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Since our founding in 2005, Students and Scholars against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) has been concerned about the labour conditions of Disney’s supplier factories in China. Our [...]
Apple is one of the coolest brands on the planet but it is currently under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
A spate of suicides at one of its main suppliers, Foxconn, has led to allegations of labour rights abuses in its Chinese factories. This film follows Debby Chan as she works to gather evidence against Foxconn and Apple, often at great risk to herself.
“News of the spate of suicides [at the] Foxconn [plants] in 2010 alarmed me greatly and I wondered whether the harsh management methodology drove workers to [...]
by Sophia Cheng
The world’s largest electronics manufacturer, Foxconn Technology Group, has a plan for ending the grisly run of worker suicides that have drawn it unwanted attention over the past two years: replace human workers with one million robots. It seems the best way to interrupt rising global outrage over worker abuse in iPhone factories is to just get rid of the workers.
With a labor force of 1.2 million people, Foxconn is China’s largest private employer and biggest exporter. It manufactures familiar products for the U.S. market. Through contracts with Apple, Motorola, Nokia, Hewlett Packard, Dell and Sony, it makes the computers, phones, laptops and printers that we use every day—including the iPhones and iPads that many people [...]
The Upcoming: Dying for change – Chinese factories under intense pressure to cope with Western demand
Human rights campaigners say Chinese factories using children as young as 14 and that workers forced to do overtime
A Sturdy Products’ employee works to fulfil orders, for ranges that include Disney merchandise. But a monitoring group claims that workers’ rights are often abused
Disney’s best-selling Cars toys are being made in a factory in China that uses child labour and forces staff to do three times the amount of overtime allowed by law, according to an investigation.
One worker reportedly killed herself after being repeatedly shouted at by bosses. Others cited worries over poisonous chemicals. Disney has now launched its own investigation.


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Google has launched a preview Software Developers Kit (SDK) for its Fit fitness app platform, which it unveiled back in June at its annual Google I/O Developers Conference. The Fit platform is now available to developers to use to build fitness apps for Google’s Android platform.
The new preview SDK for Fit was announced by Angana Ghosh, product manager for the Google Fit team, in an Aug. 7 post on the Google Developers Blog.
“Google Fit provides a single set of APIs for apps and device manufacturers to store and access activity data from fitness apps and sensors on Android and other devices (like wearables, heart rate monitors or connected scales),” wrote Ghosh. “This means that with the user’s permission, you can get access to the user’s fitness history—enabling you to provide more interesting features in your app like personalized coaching, better insights, fitness recommendations and more.”
Three APIs are included in the preview SDK, including a Sensors API that provides high-level access to sensors from the device and wearables; a Recording API that allows apps to register for battery-efficient, cloud-synced background collection of fitness data; and a History API that allows operations on the data like read, insert and delete, wrote Ghosh.
The Sensors API can be used by a developer for a running app so that it could be registered to receive updates from a connected heart rate monitor every 5 seconds during a user’s run, while giving immediate feedback to the runner on the display, she wrote. The Recording API could be used in a running app to store a user’s location so it can map the run later, while the History API could allow a developer to build an app that then shows all of those locations on a map.
“The preview SDK gives you the tools to start building your app,” she wrote. “You’ll be able to launch your app later this year when we launch the full Google Fit SDK as part of Google Play services for handsets, Android Wear and also for the Web.”
Developers who want to try the new preview SDK tools can download the updated version of Google Play services containing the Google Fit APIs for Android in the Android L Developer Preview Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 system images, according to Ghosh. “Use the Android SDK Manager to download the Google Play services client labeled ‘Google Play services for Fit Preview.’ You can start developing today using local fitness history on the device—the cloud backend will be available soon.”
The Google Fit Developer Preview will let developers develop and test their fitness apps now, but they won’t be able to publish them on Google Play until Google Fit is officially released, according to Google. In addition, the preview SDK contains the Google Fit APIs for Android, but it does not contain the REST API or the Android Wear APIs, which will be included in the official release.
Interested developers are also invited to join the Google Fit developer community on Google+ to discuss the Preview and ask questions, she wrote. Additional resources and more information about Google Fit are also available on the Google Fit developers site.
The completed SDK is expected to be released this fall, according to Google.
Google partner companies for the upcoming Fit platform include Adidas, Asus, HTC, Intel, LG, Mio, Motorola, Nike, Noom and RunKeeper.
The Google Fit health data tracking service was among the biggest announcements at Google I/O as part of the company’s recent push into high-tech wearables. Fit will use open APIs to allow user health data to interact with popular fitness trackers and health-related apps.
Google has been working for several years to become more involved in the health marketplace. In September 2013, Google launched a new health care company, called Calico, with a goal of finding ways to improve the health and extend the lives of human beings. The startup is focusing on health and well-being, in particular the challenge of aging and associated diseases, according to Google.
Back in 2008, Google launched its Google Health initiative, which aimed to help patients access their personal health records no matter where they were, from any computing device, through a secure portal hosted by Google and its partners, according to eWEEK reports at the time. Google Health shut down in January 2013.
Google has also been working recently on other device-related health projects, such as experiments unveiled in January with special contact lenses that are equipped with miniaturized sensors that can analyze the tears in the eyes of diabetes patients to determine when their blood sugar levels need to be adjusted.

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Touring tires don't evoke images of excitement like performance tires. And they don't have the staid, workhorse reputation of broad-line tires. Touring tires fill a niche somewhere in-between, and that's why they are more popular than ever, according to tire manufacturers and dealers.
Touring tires, like broad-line and performance tires, are engineered for specific vehicles -- namely, sedans that are sportier than standard daily drivers but not as potent as sports cars. "The concept of the touring car is age-old, going back to the birth of the automobile," says Bob Toth, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. brand marketing manager for Goodyear performance tires. "It's a car that isn't performance and isn't just for transportation."
Goodyear introduced its first officially designated touring tire, the Eagle GA, in 1987. "At that point, we described it as 'the performance tire with manners,' and that captures (touring tires). They're sporty, aspirational and fun."
However, Toth says that some people over the years "have forgotten that the term 'touring' is supposed to define the type of tire that's supposed to go on a touring vehicle. People started slapping the touring label on just about everything and it became diluted. But touring tires still have a strong presence in consumer segmentation."
Tire manufacturers, particularly "The Big Three," certainly believe so. In January, Michelin North America Inc. unveiled its Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring line, which is available in 36 sizes. The tire is designed for popular cars like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, plus mini-vans like the Dodge Caravan.
"The four major passenger car and mini-van categories -- luxury touring, near luxury, progressive mass market and traditional mass market -- accounted for approximately half" of the replacement tires sold in the United States during 2002, according to Michelin statistics. Touring tires account for roughly one-third of all mass market tires, says Thom Peebles, marketing director for BFGoodrich tires.
Two months ago, Goodyear introduced the ComforTred, which is part of the company's new, all-season Assurance line that also includes the TripleTred. (The TripleTred is more of a broad-market premium tire, according to Toth.)
The ComforTred comes in 20 sizes covering nearly 95% of the luxury car segment. It targets the Pontiac Bonneville, Lexus LS 430, Chrysler 300M and similar vehicles. Goodyear is pricing the ComforTred roughly 20% higher than similar products. The Akron, Ohio-based company has made a major commitment to its Assurance line, earmarking more than $50 million for advertising.
Also new is Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC's Granadier PLE, an associate brand product that's available in 21 sizes. The domestic car market "has moved upscale a little bit," says Bill VandeWater, consumer products manager, sales and engineering, for Bridgestone/Firestone. "And tires have moved along with the market."
Trends, wants and needs
A growing number of vehicles fit the touring category, according to VandeWater. In turn, touring tire characteristics are changing in several areas, including:
1. Aspect ratios. Touring tire profiles are shrinking "but that's the way the whole industry is going. Five years ago, (it was) 70-series working toward 65. Now we're looking at 65-series being prevalent and even some 55- and 50-series on more mainstream cars."
2. Diameters. Diameters are getting bigger all the time, he says. "Fifteen-inches is definitely going down from a volume standpoint and 14-inch (tires) are virtually gone."
Sixteen-inch tires dominate the touring segment right now, according to Goodyear's Toth, with P225/60R16 being the most popular size within that range. "Sixteen-inch makes up 33% of the touring segment."
3. Speed ratings. T- and H-rated tires make up the majority of touring tire offerings, says Toth. "Part of it depends on where in the world the vehicle is sold. Some world-class touring tires (on vehicles) like the Jaguar come with maximum speed ratings. Then there are people with touring tires who think 112 miles per hour (S-rated) is plenty."
"I see S-rated tires going out of style," says VandeWater. Just about every tire that passes new TREAD (Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation) Act tire testing standards will be able to be designated as T-rated, he explains.
According to Michelin research, T-rated touring tires are growing at a rate of more than 20% a year.
That's being fueled by OE fitments that have been out for a few years," says Tim Jamison, director of Uniroyal brand marketing.
John Pecoraro, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. product segment manager, house brands, won't be surprised if V-rated tires are eventually herded into the touring fold. "H- and V-rated touring tires are already original equipment on some of the top-selling automobiles in the country, (like) the Camry and Accord, just to name two. And there are many others."
"Touring tires are primarily used as OE replacements today," says Pecoraro. "OEMs started equipping their cars with touring tires many years ago because these OE sizes were only available in touring-type tires."
Consumer expectations also define touring tires, according to manufacturers. High performance and ultra-high performance vehicle owners place considerable emphasis on handling, responsiveness and other factors that help propel their cars to maximum levels. Other factors, like tread life, are more important to downscale, broad-market car drivers.
"To a degree, tread wear is important (to touring car owners)," says Toth, "but not as important as in the mass passenger car market, which is not as passionate about driving. It's a value/economic situation. As you move from the basic economy tire on up, the importance of tread wear decreases."
David Ross, president of Ross Tires, a three-store dealership based in Lafayette, La., says tread wear is important to his touring tire customers, but so are factors like low noise levels and good wet traction.
Touring tires make up 40% of Ross Tires' total tire sales. He says consumer attitudes toward the products have changed over the years. In the past, some of his customers balked at replacing touring tires with the same products due to their cost. They would instead buy less expensive, broad-line tires. "We lost some sales."
However, Ross has won skeptics over by promoting the features and benefits of touring tires, "and that problem is now behind us. We tell them what we recommend and why we recommend it. They aren't accidental buyers anymore."
Ross also has used touring tires to quickly and inexpensively "upgrade" broad-market vehicles. "With a lot of these cars, some (mechanical part) performance isn't that good." But touring tires can help even the score. "I love the responses we get from customers who were apprehensive about putting slightly more expensive tires on their vehicles," he says. "They may have paid $150 to $200 more per set but I've never heard any complaints."
Touring tires comprise nearly half of Chicago, Ill.-based Ashland Tire & Auto Clinic Inc.'s total tire sales, according to Ashland Tire co-owner Jack Gordon. Ashland Tire caters to upscale drivers, and "most upper-level sedans like BMWs, Audis and Volvos use touring tires."
Some of his customers who are driving on touring tires try to jump to high performance and even ultra-high performance tires when replacement time rolls around. "For the most part, they're happy with their ride quality," says Gordon. However, the majority doesn't realize that going from one type of tire to another sometimes involves trade-offs.
Gordon and his partner, Ken Papas, tell customers that putting an HP or UHP tire on a car that uses touring tires may result in a stiffer, less-comfortable ride. "The average driver -- when you start explaining the difference between touring and performance -- will pick a touring tire."
Tiremakers and dealers agree that the touring tire market will continue to grow. As in other segments, trends at the touring tire replacement level are an extension of what's happening at OE. With traditional sedans, OEMs are getting squeezed because of the ongoing growth of SUVs and other product segments, says BFG's Peebles. "They are having to differentiate these sedans and are trying to make them more sporty. We're seeing that element being played up."
Rim diameters will continue to get bigger ("you've been able to buy minivans for quite some time with 17-inch rims," says Peebles) and speed ratings on touring tires will get higher.
"The challenge for dealers will probably be SKU proliferation; it's going to continue."


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Study Finds Exposure to Chemical Pollutants Increases Fat: Scientific American
Then there is the recent University of California study that indicates extra obesity risks from high fructose corn syrup. Contrary to the latter industry’s claims, it isn’t as safe as fruit juice and produces fat around the heart and tendencies to obesity. And American corporations put it in everything. See for further remarks on the U of Cal. study, which got far more press in the UK than in the US, here, and also at this site. High fructose corn syrup is a lobbyists’ scam and is the welfare queen of food additives.
I suspect this is only the tip of the iceberg. Our corporations are flooding our human environment with untested chemicals. Plastics are a witches brew. Give me glass or wood, every time.
We weren’t so fat in previous generations, and we shouldn’t have to constantly struggle with our weight. Corporations would love to say it is our own fault for lack of discipline. But it is increasingly obvious that corporate food is the culprit. And in turn, corporate food lobbyists have written our laws to promote unhealthy products.
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Continue reading the main story
Japanese shares led Asian markets into positive territory, taking the cue from Wall Street where US shares made gains.
The Dow Jones rose 0.03% to 17,678.7, while the S&P 500 gained 0.3% to 2,057.09 as a blizzard bared down on the Northeast region of the US.
In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 was up 1.5% to 17,734.81 after closing lower on Monday on the anti-austerity Syriza party win in Greece.
The dollar firmed against the yen at 118.5 from Monday’s low of 117.26.
Shares of Toyota were up 1.2% after a local report that the automaker will change the way it pays factory workers, focusing on their performance rather than their seniority.
China bucks trend
Chinese shares bucked the region’s uptrend to trade lower with the Shanghai Composite down 0.1% to 3,379.87.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was lower 0.2% to 24,871.83 after a five-day rally.
Australian shares were higher after being closed for a public holiday on Monday.
The S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.7% to 5,539.1 points.
In South Korea, shares were boosted by a central bank survey which showed that consumer sentiment had improved for the first time in four months in January.
The Bank of Korea’s consumer sentiment index, ticked up to 102 from a revised 101 in December.
A reading above 100 indicates that consumers who expect economic conditions to improve outnumber those expecting deterioration.
The benchmark Kospi index was up 0.5% to 1,945.04.


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Qualcomm has been suffering shortages of their 28nm Snapdragon mobile chips for a while now as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) has been unable to keep up with demand. It has reached the point where smartphone partner HTC has been forced to swap out the latest Snapdragon S4 chip for the older S3 processor in some variants. All of this has caused Qualcomm to look to other foundries to ease the shortage.
Because of the lack of equipment at TSMC, Qualcomm has reached out to Samsung as well as United Microelectronics (UMC). UMC hopes to start production of the 28nm chips in the October-December quarter. However, it is unknown when Samsung will begin production.
Considering Samsung already produces chips for itself in the form of the Exynos line, as well as Apple’s iPhone and iPad, they could end up providing chips for the vast amount of the smartphone market by the end of the year.
KitGuru says: Let’s hope that 28nm capacity at foundries improves significantly by the end of the year.


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The Monetary Authority of Singapore, the metropolis-state’s central financial institution, mentioned it’s focused on starting to be the major know-how-driven financial heart in Asia, an ambition that embraces blockchain and central bank electronic cash. It doesn’t contain cryptocurrencies.
“Cryptocurrencies are not currencies and they are unlikely to carry out the capabilities of cash as charges are topic to sharp speculative swings and that they have no essential worth,” the central bank, regarded as MAS, mentioned in an email response to inquiries from Forkast.
The remarks are some of the clearest however on Singapore’s distaste for the earth of cryptocurrencies, which it has been ever more stressing in campaigns to persuade its citizens not to dabble in what it regards as very risky investments. This distaste includes constraints on advertising and marketing and marketing and advertising crypto in Singapore.
“MAS frowns on cryptocurrencies as investments for retail buyers,” it explained in the e mail assertion.
The metropolis-point out punches properly over its bodyweight with a US$340 billion overall economy that generally ranks in Earth Lender surveys as 1 of the planet’s prime destinations for ease of carrying out business enterprise. But not, it appears to be, for the cryptocurrency marketplace.
The not-welcome-here strategy is not just MAS. The Bank for International Settlements — self-described as a central lender for central banking companies — put out a report in excess of the weekend that took a wide-primarily based swipe at crypto in all its kinds, declaring stablecoins are everything but secure (pointing, of class, to the Terra stablecoin collapse) and that the overall crypto structure is unsound.
What MAS thinks about digital currencies matters since it hands out licenses for so-called digital payment token company companies. The tokens, or DPTs, are described as a cryptographically secure digital illustration of benefit to be applied as a medium of exchange, which sums up cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
In a speech past Wednesday, Singapore Deputy Key Minister Heng Swee Keat explained the city-point out experienced granted licenses and in-basic principle approvals to 11 electronic payment token assistance suppliers in the past two yrs. Dozens of far more companies have used for DPT licenses.
Although MAS appears to be handing out licenses to carry out things to do it disapproves of, regionally permitted crypto exchange Coinhako reported it understands the information.
“We are thoroughly knowledgeable of the warnings that the government is supplying out and we can enjoy in which they come from,” Henryk Abucewicz Tan, head of products and services for higher-internet-worthy of individuals and establishments at Coinhako, stated in an job interview with Forkast.
“Because of the deficiency of regulation so much, it’s incredibly challenging to handle or to actually educate retail traders about the risks connected with the asset course. So we completely fully grasp wherever the govt is heading with this,” he mentioned.
“Of program, until I feel some kind of regulation is enforced, they just cannot seriously stop retail from investing. But it just so takes place that due to the fact we (Coinhako) have a big part of the retail industry already, the natural pivot is in the direction of establishments,” he said, by way of describing Coinhako’s system in the Singapore surroundings.
A lot more banking companies associated in the sector will persuade institutional adoption, Tan stated. “And we know a variety of names who are doing work in direction of launching custody and spot providers either by the end of this 12 months or the initial half of next calendar year,” he included, declining to name them.
Crypto.com and Revolut, two crypto exchanges with in-basic principle licenses to work in Singapore, declined to remark on MAS’ assertion to Forkast.
Blockchain is the place MAS comes again into the picture of seeking Singapore to be a entire world leader in so-named fintech, or money technological know-how.
“MAS has been collaborating with the industry to investigate the opportunity of blockchain as a result of experiments, offering grants and encouraging expertise enhancement,” the authority claimed in the e-mail, noting this has been heading on due to the fact 2016 with central financial institutions and other economic institutions.
MAS explained its Undertaking Ubin explored use of blockchain for clearing and settlement of payments and securities. This job, it mentioned, led JP Morgan, DBS Financial institution and the city’s sovereign prosperity fund Temasek to create Partior, a industrial blockchain-based multi-currency interbank clearing and settlement community.
Concerning central lender digital currencies (CBDCs), MAS mentioned it seems to be at such instruments as likely retail CBDCs and wholesale CBDCs, and clearly favors the latter.
MAS reported there isn’t a powerful scenario for a retail CBDC for economies these as Singapore’s that have “well-working payment systems and broad economic inclusion,” however the authority explained it’s retaining an open head on the problem.
In contrast, the monetary authority stated it sees the likely for wholesale CBDCs to strengthen the performance and value of cross-border payments and trade finance, pointing to its experiments with Task Ubin.
It’s a lover in one more job, named Dunbar, to establish a multi-CBDC platform, which will make it possible for fiscal institutions to transact immediately with each other in digital currencies. Partners include things like the Lender for Intercontinental Settlements, Reserve Lender of Australia, Bank Negara Malaysia, and South Africa Reserve Financial institution.
Its most latest initiative is named Undertaking Guardian and focuses on asset tokenization, a strategy that aims to choose illiquid belongings — consider genuine estate, artwork, and many others — and fractionalize them into tradable digital “tokens.” DBS Lender Ltd., JP Morgan and a Temasek venture are involved in this to tokenize bonds and deposits, MAS claimed.
“Blockchain, tokenization and cryptography can be deployed with each other to permit the fractionalization of substantial benefit belongings and the monetization of earlier un-monetized belongings,” MAS explained. “This will in convert assistance to unlock new economic value, enrich fiscal inclusion, and allow far more seamless and efficient provision of fiscal services.”
Danny Chong, the co-founder of Singapore-centered Tranchess — which describes by itself as a generate-improving crypto asset tracking system — sees the constructive aspect of the information from MAS and what he termed a forward-imagining tactic.
“From a regulatory standpoint, prominence is put on innovation and progress even though quickly weeding out poor behaviors in this developmental stage to endorse eventual mainstream adoption,” Chong reported.
This method will bring in a lot more financial specialists into crypto and boost reliability and governance, he stated.
Back at the Coinhako exchange, the view is that harder polices and oversight is inevitable right after the multibillion-greenback collapse of the Terra stablecoin, the loss of liquidity at crypto lending platforms like Celsius that resulted in shopper accounts remaining frozen, and revelations that crypto undertaking fund 3 Arrows Cash may possibly be running out of revenue for margin calls.
The resulting slump in crypto marketplaces and selling prices is a probability to hunker down and get completely ready for the subsequent current market cycle, explained Tan of Coinhako. He mentioned that buyers feel to be wanting to make positive all the liquidations and margin calls have been resolved and ready for all the rumors to die down, and until finally then any sort of reduction rally is going to be tentative.
“And of study course, the extent of the liquidations is likely to feed specifically into cost motion and possibility urge for food right right after that,” he mentioned, including that Coinhako is hiring to get ready for the future cycle.
“We also have not too long ago hired a workforce of 7 to 8 visitors traders and quants who are aiding us seize extra franchise worth by rising liquidity, decreasing our spreads,” he stated. “Basically a do the job in development as the market place will come back collectively,” he extra.
“So this all will deliver us with relatively sufficient ammunition for any strategic initiatives,” Tan mentioned. “And we’re not as well anxious.”
Yusho Liu, the main government officer and cofounder of Coinhako, struck a related topic in an email reaction to thoughts from Forkast.
“Singapore’s regulations could possibly look unfavorable to crucial players now but we believe from a prolonged-term look at, this will put us in a much better situation as trust and self-assurance among crypto players, institutions and traders are progressively established.”


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The price of bitcoin (BTC) broke above $9,000 on a bullish run at 9:00 UTC (4:00 a.m. EST). The world’s leading cryptocurrency by market capitalization is up 4 percent in the past 24 hours, with a high reaching $9,150 on exchanges including Coinbase.
The last time bitcoin traded above $9,000 was on Feb. 26.
An uptrend started taking shape at 0:00 UTC Thursday as prices broke out of a steady $8,600 to $8,800 range. Bitcoin quickly surpassed its 50-day moving average at that time on higher buying volume than the same period yesterday.
“The reckless ban on Indian banks working with cryptocurrency companies a few years ago was a big setback for Indian startups short term and the Indian economy long term,” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong wrote in a recent tweet.
Bitcoin hasn’t been in the $9,000 price range since Feb. 26. Year to date, bitcoin is up 26 percent, outperforming the S&P 500’s 5 percent decline since Jan. 1.
Many other cryptocurrencies are up today, particularly bitcoin forks, with bitcoin gold (BTG) up 15 percent, bitcoin SV (BSV) in the green 9 percent and bitcoin cash (BCH) ahead 7 percent.
Disclosure Read More
The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.


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YFDAI (YF-DAI) updated its roadmap for 2021 shortly after the introduction of the SafeSwap Governance Token (SSGT). With the introduction of this token, an important goal for the second quarter of the year will be achieved. With more than half of the quarter ahead, users can expect various changes to existing YFDAI products, as well as additions to YFDAI’s offerings for the DeFi community. The Q3 / Q4 roadmap lists upgrades for YFDAI’s core product line, DeFi safety-focused products with carpet tensile protection, new products to be launched, and the foundations for further expansion to insurance.
Since the release of its roadmap, YFDAI has also announced a partnership with Polygon (formerly Matic) in which YFDAI will use the Polygon protocol and blockchain framework to solve inherent Ethereum gas problems while maintaining the scalability and interoperability of the YFDAI ecosystem to improve. The two companies will also share resources where YFDAI’s LaunchPad projects can easily be featured in QuickSwap, Polygon’s native Dex. YFDAI plans to move its DEX SafeSwap entirely to Polygon. Further information follows.
The SafeSwap Governance Token is here
SafeSwap limits users’ exposure to illiquid tokens and rugpulls by maintaining strict standards for projects wishing to enter their tokens into the YFDAI’s DEX. The latest token added to SafeSwap’s liquidity pools is now its own and has several notable utilities. YF-DAI owners, stakers, and farmers were eligible to receive SSGT via air drops announced in the past 6 weeks, and to earn SSGT in other ways. Additionally, the tokens can also be purchased through SSGT’s public sale on Tuesday May 11th.
SSGT has several uses beyond its store of value and being the token of a successful DEX. These uses include voting rights in the DAO, liquidity bonuses from SafeSwap, stake bonuses of 72% per year, and increased allocations for upcoming pre-sales. More details on the token’s utility governance rights and NFT rewards can be found here. YFDAI has also released an extensive list of FAQs regarding its newly launched token.
The launch of credit and credit leads to Q2 updates
After receiving your own token, SafeSwap looks forward to an update in the following weeks. Other changes to existing products include a ramp-up for YFDAI LaunchPad projects and an update to SafeTrade’s low-risk, low-frequency automated trading bot algorithms. Since its inception earlier this year, LaunchPad has provided an incubation space for high quality and vetted projects to attract investor attention. More new projects are being offered as Launchpad has proven to be a success in itself.
The biggest news for the second quarter after the SafeSwap token launched is YFDAI’s entry into lending. Asset collateralization and borrowing capabilities continue to be a key pillar of DeFi, and YFDAI expects its long-awaited entry in June this year. Details of the release will be announced shortly, but it can be assumed that YFDAI’s credit / lending platform is rated as just as secure as the other additions to the DeFi ecosystem.
Updates and additions for Q3 / Q4
Releases announced for the third quarter mean another exciting quarter is expected for users as a debit card, mobile app, and new product launch, SafePredict, will be available soon. While the issuance of a debit card and mobile app rounds off the release of the core features announced by YFDAI in 2020, SafePredict is following a newer trend that is becoming increasingly popular in predicting future coin prices. SafePredict is introduced with YF-DAI as the main token and plans to expand to ETH, BTC et al in the future.
The third quarter will also welcome an expansion to a Layer 2 solution (although it will likely come much sooner), which will increase transaction speed, lower fees for users, and help reduce overall congestion on the Ethereum network. The expansion to a Layer 2 solution means that more transactions can be carried out for less gas. This in turn should help drive future developments and more complex products that depend on multiple transactions. In addition, YFDAI will start modeling its insurance product as it moves step by step to get started with DeFi insurance.
In the fourth quarter, it plans to roll out a new customer service platform, integrate it with e-commerce following the release of a debit card, and investigate bridging DeFi with real-world resources. YFDAI looks forward to these updated goals from today’s perspective and appears poised to expand the DeFi community’s access to security-focused tools well into the new year


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Thursday 12th May 2011
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Nuplex Industries shares fell 10c to $3.06 after the company today downgraded its earnings forecast and restructured its senior management team.
The chemical and resins company said its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation in the range of $125 million to $129 million in the 12 months to June 30, which is $2 million to $6 million lower than previously forecast.
The profit is after a one-off restructuring charge of $4 million for restructuring the business.
Net profit after tax is expected to be between $62 million and $65 million.
The company also said each of its four regions will have a regional president who will report directly to chief executive Emery Severin. Sam Bastounas will move from his role as chief operating officer functional materials and specialties into the role of regional president, Australasia.
Demand conditions for the Australian based composites business has been much weaker than anticipated due to wet weather, continued consumer spending restraint, increased import competition from a stronger Australian dollar and fewer infrastructure projects.
"We are extremely focused on recovering rising raw material costs which for some key inputs have increased by approximately 25% over this financial year. Across the group, higher selling prices have been implemented," Severin said.
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Elon Musk has meddled with the hearts of Dogecoin ($DOGE) investors yet again. SpaceX is now accepting $DOGE for payments. Now speculation has arisen that Galaxy Fox ($GFOX), a popular memecoin, could be next?
Memecoins continue to run red hot, and with growing media coverage, it is only a matter of time until the next mania phase breaks out. Are $DOGE and $GFOX the best cryptocurrencies to buy today? Meme projects found their footing last cycle, and in the 2024/ 2025, the growing consensus is that this vertical will be one of the pockets of oversized returns. Investors fading memecoins do so at their own peril.
What you'll learn 👉
Dogecoin ($DOGE) SpaceX Accepting Payments
Dogecoin has always been the dominant memecoin ranked via market cap and remains a great crypto for beginners dipping their toes into this genre for the first time. SpaceX accepted $DOGE as payment for rescheduling the DOGE-1 mission to the moon.
This mission will see a satellite with a display screen sent into the atmosphere. Originally slated to launch in May 2021, after technical difficulties, it was delayed, and $DOGE has fully funded round 2.
Musk has a habit of pumping $DOGE. Whether it be from posting memes on his account, rumors about potential integration for payments on the platform, or accepting $DOGE as payment, he has continuously fanned the flames. Dogecoin being in the limelight has a trickle-down effect for the rest of the memecoin economy. Despite its bloated market cap, analysts expect $DOGE to pump as retail returns to markets.
Galaxy Fox ($GFOX) Next In Line For the Meme Throne?
Galaxy Fox has its eyes on the throne, and this dark horse has already raised over $3.4 million in its presale. This success in building momentum has put it squarely on the list of best cryptocurrencies to buy this year, and given that $GFOX is still in its presale, it could easily print 100X returns.
Reimagining what it means to be a memecoin Galaxy Fox takes the standard model, integrates a P2E game, and builds an entire ecosystem around the token. The Web3 runner game enables players to convert gaming skills into cash, and with prizes paid out at the end of each season and a dynamic leaderboard, it acts as a perfect tool for acquiring new users.
An NFT layer has been added to spice up the competition, with holders of Galaxy Fox NFTs gaining special in-game bonuses. And the in-house NFT marketplace allows users to trade and sell their on-chain collectibles.
The tokenomics model has been a key driver of this project’s success, and introducing a token burn, staking rewards, and taxation system creates a novel mechanic. $GFOX stakers can earn a native yield on a deflationary asset, earning it the title of a top crypto to buy this year.
Closing Thoughts: Memecoins Set To Dominate This Cycle
Dogecoin’s performance is a great yardstick for overall meme performance, and growing interest and media interest in $DOGE is excellent news for the rest of the industry. The only real headwind $DOGE faces is its nearly $13 billion market cap, which will mandate enormous capital to produce exciting gains. As always, small capos are the best cryptocurrencies to buy for 100X returns.
Galaxy Fox is the perfect example of a token with the potential to deliver this type of high-octane return. Aiming for the top and with a $3 million market cap this token is a gem waiting to shine. Participate in the presale today!
Learn more about $GFOX here:
Disclaimer: This sponsored content is not endorsed by CaptainAltcoin, which takes no responsibility for its accuracy or quality. This content was not written by CaptainAltcoin’s team. We advise readers to do their own research before interacting with any featured companies. The information provided is not financial or legal advice. Neither CaptainAltcoin nor any third party recommends buying or selling any financial products. Investing in crypto assets is high-risk; consider the potential for loss. CaptainAltcoin is not liable for any damages or losses from using or relying on this content.
A unique play-to-earn gaming platform in the memecoin market
The platform combines artisanal and gold mining with cryptocurrencies in an unusual gaming context, offering a distinctive and immersive experience
Fosters a strong community by encouraging physical meetups among members
NFT Integration with Prominent Characters


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With the constant see-saw of gasoline prices, why not introduce a diesel Kia as an alternative to see if there is enough disgust at the pump to make diesel competitive? It's an investment that Kia might find very profitable.
Kia Asks Customers If They Want a Diesel-Powered Optima Sedan in U.S.
When we journalist folk are gathered up at meetings before getting to drive new cars, there's inevitably some louse in the back of the room who will raise his hand and ask if the automaker will eventually offer a diesel engine/manual transmission/cool feature available in European cars or some other far-fetched feature unavailable in the U.S. The answer most often turns out to be some tapdance around saying the word "No" or simply that word: No. But that's not the case in Kia's camp. Efficientautomobile.com posted an article discussing the 1.7-liter turbocharged diesel four-cylinder engine the automaker sells in Europe in its 2012 Kia Optima midsize sedan. That engine musters only 134 horsepower but makes up for it with 244 lb-ft of torque, a pretty big number for such a little engine. But that's not why people buy diesels; that would be fuel economy. The diesel-powered Kia Optima is good for nearly 40 mpg in U.S. gallons on the European combined cycle. For comparison's sake, the standard, non-turbo Optima gets a combined score of 28 mpg, while the Optima Hybrid gets 37 mpg. Kia Motors Public Relations asked its Facebook fans if they'd drive one, of which there's now a long list of affirmatives. That's to be expected with the whinnying fanboys of diesels in the U.S. who feel they've been slighted for the last 20 years after U.S. automakers scarred a stigma of unreliability into the buying masses. Usually an automaker would brush off diesel engine wishes, but there's a chance Kia's PR team could be sending out a feeler for whether the automaker should bring over its oil burner Optima to the U.S. Or it could be Kia just messing with its U.S. constituency. There are a few points for and against Kia bringing a diesel engine to the U.S., including the automaker's current inability to satisfy demand with the Optima as it is, the fact that it already sells an Optima Hybrid, and the fact that diesel engines are expensive to produce. But speaking with Kia's vice president of marketing and communications, Michael Sprague, earlier this year, he said the automaker will be drawing from international plants to meet some of its demand for U.S.-bound Optimas 2013, as its Georgia facility is at capacity. Those plants also build Kia Optima sedans with diesel engines, making the idea all the more feasible. Source: Kia Motors Public Relations via Facebook
Americans, seeing the economy still in flux (and politicians worse than useless during election year)...


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Today’s world is at the brink of a technology revolution. There’s a lot of excitement with some of the technologies involved including, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain and more. Adoption of these technologies in industries across the world has increased in a bid to improve efficiency and make businesses more customer-friendly. Companies are releasing new products based on them, investors seem to be in a feeding frenzy to invest in them, and the press can’t heap enough praise on them. In the midst of this enthusiasm, it’s arduous for business leaders to assess the enduring impact of these technologies. So, how can you sift through the hype?
Moshe Kranc, Chief Technology Officer at Ness Digital Engineering, has authored a column for Express Computer, titled “Reality Check: Looking at Use Cases For AI, IoT and Blockchain.” This insightful article discusses ways to examine the hype. “One useful way to sift through the hype is to focus on use cases: what real-world problems can a given technology solve better than any other existing alternative,” states Kranc.


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Bay City community offers support for restaurant owners impacted by indoor dining ban
BAY CITY, Mich. (WJRT) -(01/29/21)- If you live in Bay City-- there’s a good chance you have visited one of Vince Stuart’s restaurants.
“Stock Pot has been there for 33 years. Uptown Grill, we’ve been going on 7 years and then Vinny’s Pizzeria, we have not opened yet,” said restaurant owner Vince Stuart.
That’s due to COVID-19 state mandated restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Keeping three restaurants going hasn’t been easy.
“It’s emotional stressful and very much like a roller coaster because you don’t know when the day is and we open and not open source like you’re working for somebody else right now because they have to control what you’re doing,” he said
One bright spot has been the community and city support. Including a Bay City promotion encouraging people to buy local.
“They are promoting that you buy local gift cards. Come in and buy a gift card for say 25 and get an extra 10,” Stuart said.
Stuart says it’s been a great thing for restaurants trying to stay a float.
“That kind of helps because it gives you a little cash flow now. And then it brings the customers back in when you finally do be open or even from takeout, you know, because you know they can come in for takeout food service and so that that really helps a lot because it keeps your name up there too. And, you know, it’s good to see because when you sell those gift cards and those are loyal customers you want to come back in,” he said.
Now Stuart is prepping two of his restaurants to reopen for inside dining next week.
“It’s really exciting and it’s very critical because 25% is better than nothing. It actually you know we’ll do our best to see the people who come out. You know, at least. And we’ll find ways to just keep pounding away hopefully we get to the 50 to 100 and be back to normal,” Stuart said.
Copyright 2021 WJRT. All rights reserved.


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The unit would specialise in poultry products and would replace HKScan’s existing facility in Eura, Finland.
The €80m facility would be the largest single investment in HKScan’s recent history comprising a 25,000m2 plant, infrastructure, production machinery, equipment and other related systems.
Production would continue uninterrupted at the existing Eura unit until the new plant is commissioned.
HKScan’s management said it took the decision to recommend building an entirely new plant after comparing the costs and risks to modernise and expand the existing facility in Eura. The new plant would bring a significant increase in productivity and enable development of new products, it said.
The planned investment would entail a non-cash write-off of assets amounting to about €11m and would affect the production personnel of the current Eura plant.
HKScan Finland will initiate statutory negotiations with the production personnel of the Eura plant on 10 August 2015. It said that before taking a final decision on the investment project and its location it will conduct an investigation of its impact on personnel.
In addition, the group revised a plan to invest in expanding its production unit in Rakvere, Estonia and will instead focus on improving the production efficiency at the current plants.
HKScan Group’s also published its interim report for 1 January–30 June 2015 that revealed net sales were €940.8m and profit before taxes excluding non-recurring income and expenses was €-1.9m.
“HKScan’s performance continued to recover also in the second quarter of 2015. All market areas improved their comparable cash flow and also comparable EBIT improved, except in Denmark,” said Hannu Kottonen HKScan’s CEO.
“Our Danish business has lost volume including one major export customer.”
He said the overall business environment remained challenging due to ongoing political and economic uncertainties. He cited the Russian embargo and the price wars in retail as depressing the food and meat value chain.
HKScan’s home markets consist of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, the Baltic Countries and Poland.


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Models of the forthcoming iPhone 13 will be thicker than their iPhone 12 equivalents. They will also have larger, thicker camera bumps and the lenses will stick out less. That’s according to schematics seen by MacRumors.
In addition to a thicker camera bump, Apple is changing the overall size of the camera bump, a shift that will also be most noticeable on the iPhone 13 Pro. The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro have camera bumps that measures in at around 28mm by 30mm, while the iPhone 13 will have a camera bump that’s closer to square at around 29mm by 29mm, with the bump also located about a millimeter closer to the top of the iPhone. The iPhone 13 Pro is expected to gain a larger camera bump, measuring in at around 36mm by 37mm, so rather than having a camera bump size similar to the iPhone 13, it will be more similar to the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Check It Out: iPhone 13 Models to Be Thicker With Larger Camera Bump


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Overcoming four-stroke bias among saltwater boating anglers is a challenge for Evinrude, Eckman admits. At the same time, he also sees great potential in offering something distinctly different and, as he views it, better for boating anglers. “You can’t make a me-too product and delight enthusiasts,” he says.
The new generation of Evinrude outboards have advanced far beyond the old-school perception of smelly, smoky two-strokes, which was a factor in driving boaters toward four-strokes, says Eckman. Evinrude’s E-Tec G2 technology eliminates such objections, while retaining key advantages, including a better power-to-weight ratio and more low-end torque than comparable four-strokes.


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Millennials and Generation Zers have both broken out of a shell that generations prior were determined to mold themselves to.
In programmatic, the advertising industry has lost the value of direct relationships.
For brands to continue to succeed in offering personalized experiences, they must uphold their responsibility to consumers.
Psychology-based marketing has a lot of nooks and crannies.
Lisa Bowman of United Way Worldwide is the 2019 Marketer of the Year.
Marketing is a team sport. Every touchpoint is a part of the client’s buying experience, even post-sale.
When brand leaders envision 2020 marketing, their main efforts will need to be on keeping their minds from exploding.
How can any business build a positive brand relationship with its consumers?
Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s founding fathers and a tireless worker, is credited with the expression “Time is Money.”
When compared with previous years, the 2019 holiday shopping season has six less days between…


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Let's talk about the top 10 technology trends for 2023 that you should definitely be paying attention to this year!
With each passing year, the world of technology seems to go through a paradigm shift, with subsequent iterations and innovations completely changing the course of how we interact with the world around us.
So, we’re going to talk about the top 10 technology trends for 2023 that you should definitely be paying attention to this year!
1. The Metaverse Will Be The Place To Be
We’ve already seen virtual concerts being conducted and brands participating in the Metaverse in 2022. However, with the Metaverse expecting to add $5 trillion to the global economy, 2023 (and all subsequent years for that matter) will pave the way for this new emerging technology.
This year, we’re expecting companies to incline towards both AR and VR, especially with companies such as Meta reducing the barrier-to-entry of VR at least in terms of hardware. Moreover, Metaverse platforms such as Roblox and Fortnite can expect more brands to enter into the fold and use these avenues as mediums for advertising.
Lastly, the Metaverse will also go through rapid advancement in terms of advanced avatar generation amongst other prospected features this year due to the rapid maturation of AI. This also includes the culmination of virtual workspaces within Metaverse platforms where meetings and board discussions can collaboratively be held online.
2. The Normalization of Artificial Intelligence
At the tail end of 2022, the general public was introduced to ChatGPT. An intelligent chatbot based on GPT-3 that’s impressively conscious. From being able to draft comprehensive emails to being able to code in every language, AI is now being used practically by millions worldwide.
With the wide assimilation of such an accessible AI platform, we’ll see AI integrated into our day-to-day lives. Perhaps most importantly, we’ll see the normalization of AI being used to assist professionals, ranging from artists, and programmers to business leaders and experts.
3. Work Culture Shifts Online
The impact of COVID-19 can still be seen worldwide. With the professional world almost entirely shifting online, it was clear that not every job needed to be done in a physical location. This led to multiple companies adopting a hybrid or a completely work-from-home culture.
With the integration of the Metaverse, 2023 expects to have more enterprises shift towards creating offices in the Metaverse. For instance, Japanese company FORUM8 has already shown its arsenal of hardware solutions that will let companies establish their virtual offices in the Metaverse, significantly reducing costs.
4. Robots Will Appear Less Robotic
Tesla’s AI Day, held in September of last year had Elon Musk reveal humanoid robot prototypes that mimicked daily tasks from being able to water tasks to lifting a few objects.
While these may not be inside your home this year, they certainly will go through multiple rounds of improvements with companies such as Boston Dynamics’s Atlas line of humanoid robots also performing technically impressive feats.
5. Web3 Will Keep Progressing
Currently, most of the information stored on the internet is present on cloud servers, physically located in servers primarily owned by Amazon or Microsoft. With advancements in Web3, we’re expecting more of our information to be stored in the Blockchain, leading it to be decentralized and encrypted.
With our data now being much safer, we’ll also be able to create more user-tailored experiences with the help of AI and ML to accommodate growing differences in user interests. In essence, websites, and applications will be able to provide you with a more personalized experience.
6. Tech Upgrades Will Be Less Likely
The phones of today are substantially more powerful than the laptops of yesterday. All our gadgets have certainly seen an increase in processing power and overall performance! However, our needs, in terms of software, have remained relatively similar.
Therefore, we’re expecting a decline in overall smartphone and PC sales as consumers tend to splurge less on the latest and greatest considering the fact that there’s nothing revolutionary in them.
7. Advertising Will Shift Towards The Metaverse
Traditional advertising simply doesn’t cut it when it comes to grabbing the attention of Gen-Z. Therefore, we’re expecting more brands to shift towards alternative methods of advertisement.
These will primarily include sponsorships and integrations with various Metaverse platforms that’ll help create an interactive user experience with brand ideologies and messaging inoculated within these virtual spaces.
8. Cyber Threats Will Increase
With world governments now entirely digital and all our consumer information now present on cloud servers, cyber attacks and threats will be more prevalent in the years to come now than ever before!
Therefore, consumers will need to be educated on proper security practices so that their data is safe. Moreover, companies and enterprises will also need to switch to more secure platforms, such as the Blockchain to ensure their data remains protected and is free from any nefarious attacks.
9. Course Based Learning Will Accelerate
Traditional methods of education are now seemingly being outpaced by the rapid growth of technology. The advancement of AI, the Blockchain, and the Metaverse has allowed for the creation of new employment opportunities that traditional institutions cannot fill.
This is why self-learning and course-based education, which tend to retain their relevance with the rapidly expanding tech of today, will turn into a preferred method of learning for aspiring individuals who wish to maintain technical education in these domains.
10. A Majority Of The World Will Use The Internet
With a growth rate of about 6% this year, the number of internet users globally will reach up to 5.4 billion. This means that a majority of the global population will now have access to the internet in some capacity.
With the advent of the Metaverse, we’re expecting to see regions and cultures connect in virtual spaces now more than ever before. This will lead to a revolutionary era of globalization leading to a more prosperous age for all of humanity.


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Umba, a Nigerian digital banking startup, has secured $15 million in Series A funding to address the underserved market.
Costanoa Ventures led the round, which also included Nubank, Monzo co-founder Tom Blomfield, and previous investors Lachy Groom and ACT Ventures, Lux Capital, Palm Drive Capital, Banana Capital, and Streamlined Ventures.
Umba is an African digital bank that offers consumers free bank accounts and financial services. It was founded in 2018 by Barry O’Mahony and Tiernan Kennedy.
“In both banking and mobile money sectors, we created fundamental banking systems from the ground up and can give a tailored experience for the consumer at the drop of a hat,” Kennedy added.
“We can take all of that open financial data and underwrite it at scale with these various fragmented payment and data types.” In practice, this means we’re multi-currency, multi-country, and capable of handling a wide range of payment types. And all of this takes time. Then there’s the capacity to move really quickly against opponents.” Kennedy was also mentioned.
Following a $2 million seed round in 2020, the latest funding brings the total amount raised to $17.5 million.
With the new capital, the company will be able to test an interoperable digital banking experience across African markets, as well as its services in Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya.


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Two suspects arrested after dragging Wal-Mart security agent with car www.privateofficer.com
According to a Union City Police Department log, officers were called to investigate a petty theft at the department store, located in the Union Landing shopping center, sometime in the evening. However, police were notified while en route that the crime had been upgraded to a robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.
During the incident, a male and female suspect attempted to steal merchandise from the store and fought with a loss prevention officer to escape, according to the report.
The suspects got into their vehicle, where the loss prevention officer tried to pull the male suspect out of the driver’s seat. The suspect placed the vehicle in reverse and dragged the officer through the parking lot until he was cast off, the report said.
A dispatcher provided responding officers with a description of the suspect vehicle as it left the Union Landing shopping center.
The first arriving officer was out of position and unable stop the vehicle but relayed information to others as the driver of the suspect vehicle turned off the headlights and fled onto I-880 heading southbound.
Officers chased the suspects into Fremont, who abandoned their vehicle near Deep Creek Road.
Fremont police helped to set up a perimeter search of the area, which eventually led to the suspects being located and arrested.


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Above: SunShield is a high-performance vinyl compound material developed by scientists to ensure color retention and protect against rotting, cracking, pitting, corroding and peeling.
A global push to live more sustainably and reduce our collective carbon footprint is compelling manufacturers to rethink how products are created.
Consider these three phases of window and door products’ lifecycle: Manufacturing, the life of the product in a structure, and end-of-life recyclability.
Paul Adams, who has been with Deceuninck North America for more than 15 years and currently serves as the global vice president of materials innovation, discussed the importance of creating formulas that meet multiple industry and sustainability criteria, remain respectful of the environment, and are recyclable at the end of their lifecycle.
Climate change considerations
During the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s 2021 Materials Day symposium, research scientist and professor Elsa Olivetti began her opening remarks with, “Materials play a central role in all aspects of the new technologies needed to achieve sustainability goals and address climate change.”
The focus on designing sustainable materials pervades all industries, but it is particularly relevant to the building, design and construction space since it creates a third of the world’s waste.
The climate crisis and ever-increasing global temperatures have placed a greater demand on the research that goes into advancing polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, formulas that the window and door industry uses. The ones previously relied upon are not as effective as they once were. The environment is changing, which mandates higher-performing, longer-lasting windows.
“We must create windows for today, not for an environment that existed 20 years ago,” Adams stresses. “These new products must endure for 25 or 30 years, in addition to remaining recyclable and maintaining 90 percent of their original physical properties at the end of their lifecycle.”
Because higher outside temperatures cause window systems to degrade, materials science teams worldwide are emphasizing the development of new chemistries. “Much of what we do is in response to climate change and is in line with the overall sustainability model of our organization,” Adams notes.
A closer look at chemistry
Where there’s color, there must be the right chemistry in place to allow it to shine over the long haul.
Color plays a big role in the increased homeowner and architect demand for aesthetic options, and the demand for new pigments and properties has required manufacturers in the window and door industry to spend more research and development hours on pigment chemistry.
To move the needle, organizations are even tapping into what works in other sectors. “We explored paints and coatings used specifically for military vehicles that are designed to reflect heat. We then applied that technology to building materials such as PVC extrusions to reduce heat gain in windows,” explains Adams.
Material chemistry also plays a key role in creating products that contribute to a more sustainable built environment. Using plant-based additives is an excellent place to start. Utilizing natural materials creates a cleaner final product that is more recyclable at the end of its lifecycle.
One might not traditionally think “plants” when considering the elements used to create windows or other plastics products, but these sustainable, organic materials can be used as lubricants and serve other important functions in the production of PVC windows and doors.
Looking at material chemistry can also help manufacturers identify methods to reduce other common concerns for window and door profiles, including fading.
Helping the homeowner
Eco-conscious consumers are paying attention to the environment and want to live in homes that save energy and minimize harmful effects on the planet. The industry is progressing, as today’s window and door extrusions are comprised of more eco-friendly materials compared to plastics of the past. This starts at stage one: the composition of the materials used to create the window systems from the start.
Manufacturers need to anticipate what homeowners will need. Energy-efficiency requirements for windows vary by jurisdiction and by climate, but regardless of region, by reducing the amount of thermal loss through a window frame, less energy is required to heat or cool a home. This has a positive impact on the environment, can decrease annual energy costs for homeowners, and create a more comfortable living environment.
Challenges creating opportunity
Supply chain constraints over the past couple of years resulted in the need for manufacturers to shift toward alternative raw material options and, in some cases, complete reformulation. Teams had to adjust and find new ways to create while maintaining or improving upon the properties of materials. This highlights the importance of remaining on the cutting edge of innovation.
As it specifically relates to materials science, Adams shares his organization’s plans for moving forward. “Deceuninck is always striving for better-performing products that protect our environment and make use of natural materials,” Adams says. “If we’re not pushing the boundaries on innovation and keeping the promise of sustainability at the forefront of product development, we’re not doing our part.”


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Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
21st February 2024 Issue no. 693
Your industry news - first
We strongly recommend viewing Locks and Security News full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
IFSEC 17-19 May 2022
Europe’s leading security event, IFSEC International, held at ExCel, London, welcomes thousands of global security professionals to explore innovative products and solutions and collaborate with the entire security community.
Meet face-to-face with leading security suppliers leading security companies across access control, video surveillance, perimeter protection, cyber security and more.
There’s been a wealth of innovation and new product development during the pandemic, with many of these on display for the first time. IFSEC International will be an exclusive opportunity to witness these new developments brought to the market first-hand.
Register now: https://registration.gesevent.com/
20th April 2022


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The companies have all pulled out of the show, which is due to be held in Barcelona at the end of this month, due to fears over coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement, Sony said its press conference, where it's expected to show off its latest Xperia flagship, will go ahead as scheduled, but would now be live-streamed via the internet.
"As we place the utmost importance on the safety and wellbeing of our customers, partners, media and employees, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from exhibiting and participating at MWC 2020 in Barcelona, Spain," the company said.
The GSMA, the organization that runs MWC, said it will have additional medical personnel on-site. It will also put other measures in place to reduce the risks posed by the disease, including a no-handshake policy.
In spite of assurances from the GSMA, many companies have decided it's not worth risking the health of their employees to attend. Samsung still plans to attend the show, but has said it is.
The GSMA did not immediately respond to request for comment.


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If it feels like you have more single socks than matching pairs, you’re in good company. According to a 2016 report from Samsung, the average person loses approximately 15 socks per year—that’s 1.3 socks per month, or 1,264 over a lifetime. And yet, where those missing socks end up is a complete mystery—until now, that is.
Cathy Hinz, who’s a property manager with her husband in California, recently made a crack in the curious case of the suspiciously vanishing socks. In an article published on Bored Panda, Hinz revealed that her husband made a surprising discovery after removing the bottom front panel on a dryer: dozens of socks, pairs of underwear, and even a credit card. (When he took out the machine’s water pump, he also found nearly $7 in change—cha-ching!)
But this still doesn’t answer everyone’s most pressing question: How are single socks slipping through the cracks and winding up where they don’t belong? Well, according to Ed Christie, owner of New York-based Christie’s Appliance Repair, you can thank overloading your machine for all those mate-less socks.
“When I see socks outside the dryer drum, that’s usually the result of overloading, and it’s forcing socks into areas where they’re not supposed to be,” says Christie. They tend to wind up in the lint filter area, between the dryer’s drum and cabinet, or in the exhaust duct at the back of the dryer.
“The dryer drum is a cylinder and it has a felt seal on the rear and a felt seal on the front,” Christie explains. “The socks are making their way past the felt seal and that’s how they get out.”
Mystery solved! But there is some bad news: Christie says that “there’s nothing you can do to correct that problem” on a mechanical level in a relatively new machine with its parts intact. That’s because minute gaps in the machine are necessary to maintain the drum’s mobility. However, you can have a professional check your machine’s bearings and change its seals if they’re worn out.
“But if they’re not worn out, it’s overloading that’s the problem,” and there’s unfortunately nothing you can do to your machine, he says.
That doesn’t mean you have to settle for a lifetime of mismatched footwear, however. There’s still an inexpensive solution to your wandering sock woes that may be relatively obvious. “Use a garment bag so that small items, like socks, don’t get separated outside the drum,” notes Christie. It’s as simple as that! And for more solutions to your washing woes, check out these 15 Life-Changing Laundry Folding Tips.
Related Video: 5 Easy Laundry Tricks for Longer-Lasting Clothes (Provided by: Real Simple)
- Beyonce's real hair revealed and it's goalsBeyonce's mom, Tina Knowles Lawson, shared a video of her daughter's natural locks.ETonline
- Watch: Hilarious video shows US man practicing saxophone in front of cows"Actually it's my first audition in front of a live audience."Newshub
- How to avoid getting a bad haircutKeep these six tips in mind to ensure you leave the salon with your ideals tyle.Allure
5 easy laundry tricks for longer-lasting clothesReal Simple0:43
Beyonce's real hair revealed and it's goalsETonline2:26
Watch: Hilarious video shows US man practicing saxophone in front of cowsNewshub1:55
How to avoid getting a bad haircutAllure2:30
Dogs get colorful makeoversStitch1:14
Here's a genius method for writing emails that people always openMoney1:50
Marc Jacobs does his busy day beauty routineVogue5:52
This Woman Had 34 Bridesmaids in Her WeddingInside Edition1:14
Hilarious dog can't stop jumping in sync with water fountainRumble0:42
Wedding venues could cost double in these U.S. citiesBuzz600:42
The biggest design mistakes we make when decorating our homesBuzz601:08
Dos and don'ts when creating a dating profileBuzz601:20
Modern marriage: Why 1 couple put an emotional clause in their prenupTODAY3:25
How Gloria Vanderbilt became a fashion iconInside Edition1:35
Psychiatrist tries to channel Kate Middleton’s wardrobeInside Edition1:04
This man ate 'expired' food for a yearThe Washington Post6:07


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Survey results released Wednesday officially report what virtually all E-Commerce execs already knew: It doesn't take very many bad online experiences to send a consumer to a rival site.
Web-traffic-tracking firm Gomez surveyed 1,173 people in the U.S. last month and found 24 percent will abandon a Web site after the first failed transaction, while most consumers—53 percent—will come back a second time, but will ditch the site after they are burned a second time. About 17 percent of consumers will come back a third time and it will take a third purchase failure to turn them away. (I want to get that last group into a poker game.)
The survey also suggested that 75 percent would immediately jump ship if a site loaded too slowly. Beyond the official reality disclaimer that consumers tend to tell surveyers what they want to tell the sites and not necessarily what they'll actually do--and that Gomex charges retailers to track online performance so they may not be the most non-biased source for how quickly consumers will abandon slow sites--the results here are likely fair. But if an E-Commerce exec needs a survey to learn that customers will be unhappy if their transactions fail, that exec should probably rethink their dayjob.


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A key part of the Health Tech wearable revolution is wireless communications. We depend on WiFi and Bluetooth transmissions to connect wearable devices to smartphones, computers, and the Cloud, so that these devices are not tied down by a data cable. To transmit and receive wireless data, you need an antenna. The term may conjure up images of an old television’s “rabbit ears” antenna, or the metal wire sticking up from your car’s hood. But antennas are getting smaller and more efficient; metal strips inside a smartphone case perform the same function, reaching out miles send signals to the nearest cell tower.
Researchers at Drexel University have been working to develop new antenna technology that can be spray-painted onto a surface. Traditional designs use solid metal strips made from copper or gold. Some newer devices rely on nanomaterials such as graphene that can be complex to fabricate. The Drexel designs use a new material called MXene, a titanium carbide material that is water soluble. Adding water creates a simple ink that can be sprayed onto a surface where the particles self-assemble into an extremely thin conductive layer. The Drexel team created antennas on substrates ranging from simple paper to thin plastic sheets. The researchers have found that a layer just one-thousandth of the thickness of a sheet of paper is sufficient for a working antenna, even though the layer is nearly transparent. In tests, the MXene sprayed-on antennas out-performed the much thicker metal antennas, as well as the very thin nanoparticle materials.
The light weight, thin profile, and high conductivity of this technology could make wireless wearables smaller and more efficient at transmitting wireless data to other devices.


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Another shopping area on Pantops. Ground was broken Monday on what’s called Pantops Plaza at the intersection of Abbey Road and and Rolkin Road. The developers say it will have the area’s first drive-thru Starbucks along with a Chipotle Mexican Grill and Jersey Mike’s Subs. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall with the first stores open next spring. (Artist’s rendering from Riverbend Development)
The UVA baseball program will play a double-header Sunday against N.C. State in Raleigh.
A fire has gutted a single-story house near Stanardsville.
The 2015 version of the Foxfield races was cooler and wetter than usual.
Andy Warhol's short films featuring the music legends will be screened on a big billboard in the Big Apple.


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Monument appoints ex-Barclays business boss as CEO
Ian Rand, former boss of business banking at Barclays, has joined startup lender Monument as CEO. Mr Rand began his career at JPMorgan before moving to Barclays, where he worked for 12 years. He left the bank in late 2020. He will take over the role from Mintoo Bhandari, a former MD at Apollo, who founded the lender in 2018. Monument is targeting what it calls the “mass affluent”: property investors, mid-ranking execs and entrepreneurs who have more money than a retail bank can cater for but not enough to attract the interest of wealth managers.
Banks in talks with UK regulator about loans for energy suppliers
Ofgem is in discussions with NatWest and Barclays about a financing scheme for energy suppliers taking on the customers of failed rivals in a move that could save consumers around £70.
Boden denounces investors over gender funding gap
Anne Boden, the CEO of Starling Bank, criticised venture capitalists in her annual letter outlining the lender’s priorities for the year ahead. Ms Boden cited data from Dealroom which showed that venture capital raised by women founders dropped from a record 2.4% in 2020 to 1.1% in 2021. She said it seemed investors were willing to take a punt on women providing there were few uncertainties, but in times of crises they scaled-back investment in female-led companies. Separate research released by Innovate Finance showed that UK female FinTech founders received 9% of all capital invested in 2021 – falling from 13% in 2019.
US start-ups raise record $330bn as venture investors vie for stakes
US start-ups raised a total of $329.8bn last year compared with $166.6bn in 2020 while global fundraising by start-ups hit $671bn leading some investors to raise doubts that the boom can sustain itself.
Credit Agricole offers to acquire Italy's Banca Carige
Credit Agricole has reportedly offered to buy troubled Italian lender Banca Carige for a euro. It is understood that the French bank has asked for a capital injection of €700m in the loss-making bank before the acquisition. Carige has been focused on the local economy of the maritime Liguria region and its purchase would allow Credit Agricole to expand further in the north.
Bank of America and UBS ask HK staff to adopt new work routines
Bank of America and UBS have told their staff in Hong Kong to adapt to new work routines, as the city-state imposes a two-week COVID-19 circuit breaker. Bank of America has encouraged staff to work from home beyond the two-weeks, from January 7 to January 24, according to reports. While the UBS Group has told its 2,400 Hong Kong staff to split into two groups, with each taking it turns to return to workplaces.
Soc Gen's car leasing division to buy rival
ALD, Societe Generale's car leasing division, has agreed to buy rival LeasePlan for €4.9bn. The French bank said the deal would result in a new, enlarged company with a combined fleet of about 3.5m vehicles, in which it would hold a 53% stake, and would boost its own net earnings per share by more than 5% from 2024.
New MD for BofA's Americas Financial Institutions Investment Banking unit
Bank of America has appointed Alice Wong as a managing director in its Americas Financial Institutions Investment Banking unit. Reuters notes that Ms Wong's appointment is the newest addition in recent months to women in key executive positions at major Wall Street banks.
Tesla takes UK sales crown as EVs surge in popularity
New electric cars made up 26% of the total sold in December, lower that the 33% seen in April 2020 but up from less than 3% of new sales two years ago, while petrol cars' market share dipped to 46%. Tesla became the best-selling brand in the UK with 9% of the market, with the company making up 36% of all new electric car purchases.
Bentayga helps drive Bentley to new sales record
Bentley smashed its sales record last year moving 14,659 cars – up a third - in what the carmaker called a “significant achievement” driven by strong demand for its hybrid SUV the Bentayga.
LEISURE & HOSPITALITY
SoftBank ploughs $100m into Gousto
SoftBank's Vision Fund II has bought a $100m (£74m) stake in the British meal-kit subscription service Gousto. In its 2020 financial year, Gousto saw revenue more than double to £189m, up from £83m during the prior 12 months.
Suspicious payments in China threaten Arm deal
Cambridge-based microchip maker Arm is investigating suspicious payments to senior executives at its Chinese joint venture in a development that could complicate its $40bn takeover by US rival Nvidia. Further allegations have been made about the conduct of certain members of senior management in Arm China, annual accounts for Arm Limited said. Nvidia agreed to buy Arm from SoftBank in 2020 but investigations from competition regulators in the UK, US, China and Europe have threatened the deal. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority was asked in November to investigate the deal on national security grounds.
Manufacturing output index rises
Output and jobs in the manufacturing sector continued to grow at the end of last year as supply chain disruptions began to ease, according to survey results from the IHS Markit/CIPS manufacturing PMI. The output index rose to 53.6 in December, from 52.7 in November, indicating that the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant had not yet hit the sector’s recovery.
Buy-to-let investors borrow record sums
Figures from UK Finance have revealed that buy-to-let investors borrowed a record £18bn in 2021 - an 83% increase on 2020. It comes as 34% of UK landlords are planning to buy at least one more property in the next 12 months, according to research from Shawbrook Bank. Meanwhile, banks are doing all they can to attract landlords in 2022: interest rates on buy-to-let mortgages are low and several lenders are offering higher than usual loan-to-value (LTV) deals, including TSB, which has an 80% LTV mortgage.
Next raises profit guidance
Next has raised pre-tax profit guidance by £22m to £822m, which will be 9.8% higher than pre-pandemic levels and £122m more than its original estimates. For the 12 months to January 2023, it predicts profits of £860m, beating the £836m reported in 2016. It comes after the retailer saw full-price sales over the eight weeks to December 25 rise by 20% compared to two years ago, which is £70m higher than its previous guidance for the festive season.
Profits at B&M ahead of estimates
B&M is expecting profits for the year to the end of March to come in at £605m-£625m, well ahead of City expectations of £578m, following what chief executive Simon Arora called a "very strong golden quarter" at the end of 2021.
Omicron spread hits services
Service sector activity fell to a ten-month low in December, according to the monthly IHS Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ survey. The index fell to 53.6, from 58.5 in November, as the Omicron coronavirus variant took its toll on demand for travel, hospitality and leisure services. Tim Moore, economics director at IHS Markit, said December’s PMI reveals the UK economy is suffering from “a severe loss of momentum”. The news came as analysts at Capital Economics hiked their forecasts for inflation to peak at 7% this April forcing the Bank of England to raise interest rates four times this year, lifting them to 1.25%.


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Alibaba Group’s China commerce business Taobao and Tmall Group said gross merchandise value (GMV), orders and participating merchants grew during its 2023 11.11 campaign year-on-year.
Taobao and Tmall said value-for-money products and livestreaming proved popular among Chinese consumers during the shopping festival, while artificial intelligence-powered tools helped merchants run more efficient marketing campaigns.
“Taobao and Tmall’s solid performance reflects the success of our user-first strategy, which is focused on competitive pricing, diverse content offerings, and AI-driven technologies that further optimized consumer and merchant experiences during the campaign,” said Taobao and Tmall Group’s Chief Executive Officer Trudy Dai in a statement on Sunday.
In its 2022 festival, Taobao and Tmall delivered GMV in line with 2021’s performance despite macroeconomic challenges and the impact of COVID-19. Alibaba’s broader e-commerce ecosystem posted a GMV in 2021 of RMB540.3 billion ($84.54 billion at the time).
Also known as Double 11 or Singles’ Day in China, the weeks-long shopping festival is pivotal for merchants, large and small, to engage with Chinese consumers. Last year’s 11.11 industry-wide GMV was over RMB1 trillion, according to analysis by consultancy Bain, more than four times the GMV generated during 2022’s Cyber Week.
In a barometer of consumer sentiment this year, China’s State Post Bureau said on Sunday that express delivery volume hit a record high during the festival. Between Nov. 1 to Nov. 11, parcel volume swelled to 5.26 billion packages, 23.22% higher than a year earlier. On Saturday, 639 million parcels whizzed around China, up 15.76% year-on-year. Taobao and Tmall ran its campaign from Oct. 24 to Nov. 11.
Shift to Thrift
Economic headwinds turned consumers more cautious this year. When consultancy Bain asked Singles Day shoppers to state their top reason to spend during the festival, 45% responded that they were mainly seeking value.
“People are looking for deals in 2023,” said China retail expert Ashley Dudarenok.
Taobao and Tmall’s direct discount venue offering a 15% price reduction recorded 210 million orders, while the venue featuring value-for-money products from manufacturers generated nearly 90 million orders.
Some merchants looked to offer value to Chinese consumers in different ways. British beauty-tech company CurrentBody gave away a radio frequency device with its 4-in-1 mask to Tmall customers. “It’s the best offer we’ve ever given to anyone worldwide,” said CurrentBody’s CEO Laurence Newman told Alizila in an interview.
As of 00:00 am China Standard Time (CST) on Nov. 11, 402 brands surpassed RMB100 million ($13.72 million) in GMV each, while 38,000 brands more than doubled their GMV year-on-year.
“There is an underlying deep interest in China,” said Ian McGarrigle, Chairman of the World Retail Congress, in an interview with Alizila. “People are looking for growth and China is high on the agenda.”
The onus this year was on merchants to do an even better job of engaging more prudent consumers. Many stepped up to the task by embracing livestreaming, which blurs the boundaries between shopping and entertainment, said consultants.
“Brands have to be much sharper in how they communicate and reach the right people, the customer proposition, and where the value exchange sits,” said David Roth, the CEO of retail practice The Store-WPP and Chairman of consultancy WPP BAV, in an interview with Alizila.
Sports brand FILA was among the brands with a dedicated livestreaming channel during 11.11. A group of hosts for FILA generated a transaction value during pre-sales above the RMB100 million mark on Oct. 24 on the stream.
Taobao and Tmall said that as of 00:00 am CST on Nov. 11, 38 merchant-run livestreaming channels generated over RMB100 million in GMV each, accounting for over 60% of the channels with over RMB100 million in GMV. Four hundred fifty-one merchant-operated channels recorded over RMB10 million GMV each during the campaign period.
Part of the entertainment for shoppers was the razzmatazz around the shopping festival itself, including Taobao and Tmall’s Countdown Gala. AliExpress hosted a concert in Madrid on Nov. 10 featuring Spanish pop duo Funzo & Baby Loud, Dominican musician Henry Mendez and other stars.
Shoppers could call on artificial intelligence to help them find the best bargain around.
Millions of users have tried Taobao App’s embedded generative AI application “Taobao Wenwen” since its beta launch in September, which helps shoppers refine their searches and guides consumer decision-making through AI-powered question-and-answer sessions.
“The next role for the platform is to be much more consumer-centric and help give the feeling that the consumer is in control,” said WPP’s Roth.
Even as consumers are in a more cautious mood, the rise of Generative AI has made it possible for merchants to cut costs, said Bain.
Alibaba Cloud has made a slew of AI tools available to merchants during the shopping festival that can help them become more efficient. Taobao and Tmall’s merchants used the AI tools over 1.5 billion times during the run-up to 11.11 and the campaign itself.
For merchants looking to capture the spike in sales during 11.11 and create sustained interest in their brand, membership programs became more popular.
During the festival, Taobao and Tmall merchants added more than 100 million new members in total.
“Brand membership programs continued to play a pivotal role in this year’s 11.11, highlighting our capabilities in supporting merchants to nurture sustainable, long-term consumer loyalty and business opportunities,” said Taobao and Tmall’s Dai.
This article has been updated on Nov. 11 to include data on parcel deliveries


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Hopkinton Food Pantry to offer food and clothing Aug. 8
Tuesday, August 5, 2014 - 6:00 am
HOPKINTON -- The Hopkinton Food Pantry will be open Aug. 8 at the Hopkinton Town Hall between 10 and 11:30 a.m.
Bring your own containers for food and clothing.The pantry accepts monetary, food and clothing donations.
For more information, contact Georgia at 328-4168 or Mary at 328-4681.


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The market gives investors a good number of chances to buy stocks when they are beaten down, and one such opportunity presented itself when medical devices maker Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) slipped in February this year. There were concerns about the company’s business slowing down, but its fourth-quarter results, which were released in May, put such doubts to rest.
Medtronic’s huge size and diversification have helped the company overcome challenges, so it is not surprising that shares have continued their steady appreciation so far this year, rising almost 30%. And once you consider the company’s prospects, it won’t be surprising if the stock continues to fly higher.
An important turnaround
For starters, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT)’s implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and pacemakers, which were the primary reason behind the bearishness of analysts on the stock, are back on the growth path. Sales of defibrillators grew 2% in the previous quarter while pacemaker revenue improved 5% (both excluding currency effects) from the year-ago period.
These improvements are really significant, as both these products were struggling but now seem to be growing again as Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) gained market share, and more importantly, helped revenue from its Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management (CRDM) business grow 4% (excluding currency effects). This should have come as welcome relief to Medtronic investors as CRDM has struggled of late.
This market share gain in the CRDM doesn’t come as a surprise as Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) was well-positioned to gain from the deficiencies in the ICD offering of its competitor, St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ). St. Jude’s ICD, the Riata, has faced difficult times and was the subject of a recall in late 2011. The leads inside the defibrillator could break out of the insulation from the inside, according to The Wall Street Journal, and this should have played a part in Medtronic’s share gain.
Now, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) is looking to maintain its new-found momentum in ICD by launching new and improved devices, such as the Evera ICD. Evera would be of smaller size, and the company has made an effort to increase patient comfort through it. Such moves should help Medtronic keep its market share intact in this segment.
Next, Medtronic has been aggressively focusing on emerging markets to drive international growth. The company’s international revenue has grown consistently in a range of 6%-8% for almost three years, and emerging markets have been the primary drivers of this growth. Going forward, the company is confident of keeping its momentum intact as it increases its presence and builds awareness.
Moreover, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) has been making some notable moves of late as far as new products are concerned. Its advanced insulin pump, which can automate delivery of insulin for Type 1 diabetics through a “threshold suspend” feature is being touted as a breakthrough technology. The company has filed for FDA approval of the device and if approved, it would be a big boost for it.
Also, Medtronic recently received the CE mark for its CoreValve device in Europe, which should improve its standing in the competitive heart valve market in Europe. In addition, its Pacific Plus PTA catheter also received the go-ahead from the FDA along with the European CE mark. These product moves should complement Medtronic’s global presence and help its revenue grow going forward.
Risks to consider
However, being a medical devices manufacturer, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) isn’t immune to the perils of the industry. For instance, the company’s spine business has been a mixed performer and a recent revelation that its Infuse bone graft product, which accelerates bone growth after spinal surgery, doesn’t enjoy an advantage over traditional bone graft procedures led to a dip in share price and might lead to a decline in sales of the product.


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Photo courtesy of Saratoga Specialties
Saratoga is all that and a box of chips! For those who aren’t aware, the potato chip was invented here in Saratoga Springs, NY over 150 years ago, and Saratoga Specialties company offers the original recipe of the ‘Saratoga Chip’ in their original packaging — little snack boxes! (more on this later)
And now Mayor Scott Johnson has declared August 24, “Saratoga Specialties Original Saratoga Chip Day!”
Don’t miss Mayor Scott T. Johnson’s official presentation next Wednesday, August 24 at 11 a.m. on on the steps of City Hall in Saratoga Springs. Free snack boxes of chips will be provided for the first 100 lucky visitors to attend this presentation. If you are among this crowd, you will also get to sample the new “For Goodness Shakes” seasoning!
Apparently there was a dissatisfied customer at Saratoga’s Moon Lake House Restaurant who rejected the menu’s french fried potatoes, wanting them crispier. Chef George Crum cut and fried a thinner batch of potatoes, but these too were rejected! Crum was aggravated! How could someone criticize his cooking?! Crum whipped up fries that were too thin and crisp to skewer with a fork, to get back at the patron. Surprisingly, the customer loved the new, exciting food! That is how the potato chip was born, right here in our own backyard! ‘Saratoga Chips’ have been a big hit ever since, and it’s about time a Saratoga Chip Day was designated!
So what’s the significance of August 24th?
August 24, is the 158th anniversary of Crum’s unintentional invention of the potato chip, and what could be more significant than that fateful day when fork could no longer meet potato?
In recent years, the Saratoga Specialties Company has reintroduced the Moon Brand Original Saratoga Chips. These throwback, crispy goodies are packaged in an identical replication of the the Moon’s Lake House “take-out” box and sold nationwide as well as being available at many area venues, the latest of these being City Hall on Wednesday where the first 100 people to show up will get a free box of chips! (Box of chips still just sounds wrong, doesn’t it?)
Have you ever tasted the popular Saratoga Chips? What do you think of them?


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Oil, gas price drops create winners, losers among North Jersey businesses
A Passaic recycling company suffers a drop in demand for its recycled plastics.
A Mahwah limousine company gets a boost to its bottom line.
A Bogota cab company has to cut prices to match the competition.
These are some of the effects of the plummeting prices of oil and gasoline in recent months. While the low prices are a clear win for consumers, the impact on businesses is far from universal, with both winners and losers for North Jersey companies and their customers, including price cuts, cost increases and customers who think they should be getting a better deal.
Atlantic Coast Fibers has seen the amount it gets in the market for its recycled plastic drop dramatically as the deep decline in the price of oil – a key component of plastic – has reduced the cost of new plastic.
The Passaic company, with 200 employees, receives recycled goods from municipalities, which pay to dump the recyclables, and ships them overseas, mostly to China. But as the price of oil, and new plastic, has declined, demand for recycled material has fallen – by as much as 30 to 50 percent, which has squeezed the company's finances, purchasing manager Fred Petrone said.
"It's very tough right now," said Petrone. A pound of recycled plastic that went for 12.5 cents last June now sells for 7.75 cents, according to RecyclingMarkets.net, an online database."
"Virgin plastic material is cheaper and more efficient – you don't have to worry about any type of contaminants or anything in it – for the mills to use, than material that's been recovered," said Petrone. "If I'm a manufacturer and I can buy virgin pellets, and my other choice is to buy material that's collected at the curb, what would you buy?" he said.
Ray Rehman, owner of NJ Royal Car and Limousine LLC of Bogota, which has six cars and contracts limousines when needed, said he has cut the price of rides by 10 to 15 percent as gas prices in New Jersey have dropped about 35 percent since June to about $1.68 a gallon. He had no choice because rival cab companies cut costs, said Rehman, adding that he hopes it will help keep his customers.
"Almost everything we pass on to the consumer," he said. "We have a lot of competition."
Meanwhile, Tim Rose, CEO of Flyte Tyme Worldwide Transportation in Mahwah, which has 446 cars, vans and limousines and 600 employees, said he hasn't lowered his prices, which are set by customer contracts. Prices are adjusted only if the price of gas hits $3 a gallon – at which point a surcharge kicks in if gas prices are higher. The surcharge is removed if the price goes below that amount, he said.
With a company gasoline bill of about $12,000 a day, the decline in gas prices helps his bottom line, Rose said.
"It helps our margins that it's so low," he said. "It's definitely a big help. Because our margins normally get eroded," by increases in other costs, he said.
A similar dynamic has helped Green Meadows Landscaping, of Oakland. CEO Richard Goldstein said the fall in the price of gas for his trucks, lawn mowers and other machines, which accounts for 3 to 5 percent of his operating costs, has just brought fuel costs into line with where they should be for the upcoming landscaping season.
When gas prices were high, the company added a 6 percent surcharge to bills to help cover its costs, but was forced to drop it in 2014 due to resistance from customers, said Goldstein, adding that Green Meadows has been "essentially eating this" since. Now, the gas price decline has helped out, he said.
"I wouldn't say it's a windfall for us," he said. "I would say that prices are where they need to be to control inflation. ... We are able to keep our prices pretty tight. Minimal increase."
Tom Heimgartner, a former Upper Saddle River resident who owns Best Transportation, a Port Newark trucking company with about 80 drivers, said the company has benefited slightly from a 30 percent drop in the price of diesel, from $2.75 to $1.90 a gallon, and much of the savings is passed on to the customer.
But his customers – reacting to the larger, 35 percent drop in gas prices – think they should be getting a better deal, he said.
"It does reduce our costs somewhat," Heimgartner said of the oil prices, but the fact that diesel has not fallen in price as much as gas has created a headache in the company's relationships with some customers.
"It makes it difficult to explain to customers that we are not reducing our costs as much as they think," Heimgartner said. "They see a slight reduction. But they don't see a reduction that is as great as they expect it to be."