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Fidelity National Information Services is buying financial software vendor SunGard for US$9.1 billion to broaden its range of enterprise banking and capital market offerings.
Workday has long been known for its financial and HR software, and on Tuesday it rolled out a new enterprise offering that spans both areas with a focus on planning, budgeting and forecasting.
Anyone who's ever worked in professional services knows that the focus there on people and billable projects can open up a world of specialized requirements from any supporting business software. With that very distinction in mind, Workday on Thursda...
Hard on the heels of the recent announcement of its next-generation S/4Hana enterprise software platform, SAP has unveiled a new sSoftware-as-a-Service application aimed at finance professionals but delivering a consumer-like experience.
Workday is expanding its move into analytics with a series of specialized, predictive applications designed to help staff in HR and financial management roles retain top workers and make more accurate forecasts.
Workday has made good on a promise it issued a year ago with the release Thursday of Workday Student Recruiting, the first in a series of apps it's developing for higher education institutions.
Infor is hoping to elbow its way into Workday's turf with an upcoming cloud-based financial software suite dubbed Financials Xi.
SAP is taking a big step into SaaS with Simple Finance, a set of applications based on its in-memory Hana Enterprise Cloud platform.
SAP is making good on a promise to migrate its Ariba e-commerce software to the Hana in-memory computing platform, and says an initial step has already produced staggering performance improvements.
The operator of an independent website aimed at helping users of J.D. Edwards enterprise resource planning software has shut it down after Oracle alleged the site infringed on its copyrights.
Independent Oracle and SAP support provider Rimini Street will now offer integration services for customers who want to adopt SaaS (software-as-a-service) offerings from the likes of Salesforce.com and Workday.
Workday is launching a reworked user interface for its cloud-based HCM (human capital management) and financial software that it believes will appeal to employees of all ages, from millennials to workers who remember the days of green-screen terminal...
Users of the online version of Intuit's popular QuickBooks small-business accounting software may find their workdays becoming a bit easier to manage, thanks to a new user interface and mobile application support.
Workday has unveiled a new software module for its cloud-based HCM (human capital management) application that allows customers to analyze data from both Workday and third-party sources.
A COBOL (common business oriented language)-based system used to support New York's US$160 billion state pension fund has become the subject of controversy, with some officials claiming it poses a potential security risk and others defending it as "b...
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The healthcare industry has seen major shifts over the last decade, including significant health reform with the passing of the Affordable Care Act, retail giant Amazon entering the industry, and the boom of telehealth as a new front door to care. Below, our experts share their perspectives on what healthcare might look like in the decade ahead. We analyze the transforming pharmacy market, economic scenarios the health industry will face, and what might happen in the booming Asia market.
Pharmacy 2030: 5 Bold Predictions
Over the next decade, pharmacy is ripe to change significantly, fueled in large part by the trajectory of pharmacy spend and the nature of drugs coming to market. An increase in specialty drug approvals is breaking the cost curve. In fact, 2019 was the first year that specialty costs surpassed that of traditional drugs. By 2030, overall pharmacy spend will exceed $1 trillion. This phenomenon is fundamentally changing “pyramid math”, as three percent of consumers astonishingly drive 70 percent of pharmacy spend in the commercial funding segment. This begs for new pharmacy management models. Moreover, new drugs are emerging with very different profiles – these now curative solutions, personalized medicines, alternative solutions, and digital therapies carry incredible promise, but also fundamentally different economics and management challenges. Below are five predictions for pharmacy, learn more via our article link below.
Infographic: Healthcare 2030 Survey
Oliver Wyman predicted four possible economic scenarios for healthcare 2030. Oliver Wyman and National Business Group on Health polled attendees at the Business Health Agenda 2019 event to see which of these four predictions employers, innovators, incumbents, and others think is most likely to come true. We hope this data provides insight into how the greater healthcare industry thinks big change will happen next and who may be most likely to win (and lose) profit share over the next decade.
Healthcare 2030: Four Economic Scenarios
There are a few claims we’re making (with confidence!) about healthcare’s future. We predict healthcare’s migration to value will continue. Margin pressure and intense competitive pressure will push efficiency among incumbents (like automating and transitioning care to lower acuity environments). Industry boundaries will be challenged as digital, retail, and other companies make deeper forays into healthcare. But how fast will change happen? And who will win (and lose) profit share?
Indonesia 2030: The $68 Billion Healthcare Opportunity
Indonesia is one of the world’s great economic successes. It is already the 16th-largest economy in the world, with the third highest growth rate in the G20. At the current trajectory it will be one of the five biggest economies in the world by 2030.
As Indonesia designs a blueprint for a healthcare ecosystem for the new era, it will need to manage the triple aims of high quality, low cost, and greater patient access. As it does this, we see five areas of particular priority. These are both the most important developments and the areas of greatest opportunity for private-sector players. Find the five key imperatives to achieve the 2030 Indonesian Healthcare vision via our interactive graphic.
Healthcare in 2030: Five Mindsets Holding Incumbents Back
The healthcare industry’s progress solving major issues – cost, outcomes, experience – can perhaps best be described as incremental. Medical cost still outpaces inflation, increasing pressure to cut costs. The value chain remains static, as payers continue to own the bulk of lives, and provider-owned health plans are niched. Sure, value-based care adoption presses onward – led by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – but most adoption efforts, focused on healthy or at-risk consumers, are still reimbursed via fee-for-service (FFS) payment models. Despite some notable progress, healthcare continues to lag most other industries in its inability to engage consumers, thereby putting other industries at the forefront of innovation.
Perhaps it all comes down to changing the incumbent mindset. Here are five mentalities that hold incumbents back from disrupting healthcare, where had the industry moved more quickly or flipped the script with a bit more strategic design, healthcare’s disruption would be more likely to come from inside, not outside.

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12th May 2014. A video released by activists from Foil Vedanta today, shows Vedanta boss, and 69% owner, Anil Agarwal, telling a large audience how he bought Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia for just $25 million, rather than the $400 million asking price, and receiving loud cheers when he states that the company brings in $500 million in profit each year. Foil Vedanta had previously released figures from Vedanta’s annual reports showing that the company made $362 million in 2013, but Vedanta CEO Tom Albanese had disputed this during his visits to Zambia in February, repeating the previous claim that KCM was making a very low profit or a loss due to high operational costs and taxes.
In the video, Agarwal, speaking to the Jain International Trade Organisation (JITO) in Bangalore, India, March 22 – 23 this year, states about KCM:
“Its been 9 years [since we’ve owned the company], and since then every year it is giving us a minimum of 500 million dollar, plus 1 billion dollar, every year it has been continuously giving back.”


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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Sales slowed and losses continued for Penn Traffic in fiscal 2009, but the retailer on Wednesday insisted the strategic actions it took during the year could soon pay off.
Penn Traffic closed 21 stores and turned over its warehouse and distribution business to a third party, C&S Wholesale Grocers, during the 2009 fiscal year, which ended Jan. 31.
These moves contributed to decrease in revenues but left the retailer with a stronger group of core stores, officials said in a conference call discussing results. The spin-off of the distribution business in the meantime helped Penn Traffic post a quarterly profit, while proceeds were applied toward debt reduction.
The company posted a $17.6 million loss for the fiscal year, down from a loss of $41.7 in 2008. Annual operating loss accelerated to $22.6 million on sales of $872.3 million — a 2.6% sales decrease. For the fourth quarter, Penn Traffic posted net income of $3.8 million on $210 million in sales, with the profit coming entirely out of the $18.2 million gain from the sale of its distribution business. Sales were down 2.4% among continuing stores.
Read More of Today's Headlines


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When we look back at 2020, the restaurants that launched this year may have wildly divergent origin stories. For Uncle Steve’s House of BBQ in Roslyn, that tale might begin with “It was a dark and stormy night …”
That would be the night owner Matt Prince raced around the darkened roads of Roslyn in a Jeep Wrangler delivering brisket during Uncle Steve’s first night in business as a so-called ghost kitchen.
Prince’s other business at 1 Railroad Avenue, Vienna of Roslyn, had been thriving when lockdown arrived in mid-March. In bat of an eye, events hit a hard stop. After reassessing his choices — and as takeout and delivery gained steam as a survival tactic for other restaurants — Prince realized that what might be missing in his immediate surrounds was a delivery-focused barbecue spot. Around that time, a culinary consultant Prince had worked with, chef Matthew Birnbaum, reached


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Inflation in Croatia
Croatia - Inflation
Inflation remains stable in August
Inflation came in at 12.3% in August, matching July’s result. Prices for food rose at a softer pace. In addition, price pressures for transportation declined at a faster rate.
The trend pointed up, with annual average inflation coming in at 7.8% in August (July: 7.1%). Meanwhile, harmonized inflation edged down to 12.6% in August, from the previous month's 12.7%.
Lastly, consumer prices rose 0.17% in August over the previous month, slowing down from the 0.43% increase seen in July. August's result marked the weakest reading since December 2021.
FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panelists expect inflation to average 9.6% in 2022, which is up 0.4 percentage points from last month’s forecast. In 2023, the panel sees inflation averaging 4.8%.
Croatia - Inflation Data
|Inflation Rate (CPI, annual variation in %)||-0.5||-1.1||1.1||1.5||0.8|
5 years of economic forecasts for more than 30 economic indicators.
Croatia Inflation Chart
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics and FocusEconomics calculations.
|Bond Yield||0.67||0.0 %||Dec 31|
|Exchange Rate||6.64||-0.54 %||Jan 01|
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September 30, 2022
Industrial output expanded 0.8% year on year in seasonally and working-day adjusted terms in August, which was a deterioration from July's 2.8% increase.
September 16, 2022
Inflation came in at 12.3% in August, matching July’s result.
September 2, 2022
Industrial production increased 2.8% year on year in working-day adjusted terms in July (June: +3.8% yoy).
August 26, 2022
The preliminary estimate reveals that GDP growth improved to 7.7% year on year (yoy) in the second quarter, from 7.0% in the first.
August 18, 2022
Consumer prices rose 0.43% from the previous month in July, slowing down from June's 1.12% rise.


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Sony Electronics executives announced that they will launch their first Blu-ray Disc (BD) player, model BDP-S1, in July at “about a $1,000 suggested retail price,” and kicked off a pre-order campaign on the unit.
The company also showed six new BRAVIA LCD TVs, three new 3LCD rear-projection sets and a notebook and desktop PC that will include a built-in Blu-ray rewritable drive during its dealer show, held here earlier this month. (For details on its audio introductions, see p. 4.)
The stand-alone BD player will feature 1,080p output and will boost standard-definition DVD signals to 1,080p. It also will offer BD-Java interactivity upon introduction and the ability to handle uncompressed linear PCM audio signals, as well as all audio formats that are part of the core BD specifications.
The deck, which will offer a high build quality with rigid beam construction, will play back Blu-ray Discs with both 25GB and dual-layer 50GB capacities as well as DVD videos and CDs. The deck will not support Sony’s SACD multichannel music format.
Tim Baxter, Sony’s strategic planning senior VP, said the company will use the 1,080p output capability in the Blu-ray Disc player to cross-market new 1,080p-capable BRAVIA LCD TVs and SXRD rear-projection HDTV sets.
“Later this year we will be delivering a full HD message to customers,” Baxter said, adding the company plans to increase its ad spending this year to promote the full HD message, and Blu-ray will be a big part of it. “We are very bullish on BD being the best high-definition solution for the consumer.”
Baxter hailed Blu-ray for its “significant and overwhelming industry support,” pointing out that 85 percent of the consumer electronics industry supports BD, and that nearly 90 percent of last year’s DVD sales came from studios that have committed to support the BD format with software. He said top PC companies are supporting the format as well as the makers of the top video game platform.
Baxter said Sony’s computer entertainment unit will roll out its multifunctional PlayStation3 video game console with built-in BD compatibility in time for the 2006 holiday season at a price to be announced later. He explained that the PS3’s original spring launch target was delayed because the company wanted to build in the latest version of the HDMI specification (v 1.3).
Meanwhile, Sony will deliver in June a Vaio RC desktop PC with built-in rewritable BD drive at a $2,300 target price. The PC will be designed to both edit and burn to Blu-ray Discs high-definition images captured by one of Sony’s HD camcorder models. The company also plans to market this year a Vaio notebook with built-in BD rewritable capability.
An after-market internal BD rewritable drive is also planned for later this year at a price to be announced later. The drive will support both 25GB and 50GB recordable media at 2x speed. It will burn a full 25GB disc in about 30 minutes and support all DVD recordable formats, including double/dual-layer DVDs and CD-R/RW discs.
Starting in April, Sony will support the PC drives with blank recordable media in the 25GB, and later, 50GB recordable and rewriteable formats. Discs with 25GB capacities will sell for $20 each for recordable versions and $25 for rewriteable versions. The 50GB disks due later will sell for $48 for recordable versions and $60 for rewriteable versions.
Sony introduced its new S series of BRAVIA LCD TVs in the 26W-inch ($1,500 suggested retail), 32W-inch ($2,000), 40W-inch ($3,000) and 46W-inch ($4,500) screen sizes. All models have fully integrated ATSC tuning and will feature a graphite bezel finish and 1,366 by 768 pixel resolution. Also included this year is a new enhanced digital picture processor
New 3LCD microdisplay rear-projections models will be offered in the 55W-inch ($2,800), 50W-inch ($2,300) and new 46W-inch ($2,000) screen sizes. All three feature 1,280 by 720p high-definition resolution, dual HDMI inputs, front component input for HDV camcorders and a compact frame design with below-screen mounted speakers.
Later in the year, Sony executives said they plan to introduce additional BRAVIA and SXRD microdisplay rear-projection sets, including models with full 1,080p resolution.
The newly designed SXRD line will offer screen sizes from 50 inches to 70 inches, the company said.


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Although it has been recently speculated that Toyota might end the production of its Venza model, the rumors haven’t been quite true since the new Venza is coming back to the market as a redesigned and improved 2019 model. The fans can expect some serious visual changes as well as those under the hood.
- at the top in its class
- Toyota has discontinued Venza
When it comes to exterior of the 2019 Toyota Venza, we must say that the fans shouldn’t hope for any revolutionary changes in terms of styling. Instead, the new Venza should keep that familiar body design of its predecessor. However, one of the changes that could happen includes the use of lightweight materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber in its chassis construction. That way, the carmaker would save some weight and improve the acceleration, efficiency and overall performance. The Venza has also been known for its unusual body design. This model cannot be simply described as a typical crossover. In fact, it represents a combination of a SUV and a wagon. Toyota will use its well-known GRYLIA system here so the front end will look sharper and more aerodynamic. You will also notice a distinctive silver-coated grille, its large LED headlights and a massive front bumper. There will be lots of chrome details on this model. While the front end seems sharper, the rear part of this vehicle will get more rounded appearance. In the back end, the fans will notice its large LED taillights and a roof spoiler. The new Venza should stand on standard 19-inch wheels.
The interior of the 2019 Toyota Venza will reveal a spacious and modern cabin. Namely, the new Venza will be able to accommodate up to five adults on its cozy and adjustable seats. The carmaker will also use some high-quality materials inside as well as leather in higher trim levels. This model will get an upgraded stylish dashboard as well as a 6.1-inch infotainment touch-screen display in the center console. It will provide features such as satellite navigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, USB and Bluetooth. Some of the advanced safety systems and driver assist features will include seven airbags, a rearview camera, parking sensors and others.
When we talk about the engine that the 2019 Toyota Venza will offer under its hood, two choices have been discussed so far. The first option might come with a base 2.7-liter inline-four that delivers 181 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque. The other version includes a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 268 horsepower and 246 pound-feet of torque. Each of these engines will be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and you will be able to choose between a front-wheel and a four-wheel drive.
2019 Toyota Venza Release Date and Price
The 2019 Toyota Venza should be expected in the US by the end of 2018, but it will first hit some other world markets. The estimated price range of this model is $30,000 – $41,000.
Competitors: Ford Edge, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Murano, GMC Terrain, Honda Crosstour.


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The American comic retailer organization ComicsPro recently released the results from an internal poll questioning which incentives from publishers do the most to increase their orders of a particular book.
Although ComicsPro’s Amanda Emmert didn’t elaborate as to how many retailers responded, the percentages reveal a lot. According to the survey, 63 percent of comics retailers who responded said that discounts for larger orders of a book are the most effective incentive for them. This outpaced other incentives by a 3:1 ratio, with returnability and free additional comics coming in at around 20 percent each. Of all responses, none said alternative covers were an effective means to stoke retailer’s purchase orders.
Emmert added at the end that smaller comic retailers might be more welcoming of free copies and returnable comics, while “larger retail accounts look more for deep discount offers, although the correlation was anecdotal.”
It’s worth a look for anyone working in the publishing — or creative — side of the comic industry, and even armchair comics quarterbacks like you and me.
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No signs of recovery at FT group
PUBLISHING group Pearson today said it continued to see no sign of a recovery in advertising revenues at its Financial Times business. The group has been hit by the advertising and technology downturn and earlier this year reported a 12% fall in full-year profits for 2001.
Chief executive Dame Marjorie Scardino said: 'Across our network of business newspapers, advertising revenues are, as expected, significantly lower than in the same period last year and, at this stage, we see no sign of a recovery.'
The group's FT division includes the Financial Times, French newspaper Les Echos, Spanish media group Recoletos and FT Deutschland.
Overall, Pearson, which also owns publishing group Penguin and an education publishing business in the US, said trading continued to be in line with guidance given at its annual general meeting in April. At the time, Pearson said it had made a good start to 2002 and was confident of healthy earnings growth this year despite the difficult economic climate.
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From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay FeatureRelated Categories: U.S. | Animal Liberation
Center for Consumer Freedom attacks PETA once again
More "consumer freedom" crap attacking PETA and distracting from the CCFs' true goals of protecting the profits of their big business backers...
This NON-profit, the Center for Consumer Freedom, which represents the interests of major FOR-profit food, alcohol, tobacco companies, is also against public health advocates and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Their goal is to remove any legal and financial responsibilities for big businesses through a phony Orwellian-named "consumer" group. A more accurate name for the CCF would be "the center for consumer responsibility" as it is certainly never their big business backer's fault for anything -- these companies are only offering "choices" to consumers, and if these "choices" are unhealthy and the public suffers, then so be it.
"petakillsanimals.com" - sure, okay. PETA never ever claimed to be against euthanasia.
Giant irony not mentioned in the "business" newswire piece below is that the CCF represents restaurants, alcohol, and tobacco big biz... if the issue for them were truely killing then how many animals deaths are their clients responsible for? KFC alone kills over 800,000 chickens a year. And that's just a single fast-food company. How many people suffer due to the unhealthy food products offered by the CCF's financial backers? How much do we all pay in added healthcare costs as a result of decades of unhealthy "choices" being foisted on the American public? The CCF claims the recent public health interest in reducing obesity in America is much ado about nothing -- they'd prefer we keep on keeping on, oblivious to health risks. If the issue were truely "killing" for the CFF, then how many *people* a year die due to alcohol- and tobacco-related diseases in the US every year? 300,000? 400,000? How about worldwide?? RJReynolds provided the seed money to get the CCF going a few years back. Not too hard to figure out why.
Besides, PETA isn't about not "killing" animals, it's about making sure animals do not *live* in human-created hells called factory farms, research laboratories, circuses, and so forth.
The CCF have determined PETA is an easier target than MADD or public health groups and so the CCF completely misrepresents PETA's positions on a number of issues (including euthanasia), distracting from what they are really up to, and that's protecting big businesses' "right" to sell you any crap they can make a profit from regardless of its ill effects.
more on this shady group at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Consumer_Freedom
from United Business Media's "PR Newswire"
Center for Consumer Freedom Has Warned 'Ethical Treatment of Animals' Workers Routinely Kill Animals
AHOSKIE, N.C., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night, one month after the launch of http://www.PetaKillsAnimals.com, two employees of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were arrested on 31 felony animal-cruelty charges for killing and disposing of dogs and puppies in a dumpster. Today the Center for Consumer Freedom is calling on Americans to stop making donations to support PETA and its grim-reaper program.
When Ahoskie police arrested PETA employees Andrew Cook and Adria Hinkle last night, they found 18 dead dogs in a nearby shopping-center dumpster (including a bag containing seven dead puppies), and 13 more dead dogs in the PETA-owned van the two were driving. Police observed them throwing several dark-colored bags into the dumpster before the arrests were made.
This is not the first public mention of PETA's large-scale euthanasia program. In May 2005 the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) unveiled a giant Times Square billboard and a new website (http://www.PetaKillsAnimals.com). CCF had obtained official records from the state of Virginia showing the militant animal-rights group had put over 10,000 dogs and cats to death since 1998.
In 2003 PETA euthanized over 85 percent of the animals it took in, finding adoptive homes for just 14 percent. By comparison, the Norfolk SPCA found adoptive homes for 73 percent of its animals and the Virginia Beach SPCA adopted out 66 percent. PETA's required report documenting its 2004 record is currently over 4 weeks late.
A Bertie County (NC) Deputy Sheriff told The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald that Cook and Hinkle assured the Bertie Animal Shelter "they were picking up the dogs to take them back to Norfolk where they would find them good homes." Pittman added that persons identifying themselves as PETA representatives have picked up live dogs from that shelter during the last two months.
"This is disturbing behavior on the part of self-professed animal lovers, and I hope the public takes notice," said Center for Consumer Freedom Director of Research David Martosko. "PETA raked in nearly $29 million last year alone, but apparently it couldn't spare any money to care for the flesh-and-blood animals entrusted to its employees. It's ironic -- If anyone else were caught red-handed with 31 dead dogs, PETA would be holding a press conference to denounce them."
Martosko added: "Last month when we launched PetaKillsAnimals.com, we warned the public that PETA was not the warm and kind group it claimed to be. Now it's clearer than ever that Americans who truly want to help animals should donate to their local animal shelter, not to PETA."
The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies, and consumers, working together to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices.
SOURCE Center for Consumer Freedom
Web Site: http://www.consumerfreedom.com


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Domestic Cars and Light Trucks up 10.8 Percent For Late October With BC-Auto Sales-Table
DETROIT (AP) _ Sales of domestic cars and light trucks rose 10.8 percent in late October against a year ago, automakers reported Wednesday, quelling for the moment fears that last month’s stock market slip scared buyers.
″Sales are really not that much affected by the plunge. Consumers really retained cool heads and did not substantially alter their buying plans,″ said Chris Cedergren, industry analyst with J.D. Power & Assoc. in Westlake Village, Calif.
Automakers said their dealers sold 344,190 domestic cars and light trucks in the 10 selling days from Oct. 21-31, up from 310,651 in the same period a year ago.
The late October figures had been awaited as the first concrete indication of consumers’ reaction to the wild fluctuations of the stock market last month.
Makers sold 218,803 domestic cars, down a slight 0.3 percent from 219,567 a year ago, and 125,387 domestic trucks, up a healthy 37.7 percent from 91,804 a year ago, the companies reported.
Foreign makers, who report sales only once a month, said their combined car and light truck sales fell 0.4 percent during October, to 339,811 from 341,230 a year ago. Imported car sales rose 0.7 percent, to 274,717 from 272,722, while imported truck sales fell 5 percent, to 65,094 from 68,508 in October 1986.
Sales of many imported, high-priced models have lagged throughout the year but dropped further during the month.
Cedergren said many foreign luxury makers, such as Mercedes, experience slow sales in October because stocks of 1987 models drop as the companies prepare to introduce 1988 models in November.
Mercedes’ sales this October, however, came in 24.5 percent below October 1986 because it introduced its new models in October instead of November last year and they sold well immediately, Cedergren said.
Among U.S. makers, industry-leader General Motors Corp. sold 103,777 domestic cars in late October, down 5.8 percent from 110,141 in the year-ago period. GM’s sales have lagged behind 1986 levels by about 20 percent throughout 1987, as have Chrysler Corp.’s.
GM sold 46,115 domestic trucks, up 33.1 percent from 34,641 a year ago. Unlike car sales, truck sales for all makers have stayed well ahead of 1986 levels for most of this year.
GM said its Cadillac luxury car dealers sold 28.3 percent more cars in late October than a year ago.
Ford Motor Co., the nation’s second-largest maker, sold 59,502 domestic cars, up 12.6 percent from 52,844 a year ago. Ford’s truck sales rose 56.7 percent, to 47,637 from 30,398 a year ago.
″At this time, I’m encouraged by the results in October. The underlying economic factors are still the same as before the crash,″ Ford Vice Chairman Harold Poling said Wednesday, pointing to low inflation, falling interest rates and low, stable fuel prices.
No. 3 Chrysler sold 4.2 percent fewer cars during the period - 32,736 compared with 34,160 a year ago - but 18.8 percent more trucks. Chrysler’s truck sales, which include Jeep Corp. vehicles, rose to 28,366 from 23,877 a year ago.
Honda’s sales of cars made in the United States fell 7.9 percent, to 14,662 from 15,916 a year ago, Honda’s first decrease since it began building cars here. Cedergren said the drop was the result of a production halt this year during retooling for new models and made up the difference with imported models.
Volkswagen’s domestic car sales were off 14.7 percent from a year ago, to 2,241 from 2,628 a year ago.
Nissan’s U.S.-made car sales were up 15.7 percent, to 3,531 from 3,051, as buyers responded to generous incentives on 1987 models. Nissan’s truck sales jumped 51.5 percent, to 3,269 from 2,158 a year ago.
Mazda Motors Corp., which began building cars in the United States at its Flat Rock plant in September, sold 154 during October.


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Fish oil from Morocco Friend of the Sea certified
Winterisation Europe, a bulk supplier of small pelagic omega-3 fish oils, on Friday announced its products have been certified sustainable by Friend of the Sea.
Winterisation Europe uses sardines, mackerel and anchovies from the Atlantic, which are harvested by Friend of the Sea approved Moroccan purse seiners that have no impact to the seabed. The company also only sources its fish oils in geographical zones where the fish stocks have been monitored and assessed as sustainable.
Winterisation Europe’s supply chain is closely monitored from the purchase order to the final destination using HACCP methods to provide sanitary and safety insurance to its customers.
“For Winterisation Europe the health benefits provided by our fish oils are as important to us as their environmentally friendly value,” said Marc Ruty, commercial director of the fish oil business unit at Winterisation Europe. “We provide our eco-friendly consumers a product from a fully traceable sustainable source.”


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Ryan Yasin, 24-year-old graduate student has created clothes for infants that “grow” as the child does, sparing parents from having to buy new garments every few weeks.
He has won the UK branch of the James Dyson award, a competition run by Sir James Dyson.
He has invented the material while studying at the Royal College of Art, London and is now using it to launch a clothing range called Petit Pli.His synthetic fibre uses a pleated structure that allows it to follow the Negative Poisson’s ratio, a phenomenon in which materials become fatter when stretched.
The material is designed for outerwear such as coats and jackets and is waterproof.
Children tend to go through seven clothing sizes between the ages of six and 36 months, often outgrowing clothes within weeks of them being bought.


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Detroit -- Organizers expect more than 60,000 people to come to Cobo Center through this week to check out the newest boats available for hitting the waters.
Buoyed by higher than expected turnout at shows in other states, vendors are hoping for similar luck with the 52nd annual Detroit Boat Show, which opened to the public Saturday.
"It is not going to break the bank," said Kevin Mosher, a salesman with Wilson Marine, which was selling a "recession-friendly," 16-foot boat that could easily fit five people for $11,500.
Wilson Marine purchased boats from several dealers that had gone under during the recent economic slump and was selling them for as much as $5,000 less than they normally would sell, Mosher said.
Other companies also were selling low-end vessels or offering discounts. For those who want to buy while at Cobo, staffers are available to help with on-the-spot sales. Some even offered 20-year loans to keep monthly payments low.
Salespeople such as Mosher were low key about sales, while others rang a loud bell whenever a boat was sold, sending a roar of excitement through the crowd.
Show manager Van Snider said the boating industry took its lumps as the economy soured and has been slow to recover. But he said sellers are upbeat this year.
"There is a perception out there that boating is for fat cats," he said Saturday. "That is not true. There is a boat with a price for you."
Many sellers listed monthly payments as opposed to the price of the boat. Others listed both. Harold Meloche, a 48-year-old Birmingham resident, was on a research mission with his wife and daughters.
They purchased a used, 1988 Wellcraft boat last year and would like to trade up from the 18-footer to something newer, he said.
"It is our starter boat," he said as the family checked out a pontoon boat that resembled a huge living room. "We will keep it at least two years. I am here to do some digging."
Organizers said 1,500 boats typically sell for a combined $50 million during the show's run.
Snider said he expects the average cost of a boat sold during the show's nine-day run to be about $28,000, about $5,000 less than in previous years.
He said the one-stop-shop aspect of the show separates it from the North American International Auto Show and the Autorama shows also held at Cobo.
"That is the difference between this show and the auto shows," Snider said. "This is a seller's show."
Other attractions include a Lego boat-building contest, boating instruction for youngsters and a wakeboard simulator.


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Recent reports have suggested that John Lewis’s new boss Dame Sharon White is seeking to dial back the department store’s womenswear offering as part of her radical plan to shake up the retailer (a strategy which includes renting rather than selling products and turning shop space into flats). If that’s true, then the womenswear team is not going down without a fight, emerging from the high street’s weirdest summer ever with a new campaign, Style With Purpose, designed to tap into what we really want from our shops now.
“The way we live has changed dramatically and fashion understandably isn’t at the top of people’s agenda”, says Jo Bennett, the head of womenswear. “There is a far greater sense of community and a desire to pull together for the greater good – there is even more appreciation and respect for each other.”
With that in mind, John Lewis has pulled together a capsule collection from both its own brands and the labels it stocks (like Hush, Dinny Hall and Mulberry) which it hopes will speak to how we want to dress for the new normal, with 15 per cent of proceeds going to the domestic abuse charity, Refuge. JL has also followed the lead of design houses like Burberry and Gucci, eschewing models in favour of a diverse cast of “real” women to model the collection.
If this all sounds very do-gooding then there is still an eye on ensuring that this is an exercise in creating a much-needed boost in sales (the last time John Lewis reported sales figures in April, profits were down 23 per cent). Erica Davies, one of the UK’s most influential fashion Instagrammers, has been brought on board to style the campaign, and talk about it to her 157,000 followers – it’s a strategy that has already paid off because within hours of Erica posting a picture of herself wearing the £160 Wisteria dress from JL’s Modern Rarity own brand, it had sold out in all sizes (though it will be restocked in the coming days and is available at selected stores).
“After such a strange year the question was: what does fashion mean now? The ‘new season’ will mean something different to us all,” says Erica, who has created looks for the campaign which eschew trends in favour of the dressed-down, athleisure vibe most of us are opting for, with a few artful twists along the way. “I believe clothes should make you feel great, inspire joy and stand the test of time. And after a really difficult few months where home and community was central to most people, I wanted it to be comfortable, classic and useful as well as stylish. It’s a capsule collection of confidence-boosting wardrobe staples.”
Erica and John Lewis worked with a casting agent to find their group of real women, which includes sales director Lola (in an elegant trench coat) and her filmmaker mother, Ann (proving you can mix stripes with leopard print), book translator Mandy (who wears her jumper jauntily tied across body) and her engineering student daughter Flossie (showing sleek white trainers are going nowhere) then there’s Naomi (offering a lesson in transitional layering in a knit, shirt and jacket), a dance school teacher and Ramla (layering a pussy bow blouse under a denim midi dress), another student – it’s an ensemble of women chosen to reflect “UK communities” but they’re also who JL executives likely talk about when they think – and dream – of who shops with them – smart, stylish women of all ages and backgrounds.
“I’ve included a mix of classic clothes and more statement pieces that will mix easily with things you might already own and help create outfits you’ll wear for years,” Erica reflects. “It’s about making discerning choices, wearing and loving your clothes.”
These are all sentiments that speak to the straitened finances which many of us might be feeling right now – if we’re spending, we want to make a good investment – but also the sparks of happiness which clothes can deliver, whether it’s the thrill of putting on a dress for a pub lunch or having a new sweatshirt to make being at home feel luxurious.
“At times of crisis, fashion can feel fickle and we wanted to find a way we could inspire women to feel amazing in their clothes and give back to help other women in challenging situations,” says Bennett. With fashion and retail such an integral part of the economy, fickle is an assumption we might like to get away from, but there’s no denying that we might feel a little more inclined to indulge in the Somerset by Alice Temperly shirt dress (£99) or the Mother of Pearl for John Lewis relaxed shirt (£89) if we know some of what we spend will go to a good cause.
“We are really hoping to raise a significant amount for Refuge and support their brilliant services that are in higher demand than ever before,” adds Bennett. “We were aware that at this moment there has been an increase in women experiencing domestic abuse who are in need of support and as a broad community of women nationwide we want to help.”
Naomi wears dark blue coat, £179, John Lewis & Partners
It seems that plenty of us have already been turning to John Lewis to lift our sartorial spirits. Bennett reports that the Zoom styling sessions, which the store’s stylists started during lockdown have been “amazing” and will continue going forward. Trainers, jeans and anything athleisure are what’s selling best as we edge into autumn but Erica and Jo both recommend adding something more special into the mix; Jo tips Kin’s teddy coat while Erica praises the countless styling options which that leopard dress affords. Dame Sharon, take note.


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This morning some friends and I hosted a media conference in Denver to advocate freedom in beer sales and to protest beer protectionism. Earl Allen, who spoke at the event along with Amanda Teresi and Dave Williams (and me), put together a YouTube video:
Here’s the release I sent out yesterday:
ISSUE: Allow Grocery Sales of Real Beer, End Protectionism
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Smashing Beer Bottles to protest beer protectionism and advocate liberty in beer sales
WHEN AND WHERE: West Steps, Colorado Capitol, 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 13
Ari Armstrong, publisher of FreeColorado.com
Amanda Teresi, founder of Liberty on the Rocks
Dave Williams, president of the Gadsden Society
Additional speakers pending [Earl Allen became the fourth speaker]
“Grocery stores have a right to sell regular beer to consenting adults, and beer drinkers have the right to shop at stores of their choice. By killing Bill 1192 Wednesday, the legislature maintained unjust protectionism at the cost of individual liberty, property rights, and freedom of association,” said Ari Armstrong.
Armstrong will smash beer bottles from Colorado brewers who endorsed protectionism. The event will feature appropriate measures for safety and cleanup, so no beer or glass will be left on state property.
“The protectionists are smashing our liberty, so it’s only appropriate that we smash their beer,” Armstrong said.
Brewers who opposed 1192, thereby endorsing protectionism, include the following:
I do think it’s a mistake to think that the Brewer’s Guild necessarily speaks for all its members. I don’t mean to suggest that Bristol and Del Norte are the only or primary offenders; they’re just the ones I learned about. (Bristol’s oatmeal stout is spectacular, by the way, so I was especially pained to break bottles of that.)
I support Colorado’s beer and wine industry, and I have supported the freedom of brewers to produce and sell their products. Beer and wine producers, above all other businesses, should understand the devastating power of political intervention. Their industry was legally squashed for years in this nation. So why do some brewers support using political force to squash certain business transactions now? They should know better.
Other things equal, I’d prefer to buy my beer from producers who stand up for freedom rather than trample individual rights. So if anybody knows of any Colorado brewers who opposed the protectionist measures restricting grocery beer sales (or that even took an officially neutral position), please let me know, and I’d be happy to promote those brewers and go out of my way to buy beer from them.
I support liberty, and I try to support businesses that support liberty.
Blogger Richard Combs writes, “I agree completely with Ari that this is unjust protectionism, and that the State of Colorado should long ago have abandoned this vestige of prohibitionism… But… the idea of smashing perfectly good, drinkable bottles of beer just disturbs me deeply.”
I hear you, my friend, but what’s truly disturbing is the political smashing of our liberties.
I’m going to end my evening, of course, with a beer, and a toast to liberty.


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83% of Indians trust robots more than humans in finance
2020 was an eye-opening year when it came to financial uncertainty, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic downturn causing people around the world to reexamine the role of money and the people handling it. With a changing dynamic both at home and in the workplace, the shifting financial landscape is causing consumers and business decision-makers in various countries including India to consider allowing robots to manage their personal finances.
The surge in social distancing, business closures, suspension of operations, and the generally changing relationship people had with money, physical or digital representations of monetary value, was adversely changed in 2020, in a new study by enterprise solutions provider Oracle and personal finance expert Farnoosh Torabi.
The study of more than 9,000 consumers and business leaders across 14 countries and found that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased financial anxiety, sadness, and fear among people around the world, reporting that among business leaders globally, financial anxiety and stress increased by 186%, and sadness grew by 116%, while consumer financial anxiety and stress doubled, and sadness increased by 70%.
The stressful financial climate has caused both consumers and business leaders to reevaluate who can be trusted to manage our finances. Included among those 14 countries in the Oracle study is India, where a surprisingly overwhelming share of respondents say they would trust a robot more than a human to manage finances.
Following the pandemic-associated effects of 2020, while 67% of global consumers and business leaders said they would lean towards robots in financial matters more now, a much higher percentage, 83% of Indian consumers and business leaders said they share this belief.
Enterprise decision-makers appear to be greatly shaken up on the subcontinent, with nearly every business leader in India (96%) stating that robots could improve their work processes in a number of ways, such as by detecting fraud (37%), creating invoices (32%), and conducting cost/benefit analysis (30%). In fact, Indian consumers and business leaders appear to favor trusting robots more when it comes to financial services compared to the global average in practically every category surveyed.
For instance, while just over half (56%) of business leaders worldwide believe robots will replace corporate finance professionals in the next five years, about two-thirds (67%) of Indian business leaders believe the same. And while 85% of business decision-makers want help from robots for finance tasks, a whopping 93% of Indian business leaders want assistance from robots for the same, including finance approvals (58%), budgeting and forecasting (49%), reporting (38%), and compliance and risk management (50%).
And it’s not just business leaders, Indian consumers are radically changing the way they view funds heading into 2021, ramping up the need for organizations to rethink how they utilize AI and other new technologies to manage and secure financial processes.
88% of Indian consumers say the pandemic has changed the way they buy goods and services, nearly every Indian consumer (93%) shares the feeling that the events of 2020 have changed attitudes about handling cash, with people now feeling anxious (33%), fearful (39%), and dirty (15%) when in contact with physical cash. Over half (52%) of Indian consumers now say that cash-only is a deal-breaker for doing business.
Businesses have been quick to respond to this change in behavior, with 69% of global business leaders having invested in digital payment capabilities, and 64% of global business leaders creating new forms of customer engagement or changed their business models in response to COVID-19.
But once again the shift is more pronounced in India, where a staggering 93% of Indian business leaders have invested in digital payment capabilities and 81% of Indian business leaders have altered their methods of doing business to adapt to changing consumer attitudes.


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Triple S Names Senior VP of Sales and Supplier Relations
Triple S recently announced that Sandra Moscillo has been promoted to senior vice president Sales and Supplier Relations as of Nov. 1, 2022.
Sandra joined Triple S from inside the industry in 2002 as RDC and supplier relations manager. She was quickly promoted to director and then vice president of Operations and Supplier Relations. She has successfully managed our logistics platform and RDC team, while negotiating new supplier programs and managing existing supplier relationships for the benefit of our Membership.
"There are those in a company who make such an impact to an organization. For 20 years, Sandra has contributed countless hours, energy, and commitment to Triple S in too many ways to count. She has shown exemplary strategic thinking and leadership that has helped this organization become the Triple S we are today. Her strong desire to grow personally, professionally and challenge herself has not only made Triple S a great company, but a great place to work!", states Kevin Chow, president.
In her new role, Sandra will be leading the sales team to build and strengthen relationships with Members and Suppliers.


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Biden to ban U.S. imports of Russian vodka, diamonds and seafood
President Joe Biden will take executive action to block U.S. imports of key Russian products, including vodka, and ban exports of high-end goods to Russia, the White House said Friday.
Biden will sign an executive order banning imports from key sectors of Russia’s economy, such as seafood, alcohol and non-industrial diamonds, according to text of the order.
That move, the administration said, will block more than $1 billion in Russian revenues and help ensure American citizens are not “underwriting” President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
The order will also stop the U.S. from exporting what the administration called “luxury items” to anyone in Russia. Those items include high-end watches and clothes, jewelry, top-shelf liquor and luxury vehicles — all of which feature prominently in the lifestyles of mega-rich Russian oligarchs.
The new export restrictions are valued at nearly $550 million per year, the White House said.
“They’re not the last steps we’re taking,” Biden said in a speech at the White House on Friday morning.
“Putin is the aggressor and Putin must pay the price,” he added.
The White House revealed the latest steps to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine after Biden called on the U.S. to revoke Russia’s “most favored nation” trading status, opening the door to damaging new tariffs. The European Union and the Group of Seven nations are expected to take the same steps.


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Apple News Blanks The News
When One Tech Monopoly Decides That All the News Is Fit to Print In Their App
In case you didn’t see it, Apple is preparing for a Big Victory. It reached a settlement with small time mom and pop APP developers to sway the judge to consider this as final victory. It’s App store hauls in 30 percent margins on all apps, and gold coins sold to my children while playing in an app. The fight started long ago against EPIC’s Fortnite, the most popular app. Shortly after, undaunted by the fight ahead, Apple sets it sites on the New York Times, the most popular subscription news site by far digitally, with double that of number two. It made many of the others crumble on the way up to the top.
Apple and its tech monopoly friends take disruption to mean competition destruction.
They use their image of an innovator in a small garage as a brand moniker excuse to plunge their massive profits down on every industry they set their sights on.
Although Apple’s new hardware innovations are still admirable and some of the best in tech, they’re non-innovation is more profitable. They’ve used their profits from innovation as leverage to crush markets which they did not innovate for. Spotify in music, in news the New York Times digital edition, the search of Google, ads by Google, maps by Google, Amazon’s Kindle, Roku Streaming TV, Notability, Evernote and other notetaking apps –which they are gradually integrating into their Notes app feature by feature as they ‘evolve’ it.
Sometimes they fail, sometimes they succeed when the copy. Like the other big tech companies. Copying isn’t a crime, but it is hardly innovation. They simply crush innovators by stealing popular software features or ideas developers have or by putting developers out of business by integrating features into their products. Such was the case for the parental control apps.
But with the News app they simply are throttling the New York Times. Blank pages come up on the app when opened in my iPad. Their plan is transparent at least from my experience: frustrate Times subscribers and make them switch to Apple’s unlimited News app. NYTimes reporters probably use laptops so they use browsers. Get all the special stuff that now lies out of reach.
I have been a subscriber on my iPad for years. It worked flawlessly until last summer when it started turning white. Then refresh after refresh I would start seeing white empty pages. It’s still the case today. I put a screenshot as a picture to show what I’m getting when I use the New York Times on the iPad.
For months now I’ve thought about writing to apple with the New York Times about this issue. I’ve tried updating it and nothing has happened to fix it. In my mind, I think Apple is blocking or slowing the downloading of the New York Times for subscribers — a practice of throttling made popular by the internet companies a few years back.
I’ve suspected this throttling was the issue since the advertisements started appearing for Apple news for $10 per month around the same time. They beat down every other news organization they could find to add credibility to their new subscription service. They’re trying to make the news like the App Store. 30% Commission on all articles even though they’ve written none of them. That’s a lot.
Maybe the Times will sue Apple like Epic Games did when they reached number one in the app store. By then it will be too late of course. Court cases take years and in that time Apple will rake in billions from the news. A settlement will be puny, like the suggested one with app developers they just made.
The New York Times simply won’t have any of this new News store app. And so, as punishment, they’ve been throttled. They don’t even seem to know about the throttling. My iPad is up to date and two generations old, so works great still. But the throttling and blank-loading is a serious frustration in the land of fickle consumers. Jumping ship and saving 50% is easy to do.
The Times are reporting on the issue though. Here’s what the NYTimes reported in their August 26th, 2021, article: “Separately on Thursday, Apple said it would also allow news organizations to pay the reduced 15 percent commission on subscriptions sold through their iPhone apps, but only if they participated in Apple’s news service, Apple News. The Times and some other news organizations have pulled out of Apple News in recent years because, they said, it took control of their relationship with readers and potential subscribers.”
A second article from the same day notes on Apple's settlement: “Apple argues that its commission rewards it for creating the “economic miracle” of the App Store, and it is fighting to keep the status quo.” $20 BILLION A YEAR IN COMMISSIONS. Hardly a miracle to collect such massive profits from posting some else’s app. I wouldn’t even use the somewhat pejorative word ‘commissions,’ or even as the Russian mafia calls it, “roof”. More like racket. Or monopoly.
And “economic miracle,” sounds like in Tim Cook’s eyes Steve Jobs is breaking one loaf of bread and feeding the masses like Jesus did. Or perhaps teaching a man to fish and then collecting half the fish every day from all the men he taught for the rest of their lives.
Apple agrees to set up $100 million dollar fund. In other words, mathematically speaking, 0.5 tenths of its 30 percent cut per year to those small-time developers. (First the lawyers get $30 million though, so it is less at $70 Million; and it’s not per year, only one year). Or, in real terms, the fund is a rounding error on their App Store balance sheets. Is a $100 million, or .5% a proper monopolistic punishment? And yes, full disclosure, I am typing on a new Mac Air (PC’s just suck, Chromebooks are worse.)
And nothing really much changes in terms of their payment structure. The NYTimes article: “Apple will still bar developers from telling customers inside their iPhone apps about other ways to pay.” [emphasis mine]
There’s no question about it in my mind. This is unfair monopolistic power is battering the New York Times brand, attacking the news as a whole by bringing it under their control, and will continue until the Fourth Estate becomes an obedient suburb.
I pay a subscription fee to the New York Times of about 20 bucks a month, as I have been for years. But lately, I find I need a refund. And it should be Apple that should give it for disrupting my service.


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BIRMINGHAM, England -- Most vehicle assembly plants in Russia are not cost competitive because they are not producing enough vehicles, said Bo Andersson, who is CEO of Russia’s largest carmaker, AvtoVAZ.
Among the plants Andersson says are not producing enough to make money are Ford and its local partner Sollers' three factories in the country as well as General Motors’ two factories.
“I would say only 5 [out of the country’s 15 car plants] are sustainable, and they are the ones with production volumes over 175,000,” he told the Automotive News Europe Congress here on Wednesday. Vehicle assembly plants in Europe generally have a capacity to build 200,000 to 400,000 vehicles a year, he said.
GM said in March that it will stop car output at its St. Petersburg factory and end a production agreement with Russia’s GAZ Group, which makes the Chevrolet Aveo in Nizhny Novgorod. GM also is ending sales of mainstream Chevrolet cars and all Opel models in Russia, where sanctions over the conflict with Ukraine have weakened the economy, causing car sales to slump.
Through May vehicle sales in Russia were down 38 percent to 641,933 while GM’s volume was down 70 percent to 25,776 during the same period, according to figures from the Moscow-based Association of European Businesses in Russia.
When Andersson, GM's former global purchasing boss, was asked whether others will follow GM out of Russia he said: “What the rest of the people will do I don’t know. I have enough of my own problems.”


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New Payment Processing Solution will Lower Costs for Merchants and Consumers
TravelCash, a new mobile payment system, is using blockchain technology to provide a digital alternative to the credit card industry by introducing a lower cost payment processing solution, resulting in significant savings for merchants and customers. TravelCash is developing a cryptocurrency and integrated mobile payment and rewards system over the Stellar platform which is capable of processing between 1,000 and 5,000 transactions per second.
When it comes to credit cards, merchants face high processing and transaction fees that can run as high as 3.5 to 4 percent. For merchants that experience a high volume of chargebacks, this fee can run even higher. Even paying 2 percent—not counting the additional monthly and per-item fees—can dramatically alter the cash flow of a business. With brick-and-mortar retailers facing increasingly tight margins, a low-fee payment system could mean the difference between profitability and running in the red.
“With our fees at just 1 percent, we save merchants 50 percent to 70 percent over credit cards and because the app lets merchants take payments immediately, no additional equipment is needed,” says Will Gozzard, chief vision officer for TravelCash. “The process is designed to be seamless and the savings are substantial.”
For consumers, TravelCash is developing a digital wallet in the form of a mobile app, with many of the features being built to streamline the purchasing process, reduce the risk of fraud and eliminate waste. In the future, consumers will be able to pay for goods and services using a TravelCash QR code, collect merchant rewards such as airline miles or grocery store gas points, and save receipts, all through TravelCash’s recoverable wallet, stored securely on the Cloud.
“In fact, we envision TravelCash being accepted in every aspect of life: from online travel booking sites, to grocery stores, from hotels to restaurants and at gas pumps – even on sharing economy platforms such as Uber and Airbnb,” says Gozzard. “With our app, consumers can simply pay on the go with their phones and not have to worry about any of the risks of carrying cash or credit cards.”
TravelCash has adopted a two-token structure with a non-security token to be solely used as a payment medium on the platform, and a security token that comes with certain ownership rights but that can also be used as a payment medium on the platform. Initially, TravelCash will be seeking up to $10 million from the sale of its Series Seed Preferred Stock, which can be converted into either TravelCash’s security tokens or Common Stock at the holders’ discretion. This two-token approach will ensure compliance with federal securities laws while at the same time create the means with which the company will run its operations.
About the Stellar Platform
Stellar uses a federated byzantine agreement model, called the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), to provide ultra-fast transaction processing though quorum slicing. Stellar is currently ranked 6th on coinmarketcap.com with a total market capitalization in excess of $4 billion. Stellar is a non-profit organization that offers open-source development on its platform for existing and emerging financial technology companies.
TravelCash is a digital payment and rewards management system that leverages blockchain technology to simplify purchases, reduce credit card fees, and limit the risk of consumer fraud. In addition, a cloud-based TravelCash mobile application will allow consumers to pay on the go at grocery stores, restaurants, at the gas pump, and even on travel booking sites and ride and home sharing platforms. TravelCash is proudly headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.


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New Zealanders lifted retail spending on credit and debit cards last month, adding to signs an accelerating economy is making consumers more confident to open their wallets.
Total electronic card transactions at retailers rose 0.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, in December from November and were up 5.5 percent compared to December 2012, according to Statistics New Zealand.
Core retailing rose 0.9 percent, led by a 3 percent rise in apparel sales, a 2.1 percent increase in hospitality and a 0.7 percent gain in consumables such as food and liquor, the data shows. Spending on durables, which includes furniture and appliances, edged up 0.2 percent.
The gain in total retailing was helped by a 1.2 percent rise in fuel sales, while vehicle sales were unchanged.
The official figures come after Paymark, which processes 75 percent of all electronic transactions in New Zealand, reported last week that spending in December rose 7.5 percent from a year earlier, rounding out the fastest annual growth since 2008 and including "record smashing" sales on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.
Total card spending rose 1 percent last month.
In unadjusted terms, there were 128 million transactions in December, with an average value of $56. The total spent was $7.2 billion.
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Tenzo Tea Company is partnering with The Pie Hole on Pi Day specials.
Celebrate Pi Day at everyone's favorite buffet. Luckily there are many other places to get your pizza fix near campus today. Here are some of the celebrations we've gleaned from press releases and social media.
$3.14 can get you a lot of dough on March 14 if you know where to look. One $3.14 pie per person.
Will I still earn a Blaze Pizza Mobile App Flame for my visit? The Windsor, 160 E. Huron St., 312-943-7777, www.thewindsorchicago.com.
Locations not participating in Pi Day are Disney Springs, Houston Airport, UCLA, Staples Center, and George Mason University.
Boston Market: Offering free chicken pot pie with purchase of one pot pie and drink.
Case Keenum to Broncos shifts outlook of AFC West
The place I bought my last two cars has delivered zero Super Bowls to my team so far so probably not going back there. He guided Minnesota to the NFC championship game after replacing an injured Sam Bradford last season.
Three takeaways from the Joseph Percoco corruption trial
Defense lawyers said the payments were legitimate fees for consulting work performed when Percoco was out of state government. One other notable state official, who will go on trial later this year, is former SUNY Poly President Alain Kaloyeros.
- Cici's Pizza: Buy one regular price buffet, get a second for $3.14 on March 14.
Happy Jack's Pie n' Burger (1800 20th St.): Free slice of pie with purchase of entree for dine-in guests.
Take home a savory or sweet pie from Cupitol Coffee + Eatery for $3.14.
Kroger: 8-inch bakery pies will be available for $3.14 (with a Kroger card) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Beginning Sunday, March 11, check Twitter for Pi-themed math questions.
What are the locations NOT participating in Pi Day? .
Your Pie: All pizzas priced at $3.14 all day. Limit one pizza per customer, dine-in only.
Whole Foods: Check the bakery section for $3.14 pies - while supplies last - at 8003 Turkey Lake Road in Orlando; 1030 N. Orlando Ave.in Winter Park; and 305 East Altamonte Drive, Suite 1000, in Altamonte Springs. Pie varieties will vary by region.
Lawmakers from both major parties have criticized those cuts and the administration's failure to fill dozens of open jobs there. Rex Tillerson's tenure as Secretary of State is over and it nearly feels like an act of mercy to put an old, sick pet down.
Enter a location you want to go. "Click on the yellow "?" icon found on the bottom right of Google Maps app on Android or iOS. Once enabled, users would notice that the regular navigation arrow has morphed into Mario - the 1990s' video game character.
Tillerson joined a long list of senior officials who have either resigned or been fired since Trump took office in January 2017. Trump's decision to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports was the final straw for the former Wall Street banker.
The Browns former running back Isaiah Crowell is expected to sign with the New York Jets, opening a roster slot for Hyde. The Browns traded for quarterback Tyrod Taylor , wide receiver Jarvis Landry and cornerback Damarious Randall on Friday.
It's just such a striking fact of the American gun control debate that this whole issue is being discussed around arming schools. A Republican who speaks with senior White House officials regularly says this is what many aides were looking to avoid.
In 2017, we blocked over 12,000 websites for "scraping", duplicating and copying content from other sites, up from 10,000 in 2016. Last year, for instance, Google pulled 79 million ads for luring online clickers to websites with malware.
This year, Zahav received a new chef nomination, this time for Camille Cogswell , under the category Rising Star Chef . This is the fourth year in a row that Carlisle has been nominated for a James Beard Award for Ardent.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom , which also stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, charges its way into theaters on June 22. If this isn't enough to sell you on the game, it's worth noting that the game comes with the Jeff Goldblum seal of approval.
The club conducted preliminary assessments on Wednesday and announced that they expected him back in training next month. Kane's right ankle was too swollen for a scan on Monday or Tuesday but tests have now revealed the extend of the damage.
It's been more than a year since Amazon first tapped into Twitch's customer base with perks to improve their experience. It's just that under the new " Free Games With Prime ", subscribers will now gain this benefit every single month.
Just because this storm isn't up to the hype doesn't mean that solar storms in general should be ignored. These solar storms are accounted based on a scale of G1 to G5 where G1 is a weak/minor solar activity.
New Raspberry Pi Offers Faster Performance, Connectivity
As you'd expect, the new board remains compatible with all the existing Pi 3 Model B accessories and retains the $35 price point. All of you who are interested in getting your hands on one of these devices can do so on this link .
Bihar By-Election Result 2018; RJD leads by 8899 votes
Security across the Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies in Uttar Pradesh have been tightened as counting of votes is under way. The Bhabua seat is witnessing a straight contest between BJP's Rinki Pandey and Congress' Shambhu Singh Patel.
Could This Is Us Be All In Jack's Head?
In a weird "what if" moment, This Is Us explores the 40th wedding anniversary of Jack and Rebecca, had he not died after the fire. By the time we pick up the action, she's already signed away her parental rights, and Deja is more sullen and angry than ever.
Redmi 5 Launch Event in India Today at 3 pm
The device, as mentioned above, was launched in two variants - 2GB RAM + 16GB storage and 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. The Note series is also better in terms of specifications and thus are priced slightly higher than the Redmi series phones.


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Irish Food Writers’ Guild celebrates 30 years Of Food Awards
Spotlight shines on cheese, eel and ale at 2023 Awards, with the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to well-known cheese-making brothers
9 March 2023 | 0
From eel and ale and sheep’s milk yogurt to eco-friendly pig farming, the winners of the 30th Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards are a diverse group that represent a commitment to provenance, sustainability, quality and flavour above all else.
With just eight prestigious awards presented, the biggest winner of the day was Irish cheese, with Ballylisk of Armagh, Gabriel Faherty of Aran Island Goats’ Cheese and brothers, Kevin and Seamus Sheridan of Sheridan’s Cheesemongers all picking up awards at the 2023 Irish Food Writers’ Guild (IFWG) Food Awards.
Speaking about this year’s awards, Caroline Hennessy, chair of the IFWG said: “Since the Food Award’s inception, each winner has been chosen independently and anonymously by IFWG members, recognising the best in Irish food by shining a light on smaller producers who might otherwise slip under the radar. From traditional products of the highest quality to new innovations, this year’s winners exemplify what is so exciting about Ireland’s food and drink industry right now.”
The winners of the 2023 Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards are:
- Food Award:Smoked Lough Neagh Eel, Co Antrim
- Food Award:Velvet Cloud Sheep’s Milk Yogurt, Co Mayo
- Food Award:Ballylisk of Armagh, Co Armagh
- Irish Drink Award:Beoir Chorcha Dhuibhne for Béal Bán, Co Kerry (photo attached)
- Notable Contribution to Irish Food:Gabriel Faherty, Aran Island Goats’ Cheese, Co Galway (photo attached)
- Environmental Award:The Wooded Pig, Co Meath
- Community Food Award:Field of Dreams – Down Syndrome Cork, Co Cork
- Lifetime Achievement Award:Kevin and Seamus Sheridan, Co Galway (photo of Seamus Sheridan attached)
Three decades on from the first IFWG Food Awards, Caroline Hennessy took a moment to celebrate how the industry has evolved and how this has been reflected in the Food Awards each year.
“When the IFWG Food Awards began in 1993,” she said, “it was with the aim of promoting and celebrating Ireland’s indigenous food producers and, as Ireland’s artisan food scene has developed and flourished, our core principles have remained true.
“Guild members have always shared a passion for nurturing a proud and vibrant Irish food culture,” Hennessy continued. “Thirty years on from those first awards, we are fortunate to live in a country where there is more attention paid to the food we eat, to who is producing it and how it is produced. Many of the winners from the early years are still familiar names today, proof of their enduring quality and we have no doubt that this year’s cohort of winners will continue that legacy.”
Una Fitzgibbon, director of marketing at Bord Bia, which sponsors the IFWG Food Awards, said, added that Bord Bia is delighted to support the IFWG as it “consistently highlights the outstanding quality, craftsmanship and innovation in Ireland’s artisan food industry through these awards.
“Now in their 30th year these awards have honoured those in the sector that take ingenuity and entrepreneurship to the next level,” Fitzgibbon added. “Congratulations to all those involved in these prestigious food awards and, of course, to the very deserving winners.”


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Join hundreds of auto enthusiasts at Diamond Lake Resort for their annual Street Legends Car Show. A tribute for longtime race announcer, Steve Bridgmon Sr. has been added to the event. Steve passed away from COVID-19 on July 31st, 2020.
Moonshine and exercise? Yes ma'am! I get to run a 5K, then throw back some moonshine for finishing the course? Yes, sir! This May, New Beginnings of Owensboro and Diamond Lake Campground and Resort are teaming up for a brand new and exciting 5K event. It's the Moonlight Bootlegger 5K!


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By Russell Shelden
Friends of the College of the Desert Library (FOTL) held a successful fall season book sale in the Cravens Student Services Center Nov. 14-16. The event was put together by the FOTL in order to raise money for the COD library. They sold books that were donated by the community with the help of volunteers. The money that was raised will be used to buy new books along with anything else required to keep the library functioning.
Volunteer president of the FOTL, Marge Dodge said, “The turnout was very good with Friday being our busiest day, and a lot of street fair people showing up on Saturday and Sunday.”
“Overwhelming with so many books to choose from, especially from the classics,” Customer Leo Padilla described the turnout. “Even the customers prompted friends to join in.” “There was a good steady turnout especially with the good weather,” said Chairman Laura Lee Marcarian. She added that “A gentleman came here and picked out nine boxes of books that will be sent to the University of Armenia.”
Many books were sold from the inventory of more than 10,000 books across multiple genres. Volunteer Sharyn Mckee estimated that they made about $6000 dollars through this book sale. On what happens with the leftover books she elaborated that they “donated six boxes to the Communications Department for students to borrow at their convenience.”
With a successful turnout from customers and sales, the FOTL will continue to have future book sales. “We’ll have three sales a year for the fall, spring, and summer,” said Dodge. “What we would like to see is more students volunteers.”“The people that showed up were interested in books,” said Mckee, “we’d be more than happy to have more students to volunteer in March.” Padilla stated that he “hopes this will continue with this being the only book sale for the valley, especially since they have books you won’t find anywhere else.” The books that were sold “increases reading with the books being inexpensive,” said Dodge. “Giving the people easy access to books.” “It will add culture for people to educate them with different views and ideas,” said Padilla, “which will encourage more people to read with their low prices which are better than Barnes and Noble.”
“Since a lot of children showed up to buy books it will encourage them to be lifelong readers,” said Mckee. “Something that makes me really happy is when people come in with their list of books they’re looking for and when they find it here they are also very happy; I find that very fulfilling.” Printed books are not finished yet, with so many passionate people both buying and volunteering their time. Given this, the book sale will continue on for many more seasons at COD.


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Agora Brands Group Announces Dale Seavey as Chief Technology Officer
Agora Brands Group, a leader in the development of avatar technology for use by businesses and their customer service, announces that Dale Seavey has been appointed the Company’s Chief Technology Officer.
Dale has vast experience as a Silicon Valley technology executive who has worked with both startups and major enterprises, including driving innovation inside Google, Cisco, and Dell. Dale has invented and patented the technologies that propelled the development of Cisco’s VoIP and led the acquisitions and first engineering team of Google Hangouts, grew the Cisco WEB infrastructure to an $11B run rate, helped secure a major $1B contracts with Uber and WhatsApp for Twillo, and revitalized the software-defined networking (SDN) product for Dell.
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Reporting to Agora’s CEO, Stuart Rogers, Dale’s initial focus is on design, development and delivery of interactive avatars that support new client acquisition in the interactive kiosk market with emphasis on the casual dining and financial services markets.
“Dale is a great addition to our growing technology start-up. He is the right kind of experienced leader to drive Agora’s technology and development of new and innovative avatar creations for a variety of industries and customer service applications. His background and accomplishments bring tremendous capabilities to the Company’s ability to develop the best and most innovative avatar solutions for our customers, such as those in the fast food industry and in financial services,” says Agora’s CEO.
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Guwahati: Book publishers, writers, journalists and readers assembled at the prestigious 33rd Guwahati Book Fair to dwell on the challenges faced by the book (publication) industry during the COVID-19 induced national lockdown and also pave the way for renewed growth possibilities in the post-corona era.
The participants were unanimous in the opinion that the lockdown had severely affected the publication industry including newspapers. At the same time, it helped to increase the number of committed readers among the new generation. They were of the opinion that the process of publication and marketing of Assamese books also reemerged with a new technology-driven approach for the benefit of the readers.
Inaugurating the session, Assam based senior publisher Nabin Baruah said the lockdown helped everyone to redefine their life. Many people got back to their habit of reading and new, committed readers emerged.
Among the young publishers who addressed the session were Pritima Kaushik Barua, Manish Hazarika, Dhiraj Lahkar, Amrit Upadhaya, Farhan Javed, Buljit Buragohain and award-winning Assamese author Bipul Deuri. All of them agreed that modern technological tools for publication, promotion and marketing would bring a better deal for quality publishers around the world.
Literary magazine editor Mihir Deuri, senior journalist Dixit Sarma, prolific writers Geetali Borah, Nabajyoti Pathak with Rupam Dutta, Jintu Thakuria, Nripen Dutta etc expressed concern over the shrinkage of valued readers in various regional languages across India. The said it was high time that Assamese was promoted as an internet-savvy language for a global reach.
It was also stressed that editors may have to change the approach to news for the survival of newspapers.
Guwahati Granthamela attracted thousands of book lovers every day with its over 125 stalls where the entry was free.
The book fair was inaugurated by Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal’s media adviser Hrishikesh Goswami.


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(Updated 2:40 p.m.) — The Boro, the Meridian Group’s 1.7 million-square-foot development that aims to compete with Tysons Corner Center Mall as the commercial heart of Tysons, is inching closer towards completion.
The first opening is Boro Tower, which has already started opening to tenants.
“As of right now, we’ve delivered the Boro Tower,” said Caroline Flax, senior analyst for the Meridian Group. “Tegna moved in January.”
The Boro Tower is part of Block C, which includes the Showplace Icon theater building. Flax said the movie theater building is complete, with tenants finishing their build-out inside the space.
The residential and retail towers of Block A at the development’s northern point are scheduled for an opening later in the summer. Flax said the 25-story luxury condominium “Verse” tower, a collaboration between the Meridian Group and Kettler, is planned to open this fall. Pre-leasing for residential units for “Rise,” a 27-story apartment tower, will begin in the spring with move-in scheduled for the summer.
Much of the site’s premier retailers are located along Boro Place, the pseudo-main street of the Boro development. The street is currently undergoing its final round of paving.
Flax said many of the openings on Boro Place hinge on the timing of the region’s largest Whole Foods opening.
“Boro Place is going to open in coordination with Whole Foods, which is looking at late summer, early fall,” said Flax. “A lot of tenants don’t want to open until they do.”
Flax noted that most of the restaurants and retail in the development have already been announced, but that the company is still working on a couple contracts for retail occupants.
“We’re excited to get everything open and ready for the general public,” said Flax.
A mayor, a governor, and four Racing Presidents stepped onto a baseball diamond, and thus began the 2021 Virginia State Little League Majors Tournament. Hundreds of young athletes and their…
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The Countywide Strategic Plan meant to establish a community-driven vision for Fairfax County for the next 10 to 20 years is edging closer to an expected adoption by the Fairfax…


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D.C. names Bryan Sivak new CTO
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- Darlene Darcy
- Staff Reporter
D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty named Bryan Sivak the city’s new chief technology officer Tuesday.
Sivak takes over for interim CTO Chris Willey, who has been leading the Office of the Chief Technology Officer since Vivek Kundra’s departure in March to join the Obama administration.
“Bryan Sivak brings a wealth of software and internet technology experience to District government, and we look forward to putting his talents to good use for our residents,” Fenty said in a statement.
Sivak, a former IBM Corp. software engineer, is a co-founder of San Bruno, Calif.-based InQuira, Inc., an international software company serving private and public sector organizations such as Bank of America, Nokia and the UK Ministry of Defense, according to city officials.
Prior to leading InQuira, Sivak also founded Electric Knowledge LLC, a natural language-based search engine.
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Have you ever seen Japanese cars with revving engines zooming past? Engineered to perfection, Japanese cars are a cut above the rest, thanks to their auto parts. Sounds like a man’s playfield, right? Wrong! No speedbump is too big for Yuko Takahashi, President, Japan Engine Valve Mfg. Co Ltd, also known as Dokuro. She’s making her mark in the auto parts business and beyond. Started in 1949 by her father, the company began manufacturing engine valves. Yuko is a second-generation entrepreneur who has been running this business for the last 23 years.
Embracing unique strategies for success
One of the unique features of our company is that we do zero subcontract work. It enabled us to go our own way without the influence of the parent company, but it did affect our sales. We decided to focus on our USP, which is a wide range of engine parts for the repair and maintenance market. We marketed ourselves as ‘We are Your Factory,” said Yuko.
Opening doors to global connections
Determined to be the world’s largest engine valve manufacturer, Yuko joined WEConnect International four years ago. “WEConnect International was my door to meet new customers. It’s amazing how it provides a unique platform for making global connections that would otherwise be difficult to come by. Connecting with a female business owner from South Africa who shares your interest in engine valves is a fascinating opportunity. And commissioning a company that provides translation services from Indonesian to Japanese is a prime example of how WEConnect International can help businesses navigate communication challenges across languages and cultures. With WEConnect International, the possibilities for global collaboration and growth are endless, and I can only imagine the exciting opportunities that lie ahead,” said Yuko.
Exporting excellence and empowering daily lives
Currently, Dokuro exports three million engine valves yearly to Latin America, South-East Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. The organization is also very keen on getting closer to customers by making their products affordable. Recently, there has been a surge in discussions surrounding the critical importance of sustainability, with a particular emphasis on the detrimental impact of petrol vehicles on our planet. “I’m all in for reducing the carbon footprint. I do care about the planet. But we still do not know how the other green options impact the environment. We will continue to manufacture our products for petrol powered vehicles as these are ones that most people can afford today. We cannot deprive our customers who own these vehicles,” said Yuko. “We are proud that there are so many people in the world who are able to continue their daily lives because of our small automotive component,” concluded Yuko.


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The Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) trust warned that the capital's most famous street risks losing its 'authenticity' due to over-tourism.
Surveys of more than 500 visitors found they were far more likely to feel "surrounded by foreigners" than "hear Scottish accents" on the Royal Mile.
The findings, which are expected to help influence a new tourism strategy for the city, have emerged weeks after Edinburgh was named with Amsterdam, Rome, Venice and Barcelona as one of the world's worst hotspots for "over-tourism".
The research, which also involved interviews with nearly 50 Royal Mile shop workers, revealed many visitors were either "frustrated or misled" in efforts to buy "high-quality authentic products".
The EWH was set up to protect the city's World Heritage Site, and has recommended the creation of a 'Made in Scotland' scheme and a review of enforcement measures to help tackle misleading advertising about 'authentic' products being sold.
Concerns have been raised about the damage being done to the historic environment by climate change, traffic congestion and soaring visitor numbers.
The new research has emerged months after an official report on the future of tourism in Edinburgh warned that "collective intervention" was needed to preserve the city's history, heritage and built environment and the "feeling of authenticity" in the Old Town.
The EWH research found that footfall to the Royal Mile was driven by its historic character and visitor attractions, rather than its retail offer.
It said: "Our research also indicates the Royal Mile is losing its local character.
"It shows that people associate their visit more with attributes such as 'being surrounded by foreigners' than with 'hearing local Scottish accents'.
"This suggests it is at risk of becoming a tourist ghetto, which will certainly detract from its long-term appeal and economic potential.
"When asked to name aspects which are not authentic, the overwhelming majority of comments concerned the retail sector, more specifically the gift and souvenir shops which dominate the landscape.
"Our research among shop assistants suggests visitors' desire to purchase high quality, authentic Scottish products is frustrated by businesses selling lower-quality mass produced items, who 'push the boundaries' in terms of claims concerning Scottish production."
EWH director Adam Wilkinson said: "These findings have confirmed what many of us have suspected - that the Royal Mile area risks becoming a tourist ghetto, and that the retail environment is to some extent detracting from its appeal."


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The food safety regulator FSSAI is planning to soon launch a campaign to spread awareness about availing Vitamin D through natural sunlight and intake of fortified food among school going children.
The campaign, Project Dhoop, will be implemented in collaboration with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and private firm Kwality Ltd.
FSSAI has informed stakeholders about the proposed campaign at an interaction on the issue of fortification. The campaign details are being worked out.
According to FSSAI CEO Pawan Agarwal, food fortification is simple, inexpensive yet priceless strategy that has been used across the world to effectively prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies.


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REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- iControl Networks, a leader in connected home technology and innovation, has partnered with Samsung as a featured app developer for the newly-announced Samsung Gear 2. Available in mid-2014, iControl's app for the Gear 2 will give consumers worldwide another convenient way to communicate with their homes at all times.
iControl-powered connected home solutions include Xfinity Home from Comcast, IntelligentHome from Time Warner Cable and Rogers Smart Home Monitoring, among others. The Samsung Gear 2 will be compatible with iControl Converge™ and iControl Touchstone™ solutions, offering another way to manage the things that matter most – homes, families and safety – all with the touch of a button. The Gear 2 will also feed data, including location and preference information, to better inform and automate the connected home and life experience.
"We're excited to partner with Samsung to offer people even more ways to control their homes with the touch of a button," said iControl's Jim Johnson, executive vice president and general manager of the Austin Business Unit. "The integration of Samsung Gear 2 with connected home technology brings us another step closer to a feature-rich and smarter lifestyle. The more devices that are integrated into our smart home cloud, the more information we can gather to ultimately create a highly personalized experience – both inside and outside the home."
For more information, please visit www.icontrol.com/.
About iControl Networks
iControl Networks is a venture-backed software and services company providing interactive solutions defining the connected home market. iControl software platforms, award-winning solutions that have made the connected home a reality, enable home security companies, broadband service providers and utilities to offer the next generation of home management, security and connectivity to their customers. Venture investors in iControl include Charles River Ventures, the Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers iFund, and Intel Capital, with strategic investments from a variety of service providers including ADT, Comcast Ventures, Comporium and Rogers Communications. For more information, please visit www.icontrol.com.
SOURCE iControl Networks


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Samsung Galaxy S4 is a real good smartphone, we agree with that, but Samsung, the maker of the device is busy in promoting the phone which could have been a lot better but they have messed it up in India with the Gangnam Style’s lyrics changed, to the worst! Yes Samsung, you have failed with the marketing. Update: It’s not Samsung’s fault totally, because its originally Reliance who had organized this event, to show the collaboration between the two brands, and in the end, it came out in this way. Reliance should have had better ideas, but they ended up with this one and Samsung approved it.
In the launch that was happening all around the world, India was a place where Samsung took it in other way and the marketing team might have thought that this idea of having Ranveer Singh in the video dancing with a weird lyrics would look cool. The lyrics takes away everything, and the dance would have looked a bit better if Psy’s permission would have been taken to just dance to his original song.
The lyrics includes everything about the phone, but it shows utter desperation that Samsung wanted to show what all is included, but they didn’t have any other way to show that off, so just write out a song without actually thinking whether it would look good or not.
A few lines from the song:
If you like the S3, then this phone is even better.. It has an HD screen and it’s just a lot slimmer
441 PPI is not just a number.. look at this it’s clarity is brighter
Message pe ungli lagao to wo khulta hai.. jab tum na dekho to ye video pause karta hai
Upar se neeche dekho page scroll karta hai.. khud se karta hai
Aage bhi camera, peeche bhi camera.. dual shot, drama shot..
And finally, S4 Samsung Style.. with the ugly looking dance steps. Psy would certainly be disappointed at the performance here.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 launch in India didn’t surprise the buyers as the pricing of Rs. 41500 was expected, and a little higher pricing too wouldn’t have surprised anyone, but the launch should have been really better than this.