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Slovakia's consumer confidence improved in January, after a sharp deterioration in the previous month, data released by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic showed on Wednesday.
The consumer confidence indicator rose to -37.1 from -38.9 in December. The index recorded a reading of -33.1 in November.
Mood among the consumers improved led by less pessimism regarding the expected evolution of the economic situation and unemployment and the financial situation of the household.
Meanwhile, the economic sentiment indicator declined for the eighth month in the row to 87.7 in January from 88.6 in December. The latest score is the lowest since November 2009.
The industrial confidence index rose by a percentage point to minus 9.3 in January. The confidence indicator in the building industry rose 3 points to minus 54 due to more optimistic assessment of both current demand and expected employment.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: email@example.com
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On July 19, UFCW International President Marc Perrone issued a statement in opposition to the AG and Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 6417), which creates a new H-2C visa program that will expand the definition of an agricultural guestworker to include meat, poultry, shellfish and other food processing jobs.
Perrone’s statement reads as follows:
“The so-called AG and Legal Workforce Act will destroy American jobs and put the safety of our food supply at significant risk.
“The hard-working people who work in the meat and food processing sectors are highly trained professionals who serve as an extra layer of protection for consumers when it comes to food safety.
“These are vital roles that protect all American families regardless of where they live.
“Allowing untrained visa holders to take on these jobs with zero experience will cut wages and increase the odds of consumers eating contaminated meat.
“This is a bill that both Republicans and Democrats should strongly oppose.”

domain: news


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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Crumbs is shuttering all of its stores just a week after the struggling cupcake shop operator was delisted from the Nasdaq.
The New York City-based company said all employees were notified of the closures Monday. A representative for Crumbs could not immediately say how many workers were affected or how many stores it had remaining on its last day.
"Regrettably Crumbs has been forced to cease operations and is immediately attending to the dislocation of its employees while it evaluates its limited remaining options,'' the company said in an emailed statement. That will include filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation.
A press release from its website in March listed 65 locations in 12 states and Washington, D.C. The website had not been updated with notification of the closures late Monday.
"I came to get some cupcakes for my son and all of a sudden I see it's closed," Upper West Side resident Noel Mercedes told CBS 2's Tony Aiello.
"I went there today to get a cupcake. It's a shame they had excellent coffee too! (Disappointed?) Disappointed, but I don't know the cupcake craze, maybe it's over?" said Upper West Side resident Robin Tendler.
New Yorker Jason Bauer started Crumbs in 2003 with his wife Mia, selling giant cupcakes in flavors including Cookie Dough and Girl Scouts Thin Mints. They sold half of their stake for $10 million just before the company went public in 2011, Aiello reported. In three years the stock tumbled from $13 a share down to 35 cents a share.
For the three months ending on March 31, Crumbs Bake Shop Inc. reported a loss of $3.8 million, steeper than the loss of $2 million from the same period a year ago.
The company had warned in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission this past May that it "may be forced to curtail or cease its activities'' if its operations didn't generate enough cash flow.
Crumbs struggled as consumers became more calorie and cost conscious. A single specialty cupcake had as many as 1,050 calories and a single specialty cake could set you back $34, Aiello reported.
"A lot of people are counting each penny and may not be willing to spend $7, $8, $9 for a cupcake right now when you could go without and maybe even reduce the waistline a little," said business consultant David Selig.
As of the end of last year, Crumbs listed about 165 full-time employees and about 655 part-time hourly employees working in its stores.
"I'm emotionally frazzled, but at the end of the day I just want to put a smile on my customers' face," Crumbs employee Sandra Davis told Aiello.
The news generated a lot of commentary on our Facebook page.
"Cupcake fad over," wrote Myra Garcia.
"Bummer. Who doesn't love cupcakes?" wrote Andrea Perez.
"I'm sorry for the employees, but not surprised this has happened. For how many years have we been eating them? Like everything else, cupcakes were a fad food; I'm curious to see what's next on the horizon," wrote Rachel Corso Poland.
When Crumbs opened on the Upper West Side, it boasted a menu of an "irresistible blend of comfort-oriented classics and elegant baked goods." The chain offered more than 50 varieties, each baked fresh daily and a new cupcake of the week every Monday.
Cupcakes came in three main sizes from the 1-inch "taste" to the 6.5-inch "colossal."
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(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)


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Forecourt retailers with off licences should always buy their wines and spirits from reliable sources, says the Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD), after reports that up to a quarter of retail outlets in some parts of the country are stocking counterfeit alcohol products.
Spot checks carried out by Trading Standards officials late last year in the South West revealed that 26% of outlets had counterfeit products on their shelves, while in Manchester 17% were offering fake stock. Most of the illegal products were copies of best-selling brands, some of which had tell-tale signs such as spelling mistakes on the label.
Trading Standards is concerned that counterfeit alcohol, often made in illegal factories in the UK and sold to retailers from unmarked vans, may be harmful to the health. Its spot checks are often prompted by complaints for the public about the quality of wines and spirits purchased in local shops.
FWD chief executive James Bielby said: “These shocking figures reveal the scale of this crime and demonstrate once again that retailers have to be very careful who they buy from, as trading in counterfeit goods is not only against the law, but will also ruin a shop’s reputation with its customers.
“Any experienced store owner should know if the price they are offered is too good to be true, and if the source is an established wholesaler. Counterfeiting wines and spirits, like trading in alcoholic products on which UK duty has not been paid, is a large-scale criminal industry, and retailers should be aware that they are complicit in this illegal activity if they buy products outside the legitimate supply chain. They should be very careful who they source their stock from.”


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The New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services has set a goal to reduce the cost of the state’s diet by more than $50 billion over the next decade, and it has come up with a few ways to get there.
But one of the biggest is the new “Iron Rich Foods” pyramid, which is aimed at helping families afford more expensive, but healthier, meals.
In an effort to cut down on the costs of eating out, the state has created a program that includes food stamp and food stamp debit cards.
In addition to the Iron Rich Foods program, the agency is also partnering with restaurants and businesses to reduce costs, including eliminating the use of disposable bags and making it easier for people to buy meal replacement containers and other items.
The program, which was launched earlier this year, is being used in more than 100,000 households across the state.
The state says the plan will cost about $3,300 per household, but that figure is based on the cost savings of people purchasing the same meal at a restaurant.
The goal is to cut food costs by $50 per person per month.
The plan includes items like healthier-soupy soups, salads, entrees, and even whole grains and beans, as well as a few more items like fruits, whole grains, beans, and lentils.
But not all people are going to be able to afford the meals they will be able buy on the program.
People in New Brunswick and Camden County are already eligible for the program, but in the northern part of the country, like parts of New Jersey, food stamps are not eligible.
According to the department, some people will be eligible for food stamps if they live in a poverty-stricken part of New York state or are eligible for a Medicaid benefit.
The state is encouraging people in those areas to get the food stamps or Medicaid.
“The state is committed to improving the nutritional quality of the food supply by making more food available to those who need it most,” the department said.
“This plan is part of that effort.”
But the new Iron Rich Food program may not be as popular as the more expensive Iron Rich meals, but for some people, it may just be a way to cut back on expensive dining out.
“I don’t really like eating out in the same places all the time, but if I could get this plan out to people, that’s the best thing I can do,” said Jessica Fauci, who lives in Camden County.
Fauci said she would rather cut down the cost by buying items from local restaurants instead of eating at the same restaurant.
She also said she was concerned about how much her meals would cost if she went to a restaurant with a full menu, like the one at her local Chipotle restaurant.
Fukuji said she does have a couple of concerns about the new program.
For starters, the new meal program has been a little expensive.
According to the state, it will cost the state $6,000 per person for meals at restaurants, and the program will cost $6.25 per person at supermarkets.
Fruci said that would put a huge strain on her family budget, so she plans to use the Iron Raw Foods and Iron Rich foods program.
The Iron Rich diet includes meat and dairy, and Fruci has been saving money by not eating out.
She said she is planning to keep using the Iron Food program, because she knows it will help her family eat better.
“We are going into this with the mentality that if you can’t afford a meal at the restaurant, you can afford something in the IronRich program,” she said.


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Making its entry in 2008, beauty, health and wellness retail chain ‘newu’ from the house of Dabur India was the most admired new retail launch of the year at Images Retail Awards in September 2008.
Besides opening eight stores and launching private labels in kids and jewellery product segments, the company introduced two international brands in the Indian market that included household commodity brand QVS (Australia) and lifestyle brand Moda (Italy), a company spokesperson said.
“Dabur India would like to remember the year 2008 for its maiden entry in organised retail. However, high retail rentals was one of the most alarming calls the company does not want to hear anymore,” he added.
He further said that the company recognised that consumer sentiment was upbeat through out the year for everyday use products that were priced at popular price points and the company is signing up new properties across the country for expansion.
The spokesperson went on to add that as part of its corporate social responsibility, Dabur India has been supporting SUNDESH, an NGO based in village Chouna in Uttar Pradesh. The core areas of SUNDESH include providing education, healthcare and training to poor and needy people in rural India by undertaking a host of integrated rural development programmes that are aimed at achieving an optimal level of environmental, economic and societal benefits on a sustainable basis.
— Sarimul Islam Choudhury


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The chief financial officer of Thurso-based battery manufacturer AMTE Power has decided to leave the company to “pursue” another offer.
Adam Westcott, who joined the developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery cells for specialist markets in January 2018, will continue in his current position for the next six months and assist in a hand-over once a new CFO has been appointed.
Kevin Brundish, chief executive of AMTE Power, whose shares rose 3.6% to £2.59, said: “Adam has been made an offer by another business which he wants to pursue.
“He has been instrumental to the corporate development of AMTE and especially so in the recent completion of our successful IPO.
Adam has been made an offer by another business which he wants to pursue.”
Kevin Brundish, chief executive of AMTE Power
“We are grateful to Adam and we wish him well in the future.”
AMTE Power, the UK’s second largest producer of energy storage cells, was formed in 2013 by Mr Brundish and fellow directors Ian Whiting and Steve Farmer who acquired AGM Batteries, which produced conventional lithium-ion cells, from AEA Technology, a spin-off from the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
It has plans to invest tens of millions in a new factory which will be able to produce 2GWh of battery capacity per year.
It has developed a range of battery types using a variety of chemistries for specialised markets. Its “next generation” battery products are being prototyped in Thurso, including one being tested with an unnamed oil and gas equipment manufacturer.
AMTE Power started life as a London Stock Exchange-listed business in March joining the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) after an oversubscribed placing of nearly eight million new and existing ordinary shares.
The company raised £13.7 million, before expenses, which was nearly twice the £7m it was originally seeking.
Prior to the placing, it had secured approximately £9.1m of equity finance and £5.8m in public sector grants.


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UK: Muller Wiseman ups milk price for farmers
Muller Wiseman raises farmgate milk price
Müller Wiseman has increased the price it pays UK farmers for their milk for the second time in a month.
The company, which was at the centre of protests from farmers this summer over milk prices, will up its price in two stages.
Farmers will receive 0.5p per litre extra from December, taking the price they receive to 29.5ppl. in February, they will get another penny, meaning they will be paid 30.5ppl.
Müller Wiseman said it wanted to help farmers cover higher costs. "We want to return a higher milk price to farmers so that we can ensure security of supply for our customers in an environment where off farm milk production is dropping," Ronald Kers, CEO of Müller's operations in the UK and Ireland, said.
The Muller Wiseman Milk Partnership Board, which represents farmers that supply the company, welcomed the price increase. However, there have been indications from other farming groups that blockades of the processor's sites could be held to secure a better price.
"We would ask those behind recent militant activity to respect the fact that we are the elected representatives of all dairy farmers who supply the group," Roddy Catto, chairman of the partnership board, said.
"Blockades of the kind recently seen in Shropshire risked undermining the progress of these discussions and it is time now to build a relationship that is based not on disruption and ultimatums but on constructive dialogue."
Kers added: "We are determined to be the leading dairy company in the UK and Ireland and the preferred home for milk produced by Britain's dairy farmers and we will work closely with the farmer board to this end. For this reason we cannot be distracted by localised and unlawful militancy promoted by people many of whom have no connection with the group whatsoever."
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Our customers are our biggest champions, and we strive to always serve them as best we can. Each new OS release we have done has gotten bigger and more exciting. We are hoping for OSv5 to be the most thrilling yet.
Simpsonville, SC (PRWEB) January 16, 2013
If Sabai Technology President William Haynes has anything to say about it, 2013 is going to be a big year for his company. "We have a lot of goals for this year. Sabai is taking steps to become a larger force in the networking community, not just the VPN Router space," Haynes quotes.
The company reports that the "invitations are out" to their OSv5 beta group, which has been limited to about 30 users who have a long standing relationship with the company. In addition to the new logo and interface face-lift, customers can expect other notable changes to the firmware and a completely new line-up of router models.
The new operating system, which makes huge leaps in usability, remains based on Tomato but with some pretty major changes on the front and back ends. "For instance, Dual Gateway - now known as just 'Gateways' - is easier to use, integrates the VPN Accelerator in a better more streamlined way, and it can even be a tri-gateway, if you wanted," says an enthusiastic Haynes.
In addition to the changes inside the VPN Routers, Sabai also has a total of five new router offerings, in addition to some of the old favorites. Included in that list are a high end Asus model, a NETGEAR, and a Belkin, which comes in under $100 - a first for the company. "We were leery, but, it has great specs and provides excellent value. It is the router I would recommend for a VPN consumer on maybe a short-term assignment, who isn't ready to make the larger investment. It's a perfect low-end solution," says Haynes.
The full details of the OSv5 updates and the new router lineup have not yet been made available by the company, which says it will be slowly unveiling these details over the coming weeks. "Our customers are our biggest champions, and we strive to always serve them as best we can. Each new OS release we have done has gotten bigger and more exciting. We are hoping for OSv5 to be the most thrilling yet," quotes Chief Marketing Officer Anja Smith, "But, we are going to keep folks waiting a bit longer for the details. I can say this though ... it's going to be exciting."


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One of the coolest new Android features to arrive in recent years is without a doubt the wallpaper theming that was first teased at Google I/O and then arrived in Android 12 Beta 2. It brings a level of personalization to your phone that is forever changing, since it changes system highlights and select apps using colors in the wallpaper you have chosen.
Our understanding of this wallpaper theming (Material You Dynamic Color) is that Google’s Pixel phones had an exclusive on it at first, with the possibility of others having access down the road. According to information discovered by developer kdrag0n and XDA, Google could is apparently opening it up for others with the release of Android 12-sv2 or what may end up being Android 12.1.
We haven’t talked about this yet, but Android 12 sv2 (or Android 12.1) is thought to be the next version of Android before we get to Android 13. It may launch with the Pixel 6, a few months after that, or a year from now for all we know, but this would be the first time in years that they’ve pushed out a point update to an Android version. It’s worth talking about, especially now that we believe it’ll bring with it noteworthy features.
Google has supposedly added “monet,” which is the codename for Android 12’s wallpaper theming, to AOSP for Android 12.1, giving other OEMs the chance to use it on their own phones. That means it’ll be open-sourced for others to use if they want to dive into the evolution of Android theming. That could mean Samsung adding wallpaper-based system colors to a future version of One UI or OnePlus’ new unified Android skin getting Android 12’s most fun feature.
The timing of all of this is still very much up in the air. Not only is Android 12 not stable yet, Google hasn’t publicly acknowledged that there is an Android 12.1 or what to expect from it. At this point, they would need to release that and then give OEMs time to build “monet” into their own skins using it.
Still, this is pretty exciting news for non-Pixel phone fans.


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FL-based ACI Worldwide reported
organic revenue was up 7% in 4Q/15 and 3% for the year, (FX adjusted). Total sales bookings up 14% in the fourth quarter and 19% for the year, (FX adjusted).
Net new sales bookings (SNET) up 10% in 4Q/15 and 8% for the year (FX adjusted). Also a 60-month backlog up $162 million in 2015 to $4.3 billion, organic and (FX adjusted).
ACI says its Universal Payments support for our legacy BASE24 customers, we are increasingly confident our recent strategic moves position the Company well for long-term growth.
During the quarter new sales bookings, net of term extensions, (SNET) grew 10% after adjusting for foreign currency fluctuations. Overall bookings, including term extensions, grew 14% after adjusting for foreign currency fluctuations. This term extension growth was higher than anticipated, which resulted in higher commissions and related selling expenses, resulting in a near-term impact to profit.
GAAP revenue in Q4 was $309 million, up 6% from last year. Excluding incremental contribution from the PAY.ON acquisition and adjusting for foreign currency fluctuations, Q4 revenue increased 7% from the same quarter last year.
Q4 adjusted EBITDA of $115 million grew $8 million, or up 8%, from Q4 2014.
ACI ended the year with a 60-month backlog of $4.3 billion and a 12-month backlog of $918 million. Excluding incremental PAY.ON contribution and adjusting for foreign currency fluctuations, our 60-month backlog increased $110 million and our 12-month backlog grew $27 million from Q3 2015.
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OnePlus is a China-based company which was founded back in December 2013. This smartphone manufacturer has announced their first (and to date only) device, OnePlus One, back in April 2014. That smartphone has been regarded as one of the best devices in 2014, not only because of its specifications and Cyanogen’s software running it, but because of its price. The OnePlus One was extremely affordable considering what it had to offer, though there was a catch, you needed to have an invitation in order to buy it. The invitation system was widely unpopular, and you can now freely purchase the One directly from OnePlus, but, unfortunately, that very same system will be back when the company introduces their flagship this year.
Speaking of which, we’ve talked about the OnePlus Two quite a few times thus far. This handset is expected to see the light of day sometime in third quarter of the year, and this time around it will probably ship with the company’s new Oxygen OS (or Hydrogen OS, depending if we’re talking about international or Chinese model) because OnePlus and Cyanogen had a fall out and are not partners anymore. That being said, the OnePlus-branded handset (A2001) has made an appearance on Geekbench a couple of days ago, and has now popped up in China once again, though with a slightly different model number.
The OnePlus A2003 has surfaced on ludashi.com and showed off its partial specifications. According to the listing, this handset will feature a 1080p (1920 x 1080) display along with 3GB of RAM. The listing also confirms that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 64-bit octa-core SoC along with an Adreno 430 GPU for graphics. This SoC was actually already confirmed by the company’s CEO, but there you have it. The phone will also allegedly ship with a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter. This thing sure seems like a OnePlus Two, but we cannot confirm that at the moment. The company’s CEO also talked about the OnePlus One’s successor a while back, and it seems like the device will be priced at 2,499 Yuan ($404).
Now, the rumors are saying that this handset might launch as soon as May 28th, when the company intends to unveil the Hydrogen OS. If this is, in fact, OnePlus Two, that launch date seems a bit off. Many reports and some hints from the company’s employees all mentioned Q3 as the release date for the OnePlus Two, but who knows, perhaps the company decided to launch it early. Either way, stay tuned, we’ll report back soon.


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Today's the anniversary of Thomas Edison's vicious electrocution of a live elephant in order to prove the dangers of Nikola Tesla's alternating current and the safety of his competing direct current.
When the day came, Topsy was restrained using a ship's hawser fastened on one end to a donkey engine and on the other to a post. Wooden sandals with copper electrodes were attached to her feet and a copper wire run to Edison's electric light plant, where his technicians awaited the go-ahead.
In order to make sure that Topsy emerged from this spectacle more than just singed and angry, she was fed cyanide-laced carrots moments before a 6,600-volt AC charge slammed through her body. Officials needn't have worried. Topsy was killed instantly and Edison, in his mind anyway, had proved his point.
A crowd put at 1,500 witnessed Topsy's execution, which was filmed by Edison and released later that year as Electrocuting an Elephant.
Bleach-toothed motivational speaker Tony Robbins charged between $650 and $3000 for tickets to his 3.5 day Unleash the Power Within seminar outside Dallas, Texas, where participants are taught to walk on hot coals.
Metro Los Angeles created a series of fun and terrifyingly gruesome transit safety animations about how not to get killed! “Safety is our highest priority for Metro riders,” said Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “These videos are edgy by design because we want these messages to stick,” “A lapse of […]
Several nutritional supplements sold under the Nature Made brand are being recalled over concerns they may be contaminated with Salmonella or Staph. Aureus. Vitamin manufacturer Pharmavite released the announcement today, and it was cross-posted at the Food and Drug Administration website.
Some truths are universal. For one, your phone will always run out of power when you most need it. For another, the charging cords that come packaged with your Apple device will fray, split, and rip faster than Usain Bolt in a game of tag.Instead, pick up a charging cord that anyone would have a tough […]
Some people say magic tricks are nerdy and best left to your 12-year-old asthmatic cousin. But others see value in perfecting the slight of hand and showmanship associated with a perfectly executed routine. We’re firmly in the latter camp. And now, we’re giving you the ability to put a few parlor tricks up your sleeve with the Penguin […]
Bluetooth speakers may be convenient to use, but many of them just aren’t that powerful. Sure, it may be fine if you’re seated in front of the speaker. But move across the room, and you may strain to hear what’s coming from those tiny drivers.There’s a reason why the G-BOOM Wireless Bluetooth Boombox (now $79.99 in the Boing […]


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What you're looking at is the second teaser photo released by the folks over at Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division.
Read This Article
When asking consumers what is most important when buying a new vehicle, many will mention styling.
After the initial success that the 2012 Dodge Charger Blacktop edition brought, Dodge has announced it has expanded the special edition trim to the Avenger, Challenger R/T, and the Charger R/T.
If you're not jealous of Vince Galante check your pulse again.


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Could your car be putting you and your family in danger? A defect hidden in the inner workings of your car's engine, brakes, or steering column could be lurking undetected until it causes an accident. Or, there could be design problems with the body of your vehicle that also put you at unnecessary risk of injuries due to rollovers or similar issues.
The odds are high, however, that you wouldn't know it if there's a recall on your vehicle due to safety concerns. Here's what every vehicle owner in the United States needs to know about recalls.
Recalls Due to Defective Part and Design Flaws Happen Constantly
Auto recalls occur all the time. For example, Subaru and Toyota just issued a massive recall that affects over 400,000 vehicles manufactured between 2012 and 2013 due to an issue with a valve spring in the engine. Cars in the recall have been known to suddenly stall, which puts their occupants at the mercy of the reflexes of other drivers if they hope to avoid an accident.
In 2017 alone, there were more than 30 million recalls affecting automotive vehicles of all kinds, and that was an improvement over the previous year, which saw 53 million recall alerts.
The Owners of Older Vehicles Aren't Getting the Message
Unfortunately, the older your vehicle, the less likely you are to find out that there's a recall affecting you. There were only about 17.6 million automotive vehicles actually sold in 2017, which means that the majority of recalls that year involved vehicles sold in prior years.
Officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently met with the heads of the automotive industry to discuss the problem of low completion rates involving recalls and older vehicles.
Recalls of brand new cars tend to get the most consumer attention, probably because they're the most well-publicized. Around 80% of cars under 3 years of age will eventually wind up in a shop for corrections when there's a recall. However, if your car is just 6 years old or older, the likelihood that you'll miss a recall shoots up to nearly 50%!
Proactive Steps Are Necessary to Prevent Injuries
Most vehicle owners assume that they'll receive a notice if their vehicle is under a recall. However, it's easy to overlook a notice, which is often sent on a postcard through the mail. Many consumers throw away recall notices thinking they are simply junk mail.
In other cases, consumers buy their cars used and don't realize that the car was never submitted to inspection after a recall. They mistakenly assume that the dealership would check before reselling a car. That seldom happens. To protect yourself, check your car's VIN number against the online database maintained by the NHTSA at safercar.gov. A yearly check could save your life.
Unnecessary injuries due to defective designs in vehicles can change your life in an instant and leave you with lasting problems that affect your ability to function normally or work. If you've been in an accident because of a car's defect (whether it was your car that was defective or not), talk to a car accident attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights. Companies like Palmetto Injury Lawyers can help you.


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A new study by Which? has revealed that Black Friday deals that appear too good to miss out on might actually not be that great at all.
According to the consumers' pressure group more than half of all Black Friday advertised by big high street brands and online retailers were actually cheaper at other times of the year.
Which? found that in 60% of cases, consumers should shop around or wait for true deals on the same products rather than go on a Black Friday spending spree.
As revealed by The Independent, Which? said that it had tracked the prices of 35 of the most popular technology, home and personal care products that were on sale on Black Friday 2016.
Well over half of the products offered at a discounted price on Black Friday cost less or the same at other points in the year.
Deals that Which? investigated included the Neff Slide and Hide oven, which was made popular by the Great British Bake Off, premium televisions, coffee machines and an electric toothbrush.
Alex Neill, managing director of home products and services at Which?, said: "Although Black Friday can offer some great discounts, not all offers are as good as they seem.
"It’s easy to get swept along by the hype and excitement on the day, so we recommend doing some preparation and research to help make sure you really are getting a good deal when shopping in the sales."
Of the products tracked, 22 were on sale at Currys/PC World, 12 were sold at Argos and one on Amazon.
When asked about the findings, Amazon told the consumer goods group that it "offers many thousands of incredible deals around Black Friday representing millions of pounds of savings for our customers across a vast selection of products".
An Argos spokesman also defended the shopping event, calling it a "fantastic" opportunity for "customers to choose from thousands of products which offer great value".
It said that being on sale on Black Friday does not exclude a product from other sales or promotional activity at other times of the year.
“We regularly review our prices to make sure we’re giving customers the best possible value whenever and wherever they shop with us,” the spokesperson said.
Currys told Which? that it was "bemused as to why a long established consumer focused organisation would think that it is untoward for retailers to reduce prices on some items to a point lower than it had been in November".
It said that it makes "no apology" for reducing some of its product even more after the Black Friday event.


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A family has regifted this 47-year-old birthday card 94 times
This is better than just about any Hallmark card we've seen.
Redditor LincolnLostSpeech posted a birthday card that's been passed around the user's fiancée's family for the past 47 years.
While some Reddit commenters expressed skepticism, the card eventually went viral and made the site's front page.
"So over the past 47 years my fiancee's [sic] uncle and his cousin have been passing the same card back and forth," LincolnLostSpeech wrote.
The user also mentioned that back when the card was first purchased in 1970, it only cost about $0.25. By the Redditor's own count, its been regifted about 94 times.
Regifting isn't exactly a polite thing to do, but if the gift holds five decades of family tradition behind it, then we'll let it slide.
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Tesla shares seen rising despite 'fever pitch' of bad news: analyst
By Noel Randewich SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Negative news stories about Tesla Inc have hit 'fever pitch', but the electric carmaker's stock price is likely to surge as output of its Model 3 sedan improves, according to an analyst research report. Following the publication of Baird Equity Research analyst Ben Kallo's note on Wednesday, Tesla Chief Executive chimed in with a series of tweets critical of journalists' coverage of his company. Musk said on Twitter that he would create a website where readers could score the truth of news stories
By Noel Randewich
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Negative news stories about Tesla Inc
Following the publication of Baird Equity Research analyst Ben Kallo's note on Wednesday, Tesla Chief Executive chimed in with a series of tweets critical of journalists' coverage of his company.
Musk said on Twitter that he would create a website where readers could score the truth of news stories.
"Problem is journos are under constant pressure to get max clicks & earn advertising dollars or get fired. Tricky situation, as Tesla doesn’t advertise, but fossil fuel companies & gas/diesel car companies are among world’s biggest advertisers," Musk tweeted.
Tesla's stock rose 1.48 percent to end at $279.07.
Kallo said news reports about factory accidents, employee turnover, and production pauses have contributed to investor pessimism but sentiment would likely recover as the company fixes factory bottlenecks and increases output of its Model 3.
"Sentiment is as negative as we have experienced around Tesla, and we want to lean into the fever pitch," wrote Kallo, one of nine analysts who recommend buying Tesla's stock, according to Thomson Reuters data.
He called the rise of negative Tesla headlines over the past month "increasingly immaterial."
Another eight analysts recommend selling Tesla, and nine have neutral ratings.
Shares of Tesla remain down 7.0 percent since the Silicon Valley company reported quarterly financial results on May 2, when Musk refused to answer questions from analysts about the electric vehicle maker’s capital requirements, saying "boring, bonehead questions are not cool."
Musk has repeatedly missed targets for Model 3 production, which Tesla is banking on to establish itself as a mass market seller of electric cars. Tesla's stock has lost over a quarter of its value since closing at a record high last September.
A series of fiery Tesla car crashes and executive departures have also worried investors.
After Consumer Reports said on Monday that the Model 3 had "big flaws", including braking slower than a full-sized pickup truck, Musk responded on Twitter that Tesla would fix the car's braking system with a software update.
The mean analyst price target for Tesla has dipped to $289 from $326 a month ago. Kallo's target of $411 is about 50 percent higher than Wednesday's price.
On Tesla's recent quarterly results conference call, Kallo commented that the flow of negative news stories about Tesla was making it difficult for even "believers" to own the company's stock. Musk responded that investors worried about volatility should steer clear of Tesla's shares.
(Graphic: Tesla Timeline - https://reut.rs/2GMQM3K)
(Reporting by Noel Randewich; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
U.S. home sales fall as tight supply boosts prices | Reuters
France, Germany to agree to NATO role against Islamic State - sources | Reuters
By Robin Emmott and John Irish | BRUSSELS/PARIS BRUSSELS/PARIS France and Germany will agree to a U.S. plan for NATO to take a bigger role in the fight against Islamic militants at a meeting with President Donald Trump on Thursday, but insist the move is purely symbolic, four senior European diplomats said.The decision to allow the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to join the coalition against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq follows weeks of pressure on the two allies, who are wary of NATO confronting Russia in Syria and of alienating Arab countries who see NATO as pushing a pro-Western agenda."NATO as an institution will join the coalition," said one senior diplomat involved in the discussions. "The question is whether this just a symbolic gesture to the United States
China's Xi says navy should become world class | Reuters
BEIJING Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for greater efforts to make the country's navy a world class one, strong in operations on, below and above the surface, as it steps up its ability to project power far from its shores.China's navy has taken an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and a new aircraft carrier launched last month.With President Donald Trump promising a US shipbuilding spree and unnerving Beijing with his unpredictable approach on hot button issues including Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, China is pushing to narrow the gap with the U.S. Navy.Inspecting navy headquarters, Xi said the navy should "aim for the top ranks in the world", the Defence Ministry said in a statement about his visit."Building a strong and modern navy is an important mark of a top ranking global military," the ministry paraphrased Xi as saying.


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Five New Videos Arrive for the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
There were also three videos for Yuna, Lulu, and the Fields last week, which you can see below:
The Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will be released for the PlayStation 3 on March 18th in North America and March 21st in Europe. By pre-ordering the game, you’ll receive a free upgrade to the limited edition.
A release date for the PlayStation Vita version, and details on how it will be sold to consumers, is expected to be announced soon.
Which was your favorite video? What do you think of the graphics? Let everyone know in the comments below.


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Tech Industry Confronts A Backlash Against 'Disruptive Innovation'
Tech entrepreneurs have long prided themselves on disrupting traditional industries and creating new ones.
Print encyclopedias have been replaced by Wikipedia and Google searches.
Newspapers are struggling against online news sites and social media. But new problems have emerged as a result of this transformation: fake news and the bankruptcy of the traditional news media.
Clay Christensen, a Harvard University business professor, coined the term "disruptive innovation." He still says it's ultimately good — even as the tech industry reels from the backlash against it.
Christensen wasn't trying to disrupt anything when he began the research that became his now iconic 1997 book, The Innovator's Dilemma. He just noticed how certain companies — such as the computer-maker Digital Equipment Corp. or retail icon Sears — went from industry leaders to struggling has-beens.
"I've always wondered why is it that companies that are successful have such a hard time to sustain their success," Christensen says.
In his research, Christensen saw that big established companies were often undone by smaller innovative players that came along with cheaper and more affordable products. Henry Ford turned the automobile into a mass-market product, which made it faster and easier for people to travel. But it wasn't so great for the saddle and stagecoach industries.
"Overall, it's a good thing," Christensen says. "It hurts to be disrupted, but it also creates markets."
Fast-forward a century or so; today's tech world worships at the altar of disruption. Entrepreneurs dream of creating one of those companies that upend entire industries.
They look to Amazon, which disrupted books and then all of retail, or Apple and other smartphone-makers, which disrupted the film, camera and other industries. Jobs were lost, but society got great new products that sped up communication and brought down prices.
You could have seen this dream in action during a recent visit to a building called the Aspiration Dome in Sunnyvale, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley. At a presentation hosted by Alchemist, a successful startup accelerator, entrepreneurs got up onstage in an enormous room filled with investors and business leaders to test out their ability to pitch their companies.
One of them was David Conway, the co-founder and CEO of SmartBins. "What we're building is absolutely disruptive," he says. He wants to disrupt the food-packaging industry. Anyone who has purchased bulk items at the supermarket knows it's kind of awkward: You have to find a pen and write the bin number on a tiny twist-tie — and the stuff can spill out.
Conway says his company has tech to make it easy. "That's what SmartBins is doing ... bringing shopping the bulk aisle from a little niche market to mainstream — making shopping bulk as easy as prepackaged," he says.
Conway admits that even this small disruption may take jobs away from people who work in packaging. "There's always a dark side to anything," he says. "I mean, look at what's gone on with Facebook and Google — like a lot of people's private information. But guess what — we're in the early stages of all this, and people are going to make mistakes."
Yet, like most entrepreneurs, he is filled with optimism. "I can tell you, at least the tech community I'm in, everybody is in here to make the world a better place," Conway says.
But to those who lose their jobs, Conway's words may be cold comfort. Many outside critics might scoff at Conway's naiveté or perhaps his inability to see the downside of a technology that may make him rich.
Still, the fact that he is ready with a response to criticism about disruption is a sign of growing sensitivity in the tech community.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg famously told his developers to "move fast and break things." That phrase is being re-examined by some big-time investors like Hemant Taneja, a managing director at the venture firm General Catalyst.
"What does it mean to create the new world order with technology but not necessarily in a way that's just moving fast and breaking things?" he says.
Taneja now believes that Facebook was careless. "The reason this happened is because they didn't think hard about how to police the nefarious-use cases of that technology," he says. "It's not about the technology — it's how we implement it and what are the use cases we want to enable."
Taneja says that now, before he funds a company, he wants to know that the founders are looking for what could go wrong before it happens so they can prevent it.
"Capitalism is a privilege," Taneja says. "I think if we don't build businesses that are broadly good for society, I don't think this entire system really lasts."
But many investors and entrepreneurs may have a hard time slowing down long enough to be a constructive force in the world when they are making so much money disrupting it.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text: Travelers familiar with the disappointment of arriving at a hotel abroad at which they booked a room in advance, and only then realizing how far it is from the city's attractions, may want to try a new service. The Aladdin Travel Company has launched an interactive map interface on its Web site that shows users where exactly their hotel is located relative to a city's tourist attractions, as well as its accessibility to public transportation and entertainment centers. The program enables users to see the city's hotels from a satellite view, choose one, and observe its surroundings and access roads. The service is free and includes a full description of hotels' amenities in four languages: Hebrew, English, Russian and Arabic. Go to www.aladdintravel.co.il and click on the Interactive City Maps link. A smarter way to explore Israel A new phone service has been launched for the benefit of travelers who exploring the Land of Israel. It allows travelers to participate in a conference call on which they can listen to other travelers' pointers in real time or provide advice. The service is offered by EcoWave (in Hebrew, HaGal HaYarok), an organization that promotes participatory activity, and is operated by the Tikal Networks Company, which supplies solutions based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. The new technology allows users to communicate with fellow travelers via cellular phones or a land line, thus receiving updates about recommended road trips, walking routes, occupancy at tourist sites, road hazards and more. This new service is an upgrade of the company's phone service for drivers who want to report on accidents, traffic jams, road hazards, etc. for the benefit of other drivers. New users of the service should dial (073)220-9080, and will be connected to a conference call in which they can speak to other travelers. The service is provided for the cost of a regular phone call. For further information about EcoWave communal agenda, go to www.ecowave.org.il. Rent a hybrid car! Avis Israel, part of a worldwide car rental company, has joined in "green efforts" for a safer environment. The company has recently purchased dozens of hybrid cars for its Israeli rental fleet for environmentally conscious travelers. Hybrid cars have two ignition systems; one is based on an oil-burning engine and the other is electric. Both are friendlier to the environment than their gasoline counterparts, emitting less carbon dioxide. In addition, the company has decided to plant an "Avis Forest" in northern Israel. Avis Israel is advertising on its Web site that clients who rent a car can add NIS 18 to be invested in the planting of a tree in the company forest. Planting as many as trees as possible can help reduce the cars' emission of carbon dioxide and environmental damage, said Gil Sagiv, Avis's marketing director. Cellphones take flight Starting Monday, December 17, air travelers who are Cellcom clients will be able to use their mobile phones to send text and multimedia messages as well as surf the net via their laptops during Air France flights. According to Cellcom, the service will be expanded in three months, when clients will be able to make phone calls from their mobiles during a flight. The company hopes to sign deals with other airline companies, such as Air Asia, during 2008. By launching this service, Cellcom is the first Israeli cellular company to provide its customers with the ability to use their mobile phones during flights. Cellcom signed a contract with the Swiss company, On Air, which operates cellular services on planes and allows the use of personal phones and computers during flights. The air-time tariffs during flights are not included in regular deals and will be published at service centers, in stores and on line. Women's place is in the countryside Women are the dominant force behind rural tourism, according to data published by the Economy and Business Development Department of the moshav movement. The report says 85 percent of active managers of rural tourism centers in the moshavim are women. It reveals further that 2,500 moshav members make their livelihood out of operating 12,000 guest rooms and some 2,000 tourist attractions. Seven hours a day is the average time the guest rooms owners invest in operating the business and that includes marketing, bookings, hosting, cooking and cleaning. The moshav movement found that the operation of guest rooms in most cases does not constitute the main source of income for the owners. The money comes instead from other areas, including agriculture, tourist attractions, and teaching. Moshavim that have maintained their agricultural character generally attract more vacationers.


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Honor 20 Pro hands-on: You’ll forget it’s not a flagship phone
The camera zoom alone will tempt some.
Huawei says it's a 'victim of bullying by the US'
It's also working with Google to see what (if anything) it can do.
Commerce Dept. grants Huawei a 90-day license to help existing users
The company is still banned from buying US equipment.
Google just gave Huawei a wakeup call
The Chinese company urgently needs to step up its software game.
Intel, Qualcomm and other chipmakers cut off supplies to Huawei
This could have a devastating effect on Huawei's business.
Google suspends Huawei's Android support (updated)
It would lose Google apps and future OS updates.
US may soften ban on Huawei to help existing users
It might not have much choice if it wants to support rural carriers.


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COMPANY NEWS; MAKER OF WONDER BREAD SETTLES CHARGES ABOUT ADS
Published: March 7, 2002
The maker of Wonder Bread has agreed to settle federal charges that it made unsupported advertising claims that calcium in its products could make children's minds work better and improve their memories. Under the settlement, the Interstate Bakeries Corporation, based in Kansas City, Mo., and its advertising agency, Campbell Mithun L.L.C. of Minneapolis, are barred from making health claims without scientific proof, the Federal Trade Commission said yesterday. The companies said they settled to avoid the cost of litigation and because they had already stopped running the ads, which were not increasing sales.


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Inside Mac TV was at Appleis special media event on Tuesday when the iPod Hi-Fi, new iPod cases, and the Intel-based Mac mini were announced, and has its video coverage available at the iTunes Music Store (iTMS). The video podcast includes Apple CEO Steve Jobis presentation, along with additional coverage of the new product announcements. Inside Mac podcasts are available at the iTMS, or you can subscribe directly using this link.
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- Apple Expands iPhone Trade-In Program to Canada
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- NCPPR Accuses Apple of Greenwashing and Tim Cook of Faking Anger


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Topline: Tencent is expanding its already vast portfolio of gaming partnerships with an investment in Platinum Games, the acclaimed developers of fast-paced action games like Bayonetta, Nier: Automata and Astral Chain.
Platinum Games president and CEO Kenichi Sato announced the news in a blog post, saying the partnership “has no effect on the independence of our company, and we will continue operations under our current corporate structure.”
Sato explained the purposes of the investment: to explore self-publishing and to “give us a wider global perspective.”
Platinum Games has relied on outside publishers in the past, including Square Enix for the 2017 hit Nier: Automata and most recently Nintendo for last year’s Astral Chain, which topped the U.K. sales charts in its first week of release.
Tencent adds to its ever-expanding lead as the top game publisher in the world, with ownership stakes in Epic Games (Fortnite), Activision Blizzard (Call of Duty), Supercell (Clash of Clans) and Riot Games (League of Legends), plus regional partnerships with companies like Nintendo.
Key Background: Platinum Games has been clear with its intentions to self-publish more. The company doesn’t fully own one of its key franchises, Bayonetta, and it has dealt with Microsoft’s cancellation of its game Scalebound in 2017. Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya previously said in a tweet that the commercial success of 2017’s Nier: Automata saved the company. By 2019, the game hit 4 million copies sold.
What To Watch For: What new independent IP comes from Platinum Games. The company is currently working on a new original called Babylon’s Fall in partnership with Square Enix, plus Bayonetta 3 with Nintendo.


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The owners of yoga studios have learned that they can now hold indoor classes because they are not considered to be fitness centers like traditional gyms.
The Hudson Yoga Project in Hoboken has been holding virtual classes for months, but recently learned that it can resume indoor classes.
“Turns out we could have already have been open. We didn’t know that until yesterday. So, we are taking our time. We won’t open until Aug. 1 to make sure we do it right. To make sure we are safe and sanitized,” says co-owner Kate Lombardo.
Gov. Phil Murphy’s office tells News 12 New Jersey that the reason that yoga studios can open and gyms cannot has to do with licensing. Yoga studios are not licensed as health clubs like other gyms, so they are considered recreational facilities. According to the governor’s recent executive order, recreation facilities can operate indoors at 25% capacity as long as there is social distancing and everyone wears masks.
“From a business standpoint, it’s been devastating to be closed for as long as we have been. And also, it made it so clear how dependent we are on the in-person community we’ve created here,” Lombardo says.
But Lombardo says that there is concern about opening safely. And there is also a concern for the rest of the fitness industry.
Next door to Hudson Yoga Project is the Cross Fit-style Brazen Athletics gym, which cannot reopen just yet.
“To know that one studio can do it and we can’t because of licensing – it’s upsetting,” says Brazen coach Courtney Roselle. “But if it’s the next stop to get us open, I’ll take it.”
Both businesses plan to continue to operate online as well and offer outdoor classes for members.


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The 2016 data from SuperData via UploadVR, as expected, is stark:
The Playstation VR estimate of 750K sales, by the way, is still an educated guess at best, and early signs suggest it's lower than that. Three possibly obvious points here still worth saying:
There is no high-end VR "market": With about 660,000 total owners of the PC-driven VR rigs of Oculus and Vive, we are still looking at a niche of a niche of a niche. And any developer who creates VR content solely for Oculus and Vive is taking a near-suicidal gamble at even breaking even.
More pertinent to readers of this virtual world blog:
There are still more Second Life users than Vive/Oculus owners: 600,000 to 1 million people still log into Second Life every month, with about 600,000 being regular, recurring users. Which brings up an obvious question: If Silicon Valley wrote off Second Life years ago because the userbase was so small, when will the Valley consider writing off high-end VR devices?
Social VR platforms Sansar and High Fidelity are enormous gambles on a tiny market: Both of them, ironically enough, were funded directly or indirectly through Second Life profits... but like I said before, given the minuscule PC VR market, the future of all three virtual worlds are now in the hazard.


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In a curious sequence of events Monday that has gained the attention of some folks online, Facebook temporarily pulled some ads placed by Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA) on Friday calling for the breakup of tech giants, including Facebook, which has acquired Instagram and WhatsApp.
After scrutiny, particularly by Politico, Facebook restored the Warren ads Monday and issued a statement saying the ads violated their advertising policies and they were only restoring them for the sake of encouraging "robust debate."
"Three companies have vast power over our economy and our democracy. Facebook, Amazon, and Google," read Warren's temporarily pulled campaign ads. "We all use them. But in their rise to power, they’ve bulldozed competition, used our private information for profit, and tilted the playing field in their favor."
The ads promoted the progressive senator's new plan announced in a Team Warren blog post Friday which declares: "It's time to breakup Amazon, Google, and Facebook." In an example of "Using Mergers to Limit Competition," Warren writes, "Facebook has purchased potential competitors Instagram and WhatsApp." She also specifically calls out Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg:
Weak antitrust enforcement has led to a dramatic reduction in competition and innovation in the tech sector. Venture capitalists are now hesitant to fund new startups to compete with these big tech companies because it’s so easy for the big companies to either snap up growing competitors or drive them out of business. The number of tech startups has slumped, there are fewer high-growth young firms typical of the tech industry, and first financing rounds for tech startups have declined 22% since 2012.
With fewer competitors entering the market, the big tech companies do not have to compete as aggressively in key areas like protecting our privacy. And some of these companies have grown so powerful that they can bully cities and states into showering them with massive taxpayer handouts in exchange for doing business, and can act — in the words of Mark Zuckerberg — “more like a government than a traditional company.”
But, Politico notes, the ads were soon scrubbed and replaced with a message: "This ad was taken down because it goes against Facebook's advertising policies."
After Politico reported the "takedown" on Monday, Facebook quickly reversed course, restoring the ads. A spokesperson told the outlet the only reason the ads were removed is because they violated the platform's policies by using their corporate logo.
"We removed the ads because they violated our policies against use of our corporate logo," the spokesperson told Politico. "In the interest of allowing robust debate, we are restoring the ads.”
Politico notes that over a dozen other ads by Warren about her "big tech breakup" proposal weren't pulled.
Facebook "Brand Usage in Ads" policy states: "Don’t use the Facebook corporate logo in an ad. The logo is reserved for corporate use." Here's the full policy statement:
Ads linking to Facebook or Instagram content (including Pages, groups, events or sites that use Facebook Login) may make limited reference to “Facebook” or “Instagram” in ad text for the purpose of clarifying the destination of the ad.
Ads should not represent the Facebook brand in a way that makes it the most distinctive or prominent feature of the creative.
Facebook brand assets should not be modified in any way, such as by changing the design or color, or for the purpose of special effects or animation.
- Do always display the word “Facebook” in the same font size and style as the text surrounding it
- Do always capitalize the word “Facebook”, except when it’s part of a web address
- Don’t pluralize the Facebook trademark, abbreviate it as “FB” or use it as a verb
- Don’t use the “f” or Facebook logos in place of the word “Facebook” in ad copy
- Don’t use the Facebook corporate logo in an ad. The logo is reserved for corporate use
Below is Warren talking with CNN about her big "breakup" plan in a video posted on Facebook:


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Recall Alert: Wegmans say some products may be contaminated with Salmonella
Wegmans Food Markets is issuing a voluntarily recall on its products containing micro greens, sweet pea leaves, and cat grass because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
The company says the products were grown in soil at a farm in Ithaca, New York, that tested positive for Salmonella
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
The affected products were sold in Wegmans stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and a number of other states. No illnesses have been associated with this recall.
Wegmans is placing automated phone calls to alert customers who purchased these products using Shoppers Club cards.
For more information about refunds and which stores sold the products, click here.


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Panel backs cap on rooms and meals tax fee
A House Ways and Means subcommittee voted 6-1 Feb. 8 to limit the amount large restaurants and lodging firms can hold back as an administration fee in collecting the state’s rooms and meals tax.
Lobbyists for the hospitality industry opposed House Bill 1329 at its hearing and work session, fearing the bill imposes a new tax on a sector already paying its fair share.
Currently these businesses retain 3 percent of receipts from the 8 percent state tax, but only if they file an electronic return by the 15th of each month. If overdue, they lose their fee and pay a 6 percent annual penalty instead.
In its latest version, HB 1329 would cap the monthly collectors’ fee at $100 per restaurant or hotel, regardless of its sales volume. Each outlet in a business chain would get the same $100.
The bill would cost the 998 largest tax filers a combined $3.1 million, according to spreadsheets prepared for the Ways and Means Committee. The other 5,277 filers would see no loss because the payment still covers their 3 percent cut.
As a general rule, a restaurant or motel would suffer no drop in fee if it generates less than $41,600 per month in taxable sales.
The original draft of the bill removed the aggregate $5.5 million commission, which would have hurt every firm in the hospitality sector. The $100 cap was a compromise.
The bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Steve Vaillancourt, R-Manchester, said HB 1329 corrects an injustice. He said convenience stores get nothing for processing the revenue from cigarette stamps.
“It’s clear people are getting more money (on rooms and meals) than it actually costs them,” Vaillancourt said.
Tom Boucher, CEO of the T-Bones restaurant chain, said his firm’s five outlets spend a total of $45,000 to collect the tax, and they keep roughly the same amount. The bill would cost his firm $39,000 a year.
“I can’t just absorb this loss,” he said. “I have to pass it along to my employees or my customers.”
Vaillancourt called Boucher’s figures “serendipitous” because the costs exactly equal the commissions. After the vote Boucher said, “I take offense he didn’t accept my numbers as factual.”
Rep. Peyton Hinkle, R-Merrimack, cast the only vote against the $100 limit and called it unfair.
“There has to be a relationship between the size of our payment and the size of the company,” he explained.
Vaillancourt was surprised the subcommittee gave the bill such strong support.
“But I’d be amazed if it passes in both houses and gets signed by the governor,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Clegg, R-Hudson, said the bill reneges on a deal lawmakers made with the industry decades ago when the tax was enacted. In return for collecting it, businesses were given the commission.
“Here we go again, hurting them,” said Clegg.
– CHRIS DORNIN
GOLDEN DOME NEWS SERVICE


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Department stores duke it out over these shoppers Despite department stores’ share of beauty sales rebounding from 11.7 percent in 2010 to 12.7 percent last.
If you follow Point Inside, you know that we love sports of all kinds, with hydroplane racing being one of our top picks. Hydroplanes are.
Everyone from fashionistas to tech geeks are eager to get their hands on the highly anticipated Apple Watch as the countdown to its availability approaches.
A Happy Holiday Season Expected for Retailers eMarketer forecasts that US retail sales in the months of November and December 2015 will increase 5.7% year.


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Skolkovo Robotics International Conference 2016
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How digital farming could boost Russia’s competitive advantage on global markets
When the Kursk region-based agricultural enterprise Agrofirma Rylskaya noticed that the costs of their sugar beet production were constantly rising, with no corresponding increase in yield, they turned...
Going stateside: Promobot plans U.S. office as latest robot unveiled
It’s a big year for Promobot, a resident startup of the Skolkovo Foundation’s IT cluster. The Perm-based company has just released version 4 of its cheeky service robots, whose antics have...
Skolkovo residents out in force at CES in Las Vegas
Several resident startups of the Skolkovo Foundation took their products and technologies to Las Vegas last week for CES, one of the world’s biggest consumer technologies exhibitions and conferences...
Skolkovo startups win two of top three places in reality TV show
Two of the top three prizes in a reality TV show that followed the fortunes of Russian tech startups went to residents of the Skolkovo Foundation. Vitaly Savelyev, commercial director of KB Avrora, receiving...
Офисы и лаборатории
Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
Skolkovo Open University
Customs and Finance Company
Intellectual property centre
© 2018 Skolkovo Foundation


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Skincare brand Prai Beauty, known as the ‘Neckxperts’ for its pro-aging solutions targeting the skin around the throat and décolletage, is launching into Waitrose this month as part of its ongoing UK retail expansion plans.
The move will mark Prai Beauty’s first supermarket stockist and follows its success in the UK market with M&S, Boots, QVC and Sephora, alongside the plus double-digit growth on their direct-to-consumer channels.
Prai's sales and marketing brand consultant, Annie Toker, who works with Prai in the UK, said in a statement: “As an independent skincare brand, this move into Waitrose is a turning point for Prai Beauty. It is the first grocer the brand has launched into, and the Waitrose customer demographic is spot on for Prai’s product offering.
"We’ve demonstrated ongoing growth and success behind Prai's heroes, and the brand is ready to take this next step as part of our omni-channel strategy.”
Prai Beauty offers products designed for midlife women that specifically address “tricky to treat areas,” including the neck and decolletage, as well as the upper arms. Waitrose will be stocking the brand’s Ageless Throat and Decolletage Creme, Ageless Throat and Decolletage Serum, Ageless Throat and Decolletage Night Creme and Ageless Upper Arm Creme.
Nicki Baggot, skincare and suncare buyer for Waitrose, added: “We’ve been very aware of the impact Prai Beauty has made on the skincare market and we recognise the opportunity in neck care and targeted skincare solutions.
“By stocking Prai Beauty’s hero bestsellers, we’re bringing a brand our consumers will know and trust onto the shelves at Waitrose. We’re excited by this new partnership and believe our customers will love what Prai has to offer!”
Prai Beauty products start at 22 pounds.


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Despite the fears of some merchants that Musikfest '85 might actually drive away business because of the crowds, the festival provided an overall positive economic impact, according to a study.
Lehigh University Economics Professor Stephen Thode, along with two students, conducted and wrote the assessment, finding that "Musikfest had a significantly positive overall effect on sales activity" based on the survey of 25 businesses both within and outside the city.
In an interview Friday, Thode stressed that the survey provided only a small sampling - 200 businesses were asked to participate, but only 25 provided enough information to be included.
"I want to caution against drawing broad conclusions and inferences given that the sample is only 25 businesses," said Thode, who holds a doctorate in business administration. "Hopefully we'll do better next year," with a broader sample, he said.
Even given the limitations of the study, most of the news should be good for both Musikfest organizers and business people alike. The report shows that:
- Average weekly sales figures for the sample businesses increased by about $2,000 during Musikfest. Typical average sales were $18,000 per week, but during the festival held Aug. 17-25 they increased to $20,000, representing an average increase of 11.7 percent.
- Sales increased during five of the seven days of the week, with the biggest increases realized on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Sales decreased slightly, however, on Friday, and more so on Sunday, compared to "typical" summertime sales for those days.
"The study seems to confirm the notion that Musikfest 'got people out' and stimulated sales activity overall, not just for Musikfest vendors or downtown merchants," the report states. "The results appear to indicate that Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley enjoyed an incremental gain in business activity through tourism during Musikfest."
Thode was uncertain as to why the businesses gained substantially on weekdays, particularly Tuesday through Thursday, but fell off on Friday and Sunday. Saturday realized a gain of 9.2 percent, but Friday lost 2.7 percent and Sunday was off 12.5 percent compared to the typical days without the festival going on. Tuesday registered the biggest average gain at nearly 57 percent increased sales, from $1,873 to $2,940.
The professor believes that the weather had its effect, and that the festival was competing with largerthan normal sales on weekends, since retail businesses generally do well during the Friday-through-Sunday period.
Another suggestion Thode made is that the two larger-volume businesses surveyed - no specific company names were released - were responsible for an inordinately large share of the weekend losses.
Business A, for instance, dropped from normal Sunday sales of $10,678 to only $6,560 during the festival. Another company dropped from $4,028 to $1,452. Those same two also had drops in their average weekly sales during the festival, A dropping from $69,287 to $60,228, and B from $29,022 to $12,893.
"Take (those two out) and that's the whole ball game," Thode said of the losses. He noted that neither of the two companies are located in Bethlehem.
"We did have some businesses that were hurt," Thode said, "and we were not afraid to include those people in the sample.
"Presumably if you're in the alcohol business or the entertainment business you could (expect to) see a drop" from Musikfest, which offers the same things, Thode said.
On the other hand, business C nearly doubled its weekly average, from $33,818 to $69,475 during Musikfest, and there were far more examples of that than the previous two.
Thode said he was not compensated in any way for the report, and that he made it clear to festival officials that "if I was going to participate, objectivity would be my chief goal. I should impress upon you that no pressure was placed on me" to come up with a particular result.
In a final report on the 1985 festival released last week, Chairman John W. Trotter Jr. calls Musikfest "a dynamic community effort to further establish cultural tourism as a major industry in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley." Trotter says Musikfest, "like all efforts of its kind, has supporters and detractors."
One of the biggest and most troublesome detractors is the Pennsylvania Tavern Owners Association, which last week vowed to continue its fight to try to block Musikfest from getting a special license to sell beer and wine. "We will be addressing this matter after the Legislature returns in early 1986," says Denny Nicholson, the association's executive director.
Nicholson says Musikfest "broke the law" in obtaining temporary permits to sell alcohol at the festival. He says tavern owners are subject to more intense scrutiny from the state Liquor Control Board than is Musikfest.


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As you know, more and more computer infections attempt to propagate themselves by copying their files on USB removable drives and, once connected to a clean computer, they install and compromise the system. But, what's worse is that some devices which provide USB connectivity are shipped with pre-installed viruses, probably due to the ignorance of the manufacturer or to some errors in the scanning process made before shipping. It happened in the past with digital photo frames and it also happened one week ago with HP's flash drives.
However, it seems like MP3 players are also affected by this issue. And this is the time when we start talking about that fake Apple iPod, which says it provides 1 GB of storage space, because, according to Michael of Viruslist.com, it has been shipped with a pre-installed virus. Just like usual, the infection was detected once the USB connection was established, the installed Kasperksy Internet Security identifying and blocking the threat.
Apple, iPod, MP3 Player, USB Device, Malware, Virus


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If you're an ecommerce merchant running your digital business on Magento - or even thinking about doing so - there's a lot to talk about.
The biggest news coming out of the company's annual conference (Imagine 2016) held this week is that there is now a Magento Enterprise Cloud Edition, a release Peter Sheldon, head of strategy at Magento, says is bolstered by Magento's strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other vendors, making it a highly scalable environment.
While the vast majority of current Magento Enterprise customers are on version one of the software, retailers will need to upgrade to Magento 2.0 in order to migrate to the cloud license (the cloud admin dashboard can be seen below).
One of the selling points of upgrading to Magento 2.0, according to Sheldon, is Magento's firm commitment to releasing quarterly updates (e.g, 2.1 in spring, 2.2 in summer), and the new functions and features are only available to those on version 2.0.
Among other updates, Magento 2.1 will feature enhanced paging and preview capability, a long-requested feature according to Sheldon. Merchandisers responsible for campaigns and pricing will now be able to preview what they are doing (makes sense). In the past, when they clicked save, it was live on the website or otherwise they'd have to test the changes elsewhere. With 2.1, retailers can hit save and the changes (like to prices, content, promotions, etc.) won't go live until the merchant is ready.
Another update that will be included in Magento Enterprise Edition 2.1 is the migration of search engine technology from Solar to Elastic Search, which will allow retailers to offer more innovative on-site search and navigation. For the shopper who is on the site, they will receive more relevant search results.
The business case, according to Sheldon, for merchants currently on Magento 1.0 to update to 2.0 is these quarterly launches as well as now, the ability to migrate to the cloud. While merchants had some hesitations initially (nobody wants to be first), there have now been more than 800 site launches on Magento 2.0 and 200,000 downloads - a huge confidence builder for moving forward.
Another major announcement from Magento this week revolves around its extensions library - a popular feature that extends the functionality of the Magento platform. The problem with Magento Connect (what the library has been called to date) is that the extensions were not regulated - anyone could build one or pass one off as their own but that is changing.
"What we are doing now is pressing the reset button on the way we do extensions," said Sheldon in an interview with Website Magazine. "We're retiring the Connect portal and relaunching Magento Marketplace, now the focus is on quality rather than quantity with a much higher barrier to entry."
Magento extensions now have to pass a code audit and their developers have to show very specific marketing and value proposition material. Magento Marketplace will be a managed curated environment, so retailers have peace of mind that what they are considering adding to their site has been fully vetted. With ratings and reviews, for example, only merchants who have bought and used the extension will be able to rate it (similar to the App Store).
Extension developers have been aware of this update, as Magento has whittled down about 6,000 extensions to 400 that matter - this week is just the public unveiling.
For those retailers running on Magento Enterprise - or considering it - there's certainly a lot to consider when it comes to deciding whether to upgrade to 2.0 in order to take advantage of the cloud and/or quarterly updates, or remain on 1.0 where, perhaps, they are performing well.
Head of analyst relations, public relations, customer advocacy (People Heroes), customer community, content marketing (full funnel/lifecycle), content operations and optimization, reputation management and social media. Leads a team of nine superstars to exceed our goals multi-fold.


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In recent years, the cruise season has been a springboard for European luxury houses to fan out to increasingly exotic locales, from Rio de Janeiro to Havana, Palm Springs, Dubai and Seoul. In 2018, the pendulum is swinging back closer to home, with four major brands all opting to stage their shows in France.
As Chanel prepares to unveil its cruise collection in Paris on Thursday, to be followed later this month by Christian Dior in Chantilly, Louis Vuitton in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Gucci in Arles, the fashion flock is gearing up for an extended stay in the home of Champagne, macarons and train strikes.
Alessandro Michele, Gucci’s creative director, has a nose for culturally significant locations, having staged his previous cruise presentations in locations including the Dia Art Foundation in New York City, the Cloisters at Westminster Abbey in London and the Palatina Gallery in Florence’s Palazzo Pitti.
“After cruising New York, London and Florence, France was the most natural and organic landing place for Gucci. I wanted to pay my homage to this incredibly important and fundamental country for our culture and history,”
“Among the many beautiful places in France, I chose Arles. I have always been a great admirer and a curious and avid traveler of that part of the south of France, which I visit at least once every year. I actually decided to have this year’s cruise show there last year, when I was in Arles for a long weekend in July,” he explained.
“All the places I travel to for cruise also belong to my personal story. They are heartfelt places, which have a lot of meaning to me. Nothing is accidental,” Michele added.


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(3/8/13) Your weekend will be one hour shorter than normal. That's because Daylight Savings Time begins at two a-m Sunday, and we're all supposed to move our clocks ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.
In recent years, fire departments have used the time change to remind people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors. Now, Wisconsin emergency officials urge you to do other things as well, so you're ready when something bad happens. When you change your clocks, officials say you should also buy carbon monoxide detectors and make they sure they work – have working weather radios – and create a home emergency kit with flashlights, radios, first aid supplies, and enough food for three days. State officials also have other safety tips – and you'll find them online at ReadyWisconsin-Dot-wi-Dot-gov.


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There are not a whole lot of things that have more of a convenience store cult following than a Slurpee and it's just a matter of time before it makes its way back to Bryan-College Station.
7-Eleven announced last week that it had purchased 143 retail sites from C. L. Thomas Inc. of Victoria, Texas.
Two of those stores are right here in Bryan/College Station.
"7-Eleven is on an accelerated growth plan. Over the past several years, we've been developing more stores in the markets where we are successful and we are acquiring stores in those same markets. Now we're branching out," said Margaret Chabris, Director of Corporate Communications for 7-Eleven, Inc.
The Speedy Stop located at the corner of Highway 21 and Highway 6 along with The Speedy Stop at the corner of Texas Avenue and Harvey Road are the two stores acquired by 7 Eleven.
"What we are doing right now is retraining all the employees for these stores and having them learn the 7-Eleven system. We're also going to be changing the technology in those stores that helps us merchandise," said Chabris.
But don't expect to get a Slurpee anytime soon. While the local locations will start to carry 7-Eleven products, for now, the convenient store is concentrating its rebranding efforts where the majority of the stores acquired are located.
"Our focus is going to be first on the bulk of them in San Antonio," said Chabris.
But with their aggressive expansion plan, 7-Eleven is looking for more stores to build their brand in B/CS.
"Our intent is to look at other opportunities in these areas. Can we build or purchase more stores to have more density in those two geographic areas," said Chabris.
Both of the Speedy Stops acquired by 7-Eleven are currently unable to sell lottery tickets and money orders while the sales transition takes place.


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Steady Krka Takes SBI 20 Higher
Ljubljana, 3 September - Drug maker Krka is leading a tentative recovery on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, which seemed quite unfazed by news that the two biggest owners of retailer Mercator, the state-run KAD and SOD, were offloading their stakes to Mercator suppliers. The SBI 20 benchmark index added 39.87 points (0.88) percent this week, closing at 4,549.94.
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You’re humming along on your diet, losing 1 pound a week. Suddenly you hit a plateau. Could that nightly glass (or two) of wine have anything to do with it? Discover how your body processes alcohol and get tips on cutting back.
Patients often ask whether it’s “heart healthy” to drink wine every day. The answer is that a small amount of wine each day may be beneficial, but as it turns out, there doesn’t seem to be anything special about wine.
There has been much news coverage about red wine in moderation being good for the heart. Findings from a study published last month in the journal Circulation Research show that going with non-alcoholic red wine may be even better in some cases. A study of 70 men conducted in Spain found that non-alcoholic red wine … Read More


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EMMA BLAKE and SOPHIE ELSWORTH SUMMER means school holidays, some businesses shutting down, great weather and a festive vibe. Here are some tips for a great escape on a budget.
NETCOMM Wireless will supply its fixed wireless devices to a large US based telecommunications carrier for a fixed wireless rural broadband network.
TRANSURBAN has reached an in principle agreement to extend the 95 Express Lanes by 3km south of the existing southern end.
Sophie Elsworth MoneysaverHQ deputy editor CUTTING edge ATMs that remove the ability to steal customer card information are foiling skimmers and making getting at your cash easier than ever.
TOYOTA is recalling 1.6 million vehicles in Japan, Britain and Europe for defective airbags.
Liz Burke TURNS out this isn’t the only lazy postie not even attempting to deliver mail. Dozens of dissatisfied customers have descended on Australia Post.
Frank Chung and AAP LONGER retail trading hours, cheaper goods and car rego fees reduced. These are just some of the big changes coming. But the pay-off could be costly.
ARISTOCRAT Leisure reports a net profit of $236.1 million for the year to September 30, 2015, up 78.9% on the previous year.
Australian dollar continues range-trading
On Tuesday morning, the dollar was trading at 92.65 US cents.
THE Australian dollar has moved little overnight, continuing to hover below 93 US cents.
At 0630 AEST on Tuesday, the local currency was trading at 92.65 US cents, down from 92.68 cents on Monday.
The Australian dollar has stabilised following dramatic moves last week when the currency fell to two-month lows on the back of weaker-than-expected data and economic growth forecasts from the central bank.


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Results 221 - 240 of 6,608 in Microsoft Game Studios
Look at that number again. It's massive. People who purchase console games have an expectation that games for consoles cost money. Comment?
Speaking of Microsoft , they're the latest company said to be eyeing the living room, designing a new set-top box to go head-to-head with the Apple TV. Comment?
Do you love the games available on our smartphone but think a bigger screen size will make it more enjoyable. Comment?
While Apple's iTunes software is currently available for the desktop version of Windows 8, it seems that the Redmond company is interested in having a Metro version of the app, but it seems that Apple is rather reluctant to create an iTunes app for Windows 8. Speaking in an interview with CNN Money , Microsoft Windows CFO, Tami Reller, revealed ... (more) Comment?
Founded in 1996, and acquired by Activision in 2001, Treyarch has grown to become one of the most successful game developers in the world. Comment?
In a move that is LONG overdue, Zen Studios has finally released their Pinball FX2 platform on Valve's Steam service . Comment?
Microsoft is in the process of developing a set-top box, according to sources who spoke with The Wall Street Journal . Comment?
According to a new report by the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft has developed a prototype of a set-top box that has the sole purpose of streaming video. Comment?
If you're a proud owner of an Xbox 360, you've come to the right place. Podcast Unlocked is IGN's best 360-centric podcast. Comment?
Rumors have been circulating for some time that Microsoft is prepping a streaming media box. Comment?
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. Comment?
Those hoping that the spread of free-to-play gaming would slow down or halt in the near future won't be happy with what Epic Games Vice President Mark Rein is saying about the next generation of consoles. Comment?
Microsoft has been long-rumoured to launch a set-top box alongside the new Xbox. Comment?
Phillip is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited. Comment?
Microsoft has apparently registered multiple domain names with the words "Xbox Fusion." Aside from XboxFusion.com, Microsoft has snagged XboxFusion.de, XboxFusion.info, XboxFusion.biz, XboxFusion.co.uk and more. Comment?
The BBC has its own take on Microsoft's IllumiRoom technology dubbed "surround video" . The project has been in development since 2006 in the BBC's R&D laboratories. Comment?
Pinball FX 2 rides the Steam ramp on May 10. The XBLA and Windows 8 game arrives next week as a free download, with six packs available at launch for $9.99 each. Comment?
Peoples Bank employees Andrea Flessa, Joanna Musick, Terry L. Christian, Chance Abbott, and Kat Annett use a Paris Farm and Ranch Kubota tractor to deliver the door prizes for Peoples Bank's Annual Bonanza on May 4th. Comment?
Yes, okay, I know a week is totally impossibly short notice for most of us in Cape Town - "but, like, omg, I might have something else on by then, I think, maybe, I can't remember, let's grab a gatsby later" - but whatever you've got happening next Friday, you should cancel your plans and go to the monthly 2upGamers event instead. Comment?
A senior Scottish policeman has attacked online gaming after a 13-year-old boy slashed a friend's throat with a knife following a Gears of War 3 session. Comment?


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ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal, Sept 5 (PIA) --Various agrarian reform beneficiary groups showcased their products at Robinsons Place Antipolo for the four-day 4th CARP Calabarzon Fair from August 31 to September 1.Line government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Tourism, Cooperative Development Authority and local government units use the fair as a venue to highlight goods produced by ARB business groups in Calabarzon.
DTI Rizal Provincial Director Mercedes Parreno opened the program with gratitude for Calabarzon counterparts for choosing to hold the activity in Rizal Province.
Prior to the current fair, the other previous activities were held in Lipa City, Batangas.
Also present during the fair was DTI Calabarzon Regional Director Marilou Quinco-Toledo who emphasized the importance of mentoring small businesses noting shared services facilities provided by the agency to CARP cooperators in Rizal such as the salabat processing machinery provided to Tanay’s Sampaloc ARB Multi-Purpose Cooperative.
“We hope that in the future we do not only see your products displayed during trade fairs but everyday when we visit department stores” added RD Toledo referring to the directive of new DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
The fair also features a marketing seminar for more than 100 CARP cooperators regionwide this September 2 from 1PM onwards. (PIA-Rizal)


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ATMs, Credit, debit cards set to disappear: Niti Aayog CEO
New Delhi : With India embracing applications of technologies at an accelerated pace, digital transactions will be done through mobile wallets and biometric modes and credit and debit cards as also ATMs were set to disappear, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has said.
"Technology will be a key driver of India's growth," Kant said while launching the Trade and Investment Facilitation Services (TIFS) of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) here on Friday evening.
"Physical banking in India is almost dead and it is adopting pervasive technologies with such an accelerated pace that in next three to four years, the digital transactions would move through mobile wallet and biometric modes," he said. "Credit cards, debit cards and ATMs will disappear."
Kant said that India was growing 7.6 per cent annually in the midst of a very barren barren economic landscape across the world.
"The population in America and Europe will keep getting older while that of India will keep getting younger," he said.
In terms of ease of doing business, he said that in the last year "we scrapped 1200 laws".
Stating that India was larger than 24 European countries, Kant said that states should appear as champions of growth.
He declared that India would continue to globalise and dismantle rules and regulations that adversely affected inbound investments. It would also create conditions for expansion of its economy.
"Despite (US President Donald) Trump talking of protectionism (of US economy), there is no talk of protectionism here," the Niti Aayaog CEO said.


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Businesses putting all their mobile eggs in the app basket might want to reconsider, according to new research.
A survey from CEM4Mobile found that most of the wireless device users are still using their mobile browser to access the mobile Internet — and not a specially designed app.
According to the survey, businesses that had both an app and a website found that just 10 percent of users visited them via the app, compared to 90 percent on their mobile browser.
Additionally, the research showed more than 65 percent of the total number of impressions came from the mobile browser, versus just 34 percent from a mobile app.
Janne Aalto, CEM4Mobile Solution's managing director, said businesses should not lose sight of the fact that most wireless device users still are using a basic browser to access the mobile Internet.
"Native applications and app stores provide great platforms for niche players, but when you want to attract the diverse mobile market and all your potential users, you need to support both," Aalto said in a prepared release. "First, by providing a browsing service for all users; then, turning your casual customers into active, loyal and advocate customers with applications."
But while mobile-friendly websites attract the most visitors, the research also revealed that an app is more likely to have repeat customers.
According to the study, mobile-browsing users return to mobile websites an average of five times in a month; app users, meanwhile, return more than 11 times.
App users also spend more time on their apps than the browser. According to the survey, mobile device users will spend between about five and five-and-a-half minutes on an app, compared with just over three minutes on a mobile browser.
"Competition of desktop space and users' time on wireless devices is already fierce, and thus just steadily publishing new applications is producing a temporary source of loyalty for content publishers and distributors," Aalto said.
The study was conducted using a sample of more than 56 million mobile impressions from mobile services where both applications and browsing-based access were supported.
- New Technology Lets Businesses Create Mobile Apps That Pop
- Local Mobile Search Spurs Customer Engagement Opportunities
- Small Businesses Preparing to Go Mobile