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With megasites Groupon and LivingSocial trumpeting daily deals that lure throngs of customers with up to 70 percent discounts on everything from dinners to skydiving lessons, it’s no surprise local businesses are signing up. After the deal is on, though, does the promise of new customers and more revenue add up?
Elizabeth Castillo, owner of Woodbridge Pizza of Lodi, says it does. After signing with Groupon, Castillo watched wide-eyed as 371 of her deals sold. Groupon subscribers were tempted with a 50 percent discount — $20 of food for just $10 — at either Castillo’s Lodi pizza place or Woodbridge Pizzeria in Stockton, which she also owns.
Having never heard of Groupon, Castillo thought the company’s boast of delivering new clientele through a massive online advertising campaign with no money down must be a ruse. When Castillo learned Groupon was a major marketing force, she snapped up the offer, even with a whopping 50 percent commission fee.
“The economy was having problems, and this gave us a boost,” Castillo says. “It helped get our name out there and let people know we were here.”
Deal giant Groupon and fast-growing LivingSocial feature a business each day on their websites and send emails or texts to subscribers (Groupon has 375,000 in Sacramento) in the city where the business is located. They write copy, design the deal and then rake in the money by typically charging a 50 percent commission on all coupons sold.
In Castillo’s case, Groupon grabbed $5 of the $10 collected for each deal. When a coupon customer arrived at Woodbridge Pizza, they would get $20 of food, leaving Castillo with her $5 payment from Groupon. Many customers spent more than $20, so Castillo says she made some profit. She received her share from Groupon in three payments over a month.
Profit can be low or nonexistent with a daily deal, but in a choked-up economy, the promised flow of patrons without cash upfront is what attracts many business owners. Cathy Moore, director of Kindermusik in Sacramento, is one of them. When business started to lag, Moore scrambled to reach new customers through the Internet. She contacted both LivingSocial and Groupon about showcasing her children’s music program in the Sacramento area.
Thrilled with her Groupon experience last year (148 sold), Moore went on to offer a similar deal through LivingSocial in April, offering one month of music classes and a CD for $29 — a 60 percent discount. LivingSocial devotees bought 100 of the Kindermusik deals, leaving Moore elated with the results.
“It’s the absolute way for small businesses to market,” Moore says. “For me it has been a fantastic way to reach new clients.”
For some merchants, like Tom Rockenbaugh, co-owner of Urban Dog and Sausage, the hoped-for success didn’t turn out as planned. Rockenbaugh already had a bustling restaurant in Folsom, but last year he signed up with Groupon to promote a new store in Citrus Heights. The deal was $6 for $12 of food, so he predicted the final guest tickets to be $20 to $25. Although Urban Dog sold 900 deals, Rockenbaugh didn’t draw the kind of customers he planned.
“We were trying for bigger tickets by drawing out families,” Rockenbaugh says. “What happened is one person would come in for lunch and make up the rest by taking a couple bottles of soda with them.”
Opening two new restaurants in midtown Sacramento and Rancho Cordova in April spurred Rockenbaugh to give Groupon a second shot, even though the first deal was unprofitable. This time he tweaked the deal to $4 for $8 worth of food, nudging customers to add cash to the coupon. Since lunch costs about $7, the deal required that a single diner buy another item to get the extra $1 or bring a friend and double the bill.
When business owners decide on a daily deal, they should carefully plan the promotion, considering busy and slow seasons, the type of customer they want and their overall business plan, says Julie Gallaher, owner of Get on the Map in Sacramento. Gallaher coaches clients on how to craft a deal and negotiates the terms for them. It’s not the Groupon and LivingSocial reps jobs to determine the best time or ideal item and discount for the promotion, she says.
Groupon spokesperson Kelsey O’Neill, however, says the company’s staff works with each business owner to shape the daily deal to fit their particular business, product and staffing levels to maximize success. Staff members get detailed information about the business and clientele before drafting a deal that is appealing and sensible.
At Laundry Lounge in Davis, Dina Connor created a winning Groupon deal by featuring their signature Drop-A-Load service, which involves little labor and no folding, but hooks their UC Davis clientele with a 98 percent retention rate. Connor estimates she may net only $2 out of the $12 for each Groupon voucher, but telling people about her out-of-the-way laundry business was necessary.
“For us, doing a Groupon for Drop-A-Load was worth it because we knew it wouldn’t just be a one-time thing,” Connor says. “I talked to a girl from UC Davis yesterday who says it was the best thing she’s ever heard of, and she was tweeting about it to tell all her friends.”
Daily deals appeal to consumers because they’re interactive, allowing friends to pass them on, talk about them and get even more of a discount if their friends buy. Because of the growing consumer buzz, Lila Wallrich, creative director at Wallrich Landi Integrated Marketing Communications in Sacramento, has recommended Groupon and LivingSocial deals to clients.
“Groupon and LivingSocial have made the coupon cool again,” Wallrich says. “It’s entertaining because they offer a little back story with imagery. It’s interactive, so it has the social component, and it’s immediate. You print it out and use it.”
Daily deals will likely not be profitable, Wallrich says, but business owners assume building awareness about their product or service is worth the investment. When business owners don’t pay upfront, though, they may incur more of a financial hit later than they had counted on, she says.
Pat Garcia, owner of Skydive Sacramento in Lincoln, cushioned his risk by doing research and negotiating with LivingSocial to get a better than 50/50 split. Although he wouldn’t reveal numbers, he says the high costs of skydiving made it necessary. Even with a higher cut, he’s only making money on extras.
When skydivers jump out of the airplane, Garcia knows photos or video are a must to show friends and family their 120 mph freefall. He counts on the added revenue from those sales as well as drawing more thrill-seekers after customers share the video and pictures with their Facebook friends.
Garcia sold 720 skydiving packages and saw customers from as far as the Bay Area, but he’s leery of doing another daily deal. He fears more discounts could affect his future profit indefinitely.
“Pretty soon customers will say, ‘Hey, when are you running the next Groupon?’” Garcia says. “If everyone did it a few times, nobody would pay the real price and we would be doing jumps for no money.”
Daily deals condition regular customers to expect discounts, and businesses could damage their reputations, being viewed as a discount place, says Dennis Tootelian, marketing professor and director of the Center For Small Business at Sacramento State. While the recession made searching for bargains a necessity, he adds, some people are now addicted, treating the hunt as a game.
For small businesses, Groupon and LivingSocial do provide mass exposure, but these deals could result in price-sensitive customers who will hop to the next business that offers a coupon. Businesses who offer exceptional service have a small chance of retaining customers, Tootelian says, but many fail, not being prepared to serve the onslaught of customers they get.
Action Whitewater Adventures owner Chris Pyle goes above and beyond for people who redeem their LivingSocial deal at his Lotus-based company. During the half-day rafting trip down the American River, clients are treated to lunch, shuttle service and expert rafting guides, with no corners cut.
Pyle’s goal in working with LivingSocial twice, Groupon once and many smaller deal sites was to meet business benchmarks and financial projections. To get business loans, he needed to prove to banks that his business was growing. And after selling a record-breaking 2,636 rafting deals through LivingSocial, he has.
Pyle also sees the downsides of deals — the flood of people who are obsessed with the rush of the sale, plus steep commission rates demanded by LivingSocial and Groupon.
To reach customers in the future, Pyle plans to forego the deal sites altogether and send out his own discounts using the list of names, addresses and emails collected through his release forms from customers who have bought previous deals. Groupon and LivingSocial do collect customer information for their use, but they don’t pass it on to merchants (except for names and voucher numbers). Both companies say they don’t trade or sell subscribers’ information to third parties.
Tootelian predicts business owners will follow Pyle in trying to launch their own deals with information they collect from customers. Release forms are the norm for businesses that offer risk-involved services such as skydiving and rafting, plus any classes will require enrollment information.
This do-it-yourself deal mentality and the recent launch of Facebook Deals and Google Offers could threaten Groupon and LivingSocial, Tootelian says. When big players like Facebook and Google jump into the deal pool, it could get overcrowded and some companies may sink, he says. Now, Facebook is offering deals in five major cities. Google is testing its offers in Portland, Ore., and plans to launch deals in San Francisco and the East Bay soon.
For now, Tammy McDonald of McDonald Training in Newcastle is happy her business is up 50 percent, to which she credits Groupon. McDonald sold 725 group horseback riding lessons and says she’s already had several customers return for more riding lessons, birthday parties and camps.
Groupon statistics tout that 95 percent of businesses are happy with their deals and want to do another. On the flip side, in a nationwide study of Groupon promotions conducted by Rice University, 42 percent of the business owners who participated said they wouldn’t sign up with Groupon a second time. The Rice University study surveyed 150 business owners who were featured in Groupon daily bargains between June 2009 and August 2010.
Local business owners gave mixed reviews. McDonald and Rockenbaugh say the daily deal was good for business, but they’re busy enough. Garcia and Pyle are worried the Groupon and LivingSocial discounts may harm their business or cut their profits. While Connor, Castillo, Moore and Streets of London Pub co-owner Ian Baxter are fired up about reaching a fresh crop of clientele and are ready to hit repeat.
Daily deal subscribers are a hard-to-reach group of young consumers because they don’t watch much TV or read newspapers and they spend hours on the Internet, Tootelian says. Groupon statistics show subscribers are mostly young (68 percent are 18 to 34), educated (80 percent have a bachelor’s degree or higher), females (77 percent) who have money (69 percent make more than $50,00 a year).
“I wish I could pay Groupon less,” Baxter says. “But my wife works for the state, and I know she and her friends are all looking at Groupon deals and sharing them like wildfire.”
One morning last year, Cyberguys, a computer and tech accessories retailer, started getting a lot of calls from customers with the same question. Was the company really selling hard drives for $3?
Three is a magic number. Yes it is. It’s a magic number.
If you’re humming the lyrics to the iconic “Schoolhouse Rock” song, then you are either over 35, a Blind Melon-head or already in tune with the Strategy of 3.


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Members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 455 at the Maximus Coffee Group plant near downtown Houston have gone on strike after negotiations failed to produce an agreement on a new contract.
Maximus, which roasts and distributes coffee beans and makes specialty and private label brand coffee for a wide range of customers including Starbucks and Folgers, is seeking concessions from the workers that would reduce pay by between 25 percent and 50 percent, increase workers health insurance premium costs, and reduce overtime pay. The company also wants to stop contributing to the workers’ 401(k) savings plan.
“I’ve worked at this plant for 41 years and for Maximus Coffee since 2006 when they purchased the plant from Maxwell House,” said Robert Barnes. “I haven’t gotten a real raise since 2009, and don’t know how I’ll be able to support my family if my wages and benefits are reduced.”
Barnes is one of 250 Local 455 members who are on strike against Maximus.
Texas is a right to work for less state, so not all of the workers belong to the union, but about 90 percent are union members and are on strike.
The strike began at midnight on October 10.
Maximus is trying to keep the plant open by using supervisors and temporary workers.
The company has told its customers that production will not be interrupted by the strike, but it’s difficult to tell whether the company’s assurance will hold up.
Workers on the picket line said that the smell of coffee is still coming from the plant, but they haven’t seen any steam, suggesting that the plant is not operating near full capacity.
Rick Alleman secretary treasurer for Local 455 told the Houston Chronicle that the concessions that Maximus is seeking could cost some workers from between $10,000 and $15,000 a year in pay.
“Maximus Coffee workers in Houston are simply trying to protect middle class jobs and their benefits after working hard to make their company profitable,” said Bill Hopkins, Local 455 president. “I hope this strike sends a strong message to the company and moves the negotiation process to a successful conclusion.”
Maximus Coffee Group is privately owned by the de Aldecoa family. As such, it is not required to report a financial statement. Cortera Business Directory estimates that Maximus’ annual sales range from $25 million to $75 million.
Sue Mann, special assistant to Hopkins, told the Houston Press that Maximus concession demands were not the result of a business downturn. By all accounts, Maximus was doing well before the strike and had picked up some new business.
Mann attributed Maximus’ concession demands to greed and to the company’s assessment that the workers wouldn’t fight to protect their wages and benefits.
“I think (Carlo de Aldecoa Bueno, president of Maximus) didn’t believe that these workers would take him on,” said Mann to the Houston Press. “This plant hasn’t had a strike before, and that’s a good thing. But at some point you have to either stand or let whatever happens happen.”

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Applied Materials to cut workforce up to 9 percent
NEW YORK (AP) - The Federal Trade Commission is proposing to fine a unit of Warner Music Group Corp. $1 million for violating a child privacy law in the operation of fan websites for artists including Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Rihanna. Commissioner Edith Ramirez revealed the proposed settlement in a speech in New York on Wednesday at the annual ...
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. service companies grew in September at the fastest pace in six months, helped by a sharp increase in customer demand.
SAN JOSE (AP) - A federal judge has lifted a ban on sales of Samsung Electronics Corp.'s Galaxy 10.1 tablet computer. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh ruled Monday the South Korean technology giant is now free to start selling the product in American stores. The judge had previously banned U.S. sales of the tablet pending the resolution of ...
NEW YORK (AP) - Toys R Us will offer a price matching guarantee on all of its toys and products in stores this holiday season, the toy seller said Monday. The offer follows the chain's free layaway and toy reservation programs, and is the latest attempt for the company to draw in customers during the bustling holiday season. <p style="line-height: 18pt; background: ...
NEW YORK (AP) - Count Cynthia Gibson among gift recipients not interested in being surprised.
FREMONT (AP) - A U.S. safety agency is tightening the guidelines that control how automakers use government crash tests in advertising. The change by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was prompted by Tesla Motors Inc., the Palo Alto, Calif., electric car company. Tesla has promoted its electric Model S as the safest car in America, saying it earned a 5.4-star rating from the government. The new guidelines stress that NHTSA doesn't give crash-test ratings ...
WASHINGTON (AP) - New tour buses and buses that provide service between cities must be equipped with seat belts starting in late 2016 under a federal rule issued Wednesday, a safety measure sought by accident investigators for nearly a half century.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Microsoft chairman Bill Gates choked up while reading from prepared remarks during Steve Ballmer's final shareholders meeting as chief executive.
$2.5B to settle hip replacement suits
NEW YORK (AP) - In these hyper-connected, over-shared times dwell two kinds of people: those preoccupied with taking and uploading photos of themselves and those who have never heard of the selfie.
NEW YORK (AP) - Best Buy says it Is committed to "winning" the holiday season with price matching, doorbusters and deals as well as its earliest ever opening hours on Thanksgiving - even if that means profit pressure for the electronics retailer in the fourth quarter.
FREMONT (AP) - The U.S. government's auto safety watchdog is investigating whether Tesla's Model S electric car is vulnerable to fires because roadway debris can pierce the car's underbody and battery.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal officials said Monday they are prepared to file formal complaints against Wal-Mart for allegedly violating the legal rights of protesting workers last year.
DETROIT (AP) - For years, the joke in the auto industry was that a mass-produced car that runs on hydrogen was always a decade away.


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One state lawmaker wants to protect smartphone users from apps that might be collecting personal information.
Representative Marty Flynn says consumers need to know who's getting information from their phones. The Lackawanna County Democrat says his "Mobile Application Consumer Protection Act" would require a disclaimer in many apps.
Flynn says it would be written in layman's terms, which is both clear and concise, to state what information the application is accessing on a person’s phone. Flynn says app developers that fail to comply would be subject to a 25-dollar fine per instance.
Flynn is seeking co-sponsors for his legislation. More than one million smartphone apps are available, and more than 1,600 are released every day.
Monday April 14th
Dr. Gabe Mirkin
Dr. Gabe Mirkin on Fitness & Health Facebook page
Dr. Mirkin on Twitter
Tuesday April 15th
Wednesday April 16th
Thursday April 17th
Adam Conrad - Real...
Keith Junior High School Varsity Jacket
new, never worn, size XXL, stored in a non-smoking,
no-pet home from 1990's - $130
1983 vintage, tennis grid design, model GW100,
with red Swatch Guard, original packaging, needs
Monday April 7th
Master Gardener Tom Ford
472-7986 - email@example.com
Penn State Cooperative Extension/Balir County Facebook
Tuesday April 8th
WISE Woman of Blair Country Annual Tribute Dinner & Honorees
April 16th - The...


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Lindt Chocolate Factory Malfunction Covers Small Town in Cocoa Powder Dust
A major production oopsie left a delicious dusting across the land.
A small town in Switzerland was transformed into Swiss chocolate after a local factory's ventilation system malfunctioned, resulting in a mass dusting of cocoa powder.
On August 14, according to local reports, the Lindt & Spruengli company factory in Olten had an issue with its ventilation system. This error resulted in a forced export of powder from the factory, a precipitation that lasted multiple days and spread across the area surrounding the factory.
While the impacted range was relatively small and the coating barely reached a centimeter, there was certainly enough dust on the ground to have caused a snow day in Arizona. A few cars were covered with brown specs, and at least one car was hit particularly hard by the storm. The company has offered to pay for any necessary cleaning, USA Today reported.
An image of the car appeared in photo posted on Twitter by an Olten-area account:
"Kakao-Regen," the caption reads, which is German for "cocoa rain," but sounds like a nickname Trump might give Ronald Reagan if he were alive today.
According to local news, the company said the cocoa was in no way dangerous to the community, and that it's currently fixing its ventilator system.
The Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs-esque snowfall, while unprecedented in source, is not the first food and beverage whoopsie we've seen in the past year. We remember fondly Ohio's Great Pickle Spill, Germany's 10,000 bottles of beer dump, and England's disruptive truck "gincident," along with countless charmingly inconvenient mishaps that make incredible headlines.


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Now you can register for UPI service through Aadhar card, no need for debit card
In the last few years, there has been a rapid growth in the scope of digital payments in India. In such a situation, UPI digital payment is the most common method of online payment. Earlier it was mandatory for you to register your debit card while registering for UPI service. But, now after the change in the rules, customers will be able to register for UPI service only through OTP on Aadhar card and registered mobile number. Now the requirement of giving debit card number has been done away with. It is believed that after this big change, more speed can be seen in UPI payment.
UPI payment can be done even without debit card number
In the last few years, the government and the RBI have been trying to expand the scope of digital payments in the country as much as possible. In such a situation, the first debit card was mandatory for making UPI payments. Due to this reason, many people could not register in UPI in the absence of a debit card. But, now only through Aadhar card, he will be able to link himself with UPI digital payment. NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) has now approved to register UPI with Aadhaar.
Registration will be done through OTP only
You will be able to register in UPI only with the help of Aadhaar number and registered mobile number. For this, your bank account should be linked with Aadhaar only. With this, your UPI will be linked with your bank account through Aadhaar. Therefore, if your bank account is not linked with Aadhaar, then get it linked as soon as possible.
Earlier on Tuesday, while making major changes, the Reserve Bank of India has announced that now customers will be able to make digital payments through feature phones. Its name has been named UPI123 pay. Through this facility, 400 million feature phone users will get benefit.


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2014 Volkswagen Vento to be launched in India this month
Volkswagen which recently introduced the facelifted Polo in India has more launches up its sleeves this year. The new Polo GT TDI and TSI variants are now available in showrooms. The big news however is about Volkswagen introducing the same 1.5 TDI engine in the Vento. The 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel makes 105PS of power and 250Nm of torque. It will come mated to a 5-speed manual transmission as standard and a 7-speed DSG as optional. There is an increasing demand for automatic diesel cars in the market and so far the Hyundai Verna is the only car in this segment to offer a diesel automatic option. This should definitely give Volkswagen a boost and of course several automatic takers more choice.
Volkswagen will launch the new Vento as early as possible this month, within the next couple of weeks to be more specific. Production of the old Vento has already stopped and we have on many occasions spotted the facelifted car testing. Expect a few cosmetic additions similar to what we saw in the new Polo which will make the Vento look fresher. These will be limited to new bumpers, refreshed headlamps and a new alloy wheel design. There will be more features inside the cabin. Expect the prices to be slightly higher than the outgoing car. A formal announcement from Volkswagen about the launch date is expected shortly
Volkswagen hasn't shared details of the Vento variant list yet, expect it to be leaked online soon now that we've given you this bit of news. We're still scouting for information on what the petrol/diesel manual/automatic configuration will be like. Currently the petrol Vento is available with a 1.2 TSI engine and a 7-speed DSG automatic. It is likely the Vento will continue with the 1.6 MPI motor and a manual transmission.
Starts Rs 8.78 Lakhs
Starts Rs 9.31 Lakhs
- Toyota showcased modern and sustainable technology range at Auto Expo 2023
- 2023 Hyundai Aura launched, prices start from Rs 6.29 lakh
- Car sales January 2023: Maruti Suzuki, Kia, Tata Motors, and more
- Hero Xoom launched in India, prices start from Rs 68,599
- Toyota continues to be world's largest carmaker third year in a row


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Half-Life: Alyx. All the information, images, videos and links.
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Alyx Vance | Half-Life Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia
Alyx meets Gordon for the first time after defending him from Combine.. Alyx is one of the most important characters in Half-Life 2, as she helps Gordon Freeman more frequently and directly than most other characters. Her first appearance is in the first chapter of the game, Point Insertion, in a scene where Gordon has been intercepted by Civil Protection units while he is still an unarmed ...
Half-Life: Alyx: What we know about Valve's upcoming full ...
Half-Life: Alyx is a brand-new game in the Half-Life universe designed exclusively for PC virtual reality systems (Valve Index, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality).
Rumour: Half-Life: Alyx is the next VR game from Valve, to be ...
Valve's VR game will be called Half-Life: Alyx, will be announced at the Video Game Awards 2019, and targets a March 2020 release. Or at least that's what the leaker claims.
Valve will unveil its 'Half-Life: Alyx' VR game on Thursday ...
No, your eyes aren't deceiving you: after 12 years, Valve has announced a new Half-Life game. The company has confirmed swirling rumors with word that it will reveal Half-Life: Alyx, its "flagship ...
Update: Half-Life Alyx is real and it'll be revealed on ...
Valve has confirmed that Half-Life: Alyx is real. It'll be shown on Thursday. Valve may be announcing a new title in the Half Life series. Don't be shocked - it's not Half Life 3. Instead, it's Half-Life: Alyx, a VR title designed for the Valve Index VR headset. The developer - when they develop things (…)
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We're thrilled to announce Half-Life: Alyx, a new full-length entry in the Half-Life series, built by Valve for VR. Return to Half-Life in March 2020. Pre-purchase now on Steam.pic.twitter.com/GZkhp2Prx1.
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Set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2, Alyx Vance and her father Eli discover a secret that leads them into the heart of the Combine's occupation of City 17.
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A new feature just rolled out on Instagram that will now allow creators to make ad revenue via IGTV ads.
In a long going attempt to bring creators from YouTube to IGTV, Instagram announced this week that they will be rolling out different ad experiences meant to drive ad revenue via Instagram’s video platform (IGTV).
According to the team at Instagram, their focus is to “support creators’ investment in IGTV by sharing advertising revenue with them”.
Now, IGTV ads will initially appear when people click to watch IGTV videos in their feed (much like the video streaming platform YouTube does) and the ads will be no more than 15 seconds to ensure that viewers have the best viewing experience.
Instagram announced on May 27th, that they will be testing ads with a small group of creators and advertisers and will begin to expand to many different creator accounts. The one caveat? You must have a business account to be a part of the people who will have ads embedded in their IGTV videos.
So what does this mean for you? And how much money can you expect to see from ad revenue? In an interview with The Verge, Instagram’s COO, Justin Osofsky shared with readers that the “IGTV roll out will grant creators 55% share of all advertising in IGTV, the same rate as YouTube”.
By opening up IGTV to ad revenue, the hope is that more creators will start to use IGTV as a video platform. That said, we recommend really thinking about where your audience is. If they aren’t going to consume your IGTV video content like they would YouTube, don’t make a grand rush to switch to IGTV videos. But if you already have built a loyal community that loves your videos on Instagram, this is a very exciting next step in monetizing the hard work that goes into creating a long form video for Instagram.


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The onset of the pandemic in 2020 more than halved turnover at Wasabi, falling by 56.7% to £50.9m.
In its financial results for the year to 26 December 2020 filed with Companies House which included its US operations, the Japanese fast-food brand said earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by 485% to a loss of £7.8m.
The impact of lockdowns and coronavirus restrictions led to the closure of its Soboro bakery in Cambridge and the group entered a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) which saw the closure of five stores and 600 roles made redundant.
During the period, Wasabi expanded the grocery and delivery arms of the business and grew its footprint in suburban areas to adapt to changing lifestyles. It said this contributed "significantly" to mitigate against the reduction of in-store sales.
£10.8m of additional funding was raised from the group's existing investors as well as £2m of additional loans.
Wasabi plans to open further restaurants in the UK following the completion of its CVA. The group has 43 stores open and operational in the UK in London, Birmingham, Cambridge, Kent, Leeds and Oxford.
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ConAgra Foods Inc
The maker of Healthy Choice frozen meals and Peter Pan peanut butter has sold off other businesses in order to focus on core segments like consumer foods. It has been trying to turn around the consumer segment by overhauling product lines and aiming to price products at points where it can cover commodity cost increases yet still attract consumers.
ConAgra said profit in the consumer segment rose 6 percent in the latest quarter, excluding year-earlier restructuring charges, helped by price increases.
Some analysts had been unsure how well the business, which represents 63 percent of the company's sales, would do. Retailers are aggressively pushing their own brands, and frozen food competitors are spending more to promote their products.
ConAgra said it expects more profit improvement in the consumer segment in the fourth quarter as inflation moderates and new products gain ground.
The company stood by its full-year profit forecast of slightly more than $1.50 a share excluding one-time items.
The company said profit was $193.2 million, or 43 cents a share, in the fiscal third quarter, ended February 22, down from $309.1 million, or 63 cents a share, a year earlier.
Excluding one-time items and discontinued operations, earnings rose to 40 cents a share from 34 cents a year earlier. Analysts on average had forecast 36 cents a share.
Sales rose 6.1 percent to 3.13 billion.
ConAgra shares stood at $16.50 in premarket trading, up from Wednesday's New York Stock Exchange close of $15.56.
(Reporting by Brad Dorfman; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and John Wallace)


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Business Value Acceleration
Key learnings for business from the RBA’s latest financial stability review
The RBA’s latest Financial Stability Review published in October 2023 sheds light on the resilience of Australian households and businesses. There are three key messages to highlight:
1. Margin pressure is increasing due to slowing demand.
2. Cash buffers remain high.
3. Insolvencies are increasing but are largely small businesses with small debt levels (mainly non-bank lenders and the ATO).
Despite a strong recovery from the pandemic that supported business profitability, pressures have emerged from higher input costs, higher interest rates, and slowing demand. While most businesses were able to pass on higher input costs due to strong demand over the past couple of years, ongoing cost pressures coupled with a softening in demand have put pressure on some businesses’ profits recently. As per firm-level data, operating profit margins as of March 2023 are around their pre-pandemic levels in most industries, excluding the mining sector. However, profit margins have declined a little in the accommodation and food industry (Graph 2.14).
Many businesses are struggling with profitability issues and are using their cash reserves to keep their operations running or pay off debts. However, even with these withdrawals, their cash reserves are still relatively high compared to their expenses. In fact, these reserves have increased significantly over the past few decades especially during the pandemic, as shown in Graph 2.17. Additionally, information from listed companies confirms that many of them also have substantial cash reserves.
The risks to the broader financial system due to the business sector are low. Strong demand has enabled most businesses to pass on higher input costs, and cash buffers remain high. However, the distribution of cash buffers across businesses is likely to be uneven. Although the number of company insolvencies has increased to pre-pandemic levels, these businesses tend to be small and have little debt. Only a limited amount is owed to banks, and hence, it has had a minimal impact on them. But, a decrease in demand in the economy poses a significant risk to businesses’ profits and their ability to service debts. Businesses that rely on discretionary consumer spending or those who cannot cut costs quickly during a revenue decline, such as those in the arts and recreation or business services industries, would face major profit declines. Highly indebted businesses that are already drawing down on their cash buffers will find it most challenging to cope with the pressures on profits. They are also likely to reduce their workforce, causing financial stress to households.
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In the meeting, Zuckerberg asked Samsung to follow in HTC's footsteps and create the next "Facebook phone." He wanted Samsung to create a device that would use Facebook's user interface, likely its Facebook Home launcher. Samsung shot the idea down, according to The Korea Herald. Why? Because Facebook wants to become the second Google.
"Samsung doesn't want to help nurture a second Google, which is now becoming a formidable rival for Samsung in the handset business," said the Herald's source. Google purchased Motorola in 2012 and is preparing to release a wave of new devices, including the Moto X, later this year.
Further, Samsung doesn't see how Facebook could give Samsung any extra value. Facebook does not have the "premium image" with which Samsung would like to associate itself. Partnering with Facebook won't benefit Samsung.
The denial has to sting something fierce.
[ Apple and Samsung continue to duke it out in the mobile arena. See Samsung Galaxy S4 Outsells iPhone 5. ]
Facebook has had a bit of a rough year in the mobile space. In April, it introduced the First, an HTC-made smartphone that shipped with the Facebook Home launcher preinstalled. The First itself was a decent piece of hardware, but it has not sold well. It initially cost $99 on contract, but AT&T was forced to drop the price all the way down to 99 cents to generate any interest in it. Facebook and HTC later decided to delay the planned European launch of the First.
Facebook Home has not gotten much traction, either. Though the First had Home preinstalled, Facebook also offered Home as a separate download to a number of Android smartphones. Though the launcher, which replaces the traditional home screen with Facebook content, was downloaded more than a million times, it was rated poorly and most people stopped using it or uninstalled it not long after downloading it from the Google Play Store.
The company is working to spruce up Facebook Home and make it more customizable. Facebook has already provided some small updates to Home, but has yet to ship the major redesign it committed to doing.
"We've listened to feedback from users on their experience using Home," Facebook said last month. "While many people love it, we've heard a lot of great feedback about how to make Home substantially better. As a result we're focusing the next few months on adding customization features that address the feedback we received."
Fresh off these two flops, Zuckerberg was surely hoping for a different answer from Samsung. Given Facebook's lack of success so far, Samsung's answer shouldn't be all that much of a surprise. It doesn't want any part of the egg currently being worn by Facebook and HTC.


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- GameStop announces the closure of its NFT marketplace by February 2, 2024, due to regulatory uncertainties.
- Users can no longer buy, sell, or create NFTs on GameStop’s platform after this date, but existing NFTs remain on the blockchain.
- This decision is part of GameStop’s ongoing reduction in crypto services, aligning with its cautious approach to digital assets.
GameStop, a well-known gaming retailer, has recently made a significant announcement about its nonfungible token (NFT) marketplace. The company stated that it would be shutting down this service next month. This decision stems from ongoing uncertainties in the regulatory landscape of cryptocurrencies and digital assets.
GameStop’s Shift Away from Crypto
The closure of the NFT marketplace marks a significant step in GameStop’s gradual retreat from the cryptocurrency world. On its website, the company informed its users that starting from February 2, 2024, they would no longer be able to engage in buying, selling, or creating NFTs through GameStop’s platform. Despite this, the company reassured NFT owners that their assets, being part of the blockchain, would remain accessible and could be traded on other platforms.
Broader Context of GameStop’s Decision
GameStop’s decision to wind down its NFT marketplace is part of a broader pattern of reducing its involvement in the crypto sector. This move aligns with the company’s cautious stance towards digital assets, especially in light of regulatory uncertainties. The company has been scaling back its crypto offerings over the past few years, including discontinuing access to certain digital wallets and reducing its focus on crypto-related initiatives following a significant financial loss.
Interestingly, this development comes at a time when the crypto industry is observing a more open regulatory stance from authorities, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission‘s recent approval of 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs. However, despite these positive regulatory signals, GameStop has chosen to proceed with caution, prioritizing the security of investor funds and avoiding potential risks associated with the evolving digital asset landscape.
GameStop’s Future in Digital Assets
GameStop CEO Matt Furlong emphasized that while the company sees potential in the crypto space, it is important to navigate this area carefully, especially considering the interests and safety of investors. The company’s decision reflects a growing trend among businesses to balance the opportunities presented by digital assets with the need for clear regulatory frameworks and risk management.
In conclusion, GameStop’s announcement to shut down its NFT marketplace is a noteworthy development in the digital asset space. It highlights the challenges businesses face in adapting to the fast-evolving world of cryptocurrencies and the importance of regulatory clarity for the future growth of this sector. As the crypto landscape continues to change, GameStop’s cautious approach could be a bellwether for how other companies might navigate these waters.


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YouTube is one of the most popular video streaming platforms around the world, and people all over the globe use it to watch educational and entertainment videos every day. But what if you stumble upon a channel masquerading as legitimate, only to find out it’s a scam or a fake channel?
The Ministry of Digitalization has recently taken action against channels trying to mislead and defraud unsuspecting users. The Ministry announced that it had banned fake YouTube channels that are used to promote illegal activities or deceive viewers into giving out personal information and at the same time Rajkotupdates news a ban on fake youtube channels that mislead users the ministry said;
So how can you tell if the channel you’re looking at is authentic? In this article, we’ll provide some tips on how to spot a fake YouTube channel and what measures are being taken to address this issue.
Introduction of the Fake YouTube Channel Ban
In an effort to protect users online, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology recently announced a ban on fake YouTube channels that mislead viewers. This move comes as a response to rampant issues of fraud and misinformation in online media, which often lead to people making wrong decisions based on false information.
The Ministry identified these fake channels by the videos they published. Such videos were often subject to copyright violations, falsely claimed to be based on official news sources, or even maliciously framed in order to promote a certain agenda or viewpoint.
For instance, there have been cases where such videos have made false claims about the health benefits of certain products or services or spread rumors about a political figure’s involvement in unethical activities. All such content was deemed as inappropriate and misleading for consumers, leading the Ministry to establish this ban on these fake YouTube channels.
What Is Considered a Fake YouTube Channel?
We’ve all seen them: YouTube accounts with suspiciously few followers or videos with a mismatched thumbnails. These are the warning signs of a fake YouTube channel, one created to deceive and mislead viewers.
The Ministry is cracking down on these phony accounts, making it illegal in some places to create or operate a fake channel. According to the Ministry, these channels can be defined as those that are not linked to an authentic person or organization and deliberately publish false information or misleading content. Additionally, any channel found to be spamming users will also be banned.
By Rajkotupdates.news:a-ban-on-fake-youtube-channels-that-mislead-users-the-ministry-said banning these deceptive channels, the Ministry is hoping to protect users seeking out content that’s trustworthy and reliable. After all, no one wants to waste their time with videos that are out of date or contain inaccurate information. So if you suspect that a channel you’re watching might not be legit, it’s best to cross-check your sources and make sure that your information is coming from a reliable source before taking any action.
Reasons Behind the Ban on Misleading Channels
You might be wondering why the Ministry decided to ban fake YouTube channels. Well, the reason behind it is pretty simple – to protect users from being misled. Let’s look at some of the reasons why the Ministry had to ban these misleading channels.
Fake YouTube channels often present false information and videos that can mislead viewers into making wrong decisions. Such content can be dangerous, as it can lead to misinformation and exploitation of users’ personal or financial information.
Fake YouTube channels may use deceptive practices to promote their own services or products, such as using fake reviews or claims that are not backed up by evidence. This kind of behavior is considered unethical and puts users at risk of being deceived by false promises or overstated benefits.
Misleading YouTube channels also use false advertising, which means they claim their products have certain features when in reality they don’t actually have them. This practice can lead to people purchasing products based on false information, which can cause them a great deal of inconvenience and financial loss.
By banning these fake YouTube channels, the Ministry is making sure that users do not get fooled by these misleading tactics and instead get accurate information about different products and services available on the platform.
How Can I Discern Between Legitimate and Fake Channels?
It looks like the ministry has taken the initiative to ban fake YouTube channels that mislead users, but how can you spot these types of channels? You want to make sure you get your news from a legitimate source, so here are some tips for how to distinguish between real and fake YouTube channels.
Check for Verified Accounts
One way to tell is by looking for verified accounts. These are accounts that have been checked and confirmed to be an authentic channel from an established brand, organization, or public figure. Look for a small, gray checkmark next to their name or next to their profile photo.
The Channel URL
The URL of a YouTube channel can also tell you if it’s real or not. If the URL is something obscure and hard to remember, then it could be a fake channel. Stick with channels that have recognizable URLs, such as
Content Type & Quality of Videos
A legitimate YouTube channel will usually have videos that are related to the topic they claim they are about and have reliable content quality standards. Fake YouTube channels tend to upload random videos that aren’t related in any way or poor-quality videos. It’s also common for fake channels to post low-quality clickbait titles that do not match what is actually in the video itself.
By paying attention to these details and verifying whether a channel is legitimate or not, you won’t be misled by fake YouTube channels ever again!
What Are Companies Doing to Combat Misleading Content?
It’s not just the Ministry that is taking steps to ensure YouTube doesn’t become a tool for spreading misleading, dangerous, or unlawful information. Companies like YouTube are also taking steps to combat deceptive content and make sure users are receiving trustworthy and verifiable information.
One of the ways YouTube is tackling this problem is by taking proactive measures to prevent fake channels. These channels have been known to spread false information, whether it be political or commercial in nature, and can mislead viewers into believing false or exaggerated claims. The company has decided to take a strong stance against this issue and ban any channel caught doing this.
YouTube is also taking steps to ensure that its users are getting authentic content. Recently, the company launched its “Authorized Content Initiative” in order to help promote channels with verified products or services. This initiative helps support YouTube’s continued efforts to provide viewers with reliable resources and protect them from misinformation online.
Additionally, YouTube offers several tools for creators, such as their “Copyright Claim Tool” which allows creators to protect their original works from being used without permission. This helps reduce the number of fake videos being uploaded onto the platform and protects content owners from having their work used without authorization.
By implementing these strategies, YouTube is taking active measures to ensure that its viewers are not misled by deceptive content and can trust in the reliability of the videos they watch on the platform.
How Does This Affect Rajkotupdates News for Rajkotupdates.news:a-ban-on-fake-youtube-channels-that-mislead-users-the-ministry-said
As a Rajkotupdates News reader, you’re probably wondering what this ban on fake YouTube channels means for you. Well, it’s great news! The ban on fake YouTube channels will help to ensure that the news and content available on YouTube is more accurate and reliable. That way, you can trust that the information you’re getting is genuine and trustworthy.
In order to keep up with the latest news, you won’t have to worry about being misled by false or deceptive content. You’ll know that the videos and stories from Rajkotupdates News are reliable and up-to-date. And since fake channels are no longer allowed, you can be confident that any new videos or stories from Rajkotupdates News are authentic.
The ban also means that stories from Rajkotupdates News can reach more people, since it ensures that viewers aren’t being forced to watch misleading or inaccurate content. This will only lead to more informed citizens who pay attention to the news from reliable sources like Rajkotupdates News. So go ahead—enjoy the latest videos and stories without worrying about misinformation!
So, it’s time to step up and take responsibility for your viewing habits. This Ministry ban on fake YouTube channels is a great step forward in creating awareness and accountability, but we ultimately have to take the reins of our own media consumption. We need to be informed, informed consumers, and as such, we should be wary of channel authenticity, opt for reliable sources, and rely on our own critical thinking skills to make sure our media consumption is not only informative, but safe.


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Business, environmental science experts provide
practical approaches to sustainable business practices
As Central Florida’s population continues to grow rapidly, increasing strain is being placed on the region’s delicate ecosystems. A one-day seminar will provide community and business leaders with innovative ways to enjoy the economic benefits of population growth while protecting the area’s natural resources. The Business Case for Sustainability seminar will be held at Stetson University’s historic DeLand campus on Sept. 22 and will provide a practical, in-depth approach to sustainable business practices.
Sustainability makes a difference to the ecosystem, consumers and profitability. Participants in this seminar will learn from top experts in Florida ecosystems, sustainability management and green building, as well as how to lead, manage and transform current business practices into a more sustainable operation while also considering financial profitability.
“Many businesses have demonstrated that implementing sustainability efforts not only minimizes environmental impact and increases good will among customers, but also increases profits through both operational savings and expansion of market share,” said Wendy Anderson, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Studies at Stetson University. “We are excited to bring together faculty experts and community leaders to provide businesses with ideas and incentives for embracing sustainability.”
With topics ranging from “Financing Sustainability” to “Green Marketing and Consumer Choice,” the seminar will provide a framework for sustainability management with a focus on real-world application. Participants will learn to find win-win opportunities for sustainable changes with a positive impact on the bottom line, justify sustainability goals to organizational decision makers and gain competitive advantage while satisfying customer needs through green marketing.
“Companies need to examine the impacts of their marketing strategies on society and the environment,” said Deborah Goldring, Ph.D., professor of marketing at Stetson University. “This means re-evaluating their product and service portfolios and the way these offerings are created, produced, and promoted.This seminar will help managers reflect on these difficult and complex issues.”
Experts include from Stetson University: Goldring, Anderson, John Tichenor, Ph.D., chair and associate professor of management, and Clay Henderson, J.D., executive director of the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience, as well as Chris Castro, director of sustainability for the City of Orlando and Ken LaRoe, CEO of First GREEN Bank.
The Business Case for Sustainability is Sept. 22, at Lynn Business Center, 345 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32723 on the Stetson University campus. The cost for attendance for the one-day seminar is $199 with registration available online.


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Euro zone Economic Sentiment Falls for Eight Consecutive Month in August
Radhakrishna N S
Poor optimism in industry and services has pulled down Eurozone economic sentiment for an eighth consecutive month in August, stated a monthly survey by European Commission on Thursday (30). According to the figures released, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) decreased slightly in the 19 member countries euro area by 0.5 points to 111.6 from 112.1 recorded in July, while it remained stable in the European Union at 112.3 in August. “The decrease in the euro-area sentiment indicator resulted from a marked deterioration of confidence among consumers and a milder decrease in the services sector, which were only partly offset by…
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While exporters are in favour of the deal as it promises lower tariffs , consumers fear job losses
In a bid to mark their protest against the controversial transatlantic trade deal, thousands of protesters are likely to take to the streets across Germany today ahead of the next round of negotiations slated for October 3 in New York, according to ABC news.
The European Union (EU) and the United States had begun negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in 2013 with an aim to create the world's biggest free trade market comprising of 850 million consumers.
While exporters are in favour of the deal that promises lower tariffs and a wider base of consumers, the consumers in Europe fear it would it would lead to more outsourcing and consequently job losses. According to a Reuters report, several rights group fear that the deal would provide easier access to European market without creating more jobs.
"We hope that more than 250,000 participants will join in the march nationwide," Roland Suess from the anti-globalisation group Attac, one of the organisers of the demonstrations in seven German cities including the capital Berlin and Frankfurt, told AFP.
In Germany, there is widepread skepticism about the accords in Germany. According to AFP, a survey has highlighted that 28 per cent its respondents doubted free trade bringing in any benefits and 52 per cent say it would result in weakening of standards and increasingly inferior products.
Proponents say that EU's most ambitious trade impact could increase trade between the two areas by some 20 per cent, adding some 11.6 billion euros a year to the EU economy. However, prominent rights groups in Germany argued that the deal undermines democracy because citizens would be excluded from decision-making.
Vice-Chancellor and economy minister Sigmar Gabriel last month declared that talks on TTIP have "de facto failed" while Peter Gauweiler, who had quit his CDU post and MP mandate to protest against Merkel's stand on the the euro crisis, called the proposed treaties "a danger for democracy".
Gabriel had also insisted that "Europeans must not give in to (the Americans') demands".
However, a hopeful German Chancellor Angela Merkel last week said EU should keep negotiating with US over the free trade deal.
A new round of talks will start in October and US President Barack Obama wants the deal concluded before his term ends in January.
A smaller version of TTIP is also in the works with Canada. The deal called CETA, will be signed in October.
There are also plans for setting up a special court to hear cases by companies against governments over breaching of regulatory issues, which the opponents see as giving firms a veto over public policy.
(WION with inputs from AFP)


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Has your business suffered a cyber attack? Here’s how you can come away unscathed
Following an unprecedented cyber attack on sporting giant Manchester United, Data Breach Claims Solicitor, Paul Cahill outlines some key advice for any business wanting to minimise further reputational damage
In November 2020, Manchester United’s inhouse computer systems were hacked.
At that time, the club were reporting they were not aware ‘of any breach of fans’ data’, despite the fact that members of the sporting giant’s staff didn’t have access to email and other online functionality.
In the days that followed, United said they were unaware of the motive behind the attack but they were working alongside the UK’s Cyber Security Agency to minimise any further damage.
With the investigation described as “thorough” and ongoing, one question was still left unanswered; If Manchester United can fall victim to a cyber security breach, can your business?
What steps can a business take to minimise the risk of a cyber attack?
Taking swift and decisive action is key when dealing with a cyber attack.
First of all, it would be wise to locate the systems that have been affected and ensure that these are safely and securely shut down.
Then, it is paramount for the business to identify what data has been compromised so that a list of individuals affected by the breach can be informed.
As a third step, it might be necessary to consider informing the ICO.
Ultimately, what happened to Manchester United, one of the largest global brands, is something that all businesses, big and small, can learn from.
Whether you’re a new business, or you’ve been in operation for a number of years, it’s important to remember that solid preparation and cyber awareness will enable you to respond appropriately in the face of a cyber attack.
What can local authorities learn from the Manchester United cyber attack?
In the event of a cyber attack, all local authorities across the UK must implement the correct protocols to follow. For any business, this means understanding the potential and possible risks e.g. allowing local authorities to create a roadmap to reduce the volume of data that can be stolen.
I always look at this from a five-step approach:
1 Understand the risks
2 Plan suitable safety protocols
3 Isolate your data
4 Shut down the affected systems
5 Contact individuals affected
Where a business can avoid cyber security pitfalls
From my own experience, many data breaches are down to simple human error.
Longstanding, respected businesses may be great at what they do, but they’re often not yet equipped, in terms of policies and procedures, for securely storing customer data.
Check then check again
By simply checking your email attachments, the source that the email came from and not clicking untrustworthy links could prevent a major data breach.
As well as this, ensure your security policy is up to date and that you have a trusted security software protecting your internal information.
Think of your reputation as a business
Manchester United acted swiftly. Although the incident is not something that the club welcomed, by facing up to it and acting in accordance with the latest guidelines, their team were able to minimise the damage of the data lost, and in turn, their own brand reputation.
Even though your business isn’t Manchester United, you can take inspiration from the way the football club handled the incident and apply the same steps.
Overall, a business operating today must be absolutely transparent with its customers. If a data breach has happened, that must be reported and communicated as such, to regain any trust that may have been lost.
Forward-planning and risk assessment will be your key to coming back from any breach of data, regardless if this happened because of a basic, human error, or sophisticated cyber attack.


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Hyderabad, Aug 28 IANS | 13 minutes ago Turkish Cargo has commenced its operations between Istanbul and Hyderabad with the first cargo flight... ...http://www.newkerala.com/news/2014/fullnews-96183.html
NEW DELHI: The IT hardware industry body MAIT wants that the small-and-medium enterprises should be taken on board while embarking on the ambitious... ...http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/bring-ict-sme-sector-into-mainstream-mait/articleshow/41109438.cms
Brand USA will be organizing its third sales mission to India from September 7-13, 2014. The Brand USA mission will bring US organizations and... ...http://www.ibrnews.biz/2014/08/brand-usa-organizes-india-travel-trade.html
Regus, the global workplace provider, is to open a drop-in business centre at Copenhagen Airport. As well as helping business travellers to meet... ...http://businesswireindia.com/news/news-details/regus-express-hub-at-copenhagen-airport-offers-productive-place-work-m/40477
A couple of evenings back, it was a sight to see the Capital's Stiletto Set eating out of banana leaves in a fivestar hotel; Those with manicured... ...http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/chettinad-meyyappan-banana-leaf-the-park-hotels-ramen-burger-the-embassy-hauz-khas-village/1/379436.html
You dream, we make it real; you...


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The Indiana Senate Committee on Commerce & Technology recently held a hearing on the bill in question —HB1254/Amendment 3, authored by GM—and held a follow-up meeting on February 25th, at the Capitol building.
The bill, authored by Rep. Kevin Mahan, R-Hartford City, could ban auto manufacturers from selling directly to consumers. The bill seems designed to shut down Tesla, the manufacturer of all-electric vehicles whose direct sales strategy runs counter to the traditional franchise dealer model. Tesla operates a showroom at the Fashion Mall at Keystone.
The House on Feb. 2 passed a version of House Bill 1254 that would send the issue to a study committee. But a proposed amendment to the bill would bypass a study. It “provides that a dealer license issued to a manufacturer expires after 30 months,” causing Tesla’s dealer license to expire in 2018.
“It’s not about Tesla. It’s about a level playing field,” Mahan said. “Tesla just happens to be the only manufacturer in the state working under this situation. But the thing is, with the technology forthcoming, not only in the United States, you could have another manufacturer pop up any time. So I’m trying to close this loophole.”
Indiana lawmakers are pushing the bill as Tesla is planning to unveil a product that will compete with a new all-electric vehicle from General Motors. Tesla earlier this month announced it will begin accepting pre-orders for its Model 3 car on March 31, with an expected delivery of late 2017.
Existing law allows any manufacturer to apply for a dealer license without the use of independent franchised dealers. Despite having a lawfully granted license to sell Tesla vehicles directly since 2014 at the Fashion Mall at Keystone; despite contributing over $42M to the state through the purchase of parts and components from Indiana suppliers; and despite plans underway to construct a 26,000 square foot Tesla Service facility that will employ approximately a dozen Indiana residents.


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AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.
The full pre-WWDC interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook has aired, with the corporate chief offering few clues about what to expect as well as discussing the need for the iPhone maker to be socially aware, the impact of COVID-19, and tax payments.
Following an initial tease of the full-length interview with CBS Sunday Morning on Saturday, Sunday's eight-minute video with Tim Cook covers a few subject areas that are both important and timely to the company.
The interview starts off by discussing the more immediate future, with talk about Monday's WWDC 2020 keynote. "I'm full of secrets and it's hard not to overflow right now. But I've been trained well!" Cook joked in the social distancing-compliant interview setup.
Briefly explaining that WWDC is beneficial to both consumers and developers, Cook suggests how he benefits from the event. "If you're somebody like me that sort of steps back and looks at it all, you see the intersection of technology and the liberal arts, and it really makes your heart sing."
Turning to the giant size of Apple and its $1.4 trillion market capitalization, Cook was asked what the role of the CEO is in a large-scale socially-responsible company. Cook admits to never subscribing to the idea of a CEO focusing just on profits, and instead looking towards the "constituencies."
On the sensitive topic of the George Floyd incident, which was captured on a smartphone camera and led to global protests, Cook is asked if he reflected on the role the iPhone played in the ability for citizens to record historic moments like that.
"We are humbled by it," Cook started, pointing out how "some of the most dramatic societal changes have occurred because someone captured video," such as with events in Birmingham and Selma. "The thing that has changed though, and we're very proud of this, is that we put a camera in everybody's pocket," he continued, "and so it becomes much tougher as a society, I believe, to convince themselves that it didn't happen, or that it happened in a different manner or whatever it might be."
Moving to Cook's upbringing in Robertsdale, Alabama, he talks about his first experience with racism, which he remembers "as if it were yesterday." It was seeing doors marked "whites only," and failing to understand "how people could convince themselves that this was right."
"I do believe, optimistically, this is one of those moments that we could make significant progress," Cook continued. "For so many things it seems like there's such slow progress, and then all of the sudden, there's a giant leap." When asked if he wants to make the leap bigger, Cook agrees stating "That's exactly right."
Speaking about the recent Supreme Court decision stating there should not be any discrimination against people based on their gender or orientation, Cook admits he is "incredibly grateful for their opinion," and he applauds the justices "who stood up and did that."
Cook's discussions with President Donald Trump was also raised, and was revealed on Saturday as part of promotion for the interview.
Taxes and COVID-19
When the interviewer brought up the need for social responsibility and Cook's fiduciary duty for Apple to pay as little tax as possible, Cook offers the usual response of "our responsibility is to pay what we owe, just plain and simple."
Pressed further, with the suggestion that paying what's owed is the standard, Cook is asked if there is a way in how the value proposition operates in relation to paying taxes. Cook answers by stating "we do a lot more than pay taxes."
"We turned the company upside-down to help the world on COVID, and donated all of that, hundreds of millions of dollars," Cook advises. "And so, I think my own view is, you pay what you owe in taxes, and then you give back to society. And Apple is clearly doing that."
COVID-19's effect on working life has become Cook's biggest challenge at the moment, in that many employees are working from home instead of working at Apple Park. "The thing that I worry that we'll be missing is the serendipity that we all count on. And for that reason I can't wait until we're all back together," Cook admits.
In dealing with the virus and the issues it throws up, Cook is asked what it's like to manage products and employees in such an uncertain world. Pointing out people generally disliking uncertainty "as a general rule," Cook suggests he knows "very few people that thrive on uncertainty," and that they try to make things more certain by estimating where things are going.
"And we have done all of those things, I would tell you," Cook concludes. "But the most important thing for us is, we viewed it as a challenge to overcome."


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Michael Zink, technology VP at Warner Bros., will assume the post of UHD Alliance chairman, and CE industry veteran Mike Fidler will take on the newly created full-time position of Alliance president.
Additionally, in recognition of the importance of next-generation audio to the overall home entertainment experience, longtime member-level company and DTS parent Xperi has joined the UHD Alliance board.
The group said Fidler will be instrumental in enhancing the membership roles, increasing Ultra HD brand awareness, driving new consumer education initiatives, and facilitating the expansion of Alliance certification and logo programs into other categories of hardware and content.
Fidler, a veteran of Sony and Pioneer, among other CE companies, played a pivotal role in launching such industry organizations as the DVD Entertainment Group, now known at the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG), as well as key optical formats such as DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Over the course of a career that has touched virtually the entire entertainment ecosystem — hardware, content, service providers, retailers, studios, streaming services — Fidler also helped drive the conversion of the theatrical exhibition industry from film to digital and advanced the development and marketing of optical laser technologies. Most recently Fidler served as the Entrepreneur in Residence at Connect, advising start-up companies in Southern California.
See also: UHD Alliance Coming To The Small Screen
“It is a pivotal year for UHD and HDR, from both the hardware and content standpoint, with sales expected to explode in 2017 en route to continued growth for the foreseeable future,” Fidler said. “Consistency of experience, along with broader consumer awareness and deeper understanding, will be critical to sustaining growth and I look forward to working with all of our members to firmly establish the Alliance as a leading voice and resource for all things Ultra HD.”
Zink will succeed 20th Century Fox Film Corp. chief technology officer Hanno Basse as chairman. At Warner Bros., Zink is responsible for emerging technologies for the studio’s production, post-production and distribution capabilities and serves as WB’s liaison to a range of standards bodies focused on enhancing and expanding the home entertainment experience for consumers. As the UHDA’s incoming chairman, Zink will be responsible for driving the organizational mission and vision of the global coalition as it looks to further expand certification and logo programs to help consumers identify premium Ultra HD products and content across a range of categories.
The UHD Alliance, comprising more than 50 member companies, is a global coalition of leading entertainment studios, consumer electronics manufacturers, content distributors and technology companies aligned to foster the creation of an ecosystem that fully realizes and promotes the next generation premium in-home entertainment platform.


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Readymade garment (RMG) factories across the country are not reopening on April 26 as per the previous decision by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), according to the president of the association, Rubana Huq.
Earlier, in a letter to the chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) April 15, the BGMEA sought an adequate number of buses for transportation of workers as the factories will be opened from April 26 and most of the garment workers are now staying in the villages.
The letter mentioned that workers will start coming from the villages to their workplaces situated in industrial areas like Gazipur, Savar, Ashulia and some parts of Dhaka from April 20 onwards, and thus require adequate transportation amid the ongoing lockdown of different districts.
However, Rubana Huq told that the factories are not opening -- as per the previous plan -- on April 26.
"It is being observed that there are some misleading information circulating on social media regarding the opening of BGMEA factories," Huq told today.
"BGMEA's position is very clear on this. We need to be safe first before we operate. If the situation improves, we will open when the time is right. But for now the first and only priority is the health and safety of our workers," Huq also said in the message.
"The BGMEA was planning to open factories subject to Covid-19 situation and after yesterday's official declaration, BGMEA will wait and observe the situation and plan accordingly," she said.
Earlier, both BGMEA and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) in a joint statement urged members to shut down factories to prevent spreading the coronavirus, in order to maintain social distancing.
However, in the statement BGMEA and BKMEA said if any factory wants keep their factories open to pay workers their salaries for March, the factory owners must seek permission from the associations and the industrial police.
On the other hand, government's Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) in a statement on April 14 said the factories can be kept open if they have work orders from the international retailers and brands, as well as those factories which are engaged in production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), masks and goods related to combating coronavirus.
The DIFE also said the government will take legal actions including lodging cases and suspension of the renewal of factory licences if any factory owner does not pay workers by April 16.
The DIFE will send a list of the factories which failed to pay the workers to the ministry of labour and employment by April 20.


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Byte of Life: Our personal data circulates in an underground economy
(Alyssa Shao | Daily Trojan) In 2017, The Economist published an article claiming that oil, the world’s most valuable resource, had been replaced with data. This sentiment has been echoed and overstated everywhere. At universities and corporations, “data analyst” is emerging as the new hip career. Harvard Business Review even declared being a data scientist as the “sexiest job of the 21st century.” However, with so many wanting to be analysts and scientists, we completely overlook one question: Who collects all these datasets?
Obtaining “big data” isn’t as simple as sending a Google Form to your classmates — it’s collected and processed from the moment you connect to your Wi-Fi and sent every time you click a link, log in to a website or interact with a company. Most of the time, we have no choice but to agree to a company’s rules, such as mandatorily accepting cookies to use their website properly. Granted, most of this data isn’t directly harmful, as much of it remains unstructured and unprocessed. However, problems begin when companies start to treat data as valuable raw materials that can be leaked, traded and weaponized.
There are two main ways our data is exchanged — through corporations […]


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Every now and then you run into a cool system-level Android app that does some really interesting stuff -- and does it well. Action Launcher is one such application. From Aussie developer Chris Lacy, Action Launcher, erm, launched in October 2012 and shifted the usual Android launcher paradigm -- the home screens for app icons, folders and widgets, and a separate app drawer full of icons -- to a far-left (and extremely speedy) list view for apps.
An update in December brought forth Covers -- sort of uber-folders that added a slick new bit of functionality to the application.
And now, we have Shutters, available in an update today along with a slew of new features and fixes.
In a nutshell, Shutters are widgets launched by swiping on the corresponding app icon. Instead of a widget taking up all or most of a home screen, it stays hidden in the app icon until you swipe on it. You get a pop-up question to make sure you're cool with that and then the widget appears.
The plus is that you save on screen real estate this way. No more needing a whole home screen -- and no more swiping over to it -- to get to that full-screen widget you need a few times a day. The down side is that we've found a couple widgets that aren't playing nicely on the first try. Google+ and the camera app take some patience for the widget to populate, and you might need to try opening it a second time.
Other improvements to Action Launcher include:
- Landscape mode on by default for tablets (including the Nexus 7)
- Proper Nexus 10 support
- Much-improved app stability
- Easier to open the app list with a left swipe when not on the left home screen
- And a whole bunch more
Check out Lacy's tutorial here, and be sure to hit the Google Play icon at the top of this post to give it a whirl.
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Vegan Meat Sales Predicted To Reach $1 Billion In The US This Year
Vegan meat product sales could exceed $1 billion in the US in 2020, as consumer demand for animal-free products grows.
Sales of plant-based meat products increased by over 10 percent in the US last year, to reach $946.6 million.
“2019 was a big year for plant based meat’’ said Caroline Bushnell from the Good Food Institute — a non-profit organization working to create a sustainable food system.
“It really feels like the tipping point, but it’s just the beginning. We’re in the early days of a major shift” Bushnell added — signalling that the vegan meat market could soon smash the $1 billion mark.
Although more people are embracing totally meat-free diets, flexitarians are largely credited with this upward growth of animal-free meat sales.
Global market research firm Mintel claims that 38 percent of people in the US are looking to “add more plant-based foods to their diets,” and that 90 percent of people who consume “plant-based products are not vegetarian or vegan.”
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Capitalizing On Vegan Food
A growing number of meat producers and global fast food chains have recently jumped on the vegan bandwagon, creating new plant-based products for consumers.
“We believe the consumer demand for plant-based products will continue to grow as people continue to seek more choices in their diet” said John Pauley of Smithfield Foods.
“As a U.S. food company and global protein leader, providing choice to consumers and adapting to their preferences will remain an integral part of our business.”
Do you think vegan meat sales will smash $1 billion in 2020? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Tags: Good Food Institute, Mintel, plant based food, plant based meat, vegan, vegan food, vegan food sales, vegetarian


text: 7-Eleven would like to reminded the world that it had already completed 77 drone delivery flights a month before Amazon completed its first one last week. 7-Eleven’s unmanned aerial deliveries are powered by a startup called Flirtey, which bills itself as the “world’s leader in the drone delivery industry. 12 shoppers were invited to participate in a trial. They ordered items via a smartphone app for a drone to drop off at their houses, and the merchandise included everything from hot and cold food items to over-the-counter medicines. Deliveries were completed an average of less than less than 10 minutes after the orders were placed, Flirtey says. Instead of landing on the customer’s lawn or roof, the drones hovered in place while lowering their payloads to the buyers. The 77 delivery flights were completed on weekends in November, and the company intends to continue flying 7-Eleven deliveries in 2017.