text:
Canadian Ecotourism Services (CES) is proud to officially launch its AIM Authentic Indigenous Moments™ platform. This platform allows cultural entrepreneurs to supply their services and experiences directly to tourists, while preserving and sharing their culture with experiential activities ranging anywhere from an hour to a full day.
CES’ founder - Clinton Belcher - developed AIM Authentic Indigenous Moments™as a legacy project to empower local cultural entrepreneurs to do what they love. Throughout his travels he recognized the challenges faced by cultural preservers to effectively share their knowledge with tourists. Often their ideas or moments had to be translated into an extensive business plan, and moreover, they were expected to manage the business side of the activity making it almost impossible to get their idea of the ground.
Clinton says the industry needs to recognize that without cultural entrepreneurs there will be no Indigenous tourism, and the only way to build Indigenous tourism is to use grassroots tourism solutions and empower the people who are keepers of knowledge and culture.
With AIM Authentic Indigenous Moments™ they join a community serviced by a platform that takes care of their accounting, branding, marketing, and booking service. All the entrepreneur has to do is confirm their booking and go out and do what they love - without a full-time commitment or unrealistic start-up costs.
Mistissini’s AIM Authentic Indigenous Moments™project will launch in early 2019.


text:
Spectacular, Star-Filled Display Will Be Visible From Earth at Select Locations
WHAT: Authorities at Nintendo are forecasting an extraordinary celestial event this season. Expected to be visible on Sept. 18, this eye-popping occurrence will be best viewed from a handful of specific U.S. locations (see below). Experts are still deliberating over the scientific significance of this rare phenomenon, but evidence points clearly to the reemergence of a luminous entity that citizens from all walks of life will appreciate.
Games Convention Asia (GCA)
GC Asia Conference (GCAC)
September 18-20, 2008
BRIGHTON, England and SINGAPORE – August 27, 2008 – GamesIndustry.biz has been confirmed as the international media partner for this year’s Games Convention Asia (GCA), and Games Convention Asia Conference (GCAC). GCA and the Games Convention Asia Conference (GCAC) take place September 18-20, 2008, at the Suntec International Convention & Exhibition Centre Singapore.
As the official international media partner GamesIndustry.biz, the world’s leading online trade news publication for interactive entertainment, will provide 360 degree coverage of GC Asia 2008. The GamesIndustry.biz team will provide its readers with interviews with the speakers and exhibitors, and provide the latest news on the show. Additionally, the GamesIndustry.biz Network will partner with the event to welcome GC Asia Conference attendees into its games industry, business-only networking community.
August 2008, Stourbridge, England. Data Design Interactive – a successful video games publisher and games developer, are pleased to announce they have signed Connie Talbot the singing sensation who came to fame from the massively popular UK based talent show ‘Britain’s got Talent.’
Now she is to appear in her very own console game, which will feature 15 fantastic tracks from her best selling debut album Over the Rainbow, including stunning renditions of John Lennon’s “Imagine”, “Any Dream Will Do”, “What a Wonderful World” and Bob Marley’s reggae classic “Three Little Birds”. In the game, the player will be able to sing along with Connie in the fantastic karaoke mode, or with other friends or family members in multiplayer fun.
2007 The public first met Connie, when she came 2nd in the show, since then Connie’s popularity grow – and not only in the UK…with the new version of her debut album ‘Over The Rainbow’ going gold in four countries and straight into the top spot in a number of Asian charts, European tours underway, and a US deal under her belt, Connie is taking the world by storm! Connie takes everything in her stride. She has already claimed 2 UK records, according to the Guinness Book of Records, for the youngest artist ever in the charts, and the youngest to receive a Gold disc.
Data Design Interactive is part of Green Solutions Ltd (GSL) which manages the production of interactive products for the entertainment industry. From game design, development and publishing on PC and Console. GSL owns the popular MYTH MAKERS and KIDZ SPORTS brands and the publishing rights to the GODS development system. We control a number of studios which specialize in key areas. Data Design Interactive develops and publishes, and is a licensed publisher for Sony Playstation, Nintendo and Microsoft, Artworld Studios for computer animation and Advergaming is the market leader for in game advertising and custom games. Popcorn Arcade www.popcorn-arcade.com is the brand name for our family friendly, value
IGN: Why didn’t Nintendo show off more hardcore titles like MadWorld, Fatal Frame and The Conduit?
Cammie Dunaway: Well, we have to pick and choose what we’re going to do …
Joystiq: You mentioned that it’s a different team on the Wii, is that an internal team? What else have they worked on?
ML: Yes. Some of them have worked on the …
“We have had a very successful year to date and so has the industry overall. But we have outperformed the market and expect further significant growth this year. Not so …
SAN FRANCISCO – May 22, 2008 – Today Ubisoft announced that the UBIDAYS® 2008 opening conference will be broadcast live on www.uplay.com on Wednesday May 28th at 7 p.m. Paris …
How will Wii Fit(TM) move you? Discover for yourself at New York’s Central Park Merchants’ Gate on May 19, as Nintendo hosts a spectacular all-day launch event for Wii Fit, the highly anticipated new program for the popular Wii(TM) home video game system that combines fun and fitness. The event doubles as a celebration of May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, putting all kinds of bodies — young and old, big and small — in motion with live demonstrations of Wii Fit and the new Wii Balance Board(TM).
For every attendee who “gets on board” for a Wii Fit demo, Nintendo will make a donation of $5 (up to $25,000 total) to the American Heart Association in support of its effort to help Americans live healthier. Expect crowds of people throughout the day, plus an appearance by celebrity trainer Ashley Borden.
LYON, FRANCE – 22 April 2007 – Atari today announced details of the European Limited Edition of the highly anticipated action adventure game Alone in the Dark, scheduled for simultaneous launch with the game across Europe in June for Xbox 360, Wii and PC.
The full contents of the European Limited Edition box are as follows:
• Alone in the Dark game, one of the most anticipated games of the year;
• Figurine of the game’s legendary hero, Edward Carnby;
• Official Soundtrack CD featuring 8 in-game tracks of original music by Olivier Derivière and performed by Grammy® Award-winning choir The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices;
• Full colour, bound art book featuring never before seen production sketches, storyboards and original artwork from Eden Games;
• ‘Making Of’ documentary feature DVD with exclusive interviews, behind the scenes footage and additional bonus content.
All Proceeds from the April 12TH Launch at the Nintendo WORLD Store in NYC to Benefit the Children of New York City
APRIL 7, 2008 – Marina del Rey, CA –Video game publisher Ignition Entertainment has partnered with the non-profit youth mentoring organization Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City (BBBS of NYC) for the Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys launch party event that will be held at New York City’s Nintendo WORLD from Noon-4pm EST Saturday, April 12, 2008.
Ignition Entertainment is offering consumers the chance to help change the lives of disadvantaged children by purchasing an advance copy of Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys for Nintendo DS™ before its scheduled release date of April 15th, with all proceeds from the event benefiting BBBS of NYC. The Teenage Zombies launch party is open to the public at Nintendo WORLD, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City. There will be demos of the game set up throughout the store, opportunities to have your photo taken with the three teenage zombie heroes – Finnigan “Fins” Magee, Lori “Lefty” Lopez and Zach “Halfpipe” Boyd – and a free gift bag, which includes a limited edition Teenage Zombies t-shirt, while supplies last!

domain: news


text:
It doesn’t want to sell NOL too cheaply.
Investors should be cautious when it comes to snapping up shares of Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), as there is a large possibility that a takeover deal will not materialise for the loss-making container shipping company.
After months of speculation, NOL confirmed on November 7 that it is in talks regarding a potential takeover with France’s CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping company, and Danish shipping conglomerate Maersk.
However, analysts caution that Singapore’s investment company Temasek might be unwilling to relinquish its 66.97% stake in NOL due to the company’s current cheap valuation.
“In our view, we believe Temasek may be unwilling to sell its stake given the current low valuations in the industry,” said OCBC analyst Eugene Chua.
For instance, Chua highlighted that German container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd went public on November 6 with an extremely low price-to-book ratio of 0.5x.
Similarly, NOL’s price-to-book ratio currently hovers at 0.76x, significantly below its 13-year average of 1.05x.
“Taking into account its past dividends and return of capital amount received, there may still be a possibility that Temasek is only willing to sell at a valuation of at least 0.8x 3Q15 P/B, or around $1.10,” Chua added.
Meanwhile, CIMB analyst Raymond Yap noted that NOL is an attractive acquisition for both CMA CGM and Maersk, as the Europe-based carriers have low exposure to transpacific trade.
Yap added that NOL is currently trading close to its trough valuation, which means that Temasek has good reason to spurn low offers.
“While Temasek is under no pressure to sell cheap, neither will there be too much resistance to sell an underperforming asset which is a recurring blemish on its report card. Any deal could not possibly be below NOL’s book value of S$1.35/share, but we think anything less than S$1.50 would be rejected, based on our sources,” he said.
Do you know more about this story? Contact us anonymously through this link.


text:
Today marks Canada’s second annual Bottled Water Free Day, a day devoted to avoiding bottled water and opting for tap water instead.
Run by the Canadian Federation of Students, Bottled Water Free Day encourages communities across Canada and the world to take action to ban the bottle and reclaim public water.
Last year, thousands of Canadians participated in events highlighting the negative impacts of bottled water. Over 60 universities and campuses organized events, and nearly 4000 Canadians signed a personal pledge to not drink bottled water.
Here are a few reasons to opt for tap water over bottled:
Water is a human right: According to the Red Cross, there are over 880 million people worldwide who lack access to clean, drinkable water, resulting in the death of more than two million people each year. In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly voted to recognize the right to water and sanitation as basic human rights, affirming that every person has the right to safe, clean, and affordable water.
Plastic bottles usually end up in a landfill: Though they are recyclable, the majority of plastic bottles end up in the trash. In the U.S. only 12 percent of “custom” plastic bottles, most of which are water, hit recycling bins in 2003, according to R.W. Beck Inc. — that’s 40 million bottles a day that go to landfills instead.
We use oil to make plastic water bottles: The plastic bottles that our water comes in are made with oil, a non-renewable resource — according to the Pacific Institute, it takes three litres of oil to produce one litre of bottled water, which adds up to 17 million barrels annually. The manufacturing of plastic bottles involves the creation of significant amounts of greenhouse gases, leading to climate change and global warming.
Tap water is safer than bottled water: In most Canadian municipalities, tap water is tested for bacteria every four hours each day. Bottled water plants, however, only require inspection once every three years. Studies have found bacterial contaminants, organic chemicals (such as industrial solvents and chemicals leeched from plastics) and inorganic contaminants (such as arsenic) in bottled water available for sale.
Bottled water is expensive: In North America, bottled water can cost anywhere from 240 to 10,000 times more than tap water, according to Food and Water Watch. You can use this online calculator to figure out how much bottled water is costing you each year.
Ready to ditch your bottled water? Purchase a reusable bottle as a replacement. Reusable water bottles are better for your health and the environment. Luckily, there are plenty of cute reusable bottles on the market to choose from. Opt for a stainless steel bottle, as hard plastic bottles may contain bisphenol A (BPA), which some preliminary studies have associated with breast cancer and early puberty. Here are our top picks:
For the fashionista: Sigg 0.6L Vivienne Westwood Limited Edition Bottle, $22
If Dame Vivienne Westwood approves, it must be eco-friendly. The Swiss brand Sigg has teamed up with the designer to provide an eco-friendly alternative to plastic water bottles at fashion shows. Made of durable stainless steel, these limited-edition bottles are BPA- and phthalate-free. You can also customize your own Sigg bottle to make it as unique as you are.
For the yoga fan: Luluelemon Simply Stainless Steel Bottle, $25
Want to share your mantra with the world? Consider buying Lululemon’s version of the stainless steel bottle. “What we do to the earth, we do to ourselves,” and “Love your life” are a few of the sayings featured on these brightly coloured bottles.
For the traditionalist: klean kanteen 18oz Wide, $19
Priding itself on making the “Original Stainless Steel Bottle,” klean kanteen uses food-grade stainless steel to ensure your water stays flavour-free. The large-mouth opening makes for easy pouring and cleaning, and is great for adding in ice cubes or lemon slices.
For the water advocate: Kor One Special Edition, $35, or $120 for a set of four
Want to contribute even more to the cause? Kor One has created a collection of special edition bottles to raise awareness of critical water issues. Each “hydration vessel” is devoted to a specific water-related cause – blue for ocean protection, green for wetland protection, orange for bottle recycling, and pink for the global water crisis. Five percent of sales from these bottles will go to Kor’s Thirst for Giving campaign.


text:
New car registrations dropped 4.2 per cent year-on-year in the UK last month – but the drop was not as bad as had been feared. A total of 134,027 units were registered in November, some 5000 more units that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) had forecast.
Total registrations in the UK in 2011 now stand at 1,822,065 units, some 4.5 per cent less than the first 11 months of 2010. The better-than-expected November registrations has led the SMMT to believe that its total registrations prediction of 1.923 million units will be beaten.
November was notable for seeing the highest ever market share for diesel cars (55.6 per cent) and alternatively fueled models (1.6 per cent), while the average mpg for new cars also hit an all-time high at 52,5mpg. The figure is the 29.3 per cent improvement in the past 10 years.
The SMMT notes that the new car market is being propped up by customer incentives and demand from the fleet market and the stability of the market in recent months were at odds with the rest of the economy.
The best-selling car in the UK in November was the Ford Fiesta. The supermini is also the best-selling car in the UK this year.


text:
The Economic Activity of Ecuador
The Ecuadorian economy is based on petroleum production, which accounted for 59% of total export earnings, and agricultural production (bananas, shrimp, flowers, and other primary agricultural products) for domestic consumption and export. Ecuador is the world's largest exporter of bananas and plantains and a major exporter of shrimp. Exports of nontraditional products such as flowers and canned fish have grown in recent years. As of 2008, the country's economy reached 48.5 billion USD, with an annual growth rate of 4.25%
Ecuador's economic performance has been solid since it adopted the dollar as its national currency in 2000. Since then, growth has averaged 4.6% per year, supported by the stability brought by high oil prices, strong domestic consumer demand, increased non-traditional exports, and growing remittances from Ecuadorians living abroad. Ecuador has been unable to take full advantage of those resources for its own development. Mismanagement, lack of investment, and corruption in the state-owned oil sector has caused declines in state oil production over the last decade.
President Correa has announced his opposition to resumption of FTA talks with the U.S., citing concerns that Ecuador is not yet sufficiently competitive, especially in sensitive agriculture sectors. Prior to taking office, he said that the Government of Ecuador would only service its external debt obligations after funding domestic social priorities. As of January 2008, the government had met its external debt obligations.


text:
DANVILLE — Danville is partnering with Lewisburg's entrepreneurial incubator, Bucknell University's Small Business Development Center (SBDC), to form Startup Danville, a business incubator.
Lewisburg entrepreneurs frequently come through Bucknell University’s SBDC when they look to turn their new ideas into reality — more specifically its Startup Lewisburg entrepreneurial incubator.
Now, in partnership with DRIVE (Driving Real Innovation for a Vibrant Economy), an economic development entity, the Bucknell SBDC is replicating that startup incubator model in Danville. The business incubator has been open since March in the DRIVE office building along Railroad Street in Danville at the site of the former Metso Minerals complex.
Partnering with SBDC "brings to the table a deep understanding and ability to work with entrepreneurs, and provide them with technical assistance and guidance that certainly beyond the scope of what DRIVE is able to do," said DRIVE Executive Director Jennifer Wakeman on Wednesday afternoon.
"They will allow us to engage with businesses that are at a different level," she said. "A lot of what DRIVE typically does is industrial development. Large business development. In teaming up with SBDC, it is another prong in economic development. Entrepreneurs, start-ups... those are the large businesses of tomorrow."
Following initial support from Merck’s Neighbor of Choice program, Startup Danville will soon be scaling up operations with support from a new $99,500 Rural Business Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“This started out as an experiment to see if we could replicate Startup Lewisburg within this community,” said Denny Hummer, Bucknell SBDC assistant director, business incubation, who oversees both startup incubators. “With the initial support we received from DRIVE and Merck, we welcomed our first tenant in May and haven’t looked back since.”
With a location less than a mile from Geisinger, Startup Danville is focusing on health care and technology innovations.
Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility already has four member startups.
“The pandemic has served to highlight the critical need for innovations being fostered by this initiative,” says Bucknell SBDC Director Steve Stumbris. “Throughout this project, SBDC educational programming, advisory services and expanded office space will be targeted toward entrepreneurs who are working to foster innovations in health services delivery and sustain the health of the community.”
According to Hummer, Merck also plans to provide access to intellectual talent by involving local staff in this initiative, an engagement above and beyond the financial support the company provides through its Neighbor of Choice program.


text:
Digital TV News: DNA
Initiative to support development of addressable media in Europe launched
Dec 16, 2021 – Amobee, Carbon, Comscore, Finecast, LiveRamp, Lotame, Neustar and PubMatic, in association with The Project X Institute, have announced the launch of the European Addressable Media Initiative, focused on supporting the development of addressable media in Europe.
News categories: Project X Institute, Advertising, Big Data, Digital TV, Europe
DNA launches upgraded DNA TV Hubi
Nov 15, 2021 – The renewed, smaller and more than twice as powerful DNA TV Hubi brings together TV channels, streaming services, and utility and entertainment apps behind a single user interface. The device also includes the latest OS and voice search for Android.
News categories: DNA, Ville Partanen, Mikko Saarentaus, Android TV, Digital TV, Finland, Set Top Box
Amazon Prime Video now available on DNA Hubi devices
Aug 20, 2021 – DNA has expanded its DNA TV Hubi service with the addition of Amazon Prime Video. In addition to other popular streaming services, the Amazon Prime Video app is now available on DNA Hubi devices.
News categories: DNA, Prime Video, Jarno Haikonen, Android TV, Apps, Cable TV, Digital TV, Finland, Set Top Box
Tata Sky Binge delivers streaming app aggregation with ThinkAnalytics
Jul 29, 2021 – ThinkAnalytics has announced that its Think360 cloud-based personalized content discovery and viewer engagement platform is now live on Tata Sky's Binge Fire TV Stick service and Binge mobile app.
News categories: ThinkAnalytics, Tata Sky, Peter Docherty, Pallavi Puri, Apps, Big Data, Digital TV, India, Streaming, UX
WarnerMedia, Discovery combination to be called 'Warner Bros. Discovery'
Jun 1, 2021 – Discovery (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) has announced 'Warner Bros. Discovery' as the name for the proposed entertainment company that will emerge from the combination of WarnerMedia and Discovery assets.
News categories: Discovery, Inc, David Zaslav, Digital TV, Streaming, USA, Worldwide
Simply.TV metadata powers DNA TV services in Finland
Mar 17, 2021 – Finland's largest cable operator DNA has signed a multi-year deal to use Simply.TV's metadata solution. DNA's entire user base has been has been transfered across multiple platforms.
News categories: Simply.TV, DNA Oy, Daniel Rühmann, Pekka Jääskeläinen, Big Data, Digital TV, Finland
Zixi announces partnership with Google Cloud
Nov 17, 2020 – Zixi has announced an alliance with Google Cloud that allows companies in the media, telecommunications and entertainment verticals to deliver end-to-end broadcast quality live video over IP using Google Cloud.
News categories: Zixi, Google Cloud, Eunice Park, Kip Schauer, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Worldwide
Finns prefer to watch streaming services on the TV
Sep 15, 2020 – A TV screen is still the most popular choice for keeping up with the content in paid streaming services, according to DNA’s Digital Lifestyle survey. The TV is still the most common viewing device in the home.
News categories: DNA, Mervi Rouvinen, Digital TV, Finland, Market Research, Set Top Box, Streaming
Zixi integrated into Harmonic's cloud based live streaming platform
Jul 9, 2020 – Zixi has announced the integration of Zixi into Harmonic's cloud based live streaming platform, allowing content contributors and distributors to scale their video transport to hundreds of outlets around the world.
News categories: Zixi, Harmonic, John Wastcoat, Shahar Bar, Content Distribution, Digital TV, Worldwide
- Evoca expands to Denver with Altitude Sports
- European Parliament agrees Digital Services Act (DSA) proposal
- Worldwide semiconductor revenue grew 25.1% in 2021
- MPEG LA offers one-stop license for ATSC 3.0
- discovery+ now available on LG Smart TVs in Canada
- SLING TV comes to VIZIO SmartCast platform
- VideoAI from CTS automates video content metadata generation
- Irdeto brings Server Side Ad Insertion solution to market
- Five million Brits spending full working day on streaming sites
- Breezeline launches cloud-based TV service
- ATSC 3.0 technologies selected for Brazil's TV 3.0 system
- European Audiovisual Observatory publishes report on media ownership in Europe
- MPEG-H selected as audio system for Brazil's TV 3.0 Project
- Altice partners with Ampersand to sell addressable ad inventory
- Cgates goes live with Synamedia video network solutions
- Video Solutions AG launches AVOD channels with Amagi
- Netflix shows signs of slowing in the U.S.
- A-LIVE partners with Minerva to offer fans NFTs of music concert
- Pay TV revenues in the MENA region to decline by $1.5bn
- ViacomCBS migrates from satellite to IP content distribution with CommScope


text:
- Nov 1, 1998
Click here to read more!Bitspower just launched a digital leak tester aimed to assist water cooling aficionados. This new tool features a hand-operated pump and digital display to ensure your new custom water loop can handle the pressure. Pressurizing the system with air before filling it with water eliminates the risk of catastrophic leaks that can destroy your expensive components. Bitspower is selling the new leak tester on its website for $41.92. Considering the current price of GPUs, CPUs, and motherboards, this has the potential to save you thousands. For more information see Bitspower's press release below.


text:
Black Friday this week will feature cut-throat deals, but how can this be profitable for retailers?
Rock bottom freight rates are contributing to the offers.
A deep slump in shipping volumes spurred by weaker demand for commodities and slower global trade has a silver lining in sending bulk and container rates to record lows, allowing good to be shipped at low costs, according to real-time freight rate database Freightos.
Figured pulled from the database by Freightos highlighted a few key products that may fill holiday season shopping baskets at lower costs because of shipping rates, noting for example than a $2,000 Apple MacBook Pro costs $1.50 to import into the U.S. by freighter.
At the same time, it costs 2.5 times more for overnight delivery from New Jersey to New York via trucks for a 55-inch television set than it does sending by ocean freight from the South Korea to the U.S. The largest ocean liners can hold over 1.2 million TV sets, underscoring the economy of scale.
According to a Friday report from IHS Markit, which runs a maritime information service, the spot Asia-U.S. West Coast ocean freight rate fell 18 percent from a week ago to $1,687 per 40-foot-equivalent unit.


text:
India is looking to add a touch of luxury to its railway network, inspired by Switzerland’s glass-topped trains. The move is a part of the government’s attempt to revamp the massive transport system.
Starting December, Indian Railways plans to test-run three luxury coaches with glass ceilings, one on a route in the Kashmir valley and the other two in the Araku Valley in south India. In a bid to attract wealthy tourists, the coaches will have chairs that can rotate, extra leg space, and high-tech “infotainment systems,” according to A K Manocha, chairman and managing director of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
“There are some trains with glass ceiling(s) in foreign countries like Switzerland, which enjoy the patronage of tourists. We believe such coaches would also give a fillip to rail tourism in India,” Manocha said.
India has one of the world’s largest railway networks with trains ferrying around 23 million people every day. However, years of neglect and under-investment have left it in a sorry state. While luxury trains such as the Maharajas’ Express or the Palace on Wheels already serve the rich tourists (charging thousands of dollars for a few nights on board), the services for regular Indian commuters and travellers have lagged.
At Rs4 crore per glass-topped coach, the latest attempt is an expensive one for India’s railways. But it is in line with the Narendra Modi-led government’s plans to upgrade and modernise the railway network in India. It plans to spend around $17 billion (Rs1.21 lakh crore) this fiscal towards this revamp. Since 2015, the railways’ initiatives have ranged from trying to cut power bills by testing solar panels on trains to tying up with Domino’s for pizza delivery at certain stations. This year, Indian Railways announced plans to offer wifi hotspots at 100 stations and improve its services via smartphone apps.
But these efforts seem largely cosmetic. The system is still mired in inefficiencies and delays that often make train travel an uncomfortable experience for ordinary Indians. And a handful of glass-topped coaches will hardly change that.
Feature image by Tony Hisgett on Wikimedia, licensed under CC-BY-2.0.


text:
The next installment in the massively successful God of War video game franchise has just been announced — and yes, Stargate’s Christopher Judge is once again starring.
Sony and developer Santa Monica Studio announced God of War: Ragnarok for the PlayStation 5 at today’s showcase event for the next-gen gaming console. The 1-minute teaser video includes the title and a 2021 release window.
Judge plays Kratos, the game’s lead character. He can be heard narrating the teaser released with today’s announcement. “The time draws near,” he says. “You must prepare yourself.”
Judge’s performance in the series includes not only voice acting but also motion capture. He really threw himself into the part, and his work on set and behind the scenes can be seen in this 2-hour documentary on the making of the game.
Sony today also announced pricing and the release date for its next-generation hardware, which will be Ragnarok‘s exclusive home. The PlayStation 5 launches on November 12, at $499 for the regular system and $400 for an all-digital model without a disc drive.
God of War (2018) rebooted the franchise to great acclaim, selling more than 10 million units and winning Game of the Year at the 2018 Game Awards, the SXSW Gaming Awards, the 15th British Academy Games Awards, and more.
On Stargate SG-1 Judge played the Jaffa warrior “Teal’c” for ten seasons.


text:
The big money purchase puts the rapper into competition with Spotify and Dr Dre's Beats.
After a decade at the BBC, the distinctive Kiwi tones of the DJ, producer and influential music industry personality will be heard at Apple.
An executive sends a memo to employees to dismiss BBC reporting that claims Chinese workers at an Apple supplier continue to be treated poorly.
Commentary: The super popular Serial podcast has concluded its first season, but was there a conclusion? Crave's Eric Mack draws a few, including some you probably haven't heard. Warning: spoilers.
Reported to hit theaters sometime in 2016 or 2017, a crossover of the "Jump Street" and "Men in Black" franchises would star Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum fighting aliens.
IBM says online sales inched up only 8.5 percent, but Adobe claims they jumped 16 percent.
Thanksgiving may be American, but sales in the UK, France, Germany and China show the consumer frenzy is becoming a broader phenomenon.
An unaired "SNL" sketch reveals what happens when you've written 10,000 tweets. You get a celebrity kiss, a visit from Woody Harrelson dressed as God and an elaborate music-dance routine.
Jay Bregman believes that drone makers will pay for the tech needed to curtail issues with safety and privacy and to comply with the law. Call it regulatory engineering.
Inspired by his own experiences with dyslexia, Dutch designer Christian Boer developed a font to make reading easier.


text:
If successful, the effort will pose the first major challenge to Intel technology in personal computers since the market’s birth in the early 1980s. It’ll also bring to Windows the Qualcomm chips that have been integral to the explosion of mobile computing, a growing business Microsoft has failed to crack. The tie-up isn’t the first time the world’s largest software maker has tried to bring Windows to computers running on chip technology other than Intel’s -- the previous attempt garnered few sales and resulted in huge losses on unsold inventory.
This time, Microsoft will give Windows 10 for Qualcomm chips the ability to run programs written for the traditional version of the platform, using software called an emulator. That means the computers and tablets will be able to run regular Microsoft Office programs, as well as applications like Adobe Photoshop. Generally an emulator slows down a computer’s performance, but Microsoft and San Diego-based Qualcomm said mobile hardware is now fast enough that users won’t notice a decline.
“This is a commitment to bring mobility into Windows,” Cristiano Amon, head of Qualcomm’s chip business, said in an interview. Windows users will get thinner and lighter machines that are always connected to the Internet, he said.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, will announce the effort early Thursday at the annual Windows Hardware Engineering Community conference in Shenzhen, China.
In 2012, Microsoft released a version of Windows for computers running on chips designed for mobile devices, based on ARM Holdings Plc semiconductor technology. Yet apart from Microsoft itself, which fielded the Surface RT, only four device makers signed up to make tablets to run the software. Only one other company had products available at launch, and two never shipped a compatible device in any significant volume. Within nine months, Microsoft had to slash prices and write down the value of its unsold Surface tablets, and it stopped making the RT version in 2015.
This time Microsoft will offer an enterprise edition so corporations can manage the tablets and laptops and weave them into information technology infrastructure the same way they do with Intel-based machines. Microsoft’s previous effort targeted consumers. The new focus on business customers and the addition of more compatible applications mean this time Microsoft is more likely to succeed, said Matt Barlow, a Windows vice president.
"Things are materially different than they were even a few years ago," he said.
At the conference in Shenzhen, the software maker also said it will request Chinese permission to sell its HoloLens augmented reality goggles in that country. Microsoft expects to get the OK and begin selling the devices in the first half of 2017. The company began selling its Xbox console there two years ago, ending a lengthy ban on game consoles in the world’s most populous country.
Microsoft is still leaning heavily on Intel for many parts of its Windows plans. The two companies are working on computers that take advantage of artificial intelligence and Microsoft’s Cortana voice-controlled search agent. As part of the collaboration, called Project Evo, the two companies will work on programs like adding far-field speech communication to devices so users can ask Cortana questions or request it play music from across the room -- features popularized by Amazon.com Inc.’s hit Echo voice-activated home devices.


text:
With the EUs release of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), data privacy measures – at a global scale- are stronger than ever. TDLR: The GDPR mandates that any company that would have access to the personal data of a European citizen or conduct business in the EU has to comply.
What does that mean for companies in the US? The potential for fines as high as 4% of their global turnover. American Airlines and Marriott International are two companies receiving notably hefty fines. Google has also been found guilty and found by France’s watchdog group.
“Regardless of your industry, an end-to-end approach is critical.”Forbes
As data privacy regulation continues to increase, becoming compliant will only become more important more difficult. It’s not all bad news though – research shows that although data privacy is receiving a crackdown it is not greatly impacting the data industry.
However, as the United States government continues to leave regulation of data privacy at the state level, the regulatory environment of the US will continue to become a complicated maze to manage and navigate for companies hoping to operate across the country. If it was said that the CCPA was a harsh data law, New York’s new regulation currently making its way through the office will put it to shame. So where does that leave an individual interested in maintaining their data privacy?
Block chain continues to be an option for de-centralizing data stores and leaving the power of protection in the hands of the individual rather than a business or multitude of businesses. Encrypted files stored on a singular device would allow users to protect themselves and control the flow of their personal data to third parties. As data centers and large-scale storage of bio-metric data, personal identification data, and passwords continue to stockpile data, they become the targets of hackers and thieves.
One such breach of privacy protection has left a European security company in hot water, with many others scrambling to plug their holes and protect themselves.
It’s easy to change a password, encrypt a file, and store personal data centrally, especially in comparison to the other option: get a new face, and a new fingerprint every time your data is stolen. Wait, can you do that?
Data protection regulations are not going to lessen any time soon, in fact it is sure to continuously increase as the rise of faster computation, AI, and the growing connectivity of other devices plugged into the sphere create new threats around every corner.
Companies are still not compliant with GDPR, but they should be soon before it becomes more difficult to become compliant. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/336109
Google is working to protect themselves from potential data privacy issues after their fines from France, most recently. https://www.androidcentral.com/google-stops-sharing-info-wireless-carriers-over-data-privacy-concerns
Major breach in bio-metrics and personal identification data for a European country that runs security for companies worldwide. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/aug/14/major-breach-found-in-biometrics-system-used-by-banks-uk-police-and-defence-firms
Decentralizing data and using blockchain to encrypt singularly held data could lead to less data theft and fraud. https://bitcoinist.com/why-blockchain-technology-is-important-for-data-privacy/
American Airlines and Marriott International are two of the first companies fined under GDPR. https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/gaining-data-privacy-compliance-when-67316/
New York’s Data Privacy Law and the Legal Environment of the US https://www.brinknews.com/the-us-is-leaving-data-privacy-to-the-states-and-thats-a-problem/
Data privacy laws have not killed marketing and technology companies, yet. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/08/14/why-stricter-data-privacy-laws-would-benefit-the-data-industry/#3b1e3a1465e2


text:
General Motors Corp., reeling from slumping sales, crushing costs and massive losses, said Monday that it planned to close all or part of a dozen facilities in the U.S. and Canada and eliminate 30,000 manufacturing jobs over the next three years.
The cutbacks are even more extensive than GM officials had predicted five months ago when they warned that the company would reduce 25,000 jobs in a restructuring of its North American division -- which has lost more than $4 billion so far this year.
Chief Executive Rick Wagoner told Wall Street analysts that “we expect we will achieve much of this [workforce] reduction by attrition and early retirement programs” rather than layoffs.
The restructuring would be GM’s largest since 1991, when the automaker -- facing many of the same problems -- slashed 74,000 jobs and closed 21 North American facilities.
GM said the shuttered operations would help the company save $7 billion in annual costs by the end of next year.
The cuts also would lower GM’s North American production capacity to about 4.2 million vehicles a year, down 30% from 2002.
But some Wall Street analysts disputed whether GM could achieve the savings it forecast, and others noted that the automaker remained saddled with several major problems, including a declining market share in the United States.
After the announcement, GM’s already battered stock fell 47 cents to $23.58. Last Wednesday, the stock -- a component of the Dow Jones industrial average -- fell as low as $20.90 a share, its lowest level in 18 years. The stock has dropped 41% so far this year.
GM’s shares have retreated even though Los Angeles billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, through his Tracinda Corp., amassed a 9.9% stake in GM this year and indicated his firm might seek a seat on GM’s board of directors.
There has been speculation that Kerkorian, whose GM investment now appears to be in the red, might push for other actions to boost the automaker’s share price. But he has been publicly silent about his intentions, and his office didn’t return a call seeking comment Monday.
GM, whose nameplates include Chevrolet, Buick, Saturn, Hummer and Pontiac, said it would close assembly plants in Oklahoma City, Lansing, Mich., and Doraville, Ga., along with one of its plants in Oshawa, Canada. GM also is closing one of two assembly lines at its Spring Hill, Tenn., plant, which makes Saturn vehicles, and eliminating shifts at its Moraine, Ohio, assembly plant, and at a second assembly plant in Oshawa.
Other closures and production cuts affected powertrain, stamping and other types of facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Missouri and Canada.
The latest round of cuts represents 18.5% of the 162,000 workers employed in the United States and Canada by the world’s largest automaker, which has about 325,000 employees worldwide.
Along with archrival Ford Motor Co., GM has been losing U.S. market share for years to Toyota Motor Corp. and other Asian and European companies, many of which can make cars more cheaply and offer vehicles with designs and features that increasingly appeal to American buyers, analysts said.
GM also bet heavily on large, gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles, which lost favor with consumers after gasoline prices soared above $3 a gallon this summer in response to Hurricane Katrina.
The vehicles were a key source of profit in recent years for the company, whose share of the U.S. market dropped from more than 45% in the mid-1980s to 26.4% through the first 10 months of this year.
GM now utilizes only about 85% of its production capacity in North America, a situation that drains resources as the company maintains and staffs unnecessary facilities, analysts said.
“You don’t start making profit [on production] until you are in the 90%-capacity territory,” said Bruce Belzowski, a researcher at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute.
“I see GM making itself smaller, not globally, but in the U.S., with a smaller production footprint here,” he said.
That will be evident with the planned closure of GM’s Oklahoma City plant, which makes SUVs.
“They may build fewer of them, but they will be shifting the production to other plants with underused capacity, so they’ll end up better utilizing their workers and their remaining facilities,” said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific Inc., a consulting firm in Tustin.
The restructuring delivers another blow to the United Auto Workers union, which just last month agreed to let GM reduce its cash outlay for current and retired workers’ healthcare by $1 billion a year.
UAW leaders blasted the latest cutbacks as “disappointing, unfair and unfortunate” and said the company’s “continuing decline in market share is not the fault of workers or our communities.”
“We have said consistently that General Motors cannot shrink itself to prosperity,” UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and Vice President Richard Shoemaker said in a statement. The automaker needs to offer vehicles “that consumers find attractive, exciting and want to buy.”
But many analysts said management and labor were both to blame for GM’s decline.
Years of lucrative labor contracts have left the automaker saddled with enormous wage, healthcare and pension costs for about 1.1 million salaried and hourly U.S. workers, retirees and their dependents. The burden adds about $1,500 to the cost of every GM vehicle made in North America, reducing GM’s competitiveness with lower-cost rivals.
“This debacle is a joint venture of both the UAW and the GM management,” which has left “wages too high and work rules too cumbersome,” said Peter Morici, a business professor at the University of Maryland.
“If the UAW doesn’t change its tune, General Motors will end up” in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, he said.
There already has been speculation of a potential GM bankruptcy in recent weeks, particularly after the nation’s biggest auto-parts supplier, Delphi Corp., filed for Chapter 11 last month.
Delphi is a former GM subsidiary, and there is concern that GM could be forced to cover billions of dollars of Delphi pension and retiree healthcare costs.
GM also has seen its bond ratings fall to “junk” status, which makes it more difficult and expensive for the automaker to borrow.
But Wagoner told employees Thursday that the automaker, which sells vehicles in 200 countries, had no intention of filing for Chapter 11.
Wagoner said GM was getting a good response to several new vehicles, including the Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac Solstice and Hummer H3.
To further boost sales, “we’re going to continue to move aggressively on the revitalization of brands, particularly Saturn,” and boost production of “crossover” vehicles -- which are styled like SUVs but built on car-like platforms -- that are surging in popularity, Wagoner told the analysts.
GM noted that its plan for an early retirement program to help cut its payroll would require an agreement with the UAW, which GM said it hoped to reach soon.


text:
For more than a year, unions have been recommending Cingular Wireless as the preferred cellular phone provider. Now there’s proof in the Twin Cities of why.
Local 7200 of the Communications Workers of America has signed up 534 Cingular workers at a business call center here – the first organizing success in Minnesota under a national agreement in which Cingular grants union recognition as soon as a majority of workers sign authorization cards.
In 2005, 13,540 Cingular workers joined CWA this way, bringing the company-wide total to more than 35,000.
Young workforce unfamiliar with unions
Virtually all the Bloomington workers came to Cingular through the October 2004 merger with AT&T Wireless, said Tom Lonergan, who was the lead organizer in Bloomington. AT&T, he said, was nonunion and anti-union.
“Even with the neutrality agreement, there was a pretty big fear factor” among Cingular workers about organizing, Lonergan said. “We’re dealing with younger workers, mostly in their 20s, many of them in their first full-time job. They really knew nothing about unions.… There was a lot of curiosity but a huge learning curve.”
Many of the workers initially were attracted by the money and benefits of a union contract, Lonergan said, but organizers also stressed advantages such as a grievance procedure and requiring just cause before workers can be disciplined.
“There was a really big education job we had to do,” Lonergan said. “A lot of them don’t know their rights.”
Internal committee is key
Lonergan and CWA organizers from Locals 7200 and 7250 began calling workers in July and August. Workers interested in forming a union were invited to an informational meeting in September, Lonergan said; that meeting formed the basis for an internal organizing committee that ultimately made the difference.
The key, he said, was committee members who had been union members before, including in CWA at other telecommunications companies such as Qwest and Lucent. “Once we got these folks, it took off.”
Workers began signing cards on Oct. 31, which started a 60-day countdown to reach a majority.
But it didn’t take anywhere near that long. Slightly more than two weeks later, the American Arbitration Association certified that a majority of the Cingular workers wanted a union.
Retail stores next?
The workers are now part of Local 7200, which is trying to integrate them into the national contract, Lonergan said. That contract runs until 2008, but the fact that CWA membership at Cingular already has grown by 50 percent “will give them a lot more power when they renegotiate,” he said.
Lonergan, meanwhile, now is helping to organize about 115 workers at 16 Cingular retail stores in the Twin Cities, Rochester and St. Cloud. The workers have until the end of January to reach a majority.
Cingular stands out
CWA’s card-check neutrality agreement with Cingular is part of its national collective bargaining agreement. The agreement distinguishes Cingular from wireless competitors such as Verizon, which had a similar neutrality agreement with CWA in 2000, “but never abided by it and routinely broke it,” said Candice Johnson, a national spokeswoman for CWA.
“It’s really such a sharp contrast,” Johnson said. “What Cingular has done is honored and abided by its agreement and labor law. They’ve maintained full neutrality and let workers make up their own minds.”
Verizon continues to pursue an anti-union strategy, she said, including harassing and even firing workers trying to form a union; shutting down call centers where there is union support; and maintaining an anti-CWA website.
Adapted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly.


text:
For the legislative and political week August 24-28
Welcome to the August 24 issue of the NFIB California Main Street Minute from your small-business-advocacy team in Sacramento.
- Today, August 24, begins the final week of the regular session of the California State Legislature, ending a biennium that will be one of the most noteworthy in state history for what occurred inside and outside the Capitol.
- Senate Bill 1383, which would expand medical and family leave protections from employers with over 50 employees to employers with over five employees, is shaping up to be the mother of all floor fights, predicts NFIB California’s legislative advocacy team. A top priority for Gov. Gavin Newsom and organized labor, over 100 business groups have coalesced to defeat the bill.
- Click here to read a rundown of other hot bills, including the one he deems one of the “toughest cage matches for a vote,” and to learn more about a legislative purgatory called the Suspense File.
- Kudos to Grassroots Manager Taylor Criddle for putting together two virtual Fly-In meetings for NFIB members with California U.S. Reps. Jim Costa and Tom McClintock, which attending members found highly informative and helpful.
- Criddle will continue his nicely bipartisan touch with virtual meetings this week with U.S. Reps. Doug LaMalfa and Jimmy Panetta. There are a lot of questions and concerns with Congress right now, including PPP loans and small business liability, and these meetings have given members a unique and exclusive insight into these issues and more. Look for your email invitation from Criddle.
- He patiently waited his turn all day, but when the time came, State Director John Kabateck was ready to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee about the threat Assembly Bill 3262 poses for small business. He had some help in delivering the message from Sen. Anna Caballero, who also on August 18 wrote a guest editorial for CalMatters warning that AB 3262 “will effectively strangle the only pathway that small businesses currently can pursue to sell goods and earn revenues online, by extending strict liability to the online marketplaces where their goods are offered for sale.” The committee, nevertheless, passed the bill, 7-0.
- This Tuesday, August 25 at 11:00 AM, Kabateck joins State Treasurer Fiona Ma and other CA leaders for a virtual panel hosted by Golden Gate University to discuss the current state of the business climate and resources available to small and minority-owned business owners to help them keep their doors open and rebuild. If you are interested in attending, go to https://www.ggu.edu/shared-content/get-started/ips.
- Meet Denise Duncan, owner of AT Industrial Products in Pomona, the subject of the latest NFIB California member profile by Alzada Knickerbocker.
- Congratulations to the newest member of NFIB’s CA Leadership Council, Beth Booth, who earned 12 media hits announcing her new role with NFIB, including this mention in the Digital Journal.
- NFIB California’s August 18 news release highlighting differences in California’s rankings from the nation as a whole in the latest Small Business Problems & Priorities report was covered by Fox&Hounds and the Citizens Journal of Ventura County.
- Thanks to all of you who participated in last week’s virtual Fly-In, the best attended of all prior ones.
- Look for another poll of the NFIB membership this week that will again measure how many small businesses have run out of their PPP loan money, how many would like another round of it, and how long they expect to hold on.
NFIB California Main Street Minutes are published every Monday on the NFIB California webpage. Two additional updates are published the first and third Thursday of each month for inclusion in the bi-monthly newsletters to the membership. Next California Main Street Minute is August 31.


text:
NEW YORK CITY — Air conditioning retailers across the city are straining to keep up with demand for units as the hot weather continues to send temperatures close to the triple digits in the city.
Clerks at Target reported being sold out or close to sold out of window units by Monday afternoon, on the eve of a heat streak that's set to send the mercury up to 95 degrees. Workers at rival PC Richard and Sons and Best Buy also reported that the air conditioner units were flying off the shelves.
Robert Lombardi, manager of the Atlantic Terminal Target in Brooklyn, said his store sold out of air conditioners two weeks ago, and he does not expect to receive any backup inventory for the remainder of the summer.
Lombardi said his store sold out of its initial 400-plus units in May, when traditionally, the early shipment lasts until mid-summer.
"The bulk shipments usually last a month. This year it lasted a week," he said. "It's slim to none left for the whole company."
Lombardi said his store has purchased extra fans and humidifiers to sell in the absence of the air conditioning units.
Of the seven Target stores in the city, only three had air conditioning units in stock on Monday afternoon: the College Point location, the Flushing store and the the Bronx Terminal store, all of which had two or less air conditioners by Monday afternoon.
Clerks at the stores did not know when to expect additional inventory.
Other big box stores seemed to roll with the increased demand. The Best Buy in the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn had approximately 50 Frigidaire units on display, ranging in price from $279 to $429. A store manager declined to discuss sales, but a sales clerk said the store receives weekly re-stocks on inventory.
Across Flatbush Avenue at P.C. Richard & Son, nearly 100 air conditioners sat in two large rows displays and two separate island displays. The store carries the brands Friedrich, LG, Frigidaire, Sharp and its own brand, Generations, with prices ranging between $129 and $899. Sales staff said the business had additional inventory located upstairs.
Lon Posner, a 14-year employee at the Brooklyn location, said the company starts displaying AC units in early April. He said the rush to buy air conditioning units this year began in mid to late June, after the first heat wave.
"There's always people who think that this is the year it won't get hot," Posner said. "The first night they can't sleep, they come in."
Posner said the Brooklyn store receives daily re-stocking deliveries from the company's warehouse in Farmingdale. He also said the store will likely start replacing the air conditioning unit display with back-to-school items, such as mini refrigerators and microwaves, in two to three weeks.
"Air conditioners is a big business for us," Posner said. "I feel like I've sold one to everybody in Brooklyn."


text:
Food, tea, cooking and food hygiene are the three pillars of a healthy life, a major study has found.
The National Institute of Food Technology, Hyderabad, has also discovered a link between the consumption of red meats and high blood pressure, which could help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
The study, published in the International Journal of Food Safety, analysed data from the National Health Survey, a nationally representative survey of people living in the country.
It found that the consumption and consumption patterns of red meat, poultry, pork and fish were strongly associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
In addition, the consumption patterns for dairy products and fish consumption were also strongly associated.
The researchers found that women were more likely to have high blood pressures, especially during pregnancy, and that men were more prone to high blood cholesterol levels than women.
Among the main food groups, the researchers found higher consumption of rice and beans, vegetables and fruit, and meat.
The consumption of meat was strongly associated for women and men.
“The relationship between meat consumption and cardiovascular risk factors was strong across gender, socioeconomic status, ethnic origin, ethnicity and region,” said Dr. Sajjad Azam, a senior lecturer at the institute and one of the authors of the study.
“It also appeared that high consumption of fish was associated with higher blood pressure.”
The study looked at consumption of a wide range of foods, including red meat (meat from beef, lamb or pork), chicken, fish, vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts.
The analysis included the survey participants’ diet habits during pregnancy and their health records from the previous year.
The participants were asked whether they ate red meat and poultry during the previous month.
Of the 1,002 participants who reported meat consumption, 703 (9.9 per cent) were male.
Of those who reported poultry consumption, 686 (8.3 per cent), were women.
Men were significantly more likely than women to report fish consumption, the study found.
“In the absence of meat, there is no reason to assume that fish consumption is linked to the risk of heart disease or hypertension,” Azam said.
The findings, published on Friday in the journal the American Journal of Epidemiology, suggest that red meat consumption is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
In particular, women were at higher risk for hypertension and cardiovascular disease than men.
Azam is currently studying whether red meat is more harmful to the cardiovascular system than chicken, as some experts believe.
The Indian government is also conducting a study on the association between red meat intake and cardiovascular mortality, and is planning a campaign to increase the intake of vegetables.
“We need to look at other food sources and consider what is the health benefits of consuming vegetables,” Azami said.
“Red meat and chicken are two of the most popular foods in the Indian diet.”
Azam and his colleagues also noted that consumption of vegetables and fruits is associated not only with low cholesterol but also with lower blood pressure.
“As a result, these foods have been shown to be beneficial in terms of blood pressure control,” Azama said.
In fact, red meat has been shown in some studies to reduce blood pressure by up to half.
But the authors warned that other dietary factors can also play a role in the risk for heart disease.
For example, people who eat high-fiber vegetables, such that they have less fibre, may have a lower risk of high blood sugar and stroke, the authors noted.
“This is a very important issue because we are in the midst of a health crisis in India,” Azham said.
It is also possible that other factors could contribute to the increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease in people who consume high-fat and/or high-sugar foods, he said.
But he added that more research is needed to find the best ways to tackle the root causes of cardiovascular diseases.


text:
Applied Materials View Shows Path to Being a ‘Mighty’ $80 Stock
(Bloomberg) -- Applied Materials shares soared to the highest intraday since early 2018 after the company’s sales forecast topped estimates, prompting a wave of price target increases by analysts.
“Applied Materials’ outlook gives the bull narrative more road,” Cowen analyst Krish Sankar wrote, adding that “the path from a ‘nifty fifty’ to a mighty eighty stock got less murky.”
Shares of the maker of machinery used in the production of semiconductors had climbed more than 70% this year to nearly $57 before the results were released after markets closed on Thursday. The company’s estimate-beating fourth quarter results followed strong results from peers.
“This beat is much better than expected,” Evercore ISI analyst C.J. Muse wrote, pointing to some sell-side previews that called for only an in line forecast.
Shares climbed as much as 9.6% to $62.40 on Friday, the highest intraday since March 2018. Here’s what analysts are saying:
- Argues that investors are willing to pay a 15x-16x multiple on peak earnings, creating a path to $80+ per share
- AMAT is “seeing early signs of a recovery in 3D NAND flash given 96/128L technology upgrade related spending”
- Boosts PT to a Street-high $75 from $65, reiterates outperform rating
Evercore ISI, Muse
- “From here, focus turns to the recovery in 2020”
- Expects AMAT’s Silicon business to grow by at least 10%, supported by new product introductions as well as sustained new wafer capacity adds
- Raises PT to $70 from $60 and reiterate outperform
RBC Capital, Mitch Steves
- Believes the upside to logic/foundry was expected after Lam Research results
- “We think we’re at the start of a recovery period for semi-cap equipment”
- Maintains outperform and raise PT to $67 from $63
Keybanc, Weston Twigg
- Margin performance was slightly better than expected and the EPS beat was primarily driven by stronger than expected revenue and $500 million of share buybacks
- 1Q guidance indicates improving demand into 2020, driven by a record backlog
- Expect demand to improve in 2020 as memory customers restart capacity buildouts
- Raise PT to $70 from $54 and maintain overweight
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


text:
ATLANTA and LAS VEGAS, Feb. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- - 4Sevens, LLC and Olight Technology Co. Limited announced a strategic partnership forming a synergistic east-west bridge in the portable lighting industry. David Chow, the president of 4Sevens, will also chair the board of directors at Olight. "Having worked together for many years already, this partnership is a natural step toward strengthening both our companies," says David. "In the lighting industry, there are followers, and there is a leader. Our combined technology, manufacturing, and marketing resources will propel us to the forefront of the lighting industry."
Both 4Sevens and Olight had a strong exhibition at the SHOT Show in January 2011 in Las Vegas. Their press conference on the first day of the event was attended by over 450 people including attendance from the live broadcast. Eleven new Cree XM-L based flashlights from both companies debuted at the press conference.
XM-L prototypes slated for a 2011 release ranged from dive-certified lights to high-output tactical lights, and specialized search lights that offer thousands of lumens in a compact format. These Cree XM-L flashlights represent nearly a year of research and co-development by both companies. More details will be released as each model is finalized and begins production.
4Sevens and Olight will continue to share new and exciting flashlight technology in 2011 and will continue to work closely with leading LED companies in the USA. 4Sevens and Olight will each have their own marketing channels and targets, keeping the brands and distribution channels separate.
4Sevens, an American company headquartered in Georgia, is a market-leading innovator, designer, and manufacturer of flashlights. Key to 4Sevens' market advantage is their expertise in flashlight design using the very latest state-of-the-art LED technology from industry leaders like CREE, and their marketing innovation by bringing the future of flashlight technology to consumers worldwide.
4Sevens' product families include their original Quark series, which features regular, tactical, and turbo flashlights as well as their MiNi, Preon, and Maelstrom series.
For more information about 4Sevens flashlights, visit their website at 4Sevens.com.
Olight Technology is a high-tech company that specializes in LED lighting, featuring advanced technology, quality workmanship, and premium grade materials to ensure their products meet the highest standards.
Olight's company mission is to manufacture the most advanced LED flashlights while still offering great value and excellent service.
Olight's flashlights are suitable for the most demanding professionals in law enforcement, military, and industrial sectors, and for outdoors enthusiasts.
For more information about Olight flashlights, visit their website at olightworld.com.
SOURCE Olight Technology Co. Limited


text:
EcoWaste Coalition Lauds Baguio LGU, FDA Cordillera for Combined Action vs. Mercury Cosmetics
The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition gave the Baguio City Government and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Cordillera Regional Field Office a pat on the back for their recent moves to rid the City of Pines of mercury-containing cosmetics.
“We applaud the combined forces of the Baguio City Government and the FDA Cordillera for their determined action against contraband cosmetics containing mercury, which is toxic to human health and the environment,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“To put a stop to this illegal trade, we appeal to Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and the City Council to refile and pass the proposed city ordinance banning and penalizing the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of mercury-added cosmetics,” she added.
Last July 20, four teams comprising of staff from the city’s Permits and Licensing, Public Order and Safety, and Sanitation Divisions and the FDA Regional Enforcement Unit North Luzon Cluster conducted synchronized inventory and seizure operations in response to the report sent by the EcoWaste Coalition about the unlawful sale of mercury-added cosmetics in Baguio City.
The simultaneous law enforcement operations in four locations at the central business district netted hundreds of banned cosmetic products worth P100,000, drawing cheers from the EcoWaste Coalition.
Last July 1, the group wrote to Mayor Benjamin Magalong to notify the city authorities about the persistent trade of banned cosmetics such as Goree, Jiaoli and S’Zitang skin whitening products in the city.
In pursuit of the general welfare provision under the Local Government Code, the group requested the City Government to constitute a team that will look into its report and conduct law enforcement activities, including random store inspection and confiscation of banned products and their safe disposal.
As pointed out by the group to Magalong, the unrelenting sale of mercury-containing cosmetics goes against the objective of the Minamata Convention, a legally-binding treaty that aims “to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.”
The convention directs the phase-out in 2020 of the manufacture, import or export of cosmetics such as skin lightening creams and soaps with mercury content above one ppm.
Also, the sale of such products violates national laws such as the RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines), which prohibits adulterated cosmetics or those containing any poisonous or deleterious substance, and RA 9711 (Food and Drug Administration Act), which prohibits health products, including cosmetics, that are adulterated, unregistered or misbranded.


text:
We found 863 items for the tag: att
PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 1200-Watt 80 PLUS Platinum Power Supply Review
Oct 12, 2012 7:09 am
PC Power & Cooling does a great job of providing great performance without emptying the wallet with the new Silencer Mk III 1200W power supply.
Synology DS412+ NAS Review
Oct 11, 2012 6:18 am
Synology's DS412+ NAS has quiet operation, along with a small footprint but big performance, and a number of consumer and business features.
New laser is being constructed, would be powerful enough to tear apart the vacuum of space-time itself
Oct 11, 2012 5:01 am
European Commission approves the construction of a new laser that is magnitudes more powerful than c
SPACEX DRAGON SUCCESSFULLY ATTACHES TO SPACE STATION
Oct 10, 2012 11:49 pm
Lepa G1000-MA 1000-Watt 80 PLUS Gold Power Supply Review
Oct 10, 2012 9:01 am
Lepa proves they have what it takes to compete with the heavy hitters in the PSU market, this time with the G1000-MA 1000W power supply.
TDK to manage 10TB hard drive by 2014 using its new ultra-dense platter technology
Oct 9, 2012 4:16 pm
TDK Tech will have a commercial 10TB hard drive by 2014, manages 2TB per platter
Get ready for Battlefield: Bad Company the TV series
Oct 9, 2012 10:01 am
Fox have just announced plans to make a TV series out of Battlefield: Bad Company
Thecus Launches the N4800Eco with Reduced Power Consumption
Oct 9, 2012 9:09 am
Playing World of Warcraft makes you unfit for office according to Republican politicians
Oct 5, 2012 6:11 pm
Republicans attack Democrat candidate Colleen Lachowicz for playing World of Warcraft
Prolimatech MK-26 Video Card Cooler Review
Oct 5, 2012 2:01 pm
Prolimatech is going with the bigger is better theory with the release of its latest video card cooler, the MK-26.
Researchers design algorithms that could see lithium-ion batteries charge twice as quick as they do now
Oct 5, 2012 7:30 am
Researchers working on new algorithms that could see lithium-ion battery charging times reduced by h
Facebook passes 1 billion monthly active users, has had more than 1.1 trillion likes since February 2009
Oct 4, 2012 12:35 pm
Facebook now has more than 1 billion monthly active users, over 1.1 trillion 'likes'
Synology NAS DSM Software Deep Dive
Oct 4, 2012 9:45 am
With more Synology products entering our review pool, it's time we take a closer look at the software and advanced features.
Mark Zuckerberg to announce 'historic milestone' for Facebook tomorrow - one billion active users?
Oct 4, 2012 1:11 am
Mark Zuckerberg's first post-IPO television appearance will be on the Today show, tomorrow - he will
TDK manages to cram 1.5TB per square inch, will allow for 6TB drives
Oct 3, 2012 6:09 pm
TDK manages to cram 1.5TB of data into a single square inch of HDD platter
FSP Raider 750-Watt 80 PLUS Bronze Power Supply Review
Oct 3, 2012 4:28 pm
FSP's new Raider 750W power supply proves to be quite the value for those seeking enough wattage for a pair of video cards while saving a little coin.
Google now lets Gmail search for text inside attachments - oh the joy!
Oct 2, 2012 5:36 am
Gmail now lets you search for text within attachments
Dish unveils dishNET broadband, uses sattelites to provide high-speed internet to rural areas
Sep 27, 2012 10:02 pm
DISH unveils dishNET, high-speed internet access for rural United States residents
QNAP Expands its Turbo NAS Peripherals Compatibility List
Sep 27, 2012 5:20 am
EA acquires online gaming studio ESN, the studio behind Battlelog
Sep 26, 2012 7:26 pm
EA has acquired ESN for an undisclosed amount, not clear exactly how it fits into EA's strategy
Enermax MaxREVO 1500-watt 80 PLUS Gold Power Supply Review
Sep 26, 2012 2:05 pm
Enermax gives you tons of power with the MaxREVO 1500W PSU and keeps you from breaking the bank to get it.
American Airlines to give their 17,000 flight attendants Samsung's Galaxy Notes
Sep 20, 2012 2:43 am
American Airlines to give Galaxy Notes to 17,000 flight attendants
Ciphertex Showcases CX-10K-NAS Portable 40TB 10GbE Secure Server
Sep 18, 2012 6:56 am
PNY Launches the Unique Opener Attache USB Pen Drive
Sep 18, 2012 6:53 am


text:
Young consumers account for the bulk of interest in crypto spending, and there’s reason to believe that simply offering the payment methods they want could attract larger swaths of the demographic. Merchants accepting crypto payments have experienced this growth, with 82% saying their crypto options have rapidly attracted new customers and allowed them to reach new demographics, according to Checkout.com.
“[Offering crypto payments] is a really clear signal to the younger generation that ‘We are speaking your language,’” said Houlgrave.
No Web3 without crypto
Compared to NFTs and metaverse activations, cryptocurrency remains a relatively untouched tool by brands. This makes sense considering the space can be a minefield amid extreme market volatility and public skepticism.
But crypto is the economic lifeblood of Web3, as much of a pillar of the vision as decentralization and interoperability. So if a brand is serious about implementing Web3 in its marketing, it will ultimately need to embrace crypto holders and, to some extent, crypto itself as a payment option.
“Once a brand goes down the Web3 path and builds out a strategy to engage the Web3 consumer, that entire experience essentially lives in the world of cryptocurrency,” said Publicis’ Cohen.
Read more: Metaverse glossary for brands
Marketers need only look to brands that have already accepted crypto payments to understand that this adoption is part of a broader approach toward moving into Web3. Gucci, for example, has been one of the most active brands in the space, having released several NFT collections and virtual apparel, and acquired land in The Sandbox, a metaverse real estate platform. AMC has also dropped NFTs and is considering the possibility of launching its own native cryptocurrency, chief executive Adam Aron said during its recent earnings call.
Equinox, whose main product is effectively community, is looking to Web3 as a way to enhance the experience of connection for its members. Tools like decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and utility-based NFTs, for example, may offer members new ways of interacting and communicating with one another, said Klim. DAOs give their affiliates voting power on business proposals and utility-based NFTs reward holders with special perks that are periodically granted.
Brands must recognize that a strong Web3 marketing strategy will require the use of new products and services in order to engage digital audiences and drive loyalty, said Cohen. Essentially, these are all variations of token-based tools—a DAO hinges on a governance token; an NFT is a unique token; cryptocurrency is a batch of identical tokens. Embracing these tools will allow brands to offer more value in their exchange with consumers.
“Something that more brands are grappling with right now is, ‘How do we start thinking in terms of this new [Web3] economy in a separate matter than how we think about our core business in the existing traditional economy?’” said Cohen.
Which brands should accept crypto payments?
Accepting crypto payments currently makes more sense for certain types of brands over others. Luxury brands, for example, have seen the most activity in this area for two probable reasons, according to Checking.com’s Houlgrave: Their audiences are global—making a global currency more appealing for cross-border payments—and wealthy, which means they are more likely to hold crypto (although some studies, such as from Pew Research Center, indicate household income may be less of a factor in the demographics of crypto investors).
Brands that cater to younger audiences, especially those with a technological bent, could be the next category to accept crypto, said Publicis’ Cohen. From gaming to consumer tech, these industries are often at the forefront of innovation and are poised to play a major role in Web3, such as through play-to-earn games that offer NFTs as rewards and virtual reality hardware.
There are also brands that have chosen to accept crypto as a result of their popularity in those communities. AMC, a so-called meme-stock that was saved by day traders on Reddit and Twitter last year, has publicly embraced this status, as has fellow meme-stock GameStop, which began accepting crypto payments in December. Elon Musk, a leading figure in these communities, even suggested in a recent tweet that Twitter could start accepting Dogecoin for its subscription service, Twitter Blue (the tweet has since been deleted).
As the crypto space becomes mainstream, brands across a broader stretch of categories could begin to implement crypto payment options for their products and services, said Checkout.com’s Houlgrave. But the user experience must first improve, as should the technology’s ability to handle the kinds of micropayments that are common for many businesses.
“The ability to just pay for your coffee for 30 cents—we're still not quite at the place where the transaction fees and the speed [of the blockchain network] make that really, really easy,” she said.
Don’t miss the latest news. Sign up for Ad Age newsletters here.


text:
Mashable embedded image copyright case revived over surprising Facebook statement
The 2016 copyright infringement case against the media website Mashable that we last heard about in April is back again. Following a similar case with an opposite ruling regarding how copyright infringement may pertain to embedded Instagram posts, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York has reopened the copyright suit filed by photographer Stephanie Sinclair against Mashable.
Sinclair's lawsuit is part of a copyright spat between the photographer and Mashable after the website embedded one of her Instagram posts in a 2016 article titled '10 female photojournalists with their lenses on social justice.' Mashable had first reached out to Sinclair and offered $50 to license the image, an offer that she rejected. As an apparent loophole to this matter, Mashable then simply embedded Sinclair's public Instagram post featuring the same image.
|A screenshot of the article in question. Sinclair's Instagram photo has since been removed.|
In her lawsuit, Sinclair had argued that Mashable did not have permission nor a license to use the image, while Mashable countered that it didn't need the photographer's permission because Instagram's terms covered sublicensing. Instagram's terms of service stated at the time that users:
...hereby grant to [Instagram] a non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to host, use, distribute, modify, run, copy, publicly perform or display, translate, and create derivative works of your content (consistent with your privacy and application settings). You can end this license anytime by deleting your content or account.'
Based on its understanding of those terms, the court ruled against Sinclair, stating in April that, 'Mashable was within its rights to seek a sublicense from Instagram when Mashable failed to obtain a license directly from Plaintiff...'
However, Instagram's parent company Facebook introduced a plot twist earlier this month when it clarified in relation to a different but similar case against Newsweek that its terms do not cover sublicensing for embedded images. According to Facebook, and despite the fact that Instagram offers a 'share' function on public images by default, users must first get permission from the photographer before embedding their image.
This unexpected turn of events was a bittersweet moment, offering reassurance that Instagram users have more control over their images than previously thought, but with major implications for how future digital copyright cases are handled. Users who are unaware of the intricacies of Instagram's terms could, for example, be liable for copyright infringement by simply using the feature made available to them by the platform.
Facebook's statement has prompted the reopening of Sinclair's copyright case, as the ruling in favor of Mashable was made with the understanding that Instagram's terms covered sublicensing for embedded images. Sinclair filed a motion for reconsideration with the court in light of the new information, a request that has since been granted.
The case has been reopened because, according to presiding judge Kimba Wood, Mashable didn't get 'explicit consent' from Instagram to embed the photo under its sublicensing terms. The lawsuit against Mashable can proceed, with Judge Wood stating in the court's Opinion & Order that:
Revising its previous holding, the Court holds that the pleadings contain insufficient evidence to find that Instagram granted Mashable a sublicense to embed Plaintiff’s Photograph on its website ... the Court did not give full force to the requirement that a license must convey the licensor's "explicit consent" to use a copyrighted work.
The two new cases over Instagram embedding and how it pertains to copyright has renewed criticism of the platform for failing to give users more control over their content. Instagram automatically presents a sharing feature on all public Instagram posts, yet has made it clear that it doesn't sublicense content shared with this feature, putting users at risk of liability.
Photographers are given the choice to make their images private, therefore removing the embed function, but with the consequence of reduced exposure to potential clients and customers. Enabling photographers to manually choose whether the sharing function is enabled on their public posts would remove this issue, but is not something Instagram presently offers.
In a statement to Ars Technica, Instagram had addressed this topic by stating that it was 'considering the possibility' of adding a new feature that would allow users to decide whether others can embed their public images. The non-committal nature of the statement, however, indicates that Instagram may never proceed to introduce such modification to this feature, putting the burden on photographers and users to sort out the copyright implications of using it.
The EOS R5 has been a long time coming – we knew it had 8K and we knew it had an AF joystick. But now that's it's here, what is it really like to use? Find out in our initial review based on hands-on time with the camera.
The R6 doesn't promise quite such headline-grabbing specs as its big brother, but it still packs a punch, whether you shoot stills, video or both.
Think you've read everything there is to know about the new Canon cameras? Chris and Jordan share eight important things you may have missed from today's Canon EOS R5 and R6 announcements.
We've been shooting around with the new Canon EOS R6. Initial impressions of image quality are positive, and out-of-camera JPEGs appear similar to that of the gold award-winning Canon EOS-1D X III. Have a look for yourself.
Canon has officially released the long-awaited EOS R5, the company's top-end full-frame mirrorless camera. Featuring a new 45MP CMOS sensor, Dual Pixel AF II system, 8K video capture and 20 fps bursts, this is the RF-mount camera we've been waiting for.
Although the Canon EOS R6 doesn't have the 45MP sensor and 8K video capture of the higher-end R5, it's still an incredibly capable camera with specs that outshine similarly priced peers.
The Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is the company's first super-zoom lens for RF-mount. Despite a relatively slow aperture range, it's very versatile, offering five stops of stabilization, weather-sealing and compatibility with Canon's new teleconverters.
Canon's RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM is an inexpensive telephoto prime lens with a minimum focus distance of just 0.35m (14") and a 0.5x magnification. When attached to the new R5 and R6, it offers a whopping eight stops of shake reduction.
Canon has announced a pair of super-telephoto fixed-aperture primes. The 600mm and 800mm use diffractive optics to keep their size and weight down. They'll also be compatible with new 1.4x and 2x RF teleconverters.
Canon has announced a new small-footprint inkjet photo printer, the imageProGraf Pro-300. it will produce prints up to 13 x 19" and it goes on sale later this month for $900. A new textured photo paper will also arrive in July.
The new compression standard is set to reduce video file sizes by half to save space and speed-up transmission, paving the way for more portable 8K footage.
Sony recently confirmed plans to launch a successor to the video-centric a7S II. We don't even know the name of the camera, but Jordan already has a feature wish list for the new 'a7S III' – and it doesn't include 8K.
The Profot B10 is the first studio flash system that can be used when shooting with an iPhone camera.
The Pixii camera is an interesting little rangefinder camera that features a 12MP APS-C sensor and lacks a rear LCD display, opting instead to pair with your mobile device, which can be used to view and transfer images.
Sirui is launching an Indiegogo campaign for a wide-angle answer to its existing 50mm F1.8 anamorphic lens. The 35mm APS-C lens will come in a Micro Four Thirds mount with adapters for other systems.
Sony has added a 12-24mm F2.8 to its top-shelf 'G Master' series of lenses. It's the widest constant F2.8 zoom currently offered for full-frame, with a hefty price tag to match: it will sell for $3000 when it ships in mid-August.
Take a look at the view from Sony's new ultra-wide F2.8 zoom – we paired it with the a7R IV for some initial shooting.
Canon's EOS-1D X Mark III is one of the best DSLRs ever made. With fast burst speeds, great video quality and impressive autofocus, the 1D X III is equal parts cinema rig and sports shooter. Find out how it fares against steep competition in our full review.
Nikon Rumors is reporting that Nikon will announce successors to its Z6 and Z7 camera systems by the end of the calendar year.
Canon says the event, set to take place at 14:00 CEST in two days on July 9, will be its 'biggest product launch yet.'
The Verge Video Director, Becca Farsace, shows how she built a custom Raspberry Pi camera with effectively zero coding knowledge over the course of just three days.
The EOS R5 has been in the works for some time, and Canon has published a handful of specifications, but there's still plenty we don't know. What are you hoping to see from Canon's forthcoming flagship camera?
Canon's CE-SAT-IB satellite camera was destroyed alongside six other satellites during Rocket Lab's ironically-named 'Pics or It Didn't Happen Mission.'
This sample gallery includes images from our recent review of the Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD zoom lens. Check out these photos to see how it performs, from wide-angle to telephoto and everything in between.
The Tamron 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD provides a wide zoom range in compact, weather-sealed design. Find out why it's Chris and Jordan's new favorite travel lens.
Kodak Portra 800 is a wonderful and versatile color film. And any rumors of it being discontinued, we're pleased to report, are simply untrue. That's a good thing, because it's capable of producing lovely results in all sorts of conditions.
Boering has left the World Press Photo without much of an explanation from either him or the organization, but he tells DPReview the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing the WPP to change the way it makes money.
The standard-size deck of playing cards features unique photography-oriented artwork and act as cheat sheets for photographers.
The Sony ZV-1 and Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 are the first cameras we've seen that are overtly designed with vlogging in mind – and the changes they represent could have implications for the future of all cameras.
The utility allows the E-M1X, E-M1, E-M1 Mark II, E-M1 Mark III and E-M5 Mark II cameras to be used with video conferencing apps over USB.


text:
Inter Rapidísimo, the Colombian logistics provider, has expanded its partnership with soccer’s international governing body FIFA to become a sponsor of this year’s Women’s World Cup.
Through the agreement, the company will benefit from stadium perimeter advertising, as well as the use of official archive content and designations.
The organization is already active in supporting women's soccer in Colombia, frequently working with national team players Linda Caicedo, Lady Andrade, and Tatiana Ariza Díaz.
Last year, Inter Rapidísimo became the first Colombian company to be named as an official regional supporter of the men’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Colombia has qualified for the Women's World Cup after reaching the final of last year's Copa America Femenina and will be in a group with Germany, Morocco, and South Korea.
Luis Rodríguez, FIFA's head of association sales, said: “Last year, we welcomed Inter Rapidísimo to the FIFA family and we are delighted to extend the association until the Women's World Cup of FIFA in Australia and New Zealand.
“It will be a truly historic celebration of football, and we are looking forward to partnering with Inter Rapidísimo again.”
Inter Rapidísimo joins Australia’s Commonwealth Bank as a partner of the tournament, which will take place across Australia and New Zealand.
International credit card giant Visa is also the first official women’s soccer partner for FIFA. Adidas and Coca-Cola are additional major sponsors of the 32-team tournament, which will begin at Auckland’s Eden Park and Sydney’s Stadium Australia on July 20.
It was recently reported that the Saudi Arabian tourism board, Visit Saudi, is soon to be announced as a commercial partner of the Women’s World Cup.
The deal, yet to be formally announced, is part of a new commercial partnership structure that FIFA has set up to allow brands to specifically sponsor the women’s game.
The potential agreement has caused controversy, however, with the soccer bodies of co-hosts Australia and New Zealand jointly writing to FIFA to receive urgent clarification over the deal with concerns over Saudi’s human rights record.


text:
Early wearable pioneers Wearable Experiments have announced the launch of the Football Fan Shirt.
The Aussie firm claim that the shirt will give fans the opportunity to FEEL the game action.
Using the skin as an interface, the technology transmits plays from the game directly to the wearer using choreographed haptic feedback. This creates a heightened sense of excitement blurring the lines between player and spectator. As well as connecting fans to fans and capturing the data from fan excitement.
The Football Fan Shirt is connected to an app, where you can select which team you want to follow. By harnessing real-time game data, this allows the wearer to feel the sensations of what the team is going through with every major play as it happens on the pitch.
No word yet on cost.


text:
Feds weigh expansion of Pontiac G6 recallPublished: 2/9/13 @ 12:00
U.S. safety regulators are looking at expanding a small recall of Pontiac G6 midsize cars so it includes up to 550,000 vehicles.
About 8,000 of the cars were recalled by General Motors in 2009 because the brake lights and cruise control didn’t work properly.
But the recall affected only cars made in January 2005. On Friday, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted on its website that it’s studying whether all G6s from the 2005 through 2009 model-years should be added to the recall.
The safety agency says it has received 212 complaints from consumers that brake lights won’t come on when the pedal is pressed, or the lights come on for no reason. Some of the complaints also say the cruise control disengages for no reason, or it may not work at all.
No crashes or injuries have been reported from the problem, and GM says it is cooperating with the investigation.
Owners who suspect brake-light or cruise-control problems should take their cars to any Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac or GMC dealer. GM shut down the Pontiac brand in 2010 as part of its massive restructuring.


text:
Credit Unions Pay Price for Wendy's Data Breach
Wendy’s, the popular fast food chain, has found itself the target of a large-scale data breach.
According to a report issued by Wendy’s, the cybersecurity lapse was caused by malware, which “has been discovered on some franchise restaurants' POS systems, and the number of franchise restaurants impacted by these cybersecurity attacks is now expected to be considerably higher than the 300 restaurants already implicated.”
The breach started in the fall of 2015 and resulted in a loss of data that included cardholder information including names, account numbers, expiration dates and PIN numbers. This incident is said to have impacted more cardholders than the recent breaches of Target and Home Depot, which, according to CUNA, combined to cost credit unions more than $90 million.
What does this mean for credit unions?
MCUL's Sarah Stevenson talks about the impact of the data breach on Michigan CUs
There is a significant concern among credit unions regarding why the fast food chain did not report the breach until May 11 despite having discovered it in the fall of 2015. The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) has recently reported joining the ongoing lawsuit against Wendy’s, asking that the fast food chain be held accountable.
Alongside the restaurant chain’s months-long wait to disclose the incident, a lack of communication to credit unions on behalf of card issuers (MasterCard and VISA) has left many credit unions with large, unforeseen costs.
MCUL talked to Belle River Community Credit Union (BRCCU), who found out they were impacted by the breach through members reporting strange activity on their account.
BRCCU’s CEO Vicki McIntosh said her credit union ended up paying $1,000 in out-of-pocket costs to issue new cards to members as a result of the breach.
“We have to care about this,” said McIntosh. “Something like this can happen and eat up our entire net income for the month.” The costs equated to one month of the $20.2 million asset credit union’s income.
CUNA CEO Jim Nussle on CUNA's fight for
future data breach legislation
Compounding the hit to the credit union’s bottom line, McIntosh said she was never contacted by the card company to tell her what member’s cards had been compromised. In addition, a forensic investigation required to be conducted by the merchant after a breach has still not been completed according to Michigan Credit Union League’s Regulatory Affairs Staff.
“Not only are we paying for this, but our members are too,” McIntosh continued. “It filters down to the cardholders and becomes very inconvenient for their personal finances.”
McIntosh, Michigan credit union leaders and MCUL CEO Dave Adams implore lawmakers to require retailers to be held to the same federal data breach standards of which credit unions are subject, and to enforce the laws currently in place.
“The current system is broken—retailers experience a breach and months go by without any notice to credit unions of which cards are compromised which results in spikes in fraud losses—and once again local credit unions are left holding the bag,” MCUL CEO Dave Adams said. “Again, we call on lawmakers and regulators to use their full authority to ensure both retailers and card network companies are doing their part to protect customer’s information instead of leaving credit unions to continually shoulder the burden.”
UPDATE: Wendy’s has released a searchable list of every restaurant potentially affected by the recent data breach. The list reveals 106 Michigan Wendy’s locations. To search for the exact locations, you can find the database here.Go to main navigation


text: Looks like Sonic is getting a whole new look with a reboot. Sega announced today that Sonic gets a new look... a new game, toy line, and TV series! Not too sure how I feel about the new attire but I think it looks promising. Sonic Boom should be coming soon! Read the Nintendo article here: http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/56952/sega-announces-sonic-boom-for-wii-u-and-3ds/.


text:
[credit provider=”Flickr / photo.bugz” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/338810834/in/photostream/”]
U.S. holiday sales growth was just 0.7 per cent this year, missing expectations, according to MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse.There was a drop in consumer confidence and it was primarily due to the media, said SpendingPulse.
SpendingPulse VP Michael McNamara said that it’s the media coverage of the fiscal cliff — that is, not the fiscal cliff itself — that’s killing consumer confidence and spending.
“You are looking at modest to marginal growth from a year ago … Weather events and the fiscal debate both anchored the season in terms of growth.
The media coverage, which did a good job of explaining the negative consequences of the fiscal cliff, created this negative trend in consumer confidence and spending.”
Other things that impacted consumers’ moods were Hurricane Sandy and the horrific shootings in Newtown, CT.
Consumer confidence fell to a five-month low in December, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index.


text:
NBC 7 & Telemundo 20's month-long Clear the Shelters campaign is now in its final stretch.
As of Friday, 935 animals were adopted from shelters throughout San Diego County.
RCHS spokesman John Van Zante said despite that, their adoptions have been going better than expected. He said it's always gratifying to see people walk out the door with a new pet.
”Every time, it still gets me right here," Van Zante said. "You realize you just changed the world for that animal, for the mom, the dad, the kids. You gave them a responsibility and an accomplishment that they only get from having an animal.”
Having a pet is a big responsibility, though. If it's not something you're ready for just yet, Van Zante said there are still a lot of other ways you can help. For example, you can purchase needed items from RCHS' Amazon wish list, donate or buy items at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society Thrift Shop or become a virtual foster by donating online to a shelter animal's care.
”So you can sponsor and take that responsibility and make that addition without a lifelong commitment,” Van Zante said.
Clear the Shelters continues through Aug. 31.