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Democratic governor Phil Murphy made good on his promise to make New Jersey the "California of the East Coast," announcing a proposal that bars the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.
As part of his "Energy Master Plan," Murphy on Monday unveiled environmental rules that require vehicle manufacturers to make 100 percent of their passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs electric by 2035. Murphy said the move "build[s] upon our nation-leading record of bold climate action while delivering on our promise to utilize every tool at our disposal to combat the intensifying climate crisis."
Murphy's proposal aligns New Jersey with California and other deep-blue states. The Democrat's electric car rule, Advanced Clean Cars II, originated in California—the state's Air Resources Board approved it in August 2022 and today says it requires "all new passenger vehicles sold in California to be zero emissions by 2035." Murphy, who succeeded Republican governor Chris Christie, told former Golden State governor Jerry Brown in 2018 that he aspires to make New Jersey "the California of the East Coast."
Murphy in a Monday press release touted the proposed rule, which he said "does not impose any obligations on consumers or car dealers." Republicans quickly criticized that claim, with state lawmaker Ed Durr saying Murphy's "extreme energy policies will force people to replace their affordable gas-powered cars with more expensive EVs." Durr also called Murphy a hypocrite who recently used "taxpayer dollars to purchase a fleet of new gas-powered SUVs to shuttle him and other Democrat leaders across the state."
"It's like John Kerry with his multiple mansions flying around the world on his private jet while telling the rest of us that we're responsible for climate change," Durr said. "The rest of us are forced to suffer while they are the real problem."
New Jersey environmentalists defended the electric vehicle mandate, with the state's Sierra Club calling the program "one of the most important policies for New Jersey to adopt." Some experts, however, doubt that electric vehicles will actually help the environment. Electric vehicles require large amounts of mined, processed, and refined minerals to be built, meaning the cars roll off the lot having produced considerably more carbon emissions than their gas-powered counterparts. As Manhattan Institute senior fellow Mark Mills argued in a recent report, driving an electric vehicle instead of gas-powered one could "lead to a net increase in emissions."
Murphy's proposed rule is likely to prompt backlash, given that electric cars are not very popular with American consumers. Less than one-fifth of Americans say they're very likely to make their next vehicle an electric one, according to an Associated Press poll published in April, with respondents citing the high cost of electric vehicles. The cars on average cost about $10,000 more than their gas-powered counterparts.
Murphy's announcement marks his second major green energy push this month. The Democrat just two weeks ago signed a bill approving major tax breaks for a foreign green energy company that is set to build a massive offshore wind farm off the coast of Atlantic City. State energy experts and Republican lawmakers say the project will raise electric bills, the Washington Free Beacon reported.


text: PUTRAJAYA: The government, which is scheduled to table the 2017 Budget on Oct 21, 2016, said prices of essential goods and services and income needs to be examined closely to address the rising cost of living. “Malaysians (generally) spend 31.2% of their disposable income on food, 23.9% on petrol, housing and utilities, and 14.6% on transportation,” Second Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani said in his opening remarks at the 2017 Budget focus group meeting on cost of living today. With the change in life-style, Johari said the basket of necessary goods today includes cars, hand phones, computers and internet access. “With the increase in the general price level, it is argued that the B40s and M40s are finding it difficult to sustain their standard of living,” he added. According to Economic Report 2015/2016, the B40 (bottom 40% household income) group comprises households with a monthly income of up to RM3,855, while those in the M40 group (middle 40% household income group) earn between RM3,860 and RM8,319. Johari said the first focus group meeting yesterday summarised six items to be further examined, including cost escalation of food, education and transportation, as well as other necessity items like handphones and internet, and the ability to get finance from the institutions to buy houses. “We will look into all these in detail and see how we can think about coming up with the formula (that we need) to have,” he noted. Over the years, Johari said the government has undertaken several measures to enhance the wellbeing of the rakyat, including the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) cash assistance and subsidies on essential items. In addition, he said low-income families receive support through various welfare programmes, while the middle-income group benefit from a reduced income tax regime, and higher tax reliefs. Johari said the Ministry will organise 15 series of focus group meetings to discuss in detail issues highlighted during the consultation and obtain views and recommendations for consideration in the 2017 Budget. The focus group meeting aims to discuss on issues and challenges to address the rising cost of living, by engaging with various stakeholders including the private sector, non-governmental organisations, as well as government agencies, he added.

domain: news


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LAHORE: Pakistan’s Airlift Tuesday claimed to have raised $85 million in a Series-B round to scale its grocery delivery platform Airlift Express.
The round was co-led by US-based angel investor Josh Buckley of Buckley Ventures, and British investor Harry Stebbings. Other major participants include executives and co-founders of prominent tech companies.
Twitter and Medium co-founder Biz Stone, former YCombinator president Sam Altman, and former Disney CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. Transferwise founder and CEO Taavet Hinrikus and Seve Pagliuca, co-chairman, Bain Capital participated in the round. Pakistan’s Fatima Gobi Ventures, led by Ali Mukhtar, also confirmed their participation in Airlift’s Series-B round.
If true, the Series-B financing could be the largest in the MENA region. Sources, however, claim that the amount raised by Airlift is spread over two Series-B rounds, and the total raised is in the vicinity of $30-40 million, which is less than half the amount that Airlift claims to have raised.
It could be that Airlift planned to raise $85 million and received $30-40 million till now and more could have been committed to the startup. But the team at Airlift has refused to share any documents to verify if their claim was true. Moreover, Airlift also refused to disclose the numbers of monthly grocery orders they deliver to substantiate the strong foundations and success of their grocery delivery business that enabled the startup to raise a mammoth amount at a huge valuation of $275 million.
In an interview with an international media outlet, Airlift has also claimed a valuation of $275 million after its latest funding round. In rupee terms, that implies a valuation of Rs45 billion, which is bigger than the valuation of large publicly listed companies in Pakistan.
It is pertinent to mention that startups have earlier shared their confidential documents with us to prove their claims of funding amounts.
Co-founded by Usman Gul, Ahmed Ayub, Awaab Khaakwany, Meher Farrukh, Muhammad Owais, and Zohaib Ali in 2019, Airlift launched as a mass-transit startup, connecting users with buses at subsidised rates. In March 2020, the transit operations were shut owing to the pandemic and Airlift moved into the grocery delivery business with $10 million in funding, under the brand name Airlift Express. The core transit operations still remain shelved.
In its press release, Airlift said that they operated in eight Pakistani cities that they expanded into in a matter of a little over a year for grocery delivery operations, and after the new round of funding, they are eyeing international expansion.
Airlift moved into grocery delivery last year with $10 million in Series-A1 round. It has earlier raised $2.2 million in seed round and $12 million in Series-A round for its transit operations. If the $85 million claims are true, the total raised by the startup will amount to $109.2 million in disclosed funding, making it the most well-funded Pakistan-based startup right now.
The Series-B round of Airlift comes during a momentous year, with a record $120 million raised by Pakistani startups during the first six months of the year. Within the grocery delivery space, Airlift’s competitor GrocerApp announced a $5.2 million funding in a Series-A round. Another e-Grocer, 24seven.pk also raised an undisclosed amount.
Within the B2B eCommerce space, startups connecting retail karyana stores with distributors have announced raising $33.7 million between four startups. Bazaar announced $6.5 million in funding this year, Taajir $17 million, Retailo $6.7 million, whereas Dastgyr claimed raising $3.5 million.


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A crowded market is only going to get even more crowded as time goes on, and mobile payments aren’t looking any different. Companies that might not have considered mobile payments as a viable means to buy goods just a couple of years ago are turning things around in a big way, and now the number of optionsÂ for users out there in the wild are getting higher and higher.
It’s time to start preparing for another entry, too, if a new report from Reuters pans out. According to the publication’s three unnamed sources, TargetÂ is in the works of putting together its own mobile payment option similar to what we see from Android Pay, Samsung Pay, and others. It’s believed that Target has already begun negotiations with credit card companies, and it’s reportedly leaning towards a system that would bring up a QR code within its Android app to let customers scan it as a means to checkout while in the store.
The report states that while Target has not begun any in-store tests of this new mobile payment option, which doesn’t even have a name yet, it could see a public launch sometime in 2016.
Target is a major retail chain, so it’s not surprising that the company would want to get in on the mobile payment bandwagon, even as it skirts other viable options in development of its own option. That’s a crowded market, though, one that sees the aforementioned Samsung Pay, Android Pay, LG Pay, and, most recently, the introduction of Walmart Pay,Â which probably has a lot more to do with Target considering its own mobile payment alternative than anything else.
What do you think? Would you use a mobile payment option from Target rather than Android Pay? Do you think it’ll be called Target Pay?


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Samsung have been working on foldable tablets/phones for years, on and off at various stages, and while two models technically could have been launched at the start of the year, Samsung were soon rumored to wait until the market shifted a little while their technologies also matured more, and there were even talks of postponing the developments of the devices because of reshuffles within Samsung.
Since then, the first real leak or rumor from a official document in public that could possibly be pinned to Samsung as evidence of a foldable Samsung tablet coming sometime soon, was the Samsung Galaxy X trademark back in February, which certainly included a foldable mobile device category based on the official definitions of products for the Samsung Galaxy X when filing for the trademark.
The last weeks however there have been two unknown new Samsung devices in the phone category that have been officially Bluetooth certified. The first one was Samsung OWY on July 16, with the newest Bluetooth 5.0 standard. But now today, Sammobile believes that based on their own few pieces of information so far about a foldable mobile device from Samsung, the Samsung SM-G888 is the model number for the foldable Samsung Galaxy X.
The Samsung SM-G888NO was listed last Friday on July 28, with Bluetoth 4.2, also in the phone category. This device had previously Wi-Fi certified back in April, with dual-band Wi-Fi and Android 6.0
With these model numbers, the closest related model is the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini (SM-G800), with a 4.5-inch AMOLED display. But in order to replicate something like the size of an 8-inch tablet, we would need 3 of these phones side by side, to recreate the same screen size of an 8-inch tablet.
– Tom Bowen


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We've put together a list of the best games coming to consoles and PC in 2020 and beyond.
We've put together a list of all the new games arriving in 2020 - and when you'll be able to play them.
As the pandemic rages on, mobile gaming and apps are a kind of salve. So much so, 2020 will be a blockbuster year for smartphone content.
The best free games on PC accounted for, these are our top-rated titles that don't cost a thing.
Looking for the best budget gaming PCs? We list the top choices that won't break the bank.
Savings in the 66-90% range for a number of "Ars Approved" classics.
Here's what you need to know about the new team shooter.
"Paper Mario: The Origami King" will be released for the Nintendo Switch on July 17.
This is the first "Paper Mario" game since "Color Splash" was released in 2016.


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Do you understand what Bitcoin is? If you answered “Yes,” you’re in the minority. A lot of people don’t.
Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, famously dismissed the cryptocurrency as a “fraud” in September, later saying on CNBC he wasn’t going to talk about Bitcoin anymore, but if anyone was stupid enough to buy it, they were going to “pay the price one day.”
Dimon’s basic problem with Bitcoin is that it lacks the backing of any nation or government, which by the way is one of the aspects that proponents see as an asset. Transactions done in Bitcoin don’t require any middlemen, i.e. banks, and are done anonymously, leading Dimon to add that Bitcoins are great for “criminals.”
Meanwhile, the value of bitcoin has been soaring, thanks to speculators. As of Nov. 10, one bitcoin was worth $6,944.24. Dimon was not impressed, pointing out there have been currency bubbles in the past. A tulip bulb, he says, was once worth something like $75,000.
Dimon was referring to what is commonly thought to be the first speculative bubble in history, the tulip bulb craze in the 17th century Dutch Republic. In any event, Dimon believes Bitcoin will ultimately be “crushed” by governments who like to keep a tight rein on their currencies.
David Johnson, CEO of Latium, another form of nascent cryptocurrency distinct from Bitcoin, understands the confusion surrounding these new forms of money.
“I think a lot of people really don’t have any idea what it is,” he says of Bitcoin. Johnson’s explanation is that Bitcoin is an encryption key. It’s similar, he says, to what happens when you log onto your bank’s website and transact business.
“That’s all Bitcoin is, a string of numbers,” Johnson says.
Johnson argues that everything has value based on perception, and Bitcoin is no different.
“The U.S. dollar has value because everybody believes it has value,” he says. A perfect example of value being perception, Johnson says, is the collapse of the German mark after World War I, when it took a “wheelbarrow full of cash to buy a loaf of bread.”
“Nothing creates value except the faith we have in our ability to transact (business),” Johnson says. With that in mind, Johnson has launched Latium, which he sees as a cryptocurrency technology that will allow for “mass adoption.” Johnson believes Latium will act as a bridge between the “99.9 percent who have no concept “ of what cryptocurrency is, and make it something they can use.
Based in Madison, Mississippi, the “tech center of the world,” Johnson says, Latium expects to launch in the second quarter of 2018. Unlike Bitcoin, which Johnson says takes two or three days to get, with Latium you could be performing a task within minutes and getting paid.
Put simply, Latium will be a way to pay for the performance of tasks. “Anybody with a skill set can come in, perform a task big or small and be paid in cryptocurrency,” Johnson says.


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"The application (of the LCEV regulation) will likely coincide with the introduction of the Euro IV standard fuel," he said while accompanying Vice President Jusuf Kalla during the opening of the Indonesia International Motor Show 2017 at the JIExpo Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Thursday.
The Euro IV standard fuel is expected to be available in the domestic market in 2019 shortly after the construction of an oil refinery in Cilacap, Central Java, is completed, he noted.
"We hope the construction of the oil refinery in Cilacap would be completed soon. The oil refinery will not merely produce Euro IV standard fuel. We have spoken to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, and they are preparing to produce Euro V fuel. Hence, the refinery can automatically produce Euro IV," he remarked.
He said the Industry Ministry will encourage the Finance Ministry to reduce the import duty on hybrid cars, including sedan, which falls under the luxury goods category.
"Hence, sedans can also be produced domestically. As the vice president has stated, we will encourage the export (of sedans) that are in high demand abroad," he explained.
The vice president said Europe and the Middle East are the markets for vehicles using Euro IV standard fuel.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017


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Chocolate makers adjusting recipes for success
In 92 years, See’s Candies has never shied away from being old-fashioned.
At the factory on La Cienega Boulevard, some octogenarian workers measure their decades of employment in hip replacements. Quaint floral details are still hand-piped onto chocolate eggs.
An inexorable march of candies heads through tubes the length of a football field, where they’re drenched in layers of chocolate — a traditional practice known as enrobing. Like cars merging out of highway toll lanes, they appear from cooling tunnels into employees’ waiting hands.
“Old Time” is part of See’s slogan. But the South San Francisco company is evolving along with the rest of the chocolate industry, forced by predicaments far more severe than “I Love Lucy” conveyor-belt hijinks.
Chocolate is a huge business, pulling in $90 billion in global sales annually, $19 billion of it in the U.S., according to market research company Mintel Group Ltd. Price increases and product innovation helped the industry grow 16% from 2007 through 2012, the firm found.
But scientists predict a looming cocoa bean shortage, intensified by climate change and botanical disease.
The International Cocoa Organization said that global production in the last growing year fell 6.1%, and it forecasts a 1.8% slide this year. That would probably cause a cocoa shortfall of 45,000 metric tons in the current marketing year ending Sept. 30, the group said.
Tighter supplies as well as rising sugar and manufacturing costs are adding to the price of truffles and bonbons. Sugar prices have risen 11.6% on average each of the last five years, influencing Kit Kat maker Hershey Co.'s decision in 2011 to raise wholesale prices on most of its candy products 9.7%.
In addition, health-minded U.S. consumers, increasingly wary of sugary snacks, are nibbling on fresh fruit 10 times more over the course of a year than they do on chocolate, according to research firm NPD.
“Chocolate is an impulse item, an indulgence,” said Marcia Mogelonsky, an analyst at Mintel. “But consumers have become price-sensitive to chocolate — the economy is so bad that people are actually cutting back on their consumption.”
So what’s an Oompa Loompa to do? Switch up the chocolate strategy.
Companies are looking to countries not known as major cocoa producers, such as Vietnam and China, to boost production. Mondelez International Inc., owner of brands such as Cadbury and Toblerone, said it would invest $400 million over the next decade to improve cocoa farming communities and help boost productivity; other massive candy sellers have taken similar steps.
In the U.S., advances in technology and equipment contributed to layoffs, causing chocolate employment to slide 2.2% a year on average since 2007, according to research firm IBISWorld. Simultaneously, chocolate companies are trimming wages to cut costs and boost profit, according to researchers.
Manufacturers also are creating innovative new chocolates and manufacturing methods to try to differentiate themselves from competitors.
British brand Cadbury last year unveiled a new form of the sweet that’s resistant to melting, even at 104 degrees Fahrenheit. TCHO Ventures Inc., a San Francisco chocolate company, makes chocolate by controlling its machinery with an iPhone app.
Companies are also trying to entice body-conscious consumers, which IBISWorld believes will give organic and dark chocolates a boost in coming years. Brands such as Russell Stover have significant sugar-free chocolate selections; others are branching out into gluten-free and dairy-free offerings.
And candy sizes are shrinking.
By the end of this year, all of Mars Inc.'s chocolate brands — Snickers, Dove and M&M;'s among them — will be available only in 250-calorie pieces or less. That means smaller slabs of chocolate and multiple to-go portions where there once were single mega-bars.
Brands are adjusting their marketing efforts, especially during holidays.
This year, companies launched more seasonal products instead of holiday-specific candies, which usually head straight to discount racks once celebrations are over. Hershey introduced an array of candies in spring colors rather than wrapped kisses emblazoned with the word “Easter.”
“The move is to stretch the occasion beyond a day,” Mogelonsky said. “Companies have to extend the salability of the product or they’ll lose money.”
At the Los Angeles factory of See’s, the air is thick with the smells of chocolate and caramel.
Workers in hairnets, white coats and gloves prepare chocolates destined for the chain’s more than 200 company-owned stores, primarily in the West, as well as online and catalog customers. The company also operates a factory in the San Francisco Bay Area and a packing facility in Carson.
For 41 years, See’s has been a tiny but reliable part of investment guru Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The candy maker, which Buffett bought for $25 million in 1972, belongs to the Oracle of Omaha’s wide-ranging retail stable, which includes home furnishings, jewelry, cooking equipment and party supplies.
At its kitchens and stores, the company employs some 1,500 workers during its slower summer season, expanding to 8,000 workers during the holidays. It’s recently been adding to its stores outside its Western territory, venturing into Texas, Ohio and Indiana. It plans to move into other states as well. Licensees manage six shops in Asia.
See’s has done well enough for Buffett to praise it to shareholders as a “dream business.” In 2011, the company posted pretax profit of $83 million on sales of $376 million. See’s current annual sales are in the $400 million range, the company said.
Buffett has said that See’s has been such a steady performer that it has helped finance some of his other purchases over the years.
“ ‘Buy commodities, sell brands’ has long been a formula for business success,” Buffett wrote in 2011. “It has produced enormous and sustained profits for Coca-Cola since 1886 and Wrigley since 1891. On a smaller scale, we have enjoyed good fortune with this approach at See’s Candy since we purchased it.”
But even at a stalwart such as See’s, efforts are apparent to adapt to the less-than-sweet changes facing the industry — although not on public display because the candy maker rarely offers tours.
As with the company’s Bay Area kitchen, which rivals the L.A. factory in size, some tasks that once were performed manually are now delegated to machines to improve efficiency and cut costs. There’s a machine nicknamed after the Looney Tunes canary Tweety Bird because of its yellow mechanical arm, which slices and flips sheets of peanut brittle near vats of butter on the factory floor.
Managers said the new technologies have caused a gradual reduction over the years in the Los Angeles facility’s workforce, which currently numbers about 150 people — a tally that doubles around Christmas as the company adjusts for seasonal demand.
Plenty remains to be done by hand, such as the painstaking decoration of tender chocolates and the removal of imperfect candies from the production lines. The company still uses matriarch Mary See’s original recipes but has raised prices in recent years to offset soaring ingredient costs.
There’s also a rebranding effort underway at See’s. Internally, the effort is dubbed Polishing Our Gem.
The website underwent a face lift to draw more online shoppers. A new catalog, with less clutter and new fonts and images, debuted around Valentine’s Day.
And See’s, which had focused on grandmothers and great-grandmothers, is now targeting young mothers in their 30s. The company says it needs the broader demographic to beat out intense competition.
“We just know that for growth, we need to onboard a new fan base,” said Tracy Cioffi, See’s vice president of marketing and advertising. “It’s a difficult dance, but it’s one we have to do.”
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Cadbury under fire as jobs go east
Cadbury stood accused of behaving like a voracious private equity firm today after it unveiled plans to axe 700 jobs and shut a factory near Bristol.
The chocolate maker was founded by Quakers in 1824 and has a history of protecting staff, promoting pacifism and working towards social reform.
At an emergency meeting today it told 500 workers at the Somerdale factory their jobs will be moved to Poland as part of a cost-cutting drive.
Brian Revell of Unite, the UK's biggest union, said the company was asset-stripping.
'Days after Gordon Brown was talking up British jobs, an iconic British company is looking to shed work here,' he added.
'This is the sort of behaviour we have come to expect from the short-term, quickstrip private-equity firm - not Britain's most respected chocolate manufacturer.'
Another 200 jobs will go at Bournville. Up to £40m will be spent in Poland to take on most of the production at Somerdale.
The shares rose 5p to 585½p.
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Watch Dogs Season Pass Listing Reveals Second Playable Character
It should come as no surprise that Watch Dogs is getting a season pass. It’s an Ubisoft open-world game, after all.
It seems that the post-launch content for Watch Dogs will be taking a page out of the Assassin’s Creed IV playbook. Retailer GameStop is listing a season pass for the title that includes information about a new character. (Disclosure: GameStop is Game Informer’s parent company.)
A new playable character is becoming a trend for story-based DLC. Batman: Arkham City, The Last of Us, and Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag all featured add-on content with a change in protagonist. We’ve reached out to Ubisoft for comment on this, and we’ll update should we receive a response.
Watch Dogs is due out on May 27 on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC. You can read a recent hands-on preview to get caught up on the latest details.
There’s still much we don’t know about the Watch Dogs story and the characters with whom Aiden will interact. If this new character follows the Assassin’s Creed IV path, it will likely be someone we meet in the main game.


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I believe that the online video market (ads etc.) is one of the most exciting areas and it will take the Internet by storm. Here is a good article to quickly get-up to speed on what's going on in this market:
The Future of Online Video Ads
The online video ad market hit $225 million in 2005 and is expected to reach $385 million this year, $640 million in 2007 and $1.5 billion by 2009 (eMarketer). Other projections range as high as $2.5 billion in 2010.
There is no doubt that as broadband penetration multiplies, and both video technology and ad serving technology advance, most major advertisers will want to use this branding strategy because of its ability to engage viewers.
Online Video Engages Users
A study by F. N. Magid Associates for the Online Publishers Association shows that consumers engage with video advertising as follows:
5 percent of consumers view online video daily
24 percent view once a week
46 percent view once a month
While many are attracted to humor, video news clips are most popular, with each genre being viewed by more than 25 percent of visitors at least once a week.
Online video ads have great potential on the web and are particularly appealing to a young, wired demographic. As online videos become more popular on user-generated sites like YouTube, the audience for video ads will increase, as will the number of video ads created. "
By Bruce Clay - September 18, 2006
Read the whole article here.


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Insider sources reveal that Apple plans to fit the Touch ID fingerprint scanner into all of its 2014 devices – the iPhone 6, iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3.
We’re big fans of Apple’s fingerprint scanner, or ‘Touch ID’, which is built right into the iPhone 5S’ home button, and now it looks like the nifty scanner will show up in all of Apple’s mobile gadgetry in 2014. The good news comes courtesy of KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who also noted that future Touch ID pads will use tin components for a more durable build.
Last year’s iPhone 5S was the first Apple device to feature the Touch ID fingerprint scanner, and while Apple hasn’t officially announced any of its 2014 line-up, we’d expect it to include the iPhone 6, a new full-sized iPad Air 2 tablet, and a new baby-sized iPad Mini 3.
Ming-Chi Kuo is a credible source on Apple-related news, and has already predicted that Apple will release plenty of new gear at the end of the year. He also correctly stated that the Samsung Galaxy S5 would rock a fingerprint scanner before it launched back in February.


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The owner of a KFC branch in Nebraska got a pleasant surprise this week when he received a letter of apology from a patron who stole a piece of chicken from the store’s buffet. An apology was mailed to Nebraskan KFC store owner Rocky Rasmussen after someone took an extra piece of chicken home from the buffet. The envelope that contained the note was accompanied by $2. The letter is unsigned, leaving the repenting customer a mystery. “This $2 is for the piece of chicken I brought home with me on Tuesday,” the letter began. “That’s stealing. Sorry!” The anonymous patron went on to explain what happened at the restaurant before asking for forgiveness. Click here for more on this story proving there are still good people in the world today!
https://indy.shine.fm/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/shine-logo-main-theme-white.jpg 0 0 Brian McIntyre https://indy.shine.fm/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/shine-logo-main-theme-white.jpg Brian McIntyre2014-08-14 05:00:442014-08-13 20:06:04Good News: Nebraska KFC Buffet Goer Steals Chicken, Then Apologizes


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Montclair’s South Park St. Farmers Market is a failure.
Montclair’s Farmers Market on South Park St. opened for its 18-week 2016 season on Tuesday, June 7 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The market opened to a chorus of negative reactions from the farmers and merchants alike.
According to Scott Kennedy, Co-Owner of Studio042,
“The BID has lost its focus on its core mission to support its existing merchants and property owners. The very same people who already pay the BID $500,000 in taxes for support. Locating the Farmers Market on South Park St. is a disaster and negatively impacts the retail and professional tenants there. Either shut it down altogether or move it to a vacant lot. Montclair does not need a second Farmers Market much less a mid-week market.”
The Montclair Center Corporation, also known as the BID, is the Public Agency behind the South Park St. Farmers Market. The BID is the organizer, marketer and host along with the newly hired Market Manager, Montclair Township Arborist Steve Schuckman. The Montclair Center Corporation, the BID, was created in 2002 by the Township of Montclair at the same time the township created the Business Improvement District. The BID is funded by a Special Assessment Tax on Property owners and their tenants. That funding now exceeds $500,000 per year.
The BID was set up and funded with the mandate to protect, promote and support the property owners and their professional and retail tenants and guests.
This is the second year the BID is attempting to host a Farmers Market on South Park St. In 2015, the BID closed the entirety of South Park St. every Tuesday for, at times, an anemic group of just two farmers. This shut down an entire block to all traffic and eliminated nearly 20 parking spaces every Tuesday for 18 weeks.
Most of the merchants cried foul and did so repeatedly, but the BID turned a deaf ear. The Previous BID Executive Director, Luther Flurry, who earned in excess of $100,000 reportedly either didn’t respond or offered little when he did respond. This year the newly hired BID Executive Director, Israel Cronk, who worked as the General Manager of Bangz Salon and Wellness Spa in Montclair, seems to have taken a similar stance in dealing with the affected merchants.
When asked why the BID thinks the area needs a Farmers Market, Cronk stated, “We just want to bring some vitality to the week. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be tougher weekdays so we want to give back to the community by offering the market on Tuesdays.”
Clearly there is a disconnect between what the BID’s Executive Director thinks the area needs on Tuesdays and what the retail and professional tenants know they need. The BID, in addition to spending public funds on hiring a Market Manager, also saw fit to use BID staff while on the clock to assist the farmers in setting up and taking down their tents on South Park St.
Even before the BID opened the Farmers Market on Tuesday there was some confusion as to how the market would be permitted to operate on a busy downtown street this year as compared to last season’s complete shutdown of both lanes of traffic. While the BID had been telling the affected merchants the street would remain open to traffic, this season the farmers were confined to a narrow 9’ x 18’ parking space.
Sharron Miller, the Executive Director of the Sharron Miller Academy of Performing Arts (SMAPA), said,
“[This season], they are changing the setup to be on our side of the street. Traffic will not be impacted nor will the street be closed. The setup will be with pedestrians on the sidewalk and the vendors facing our building and located within the parking spaces. We’ll see if this is any better. They actually did not reach out to me, I asked the guys on the street. That’s how I found out.”
All the while the Montclair Police Department Traffic Bureau planned to shut down the entirety of the street for the safety of the shoppers, the farmers and the motorists alike. On the morning the market opened someone with the BID or the farmers themselves overrode the Montclair Police Department and opened the street up to traffic thereby creating a dangerous area with farmers, shoppers and vehicular traffic all competing for space on the narrow roadway.
Lt. Stephanie Egnezzo, Traffic Bureau Commander, said,
“For some reason there was a miscommunication with the BID for [Tuesday’s] set up – I already met with them … to address it and it will be set up differently going forward. If they set up on South Park St., then yes the street will be blocked off.”
Amanda from bluemercury when asked about the safety of the market being held on an active busy roadway said, “You might as well block off the whole street, now there is a greater risk of hitting somebody.”
Xavier, Manager at Lacrosse Unlimited, when asked about the road being left open added, “That makes it dangerous, cars fly down this road.”
While Sabrina from Madeline offered, “I think it would be better if they blocked the whole street off.”
Why the BID is hosting a Farmers Market that is taking up 10 parking spaces in a city that is starved for available on-street parking is a mystery. None of the merchants we spoke with appreciate the loss of parking, the loss of foot traffic and the general confusion the market brings to the South Park St. area.
Sharron Miller said, “The loss of parking always has a negative impact. There is no benefit to our business at all.” Miller had previously stated, “It is my personal observation that the number of patrons does not warrant the disruption of an entire street every week for 4.5 months, but that’s just my personal opinion.”
Xavier added, “There is terrible parking. I’ve worked here for two years now, and every time the Farmers Market rolls around it does affect our business. Many people who come here aren’t local. When they can’t find parking, they’ll say I’ll come another time then another time doesn’t come around.”
Amanda, when asked about the loss of 10 parking spaces added, “This is the hub of downtown Montclair, the parking is already a nightmare.”
Paul Zimmerman, Owner of Zimmerman Realty which owns buildings on Park St. said,
“It makes no sense to shut down Park St. or take over parking meters for a Farmers Market on Park St. They pay no rent, no taxes or CAM charges depriving the tenants and property owners who do pay these expenses the use of Park St. and the parking meters. The Farmers Market has no business being on Park St.”
Doyle Hyett, co-founder of HyettPalma, Inc., purports to be the only national consulting firm specializing in the economic enhancement of downtown’s and older commercial districts. HyettPalma has developed economic enhancement strategies for nearly 1,000 downtowns nationwide – ranging from Seward, Alaska, to West Palm Beach, Fla.
When asked about the value of a parking space per hour to a retail tenant, Hyett said, “30 years ago it was about $300/hour. That number, however, can vary significantly based on the health of the retail area. For example, if on-street spaces are worth $500 per day in Montclair, they could likely be worth $5,000 per day on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or $10,000 per day in Aspen.”
Hyett is concerned about employees taking up valuable and limited parking spaces thereby depriving shoppers of spaces. Hosting a Farmers Market in the most valuable parking spaces is tantamount to the same effects on the merchants.
“They are literally ‘stealing’ money from the cash registers of downtown businesses. No one has ever disputed this fact,” said Hyett.
The merchants and business on South Park St., who are the ones most negatively affected by the BID’s unilateral decision to close the areas parking and host the Farmers Market, are being hit twice. The merchants on the west side of Church St. that have lost their sales for the day collectively are paying $17,407.67 of the BIDS $500,000 annual appropriation from the Township of Montclair through their higher rents. When they close South Park St. completely, that number easily doubles. Most of the commercial tenants on South Park St. are locked into multi-year leases at $40 per square foot or better.
Several of the merchants independently suggested the BID move the Farmers Market around the corner into the vacant parking lot on Church St. across from Starbucks. The Montclair Dispatch did reach out to Dave Faeder, Managing Partner of Fountain Square Properties. Faeder was asked regarding the animosity from the affected merchants to the Farmers Market had the BID reached out to him about the possibility of moving the market into his vacant lot. Faeder said,
“The BID had not asked specifically about the use of the lot for the Farmers Market even though he had recent meetings with the BID on other issues. I am not opposed to the idea and would reach out to the BID.”
The BID also has other alternative locations that could comfortably host a Farmers Market.
- The vacant Church St. lot
- The large Lackawanna shopping center lot
- The vacant lot located on Bloomfield Ave. in the fourth ward at 130-136 Bloomfield Ave.
- The municipal parking lot on South Fullerton at the end of The Crescent St.
Unless the New Executive Director of the BID can find a way to compensate the affected merchants and professional tenants for the losses sustained due to the taking of the on-street parking and closures of the streets then, as Kennedy said, “Either shut it down or move it to a vacant lot.”
Israel Cronk did not respond to email requests for additional information and comments prior to publication.
The Montclair Dispatch was assisted in writing this article with the help of Eve Mahaney, Gabe Friedin, and Theadora Lecour.
If you know of a subject that we should be looking at, please let us know through our Contact Us page.
Editor’s Note 2-10-2017: A change to the third sentence, in the fourth paragraph has been made to reflect that Mr. Cronk was not concurrently employed by Bangs and the BID.


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Each year we identify 50 companies that are “smart” in the way they create new opportunities. Some of this year’s stars are large companies, like Amazon and Alphabet, that are using digital technologies to redefine industries. Others are wrestling with technological changes: companies like Microsoft, Bosch, Toyota, and Intel. Also on the list are ambitious startups like 23andMe, a pioneer…
Companies taking advantage of amazing new digital technologies dominate our list of 50 Smartest Companies. But despite impressive advances in artificial intelligence and automation, the economy
remains in a troubling slowdown.
The consumer genetic-testing startup has amassed one of the world’s largest databases of DNA. Now it is sifting through it for clues to new drugs.
The world’s largest automaker is finally getting serious about self-driving technologies.
Jean Liu explains how her ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing is besting Uber in China and why data is its biggest asset.
The startup’s cheaper way to make lithium-ion batteries could make it cost-effective to store energy from renewable sources.
Under Satya Nadella, the software giant hopes to survive by overturning the way it has always done business.
The world’s leading chip maker missed a huge opportunity in mobile devices. Now the rise of artificial intelligence gives the company another chance to prove itself.
An old-school manufacturer is building smart factories to remain globally competitive.


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Dressing up, school parties, costume parades and trick-or-treating—these are the reasons Halloween tops the list of many kids’ favorite days. While no one wants to ruin this spooky and sugary celebration, with all the health concerns surrounding sugar and the poor diet habits of millions of Americans, can’t we find some ways to cut back on […]
Summertime fun in the SUN! Let’s talk sun safety. Protecting yourself from skin cancer is always a top priority, but unfortunately, sunscreen isn’t an easy solution. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) heavily researches sunscreens every year, and this year, they found that over two thirds of the 650 products they tested contained harmful chemicals or didn’t […]
When you suffer from dehydration symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, learning how to cleanse and re-hydrate your body will improve your physical energy as well as reduce brain fog, headaches, skin problems, joint and muscle pain, poor digestion and cravings.
When dehydrated, our internal cleansing system becomes congested and stagnates like dirty dish water. It’s amazing how […]
Yes, you read the title right. It’s time to talk about constipation. You may find this subject well, uncomfortable, however you’ll suffer more discomfort due to the chronic constipation if you do not share with your doctor all of what is, or in this case, isn’t happening in your body. In addition, studies show that […]
Does Nutella cause cancer?
The maker of Nutella is fighting back against claims that a key ingredient in the hazelnut and chocolate spread may cause cancer.
Italian food giant Ferrero recently launched an advertising campaign in Italy that assures consumers that palm oil used in Nutella is safe […]
Tips for Moving and Mindset
Emotional eating to make ourselves feel better when we’re sad or anxious can interfere with weight loss goals. But meditation—using techniques like muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and mindfulness—can help binge eaters become aware of how they turn to food to deal with emotions. This is especially important at parties where […]
While most media coverage after the election focused on Donald Trump’s surprising victory, four cities QUIETLY voted to pass soda taxes. Voters in San Francisco, Oakland, and Albany, California passed a one-penny-per-ounce tax on sugary soft drinks. In Boulder, Colorado, it’s two cents per ounce. (The Cook County Board of Commissioners, which oversees Chicago and the […]
We carry CardiOmega at our office which is a highly concentrated EPA/DHA natural fish oil supplement. A special molecular distillation process is used to remove toxins and cholesterol. EPA & DHA Omega-3 fatty acids can be […]


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khaskhabar.com : Thursday, September 07, 2023 4:49 PM
San Francisco. As the race for generic AI intensifies, Apple is reportedly spending millions of dollars a day building several artificial intelligence (AI) conversational models.
According to a report in The Information, the tech giant is working on multiple AI models across multiple teams.
“One goal is to develop features that allow iPhone customers to use simple voice commands to automate multi-step tasks,” the report said late Wednesday.
The report states that this technology could allow users to ask the Siri voice assistant on their phone to create a GIF using the last five photos they took and text it to a friend.
Currently, an iPhone user has to manually program individual actions.
Apple’s AI chief John Giannandrea authorized the formation of a team four years ago to develop conversational AI, known as big-language models.
This was long before ChatGPT came into existence.
One chatbot is in the works that will “conversate with customers using Apple Care” while another could make it easier to automate multistep tasks with Siri.
According to the report, citing sources, Apple’s most advanced LLM, known internally as Ajax GPT, has been trained on “over 200 billion parameters” and is faster than OpenAI’s GPT-3.5. Is powerful.
The tech giant is yet to comment on the report.
Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed last month that the tech giant has been working on generative AI and other models for years.
Cook said that Apple views AI and machine learning (ML) as fundamental core technologies.
“And they’re built into virtually every product we make,” Cook told CNBC.
“On a research basis, we’ve been researching AI and machine learning, including generative AI, for years,” Cook was quoted as saying.
read this also – Click to read the news of your state / city before the newspaper


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Bad news, internet users: Cybercriminals have developed more advanced tricks to compromise your systems. While you may be familiar with attacks involving suspicious emails, the new kid on the block known as watering hole attacks are far more nefarious and effective.
Virtualization has become essential for business looking for better resource provisioning, easier IT management, less hardware, and lower costs. But virtualization is a complex and constantly evolving field, which comes with certain risks. One such risk concerns hypervisor security.
In the past month, Microsoft has beefed up Office 365 with AI-driven capabilities designed to help businesses make the most of their data, company content, collaborative projects and more. Read on to learn about the new smart features you can expect in the Office 365 update.
While Apple products are renowned for being highly secure, they’re not completely immune to cyberattacks. Fortunately, Apple frequently releases updates to fix any issue that they’ve discovered. And if you have macOS High Sierra, you need to make sure you’re running the latest patch.
Microsoft never fails to announce exciting new features for their products. In an effort to improve support for small- and medium-sized businesses, they introduced a series of new apps and enhancements for Office 365 during the Inspire conference in July.
When a Microsoft product reaches its “end-of-life,” the tech developer no longer provides feature updates, technical assistance, and automatic fixes for that product. Support for Windows XP, for instance, ended in April 2014. That said, recent malware attacks have caused Microsoft to continue support for their outdated operating system.
The feature-packed Windows Creators Update might not have made its way into every PC yet, but Microsoft wasted no time in announcing its successor! The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update was announced at the Build 2017 conference and is expected to hit most Windows 10 PCs (including Windows 10 S devices) by September.
When most people think of the iPhone, an Excel spreadsheet isn’t exactly the first thing that springs to mind. Whether it was the smartphone’s form factor or a general aversion to working from a mobile device, most of us had no reason to search out iOS versions of Microsoft’s legendary productivity software.
iOS 10 may still be in its beta stage, but Apple loyalists have grown accustomed to a level of hype in the months leading up to a new product release. Despite the announcements and presentations wrapping up last month, we’re just now getting wind of the unbiased opinions from developers who have courageously installed the upcoming version of iOS — and the news is good.
When a new iOS update is released for iPhone, it’s exciting. In fact, you may be so amped that your trigger finger gets the best of you, and the next thing you know you’re saddled with a new iOS that is causing you headache after headache. To avoid this fate, it pays to think wisely before updating your iOS and prepare for it accordingly.


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You are here
Japan manufacturers' mood down as economy back in recession: Reuters poll
[TOKYO] Confidence at Japanese manufacturers slid in December and is expected to deteriorate while the mood at service firms rebounded, a Reuters poll showed, highlighting the uneven recovery after an April tax increase.
The frail business sentiment in the monthly Reuters Tankan suggests further weakness in the Bank of Japan's tankan survey, which has been forecast to stay largely flat in the fourth quarter.
A weak result in the closely watched BOJ survey, in turn, could cast further doubt on the central bank's rosy economic forecasts, and falling oil prices are expected to complicate the BOJ's attempts to drag the world's third-biggest economy out of deflation.
The central bank, which stunned investors worldwide on Oct 31 by expanding its quantitative easing, could come under pressure for more stimulus amid scepticism about its view that inflation will accelerate to its 2 per cent target in the year that begins April 2015.
The wobbly business mood also clouds the outlook for "Abenomics" even as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks set to keep power in a Dec 14 vote he has dubbed a referendum on his reflationary policy.
The Reuters Tankan, which is strongly correlated with the central bank's pivotal, canvassed 486 big Japanese companies, of which 263 replied, between Nov 25 and Dec. 3.
The managers, who responded anonymously to the Reuters survey, voiced concerns on lingering weakness in demand after the increase in the national sales tax - which tipped Japan back into recession - and higher import costs caused by the yen's fall. Uncertainty over the global economy adds to their worries. "The domestic economy has deteriorated due to inflation caused by the sales tax rise and the weak yen," an executive of a transport equipment firm said in the survey. "Emerging market economies are also slowing down." The sentiment index for manufacturers fell to 10 in December from 13 in November, with car and transport-equipment makers taking a hit. Manufacturers expect a further decline to 7 in March.
Compared with three months ago, the manufacturers' index held steady, suggesting that the BOJ's quarterly tankan due Dec 15 is likely to show little improvement in sentiment.
The Reuters Tankan service-sector index rose to 23 in December from 18 in November but was little changed from 22 three months ago, with retailers reeling from the sales tax pain. The sentiment index is seen inching up to 24 in March.
The survey indices subtract the percentage of companies saying conditions are improving from that of companies saying conditions are worsening. A positive number means optimists outnumber pessimists.


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By any measurement, Beyoncé is a wildly successful business woman. She controls her own music through her company, Parkwood Entertainment; has her own line of clothing, Ivy Park; and is an investor in companies such as her husband’s music-streaming service, Tidal. But now, the expectant entertainment mogul is helping to stand up for female entrepreneurs and business owners in communities around the world through WTRMLN WTR, a beverage company in which she invests.
“I invested in WTRMLN WTR because it’s the future of clean, natural hydration; as partners, we share a simple mission to deliver accessible wellness to the world,” Beyoncé said at the time of her initial involvement. “This is more than an investment in a brand, it’s an investment in female leaders, fitness, American farmers, and the health of people and our planet.”
And now, on the occasion of WTRMLN WTR launching a line of three new flavors, Beyoncé and the company’s co-founder, Jody Levy, will be donating a portion of all product sales to the Whole Planet Foundation. The foundation provides micro-credits to communities around the world, with the goal of alleviating poverty. The sales of this new line of flavored waters will go specifically to women attempting to start their own businesses, as well as to women who already own their own small businesses.
“I applaud the innovative female leaders at WTRMLN WTR, who inspire us with their creativity and their true commitment to elevating our community and culture,” Beyoncé said on the company’s move.
Beyoncé’s investment in the cold press juice company was announced last May. WTRMLN WTR uses watermelons that are misshapen, and would otherwise be discarded, in its production in an effort to stem food waste. The classic flavor uses watermelon and lemon juice, and are all-natural, non-GMO products. The new line of products, which are being billed as “BLNDS” will be available exclusively at Whole Foods Markets through July, after which they will be available at additional retailers as well.


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DEATHWATCH - HMV sales continue to slide
HMV has been in trouble for a long time. Supermarkets have been undercutting them on music sales for years, online downloads have seen physical sales become less and less attractive. All we care about now are picking through the neverending DVD sales - and they'll likely go the same way as CDs.
And after a year of turmoil for HMV, the bad news keeps on coming - sale have slumped 14.5% in results for the year to April. Furthermore, the company barely stayed out the red - HMV made a profit before tax of just £200,000.
The grim trading conditions come ahead of a relaunch later in the year, when the company will focus more on consumer technology and electronics. The changes will be accompanied by refits in 150 stores across the country in time for Christmas. The question is whether HMV continue trading in 2012.


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Some Chinese stainless steel mills, which are already suffering losses, may have to curtail part of their production next month if domestic stainless steel prices continue to decline, market sources said.
“I heard that current prices have already led to losses among some stainless steel mills, especially those mainly dealing in the 200 series products, and I believe they will halt production either partially or wholly soon given the current market situation,” a Chinese market source said.
Chinese stainless steel mills currently produce 200, 300 and 400 series stainless steel products, Fastmarkets understands.
Chinese stainless steel prices have been softening due to weak demand from the downstream market and many mills have found it hard to offload stocks at their plants as a result, according to sources.
Fastmarkets’ domestic price assessment for benchmark...


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Sonoco Asia’s production plant in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia, has been awarded the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification underlining its efforts to promote sustainability.
As one of the leaders in packaging, Sonoco is committed to the goals of sustainable development by acting responsibly toward resource management and use. The company’s achievement is another milestone accomplished in the Asia market and part of its growing efforts to promote sustainability.
‘At Sonoco, we believe People Build Businesses by Doing the Right Thing. This principle guides all our actions, and we take proactive steps to lessen our impact on the environment,’ said the company in a statement. ‘We serve as a valued partner to our corporate customers and help them reduce the environmental impact of their packaging, as well as waste to landfill for their facilities.’
A certification label on a forest product informs potential buyers that the product was produced in a well-managed forest in accordance with a given set of standards. According to Sonoco, in today’s retail market, consumers concerned about social and environmental issues often give preference to products carrying such a label.
FSC Certification continues to solidify Sonoco’s practices in employing sustainable forestation to meet the needs of the present without compromising future generation’s quality of life. Moreover, Sonoco uses recycled fibers in a significant amount of its packaging to further reduce the amount of wood fiber entering the waste stream.


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Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) has gone through a wild ride, from being a leader in the mobile phone industry to just another company looking to survive in the industry dominated by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Android. Many analysts claim that Nokia wouldn’t survive after losing significant market share — but Nokia has come back stronger with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) as its partner.
Both Nokia and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), have been struggling after losing market share in the smartphone industry. While BlackBerry’s future is uncertain, Nokia just released a stunning Windows-based smartphone, the Lumia 920. Even though Nokia’s Windows Phone 8, or WP8, devices are packed with a lot of features, there is still doubt on whether or not Nokia can compete with the market giants. Here is a SWOT analysis of Nokia, which will reflect Nokia’s current position and the things you need to look out for in the future.
Nokia still dominates the Windows smartphone market, and even though that market is still quite small, Nokia leads Samsung and HTC with its Lumia line of smartphones. This is a major strength, and if the Windows Phone market as a whole grows, then Nokia is likely to grow as well.
BlackBerry and Apple, on the other hand, use their own software and hardware. While Apple is still one of the leaders in the industry, BlackBerry will rely on its new operating system, BB10. People are aware of WP8, but BlackBerry 10 is a totally new OS, and BlackBerry’s market share will only grow if people actually like it.
Another strength for Nokia is that it has a market for all types of customers. The high-end Lumia line is aimed towards people with higher budgets, while low-end Lumia phones, like the Lumia 620, are aimed towards people who are tight on money but still need a good smartphone. The Asha line is aimed towards people with even lower budgets, who need a good mobile phone with some quality features.
Apple lacks this variety. Its iPhones are expensive, which limits their potential customer base and excludes those with tigher budgets. Similarly, the BlackBerry 10 smartphones are also expensive, and are targeted towards a set audience.
While the Asha line might not need major improvements due to the price tag, the Lumia smartphones certainly have some flaws. Firstly, the Lumia 920’s hardware is not as up-to-date compared to its price tag. It is definitely a brilliant smartphone but with its price tag, you should expect at least a quad-core processor.
Most new devices, such as the Galaxy S3 and the LG Nexus 4, are packed with quad-core processors while the Lumia 920 is only packed with a dual-core processor. Even though Nokia features a completely different OS and requirements for hardware, the latest hardware is required in order to compete against giants in the industry. BlackBerry 10 also features a dual-core processor, however, it is a phone designed for multitasking which is why it features 2GB of RAM compared to 1GB on the Lumia 920.
The relatively small app store on WP is seen as another weakness for Nokia’s Lumia line. Nokia finds itself standing close to BlackBerry 10 in terms of the number of apps available and even though there are many quality apps available on both the app stores, Nokia and BlackBerry are far behind than Apple and Android. Apple’s app store is almost 8 to 10 times bigger than the current app stores of BB10 and WP8 and users are clearly missing apps like Instagram and Spotify.


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The year 2020 will go down in history as one of the most difficult years for every business and job sector there is. Some have seen businesses they’ve been building for decades destroyed within a matter of weeks as they cancel and refund services. Others, like grocery stores and soap manufacturers, have sold more products than ever but have had major headaches keeping up with demand.
It seems no matter what line of work you’re in, you’ve probably had one of the most challenging years of your career. The rules and restrictions are changing every day around the world, and everyone has had to learn to adapt quickly during the pandemic. Here are some ways that the different sectors have overcome those problems.
Keeping the most important sector running
At the very beginning of the pandemic, all of the worlds efforts were towards protecting one very important sector – the health sector. There were fears that an increase of people admitted to hospital with COVID-19 would cause even more problems for health providers that are often already overstretched. The lockdown didn’t just reduce the spread of the disease, it also reduced the numbers of patient’s hospitals would have to deal with.
Even with the added restrictions, hospitals still had to deal with a high number of people infected with the coronavirus on top of all of their usual patients. Many hospitals had to be redesigned, creating special COVID-19 wards to make sure the virus didn’t pass from patient to patient. One of the main problems for people who run hospitals has been getting enough PPE equipment to keep their staff and patients safe.
At the start of the pandemic, there was a global shortage as hospitals desperately tried to increase their stock of the vital masks, gloves and aprons needed to treat patients. Luckily the manufacturing industry were soon able to help, with many factories stopping production of their usual product and trying to work out how to make more safety equipment as quickly as possible. This even led to brands like the Ferrari F1 team designing and building ventilators from scratch in just five weeks.
Whilst it’s important to keep hospitals and practices running day to day, it’s also important to continue to plan for the future. It’s just as essential to prepare the next generation of doctors and nurses who will one day be carrying out these lifesaving tasks. During the pandemic, many people have decided against going to college or university to continue their studies. This is because many people either fear they won’t get the same level of teaching due to social distancing restrictions, or because they fear campuses won’t be safe places to learn.
Luckily there are alternative methods to train which many will feel more comfortable taking on during 2020. These include the online pediatric nurse practitioner programs which allow students to study at home before completing their final training on placements. As this sector was already in need of more trained nurses before the pandemic, it’s important that people are still able to continue training to fill these roles. The course run by Baylor University teaches all of the traditionally class-based knowledge to students as they work from home. They then set up placements to make sure they can carry out the practical learning needed to be a fully prepared and confident nurse.
Dealing with the changes to our new lives
It’s not just the health sector that has had to change massively over the last few months. A lot of brands have seen demand for their products go through the roof since the start of the pandemic. For example, it used to be the minority of people that would wear a face mask whilst out on the street or in a store. Now many stores won’t let you in unless you’re wearing a mask or have a health reason for not wearing one. The production of hand sanitiser and things like protective screens have also had to increase rapidly.
Many brands who produce normal household goods that don’t protect you from the virus also had to deal with a big increase on demand. As people began to panic buy from grocery stores, photos of empty aisles where the toilet paper is normally kept began circulating online. This led to companies having to carry on producing their products through the night to try and make sure shelves were restocked.
Some are still struggling
Not every industry has seen a huge increase in demand for their products or their services. The sad reality is that some industries have seen the demand drop so low for such a long period of time. For example, a number of airlines have had to sack a lot of their pilots and cabin crew as people choose not to take a family vacation this year. It’s feared that many more might go out of business before the world returns to the “new normal” way of living. It’s not just the travel industry that has struggled. Many restaurants have struggled to turn a profit as they reduce the amount of tables they can serve due to social distancing. Many high-end restaurants have even turned to offering takeaway for the first time to try and make a profit.
Some companies are still unable to open. This is either because their overheads are higher than the amount of money they’d be able to make whilst social distancing, or because their country’s government won’t allow them to open yet. For example, all of the Broadway theatres are still not allowed to put on any performances, as has been the case for most of the year. On the other side of the globe at London’s equivalent, the West End, some theatres are beginning to open their doors once more. Shows that require small amounts of staff and performers, such as the musical “Six”, are able to put on performances and still make a profit. Many of the big productions will still continue to be closed until 2021 at the earliest, meaning they will have spent around 9 months completely closed during 2020.


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These days, the words "Microsoft" and "Edge" are usually associated with the Redmond giant's browser for Windows 10 and sometimes for the wrong reasons as evidenced by new test functionality that dissuaded users from installing rival browsers that was later rolled back in a later build. However, the company has made progress with its Azure IoT Edge platform revealed at Build 2017 and has announced a number of new solutions in the edge computing space.
In terms of official releases, Microsoft has announced at Ignite 2018 that Azure Data Box has now entered general availability after being in preview for a year. The toughened, tamper-resistant appliance features 100TB of storage for secure offline transport of data to Azure which may be ideal if online transfers are unreliable. However, if that's not enough, a larger version in the form of Azure Data Box Heavy is now available in preview with a whopping 1 petabyte of storage onboard.
Otherwise, if online data transfers to Azure are more appropriate for your needs, the company has also introduced two additional solutions to the Data Box suite in preview form. Azure Data Box Edge is a physical appliance that can "help customers analyze, process, and transform data before uploading it to the cloud" at the edge by leveraging machine learning algorithms and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) hardware. There will also be a Data Box Gateway virtual appliance, compatible with Hyper-V and VMWare, that can facilitate data transfers to Azure Storage.
Meanwhile, for those that are running Azure Stack instances, initially released last year, the capability to extend a single Stack to 16 nodes will roll out to integrated solutions acquired from Avanade, Cisco, HPE, Huawei, and Lenovo over the next few weeks. The change was foreshadowed by Microsoft back in February with operators having been limited to provisioning a total of 12 nodes since general availability.
It is expected that Microsoft will disclose further details about its Data Box products and Azure Stack capacity upgrade soon.


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Keyword: Ensemble Travel Group International Conference
The event will be held through October 23-27 in Seattle. Learn more about how to register here.
The travel company honored top producers and supplier partners during the 2018 Ensemble Travel Group International Conference at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.
Held at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, the Bahamas, this year marks the first time in 11 years the conference is taking place outside the United States and Canada. Here’s what’s in store.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Conference attendees at Ensemble’s seventh annual charity event raised $259,000 for Make-A-Wish - a company record - as well as $50,000 for hurricane relief. Take a look.
To celebrate the group’s 50th anniversary next year, Ensemble will be holding its annual conference at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, the Bahamas. Learn more.
The event took place during the group’s International Conference at the Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion. Here’s the latest.
Ensemble made the announcement at its 2017 International Conference. Get the details here.
2016 was the best year in history for Ensemble from a North American profit-sharing perspective, Co-President Lindsay Pearlman said at this year’s Ensemble International Conference. Here’s a look at the top news from the event.
According to the just-released 2017 Ensemble Insights Survey, 2018 could be a banner year for travel agencies. Here’s why.
The 2017 Ensemble Travel Group International Conference is set for October 16-20 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion in Dallas, TX. Here’s what to expect.


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My assumptions were reduced however I’ve ended up being an enthusiast of Shrine, which is basically food colouring for hairMy experiments with Instagram-sold appeal items have actually been virtually totally dreadful.
The gloves are off: a brilliant new eco hair dye has hit the shelves | Sali Hughes
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- Victoria's Secret has started selling its beauty products on Amazon
- Victoria's Secret launches store for its beauty products on Amazon
- 'Queer Eye' star Tan France opens up about bleaching his skin when he was 9
- Know Beauty DNA Technology Personalizes Skin Products
- Boots to stop selling plastic-based wet wipes in UK


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G-Dragon, a member of Big Bang, the South Korean music band was spotted in a recent event in an exact similar designer jacket which was worn by 2NE 1 member Dara at seperate event.
Kwon Ji-Young, popularly known as G-Dragon, is famous for being most fashionista in his band group. He received the award of “Style Icon of 2008” by Arena Magazine. Apart from being a singer, Sandara Park, popularly known as Dara, is a model and actress in South Korea. She also flaunts a very trendy fashion, which is very popular among young girls of South Korea.
In a recent report published by Kpopstarz says that Maison Kitsune, the French fashion designer brand posted a photograph of G-Dragon and Dara in their instagram and facebook account. The photograph shows G-Dragon and Dara wearing exact similar jacket with Kitsune brand logo visible on it. In the photograph, both of them were seen wearing teddy Korean fox patch bomber jacket of dark blue colour and was spotted at seperate events. Despite of this similarity in their clothing, both the star singers flaunted their signature style. G-Dragon was seen wearing the jacket with black shirt inside. He also wore along with the clothings, gold accessories like necklace and round shaped sunglass. The rapper was seen to have flaunted a suave look with slick black hair. Dara was showcasing a sweet, playful style. She wore the jacket with white turtle neck shirt and neck scarf. As an accessory she preferred to wear oversized funky sunglasses with this dress.
The report also says that the rumour is already in the air that both of them might be dating each other. In last September, both the stars were on the news for flaunting exact similar hair colour. This news came during a very sensitive period of G-Dragon’s life when he had a split-up with his girlfriend Kiko Mizuhara, a Japanese model. So when this flaunting of similarity was spotted in public for second time, their fans started guessing that both the singers might have been pairing to get engaged in relationship.
Photo Source: Facebook/Maison Kitsune


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Head shop rolls out disk size roadmap
TDK sees the future
By January 2010 we should be seeing 620GB 2.5-inch and 2.5TB 3.5-inch hard disk drives, according to head manufacturer TDK Corporation.
A presentation to financial analysts, including Stifel Nicolaus' Aaron Rakers, contained a roadmap for hard disk drive (HDD) read/write heads which TDK manufactures for some HDD suppliers. The current highest density read/write heads it is mass producing are for 250GB/platter 2.5-inch or small form factor (SFF) drives and for 500GB/platter 3.5-inch disk drives.
The roadmap shows a jump to 320GB/platter 2.5-inch drive read heads with such heads in qualification with HDD suppliers now, mass production starting this month and full mass production by December this year. That means we should see HDD suppliers announcing 640GB 2-platter SFF drive products by the end of the year - Seagate already has with its 640GB Free Agent Go - and, if they wish, 960GB 3-platter products, darn near a terabyte. Initial products may rotate at 5400rpm with later ones increasing their spin speed to 7200rpm as the head and media technologies get better and permit the faster rotation.
Turning to desktop drives, TDK is making heads for 500GB/platter drives now and has 640GB/platter heads currently in qualification by its OEMs. It sees a slightly later but faster ramp to mass production, starting in November this year and complete by the end of January, 2010.
The implication is that HDD manufacturers could announce 2.5TB, 4-platter, 3.5-inch capacity drives, SATA interface ones probably, as early as February next year, with possible 3.2TB, 5-platter models as well if they want to hit the 3TB drive mark.
The 2TB mark had been reached by Seagate and WD in April this year.
The TDK areal density increases here are 28 per cent for 3.5-inch drives and 24 per cent for 2.5-inch drives. Naturally, a 24-28 per cent increase in the areal density the heads can read and write means a 24-28 per cent increase in the areal density of the disk platters, based on another iteration of perpendicular magnetic recording technology.
That means that all current disk drive products should or could have an approximate 25 per cent jump in capacity as this new PMP media technology spreads across the various SAS, SATA and Fibre Channel HDD product lines. That could happen in the first half of 2010 as we see a mass density refresh spreading across the HDD industry. ®


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As companies such as Tesla and General Motors launch new electric vehicles (EVs) designed to attract the masses, a new report from Edmunds shows that without generous tax incentives, it will be challenging for either company to meet sales goals for these vehicles.
"With gas prices at a relative low and the popularity of SUVs and trucks hitting all-time highs, the EV market is at a crossroads," said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds. "While the high-end EV market most likely has the ability to hold steady, our analysis shows that the average car shopper still needs a significant financial incentive to choose an electric vehicle over a traditional counterpart."
To get a deep understanding of how financial incentives for EVs affect the market, Edmunds conducted an extensive analysis of what happened in the state of Georgia following the expiration of its EV tax credit as a model for what could happen should policy shift at the federal level. Edmunds learned that:
- Georgia's tax credit created a market for mainstream EVs that didn't naturally exist. Though sales of all EVs spiked while the tax credit was in effect, sales of the Nissan Leaf dropped off sharply once the tax credit expired. Sales of the Tesla Model S also dipped once the tax credit expired, but then quickly rebounded to the same level they were at when the credits were in effect.
- Georgia's tax credit mainly incentivised wealthy car buyers. In 2015, the last year the tax credit was in effect, 41% of all EV buyers in Georgia made over US$150,000 a year (38% if you eliminate Tesla buyers). Only 16% of all car buyers in Georgia in 2015 made more than $150,000.
- Once tax credits are eliminated, lease payments on EVs jump sharply. The lease market for EV vehicles is heavily dependent on tax credits because residual values of EVs tend to be much lower than their traditional vehicle counterparts. In the case of the Leaf in Georgia, the average monthly lease payment was $132 while the credit was in effect, but shot up to $290 once it was eliminated.
- Green shoppers are more deal hungry than traditional shoppers. Traffic to Edmunds manufacturer incentives and rebates pages was 120% higher among those shopping for EVs, plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrids than those shopping for their non-green counterparts.
- While sales of PHEVs and EVs have grown over the last five years — 136,295 in 2016 compared to 17,425 in 2011 — they still only constituted 1% of the market at the end of the first quarter of this year.
"It will take a significant rise in gas prices or stricter government mandates to drive sales of EVs at high volume," Caldwell said. "People want a car that makes their lives easier, and given the infrastructure challenges and battery limitations, right now EVs don't do that. The majority of consumers are still looking for the best price on a vehicle that meets their needs, and until EVs can be used as seamlessly as their traditional engine counterparts, mass adoption will continue to be a challenge without some kind of financial incentive."


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Israel continues to assist SA start-up business
ANT KATZ & VANESSA VALKIN
Speaking at the event, Israeli Ambassador Arthur Lenk said that while the UK was going through Brexit, Israel was experiencing record numbers of ‘exits’. “Just this month of June in Israel,” he said, “exits” – start-ups that had sold for a lot of money, had totalled 38 at a market value of $561 million or R8.14 billion.”
Start-up winner Sharman, of Webfluential, which helps companies market their products and brands through ’influencers’, individuals with powerful and appropriate online reach, had some stiff competition. Other finalists included a woman whose company SMEasy helps small businesses with accounting services through a highly accessible digital platform. One entrepreneur had started Liedjie which allows you to listen to your favourite Afrikaans soundtrack anytime though a smartphone app.
Another inspirational woman was the evening’s entertainment – well-known South Africa singer-song writer Lira. She spoke about her challenging path in the entertainment industry and how she first studied and practised accountancy before making a business of her music. Today she employs 12 people. “In this country, I have been one of the few women who are growing the entertainment industry in a way that is respected,” she said.
Sharman is thrilled about her pending visit to Israel where she will interact with winners of the Start-up competition from 20 other countries as well as meeting with angel investors and other innovators in the technology space: “I’m sure the value we will get from this trip to Israel will change our lives.”


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Department store sales in 2010 declined 3.1 percent from the previous year on a same-store basis, down for the 14th consecutive year due to weak consumer confidence amid the economic downturn, an industry group said Tuesday.
Sales totaled ¥6.29 trillion, the lowest level since 1982, according to the Japan Department Stores Association.
The hot summer dampened sales of autumn and winter clothing, an association official said. Clothing sales, accounting for around 35 percent of the total, fell 4.7 percent.
Sales of luxury items, including artwork and jewelry, were also sluggish, down 3.7 percent, due to weak consumer sentiment partly stemming from falls in stock prices, the official said.
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- 13.36% (all fixed)
- 14.44% (all variable)
Here's a look at the state of credit card rates from Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large banks and thrifts conducted Feb. 23, 2011.
This week average interest rates on credit cards held steady. The average fixed rate stood at 13.36 percent and the mean variable rate stayed at 14.44 percent.
One year ago, many of the provisions in the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act took effect. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which will take over the responsibility for administering the Credit CARD Act this summer, marked the anniversary yesterday with a conference and new report analyzing the impact of the law on the marketplace. According to the report, the CARD Act resulted in scarcer overlimit fees, lower late fees and fewer rates hikes on existing accounts.
Bankrate.com makes it easier to find cash-back credit cards and low-rate cards. You can search by issuer, card type or credit score.-- Leslie McFadden


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Brand Honor, after their separation Huawei, introduced 3 phones of 50 series in June 2021 which were launched globally in October .
These mobiles will be equipped with Google Mobile services after a very long time in Honor smartphones.
Now the company is ready to introduce the updated models in the form of Honor 60 series, the design of which feels quite unique.
The company has announced that the Honor 60 series will be launched on December 1.
The company has also released a video teaser of the series which gives a glimpse of the design of the phones.
The teaser takes into account the cosmic theme, which indicates that the phone’s camera is likely to be given astrophotography mode.
According to reports , the Honor 60 series will consist of 3 phones, including the Honor 60, 60 Pro and 60 SE models.
The Honor 60 Pro is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 870 processor, while the 4500 mAh battery will come with 100 watts or more of fast charging support.
In comparison, Honor 60 will have 66 watt fast charging support with battery while SE model will have 40 watt fast charging support.
The back of the phone has a 50 series two-circle camera setup.
But the company has surprisingly managed to hide the details of these new phones.


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Netball player, Shirley Langrope, sitting on the arm of a chair with her sandshoes.
Kathryn Ellis, 17, with new shows that have been crafted to fit her prosthetic feet.
Views of sports shoes with sprigs.
Views of shoes left behind by firefighters at the fire headquarters after the crew headed off in their fire engines to answer an alarm.
The shoe department at Haywrights store.
The shoe department at Haywrights store. [Frame 23a] Lucy Schumann.
A display of Corkers in the shoe department of Haywrights store.


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Britain’s record-breaking heatwave is set to restrict food supplies later in the year, just as the government prepares to stockpile food in the even of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.
Ian Wright, director general of the Food and Drink Federation, the main industry lobby group, said Britain’s long spell of hot, dry weather would start to affect supplies in the autumn, and that if Britain left the EU next March without a deal, disruption at customs and border crossings would have an impact on food imports.
“We’re going through the most extraordinary summer and we’re already seeing farmers struggling with crops, with feed for ruminants [cattle and sheep],” Wright told BBC radio. “There are vegetable shortages because there hasn’t been enough rain.”
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His warning came a day after the new Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, told MPs the government was putting plans in motion to ensure “adequate food” supplies would continue if Britain crashes out of the EU without a new trade agreement.
About 40% of the food Britons consume is imported, says Reuters, “the vast majority of it from or via the EU.”
Amid continued uncertainty about the state of Brexit negotiations, many businesses will seek to get goods across the border before the 29 March exit date to avoid disruption from customs changes. Some will also plan to buy further in advance so they are less affected by currency fluctuations.
Earlier this year the British Retail Consortium said a no-deal Brexit would clog up food supplies, raise prices and throw retailers out of business. Wright echoed that warning and said a hard Brexit would inevitably lead to some food shortages.
“We saw just a few weeks ago with the carbon dioxide shortage how a random shock event can effect supply and we would see that again,” he said, adding “our shoppers would not see no food but they would see shortages.”
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Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is back in shape. It had a rough couple of years, including product recalls and its infamous see-through pants problem. However, management has righted the ship. LULU stock is back near all-time highs, quarterly earnings results are solid, and the company is targeting big expansion plans overseas.
Is this finally the moment for Lululemon stock to start working out for shareholders again? Or will the company’s lingering issues send it tumbling? Here are the pros and cons for LULU stock heading into 2018.
LULU Stock Cons
Not a Cheap Stock: Lululemon is back to a premium valuation, no matter how you slice it. The company is trading at 38x trailing and 27x forward earnings. That’s not anywhere near the industry median for apparel.
The company is at a steep 4x price/sales ratio. And you had better believe in the company’s brand, because there are few other hard assets here. The company trades at more than 7x book value.
That’s all fine and well if Lululemon is able to grow for many years to come. However, if it’s just the first mover on an increasingly crowded fashion trend, those valuation ratios will not hold up over time. Competitors such as Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) remain dangerous as well.
Is Athleisure a Fad? A long-running point of debate for LULU stock is whether the company’s products are a fad or the marker of a new persistent trend. Both sides make fair points. And to be honest, it could probably still go either way.
That said, Lululemon’s proponents will note that the company has continued its growth well past where initial doubters thought it’d reach. There’s no sign that yoga, as a trend, is dying off either. LULU stock bears, on the other hand, will point to Lululemon’s struggling Canadian sales.
Remember that the company is originally from Vancouver. It developed its brand and market share there first. So it is somewhat troubling that Canadian sales volume is down three years in a row, and by meaningful amounts.
That said, the Canadian economy isn’t performing that well right now, and besides, Canada is only 20% of Lululemon’s business today. Still, declining Canadian sales do suggest that the company will reach saturation on athleisure at some point.
Key Technical Resistance Level: LULU stock has had a bad history with the $80/share level. The stock originally hit the $80 level back in 2012 during its first big growth phase. Shares consolidated and then made another push for $80 in 2013. LULU stock did nothing until 2016, when it again rallied sharply, hit $80, and then went south.
After dropping below $50 earlier this year, investors have given LULU one more chance. Shares are almost back up to the pivotal $80 mark as we await all-important holiday sales figures.
Needless to say, anything less than great numbers, and LULU is going to get turned back yet again at this key overhead level. On the plus side, should Lululemon hit it out of the park for Q4, you’d likely see a large technical move up to the $90 area as traders buy the breakout over five-year resistance.
LULU Stock Pros
Making New Markets: The bulls have a decent retort for the “athleisure is tapped out” argument above. It’s that Lululemon is successfully stretching into new markets beyond just western women.
For one, we’re seeing the rise of male athleisure clothing. Lululemon is up to 18% of its customers being men, and the company sees this moving toward a quarter of its customers within the next few years. It’s unlikely Lululemon will ever be a company whose stores are full of men, but even a modest presence in male athletic apparel can move the needle.
On top of that, Lululemon is largely going abroad for future growth, with initiatives such as “Unroll China.” This year’s Unroll China event had expected participation of 10,000 people across six Chinese cities. There is reason to expect that Lululemon’s brand and products will make a good fit with consumers’ tastes in that region.
Strong Quarterly Results: To break through the long-standing barrier at $80/share and finally make new highs, LULU stock needs a solid holiday season. If last quarter is any guide, things are trending well for the company.
The company grew revenues by almost 14% year-over-year this quarter. That marked the company’s best growth rate since June 2016. The company grew net income by 16%.
That even faster pickup reflected Lululemon’s rising profit margins as it regains pricing power as the memory of the product defects starts to fade. And given the company’s quickly rising cash position, it authorized a sporty new $200-million stock buyback.
Activist Investor: For investors in LULU stock, the last five years have been a disappointment. With the company’s great brand and seemingly strong growth potential, not surprisingly, now shareholders are getting more vocal.
Their wishes for a more active role in management’s strategy appear set to play out. Major LULU stock holder Advent International — which bought out half of the founder’s stake in 2014 — is getting more directly involved.
Lululemon appointed Tricia Patrick, a managing director at Advent, to their board of directors at the end of August. Ms. Patrick previously worked in private equity for both Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE:GS) and Bain Capital.
She brings the sort of activist shareholder value-focused point of view that Lululemon appears to be lacking. While there is no guarantee that activist shareholder strategies can get the LULU stock price up, it’s a reason for optimism.
Verdict for LULU Stock
LULU stock isn’t cheap at the moment. And it’s up against a key resistance level where it has failed many times before. So there is plenty of reason to be cautious right now.
With that said, if you believe athleisure has more room to grow, LULU stock could have a lot more upside. Just wait for a break above the key $80 level. It’ll be a safer trade once the stock breaks out, and short sellers start feeling the need to cover their positions.
At the time of this writing, the author held no positions in any of the aforementioned securities. You can reach him on Twitter at @irbezek.


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A giant adrenaline-fuelled activities centre is coming to Sydney’s west, with entertainment provider BOUNCE to open a flagship site offering an array of fun-filled events, including an indoor trampoline park, dodgeball and an adventure playground.
Spanning more than 3200 square metres, it is the first of many sites planned in NSW for the group, which opened its first venue in Melbourne in 2012. It now boasts more than 30 indoor trampoline centres in 16 countries spread across South-East Asia, India and the United Arab Emirates.
BOUNCE has 19 venues in Australia, the latest is the recently opened Morayfield site, in Queensland.
The company, founded by entrepreneurs Ant Morell and Simon McNamara, is backed by private equity group PGA, which owns a 30 per cent stake, and last year injected $20 million in capital to fund expansion.
BOUNCE is as much about building and supporting the community as it is about giving our customers an accessible taste of adrenaline sport.BOUNCE co-founder Ant Morell
During COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, Morell and McNamara mapped out a major growth strategy, which led to the acquisition of leisure activity competitor Latitude in early 2022. The deal added new venues in Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth.
Morrell says the seed for BOUNCE was first sown after he and McNamara visited the United States, where they noticed a gap in the market for “something truly unique in Australia – a first-of-its-kind adrenaline playground”.
BOUNCE has taken out a 10-year lease on a recently constructed property at 201 Parramatta Road, Homebush West, and the new venue is expected to open on July 27.
The leasing deal reflects the wide array of new tenants circling large-scale industrial properties. Landlords are keen to lease to new tenants that attract people to what are generally regarded as “dull warehouse precincts.”
Morell said Sydney has always been on the cards for BOUNCE. “We’re proud to open our doors to Sydneysiders to truly immerse themselves in an atmosphere of fun, and take part in the global freestyle movement,” he said.
“Through the launch of our Homebush site, we’ve created around 70 jobs. BOUNCE is as much about building and supporting the community as it is about giving our customers an accessible taste of adrenaline sport.”
The opening will contribute to BOUNCE’s target of $65 million in revenue this year, up from 37 million in 2021-2022. The group expects sales to eclipse $100 million in two years.
Australian Securities Exchange-listed Ardent Leisure ran similar local activity centres under its Main Event banner, but sold the business last year to US entertainment business Dave & Busters for $1.1 billion.
“Australia can sustain up to 50 sites and each city, with population growth, can have multiple venues that allow us to have different formats and features,” Morell said.
“We plan to double the number of venues in the next 24 months, and we have a hit list of sites. We’re talking to all the shopping centres and other big landlords for appropriate venues.”
In a bid to lure consumers back to retail centres, landlords are engaged in diversifying their tenancy mixes, with swimming pools, health spas and interactive leisure operators leasing space once ear-marked for larger department stores and traditional shops.
Scentre, the country’s largest retail landlord with the Westfield malls, calls them “living centres” which act as community hubs by allocating space to interactive entertainment venues.
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JUL 13, 2022 | ASIA PACIFIC | INDIA
Data Protection Bill: Experts Call for Defining Non-personal Data Before Making Laws on it
The Economic Times, July 13, 2022
By Suraksha P
Most experts who participated in a panel discussion by not-for-profit Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) International said that regulation of non-personal data when the definition of the term itself was still vague would be premature. The panel discussion was attended by Daniel Castro, vice president at Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; Astha Kapoor, co-founder at Aapti Institute and Venkatesh Krishnamoorthy, India country manager at BSA.
BSA | The Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the leading advocate for the global software industry before governments and in the international marketplace. Its members are among the world’s most innovative companies, creating software solutions that help businesses of all sizes in every part of the economy to modernize and grow.
With headquarters in Washington, DC, and operations in more than 30 countries, BSA pioneers compliance programs that promote legal software use and advocates for public policies that foster technology innovation and drive growth in the digital economy.