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Smart grid technologies are often portrayed as being vital in efforts to increase renewable energy production, yet this aspect of the smart grid is the least developed. According to a new report from Pike Research, this situation will change over the next several years, creating a significant expansion of the market opportunity for smart grid technologies that enable the integration of renewable energy.
Telefonica UK, which operates the O2 brand, on Thursday announced that it has partnered with Jasper Wireless to deploy a new platform for the management of machine-to-machine (M2M) connections. The cloud-based management platform will enable Telefonica UK customers to roll out connected devices quickly, manage them in real time and deliver global support. The platform is already operational and is currently being rolled in a number of projects.
IMS Research, a market research firm recently acquired by IHS Inc., projects that medical devices utilized by the consumer to self-monitor their health, rather than those used in managed telehealth systems, will provide the largest opportunity for wireless technologies over the next five years. IMS Research forecasts that more than 50 million wireless health monitoring devices will ship for consumer monitoring applications during the next five years, with a smaller number being used in managed telehealth systems.
The first quarter of the year produced stellar sales numbers for hybrids in general, as well as plug-in electric cars. More than 100,000 hybrids and plug-in cars — 113,457 — were sold in January, February, and March combined, against roughly 79,000 in the same period of 2011.
Last week, Numerex Corp, a provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) products and services, announced the development of a complete Device-Network-Application (DNA) service for remote cellular monitoring of HeartAssist5 System, a heart pump monitoring technology.
South American vehicle sales are forecasted to reach 4.5 million units by 2014, with Brazil accounting for 60% of the total, according to Brazil’s car makers.
"In a macroeconomic sense, Brazil has greater stability, more per capita income, more jobs and more credit than before," says the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers; Brazil (ANFAVE).
New subscription-based home automation offerings are rapidly transforming the way consumers will monitor, secure, and control their homes, according to a new report by ABI Research. Over the next five years the global managed home automation market will grow installments at a CAGR of 60% between 2012 and 2017, connecting 90 million homes with home automation technology.
Last week, nine Japanese companies launched a demonstration study for the Albuquerque Business District Smart Grid Demonstration Project, which is to be carried out as part of its Japan-U.S. Collaborative Smart Grid Demonstration Project. The demonstration study will continue for two years.
On Monday, Sprint announced M2M agreements with Metrum Technologies, LLC, a developer of cellular-based communication for AMI and smart grid applications, and Tollgrade Communications Inc., a provider of network assurance services for the utility and telecom industries.
Rogers Communications and Axeda Corporation on Tuesday announced an alliance that will accelerate the deployment of machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions in Canada. As of Thursday, businesses and developers across Canada will have access Axeda’s M2M Platform to build and roll-out enterprise M2M applications for connected products in Canada.


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Saudi banks have raised their alert level in fear of Israeli retaliation after the massive leak of credit card details by a hacker who claimed to be Saudi Arabian.
According to a report by al-Arabiya network, the move came following "the Israeli government's declaration that it sees the leaking of credit card details of its citizens as a violation of Israeli sovereignty, which is comparable to an act of terror that must be retaliated [against]".
Several Saudi-based banks urged their data protection departments to raise alertness levels ahead of a possible revenge attack on their systems. The banks boosted security and deterrence measures and increased monitoring of activity.
Uzi Landau of Israel's ministry of national infrastructures claimed that 0xOmar, the hacker who claimed to have stolen and published the details of up to 400,000 active Israeli credit cards, had done "a favour" to the government.
"He shed a light on an existing crack, and it's time the government define security regulations for online groups. The public must be protected and right now it's not," said Landau.
The development came after an Israeli shopping website was said to have detected the location of the hacker. It traced his IP address after the hacker broke into the site by exploiting a security loophole in its content managing system.
"He's located in Dubai. We have a lot of proof of it. We'll forward all proof to the police. They'll take care of him," the statement read.
0xOmar claimed last week to be a Saudi Arabian from the hacking group Anonymous. "Hi, it's OxOmar from group-xp, largest Wahhabi hacker group of Saudi Arabia," read a statement posted on an Israeli sports website. "We are anonymous Saudi Arabian hackers."
Links in the statement led to websites containing details of Israeli credit cards, as well as cards used to purchase merchandise from "Judaism" websites and those used to donate to "Israeli Zionist Rabbis".

domain: news


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A collection of news, blogs and updates to keep you aligned with the latest Shweed developments.
Outdated hemp cultivation regulations and laws mean that cultivators, manufacturers and brand owners are continuing to lose out on a huge CBD market that appears to be going nowhere.
German lawmakers have been busy touring American and Canadian cannabis dispensaries while facing the reality of policy hurdles in preparation for legalisation.
When it comes to cannabis, Canada has long been considered one of the world’s most progressive nations. We take a look at Canada’s cannabis legacy.
The first full week of September 2022 has been one of celebration, shock, and mourning. Not only has the country welcomed a new Prime Minister, but it has also saluted the passing of the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history. Just two days after swearing in...
Continuing with our series of cannabis market analysis, we are taking a closer look at the ever-progressing cannabis market in the US.
Both medical and recreational ‘cannabis’ sectors are beginning to see the adoption of synthetic cannabinoids – but what are they?
In honour of National CBD Day, we here at Shweed are going to be taking a closer look at the medicinal properties of CBD, the history of its use and the view for the future.
We aim to explain how GMP regulations are applied to medical cannabis products and why they are important.
In June 2022, Thailand made history by becoming the first south-east Asian country to decriminalise cannabis. But the government is now facing backlash over the reforms.
In our last article in this series, we analysed the current situation in Western Europe. This time, we will be looking further East, to understand how cannabis markets are evolving in Eastern Europe.


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This week, CBA announced Anheuser-Bush (A-B) agreed to purchase all remaining CBA shares for $16.50 per share in cash. A-B already owns a 31.2 percent stake in CBA.
When the transaction closes, Wynwood Brewing will be a member of the A-B family.
Luis Brignoni Jr. says he's looking forward to what the future will hold for the brewery he started in 2013 with his father, Luis Brignoni Sr. "We're going to be able to learn from the world's largest brewer and see how it operates. I see this as a learning tool. This partnership will allow us to advance as brewers in a way we could never have done by ourselves."
Looking ahead, Brignoni hopes the new partnership will allow distribution of his flagship blonde ale to grow. "We'd like to see La Rubia poised to be one of the most popular beers in the Caribbean Latino market."
The beer-maker also plans to expand his brewery's 1,000-square-foot taproom in Wynwood. "We're in the middle of designing a taproom. I want to cater to a more family-friendly brewery. I have three kids now, and there aren't a lot of places in Miami where I can relax and have a beer while my kids can also be welcome."
Brignoni says he doesn't see any key changes happening with the transfer of ownership. "Looking at the industry and the history of what's happened in the past, A-B pretty much leaves craft breweries operating the way they're supposed to operate." He says the Wynwood Brewing team will remain intact. "Pops and I are going to continue to show up for work every day."
Brignoni says he understands if people are skeptical about Wynwood's first brewery selling to a huge company such as A-B. "Beer is one of those things that people are very aware of who owns it. People are really protective over the beer industry."
In the end, however, he says the acquisition has been good for his brewery, his family, and his employees. "I love the craft beer industry. I love beer," Brignoni says. "I'm taking care of my family and my folks, and my employees have great benefits and great opportunities for upward mobility."
Wynwood Brewing joins other South Florida breweries that are owned by larger companies. Veza Sur, founded by partners from Bogota Beer Company and Oregon's 10 Barrel Brewing, is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev; Concrete Beach is owned by a division of the Boston Beer Company; and Funky Buddha in Oakland Park is owned by Constellation Brands.
Wynwood Brewing. 565 NW 24th St., Miami; 305-982-8732; wynwoodbrewing.com.


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Sony to launch Bond-style campaign
By Sara Kimberley, campaignlive.co.uk, Monday, 08 October 2012 11:10AM
Sony is launching a James Bond-themed commercial during next week's 'X Factor' for the launch of its Xperia smartphone.
The 30-second ad has been created by Iris and Ridley Scott Associates and directed by Joe Carnaham, who was behind blockbuster films including, 'Smokin Aces' and 'The A-Team'.
To promote Sony’s new Xperia smartphone as the official phone of the new James Bond film, 'Skyfall', the Bond-style ad features a man on a mission, driving a speedboat, car and climbing over buildings.
However, the acutally phone is not showed on screen until the end of the ad the man's Bond mission is reveled to be getting to a shop to buy the new Xperia.
The Hollywood-style spot features original Bond assets including an Aston Martin Vantage V12 and a Frauscher speedboat.
Ant Melder was the copywriter on the ad and Simon Mannion was the art director. Shaun McIlrath was the executive creative director on the ad.
The campaign will run in 26 different markets, including the UK, US, Germany, France and Mexico and will be supported by press, outdoor, online and retail.
'Skyfall', the upcoming 23rd installment of the Bond series, will launch on 26 October.Follow @SaraKimberley
This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk
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Boobalicious: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shakes her assets in saucy video
ROSIE Huntington-Whiteley, 30, shared a video on her Instagram to her 7.5m followers of her fiercely shaking her ample assets.
Brunette with VERY sexy invention shows it off in sizzling photoshoot
Latest News /
A BUSY mum has invented the world's first suspenders to be held up by poppers.
Aussie babe brings sexy back in boob-tastic skimpy bikini parade
INSTAGRAM babe Brooke Evers has become internet famous thanks to her boob-baring bikini snaps.
Kate Wright hits out at haters as Rio Ferdinand 'romance' causes fan frenzy
KATE Wright sent a clear message to online trolls with this social media post.
In a world of plastic, welcome back real boobs: Insta hottie bares all
RACHEL MORTENSON is owning the Instagram game with her blonde bombshell looks and boob-spilling updates.
Kourtney Kardashian slammed for belfie Photoshop fail — but can you spot it?
KOURTNEY Kardashian has been put on blast by fans who believe she Photoshopped her booty update.
SORTS DIRECT: Lingerie lovers shocked as Mike Ashley takes over Agent Provocateur
Latest News /
LINGERIE fans have got their knickers in a twist after it emerged Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has bought luxury undies firm Agent Provocateur.
Oscars flesh flasher: Gabrielle Union exposes skin in half a dress
SOMETIMES you need to make a bold statement.
Oscars envelope mix up: Two briefcases & doubled up winners list reveal what happened
EVERYONE is talking about Moonlight winning Best Picture.
Paris Hilton exposes boobs in cheeky flash-ion show
PARIS Hilton is definitely back to her best.


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Bicycles have seen much in the way of technological advancement in the past 150 years, and that was widely apparent on the show floor at the annual Interbike trade show in Las Vegas this week.
The modern face of cycling was clearly visible in the electric-assist motors that make bicycles an optimal alternative vehicle for commuting, the space-age carbon fiber frames that aren’t limited just to the high end — and even the GPS-enabled cycling computers that can track calories, distance and power output, for example.
However, the biggest technological leap of all at this year’s Interbike could be seen in the recent developments in training aids. With cooler weather and shorter days on the way for many, more than a few cyclists will head indoors; fortunately, with new technologies, the outdoors can too — at least virtually.
The Dongle Approach
Kinetic Trainers is now using dongles that attach to its line of indoor trainers. The inRide system of pod mounts can even be retrofitted to oldermodels. Either way, a user has only to put a bike on the trainer and start spinning.
The Pod Mount tracks the rider’s progress; via a tablet display, it can provide data such as calories burned, distance traveled and power output. It can also provide a simulated course to help keep ridersmotivated while riding a stationary bike.
Kinetic’s technology is compatible with third-party software including Strava and MapMyFitness.
“We see this as something for anyone who is looking to track their progress during the off-season,” Jason Overman, a spokesperson for Kinetic, told TechNewsWorld. “The fact that this is app-based also makes it affordable.”
The Open Road
Saris, which also makes a line of bicycle trainers and stationary bikes, provides even greater immersion through its Power Beam technology, which aims to give riders the feeling of being on the open road through connectivity to display technology including an HDTV.
“This is for those who want to continue to get the feeling of riding outside during bad weather,” Matt Waite, product marketing coordinator for Saris, told TechNewsWorld. “Plus, this allows for rides virtually anywhere in the world.”
Thanks to helmet-mounted cameras such as the GoPro, users of many of these virtual trainers are now able to record their rides during the regular cycling season and continue to enjoy them even when theweather outside is frightful.
“While we have offered some routes, most of what is available comes from other users,” Waite added. “The best part of this is that it is possible to ride courses virtually that would be impossible to ride inreal life, including those across the world.”
The Saris technology is also based on two-way communication, so that efforts on the bike actually determine the speed that the video is played back. This makes it much more than watching pre-rendered or pre-recorded footage. In addition, the terrain can impact the resistance offered by the trainer.
“The computer receives the information on the route, so if you are going uphill on the screen, the trainer increases the resistance,” Waite explained.
Peloton, meanwhile, is taking a very different approach to keeping riders motivated during the off-season. Instead of providing scenic views of the road, it offers a real-time and on-demand spin class with its at-home exercise bikes.
“We’ll be streaming live classes from our Soho studio every hour,” Peloton founder John Foley told TechNewsWorld. “In addition, we’ll be offering rides on demand from previous classes as well as including a global leader board to keep our users motivated.”
Such features will be available to users via a subscription-based service. Fees and availability are still being determined.
The heart of Peloton’s system is an Android-powered display built to be four times the size of a typical iPad tablet.
“We’re looking to include video chat so that you can talk to other users while on the bike,” Foley noted. “Plus, you can track calories, power and distance. Our system is even heart-rate-monitor-compatible thanks to Ant+ connectivity.”
A Mobile Boost
This type of virtual training is not entirely new, of course, but in the past required high-end servers and expensive displays. Now, thanks to advances in Android and iOS devices, virtual training is quite accessible.
“Mobile fitness applications are very much tied to the sensors available on a device — GPS, accelerometers, gyros, thermometers and cameras included,” Stephen Blum, president of Tellus Venture Associates, told TechNewsWorld.
“Although the iPhone and iOS are more restrictive in terms of accessing hardware functions, it is a very consistent development environment, including the interfaces for connecting peripheral sensors — a watt meter, say, or a heart-rate monitor or the output from a piece of gym equipment — and downloading the data to a computer or the cloud,” Blum explained.
“Sports differ in data intensity,” Blum added, “but as a rule, the more solo the training, the more you’ll see athletes relying on mobile phones and peripherals to enhance their training.”


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You’ll have to excuse my pessimism. I fully expect this to result in a total catastrophe for Fitbit’s employees, products, and customers. Just about everything Google has ever purchased has been discarded like garbage or has been completely devalued as a result of the company’s inability to successfully integrate acquired businesses into its culture.
Arguably, the first 10 years of Google’s existence resulted in mergers that were beneficial and necessary for building the company’s core services products, such as YouTube, AdSense/AdWords, Maps/Earth. However, its track record with acquisitions over the past 10 years has been awful. Especially if we consider significant capital acquisitions of $500 million or more.
NOVEMBER 2019, Google announces its intention to purchase Fitbit for $2.1 billion.
Fitbit has been struggling in recent years — with its health-focused tracking wearables — in a market with much more powerful and versatile smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch, both of which sell much more capable products in similar entry-level price ranges ($199) with substantially larger application ecosystem support. The company’s weak sales of its Versa smartwatch prompted it to cut its revenue outlook in July 2019.
Fitbit is now part of Google
So, the big question is: Now what does Google plan to do with Fitbit?
Google already has a smartwatch operating system in the form of WearOS, formerly Android Wear. It’s not like the company couldn’t have launched its brand of smartwatch before — made by either an OEM or ODM partner, like Samsung, LG, or even Huawei, all of which have already launched WearOS devices in the past.
But the WearOS partner ecosystem has fallen apart. Developer support has been tepid, at best, and many users have complained of bugginess and poor performance. Google’s largest OEM partner in the Android ecosystem, Samsung, has abandoned WearOS in its Galaxy Watch devices in favor of Tizen, a much more resource-efficient and agile, open-source OS that is based on Linux.
Arguably, despite Fitbit’s dire financial outlook and weakening device sales that prompted it to be rescued by Google, the in-house designed OS that its product line uses is well-liked by its users and could be adopted by Google to form the basis of a Pixel smartwatch and other wearables, perhaps even an AR device like the failed Google Glass.
But questions remain: Does a “not invented here” mentality pervade Google?
Will WearOS continue to be developed in favor of Fitbit OS? Plus, there’s the issue of the continued WearOS investments by Google’s smartwatch partners. If WearOS development at Google ceases, then developers will abandon it entirely. That would look very bad for Google indeed.
And, if that’s the case, will Fitbit OS be open source or license to OEMs? It all sounds extraordinarily messy, and, ultimately, the consumers that invested in WearOS devices will get the short end of the stick if Fitbit OS wins the internal battle at Google. But it sounds like Fitbit is shaping up to be more of an expensive acqui-hire than it is an actual technology acquisition. So, Fitbit OS is probably over at least as an overall platform.
Fitbit’s current customers have also expressed concern because of Google’s loosey-goosey attitude toward privacy. They haven’t yet made a commitment to strong governance over their cloud-based health data. And how the company will use it after the acquisition. If I were a Fitbit customer, I’d be looking at Apple or Samsung’s products right about now.
I don’t think that Google has demonstrated either the hard or soft skills to properly integrate Fitbit into its culture. Which is toxic and is long overdue for internal disruption. But only time will tell.
Do you think the Fitbit acquisition will echo Google’s previous failed attempts to integrate their large purchases into their culture? Talk Back and Let Me Know.


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You may have read a news brief on page five in last Wednesday's newspaper, it was headlined, "Post Office troubled agency." The story summarized a report from the Government Accountability Office (a Congressional review board) which has just added the U.S. Postal Service to its list of high-risk government agencies. The list, it said, identifies agencies and programs that cost taxpayers billions of dollars in waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement.
"There are serious and significant structural financial challenges currently facing the Postal Service," GAO director Gene L. Dodaro surmised.
Seems the mail service has suffered as more former customers use e-mail for the majority of their communication and also have moved to on-line bill paying. The mail service is also facing significant infrastructural and personal costs, including hefty payments to retiree benefits programs, Dodaro added.
The Post Office expects mail volume to drop by 28 million pieces this year to a total of 175 million pieces. The government monopoly is estimating a $7 billion loss in 2009 with debt increasing to $10 billion.
Post Office management is suggesting dropping mail delivery to five days a week and closing many of the 38,000 postal processing facilities and post offices nation wide.
Here are some suggestions and comments posted by a major newspaper's bloggers on the subject.
- "In this day and time, we need residential mail service three days a week (every other day.) That should cut cost by 40 to 45 percent and make postal delivery sustainable."
- "How much of the 175 billion pieces of mail sent each year involves junk mail sent at preferential rates that taxpayers and first class mail users subsidize? The solution-calculate the full cost of delivering the mail and establish one base rate with no discounts."
- "Universal service and going that final mile to deliver is a major obstacle for Postal Service profitability. No other delivery company would do that at the same rate as for local delivery."
- "Some people say that the Postal Service is a self-funded business that does not take taxpayer money, but a Government Affairs committee of the U.S. Senate said in 1995 that the Postal Service received approximately $27 billion in taxpayer funded appropriations since the 1970 Postal Reform Act."
- "Make junk mail people pay first class rates. Less junk mail, that would result in less people, less sorting and less need for big delivery stations."
- "The USPS charges me 44 cents to pick up from my house and send a letter anywhere in the United States within a couple of days. And that includes delivery to Pokunkville. How much would UPS or Fed Ex charge to do the same thing if the USPS wasn't there?"
- "Just use the General Motors reorganization plan that the federal government mandated.
- "They lose on every piece of junk mail they deliver -- but their making it up on junk mail volume."
- "While the Post Office says email and on-line bill paying is 'killing them,' they fail to mention the package delivery opportunity that's been created by all the on-line e-orders."
Lots and lots and lots and lots of comments on last week's column on health care. Most comments were positive, a few were not but that's the way it should be.
One of my closest advisers and her good friend came up with an Obamacare compromise that sounds just about as good as any to me:
"I do not like the Obama health care plan. I don't think it has been analyzed and thought out fully. But I would be willing to accept the health care plan IF the president, Congress and congressional staff and all federal employees and their families would be subject to the exact same health care plan that is enacted."
Of course as it stands right now, that's not the case. Congress has "excluded" itself from the federal health care plan now under discussion.
A husband has just finished reading a new book entitled "You Can Be the Man of Your House."
He stormed into the kitchen and announced to his wife, "From now on, you need to know that I'm the man of this house and what I say goes. You will prepare me a full meal every night including a scrumptious dessert.
"Later in the evening, you'll draw me a hot bath so I can relax and you'll have a fresh towel, my robe and house shoes waiting. A foot massage would also be nice. Then tomorrow I want a hot breakfast ready when I come downstairs. And guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"
The wife gave him that gaze and replied, "My first guess would be the funeral director."
Contact Steve Austin at firstname.lastname@example.org


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EJToday: Top Headlines
EJToday is SEJ's selection of new and outstanding stories on environmental topics in print and on the air, updated every weekday. SEJ also offers a free e-mailed digest of the day's EJToday postings, called SEJ-beat. SEJ members are subscribed automatically, but may opt out here. Non-members may subscribe here. EJToday is also available via RSS feed. Please see Editorial Guidelines for EJToday content.
Only 21 percent of Americans believe genetically engineered foods are safe, a new poll shows.
"In a continued effort to ban arsenic in chicken feed, Food & Water Watch, a Maryland consumer advocacy group, has released a study outlining the environmental and human health impacts posed by 'poisoned poultry.'"
A farm lobby coalition has received federal money to attack the Environmental Working Group's list of the most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables.
"The voluntary quality control system widely used in the nation's $1 trillion domestic food industry is rife with conflicts of interest, inexperienced auditors and cursory inspections that produce inflated ratings, according to food retail executives and other industry experts."
"Earlier this week, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the state of Ohio's ban on labels that identify milk as rBST- or rBGH-free, meaning produced without the use of artificial bovine growth hormone. Consumer and organic food groups were jubilant at the Ohio news, which may have far-reaching repercussions not only for all milk, but for genetically engineered foods."
"The world could be on the brink of a major new food crisis caused by environmental disasters and rampant market speculators, the UN will be warned today at an emergency meeting on food price inflation."
"A Colorado grandmother hospitalized for five days after eating an appetizer made with salmonella-tainted eggs urged Congress to pass food safety laws that might have prevented her suffering."
"While a genetically engineered salmon is almost certainly safe to eat, the government should pursue a more rigorous analysis of the fish's possible health effects and environmental impact, members of a federal advisory committee said yesterday."
"After his mother died from eating contaminated peanut butter, Jeff Almer went to Washington to push for legislation that might save others from similar fates. And then he went again. And again. And again."
"The first genetically modified animal could move one step closer to the U.S. market on Monday, when a federal advisory panel makes its recommendation on whether such food -- a salmon -- is safe for consumers to eat."
"SUKKUR, Pakistan — Suhani Bunglani fans flies away from her two baby girls as one sleeps motionless while the other stares without blinking at the roof of their tent, her empty belly bulging beneath a green flowered shirt. Their newborn sister already died on the ground inside this steamy shelter at just 4 days old, after the family's escape from violent floods that drowned a huge swath of Pakistan. Now the girls, ages 1 and 2, are slowly starving, with shriveled arms and legs as fragile as twigs."
"Dispensing antibiotics to healthy animals is routine on the large, concentrated farms that now dominate American agriculture. ... Now, after decades of debate, the Food and Drug Administration appears poised to issue its strongest guidelines on animal antibiotics yet."
"The Corn Refiners Association, which represents firms that make the syrup, has been trying to improve the image of the much maligned sweetener with ad campaigns promoting it as a natural ingredient made from corn. Now, the group has petitioned the United States Food and Drug Administration to start calling the ingredient 'corn sugar.'"
"U.S. Department of Agriculture experts found growing sanitary problems including bugs and overflowing trash earlier this year on the Iowa farm at the center of the national egg recall, but didn't notify health authorities, according to government documents and officials."


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The Harry Potter Alliance has announced that it will be rebranding under a new name. Learn more here!
The Harry Potter Alliance needs your votes to decide on a new name. Fandoms unite!
Looking for a way to get active over the next few days (or make your way through a book or two)? The Harry Potter Alliance’s annual 10K is the virtual event for you!
The team behind the HPA’s Granger Leadership Academy has announced a new virtual conference, Fall Into Democracy, happening this month! Learn more about it here!
The Harry Potter Alliance says “Accio Pride” despite COVID-19. Start off this year’s Pride Month by joining the week-long online convention in the HPA’s series of Small Things Con.
The Harry Potter Alliance launched its most recent addition to Dumbledore’s Army Fights Back. Find out how you can make a difference in your community with your inner Hufflepuff.
The Harry Potter Alliance has launched its latest virtual race, a fundraising effort that will take place on Harry’s birthday.
Matt Maggiacomo is parting ways with the Harry Potter Alliance after 13 years. Read what he had to say about his departure here!
The Harry Potter Alliance is trying to encourage Oregon voters to protect undocumented immigrants by voting no on ballot measure 105 this Election Day.


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Linens 'n Things' bankruptcy stemmed from the toxic mix of a $1.3 billion buyout by private equity firm Apollo Management, which heaped debt onto the firm, along with the credit crunch. Linens `n Things filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2008, and by the end of that year, the company opted to liquidate its stores.
The "brand name" was sold to Hilco Consumer Capital and Gordon Brothers for just $1 million in January 2009. Since then, the brand has largely lived on through the lnt.com website, where customers can still buy their favorite Linens 'n Things products.
Iconic brands live on even after bankruptcy and liquidation, More buyers are making bets on the resuscitation of dead brand names.
|Milo Yiannopoulos resigns from Breitbart amid child sex comments|
|Tech's beloved H-1B visa is flawed. Here's why.|
|Wells Fargo fires 4 senior employees for ties to fake account scandal|
|Burger King owner Restaurant Brands buying Popeyes for $1.8 billion|
|You can now transfer money internationally through Facebook|


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Travelers may have too many hotel options, a Sopranos star launches a Manhattan cocktail bar, and tastemakers share their predictions for 2024. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
This Emmy-award winning actor just opened a bar in New York
Actor Michael Imperioli of Sopranos and White Lotus fame has opened a cocktail bar on New York’s Upper West Side. Imperioli and his wife, Victoria Imperioli (who imagined the space’s red-hued interiors), teamed up with restaurateur Jeremy Wladis to bring Scarlet to life, Eater reports. And it’s not the couple’s first F&B venture—they previously owned and operated the now-closed speakeasy-style Ciel Rouge in Chelsea. “Victoria and I are thrilled to be bringing to the Upper West Side the distinctive vibe and mood that made our previous lounge, Ciel Rouge, so beloved by the denizens of downtown NYC,” says Imperioli. “Scarlet offers an elegant and transportive atmosphere—and a certain magic that only Victoria can create.”
Are there too many hotel brands out there?
Today’s travelers are more aware and tuned into what they want than ever before. As a response, large hotel companies have launched various brands to cater to as many specific niches as possible and keep customers loyal. But have they just simply taken it too far? A new Wall Street Journal article contemplates the current landscape. Some frequent travelers don’t see much difference between brands at the same price point. However, on a recent earning’s call, Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta’s sentiment did not at all allude to the market being oversaturated: “Every room counts, and having more really high-quality products in the right locations we think continues to build our network effect.”
46 tastemakers weigh in on next year’s trends
T magazine recently asked dozens of artists, filmmakers, chefs, and creative people to forecast what will be trending in 2024. From colors and comebacks to what we’ll be eating and the conversations we’ll be having, the tastemakers made their predictions. Chef José Andrés, for instance, suspects there will be an influx in cultivated meat. “And more beautiful seafood from a can. I love to see this new generation on TikTok enjoying this magical vessel with its briny goodness,” he adds. On what will be making a comeback, Kengo Kuma said: “People [will] need to step out of the closed box that has continued to burden the environment and return to nature, toward the age of hunting and gathering.” As for colors, many anticipate brown hues will be popular throughout the year. “Brown—the more ‘off,’ the better,” says fashion designer Thebe Magugu. “It’s subtle and confrontational: Not a lot of colors have that versatility.”
Score a $150 million Miami penthouse in a Peter Marino-designed building
There’s never a dull moment when it comes to Miami’s luxury real estate market. This time, it’s the penthouse at the forthcoming Rosewood Residences Miami Beach. According to the project’s developer, Michael Shvo, the 13,000-square-foot home will be priced at more than $150 million, Bloomberg reports. The penthouse will be located in a 17-story tower designed by architect Peter Marino—adjacent to the revamped Art Deco Raleigh hotel, also operated by Rosewood. It will comprise 44 private residences and is expected to be delivered by 2026. “We are by far the premier product building, not only in Miami Beach but in the country,” Shvo says. “And there’s no reason that people will pay less to be 100 feet from the ocean than they do to be 100 feet from Central Park.”
Register today for HD Expo + Conference 2024!
Registration is now open for HD Expo + Conference 2024, April 30th–May 2nd. The annual tradeshow will return to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for three days of inspirational conference sessions, networking opportunities, show floor activations, and product showcases from 600-plus suppliers spanning more than 25 categories. New for 2024: The 20th annual HD Awards ceremony will be celebrated in tandem with HD Expo on the evening of April 30th. Read more about the 2024 event and register today!


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According to Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has issued a warning requesting shops not to require customers to provide their personal contact information for certain services.
According to a PTI story, several customers have complained that companies will not provide services until they reveal their contact information, which is why this advice was issued.
The Secretary explained that retailers commonly request personal contact information from customers before issuing a bill. This, however, is considered unfair and in violation of the Consumer Protection Act. Retailers should not collect this information since it unfairly limits customers. The Secretary of State told reporters that this was incorrect.
“Sellers argue that they cannot create the bill unless personal contact information is provided. This is an unfair and restrictive commercial practise, according to the Consumer Protection Act, and the Secretary said that there was no rationale for collecting the information.


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Tabbed the top-selling dealership in Tennessee for Dec. 2015, Rockie Williams' Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram breaks ground Wednesday in Mt. Juliet for a new state-of-the-art facility unlike any in the area.
Their current location is at 1700 West Main in Lebanon. The 2 p.m. groundbreaking will take place on 13 acres located on Pleasant Grove Road in South Mt. Juliet, near Providence MarketPlace. Eight of the acres are former City of Mt. Juliet property, and they recently purchased five adjoining acres to increase their footprint on Pleasant Grove Road.
Chrysler representatives, owner Rockie Williams, General Manager Billy Mullinax and other VIP's will be at today's groundbreaking, as well as Mt. Juliet city officials, according to Rockie Williams' representative Paul Hughes, with Cornelius & Associates.
The new facility is one of a kind, he said. It will be 46,000 square feet with "every modern convenience to customers." It will also initially bring 30 additional jobs.
"And within a couple months more than likely additional jobs will be added," Hughes said.
The new facility will hold 700 new and used cars, and have an astounding 1,200 parking spaces. Hughes said customer satisfaction and comfort are most important on their minds with a planned play area for children, a customer lounge that "caters to all needs," and a shuttle service to Providence shopping and recreational areas while cars are serviced.
A unique proponent in the facility is a possible indoor nature trail.
Hughes said the dealership's owners looked "for years" all over Wilson County for a site location.
"They really wanted to maintain their loyal customer base," he said. "And we needed a place with good egress and ingress, which this site has. And everyone knows Mt. Juliet is just exploding."
Construction is slated to be completed late fall 2016, and at this time, according to Hughes, the decision of what to do with the existing location is still being decided. Current plans are to continue operations there.
Hughes noted Rockie Williams' Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep Ram is the "original no hassle dealership in Middle Tennessee."
"This concept has helped them grow by several hundred percent in the last five years," he said.
Hughes added car sales have skyrocketed, and 2015 was a "very good year generally."
Writer Laurie Everett may be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Takes New Steps A Skokie-based 3D printing company is developing its latest technology to help meet the needs of medical personnel responding to the COVID-19 pandemic personal protective equipment.
According to David Walker, the company's co-founder and chief technology officer, Azul 3-D has begun using its high-area fast printer to produce medical masks, producing 1,000 sheets a day.
Walker said: "Our technology is unmatched in the market, and we are committed to using it for the root cause." "By printing masks and possibly other key components quickly, we are ready for this fight to mitigate the impact of coronavirus . "
Azul, a technology startup developed by Northwestern University, launched HARP 3-D printing equipment last fall. According to the company, this 13-foot-high printer is equipped with a 2.5-square-foot print bed that can print half-yard records in an hour. However, as the demand for masks became so great, company officials decided to use their prototype printers to produce masks in the short term while accelerating the development of new printers. Officials said they expected to reach IDR 20,000 per week in the coming months.
To achieve the near-term goal of reaching 1,000 per day on the original printer, Azul 3-D is running the printer 24/7. Volunteer team members work every six hours to keep the production cycle going
Azul 3-D has partnered with a local manufacturing company to provide laser-cut transparent plastic shields, while another partner has sterilized and packaged the mask components and provided them to the kits used by regional hospitals.
All masks can be cleaned and reused.
Chad Mirkin, chairman of Azul 3-D's board of directors, said: "Even the 3D printer fleet cannot meet the demand for masks because the demand is so high." "But HARP is so fast and powerful that we can make meaningful adjustments to this demand. "
Walker added: "We have the opportunity to use our strong team and the technologies we develop to help our healthcare professionals face unprecedented challenges."
News reference: https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20200401/skokie-company-puts-3d-tech-into-high-gear-to-make-covid-19-masks


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The massive transition to online operation has embraced businesses and their customers alike, inevitably also affecting tip payment at catering places, Artyom Deyev, head of analytics at AMarkets, told Invest Foresight.
This market is estimated at an average of RUR 100–125 bln ($1.4–1.65 bln) a year, which means Russians leave this much cash in restaurants, bars and cafes to reward their waiters for good service.
In 2019, while online payments were growing, including in catering, digital tips still accounted for a mere 10% of the total market. However, online tipping doubled in 2020 despite the pandemic, lockdowns, restrictions and dwindling demand.
“Digital tips are expected to reach 30% or about RUR 30 bln ($413 mio) by the end of this year,” Artyom Deyev predicts. “According to the business community’s forecasts, in 2023, digital tipping will amount to RUR 50–60 bln ($688-826 mio), reaching a half of the total gratuity in the public catering segment.”
The change will be driven by the development of contactless and cashless tipping solutions — equipment and software for making online tip payments, which are going to be available even in the smallest places, the expert emphasizes.


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Stylewatch Style News Now
VIDEO: Behind the Scenes at Madonna's Louis Vuitton Photo Shoot
When we first saw the new Louis Vuitton ads starring Madonna, we knew it was a fashion match made in heaven. Now, watch what went down behind the scenes on the Parisian set, as the Queen of Pop hangs out with the King of Fashion Cool, Louis Vuitton’s design director Marc Jacobs. And did we mention the accessories?


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Market conditions in both Australia and New Zealand remain somewhat subdued with a combination of slowing economies, a pessimistic outlook and it being the middle of winter.
The price of milk, New Zealand’s largest export, has been on a downward trend for several months, but there is a hope that conditions will improve. The economic outlook has showed further slowing, with GDP growth now under 2% and at its lowest since the September quarter in 2009.
Domestic consumers are buying at current levels, although there has been a drop-off in demand from some. Traditional offshore markets remain complex, with discounts widening or demand weakening for some metals.
Metal merchants are reporting challenging conditions whereas others say they are busy, so the situation can best be described as mixed.
Hayes Metals (NZL), Vice-President of the BIR Non-Ferrous Metals Division


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In the Florida dairy business, seemingly contradictory trends nestle from the moo to the moola.
Milk consumption is up -- but it`s also down. Dairy cows are producing more than ever, but about 20,000 will be slaughtered statewide over the next 18 months. And as some major dairy processors build new plants, others expand through acquisition.
Meanwhile this summer, tanker-trucks from Wisconsin and elsewhere roll into the Sunshine State with even more milk as Florida`s dairy herds grow larger after declines in recent years.
Confused? Wait, there`s more. The public`s yen to be thin, for example, hasn`t offset consumers` craving for gourmet ice cream -- one of the hottest stars among dairy products, processors and retailers say.
``The battle was fought for a long time to see how cheap you can sell ice cream,`` said Perry Branyon, manager of Southland Corp.`s Velda Farms division in north Dade County.
``Now people are certainly willing -- almost eager -- to pay a premium price for an exceptional product,`` he said.
Welcome to the mature Florida dairy industry, whose more than $350 million in profits are earned in a thin-margin, highly competitive environment. Although dairy product consumption per capita is generally declining or flat, sales are buyoed by the state`s robust population growth. Volume and retail case space are the key concepts amid a flurry of marketing that likely will accelerate.
``Marketing seems to be everybody`s buzzword,`` said William Tinklepaugh, an economist with the Milk Industry Foundation in Washington, D.C.
``Ice cream used to be a generic product -- now there`s tremendous growth in novelties,`` he said. ``And 10 years ago, nobody in this country ate yogurt.``
With other products such as cottage cheese and cheddar cheese gaining in popularity, processors seek market share through acquisition or expansion.
Last year, for example, Chicago-based Dean Foods Co. rounded out its statewide holdings by purchasing Hart`s Dairy of Fort Myers; it already owned South Florida`s McArthur Dairy and T.G. Lee of Orlando.
``It`s our second-largest dairy market (behind the Chicago area),`` said Howard Dean, the company`s president and chief operating officer.
And Publix Super Markets Inc. recently broke ground for a major dairy processing facility in Deerfield Beach, the company`s first such expansion beyond its sprawling complex at headquarters in Lakeland. The new facility`s first phase is scheduled to be running in about 18 months.
With the help of auxiliary equipment, the nearly 6-year-old Lakeland plant already produces about 25 percent more fluid products than it was designed for, said Clark Crane, Publix`s dairy processing chief.
``Real estate availability would`ve been much better up this way, but transportation costs are extremely high and we wanted to reduce that,`` Crane said.
Other companies, such as Louisville, Ky.-based Flav-o-rich -- which has plants at Jacksonville and St. Petersburg and a small distribution depot in Pompano Beach -- are keeping their eyes open for further opportunities.
``We`re continually looking at the market and at what can be done,`` said company spokesman Jim Sumner. ``We have long-range plans -- Florida is one of the brightest markets in the U.S.``
About 30 dairy processing plants in Florida are operated by about 20 companies, most of which are subsidiaries of out-of-state companies. Long Island-based Dannon has a Miami yogurt plant, and Houston-based Borden runs a Miami milk processing plant.
Only a handful of market players, including Farm Stores, Publix, Winn-Dixie Stores and Gustafson Dairies of Green Cove Springs, located 20 miles south of Jacksonville, are home-grown organizations.
Florida`s market glimmer is enhanced by effective promotional and advertising campaigns, from the American Dairy Association`s ``Milk is a natural`` to slick pitches for Kraft`s Breakstone sour cream and Yoplait yogurt, among many others.
Some advertising slogans, such as McArthur Dairy`s ``We all grew up on McArthur`s`` -- a holdover from the dairy`s family-owned days -- seem odd in transient South Florida. But company officials say the phrase delivers.
``I`m from Indiana and I didn`t grow up on it, either,`` said Dick Roberts, McArthur`s divisional ice cream manager. ``But a lot of people did. It`s been fantastic for us because people remember it.``
And perhaps the splash of clever advertising is wider because marketing is a relative newcomer to the industry -- and an important change to many.
``The industry is finally shedding the coat of staid traditionalism,`` notes Dr. Bronson Lane, vice president of operations for Dairy Farmers Inc. in Orlando and executive director of the Dairy and Food Nutrition Council of Florida, two prominent industry trade groups.
While Florida`s dairy industry is changing, it also retains long- standing quirks. Hefty population growth, plus tropical heat -- which curtails cows` milk production in spring and summer -- mandates imports from Alabama, Georgia and farther north.


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Migori County in partnership with the national government has launched the Migori Aggregation and Industrial Park worth Sh 500 million
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony at Macalder-in Nyatike Constituency, Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria said that the industrial park will be able to employ 30,000 once operationalised.
Kuria said that the national government and the Migori County will each contribute Sh 250 million for the establishment of the project.
He disclosed that the project will be completed in the next seven months in order to bring economic development and value to the Migori residents.
“Migori County has economic activities like the fishing industry, Agricultural products like sweat potatoes, rice, and maize, the mining sector, and the sugar industry that will hugely benefit from the establishment of the Industrial Park,” noted Kuria.
Kuria noted that once completed the industrial park will encourage the local investors to invest in Migori County because of the enormous advantages the project will provide.
The CS also pointed out that Migori County was a gateway to Tanzania through the Isebania border and the recently launched commercial flights at Lichota Airstrip to Wilson Airport will be an added advantage to both local and international investors.
Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko said that apart from the fishing, agricultural, and mining sectors, the county was relooking at other productive agricultural activities like Palm oil to boost the agricultural sector in the county.
“We aim to ensure that Migori ventures into palm oil in at least 35 thousand acres to ensure we utilise the untapped edible oil markets in the country”, affirmed Ochilo.
He explained that the industrial park also creates employment for the locals, add economic value both to farmers and the county, and increase the social economic activities of the county.
Ochilo called upon the local investors to come on board to ensure that they reap from the industrial park with the value chain addition as the main focus.
Ochilo also said that the partnership between the national and county governments in the developmental agenda was key in steering the economic growth of the Kenyan people.
Migori County is one of the 14 counties that have benefited from the Aggregation and Industrial Park in the country that aims to address employment opportunities as well as boost the economic standards in the country.
The Aggregation and Industrial Park will act as a collection centre, sorting, degrading, and distribution of goods. It will also streamline logistics and supply chain operations, promote industrialisation and value chain addition as well as support small-scale businesses and reduce rural-urban migration.
By Geoffrey Makokha


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DENISE Wedding Dress 2018 New Products Conference Was Successfully Held
DENISE Wedding Dress
Li Peng, +86-512-69220508/69220528
On December 20, 2017, DENISE Wedding Dress published its 2018 new works. Huang Buyan, General Manager of DENISE, carried the brand back to Suzhou where it was born, marking a new start and a new expectation.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201712260051
Conclusion of DENISE 2018 Wedding Dress New Products Conference (Photo: Business Wire)
Huang remarked in an interview, "Returning to Suzhou, DENISE wants to bring back its feeling of happiness as well as the unique 360° customization to customers. For the upcoming season, DENISE published 40 works and several color schemes inspired by the history, culture, literature and legend of Suzhou, an historical eastern city of China. DENISE aims to establish itself as a new label and a more influential brand of Suzhou. The whole team hopes DENISE's brand culture can be understood by the world."
To learn more about DENISE, please visit: www.denise-bridal.com.
On December 20, 2017, DENISE Wedding Dress published its 2018 new works.
Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this press release please contact the company added in the press release. Please do not contact pr-inside. We will not be able to assist you. PR-inside disclaims the content included in this release.


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A sequel to Twilight is going to open better than the original. So it’s no surprise that online sales are swift. MovieTickets.com reports:
More than a week prior to its Nov. 20 release, “New Moon” has sold more than four times as many tickets as “Twilight” at MovieTickets.com at the same point in the sales cycle.
MovieTickets.com reports more than 1,300 sold out performances for the “Twilight” sequel “New Moon”—including 900 midnight performances—with a large number of tickets still available.
“The fact that ‘New Moon’ is outpacing ‘Twilight’ at a 4-to-1 ratio really speaks to the incredible fan base the film has built in just the past year,’” said Joel Cohen, executive vice president and general manager for MovieTickets.com. “That, combined with the increasing number of consumers buying their movie tickets online, could put this film in a position to be one of our top advance ticket sellers of all-time.”
“New Moon” also accounts for 74 percent of all ticket sales at MovieTickets.com this week.
And Flixter reports that New Moon is seeing more than twice the activity on Flixster as the biggest grosser of the year, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen did at a similar time before its release.


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CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) -- Automotive manufacturers and suppliers are in the Scenic City for the Southern Automotive Conference. It's the first time the conference has come to Chattanooga.
The Southeast has the fastest growing automotive industry in the U.S. and Tennessee is at the forefront, and lawmakers and leaders want to keep it that way.
The focus continues to be on supplying a readied workforce. "I think Tennessee and the Southeast really saved the American automobile industry, by providing a place where we can build in a competitive way what we sell in the United States," says Senator Lamar Alexander
Alexander says the automotive manufacturing landscape in Tennessee has changed drastically over the past decades and it's clear by the number of parts suppliers and manufacturers represented at this year's Southern Automotive Conference.
"Over the last 30 years we've gone from having almost no auto jobs in Tennessee until today, it's about one third of the manufacturing jobs that we have," says Alexander.
He says that's due in part to investing in the workforce. Just since 2006, the state has spent more than $80 million to training.
"Credit really goes to the workers who make quality products. I remember when Nissan first came to Smyrna. The Japanese were worried that Tennesseans didn't know how to build quality cars because we didn't have an auto industry," says Alexander.
Governor Haslam addressed the crowd, saying Tennessee will continue to focus on education and turning out top-notch workers, pointing to the successful relationship with Volkswagen, that he anticipates will only grow stronger.
"We need to make certain that we can provide the workforce, specifically the number of engineers they need. And we've had a lot of conversations with them about that as well," says Haslam.
"I imagine Volkswagen's going to expand here. They're the most profitable auto company in the world. They've got a small production in the United States. They want a big production. It makes a lot more sense to make in the United States what you sell in the United States and I hope if they do that, they do it in Tennessee," says Alexander.
Lawmakers say they're not going to let the recent decision by Audi to set up shop in Mexico, slow down the determination to grow the industry in Tennessee.
The conference continues Friday, where Senator Bob Corker is set to speak as well
Saturday, May 18 2013 2:33 PM EDT2013-05-18 18:33:06 GMT
Imagine having a drink with dinner at a restaurant only to be pulled over on the way home and slapped with a DUI. More >>
Imagine having a drink with dinner at a restaurant only to be pulled over on the way home and slapped with a DUI. That could happen under a proposed plan to toughen the drunk driving laws across the country, and it has restaurateurs alarmed.More >>


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FedEx to give wage increases, bonuses to workers
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — FedEx says it’ll be giving wage increases, bonuses and make a voluntary $1.5 billion contribution to the company’s pension plan, citing recent tax reform legislation.
The package delivery company follows others doing the same, including Home Depot, Disney, Starbucks and Walmart.
FedEx Corp. said Friday that it’ll raise compensation by more than $200 million, with about two-thirds going to hourly workers by pushing up this year’s annual pay increases to April 1 from the normal October date. The rest of the money will fund increases in performance-based incentive plans for salaried personnel.
The company said it will also invest $1.5 billion to expand its FedEx Express facility in Indianapolis over the next seven years. Later this year it will announce plans to modernize its Memphis hub.


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DETROIT -- General Motors Co., seeking to prevent the owner defections it saw when Oldsmobile died, is offering four free maintenance visits this year to current Pontiac owners.
GM mailed the offer in the last month to anyone who owns a 1999 or later Pontiac purchased new or as a certified used vehicle. That’s about a million people, said Brian Sweeney, general manager of Buick-GMC, in an interview last week.
The owners can redeem the offer, good for oil changes and tire rotations, at any Buick-GMC dealership in the United States. The offers point each owner to a specific store nearby.
“It’s to keep the relationship with the Buick-GMC dealer,” Sweeney said. “We thought the best way to do that was through service.”
Staying in touch with Pontiac owners is the No. 1 priority for Buick-GMC dealers this year as they move on without the Pontiac franchise, said Mike Mullaney, a dealer from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who represents those brands’ dealers on GM’s National Dealer Council.
“One of our most important tasks is keeping those customers in the database and keeping them as service customers until such a time that the Buick portfolio has developed fully,” he said in an interview earlier this month. For instance, dealers are waiting for the Buick Regal, due in the spring.
GM decided in April to phase out the Pontiac brand and ended 2009 with just 800 units in Pontiac inventory. Since 2004, 80 percent of Oldsmobile drivers have defected to non-GM brands, Automotive News reported in September.
GM introduced Pontiac in 1926. GM decided to kill Oldsmobile in 2000, three years after its 100th anniversary, and built the last Olds in April 2004.


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Mark Cuban saw a way to compete with fellow billionaire Elon Musk when Catlin Powers walked into the Shark Tank with Solsource, a solar-powered grill. “Our classic Solsource model is fast, powerful, and durable,” Powers said. “It heats up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds and can cook a meal in just 10 minutes.”
Powers was asking for $500,000 for just 3% of her company, and that had many of the sharks swimming away from what they thought was just a fancy grill company. But Powers was only beginning to stoke the fire of Cuban’s curiosity. She told the sharks, “Our next product is a solar battery system. It stores energy in organic molecules over multiple days at a time, a lot like plants do. It’s a natural biomimicry system, and that system will allow us to cook at night and also cook indoors.”
The idea of a new solar-powered battery had Cuban salivating over the technology’s immense possibilities. “Do you think that you can put the fear of God in Elon Musk and put them out of business?” Cuban asked her. Powers replied, “Yes, I think we have the potential to do that.” Once Powers told him that the solar battery system could apply to cars, Cuban was with her. He offered her $500,000 for 5% of the company, and Powers countered with $500,00 for 4% and a seat on the board. Cuban immediately accepted. Now it’s just a matter of time before Cuban launches a Solsource grill into outer space.
Check out the Adorable ‘panda puppy’ that got a deal on Shark Tank:
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
- A-Rod strikes out on healthy doughnut deal on ‘Shark Tank’
- Bethenny Frankel’s new ‘Fierce B*itch’ beverage venture
- Richard Branson throws water at Mark Cuban after he calls entrepreneur a ‘gold digger’


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According to Liz Ricketts, an expert in the second-hand clothing trade in West Africa, 40 percent of the clothing that make its way to the shores of Ghana, ultimately becomes waste. These are clothes that you and I donate to overrun charity systems or dead stock from brands, that more often than not will contribute to landfill in a poorer country. The biggest contributor to this is fast fashion, but yet, high-end and luxury companies are still a cause for concern when it comes to sustainability.
Nowadays, we have been forced to look hard at our shopping habits with many savvy consumers looking to vintage and preloved outlets. This week, both Gucci and Levi’s launched initiatives to combat just that in a bid to lower its own carbon footprint and our own in the process.
On Monday, it was announced that Gucci has teamed up with luxury consignment store The RealReal for a circular economy partnership which will assist in persuading customers to buy preloved goods. Throughout the remainder of 2020, each time a customer purchases or consigns a Gucci product, two companies will plant a tree through nonprofit, One Tree Planted.
In addition, Levi’s launched its new buyback program this week in the US. The local program allows customers to trade in old pieces in exchange for a gift card equivalent to a portion of each item’s perceived value. The preloved clothes are cleaned and put up for sale on the Levi’s website, where consumers can easily purchase vintage denim pieces between $30 and $150 USD.
Instead of buying less, these initiatives simply ensure people are consuming less new product which would hope to drive down demand while continually promoting the brand. But what good are these strategies actually doing?
According to The RealReal, resale demand for Gucci has risen by 19 percent in 2020. And it is believed the consignment of Gucci clothing on the platform has already “saved” 230 metric tons of carbon and more than 10 million litres of water. This is in comparison to the environmental costs of manufacturing those items for the first time.
As for the American denim giant, Chief Marketing Officer of Levi’s Jennifer Sey stated, “Repurposing and repairing clothes require minimal additional energy input, no water, and no dyes to make more jeans. Buying a used pair of Levi’s jeans through SecondHand saves approximately 80 percent of the CO2 emissions and 700 grams of waste compared to buying a new pair of Levi’s jeans.”
For meaningful change, these initiatives will have to be more widespread across the fashion industry and garner more consumers. It’s a start, and we like where it might lead.


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BitInstant and MasterCard currently are involved in a bit of a he said, she said confrontation over a prepaid debit card that would be tied to the controversial digital currency, BitCoin.
BitInstant, which is an exchange that helps consumers who use BitCoin transfer funds, Monday announced it soon would launch a prepaid debit MasterCard. But MasterCard claims it is unaware of BitInstant’s plan.
Here’s MasterCard’s statement in a Finextra article:
MasterCard has no relationship with BitInstant. There are issuers who allow the conversion of BitCoins to U.S. dollars and other currencies, delivered on prepaid cards. However, we’re not aware of this particular program from BitInstant.
BitInstant released a statement Thursday attempting to clarify MasterCard’s position.
“BitInstant’s partners, who are issuing the card, have been working with MasterCard for many years, and the specific relationship will be between these partners and MasterCard (not directly between MasterCard and BitInstant).”
It’s possible MasterCard might be trying to distance itself from a direct BitInstant connection because of the anonymous, and sometimes illegal, nature of BitCoins. BitInstant might have trouble convincing intended users to give up some privacy in exchange for a card. Know-your-customer rules require prepaid card providers and issuers to secure some information about the cardholder.
BitCoin’s popularity is somewhat based on its cloak-and-dagger nature. Users are anonymous and the currency is often used to conduct illegal, black-market transactions such as drug purchases on websites such as Silk Road.
Click here to read more from Finextra.


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February 1, 2022
Did you know that we can transport goods from Vietnam to Europe in just 35 days?
Given the current issues pertaining to ocean freight exporting from Asia to Europe, Crane Worldwide is ready to support with alternate methods of transportation from Asia.
Vietnam has suffered from the ocean freight backlogs with lockdowns due to the Covid-19 outbreak as well as congestion at destination ports in both North America and in Europe. In addition, ocean freight vessels returning to Vietnam have incurred delays and therefore this has been problematic for ocean freight services out of Vietnam.
To solve this challenge, Crane Worldwide logistics operates a multimodal service from Vietnam to Europe via China. Every Monday and Sunday vessels leave Haiphong port and arrive to Qinzhou port in Guangxi, China. Containers are then delivered by truck to Chongqing rail terminal for the direct train to Europe via the New Silk Road. In total, from departure to arrival it takes around 35 days.
This service covers all main rail terminals in Europe – Hamburg, Duisburg, Malaszewicze, Milano, Moscow - containers are then simply delivered by truck to the final destination. The cross border service also works in the opposite direction from Europe to Vietnam via China – departures weekly from Germany, Italy, and Poland.
Our rail freight experts Marco Reichel and Lavinia Chan took part in a recent webinar to discuss the current rail freight market from China to Europe.
What solutions are available to you? Learn more about the China to Europe Rail Link.
Listen in here for all the latest information!
In December 2021, China and Laos launched a rail service between the two countries. The first traindeparted from Kunming, Yunnan Province to Vientiane, capital of Laos. The train returned with specialty products from Thailand and Laos to Kunming, which will be delivered to China's metropolitan cities.
This rail service reduces transit times by half compared with sea transport. The train runs at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour. Also, the newly opened railway is making a significant impact on reducing logistics costs for China and Laos.
Recent additions include the routing of trains departing from different locations across China. Currently, Crane Worldwide provides weekly service from Zengcheng, Guangdong Province with departures every Friday.
China will double the number of cargo trains on the line during nearly six weeks around the Lunar New Year, Chinese state media reported.
Interested in learning more about the China Railroad to Europe, don't hesitate to reach out to our rail freight experts. Contact Us
As part of the 'Coffee with Crane' podcast series, our team spoke to rail freight expert, Marco Reichel, Business Development Director ASPAC.
Marco is based in Shanghai, China and discusses the rail freight cargo option from China to Europe and Europe to China as a reliable transportation method for shipping your goods from Asia to Europe and Europe to Asia.
Rail freight transportation is fast becoming a cost effective solution for cargo movements. Read more...
I think rail freight is a viable option in addition to air freight and ocean freight from China to Europe. Air Freight tends to be costly for shippers and expensive for the consigness, ocean freight has a long lead time and rail freight sits in between.
Since borders have not been closed between Europe and China, we do not see any trends on the rail freight transportation programme. However, we have seen that a lot of PPE and medical supply shipments have moved from Air Freight to Railway freight as the urgency for demand for PPE has slowed down. We therefore see a higher demand in rail freight as an alternative transportation solution from China to Europe. If you compare the figures from May 2019, we are seeing over one thousand trains moving which has almost doubled the volume of freight movements using this transportation option. It can be congested at some times due to this increase in demand.
Actually a bit of both, since the availability and the demand is going up but also is the supply. The railfreight operators have announced more rail connections from China to Europe and what we see based on the current situation whilst ocean freight has announced further blank sailings, we still have availability and space on rail freight services. Russia has also eased restrictions based on the transit of products which can benefit the current situation and leads to cargo choices being directed to rail freight services. We are moving more cargo via the Eastbound route that west bound rate but there are pricing benefits dues to subsidies.
In October 2019, it was announced that Chinese subsidies would decline, however due to the Coronavirus outbreak, we see that subsidies are still in place for railfreight shipments. Rates are relatively stable, slight increases and decreases due to supply and demand but the subsidies are still applicable for now. However, I do foresee that this may come to an end post COVID-19 pandemic. From what I have researched, it is possible that by 2022, the subsidies will come to an end. More volume on rail freight will lessen the impact on rate increases.
Rail freight space is available and is a cost-effective reliable solution for freight transportation needs from China to Europe and Europe to China.
The above is an exert from our Rail freight podcast.
Rail freight is fast becoming an alternative mode of transportation of cargo from China into Europe and vice versa, listen in to the full podcast 'Coffee with Crane' here to learn more about this solution.
Our client had difficulty planning inventory and were holding significant buffer stock to compensate for any late shipment arrivals from their ocean freight services. After experiencing fluctuating ocean freight charges and high customs brokerage costs, the client reached out to Crane Worldwide Logistics in Asia Pacific for a better logistics solution. Read More
UPDATED 4th February
Municipalities such as Shanghai, have announced that Lunar New Year holidays will be extended to the 9th February. Important to note that with the current Coronavirus outbreak, healthcare businesses will also be closed. The current situation for Wuhan is currently not clear and the province is on complete lockdown.
With factories closed and workers being unable to travel back to their workplaces (as many areas have travel bans or restrictions) a backlog of orders is inevitable. Truck drivers may also be unable to travel back from their homes where they have been celebrating Lunar New Year with their families.
Almost all Provinces in China have confirmed cases of the new virus and the count is rising daily. All industries will be impacted due to the travel bans, port closures and the impact of flight cancellations and closed borders from other countries will, without a doubt, impact supply chains around the world.
Cargo delays and pick ups will continue to be a challenge in remote areas due to limited drivers available for example. Workers will also be advised to stay home by families concerned for public health in the big cities.
Wuhan is currently on lockdown, freight services are not available and the only cargo entering Wuhan is relief goods sent by air freight. All other modes are blocked. Wuhan is not only a very important hub on the New Silk Road, it is also the most important transportation hub for China as most Passenger and Cargo Trains go through Wuhan as a central point.
Alternative Rail Terminals are now being looked into such as Xi’An & Chongqing. Currently there is enough capacity on the Xi’An routing but this could be over very soon as we are sure that there will be way more cargo than we are expecting to switch from Ocean freight to Rail mode.
Ocean Freight - An increase of cargo moving to rail from Ocean and from Air Freight is expected. Ocean Freight delays are possible due to limited port operations as well as delays in manufacturing. Blank sailings and an increase in ocean freight rates are foreseen.
Air charter - requests are on the increase, however we are beginning to see charter operators express concerns for their crew landing in China.
Air freight cargo - hit significantly due to the cancellations of major air operators cancelling flights to China. The usual air freight cargo (belly load) that is loaded onto passenger flights will lack availability.
Rail freight - there is the possibility to switch containerised cargo from ocean to rail freight, not only for European destinations but also for Latin America and North America. The cargo moving by rail freight to Rotterdam can be loaded onto ocean freight to continue its journey to the United States. Cargo can be moved out of China by truck, which may be a more efficient option loading cargo onto the rail trains in Kazakhstan, as congestion is expected to increase in Xi'An.
LISTEN IN TO THE WEBINAR featuring Marco Reichel, Regional Business Development Manager – APAC on the current rail freight situation in China on the latest webinar from Railfreight.com
Our advice to clients is to plan and forecast effectively, work closely with transportation partners to review all foreseeable options, please reach out to the Crane Worldwide team in your location for further information or request a quote below and we will be in touch!


text: Recently, Yao Qian, director of the Science and Technology Supervision Bureau of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and former director of the Digital Currency Research Institute of the People's Bank of China, published an article "High-quality Blockchain Development and Data Governance." The article points out that how to develop a good blockchain is a key proposition that needs to be answered urgently. This article believes that it is a pragmatic strategy to start with data storage and sharing. Considering that the technological frontier is in the public chain, we should support the research of the public chain. In order to prevent risks, the public chain must be transformed. Based on the actual environment, the alliance chain may be a better choice for application landing. The application and innovative development of domestic cryptographic algorithms should be strengthened to ensure the security and controllability of China's blockchain. At present, the most important thing is that we should promote the high-quality development of the blockchain. To this end, we need to strengthen on-chain and off-chain data governance (Data Governance) and establish an effective blockchain digital governance system.


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Israeli device maker InSightec added $12.5 million to its coffers thanks to the support of Chinese backers, the firm’s parent company announced.
Elbit Imaging announced that its InSightec subsidiary sold more than 6.4 million Series D preferred shares to Shanghai GEOC Hengtong Investment Limited Partnership and Fortune China Limited, which now own about 5% of the company on a fully diluted basis. Elbit retains 37.6% (33.3% on a fully diluted basis), the company added.
InSightec has been looking to raise funding for its non-invasive ultrasound cancer treatment. Earlier this year the company launched its $50 million Series D funding round, saying that it hoped it the round would reach $62.5 million.
InSightec has 2 primary technologies, the ExAblate O.R. and ExAblate Neuro, which both leverage the company’s MR-guided ultrasound targeting technology. The ExAblate O.R. won its 1st CE Mark approval in the European Union in 2002 and FDA approval in 2004 to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids. The company expanded its European approvals to pain palliation of bone tumors in 2007 and adenomyosis in 2010, and expanded its U.S. approval to pain palliation of bone metastases in 2012.
ExAblate Neuro won CE Mark in 2012 for treatment of neurological disorders such as essential tremor, Parkinson’s and neuropathic pain, expanding to other painful bone indications in 2013.


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Nowadays, digital software purchases all come with legal terms and conditions specifying that you are buying a revocable license to a product, rather than ownership over an application. Usually, this is easily ignored as companies are unlikely to go after its paying customers. That is not the case for Adobe Creative Cloud subscribers though, who have been warned of potential infringement claims for using discontinued versions of software.
Adobe switched over to the Creative Cloud subscription model back in 2013, delivering access to programs like Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere and more for a convenient monthly fee. Unfortunately, we are now seeing the darker side of that change. Earlier this month, Adobe did announce that Creative Cloud subscribers would only be able to download the two most recent versions of its applications going forward. This was then followed by reports of users receiving emails stating that they no longer have a license to use older versions and could face third-party infringement claims.
We don’t know specifically why Adobe had to discontinue older versions of its applications, or why that would lead to ‘third-party infringement claims’ against paying subscribers. However, as Apple Insider points out, the issue could be tied to an ongoing copyright lawsuit from Dolby Labs.
Dolby filed its lawsuit against Adobe last year, claiming that the company sold audio-video creation and editing software using Dolby’s audio processing technologies between 2002 and 2017, all without accurately reporting its sales numbers and paying the agreed royalty fees for the Dolby license.
Adobe has not confirmed that this is the root cause of these recent issues, but it seems very likely. Whether or not Dolby would go after Adobe’s customers directly remains to be seen.
KitGuru Says: This is a disappointing and somewhat ugly situation, particularly if ordinary consumers get dragged into the mess. Do many of you actively subscribe to Creative Cloud at the moment? Did you receive one of these warning notices?


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The boss of Pizza Express in the UK has denied rumours that it will be the next Italian chain to shutter restaurants amid the casual dining crisis.
The founder and boss of online retailer AO World has condemned the group’s hefty bill for no-deal Brexit planning as “wasted” money after revealing £15 million of stockpiling efforts.
A boost in international sales mitigated the loss of a key Ministry of Defence contract for commercial flooring firm Forbo last year.
The bakery group behind Paul Hollywood’s bread range has revealed plans to gobble up a slice of the US food-to-go market and also has the Far East in its sights after securing investment to expand.
Royal Bank of Scotland executives will be in the firing line next week when they are expected to be grilled by shareholders over pension perks for top bosses at the lender’s annual meeting.
There has been strong interest in renting space in the controversial office block opposite V&A Dundee according to property agent Ryden.
The FTSE 100 struggled for direction on Thursday as traders eyed up the long Easter weekend in a day of thin trading.
The boss of Debenhams will leave the company following its pre-pack administration, it has been announced.
Energy firm ConocoPhillips is to sell its exploration and production assets in the North Sea to Chrysaor for 2.68 billion US dollars (£2 billion).
Unsecured creditors to collapsed car maker MG Rover are to receive a further £5.2 million from the group’s liquidator PwC.


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Still isn’t a week that the iPhone XS and XS Max went on sale officially, and several users are already complaining about the quality of the expensive smartphones of Apple.
At least so reports The Verge, which compiles comments arisen from various forums specialized in Apple, including Apple Support, MacRumors and Reddit. Among several negative entries, highlight the complaints by the reception of the mobile device, particularly with the signal for calls and the WiFi connection.
In contradiction in terms, the page SpeedSmart conducted testing of the performance in the signal of the iPhone XS and XS Max with respect to the three main cell phone operators in the united States (Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T) and the performance was markedly superior to that of its predecessor, the iPhone X.
Users in the forums did not attribute the failure entirely to the iPhone, which even come with another antenna installed in the lower part of the phone, according to a report by iFixit in which they disarmed the new equipment from Apple, but that may be due to a problem that is by the demand of the network, and even failures with the infrastructure of the operators.
Don’t drop the new #iPhoneXS—it scored a 6/10 on our repairability scale, in part because of its very breakable (but not unfamiliar) glass rear case. https://t.co/2fnbMf3Owg pic.twitter.com/YSD829tji5
— iFixit (@iFixit) September 22, 2018
Coolest-hacks.com and Partners.


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POPMail.com Snares New York Post as E-mail Marketing Client
Page 1 of 1
NYPost.com will be utilizing PopMail.com's technology to provide its readers targeted news and marketing information, which the Post hopes will help it create a relationship with its users.
POPMail.com has concentrated its efforts on signing companies in the broadcast, media, sports, and entertainment industries.
"We plan to provide the Post with industry-leading technology to enable its editors and advertisers to communicate with their readers more effectively, as well as a way to lower marketing and sales costs," says Stephen King, CEO at PopMail.com.


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Plaintiffs accuse Anheuser-Busch of misleading consumers about the alcohol content in Bud Light, Budweiser and other products. The brewer denies the claims.
Gary C. Caskey/UPI/Landov
February 27, 2013 Class-action lawsuits accuse Anheuser-Busch of watering down Budweiser and other beers and then misleading consumers about their alcohol content. The company denies the claims; in tests commissioned by NPR, samples of Budweiser were found to be in line with their advertised alcohol content.
<iframe src="http://www.npr.org/player/embed/173076501/173101181" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
From left: 8-year-old Celedonia, 3-year-old Gavin, Amy Spencer and Doug Brown gather around the kitchen as Doug prepares a fruit salad for dinner.
February 26, 2013 We'd all like to live the Norman Rockwell scenario, but for some families, the hectic pace of modern life means dinners are often more likely to channel The Simpsons. Studies suggest that regular family meals contribute to healthy eating habits. So what to make of this tradition in transition?
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February 26, 2013 From food scientists who study the human palate to maximize consumer bliss, to marketing campaigns that target teens to hook them for life on a brand, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Moss' new book goes inside the world of processed, packaged goods.
<iframe src="http://www.npr.org/player/embed/172969363/172960338" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
An aerial view of the Caral-Supe site.
February 26, 2013 Civilization cannot live on anchovies alone. The ancient Norte Chico people of Peru were long thought to have built a complex society in South America while dining on a diet based on the tiny fish. But archaeologists now say they ate the food that fueled empires throughout the hemisphere — corn.
A sip or a hit? Jack Faller sucks up a bourbon Vaportini at Red Kiva lounge in Chicago.
Courtesy of Andrew Nawrocki/Time Out Chicago
February 25, 2013 Over in Chicago, cocktail connoisseurs are forgoing the liquid state altogether. Instead of drinking their favorite bourbon or infused vodka, they're inhaling it with a simple device, called the Vaportini. But don't expect these gaseous cocktails to replace liquid libations anytime soon.
Washington Post Food and Travel Editor Joe Yonan whips up some macaroni and cheese in an NPR mug.
February 25, 2013 Didn't have time to pack a lunch? Tired of eating out? Why not cook up something in the office? All you need is a microwave, mug and basic ingredients for scrambled eggs, mac and cheese or a brownie.
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Alcohol: a key babyproofing product for this little mother.
Illustration by Daniel M.N. Turner/Photos via istockphoto.com
February 22, 2013 A glass of wine can be a welcome sight after a long day watching the kids, but fruit fly moms use alcohol from fermenting fruit to protect their offspring from marauding wasps. That's just one of the ways the tiny flies are using booze to survive the slings and arrows of existence.
Escolar, right, is often substituted for more expensive Albacore tuna (left), a report on mislabeled seafood found.
Yoon S. Byun/Boston Globe via Getty Images
February 21, 2013 Fish fraud is often just a form of swindling when a cheap fish, like tilapia, is sold as pricy red snapper. But a conservation group says it also puts consumers at risk of health issues and makes it harder to avoid buying fish that are being overfished.
February 21, 2013 Actually, it's all kinds of fruits and vegetables. A circuit board called the MaKey MaKey is allowing musicians to play music on produce, to awesome effect. Watch the video.
Organic tomatoes come in all shapes and sizes.
Chiot's Run/via Flickr
February 20, 2013 Tomatoes grown on organic farms contained significantly higher levels of vitamin C, sugar and lycopene than their conventionally grown counterparts, a study finds. Turns out, organic farming techniques "stress out" the plants in ways that make them more nutrient dense.
Darren Rook checks out a new still at The London Distillery.
Kirsty Chant/Courtesy of The London Distillery
February 19, 2013 When you think whisky from the U.K., you think Scotch. But a group of entrepreneurs is trying to restart England's long-dormant whisky business — and prove their version of the quaff can be jolly good, too. English whisky is headed stateside in April.
Stargazy Pie, a cornish dish named for the way the fish heads poke through the crust towards the sky.
Courtesy of Sandy Levins
February 18, 2013 Herring drizzled with mustard sauce, ham hocks and hog jowls — these are some of the historic foods that Sandy Levins painstakingly recreates for America's historic houses. So you, too, can gaze upon our founding fathers' dinners. Just don't try to eat them: These foods are sculpted replicas.
The finished dumplings, properly fried to a light crisp. The half-moon shape was meant to resemble ancient Chinese currency. Eating the dumplings was believed to bring fortune and prosperity.
Daniel M.N. Turner/NPR
February 15, 2013 Chinese New Year began last weekend, but traditionally, festivities last another week, so there's still time if you want to celebrate by making dumplings. We bring you a visual how-to.
Provel, as seen in its native habitat.
Jessica Stewart/Allergic to Air
February 15, 2013 If you're not from St. Louis, you've probably never heard of Provel. It's a processed blend of cheeses extolled in the area for its buttery texture and smoky, tangy flavor. Now Provel has made its way into the unlikeliest of places: the hipster foodie mecca of Brooklyn.
Chicken and waffles: so delicious, yet so controversial.
February 15, 2013 Fried chicken and waffles is a delicious combo — but is it a traditional Southern one? A lot of readers objected to the idea that this dish originated in the South. We look into the roots of the pairing — and the objections to calling it Southern.
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California-based Finless Foods has secured $34 million in its Series B fund raise, and now has its sights set on building a pilot facility that will produce cell-cultured bluefin tuna.
The company has now raised $48 million since 2017, with the most recent investment led by Hanwha Solutions. Additional investors include Japanese seafood company Dainichi Corp, At One Ventures, Olive Tree Capital, Justin Kan, Sustainable Ocean Alliance and SOSV.
Co-founder of Finless Foods, Michael Selden, said “I am excited to follow up last year’s funding round with our Series B to finalise the construction of a pilot facility where Finless will produce its first saleable cell-cultured bluefin tuna for market, due to open in the Bay Area this year.
The company is also preparing to launch its plant-based tuna into foodservice across the US this year.
According to a company statement, the latest funds will be used to:
• Explore distribution in Asia and expand Finless’ plant-based seafood portfolio
• Expand Finless’ team, deepening the technical research and development staff
• Gain regulatory approval for Finless’ cell-cultured bluefin tuna
• Work towards reducing the price of cell-cultured bluefin tuna to reach price parity with its conventional equivalent.


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NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- TheStreet's Jim Cramer says he might be getting off the Tesla (TSLA - Get Report) horse. Anton Wahlman, who introduced him to the concept of why Tesla was so great, said BMW could eventually put pressure on the electric car maker.
Cramer says the whole story about Tesla is that there is not going to be pressure from anywhere. The idea that a competitor could emerge made him think perhaps the Tesla trade was not for him; however, he is not saying it is over yet.
Cramer says he is tired of getting behind stocks, having a huge move and then not saying that is enough for him. He liked Tesla at $50 and at $200, and the latter might be enough for him. He does not want to be involved with the cult stocks because too much money was lost from March to May.
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We’ve been seeing a good deal about the next Shelby GT500 Mustang lately, and the most recent spy photograph to emerge is titillating, to say the least.
That is, it’s titillating so long as it is what we’ve been told.
A source close to Motor Trend snapped a pic of a supercharged V8 engine under the hood of a Shelby Mustang, claiming that it is a blown version of the same 5.2-liter Voodoo V8 used in the Shelby GT350, and that the car is a mule for the forthcoming Shelby GT500. You can see the photo for yourself at the Motor Trend website. Based only on the photo, we can’t be certain of either claim, but it does gel with what rumors we’ve heard in the recent past regarding the next super-potent ‘Stang.
But Motor Trend offers another potential explanation for the supercharged Shelby Mustang: that Ford is simply testing an OEM supercharger kit for the GT350. Of course, we prefer to believe that the spied car is indeed a Shelby GT500 mule.
Visit MotorTrend.com for the recent (alleged) Shelby GT500 Mustang spy shot.


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HITB GSEC Singapore (August 21st - 25th)
Register Online Now!
Sophos is unveiling software for securing PDAs and smartphones running Microsoft's Windows Mobile software.
Sophos Mobile Security, available for sale today, is designed to provide real-time protection for Windows Mobile 5.0 based devices against viruses and spyware threats. It's also set up to enable IT administrators to implement and lock down security policies for the devices, like PDAs and smartphones. Microsoft is expect to issue a new version of Windows Mobile, version 6.0, soon.
he OpenZaurus Project has released a new version of its Linux-based software stack for Sharp Zaurus PDAs. OpenZaurus 126.96.36.199 is based on a 2.6.16 Linux kernel, and includes some 13,000 "ready-to-install" packages. Nine Zaurus models are fully supported, while others can be updated selectively.
Major features of the new release include:
Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. unveiled a new smart phone on Tuesday, aiming to cement its leading position in the market ahead of the impending launch of the popular BlackBerry device in Japan.
Canada's Research in Motion said last month that it would bring the BlackBerry to Japan this autumn, potentially breathing new life into Japan's relatively small smart phone market while also causing headaches for entrenched players like Sharp.
Smart phone is a term referring to handsets with computer-like functions such as e-mail.
A third of professionals using mobile devices such as PDAs and smartphones don't use passwords or any other security protection and yet three out of ten of these users store their PIN numbers, passwords and other corporate information on them. That's according to The Mobile Usage Survey 2005, conducted for the fourth year by Pointsec Mobile Technologies and SC Magazine. The results are even more staggering considering the survey was conducted amongst IT professionals, who should be more knowledgeable about security than the average employee.
Handhelds aren't as open to attack by hackers and crackers as regular PCs are, but there are ways that Pocket PCs can be attacked.
In the latest issue of Insecure Magazine, Seth Fogie explores this topic extensively.
This article discusses essentially all the ways that a Pocket PC can be attacked, from viruses and trojan horses to DoS attacks.
Fogie is a VP at Airscanner, a company that makes anti-virus software for Pocket PCs.


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It's Superpig! UK livestock genetics firm breeds first pigs capable of resisting major common infections
Animal breeder Genus has bred the first pigs capable of resisting major porcine infections.
The livestock genetics firm said it had used gene editing technology to breed pigs that are immune to a common virus known as blue-ear disease.
The condition, called Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, can be fatal as it affects pigs’ immune systems and is incurable.
Hog heaven: Animal breeder Genus has bred the first pigs capable of resisting major common porcine infections (file picture)
The Basingstoke-based firm, which supplies pig and bull semen to farmers, worked with scientists from the University of Missouri to breed pigs that do not produce a specific protein necessary for the virus to spread.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.
Genus plans to market the technology through its pig division PIC.
The virus affects millions of pigs and costs the swine industry around £1billion in Europe, according to a 2011 Iowa State University study.
Genus chief scientific officer Jonathan Lightner said it was ‘a potential game-changer for the pork industry’.
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