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Hats off to Market Rasen Racecourse for year-round support of Age UK Lindsey
Earlier this year, Market Rasen Racecourse announced Age UK Lindsey as their charity of the year. This new partnership with the local group of the country’s largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life, began on the day of the Jockey Club Live concert with Madness after racing in June.
The racecourse will provide bucket collections during each racing fixture for the 12 months between June 2019 and May 2020. This includes the Age UK Lindsey Family Extravaganza on Sunday, 4th August, which is a sponsored day for the charity.
‘The Great Galloping Coffee Morning’, hosted at the racecourse in April offered local residents an opportunity to come along to meet new people and find out what Age UK Lindsey can offer the over 50s.
Andrew Storer, Chief Executive Officer, Age UK Lindsey, said: “We are thrilled to become Market Rasen Racecourse’s 2019/20 ‘charity of the year’ and to be launching this partnership with ‘The Great Galloping Coffee Morning’.
“Horse racing is Britain’s second biggest spectator sport so this new partnership with our local racecourse will help boost our charity’s profile. We are also very much looking forward to the Age UK Lindsey Family Extravaganza in August.”
Market Rasen’s Betway Summer Plate Ladies Day on July 20th is another key event in support of the partnership
Before the big day, racegoers are being invited into the charity’s shops to see what great bargains they can scoop up – they may even find the full outfit: hat, shoes and accessories.
Market Rasen shop manager Diane Cresswell said: “We get some fantastic items and the shop gets very busy. More and more people are looking at just what we can offer them.”
In advance of Ladies Day, Diane has displays of racing outfits in her shop: “We hope to keep our eye-catching window displays going right up until Ladies Day,” she added.
Every year, the independent charity, which covers a wide area of Lincolnshire including East and West Lindsey and North Lincolnshire, raises thousands of pounds through the sale of high-quality used goods, clothing and accessories. Despite commons misconceptions they are not part of the larger Age UK charity. Money raised provides services including befriending, lunch and coffee clubs, home support, and information and advice – in 2017 alone the charity helped local older people receive a massive £6,064,804 of unclaimed benefit.
Nadia Powell, General Manager, Market Rasen Racecourse, added: “The charity does hugely valuable work to help people in Lincolnshire make the most of later life and I am sure our visitors will be most generous in their donations to ensure that their brilliant work continues.”


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We show you our visitors the most important and latest news in the following article:
“Agthia” evaluates business consolidation offer with “Al Foah”, today Monday, November 9, 2020 02:16 am
- Abu Dhabi – Rami Samih
Date: 09 November 2020
Alan Smith, CEO of Agthia Group, which is based in Abu Dhabi, said that the company is now in the process of evaluating the non-binding offer it received regarding business consolidation with Al Foah, the world’s largest company for processing and packing dates, with the aim of creating one of the top 10 Companies in the food and beverage sector in the Middle East and North Africa.
Smith added in an interview with the «Economic Statement» that if the offer is approved, this will be aimed at the company’s endeavors to diversify and increase the range of its offered products and enhance its competitiveness to reach new markets, explaining that the new leadership team of the company is actively exploring opportunities for expansion in new brands and markets. This allows us to expand the reach of value-added retail products and distribution across markets.
Smith clarified that Agthia is continuously looking to expand the spread of its product categories and offerings in the market, explaining that the company is constantly exploring the best ways and means to help it strengthen its business, enhance its existing divisions and departments, and create others that support these trends. He added: “As the Board of Directors and the new leadership team continue this strategic review, the team has already taken bold steps such as strengthening the Consumer Business Division and creating two new marketing departments, in addition to mergers and acquisitions, with the aim of seeking new business opportunities locally and internationally.” .
Smith pointed out that this continuous focus on gradual change in the efficiency and shape of the leadership team reinforces Agthia’s firm commitment to contribute to maintaining its leadership across many basic categories and categories, in addition to protecting the interests of its shareholders.
In response to a question about expectations for the company’s results in the fourth quarter of 2020, Smith said: “Of course, we have a positive outlook towards the fourth quarter. At the beginning of the year, our plans focused on expanding the spread of our products globally, and so far, these steps have been successful, especially as we focused on Maintaining strong relationships with our partners in the retail sector, in addition to keeping pace with the increasing requirements of e-commerce, as we have looked for greater opportunities to expand our offerings over the Internet.
The CEO said that the market is witnessing further improvement, as retail channels have been relatively strong over the past few months, while we are witnessing a trend in increasing corporate, hotel, restaurant and hotel channels with the economy gradually opening up after the closure phase due to the pandemic, so we are very optimistic that This positive path will continue to increase with the gradual return to normalcy. He stressed that the company’s resilience is further supported by its strong financial position and available cash, in addition to setting up a plan to reset business fundamentals with a focus on growth in the next phase.
He mentioned that the company signed an agreement to terminate the commercial relationship with “Capri Sun” in December 2020, and the trademark will be returned to its owner as of January 2021, which led to the cancellation of the balance of assets and inventory worth 9.5 million dirhams, indicating that the company will not be excluded at the present time. Any other products out of her portfolio due to excise tax, but she is constantly evaluating her product range.
Regarding the company’s expansion plans in regional or international markets, Smith said: “We constantly aspire to expand into new markets, in addition to our continuous endeavor to increase the categories and classes of our products and our offerings. In addition, we will continue to consider geographic expansion plans, as this is the next step. Natural for us to maintain growth ».
The water sector
Regarding the fierce competition between brands specializing in selling water, the CEO of Agthia said that our Al Ain Water was classified as the most preferred brand by consumers in the UAE, pointing out that Agthia aims to design Products that contribute positively to the local and regional market. Indeed, “Al Ain Water” has maintained innovation and sustainability at the core of the brand. We have provided products such as Zero sodium-free, water fortified with Vitamin D and “Al Ain Botanical Water”. This is what makes Al Ain water is very popular with consumers, and also emphasizes the commitment to meet the needs of consumers in the local market and abroad.
Strong financial position
Agthia Group CEO affirmed that Agthia is committed to preserving our strong financial position and our available cash liquidity, as well as maintaining its market leadership across the main categories, and supporting and protecting shareholder value, stressing that the measures taken by the company will support its success in the future.
Alan Smith mentioned that Agthia is already playing an active role in the food and beverage sector, and the current government-supported shareholding of 51% represents an additional impetus for Agthia’s strategic partnership with local authorities, adding: “We cooperate with the government and work closely. With our partners in working to ensure the continued supply of basic food products to serve the local community in the fullest way.
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An EA Sports representative confirmed the news with GameSpot sister site CBS Sports today, which came in response to a Hernandez "card" showing up in NCAA Football 14.
"We made a decision to remove Aaron Hernandez from Madden NFL 25 and NCAA Football 14. Because NCAA Football 14 was finalized prior to our decision, Hernandez' image still appears in the Nike Skills Trainer," an EA representative said.
"However, he is not in the game, and anyone who unlocks that particular Nike Skills Trainer reward will receive an Alex Smith Ultimate Team player item instead," the statement went on.
"The image of Hernandez will be removed via a Title Update in the near future."
Hernandez was arrested on June 26 at his home in North Attleboro, Massachusetts on first-degree murder charges related to the death of Odin Lloyd.
NCAA Football 14 launches tomorrow, while Madden NFL 25 releases August 27.


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Feb 2, 2017 | By Tess
Xometry, a Gaithersburg, Maryland-based on-demand manufacturing marketplace, has announced that it has successfully raised $23 million in funding from new and existing investors. Notable among its new investors is venture capital firm GE Ventures, a subsidiary of General Electric. Existing investors include Highland Capital Partners.
The company, which offers clients a U.S.-wide network of manufacturing partners with 3D printing, CNC machining, and sheet metal and urethane casting capabilities, says the new funding will help it to accelerate its software platform, which is what powers its manufacturing partner network.
Xometry’s online platform, which has served a range of clients including General Electric, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, NASA, and the United States Army, provides a user-friendly interface through which customers can be connected to highly vetted small to medium sized manufacturing companies. Not only providing the connection, however, Xometry also provides pricing, lead times, and manufacturability feedback, so clients know what to expect.
Randy Altschuler, co-founder and CEO of Xometry, said, “We created a marketplace by creating price clarity where none existed. We thought if you can buy groceries and order a car off the internet, then why not custom parts? Xometry is now home to the fastest-growing software driven marketplace of manufacturers. We can now accelerate our investment to meet more of our customer’s needs.”
As the company says, it functions as a sort of “network orchestrator” which allows companies and organizations from a wide range of industries, including automotive, defense, aerosapce, medical, technology, and telecommunications, to use (and consequently support) smaller manufacturing companies, which reportedly make up a $50 billion plus market in the United States. To use Xometry, clients simply have to upload their custom part in the form of a 3D file and place their order. From there, Xometry’s software can connect them with reliable manufacturers that are equipped to fulfill the order.
With new support from GE Ventures, Xometry seems to only be increasing its capabilities. Ralph Taylor-Smith, Managing Director of Advanced Manufacturing at GE Ventures, commented, “GE Ventures is excited to support Xometry’s vision to transform American manufacturing. GE has been a customer of Xometry for several years and we’ve been impressed with the high quality of parts delivered by the network and easy-to-use interface. We’re thrilled to see local manufacturers across the country build their businesses by being a part of the Xometry Partner Network and securing orders from coast to coast.”
In recent years, Xometry has established a nationwide client base of over 4,000 customers and currently has manufacturing partners in 35 states. Manufacturing companies can join Xometry’s network free of charge, and will be notified by the online service when an order has been placed that they can fill. The process, according to Xometry, allows manufacturers to “spend less time bidding for new business and more time producing parts.”
Posted in 3D Printing Service
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Your local taxi companies in one easy app
The WINIcabs app finds you the nearest available taxi. The app gives you the details of your professional taxi driver who has been background checked, licensed by the city and is appropriately insured. Load your card into the app for a cashless transaction but you also have the option of paying cash or swiping a card in car.
Book Now or Book Later
Need a cab for 5am? No problem! Tap the app and see how many cars are nearby or, if you prefer, book hours or days in advance.
Register your kids’ mobiles to use your account. You get a text with driver details, pick up and drop off notifications and journey details – every time the account is used.
In-App, Cash or Credit Card SwipeUnlike other apps you enjoy all the benefits without having to register a credit card.
Use your app login to access your personal free account to manage your taxi journeys — from here you can export, email or print.
New App Helps Taxicabs Compete With Rideshare
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mohamed Farah says when he came to Ohio in 1996, driving a taxi was a good way to earn a living. “Before the rideshare comes in, we were living a sufficient life, we were paying our bills on time. We have to raise our family like everyone else,” said Farah, Independent Taxicab Association of Columbus…read more
New ride share app brings back hope for Columbus taxi drivers
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new rideshare app called, WINICabs just launched in Columbus. The new app puts all the city’s taxi drivers under one app. The app is now bringing back hope for many taxi drivers who have been struggling for the last couple of years because of other rideshare apps. Mateyas Amedmariam has been in the taxi service for a while…read more
Transportation Roundup: Last Day Set For Downtown Shuttle
The end is near for the Smart Circuit, the driverless shuttle that has been operating in Downtown Columbus since last December. Jennifer Fening, a spokesperson for Smart Columbus, said that the contract with the shuttle’s operator – May Mobility – is nearly up and that the last day to take a ride on one of the five-passenger vehicles will be…read more
WINIcabs has completed its beta testing in the U.S. with the local taxi and hospitality communities. Get ready for the launch in your area soon!
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03-07-05 – The wet/dry issue in Sherman will be the May ballot after enough people signed petitions. The future sale of alcohol could mean a boost in economic development. If Sherman goes wet, it will keep sales tax dollars within city limits, as well as become an attractive spot for restaurants and grocery stores.
The first of two issues on the ballot will be the sale of beer and wine at grocery and convenience stores. The second would eliminate the Uni-Card and club memberships. Supporters say several national chains could open up stores in Sherman if the issue is passed.
Sales tax revenue generated from the sale of alcohol would go into the general fund.


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Google's next big fix for Android is here
Get ready to “chat”, that’s Google’s new set of features for Android to work like iMessage. And, this successor to messaging may soon take on iMessages if Google is to believe. Google’s Allo didn’t make the rounds and then the company invested in Dou, which surprisingly did quite well for the giant. In comparison to iMessage, Google’s messaging apps are not as successful as the former’s offerings.
Google has invested much in messaging app but it has not got the results as per the expenses incurred. So, the company has decided to turn the tables by including a series of features into the new messaging offering that will be called “chat”. In comparison to the offerings for the iPhone users, the Android community has been left to fend for themselves, which from a user’s perspective is of course not acceptable.
As per the reports, Google won’t be building the messaging apps rather it would pass on the job to carriers to provide services on the same. Google may put its finest resources on the project too to conclude the task as soon as possible. And to begin with the utilization of the best resources, Google has appointed a new executive in charge of the effort: Anil Sabharwal.
He is the man who is behind Google photos apps, which are one of the successful apps for the giant created in the past few years. So, it makes sense for Sundar Pichai to task Sabarwal with one of the most important responsibilities currently making the news for the company.
That seems Sabarwal has been given an important task to not only make the message app look good but also to compete with the best messaging services backed by Whatsapp, Facebook, and other social messaging applications. “I’m coming into this as a consumer product person,” Sabharwal says. “My first thing is I’m going to bring these things together,” Sabharwal says. He wishes to put all the efforts into new app making. “That’s the first decision that we’ve made.” Said Sabharwal further to provide more details on the upcoming “chat” app.
Right now, the company focuses on guiding the thing that “the consumer version of Hangouts will be upgraded to Hangouts Chat ... but our focus for Hangouts still rests on enterprise/team communication and messaging.” I wouldn’t be surprised if a free version was made available to consumers someday, but, as with Allo, it might be time to start looking for alternatives.
With a mixture of literature, cinema, and photography, Manish is mostly traveling. When he is not, he is probably writing another tech news for you!
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Nestle breaks into Rs1 trillion market cap club1 min read . Updated: 17 Jul 2018, 05:45 PM IST
Nestle shares close at ₹10,540 on BSE, up 3.23% from previous close, with its market cap standing at ₹1.02 trillion
Mumbai: The maker of Maggi instant noodles, Nestle India Ltd, on Tuesday joined the elite club of companies that have a market capitalisation of over ₹ 1 trillion. Nestle shares have surged over 34% so far this year outpacing benchmark Sensex index which gained 7.23%. The stock has gained nearly 8% since the start of July and over 50% from its February low.
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Deep Silver and Reloaded Games announced today that APB: Reloaded will be arriving for the Xbox One and PS4 this June. CEO of Reloaded Games, Bjorn Book-Larsson, also provided a bit of insight into what we can expect from the game as it makes its way onto Sony and Microsoft's home consoles.
React is a YouTube channel that does exactly what the name infers: they gauge reactions. They look for people to react to the stuff they have them experience and then post up clips of it online. Their latest experiment included senior citizens getting in some game time with Rockstar Games' infamous Grand Theft Auto V.
Friday afternoon, Jan. 16, news went out across The Last City and all regions beyond that Xur, Destinyís mysterious weekend vendor, was selling the legendary sniper rifle known as Icebreaker. Arguably the best gun in the entire game, my mission was clear: I had to have it.
Microsoft recently announced some of the big new features for Windows 10, including the ability to stream games directly from the Xbox One. However, one of the features that they didn't readily disclose was something being worked on right now in the lab: streaming Windows 10 games to the Xbox One.
Destiny players didn't have much trouble with the hard mode for Crota's End. The first Fireteam to clear the raid managed to do so in just under 30 minutes.
A parody video making fun of the morose tone and overly serious nature of Max Payne 3 has gone live courtesy of YouTuber 8-Bit Bastard. It's two minutes of funny and worth the watch. Check it out.
Last week 2K Games and Turtle Rock Studios let loose a five day open-beta treat for Xbox One owners. The result? Gamers had an opportunity to get in some hands-on time with the hybrid, asymmetrical, competitive multiplayer shooter. The only problem is that the end result of the experience left something to be desired of the experience.
If you're a diehard member of the fighting game community and have been keeping track of what's new, what's hip and what's big in the FGC scene, then you're probably excited about this year's line-up of games scheduled to make an appearance at this year's Evolution 2015 tournament.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse is set to have its power level go above 9,000 with post-launch content, including a season pass that crams in three packs of extra characters and missions for players to kick, punch and Spirit Ball their way through.
Visceral Games has updated Battlefield Hardline's website with a ton of multiplayer information. They've released details and screenshots of each of the maps and modes from the cops vs. criminals shooter.
Well, Microsoft went and did it: you will soon be able to play Xbox One games on PC... and tablets. While this news may have you truly excited about the potential of the platform, it's not entirely what you think.
Elder Scrolls Online will soon be playable without a monthly subscription. PC, Mac, PS4 and Xbox One owners will only need to purchase the game to play it.
Destiny players will have a new challenge to tackle today. Bungie plans to implement the hard mode for 6-player raid Crota's End.
Dragon Age: Inquisition will soon receive its third major patch. This latest update, Patch 1.03, is loaded with fixes for bugs that were preventing players from progressing through the medieval fantasy RPG.
March 17th is fast approaching and Bandai Namco Games and Slightly Mad Studios are prepping to release Project CARS for the home consoles and PC. To help move the promo-train along a new trailer was released to get gamers in the mood to start their engines.


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Lots of Apple news today on this first day of winter (Northern Hemisphere)!
- We have a deal worth $50 off on a pre-owned, certified iPhone 5s from Gazelle. Check it out on Appleworld.today
- An excellent photo app for iPhone just got updated with some new features and blazing speed
- Happy 25th birthday (plus a day) to the World Wide Web
- A new Apple Museum opened last Thursday in Prague, Czech Republic
- AWT News Update will be taking a holiday breather between Wednesday, December 23 and Monday, January 4.
Text version follows, and we even have video for you!
Hi, I’m Steve Sande from Apple World Today, and this is the AWT News Update for December 21, 2015.
We just posted a little deal that’s actually pretty good if you’re looking for a last minute gift for someone on your Christmas gift list. Gazelle is offering $50 off on a pre-owned and certified iPhone 5s, either unlocked or on the AT&T network. These phones have gone through a rigorous 30-point inspection and they’re like new, and you don’t have a lot of the hassles of buying a phone through a carrier or an unscrupulous dealer you don’t know. Buying one of the phones is also a great way to support Apple World Today, so you’ll be giving two gifts with one purchase. Check out the Apple World Today home page for details.
There are probably as many photo apps for iPhone as there are developers in the world, but there are only a few really good ones. One of the best just got better. Camera Obscura from developer Ben McCarthy has gone from an in-app purchase model to a $4.99 paid model that includes all of the great filters that make the app so popular. For setting up manual photos, I can’t think of a better app as it has easy-to-understand exposure compensation, focus, and other controls. It’s now also a Photos extension so you can apply all of the filters to photos taken with the regular Camera app, and it’s much faster than before. A link to the app can be found in the show notes.
Yesterday was the 25th birthday of something very close to all of us — the World Wide Web. On December 20, 1990, Tim Berners-Lee set up a simple page showing how his hypertext-based project worked. The site wasn’t really public, as it was only live at the CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. Berners-Lee is still involved with the web as the director of the World Wide Web Consortium he helped to create.
If you happen to be in Prague in the Czech Republic anytime soon, there’s a new Apple Museum that displays the world’s largest private collection of Apple products. The museum opened on December 17 and is located in a renovated historical building. The collection includes one of 100,000 Apple Lisas manufactured, an Apple II, and old Mac and NeXT products. There’s a section for the printers that Apple made, while others areas show all models of the iPod, iPhone and iPad on large tables in order of release. In honor of Steve Jobs, who was a vegan for most of his life, the museum includes a bistro that serves nothing but raw vegan foods.
The AWT News Update will be off the air between Wednesday, December 23 and Monday, January 4th. We want to take this opportunity to thank our thousands and thousands of listeners and subscribers, and we look forward to sharing the news with you in 2016.
I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon with another edition of the AWT News Update.


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Rustic Redefined brings fresh fashion to Rapids
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – There's a new store in Wisconsin Rapids where you can find dresses, blouses, scarves, jewelry, log furniture and more.
Rustic Redefined opened in December at 830 Huntington Ave. in Wisconsin Rapids. The boutique store sits between Hair Experts and Sears and offers a mix of women’s clothing, accessories and rustic furniture.
Store owner, Jodi Parmeter said she and her husband, Rick, had been discussing the idea of a store for a while, but they recently decided to go for it. She said they opened the store two weeks after officially deciding to make it happen.
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Rustic Redefined offers accessories and casual women’s clothing from size zero to 22.
“I wanted (items) that were unique and affordable,” Parmeter said. “I like to make shopping fun, but not stressful.”
Parmeter has experience with interior design and also designs rustic homes. Her passion for rustic design is apparent throughout the store, and customers can find items such as a bed with a log headboard and wooden dresser for sale among the clothing.
Even though the store has only been open a couple of months, Parmeter said she is hopeful she will be able to expand the store space and merchandise. If there is enough interest, Parmeter said she might expand the furniture section and bring in men’s clothing.
For more information, call 715-205-9610 or find Rustic Redefined on Facebook.
Contact reporter Caitlin Shuda: 715-424-7307 firstname.lastname@example.org; on Twitter @CaitlinShuda


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When plastic grocery bags were introduced some 30 years ago, they were touted as light, long-lasting and cheap. They caught on so well that hundreds of billions are dispensed each year, creating a modern menace that often winds up nestled in trees, stuck in sewers and drifting in oceans.
Faced with the growing blight, countries from Ireland to China and cities from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., have moved to ban or tax their use. On Monday, a United Nations official called for outlawing them world-wide. Said Achim Steiner, executive director of the U.N. Environment Program: "There is simply zero justification for manufacturing them anymore, anywhere."
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Mahindra Group's tractor arm has reported a 15 per cent growth in sales in January, due to good productivity of rabi and khareef crops.
Domestic tractor sales were up 19 per cent at 16,257 units during the month, as against 13,712 in the same month the previous year, it added.
Mahindra Group's tractor arm has reported an 18 per cent growth in sales at 17,592 units in Feb, driven by favourable monsoon among other factors.
Kinetic Group had originally acquired the stake in November 2008, when its group company Kinetic Motor sold its two-wheeler assets to Mahindra Two Wheelers for a cash consideration of Rs 100 crore to 120 crore and a 20% stake in the company.
Mahindra & Mahindra on Friday announced the appointment of Rajesh Jejurikar as chief executive - tractor and farm mechanisation, with effect from April 1, 2013. He will replace Bishwambhar Mishra, who has moved into a new role at the Mahindra Group, taking over as director - Mahindra Institute of Quality with effect from April 1, 2013. Prior to his... more


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Quickie Tax Loans Generate Profits for Banks and Tax Preparers While Putting Low-Income Taxpayers At Risk
The National Consumer Law Center and Consumer Federation of America released their annual report on Refund Anticipation Loans today. The report shows that RAL volume remained high and steady in 2007, draining over $900 million from American families.
In a survey conducted in January, AFFIL members resoundingly said that the government should regulate predatory RALs. You can click here to tell Congress to regulate these high-cost loans targeted at low-income Americans and people of color.


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New official photos show endurance racer entering active test phase ahead of race debut.
Porsche has begun track testing of its new endurance-racing hypercar that will compete in the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours.
New official photos show a camouflaged example of the as-yet-unnamed car at Porsche’s Weissach test track in the hands of factory test driver Fred Mako.
The development car appears to be missing a number of styling features teased in initial photographs of the car, including the front lights and rear light bar.
Porsche has also revealed that the car uses a “large-capacity” twin-turbocharged V8 engine, producing around 670bhp in race trim. It’s designed to run on renewable fuels, which the brand says will allow for “a significant reduction in CO2 emissions”.
Porsche Motorsport vice-president Thomas Laudenbach said: “We were spoiled for choice with the engine for our LMDh prototype, because the product range offers several promising baseline units.”
“We decided on the V8 biturbo, which we feel offers the best combination of performance characteristics, weight and costs.
“The kick-off to the active test programme was an important step for the project.”
The German manufacturer will return to top-flight endurance racing at the 2023 Daytona 24 Hours, with a new hypercar built to the cost-controlled LMDh regulations.
It has begun an extensive test programme with the car and has signed experienced racers Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr to lead the development work.
Unlike the LMH regulations followed by Toyota and Peugeot, the LMDh rules are based around spec chassis, which manufacturers must source from one of four entrants.
Porsche is collaborating with Volkswagen Group sibling Audi, which will also enter the LMDh class in 2023, on the project, and both will use chassis built by Multimatic.
While the aerodynamic specs of the cars are set, Porsche will be allowed to fit bespoke bodywork to link the machine to its road cars and can add its own powertrain elements.
All LMDh cars must use a spec electric motor as a hybrid element, and peak power output is capped at 500kW.
LMDh cars will be eligible for both the World Endurance Championship, which includes Le Mans, and the American IMSA Sportscar Championship. Porsche will enter both, with leading US squad Team Penske running its works programme.
American Cameron, 33, has extensive experience of racing in IMSA, having twice won the top prototype title in 2016 and 2019. He also spent three season racing a Penske-run works Acura.
Nasr, 29, has also won two IMSA titles driving for Action Express Racing in 2018 and this season. The Brazilian previously raced in Formula 1 for Sauber in 2015 and 2016.
Porsche will face stiff competition when it returns to endurance racing in 2023: as well as Toyota and Peugeot in the LMH class, Audi, Acura, BMW and Ferrari are among those to commit to LMDh for 2023 onwards.


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The Hartford Courant The Bottom Line column
Jan 21, 2013 (The Hartford Courant - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
What's the difference between these two troubleshooting-request calls to your cable company's technical support line
Question No. 1:
"The on-screen program guide on my television connected to the cable box says, 'No Data.' Can you fix it "
Question No. 2:
"My computer connected to your cable Internet service keeps locking up. Can you fix it "
The first request won't cost the cable subscriber anything. The second could cost $99.99 for a one-time, over-the-phone service or $249.99 for an in-home visit.
When Shirley Groman of South Windsor recently called her cable provider, Cox Communications, looking for some computer help, she says "a young lady walked me through some steps. When we got to a certain point there was a box and one of the items in it mentioned 'activation.' I asked her if this should be clicked and she said that it did not have to be clicked."
Then, Groman says, she was signed up for Cox's $99.99 remote charge, the fee for a single troubleshooting call. (Additional time costs $75 for each 30-minute block.) Groman says the technician also signed her up for Cox's least expensive service program, the 24/7 Help Desk, at $9.99 a month.
"I never gave her any permission to do this and she never even mentioned it to me," she says.
At some point, she says, the technician put her on hold. After 15 minutes, the problem unresolved, Groman gave up. She says she also called Microsoft and McAfee, the virus protection and security company. Neither reported issues that might have affected Groman's computer.
Back to Cox.
"So I went to Tech Support," Groman says, "and a young man took control of my computer. We got to the same box where the 'authentication' was, he clicked it and my problem was resolved. I told him what had happened before with the young lady and he said they would probably reverse the $99.99 charge."
Groman says she challenged the $99.99 charge -- and the monthly $9.99 service -- several times, only to be told it was "not [customer service's] responsibility to resolve my problem."
Dana Nolfe, a Cox Communications spokeswoman, says a Cox technician spent more than an hour trying to help Groman.
"It was documented and fully noted that she was aware of the charge," she says, "which had been broken down over three billing cycles."
Nolfe says Cox will still credit Groman's account for the $99.99 charge.
"While we did not see in the notes where someone promised her a credit," she says, "we still decided to post a credit for that first time one-time fee."
That, of course, satisfied Groman, who now knows the difference between cable television and computer/cable Internet troubleshooting -- money.
Apps, Kids And Privacy
Most adults apparently don't care what information is handed over to the apps downloaded. When you download an app -- Android users actually have to sign off on the "permissions" agreement before the download can begin -- you could be allowing the app to read your contact information, calendar information, your phone state and identity, check your (GPS) location, access the Internet and even make phone calls.
OK, daredevil, would you allow app makers the same access to your kids' apps
In a study released in December called Mobile Apps for Kids -- Disclosures Still Not Making The Grade," The Federal Trade Commission said only 20 percent of apps reviewed disclosed privacy policies. Almost 60 percent of apps from Apple's iTunes App store and Google Play, the study said, send identification information from the kids' mobile device to advertisers, analytic companies or another third party. Of the 235 mobile apps in the study, 14 also transmitted the mobile device's phone number and location.
In a study released Jan. 15 by Carnegie Mellon University, 56 of 100 apps examined accessed location information, device identification or contact lists. A basic Brightest Flashlight app -- which provides nothing but a bright-light blank screen -- tracked users' location.
"There have been increasing concerns about privacy and how our data is collected and otherwise used," says Howard Schwartz of the Connecticut Better Business Bureau. "The FTC study validates those concerns because it is clear that developers and download sites are not taking action to address these concerns and are, in fact, hiding the truth."
The BBB recommends parents:
--Avoid free apps. In the FTC study, 58 percent of free apps were supported by advertising that, when clicked on, led to a download site.
--Control sharing. Before allowing your child to download an app, find out if it allows suers to post content on social media sites.
--Research the apps. Check feedback from users at Google Play and the iTunes App Store and also check reviews and comments elsewhere on the Internet.
___ (c)2013 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.) Visit The Hartford Courant
(Hartford, Conn.) at www.courant.com Distributed by MCT Information Services
[ Back To Microsoft News 's Homepage ]


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A new ZTE device with model number Z5157Y spotted in the Geekbench listing believed to be the ZTE Blade A3v. Geekbench listing reveals the phone to have 2GB RAM, Android 10 and MediaTek Helio A22 processor. The device was earlier seen in Google Play listing with the same specification as in Geekbench listing. Play Store listing also suggests the phone to come with 720 × 1440 pixel resolution and 320 dpi pixel density.
In the Geekbench benchmark test, the device has scored 102 points in the single-core test and 215 points in the multi-core test. We expect the base variant to come with at least 16GB storage and there may be other varinat too. The specifications are similar to the Blade A3 Prime launched on Yahoo Mobile with a price tag of $99 (approx Rs 7,400).
Blade A3v earlier spotted on multiple certification authorities that includes FCC and Bluetooth SIG certification. The company has no words on the launch but it seems the launch is near as the device has got multiple certifications.


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Join.me, an online meeting service from LogMeIn which serves as a more lightweight alternative to traditional services like Cisco’s WebEx or Citrix’s GoToMeeting, is adding a trio of features designed to better support its business users, including the ability to record meetings from web and iPad, share those recordings with others, and maintain an online file store with all the necessary meeting materials, like presentations, notes, photos, and more.
Some of the changes are being made possible through a new integration with LogMeIn’s Dropbox alternative, Cubby. You may remember that Cubby, which opened up to the public this past November, had been attempting to differentiate itself from others in the competitive online storage market by offering not just storage, but also a syncing service which lets you drag-and-drop or right-click on folders to either add them to the cloud or just sync them between devices. The unique feature is something called “DirectSync,” which lets you sync folders directly across both web and mobile devices without counting toward your online storage limits.
Cubby has always been positioned as more of a business or enterprise-ready product, and today’s integration with LogMeIn’s Join.me continues its focus in that direction. Now, Join.me users will be able to record their meetings from the web, the PC or the Mac desktop apps, as well as through Join.me’s iPad app, which is currently pending approval for release in the iTunes App Store.
Using the new recording option is simple enough – you just click a “record” button to get started. The meetings are then stored in an online “Cubby,” which you can access either through Join.me or via Cubby directly, using your same login information. Those meetings can be share with others via a link, or by inviting them to the Cubby service. The meetings are recorded in .webm format, and can be played in natively in Chrome or Firefox, in other browsers via a plug-in, or directly from Join.me itself. The meeting recordings show up online in about half the time of the meeting itself – so for example, a 60-minute meeting would be available online in around 30 minutes.
Meetings recordings will be a feature for Pro users, the premium version of Join.me that starts at either $13 or $19 per month, depending on whether you pay annually or on a month-to-month basis. This package now includes 5 GB of Cubby storage for meeting recordings. This is the first time LogMeIn and Cubby have been integrated, and should prove to be another key differentiator for Cubby’s cloud storage service.
In addition to supporting meeting recordings, the forthcoming update to the Join.me iPad app will also include the ability for users to host a meeting, share what’s on their iPad, and save the meeting recordings to the cloud via Cubby.
Then, in a few weeks’ time, Cubby will roll out some features to complement these new integrations, with the launch of dedicated meeting and team “Cubbies.” Here, content can be added and then used during and after meetings. This content can also be secured with the appropriate permissions, and the new Cubbies will offer automated meeting recaps, where participants are sent all the files, the meeting recording, and various tasks discussed during the meeting, after it wraps.
LogMeIn is company whose name recalls its past as a maker of tools which let users remote in to access their work computers at home and vice versa – a necessary feature in the days before online storage became so ubiquitous. Now it’s trying to reinvent its business for the cloud era amid a lot of competition.
Join.me is one we see here a lot around TechCrunch, as it’s a simple way to get a quick demo of an app without all the software downloads and complicated setup procedures. Plus, the service has a popular free tier, which helps when startups are strapped for cash. But to take on the corporate world, the company will have to beef up its feature set to be competitive with what’s out there, and integrating with cloud storage, and adding support for recordings plus meeting hosting from iPad are good first steps in making its service more useful.
Many companies feel that the online meetings space can be improved, including even WebEx’s co-founder who launched Moxtra this year, in order to take advantage of the iPad’s potential. Others in the same general space include Fuze, UberConference, and BlueJeans, to name a few of the newer entrants.
Though LogMeIn doesn’t disclose how many users Join.me or Cubby has on its own, the company says that it has “tens of millions” of actives between the two, and is adding over 2 million first-time users per quarter (first-time Cubby activations or first-time Join.me hosts). The two are today the fastest-growing products in LogMeIn’s lineup, in terms of new users and sales.
The ability to record meetings is live now, via Join.me on the web, with the iPad app due out soon.


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Kingston Technology has unveiled its new ultra low-latency DDR2 800MHz HyperX memory modules.
Kingston said the memory modules are the fastest performing memory available that provide speed and performance–without the need for overclocking. The modules are available immediately in production volumes.
â€œIn lowering the latency even more, going to 3-3-3 with our new HyperX ultra low latency 800MHz DDR2 modules, Kingston is offering both gaming and tech enthusiasts the flexibility to drive performance and benchmarking scores to the limit,â€ says Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager, Kingston.
The ultra low-latency HyperX is shipping in 512MB and 1GB modules as well as 1GB and 2GB memory kits. Kingston memory comes with a lifetime warranty and 24/7 technical support.


text: Bundling seems like a win-win for businesses and carriers alike - the carriers increase revenue while businesses get discounts and the ease of dealing with fewer providers. As for which of the carriers wins out, while conventional wisdom says the incumbent local exchange carriers have an edge, any carrier has a chance to succeed if it offers the best bundle. You know those service bundles that service providers offer to small businesses and individuals? To hear top carrier executives tell it, bundling is the hottest thing since touch-tone. It not only helps bring in new business, it also reduces customer churn.At a recent Goldman Sachs conference in New York, carriers boasted that the bundles - which combine unlimited long-distance, local calling and data services at discounted rates - increase revenue for each account."When you do the pluses and minuses on this, we are getting more revenue per customer," said Lawrence Babbio,\u00a0Verizon\u00a0vice chairman and president.Whether customers are turning to the plans to consolidate services and billing or simply looking for discounts, small businesses and consumers are, on average, spending more with a single service provider rather than spreading the funds among several.Interestingly, these packages seem to engender customer loyalty. As\u00a0BellSouth\u00a0Chairman and CEO Duane Ackerman said, "extended customer life more than offsets bundle discounts."Ackerman said BellSouth had been losing small businesses at an alarming rate: 29,000 lines per month in 2001. With aggressive customer re-acquisition efforts and the introduction of bundles - which have become more attractive because BellSouth now offers long-distance - BellSouth slowed the bleeding to 3,000 lines per month in the first half of this year.AT&T\u00a0Chairman and CEO Dave Dorman echoed the sentiment that bundling is best. He said bundling helped increase AT&T's local voice minutes 39% in the second quarter compared with the same period last year.The one detractor was Nextel President and CEO Tim Donahue, who said he wasn't tempted to bundle his company's wireless and popular push-to-talk services with landline services. "Not being attached to a telephone company is a good thing," he said.However, even he left the door open when he said he might be open to bundling possibilities.Bundling seems like a win-win for businesses and carriers alike - the carriers increase revenue while businesses get discounts and the ease of dealing with fewer providers. As for which of the carriers wins out, while conventional wisdom says the incumbent local exchange carriers have an edge, any carrier has a chance to succeed if it offers the best bundle.The real test will come if (or is it when?) the carriers decide to see just how loyal customers are and try to milk the cash cow by raising bundle rates.


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Citing losses, cash-strapped Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has decided to phase out Volvo airconditioned buses in the city. ...https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bmtc-will-phase-out-volvo-buses-lease-evs/articleshow/71513163.cms
Volvo Cars has been teasing the all-electric version of the XC40 SUV for a while now and the automaker has now dropped a new detail about the model... ...https://auto.ndtv.com/news/volvo-xc40-electric-to-get-all-new-infotainment-system-with-built-in-android-os-2114273
As part of this engagement, Infosys will offer next-generation application services leveraging its global delivery model (GDM), automation and... ...https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/auto-news/volvo-selects-infosys-as-main-supplier-of-digital-services/articleshow/71481410.cms
It marks the latest example of consolidation in the engine manufacturing sector as tighter emissions rules hike development costs at a time when... ...https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world-news/volvo-geely-to-merge-combustion-engine-operations_13049321.html
'The August phenomenon of decline in sales occurs every year.''What they have done cleverly is, using the economic slowdown as an excuse, they want... ...http://www.rediff.com/money/interview/what-auto-slowdown-are-you-talking-about/20190926.htm
Welcome in Manali, Manali is a...
My sister has purchased new volvo on...
Volvo Service Melbourne strictly...


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via Design Scene
Thank the fashion gods! This month’s Vogue Türkiye is a stunner with zero headlines and the most delicious picture of Canadian-born model Jessica Stam! The Istanbul-based publication dazzles true fashion buffs in its inaugural issue which hit newsstands this month to an overwhelming success.
The new monthly publication aims to capture the essence of modern Turkey highlighting the heritage and culture the region has nurtured for so long.
Check out the preview of the editorial below shot by Patrick Demarchelier.


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Despite the festive season, UK retail sales unexpectedly declined in December and consumers turned more pessimistic at the start of this year as the rising cost of living and the slowing economy hurt their purchasing power.
The retail sales volume logged a monthly fall of 1.0 percent after easing by a revised 0.5 percent a month ago, data published by the Office for National Statistics revealed Friday.
This was in contrast to economists’ forecast for a 0.5 percent increase and marked the second consecutive contraction.
Excluding auto fuel, retail sales decreased 1.1 percent, which was bigger than November’s 0.3 percent fall. Sales were expected to rise 0.4 percent.
Food store sales decreased 0.3 percent as customers stocked up early for Christmas. Reflective of high cost of living, consumers cut back their spending on non-food stores. Non-food sales slid 2.1 percent in December.
Early Friday, the survey conducted by the market research group GfK showed that the consumer confidence index unexpectedly fell to -45.0 in January from -42 in December. The score was seen at -40.0.
With inflation continuing to swallow up pay rises, and the prospect of some shocking energy bills landing soon, the forecast for consumer confidence this year is not looking good, GfK’s client strategy director Joe Staton said.
Read more: UK Jobless Rate Unchanged, Wage Pressures Rise Further
On a yearly basis, overall retail sales declined 5.8 percent, following a 5.7 percent drop in November and also larger than the 4.1 percent expected fall.
Excluding auto fuel, the annual fall in retail sales deepened to 6.1 percent from 5.6 percent in the previous month. Economists had forecast a 4.4 percent drop for December.
In the three months to November, retail sales volume decreased 5.7 percent from the previous year.
In 2022, retail sales volumes fell 3.0 percent in contrast to an increase of 5.2 percent in 2021. Falls in non-store retailing and food stores drove the decrease in retail sales in 2022.
Read more: UK Economy Unexpectedly Expands In November
Source: Read Full Article


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In a recent global survey conducted by Accenture across various sectors (one of which was the telecommunications market), 93% of corporate executives surveyed said the long-term success of their company’s strategy depended on their ability to innovate. However, only 34% believe their company has a well-defined innovation strategy.
Among the leading failure to innovate reasons were:
- Lack of customer relevance
- Slow speed-to-market
- Incorrect pricing of new products or services
- Shortage of new or unique value propositions
When asked, less than one-fifth of Communications Service Providers (CSP) stated that they plan to introduce new products and services on a regular basis in order to satisfy customers and be competitive.
As Unified Communications and Convergence continues to blur the lines between competitors and collaborators it is becoming increasingly more important for today’s CSP to start defining a dedicated process and budget to bring larger scale innovation to market.
EngageIP Billing for Communication Service Providers (CSP) can help you overcome some of the innovation challenges above by allowing you to deploy a single charging and billing system that is flexible, integrated and converged. Even your back-office functions like billing can benefit from innovation to be more customer-centric and capable of providing the digital products and services customers’ desire.


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More than 10m consumers have now opted in to PayPal’s One Touch mobile payments solution. “PayPal is processing millions of One Touch transactions each month,” the company says. “More than 50% of the Internet Retailer 500 and more than 1m merchants around the world have One Touch enabled.” PayPal unveiled One Touch in August 2014 and expanded the service to 13 markets in August 2015.
- App offers order ahead restaurant service
- Facebook given licence to launch Messenger payments in Europe
- NFC clothing range connects US Ski Team with winter sports fans
- Google’s browser connects with BLE
- Belgian bank joins mobile payment platform


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- Peter Kinder resigns federal agency post, concludes position unnecessary and waste of tax dollars (6/16/18)2
- Stormy Daniels to visit East Cape Girardeau (6/13/18)20
- Longtime downtown Cape bartender Marcellus Jones remembered by friends (6/12/18)2
- Singer Neal Boyd dies after struggle with health issues (6/12/18)1
- Feeding deer in Bollinger, Cape and Perry counties prohibited soon to help curb spread of CWD (6/13/18)7
- Couple charged in beating death at Brick's (6/13/18)
- A community rallies behind Honorable Young Men's Club (6/16/18)1
- Jackson natives compete in 260-mile canoe race (6/16/18)1
- New Zaxby's restaurant open in Cape (6/13/18)3
- New urban dance studio opens on Broadway (6/15/18)2
Consumer prices fall by 0.2 percent in December
Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON (AP) -- Consumer prices edged down by 0.2 percent in December, capping a year in which inflation was at its lowest since 1998, the government reported Wednesday.
The Labor Department's Consumer Price Index, a closely watched inflation gauge, rose by just 1.6 percent for all of 2001. That compared with a 3.4 percent jump in 2000, which largely reflected rocketing energy prices.
A dramatic drop in energy prices -- reflecting weak demand amid a worldwide economic slump -- was a key force behind the significantly lower inflation reading for 2001.
The 1.6 percent increase marked the best showing on inflation since 1998, when the CPI rose by the same amount.
In another report, industrial production at the nation's factories, mines and utilities declined by only 0.1 percent in December, after a steep 0.4 percent drop the month before, the Federal Reserve said.
The manufacturing sector has been hardest hit by the economic slump. To cope, manufacturers have cut production and let workers go. For the year, industrial production fell by 3.9 percent, the first annual decline since 1991, when the country was suffering through its last recession. In 2000, industrial production rose 4.5 percent.
One of the few benefits of the slowed economy to consumers is low inflation. Companies, facing sagging demand, have heavily discounted merchandise and offered free financing and other incentives to lure customers.
In a third report, businesses reduced their inventories of unsold goods by 1 percent in November even as sales fell by 1.4 percent, the Commerce Department said. The report shows that businesses continued to make progress whittling excess supplies, which economists said is necessary to set the stage for increasing production.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates 11 times last years in an effort to revive the economy, which sank into recession in March. The Fed has been able to act so aggressively because inflation has been low and hasn't posed a risk to the economy.
The 0.2 percent December decline in consumer prices, largely because of plunging energy prices, came after prices were flat in November.
Energy prices fell by 3.2 percent in December and plunged by 13 percent for all of 2001, the largest annual decline since 1986.
Fuel oil prices plummeted by 26.7 percent last year. Natural gas prices dropped by a record 15.1 percent last year and gasoline prices went down by 24.9 percent. Electricity prices, however, rose by 6.1 percent last year, the largest annual increase since 1982.
Food prices, meanwhile, dipped by 0.1 percent in December for the second month in a row. For all of last year, food prices rose by 2.8 percent.
Excluding volatile energy and food prices, the "core" rate of inflation edged up by 0.1 percent in December, down from a 0.4 percent advance in November. For 2001, the core inflation rate rose by 2.7 percent, slightly faster than the 2.6 percent rise registered in 2000.
Elsewhere in the report, clothing prices fell by 3.2 percent in 2001, reflecting discounting by retailers. That was the largest annual decline since 1949. Airfares dropped by 3.9 percent last year, the best showing since 1994.
But prices for medical care last year rose by 4.7 percent, the biggest annual increase since 1994.


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On June 4, AAPL shares ended the trading session up nearly 2%, leaving behind the four-week low reached on Thursday. The S&P 500 did not climb as far, while an outperforming Nasdaq reflected strength in the tech sector.
In today's edition of the Apple Maven's "AAPL After Hours", I discuss what has most likely moved Apple stock's price on Friday.
Apple news of the day
At least one piece of company-specific news crossed the wire on Friday. It is speculated that Apple will release an iPad mini later this year and an iPad Pro with wireless charging next year. Keeping the product portfolio up-to-date is crucial for the Cupertino company to beat tough comps in the second half of 2020.
Also, investors may be anticipating Apple's WWDC event on Monday, betting that the company could announce a new product, service or chip that might be meaningful for the investment thesis. The Apple Maven covered the subject in detail recently.
But in the end, what probably helped Apple stock the most on June 4 was the May jobs report. Were the numbers outstanding, suggesting a pick up in economic activity and discretionary spending? Not at all.
With non-farm payrolls rising by 559,000 but missing expectations, fears over the tapering of the Federal Reserve's monetary stimulus have eased. It seems to be a consensus that the economy will recover fairly quickly. It is much more uncertain how the US Central Bank will deal with inflation and the rise in employment.
The economy, for now, seems to be in a goldilocks zone: certainly warming up, but not overheated. This dynamic bodes well for growth stocks, because the pickup in economic activity may not necessarily lead to a sharp increase in yields.
This, in my view, is an ideal scenario for Apple to reach all-time highs once again, more than four months after falling from the peak.
Read from our Amazon Maven partner: When Will Amazon Reach $2 Trillion?
Key metrics on Apple stock
Below is a short list of Apple's key stock-related figures:
- AAPL is down 5% for the year.
- AAPL is down 12% from the January peak of $143 per share.
- Apple stock is still hanging on to the key $2 trillion level.
Also read: Should You Buy Apple Stock Before WWDC?


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- With the rise of ‘Stockfluencers’ on TikTok, many companies are benefiting from the conversation around investing on the platform
- Tesla is the most discussed stock on TikTok, with #teslastock content reaching over 35 million views on the app
- AMC, Gamestop, Disney and Nio round out the top five as the most watched companies on investment TikTok
- Expert advice reveals how a company's share price could increase, due to surging interest on social media platforms
- New league table reveals which companies are benefiting the most from Tik Tok investment advice.
The Most Popular Company For TikTok Investors
Tesla is the most popular company for TikTok investors, new research* by money.co.uk has found.
The electric car company has reached over 35 million views on the video sharing site under the hashtag #teslastock, making it the most sought after company for stock investment advice.
For the first quarter of 2022, the Voss Value Fund returned -5.5% net of fees and expenses compared to a -7.5% total return for the Russell 2000 and a -4.6% total return for the S&P 500. According to a copy of the firm’s first-quarter letter to investors, a copy of which ValueWalk has been able Read More
With millions of young people turning to social media platforms like TikTok for investment advice, companies are benefiting from the rise of ‘StockTok’ videos on the app, including Disney, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft.
The below table shows the 20 most popular companies for investment advice on TikTok:
Table 1: Most Popular Companies for TikTok investors
|9||AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc.||#uavsstock||407,600|
AMC and GameStop
Movie theatre chain AMC was the second most popular company for TikTok investors, reaching 12.5 million views on the app for #amcstock.
This was closely followed by Gamestop, with nearly 10 million views under the hashtag #gamestopstock. Both companies have made waves on social media this year, with the hype around Gamestop widely credited with capturing the attention of younger investors.
Findings show that Twitter was the most popular social media platform for stock investment advice, with 410,300 views on TikTok. Snapchat was the second most popular social media platform (385,300), with Facebook in third place (198,900).
Software companies such as Zoom and Microsoft are also experiencing high views, due to the increasing demand for remote working.
TikTok Stockfluencers Are Shaping The Future
Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, commented on the reports findings:
“Stockfluencers create content on various topics, including; financial planning, passive income and real estate. With the vast reach afforded to them by platforms like TikTok, these influencers are not only helping to shape a generation of young investors but can also impact the popularity of company shares.
While the platform is positively impacting attitudes to investing, potential investors should thoroughly research the company they intend to buy stocks and shares in before they invest.”
money.co.uk is one of the UK's leading comparison websites for financial services. We help consumers compare mortgages, loans, credit cards, bank accounts and insurance from more than 200 providers.
money.co.uk is owned by RVU, which also owns Uswitch.com and Bankrate.


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Taxi Associations Struggle With Dropping Medallion Prices
A serious shift in the market, partly due to increasingly popular ride-sharing services, is having a significant effect on a valuable asset for taxi companies: the medallions that give them the right to operate. In New York City, an industry group is raising alarms, accusing the city's taxi commission of making the problem worse by covering it up.
If you’re looking for a sign that the taxi industry is feeling long-term effects from the rise of Uber and Lyft, you can find it in a new fight over the metal medallions that adorn official, city-licensed cabs.
For decades, taxi medallions—permits issued in large cities and designed to regulate and control the size of the market—have been hugely expensive because of their limited supply. They were once “the best investment in America,” according to The Washington Post.
At one point, a New York City taxi medallion cost more than $1 million, and they have regularly sold for six figures elsewhere. But now that almost anyone can operate a vehicle-for-hire thanks to Uber and Lyft, taxi medallions are losing their value.
In New York City, that dynamic has led to a battle between the association representing Big Apple taxi operators and the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) over just how much medallion prices have dropped. According to the Greater New York Taxi Association, citing a report by The New York Times, the true picture is far worse than the commission has disclosed.
In October, the average price of a medallion was $871,667, down 17 percent from its peak last year. (On Tuesday, the Times reported that the November numbers dipped even further, to around $840,000.) But according to the Times‘ analysis, the official numbers reported by the taxi commission told a different story, its numbers skewed by the way it calculated prices in prior months—leaving out medallions that were sold for more than $10,000 below the previous month’s average price. The result was that official reports showed steady prices, but in reality, the market for medallions was in free fall.
The logic behind the commission’s calculations, which were removed from its website after the Times took notice of them, is generally sound—but only during a time of growth or stability.
“The commission does so in the name of excluding sales that do not occur at an arm’s length—say, between two relatives,” according to the Times. “When prices are flat or rising, as they generally have been for decades, the methodology can produce a reasonably accurate result. But when prices are falling, the commission’s method is guaranteed to mischaracterize the market.”
The city’s taxi industry, already dealing with competition from ride-sharing apps, isn’t happy about those findings.
A Recipe for Disaster?
In a letter sent after the Times article appeared, the Greater New York Taxi Association (GNYTA) accused TLC of wreaking havoc in the medallion market.
“The damage from the TLC falsely inflating the value of medallions is enormous and cannot be overstated,” GNYTA Executive Director Ethan Gerber wrote in a letter to the commission. Because medallion sales rely on bank loans, inaccurate pricing data “creates havoc on the owners and entire banking structure. The sudden exposure of the truth, which was hidden for months or longer by the TLC, can create a run on banks and force an immediate crisis.”
The association has called for an independent investigation into the commission’s price calculations. Gerber noted that banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions, along with the medallion owners themselves, rely on TLC’s numbers.
“Moreover, our city budget is now extremely dependent on medallion auctions, and projected revenue relied upon by the mayor and council is now based upon the material misrepresentations posted by the TLC,” Gerber wrote, adding that lenders would likely decline to participate in auctions “as there can be no confidence in any information conveyed by the TLC. This deceitful game may very well have cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue.”
“The commissioners should demand a full review of how this was allowed to occur, who is responsible, immediate repercussions for those that are and refer this matter for external investigation,” Gerber wrote. “Moreover, rather than falsifying data to hide a problem, the TLC should be working to correct it. Only after these significant steps are taken will confidence be restored.”


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Though it’s well known that Chance the Rapper has carved out a place for himself in the music industry without a record deal (despite, you know, the president telling him he should start selling his music), apparently endorsement deals with chocolate companies aren’t completely out of bounds.
On Monday, Kit Kat tweeted that a new jingle featuring Chance was going to be “dropping soon,” telling fans to “stay tuned” and posting a photo of the rapper in a bear costume holding one of the company’s chocolate bars. The new jingle is apparently pegged to Halloween, and the Kit Kat bar in the photo features a picture of "Chance the Wrapper's" face.
Earlier this year, Chance showcased his food-rap skills in an appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, trading bars about breakfast over a Skrillex-produced beat. If Chance has been tapped to update Kit Kat’s iconic “Gimme a Break” jingle—or pen his own theme song—he’ll join a line of rappers who have cooked up hooks for major food brands in recent years. Back in June, news broke that G.O.O.D. Music president Pusha T had actually penned McDonald’s famed “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle, despite popular belief that Justin Timberlake and Pharrell Williams had written the tune.
Almost immediately, fans were in Kit Kat's mention's about Chance's get-up in the photo, and promising to buy more chocolate if the rapper's face really appeared on the packaging.
[via Kit Kat/Twitter]


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Diversity, equality, and inclusion is more than just a goal for the technology world — it’s a necessity. That’s why Mission Critical hosts the annual Women in Technology contest. As the demands for data generation, consumption, sharing, storage, processing, and more continue to grow and cybercriminals become increasingly more threatening, it’s clear that the industry needs more people to collaborative on innovative solutions to consumer needs, sustainable connectivity, and cyber safe infrastructure.
Women from all over the world in a wide range of technology sectors, including data centers, health care, and food processing, were nominated for their admirable contributions to the industry and the people who rely on it.
As Rebecca Ellis, president of Questions & Solutions Engineering Inc. and one of this year’s winners, so matter-of-factly put it, “If technology is to benefit all people, then all people need to be represented in the development and application of that technology.”
And, with that, Mission Critical is excited to introduce you to the 2022 Top 25 Women in Technology.
Lead image [metamorworks]/[ iStock / Getty Images Plus] via Getty Images


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Govt ban on second hand cars hypocritical-audit firm
An international audit firm has scoffed at a plan by government to ban second hand vehicles above eight years, terming it as a hypocritical move.
The ban has raised wide public debate, with car dealers warning that if the ban is implemented, Ugandans will not afford to purchase vehicles.
Price Waterhouse Coopers notes that while government hinges its argument on the vehicle ban on protection of the environment, it shoots itself itself in the foot for failing to ban the use of plastic polythene bags, popularly know as kaveera.
Joseph Kamulegeya from Price Waterhouse Coopers explained that, “The objective for the ban is to protect the environment, however other environmental protection measures in the past such as the ban on plastic carrier bags which does more damage to the environment, agricultural farming land and livestock have failed to work.”
Kamulegeya also argued that Government should not forget the fact that due to limited disposable income and high cost of vehicles, second hand cars dominate Uganda’s motor vehicle retail sector and the East African nation is not the only one grappling with old cars.
The audit firm pointed out a research conducted on three African countries; Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria, where it was found that at least 80% of the imported vehicles (8 out of 10) are second hand used vehicles and the percentage in Uganda could be higher since the country has no local automotive manufacturing and assembling industry.
Although the Ministry of Finance projected that the proposed ban will result in tax loss to Government of Shs 182bn, Kamulegeya dismissed the figure, saying the revenue lost will be a lot more, considering the impact of the second hand vehicle business sector has on the economy.
The audit firm opined that if the issue is protection of the environment, how much pollution would a Toyota Vitz Model 2005 of engine capacity 900cc do to the environment, compared to a Toyota Land Cruiser Model 2010 of engine capacity 4500cc
Kamulegeya added that the Ministry of Finance fell short on providing research and survey that had been conducted with respect to assessing and quantifying the impact the proposed ban will have on the following sectors and sub sectors of the economy.
He also pointed out the motor insurance sector that accounts for more than 50% of the general insurance sector in motor vehicles, let alone the clearing agents, after sales supplies such as sale of spare parts, motor vehicle garages and servicing etc.
Kamulegeya warned against effecting the ban, instead proposing that the pre-import inspection of second hand vehicles is strengthened and strictly enforced.
Instead, PwC wants the environmental levy charged on old vehicles be amended in such a way as to discourage importation of very old vehicles and encourage importation of newer vehicles.
Yet still, the auditors are also proposing that fees charged on the first registration of imported vehicles should be increased from the current one million shillings to Shs 2 million, as opposed to the proposed increase to Shs 1.5 million.


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Uber is cashing in on Charlotte’s love of delivery food services with UberEATS.
It’s been rolled out in over 50 cities and 13 countries since 2014, and as of this week, Charlotte has finally landed on the list.
In a standalone app or on the UberEATS website, users, whose profiles still fall under the umbrella of their Uber account, order food from over 100 restaurants in the Charlotte area to be delivered by Uber drivers.
Payment is still taken directly from the linked credit or debit card, and once the order is in, each step from preparation to delivery can be tracked.
Restaurants that have already joined the platform include Picante Mexican Grill, Crispy Crêpe, Pinky’s Westside Grill and 204 North.
On both the app and website, UberEATS allows users to search by food type, down to Latin Fusion, Vegetarian Friendly and Tex Mex options.
I took one for the team and tried it for you.
It feels and looks a lot like Postmates, and it’s intuitive to use.
I ordered a build-your-own-bowl from Sabor, which was slated for an arrival time of under 30 minutes to the Agenda’s doorstep.
The delivery didn’t arrive for 45 minutes or so, and naturally I tracked it the entire time. Yesterday was the first day of UberEATS service here in Charlotte, so I would assume operations and timing estimates will be tightened over time.
But it did show up warm and, most importantly, right.
Delivery is normally $4.99, but the Agenda received a custom code from UberEATS that’ll hook new users like you up with two, $5 credits. Just enter ‘CLTAGENDAEATS’.
You can thank us Saturday, when you don’t have to move to find a hangover cure.
Feature photo by Laura Surmak


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Good evening video land, no time to read the headlines today? Then let us keep you up to date with our daily round up of news and views. Today, YouTube announced it was launching a Spotify like streaming music service which kind of explains why they're pushing the Music Awards so hard….BBC iPlayer app downloads hit 20 Million but bad luck if you live in the U.S. because you're not getting it anytime soon and Google sign a multi million dollar YouTube advertising deal with MediaVest, the agency behind Walmart and Coca Cola. Welcome to your round up of the day's news in online video.
The Day In Online Video News
YouTube Takes on The News Digitech
Spoof Queen of England Twitter Account to Be Adapted Into Yahoo Series Hollywood Reporter
YouTube-MP3 loses copyright court battle Music Week
BuzzFeed’s Guide to Viral Video Digiday
Vine Adds Some Basic Editing Tools AllthingsD
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1 in 2 Hispanic Households Recently Accessed OTT Video Marketing Charts
Three major MSOs testing aioTV IP video set-top FierceCable
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French car manufacturer Renault which is a big player in automobile industry, has agreed to start assembling cars in Pakistan by year 2018. The continuous efforts of the Chairman Board of Investment Miftah Ismail and Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar have borne fruit which help boost Pakistan’s economy in the near future. Pakistan’s Economic Policy provided room for interaction with foreign automobile companies to invest in Pakistan, and Renault has finally given the green signal.
Miftah Ismail also met a few other giants of the automobile industry like Nissan, Volkswagen and Peugeot urging them to invest in Pakistan by considering its new improved policy regarding the automobile sector. The Chairman of BoI also held meetings with local investors and stakeholders, under the Prime Minister’s Economic Policy and Vision. The revamped Auto Policy aims to help open up the closed local vendors as well as to lure the leaders of the auto industry.
The new entrants will enjoy profuse benefits and incentives from the Pakistan government including tax-free setup and curtailed taxes on import of parts. The new Auto Policy was formulated under the supervision of the Economic Coordination Committee. Another committee headed by Federal Minister Khawaja Asif and also including Mr. Ismail, held various meetings with stakeholders and eventually drafted different measures to attract investors by providing manifold perks.
The official Board of Investment statement said:
During Eidul Azha holidays, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Dr Miftah Ismail, chairman BoI, visited France and met the top leadership of Renault. Renault has decided to invest in Pakistan. They will start assembling cars in Pakistan by 2018.
Miftah Ismail asserted about the importance of this revolution, saying:
We want greater competition, and we expect with greater competition consumers will be offered better choices.
While other auto market-rulers are yet to make their final decision, Nissan has also shown keen interest in joining hands with Pakistan, however, the final decision is yet to be disclosed. Nissan wants to explore the lately untapped domain, rather a Japan-dominated industry. Jonathan Adashek, the Chief Spokesperson of Nissan told about exploring Pakistani market, saying:
Pakistan is certainly a market of interest for us at present but no final decision has been made yet.
The other companies like Volkswagen and Peugeot haven’t answered to Pakistan’s request, but it is sure that they will respond sooner or later. The introduction of Renault will be a great step and the car lovers will certainly welcome their arrival. The Renault’s assembled vehicles will be available at lower prices than the current ones which include Honda, Toyota and Suzuki. The beast Renault Duster will be available at around 2.5 million rupees which is less than the other 1500 cc Japanese cars, which are assembled locally. The company will also assemble 1200 cc cars for consumers.


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Invoking a rarely used national security finding, President Trump on March 1 announced his intention to impose tariffs on the import of aluminum and steel—part the administration’s quest to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. While many in the American steel and aluminum industries, along with Rust Belt Democrats in Congress, quickly expressed support for the plan, other domestic manufacturers—including various representatives of the trailer industry—and many Republicans in Congress have come out against it. Opponents cite unintended consequences, such an expensive trade war and resulting price increases for a wide range of products.
Trailer makers, in letters to the administration and representatives in Congress, say the tariff plan “pits one set of U.S. manufacturers against others” and that domestic producers simply cannot supply the specialty products used to make modern transportation equipment.
The decision to impose tariffs, initially announced as 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum, is based on a Feb. 16 report by the Department of Commerce which found that the quantities and circumstances of steel and aluminum imports “threaten to impair the national security,” as defined by Section 232 of Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
Among the key findings:
- The United States is the world’s largest importer of steel. U.S. imports are nearly four times exports.
- On an average month, China produces nearly as much steel as the U.S. does in a year. For certain types of steel, such as for electrical transformers, only one U.S. producer remains.
- Aluminum imports have risen to 90% of total demand for primary aluminum, up from 66% in 2012.
- From 2013 to 2016 aluminum industry employment fell by 58%, 6 smelters shut down, and only two of the remaining 5 smelters are operating at capacity, even though demand has grown considerably.
- Infrastructure, which is necessary for U.S. economic security, is a major use of aluminum, including use by virtually every transportation mode.
The report does recommend that a process be put in place to allow the commerce secretary to grant requests from U.S. companies to exclude specific products if the U.S. lacks sufficient domestic capacity or for national security considerations. And that’s the case the trailer industry hopes to make.
The Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association, in a Dec. 18, 2017 letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross—after the department initiated an investigation into aluminum sheet from China—pointed out that TTMA members “prefer to purchase their sheeting” from American producers.
“Our members are concerned, however, that there are certain specialty products—not the ‘common’ products properly in scope in this matter—that domestic producers cannot reliably and competitively supply,” the letter states.
TTMA outlines the various factors that go into the specification and manufacturing of heavy-duty commercial trailers, and the importance of specialty aluminum products such as seamless aluminum sheeting for trailer roofs.
“At present, TTMA members are aware of only one domestic manufacturer of rolled aluminum sheet in wide widths that are wide enough to provide for seamless roof construction on heavy-duty trailers,” the letter continues. “TTMA members are not aware of another supplier of comparable aluminum sheet products elsewhere in North or South America or in any other location worldwide, except for the People's Republic of China (PRC).”
The upshot: Imposing duties on such imports “would instantly create a sole-source, anti-competitive monopoly” for aluminum sheeting used on the vast majority of van trailers sold in the United States. Additionally, TTMA members can’t be certain that the single domestic supplier can currently produce sufficient quantities of aluminum sheeting in the required widths to manufacture the quantity of van trailers that their customers will order.
“Even if such production were theoretically possible, the entire U.S. trucking industry would be left only one natural disaster, labor action, plant fire, or simple production equipment failure away from having the majority of its new trailer production frozen,” the TTMA letter reads. “This cannot have been the Administration's intent in commencing these investigations into Chinese unfair practices involving common alloy sheets, i.e. those that can easily be replaced by the whole of the U.S. aluminum industry.”
The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, which represents light- and medium-duty trailer makers and suppliers, makes a similar case in an “action letter” designed for members to use to inform and influence representatives in Congress. The letter, made available Feb. 8, cites the impact of sanctions on aluminum alloy such as the 3000 Series, used frequently by in enclosed cargo units, including horse and livestock trailers.
“Trailer manufacturers rely on aluminum sheet, particularly in wider widths, which can be difficult to source domestically,” the NATM letter states. “The recent investigation by the Department of Commerce could significantly jeopardize our industry. While the aluminum industry claims 3,700 workers are impacted by aluminum imports, DOC is failing to recognize the tens of thousands of trailer manufacturing jobs at stake. ”
And the topic was much discussed at NATM’s recent annual convention, where Darrell Conner of K&L Gates, the association’s government affairs counselor, outlined the procedures behind the tariff plan—and what members could do to protect the industry.
“There will be some right turns and some left turns along the way. I think now that the decision has been made the stakeholders will engage much more heavily—both through Congress, which can have an impact on it, as well directly with the administration, and through legal means,” Conner said. “There’s no question as to where President Trump stands on manufacturing. The question is how to balance what he wants to achieve in bringing it back here [to the U.S.] against what he’s going to do to hurt existing manufacturing. Part of this assessment is going to be where are the domestic manufacturers, are they going to want to do it, and if they are, what are the counter arguments?”
He likened the aluminum tariff plan to the Obama administration’s anti-dumping sanctions over Chinese tires, noting the trailer industry successfully lobbied for an exclusion of the “ST”-type specialty tires.
“This is a penalty for us buying from overseas where we have no choice,” added Rick Russell, Carry-On Trailers, chairman of NATM’s government affairs committee. “What’s going to happen to us is prices are going to go up and unfairly slow our economy, in my opinion, and affect our industry."
NATM Executive Director Kendra Ansley subsequently said the association was "disappointed" with the Trump administration's decision to move forward.
“We represent American manufacturers employing thousands of workers, and we certainly support efforts to create more U.S. opportunities for businesses,” she said. “But a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% tariff on aluminum will hurt manufacturing businesses like ours and many others, which we have been communicating to the Administration and Congress. NATM will continue to work with allies in the industry and on Capitol Hill as the process continues. We hope that the Administration will work with us to craft solutions to this issue that will enable the steel and aluminum industries and the trailer manufacturing sectors to be successful.”
The National Trailer Dealers Association is also concerned about any tariff-related price rise.
“The tariffs are certainly concerning given other regulatory pressures that stand to add cost to each commercial vehicle produced,” NTDA President Gwendolyn Brown tells Trailer/Body Builders. “Any increase on raw materials used in production has a potential negative impact on sales.”
NTEA, trhe trade association of the work truck industry, voices similar concerns.
“While we cannot be certain of the effects of any such tariffs until we see final details, they would certainly increase the cost to produce many of the trucks, truck bodies and equipment our membership produces," said Steve Carey, Executive Director.. "Further, we worry about how any retaliatory trade actions might negatively affect the work truck industry.”


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There have been many stories about food being destroyed and in some cases, ordered to be destroyed. However, in a story out of Reuters, there is a positive side, which is that in order to prevent the mass destruction of food, farmers are giving away a seemingly endless supply of potatoes from stocks that otherwise would have been destroyed because of the shortage.
In Washington, the No. 2 U.S. potato growing state after Idaho, a billion pounds of russet potatoes, normally processed into french fries and hash browns, are sitting in warehouses that would typically be emptying ahead of the July harvest, the Washington State Potato Commision said.
Instead, the organization is handing out the surplus for free in brown sacks, 100,000 pounds at a time.
“Everyone in Washington would have to eat about 500 pounds of potatoes from now until the 4th of July to clear out that pipeline,” said Brandy Tucker, the commission’s director of marketing.
Around 90% of Washington potatoes are processed for food service, nearly half for international markets. Potato producers in Europe have also faced enormous surpluses.
The commission is planning more than a dozen donation events by the end of May. But even giving away potatoes comes with the cost of washing, bagging and shipping.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is attempting to chip away at the mountain of produce unable to get to consumers. This week it said it would buy an additional $470 million in food, including $50 million in potatoes to give to food banks.
Farmers such as Adam Weber, a third generation grower at Weber Farms in Quincy, Washington, say it is better to give away potatoes than dump them. (source)


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There has been a lot of drama going around this weekend in regards to Sony Bend and the recent report that the studio pitched a Days Gone sequel to Sony and it was rejected. According to Bloomberg, Bend originally pitched a sequel to Sony back in 2019 but it was rejected due to the critical reception of the original game. Sony did not see Days Gone 2 as a viable option.
While fans loved the game, and we did too, Sony seems to have canned the sequel project in favour of a new game that Bend are currently working on. However, Days Gone 2 would have been something great according to the few tidbits of information provided by former Sony Bend game director Jeff Ross.
In a recent live stream with God of War creator David Jaffe, Ross hinted at the sequel’s gameplay saying the studio had plans to introduce a significant online mode with a shared universe and online co-op. The game mode was originally pitched for the first game but never made it into the package.
Ross says that it would have been a secondary mode and the studio planned it so it wouldn’t have complicated the overall story of the Days Gone sequel in any way. The studio originally wanted players to build clubhouses together and explore the world and take on hordes with friends. He says a horde battle with a group would have changed everything.
“It would’ve been a secondary mode if we’d have done it in the first one, or even in another one. I wouldn’t have complicated the main narrative… because that’s really what we’re good at. That was the strength of the first title, so build on that and make it better.
“But then take this world that you’ve built, and all these assets and systems, and repurpose them for some sort of similarly themed multiplayer version of this universe. So [it] would be with guys like Deacon trying to survive, building up a clubhouse or a crew. I think it would be fun to be in that world cooperatively and see what horde battles could be like.”
On paper, Days Gone 2 with co-op sounds fantastic but in the end, Sony rejected the pitch and Jeff Ross understands why. He states during the live stream that these triple-A games are not cheap to make. These sort of games need to sell four or five million copies just to break even and Sony needs to have the confidence in the return in order to greenlight a project.
“Sony doesn’t have the cash that Microsoft does and they’ve got to use it very intelligently and they’ve got to stay focused on a diverse portfolio.”


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Two Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (MVPDs) in the US have launched the first commercial linear Ultra HD services to cable and IPTV subscriber homes using SES’s satellite-delivered, pre-packaged, Ultra HD solution.
The US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled to shut down unauthorised digital streaming and distribution by the providers of the Shava and Cres TV set-top boxes and awarded more than $25 million in damages.
According to the NPD Connected Intelligence Connected Home Forecast, by the end of 2019, 238 million installed devices are expected to be connected to the internet and able to deliver apps to TVs, representing 59% growth from 2015 to 2019.
59% of pay-TV subscribers in US broadband households are bothered by the fact that advertisers use their personal viewing data to push personalized ads to them, according to Parks Associates.
Sling TV has become the first live and on-demand over-the-top (OTT) service available on LG Electronics’ line-up of smart TVs.
A US federal court has ruled that the owners of the Lool IPTV service unlawfully streamed international television channels to users in the US in violation of rights held by DISH.
Altice USA, the US arm of Altice, filed plans for an initial public offering Tuesday, a prospect that could end up valuing the company at more than $20 billion.
The International Broadcaster Coalition Against Piracy (IBCAP)and Nagra have entered into an expanded agreement to bring a new generation of anti-piracy technology and services to broadcasters and distributors of international and multicultural content.
SES has entered in a collaborative agreement with Verizon aimed at driving the take-up of Ultra HD services by Verizon Fios subscribers in the US.
The Walt Disney Company board of directors has extended Robert A. Iger’s contract as chairman and CEO to July 2, 2019.


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Ableton has announced a sale on the recently updated Ableton Live 10, upgrades and Packs, offering a 25% discount for the next few days only.
From now until Tuesday, June 11th, save 25% on all Ableton software.
This offer applies to new purchases of Ableton Live 10 Suite, Standard and Intro, upgrades to Ableton Live 10 Suite or Standard, Max for Live, Ableton Live Packs and crossgrades to Max 8.
For further details, head to the Ableton shop.
More information: Ableton


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Link to July 31 Oshkosh Northwestern article, "Wobbly economy prompts counties to take another look at sales tax".
Excerpt: Since 1986, every county in Wisconsin has had the option of imposing a half-percent sales tax in addition to the state’s 5 percent tax. Seven of the holdouts form a contiguous block. They are Calumet, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan and Winnebago counties. Most have toyed with and rejected the idea. Among the most adamant opponents is Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer.


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Polish consumers are more satisfied than Americans, with the customer satisfaction level being close to 80 percent
For six years the customer satisfaction index in Poland has grown by over 17 percentage points to nearly 78 percent, and it currently exceeds the customer satisfaction levels recorded in the USA and the United Kingdom. Service quality and its growing significance among businesses have had a tremendous impact on customer satisfaction. For the eleventh time the Customer Service Quality Star titles have been awarded to entrepreneurs recording the best results in this field.
Poultry production in Poland is growing. Exports are close to the 50 percent mark Poland top in Europe in window exports for the third year running. The biggest manufacturer also expects good results in 2018 Left with a 600,000 tonne surplus, Polish sugar producers are searching for new export markets.


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The Beer Wall, a popular bar in Bruges, Belgium, has recently installed alarm sensors on all of its beer glasses as well as a scanner at the entrance, in order to deter patrons from stealing them.
All of the roughly 1,600 Belgian beers sold at The Beer Wall are served in their own specially designed glasses, some of which are apparently very interesting. From goblet-like glasses that usually accompany abbey-made beers, to glasses shaped like hourglasses or even sliced coconut shells, the famous Bruges bar has plenty of attractive glass artworks. The problem is that many visitors, tourists in particular, don’t settle for feasting their eyes on these unique glasses while sipping a cold one. Instead they steal them as souvenirs, ignoring the warnings in four languages on the bar’s beer mats, which state state that the glasses are not free, and that they can be bought from the souvenir shop next door.
Photo: Tim Dobson/Flickr
“Every year we lose at least 4,000 glasses,” owner Philip Maes told the Het Nieuwsblad newspaper. “The tourists in particular like to walk away with them. They just take it with them without too much embarrassment.”
“In hotels people steal towels, in restaurants salt shakers and in a beer bar they steal glasses. For some reason, some customers think that when they pay for something to drink, they get the glass as a gift,” Maes added.
After seeing his profits affected by the widespread beer glass theft, The Beer Wall decided it was time for extreme measures, so he invested around $5,000 into an alarm system. Sensors have been installed on the bottom of every glass in the bar, so if someone tries to take it out, the sensor at the main entrance will trigger an alarm. Maes hopes that the embarrassment of being caught stealing, not to mention the legal repercussions, will deter people from trying to take the glasses with them when they leave.
Photo: Brugse Zot/Facebook
In case you’re wondering which of the glasses at The Beer Wall is most targeted by thieves, Philip Maes says it’s the one Brugse Zot beer is served in. That may have something to do with the fact that this beer is produced by the only remaining brewery in Bruges’ historical city center.
“Every six months we have to ask this brewery for a new pallet of 400 glasses,” Maes complained.
Hopefully, the new alarm system will at least reduce the number of beer glass thefts, although it’s not clear how easy it is to remove the alarm sensors from the bottom of the glasses, or if they trigger an alarm if you attempt to do so.