh Plus since 1984, says he's "not aware" of any price increases or major shifts in management philosophy. "We're always changing things," he said. "We try to be responsible to the customers. Customers should address their comments to our store manager."
Rackel says he's "honored" to be the recipient of so much community support. Meanwhile, Gillespie and other dedicated Rackel supporters say they've already decided to begin buying their food elsewhere.
Savedave@austin.rr.com, an e-mail address Gillespie set up to collect positive stories about Rackel and pass them on to the Knippas, has already generated some responses, she said. "I'm glad we did what we did," Gillespie said, "but I'm just frustrated because it's not going to do any good ... unless it makes Dave feel good. But it feels like we've just lost another cool place in Austin."


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Serialization and Authentication Technology & Services Provider, Offers Traceability Down to the Unit Level to Secure Products and Protect Brands and Consumers
Southborough, MA (PRWEB) March 16, 2009 -- PHARMORX Security™, a privately held, serialization, authentication, and track and trace technology services provider, today announced the availability of its new comprehensive technology solutions. The company, which offers anti-counterfeiting and diversion control solutions from the point of manufacturer through to the consumer, offers its tool set to companies in the pharmaceutical, tobacco and beverage industries, as well as others. They will be showcasing their new technologies March 17 - 19 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City during INTERPHEX 2009.
The company's offerings address product security, consumer protection and brand integrity. These unique technologies and services allow users to identify products down to the unit level, offering manufacturers the ability to track their products from distributor to wholesaler, through to the retailer, and ultimately to the consumer. This ability provides traceability for manufacturers, law enforcement and other product inspectors throughout the supply chain to obtain important data to identify points of entry of counterfeit products. It also allows them to minimize gray market diversion and guarantees product authentication in the field.
"Diversion control and counterfeiting are concerns that affect a wide variety of industries throughout the US and internationally. This is especially true for the pharmaceutical industry where the outcome of these problems can be fatal, or at a minimum extremely costly," stated PHARMORX president and CEO, Steve Wood. Up to 90% of Internet drug sites sell adulterated drugs and up to 40% of drug deaths in the US involve drugs that have been legally m
Copyright©2009 Vocus, Inc.
All rights reserved


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As part of an organization-wide initiative to digitize the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), the Mekong Tourism Forum June 15-19 in Da Nang, Viet Nam, is launching a mobile conference app for iOS (Apple) and Android devices for free download for MTF delegates.
The app was developed in sponsorship by Guiddoo, an award-winning travel technology company.
Jens Thraenhart, Executive Director of MTCO, said the apps “would create a greener more personalized event,” that allowed delegates to facilitate meet-ups, conduct real-time messaging and has extensive details on the program, speakers, and session descriptions.
Guiddoo’s founder, Vineet Budki is also presenting at the Mekong Tourism Social Media Boot Camp on June 16 on how travel and tourism organizations can leverage mobile to promote experiences and engage with travelers.
Attendance at the Mekong Tourism Forum from June 15-19 is free for travel-related stakeholders, but conditional on pre-event registration. More information can be found at www.mekongtourismforum.org.


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Cinnamon Toast Crunch has teamed up with Marvel Comics to offer Spider-Man fans a limited-edition collectible box that pays homage to Peter Parker’s hero origin story in “The Amazing Spider-Man.”
Featuring a first-of-its kind fifth panel, the extra sheet folds out into a two-page comic spread highlighting a recreation of the 1962 cover of Amazing Fantasy #15—the first-ever appearance of Spider-Man in a Marvel comic book.
"Bringing two major fandoms together—Spider-Man and Cinnamon Toast Crunch—has been an honor for General Mills. We are thrilled to help celebrate Spider-Man’s legacy with this partnership, while also paying tribute to a nostalgic activity like reading the back of the cereal box while enjoying your breakfast," said Katie Wong, head of ideas & partnerships, General Mills.
Spider-Man x Cinnamon Toast Crunch boxes will be available for $9.98 starting October 20 while supplies last, exclusively at Walmart.com.


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After six decades in the community, the Pleasant Valley Garden Center and Flower Shoppe (1301 S. Gilbert St.) will be closing its doors in January of next year.
“This has been our, I guess you could say it has been our life,” said Aleda Feuerbach, who owns the store along with her husband, Kerry. “We’ve been eating, sleeping and breathing it for a lot of years.”
The store will remain fully open and functioning through the end of the holidays and then transition into clearance-mode in January to sell off as much as possible, right down to the greenhouse panels. The store will also be hosting a final holiday open house this weekend, on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“It’s going to be hard,” she said.
Her dad, Arie Kroeze, started the business in 1952, one year after arriving in Iowa City from Holland. He started working as a grower for Aldous Greenhouse — a former business on Church and Dodge Streets, where Ace Hardware is now located — and in his spare time he worked as a gardener and landscaper. Kroeze and his wife, Toni, first bought the property on South Gilbert Street, where the garden center still stands, in 1962.
When she was a kid, Feuerbach said her dad used to pick her up from weekend sleepovers at 6:30 a.m. to go work at the store.
“There were no excuses,” she said. “Family businesses are hard and as a kid you don’t realize or appreciate it. But we learned how to work, and I don’t think that is a common attribute anymore.”
Her kids also grew up working in the store — taking inventory, running the registers and helping out with planting.
On Monday morning, as Feuerbach helped customers find wicker chairs, clay pots and solar lights and rang up their purchases, customers repeatedly commented on how sad it was to see the store go. She said some of their customers knew her parents, and generations of families have picked up their gardening supplies from Pleasant Valley.
“It’s bittersweet, because this is home. But I’m coming to grips with it,” she said.
Kerry Feuerbach, who started up the flower shop portion of the business, said he’s had the opportunity to get to know many of their customers through working on floral arrangements for weddings and funerals.
“Some of my best memories of the store are creating the connections with all of our good customers over the years, finding out what they want and making that happen,” he said. “You get a lot of satisfaction from that.”
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The store’s impact on the community goes beyond helping customers plant and landscape their garden beds. Each year for over two decades, preschoolers from the Regina Early Childhood Education Center went to the Pleasant Valley store for their annual spring field trip.
“They presented this absolutely awesome field trip for my three year olds,” the center’s director, Mary Pechous, said. “The children each got to get their hands in the dirt and plant a flower. The employees out there taught the children about the plant’s needs — watering and sunlight. We’re going to miss that.”
She said Aleda and Kerry Feuerbach have also helped out by donating seeds and volunteering their time and expertise for the preschool’s nature center.
“Everyone there is so willing to help. I wish they weren’t going to be leaving us,” Pechous said.
Part of the Pleasant Valley Garden Center will continue on through the Pleasant Valley Greenhouses, which will open in South English under the ownership of Dawn Bouslog, who has worked as the Pleasant Valley grower and manager for the past 10 years. The greenhouses will open in the spring and provide annuals, perennials, container gardens, vegetables and herbs.
“She’s an amazing worker,” Aleda Feuerbach said of Bouslog. “She knows plants and she’ll do well. That’s why we’re okay letting her have our name.”
The Pleasant Valley Golf Course (4390 Sand Rd SE), which the Feuerbaches first opened in 1987, will also remain open.
Feuerbach said they had known for a while that they wouldn’t be able to stay at their location permanently. Iowa City’s plans for the Riverfront Crossing development include widening Gilbert Street, and a proposed map has the space where Pleasant Valley now stands allotted to mixed-use buildings that combine retail, office and residential space.
“They are trying to make this part of the world better,” she said of the plans.
So when a developer approached to buy the land, they agreed. Originally, they thought about moving the business out to the golf course location — even hiring an architect and getting archeologist and engineering reports — but the expense was too high, she said.
The store currently employs about a dozen people, many part-time. Some of those employees will move on to work at the golf course once the store closes.
Kathy Maxwell started working at the store almost 10 years ago as “part-time, seasonal, temporary help.” She said after working as a dental hygienist, she was looking for something that would allow her to get her hands dirty and wear jeans to work. Working in the greenhouses during the Iowa winter was an added bonus.
“In January, when you hit the low point, you have all this warmth and humidity,” she said. “People come in; sometimes it seems like it’s just to enjoy that warmth and to be around green, growing things, like a group therapy.”
Maxwell said she hopes to help Bouslog with the greenhouses in South English.
After the store closes, Aleda Feuerbach said she and her husband will be focusing their efforts on the golf course and helping Bouslog start up the new business.
“We’ll stay busy,” she said.
But it will be a change from the bustle of the past few decades spent splitting time between the greenhouses, garden center and flower shoppe in addition to the golf course. For starters, they are looking at their first Valentine’s Day when they won’t be working.
“A lot of people have worked here over the years, and learned a lot in their time here,” she said. “It’s coming fast now, just six weeks away. It will be very different, for a lot of people.”


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Scientists have now identified over three thousand chemicals leaching into food from the food packaging. Experts warn that some of the chemicals found were extremely dangerous and could cause cancer.
Scientists have recently demonstrated that the direct transmission of bisphenol A (BPA) from a mother to her developing child via the placenta could negatively impact fetal brain development.
The results of a new scientific study have demonstrated that exposure to plastic-associated chemicals such as phthalates can increase the risk of high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.
Scientists have now found that BPA disrupts the development of the brain’s sleep center.
Endocrine disrupting chemical BPA (bisphenol A) and BPS (aka, BPA-Free; bisphenol S) which allows manufacturers to now list their food and drink containers and other products* as “BPA-Free” on the labels, is causing concerns among scientists that these chemicals could “seriously damage” human brains.
Bill S.20 would restrict PFAS — perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl — in consumer products sold in Vermont. It also includes restrictions on phthalates and bisphenols.
New scientific research has linked autism to chemicals commonly found in U.S. household products, personal care products and food: PCBs, Phthalates, Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Pesticides. More specifically, the study found that women who are exposed to these toxic chemicals while pregnant are more likely to have autistic children.
According to the 2021 rating report card of retailers, a dozen major companies earned an “F” for failing to publicly address the growing problem of toxic chemicals that may be in the products they sell to consumers.
Researchers again report that BPA substitutes (BPS and BPF) are as bad or worse than BPA. In the latest study, prenatal exposure for the BPA-substitute chemical BPF was associated with impaired cognitive development in children.
Just touching store receipts and boarding passes can be dangerous to your health. A rapidly growing body of scientific evidence strongly suggests that commonly used thermal paper chemical BPS, like its predecessor BPA, disrupts hormones and harms reproductive, developmental, metabolic and cardiovascular health.


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On 21 March 2019, the FCA’s Executive Director of Supervision – Retail and Authorisations, Jonathan Davidson, gave a speech on what the consumer credit sector can expect from the FCA.
There are some key messages including:
– There has been a lot of change in the sector.
– The FCA will continue to focus on affordability, business models and culture.
– Brexit will not change the way the sector is regulated.
– The FCA’s focus in the high-cost sector is on (a) re-lending and (b) affordability (particularly on guarantor lending).
– The Senior Manager & Ceritifcation Regime will help improve culture.
The speech ends by saying: “My top top for today is to keep ahead of the rules, you can invest in expensive tick box compliance or you can get on top of your culture., A healthy purposeful culture will be the best way to deliver value for you, your clients and your business”.


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So many people seem to think that The Non-GMO Project exists for some altruistic purpose. They just want consumers to know what’s in their food. They’re only trying to shine light on these ingredients. They’re helping moms make healthy food choices for their families.
But that’s all poppycock.
The real reason The Non-GMO Project exists is to turn a profit while demonizing a safe, important technology. Take a look at what the company charges for its “services”:
Meanwhile, they spread a narrative that runs contrary to scientific consensus. We know that the current GMO crops available are just as safe as their non-GMO counterparts. We know that biotechnology is capable of solving some pretty tough problems. And we know that these crops benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.
So, yes, I get offended when I see that orange butterfly on one of my favorite products. I do my very best not to purchase anything with it. And I will continue to do so.
My sincere hope is that the USDA’s new standard for labeling “bioengineered” crops will diminish the market value of The Non-GMO Project’s label. And put these crooks out of business.


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Claire’s is a go to spot for teen ear-piercing, as well as jewelry and accessories. Since 1961, it grew primarily with mall-based stores, including stores locally still operating at the Dayton Mall, Fairfield Commons, and Miami Valley Centre Mall.
The company had some rocky recent years, declaring bankruptcy, which it emerged from in 2018. Then three years later, in September the company filed an initial public offering.
The future Troy Walmart-based store is part of broader plans for adding about 180 “store-in-store” locations in fiscal year 2021, according to an September SEC filing by Claire’s.
Kelly Gray, vice president with Equity, who has expertise in Dayton area retail, said there are many retailers who are interested in similar arrangements, which outsources some of the work. Walmart already has many of these arrangements, such as restaurants and nail salons that operate in stalls at the front of the building.
“We’re just seeing a lot of retailers who may be looking to outsource a piece of the work,” Gray she said.
Other mall brands are also working on this type of shift. Ulta Beauty has a partnership with Target. Sephora is just opening its first round of stores inside Kohl’s.
“There’s a cobranding trend going on,” said Loren DeFilippo is the Director of Research for Colliers’ Ohio markets.
During that same time frame, Claire’s expects to add about 35 standalone stores, mostly outside of malls.
This includes a new store coming to Huber Heights, with a county building permit filed Aug. 16, which the city says is for a storefront in the Northpark Shopping Center. The location is where Yankee Candle had closed.
About 1/3 of Claire’s stores in North America were outside of shopping malls as of July 31.
Claire’s wrote in the SEC filing that one of the risks it faces is a decline in the number of people who go to traditional shopping malls, where a majority of their stores are still located.
The retailer stated that sales volume and traffic will likely be harmed by “economic downturns in a particular area, competition from non-shopping mall retailers (including e-commerce businesses) and other shopping malls where we do not have stores and the closing of anchor tenants in a particular shopping mall.”


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Park Hyatt to Open New Hotel in the Caribbean Islands
- Jan 04, 2017
Saint Kitts—Park Hyatt Group recently announced the pre-opening plans for Park Hyatt St. Kitts, a 133-key hotel that will be located in the Banana Bay on the South East Peninsula of the Caribbean Island.
St. Kitts is known for its numerous universities, its volcanic landscape and its cricket playing. The island has less tourism development compared to other Caribbean islands in the region, but tourism has been increasing over the past few years, owing in part to the large port town of Basseterre, which receives cruise ships regularly.
The new hotel will have more than 7,000 square feet of event space. The hotel design will be by Spain-based firm Arcadia Design Architects, which has completed other resort hotel projects in Sham El Sheik and Jordan, such as the Hyatt Regency hotel. With more than 30 years of experience in interior design, G.A. Design from London will be designing the interior.
Founded in 1957 in Los Angeles, the Hyatt group now has more than 679 properties in 58 countries worldwide, with brands including Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Centric. Currently in the planning and pre-opening stages are hotels and resorts in Kyoto, Marrakech, Iguazu Falls, Brazil and Msheireb, Qatar.
Park Hyatt group will open its new hotel in March 2017. The opening continues the brand’s international expansion, with other recent transactions including Hyatt openings its first hotel in Brazil and another Park Hyatt in China in late 2016.
Image courtesy of Park Hyatt St. Kitts


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Lenovo Pitches Services Opportunities to Channel Partners
How do you differentiate in the highly competitive PC market? Lenovo thinks it has some new answers. The PC and mobile computing giant has inked a distribution relationship with Brightpoint and launched a new Partner Services Program. Here’s what ThinkPad and Idea channel partners can expect, according to Jay McBain (pictured), director, Small and Medium Business, Lenovo Americas.
“We’re in a year of convergence. In the past, notebook and desktops were a different channel than cell phones and smart phones. We’re starting to see a blending and convergence of the two channels, and we’re definitely seeing the convergence of both products [technologies and usefulness]. Traditional retailers in the wireless space are now selling netbooks, and computer resellers are selling connected devices.”
So starting July 2010, US partners can buy Lenovo ThinkPads and Idea products from Brightpoint.
Oh, About That Channel Program…
But the bigger news is that Lenovo is announcing their Partner Services Program. It’s all part of Lenovo’s plan to make it life easier for partners by giving them the ability sell more than hardware while enabling them to look to Lenovo for services that traditionally had been sought elsewhere. The portfolio includes service offerings for the entire “life-cycle of the PC.” McBain explained that they don’t want to compete in the services business. They just want to give their partners more up-sell opportunities:
“What we’ve done is setup a number of a-la cart services…simple and easy. Channel partners take the lead, but Lenovo acts as a subcontractor. [Plus] we want to have the ability to make money as [a Lenovo] channel partner.”
McBain detailed that the Performance Incentive Program allows resellers to gain up to 10 additional discount points on what they’d typically receive selling Lenovo Priority Support. In addition, Lenovo has developed a program rewarding resellers who are expanding their services business with data protection and life-cycle services by earning between 7 and 12 percent of the invoiced amount.
When I asked about the point of entry for the new services and level of support, McBain noted that…
“Lenovo doesn’t have tiers. [Whether you sell] one ThinkPad or 100,000 ThinkPads, you can take advantage of these services program. We’ve setup a unique [and] innovative support center with online chat [and] e-mail and phone coming soon [which] resides on a brand new portal on the Partner Network site. [It’s complete with] new set of reference sheets, simple to understand and bolt on services [with] online chat helps you build a quote and walk you through, rather than [reading a] 200 page PDF.”
The Bigger Picture
Lenovo’s push beyond traditional PC and notebook segments has been underway for more than a year. In April 2010, Lenovo introduced a server purposely built for managed services providers. And McBain has been busy attending MSP-centric conferences, analyzing trends and connecting the dots between managed services, mobility and the cloud.
After navigating the recession, Lenovo in May 2010 signaled a return to growth mode — though competition with traditional PC makers and emerging mobile device makers remains fierce.


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Tallink Silja AB and Visit Estonia turned to hasan & partners Stockholm to get more people to book a cruise to Estonia and stay overnight.
Traditional tourist destination marketing is filled with arranged pictures of professional models, but today people tend to trust their friends more than advertisements. In fact, the most influential endorsement happens in peoples’ own social media channels. h&p decided to harness that fact and enlist regular people to change how Swedes thought about Estonia.
Together with local experts we created an epic list of the coolest things to do in Estonia. We then offered these experiences to 97 ordinary Swedes to try out the country for themselves.
We gave away these experiences for free, the only “payment” we wanted was that the participants share their experiences in their social media channels – thereby becoming digital ambassadors for Estonia.
The campaign was exposed to thousands and thousands of people through social media. These messages were shared by regular people, spreading the message of their amazing trips to their friends and beyond. As a result, at their friends’ recommendations a lot of people will be booking a cruise to Estonia.


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Youtooz has announced it will release four collectible figures based on characters from Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers” on March 12.
The “Bob’s Burgers” characters coming to life as collectible figures are Bob, Tina, Gene and Louise.
All four collectibles ship in a matte, embossed, protective outer sleeve for $29.99 each and will be available for pre-order on March. 12 at 3 p.m. ET.
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Now in its eighth year, Shell Springboard promises to offer businesses the chance to win up to £40,000 to help make their commercially viable ideas a reality.
Since 2005, Shell says it has awarded over £2.25 million to 62 small businesses that have developed new ways of cutting carbon emissions. Last year’s winner, Select Innovations, was awarded £40,000 for its innovative EnLight technology, a product designed to help local authorities keep street lights on by reducing power consumption, saving the UK 1 million tonnes of CO2 each year.
Graham van’t Hoff, Chairman of Shell UK, said: “At Shell, we pride ourselves on our commitment to championing great British low carbon innovation. There are over five million small to medium sized businesses in theUKwho are smart, quick and full of ideas, but finding financial support difficult to obtain. With low carbon enterprise rising up the agenda for the government and the media, it’s never been a more exciting time for businesses in this sector. If you have a commercially viable, innovative idea, I urge you to apply for the 2013 Shell Springboard Awards.”
To apply, you must: