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A cheaper Thanksgiving (AFBF): The lowest retail price in four years for whole turkeys is a leading cause of a marginal decline in the cost of groceries to fix a Thanksgiving meal for 10.
Trump tariff payments near $838 million (Reuters): Growers in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, and Minnesota are the leading recipients of the nearly $838 million paid to farmers this fall to offset the impact of the trade war.
Farming algae, cleaning water (Future of Ag): Nitrogen and phosphorus can be removed from wastewater by algae grown under controlled conditions at treatment plants. The algae can then be sold to make feed, fuel, or bioplastics.
Killer tulips (The Atlantic): When farmers and gardeners combat fungus in their plants, they use some of the same antifungal compounds hospitals use to treat sick people, a practice that is helping the fungi develop potentially lethal resistance to the compounds.
Bt hybrids lose their shield (DTN/Progressive Farmer): As corn rootworms develop a tolerance for the natural toxins in Bt corn varieties, crop experts are trying to convince growers to use crop rotation or other alternative but more costly methods that will preserve the anti-insect Bt punch.
Cotton subsidies soar (ICAC): Cotton-growing nations spent $5.9 billion on a range of cotton-sector subsidies in 2017/18, a 33-percent increase from the previous year, despite the fact that market prices for cotton were high.


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Naspers’s secret? Actually it’s classified
Naspers has made huge expansionary moves since buying its stake in Tencent in 2001, writes Donwald Pressly
Technology giant Naspers’s allied company Prosus, which last year listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange, is best known for its investment in Chinese internet business Tencent. But Naspers, originally founded on Afrikaans newspaper interest, is rapidly becoming one of the world’s biggest e-commerce vehicles.
Almost surreptitiously, Prosus, through its subsidiary the OLX Group, has gobbled up classified advertising businesses — not only in SA but in Europe and emerging markets around the world as well. OLX has, perhaps ironically, considering Naspers’s roots, ripped out the financial backbone of newspapers globally...

domain: news


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As insiders will tell you, the code don't lie, and another new service has been found hidden in the code for Google Drive. It's unclear exactly what the product is, but it seems to be a note-taking service similar to Evernote or Pocket, and it will go by the name Google Keep.
Google Keep is apparently codenamed "Memento", and there are a few trails leading back to it. For example, the URL https://drive.google.com/keep/
Google may take on Evernote/Pocket with Google Keep
directs you to a fake "page not found", and the URL http://g.co/keep redirects to a nonexistent Play Store app. Additionally, the favicons for the service can be found at both https://drive.sandbox.google.com/keep/ and https://drive.sandbox.google.com/notes/.
Interestingly, there is a link found for it in a screenshot for Instant Preview in the Android browser from way back in July of 2012. It looks as though the "Add to Google Keep" link will save website snippets from Search directly to the Google Keep app, which will be part of Google Drive.
So, Google Keep could just be a Pocket/Instagram type of app, or we think it may be something of a rebranding of Google Tasks, and could be a more comprehensive read later/notebook app, similar to Evernote. Whatever it is, it seems like it has been in the works for a while, so it's unclear if we should expect this to really show up, or if the project may have already been put aside.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Recently, we have been hearing a lot about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series. Now, in an exclusive interview with YouTube channel G...
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has already been the subject of an authorized biography, two upcoming movies, and a number of unauthorized biogr...
It looks like Google isn't done taking over iOS through apps, because a new video has leaked showing that Google may be prepping to laun...
These days UK marketplace is filled with several high technology mobile phones. There are numerous mobile brands available in market that ca...


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Audio network, TuneIn hired GMR to manage sports marketing for the launch of TuneIn Premium, a subscription audio service featuring both Major League Baseball and Barclays Premier League broadcasts. TuneIn's premium service debuted in the US, UK and Canada. The agency is leading brand positioning and digital advertising, as well as experiential marketing in support of TuneIn Premium's sports offerings.
Venables Bell & Partners was named agency of record for Leinenkugel's beer, a MillerCoors brand. Jacobson Rost previously handled the account. Leinenkugel's spent $13.5 million on measured media in 2014, according to Kantar Media.
Solve was named agency of record for Founders Brewing Company, following a review. The agency will be responsible for positioning, target audience definition, connection strategy, media buying and messaging across traditional, digital, social and in-store channels. New work will launch in early 2016. "We're delighted to partner with Solve," said Trent McCurren, vice president of marketing for Founders Brewing Company. "We were looking for an agency that gave us consumer insights, breakthrough creative, and, most importantly, were flat out excited to be on the brand. Their passion for our brand is unmatched." Added John Colasanti, CEO of Solve: "We have long been fans of Founders and consider them the high priests of craft beer. We're inspired by what they do and how they do it. Our team is beyond pumped over the prospect of working with the Founders team." Founders Brewing Company had close to no media spend the first quarter of 2015, according to Kantar Media.
Manifest New York was by Sugru, a brand of moldable glue, to raise the company's brand awareness in the US. In addition, Manifest London will do the same for the company in the UK. Manifest New York will work with Sugru's US consumer agency, The Door, to help build the profile of Sugru inventor and CEO Jane ni Dhulchaointigh. Manifest London has been charged with increasing sales of Sugru in the UK via creative campaigns. "The potential for Sugru, both as a product and a brand, really is limitless," said Alex Myers, CEO of Manifest New York. "By its very nature it encourages creativity, so we are thrilled to working with the team to take it to the next level in the USA. We want Sugru to be in every kitchen drawer in the country and be the brand synonymous with making life better and brighter."
Lyst, a fashion e-commerce site, tapped Anomaly London as its global agency of record, following a pitch. The agency is charged with communications strategy, creative campaigns and media planning duties. Anomaly's New York and Shanghai offices will aid London in agency efforts. Launched in 2010, Lyst partners with fashion designers and stores globally to provide people with a personalized way to shop everything fashion in one place. "We spent the first four years focused on building the Lyst product and when we turned our attention to the brand we wanted to work with a communications partner who shared our values as a challenger brand," said Joanna Christie, head of brand and communications at Lyst. "We're delighted to partner with Lyst," said Camilla Harrisson, partner and CEO at Anomaly London. "Their ambition, creativity and entrepreneurial hunger gels really well with Anomaly. We're planning to do something pretty special together." The appointment of Anomaly London marks the office's fourth new business win in four months. The London office won Trainline in June, Cancer Research in July and Gordon's Gin in August.
Fineman PR added HealthRIGHT 360 and Renteria Wines to its client roster. HealthRIGHT 360, headquartered in San Francisco, tapped the agency to expand the community health care provider's profile in California and increase its recognition nationally. HealthRIGHT 360 is presently constructing a five-story modern medical center in San Francisco that will provide a one-stop facility for comprehensive, integrated health care -- available to all. Fineman PR will work to position the company as a leader in the health sector as well as expand public awareness of its services and approach through multicultural and general market media outlets. Renteria Wines tapped Fineman PR to launch its new ultra-premium wines. At the time of its founding in 1987, Renteria was the first immigrant-owned vineyard management company in Napa and has gone on to work with famed vintners and growers throughout the Napa and Sonoma area. Fineman PR will help refine the family's brand message and bring its wines to a larger audience.
Chicago-based Marketing Agency, Upshot, was awarded work by Donuts Inc, a company that provides descriptive "not com" domain names. The agency's first work is to promote an effort between Donuts Inc and the Petfinder Foundation, using the domain MyRescue.dog. The promotion seeks to raise $100,000 to benefit shelters by encouraging rescue owners to post pictures and stories about their beloved pets. Each picture posted triggers a $10 donation to the Petfinder Foundation and each vote for your favorite pup receives a $1 donation. "Upshot shares that game changing mentality that we have," said Jeff Davidoff, chief marketing officer at Donuts Inc. "And their combination of promotional savvy and deep digital experience really makes them the perfect fit for us."
In an effort to reach "new audiences in new places," The California Avocado Commission (CAC) tapped Mullen Lowe LA and Mediahub as its new creative and media agencies. "Mullen Lowe pushed us with bold, creative thinking and socially fueled ideas to create an emotional connection between consumers and California avocados," said Tom Bellamore, president of CAC. "They earned the business by demonstrating the value of placing dynamic content into the marketplace to get people thinking and talking about the unique qualities of California avocados." The California Avocado Commission spent $4.3 million on measured media in 2014, according to Kantar Media. Additional Mullen Lowe LA clients include Acura, Patron and Einstok.
Anderson DDB Health & Lifestyle (Anderson DDB) was named agency of record for Rexall and Rexall PharmaPlus, a Canadian retail pharmacy chain, following a review. Starting Sept. 1, the agency will perfoem all strategy, creative and media planning duties. "Health care is at the core of our business and Anderson DDB's strengths in both retail and consumer communications proved to be the best match for our needs," said Mary Kelly, executive vice president and CMO, Katz Group Canada Ltd. / Rexall Pharma Plus. "Anderson DDB provided a fresh perspective and we were impressed with their health and CPG experience, as well as their media planning and buying resources." Added Kevin Brady, president & CEO, Anderson DDB Health & Lifestyle: "We're excited to partner with Rexall as they continue to grow and build their presence in the Canadian market." Rexall spent $42.6 million on measured media in 2014 and $9 million in the first quarter of 2015, according to Kantar Media.
Following its move away from a traditional agency of record model, Best Buy tasked Grey New York with its holiday campaign and home theater campaign. The holiday campaign will run from October through December and the home theater will run through January as a prelude to the Super Bowl. The assignment was awarded following a review that included 19 agencies, with four making it to the final round. CP+B was the incumbent agency and is working on a final assignment for Best Buy, the company's back-to-school campaign. Grey New York will handle creative development, design, social strategy and content, digital and CRM duties. The agency will create TV and digital video to support the brand message and vendor partnership messages for Samsung, LG and Apple. Best Buy spent $31o million on measured media in 2014, per Kantar Media.


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Digital TV News: NanoTech Entertainment
UltraFlix app available for Roku HD STBs
Jun 1, 2016 – NanoTech (OTCPINK: NTEK) has announced that UltraFlix, home of thousands of hours of top Hollywood blockbuster movies, documentaries, TV series, concerts and sports, is now available on the Roku 2 and Roku 3 HD streaming set top boxes.
News categories: NanoTech, Philip Foley, Apps, Set Top Box, Streaming, USA
Hisense TVs to feature NanoTech's UltraFlix 4K streaming app
Jan 7, 2015 – NanoTech Entertainment (OTCPINK: NTEK) has announced that it has signed an agreement with Hisense. Under the agreement, NanoTech's all 4K UltraFlix Network App will be bundled with Hisense's 4K Ultra HD TV product line.
News categories: NanoTech Entertainment, Hisense, Aaron Taylor, Erin Magee, Apps, CES2023, Digital TV, Smart TV, Streaming, USA
UltraFlix 4K streaming launches on Samsung UHD TVs
Nov 24, 2014 – NanoTech Entertainment (OTCPINK: NTEK) has announced that it has signed an agreement with Samsung Electronics America to launch its transactional Video-On-Demand 4K network on all 2014 Samsung Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TVs starting in November.
News categories: NanoTech Entertainment, Samsung, Aaron Taylor, Digital TV, Smart TV, Streaming, USA
NanoTech UltraFlix 4K streaming for VIZIO TVs
Sep 24, 2014 – NanoTech Entertainment (OTCPINK: NTEK) has announced that its all 4K UltraFlix Network has been selected by VIZIO for inclusion on its new P-Series Ultra HD Full-Array LED Smart TV collection.
News categories: NanoTech Entertainment, VIZIO, Aaron Taylor, Matt McRae, Digital TV, Smart TV, Streaming, USA
UltraFlix IPTV/OTT adds 4K Ultra HD Moving Murals
Dec 27, 2013 – NanoTech Entertainment (OTCPINK: NTEK) has announced a worldwide distribution agreement with Epic Eye. Under the agreement, UltraFlix™, NanoTech’s streaming Ultra HD service, has been granted rights to distribute Epic Eye's Moving Murals™ gallery of 4K murals.
News categories: NanoTech Entertainment, Moving Murals, Susan Rees, Jeff Foley, CES2023, Set Top Box, Streaming
NanoTech selects NVIDIA Tegra 4 to power Nuvola NP-1 Media Player
Jul 16, 2013 – NanoTech Entertainment (OTCPINK: NTEK) has announced that it has selected the NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) Tegra 4 mobile processor as the basis for its new 4K Ultra HD players.
News categories: NVIDIA, NanoTech Entertainment, Digital TV, Semiconductor, Set Top Box, Smart Home, USA
- Mirada to power MNC's Vision+ streaming service in Indonesia
- Munich court rules Netflix infringing Broadcom video patent
- India Smart TV market grew 8% YoY in 1H23
- TV Monaco starts operations supported by Qvest
- Caretta Research: MVPDs must evolve into 'super aggregators'
- Barb upgrades API with BVOD, SVOD, video-sharing and non-TV device data
- U.S. JIC conditionally certifies Comscore, iSpot and VideoAmp currencies
- Global SVOD revenues to surpass $127bn in 2029
- Ateme enables 5G Broadcast transmission in the U.S.
- Amazon announces Fire TV product updates
- TCL adds Fire TV options to U.S television portfolio
- Another slow year expected for AR/VR headsets
- Intigral partners with DIAGNAL to enhance entertainment experiences
- Du chooses DataMiner monitoring for broadcast and teleport operations
- TSTT switches to Zappware's multi-screen client framework
- Allegro DVT launches video encoder IP for 4K/8K video
- AVOD revenues to hit $69 billion in 2029
- ZTE unveils updated Cloud PVP solution at IBC 2023
- Accedo brings AI-powered sports highlights to Accedo Launcher
- 76% of Nordic households now have an internet connected TV set


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Millions of consumers are battling rising drug prices. But for diabetics who rely on daily medication, supplies and monitoring equipment. Customers there can't afford drugsat pharmacies due to the high prices or because they lack health insurance. On the street, they can buy painkillers, anti-. With a world GDP of US78 trillion in the same year, the illegal drug trade may be estimated as nearly 1 of total global trade. Consumption of illegal drugs is. By K Moeller 2022 Cited by 4 Illicit drug prices and quantity discounts: A comparison between a smaller than what we see in studies of illegal markets, and supports the. Adverse tiering can cost HIV-positive individuals (of whom 87 percent were Latinx, Black, or of multiple races in 2022) enrolled in such a plan. Man sentenced to over 22 years after drugs found at Jackson hotel - WBBJ TV. JACKSON, Tenn. -- A Texas man who attempted to distribute illegal.
By R Bookstaber 1976 Cited by 4 costs on the drug user and society at large. Some of purchaseand possession of black market drugs, merchants unless he feels the price dispersion in. By K Srivastava 2022 Cited by 1 In the past year, the black market in medicines grew by more than prescription-only medicines without a prescription at a low price.. In 2022, Johnson & Johnson's Xarelto entered the market, and Bristol But some patients' out-of-pocket drug costs are determined based on. Man sentenced to over 22 years after drugs found at Jackson hotel - WBBJ TV. JACKSON, Tenn. -- A Texas man who attempted nightmare market darknet to distribute illegal. Black market Adderall cheap in Columbus, expensive in Cincinnati Prohibited drugs widely available. Illegal drugs are easy to get throughout. To treat diabetes resort to the black market or pharmacies across that out-of-control insulin prices and prescription drug prices.
By K Srivastava 2022 Cited by 1 In the past year, the black market in medicines grew by more than prescription-only medicines without a prescription at a low price.. A vial of Remdesivir is being sold at an excessive price of Rs 40,000 though its price is capped at Rs 2,500. A family member of a patient said. Contact7 investigates found the high cost of IVF medications is pushing everyday Colorado families into illegal black market dealing where. Drug companies and pharmacies also have an interest in disrupting the distribution of such medications. The nightmare darknet market nationwide value of this. This is the fifth in a series of posts based on perhaps the most important drug-related report of the current century, Dame Carol Black's Review of Drugs. The result could be price gouging the world market for the drug or withholding the drug altogether. By Kurtis Minder, co-founder and CEO.
The price runs from a new darknet markets dollar or two in school to 20 per pill on the black market. Abuse of prescription drugs such as Ritalin is increasing. If you think that drug use is a victimless crime, you might not have a problem with the black market for illegal drugs. If you think tax rates are too high. According to NIDA, drug addiction and substance abuse cost the United States more than 600 billion each year. Addiction treatment (such as drug. Currently, Medicaid reimbursement to drug companies is based on the average manufacturing price for therapies. The legislation is aimed at. Black Market Hospital Beds and Price-Gouged COVID Drugs Selling on Indian Twitter. SELLING OUT. A 100-mg vial of the drug manufactured by Cadila now has a maximum retail price of Rs 899, Syngene's Rs 2,450, Dr. Reddy's Rs 2,700, Cipla's Rs.
If you think that drug use is a victimless crime, you might not have a problem with the black market for new darknet market reddit illegal drugs. If you think tax rates are too high. If the price is too good to be true, it's probably a counterfeit. If you find a website that you think is selling illegal drugs, contact the FDA. This Heroin-Using Professor Wants to Change How We Think About Drugs. Price Of Black Market Drugs R Darknet Market Reddit Darknet Market List 2022. Cocaine, heroin and marijuana have become cheaper and stronger over the past two decades, despite increases in drug seizures by authorities. "You may have health coverage that pays 80 of the cost, but that 20 can be a In some cases the black-market drugs originally obtained from a pharmacy. Black. And congress has essentially closed the market to outside competition by making it illegal to negotiate prices and to import drugs from Canada.
Darknet Market List 2022
Wayfair is one of the best places to buy furniture, and price of black market drugs beds are no exception. This functionality is provided solely for your convenience and is in no way intended to replace human translation. Majestic Garden, Samsara Market, Cannazon Market, Berlusconi Market, Empire Market, Agartha Market, Yellow Brick Market, Horus Market, Genesis Market, Cryptonia Market, Grey Market, Dark Market, and Nightmare Market. Key Marketing Points: Ranging from the salons of Russian writers to the circus sideshows of America, from the offices of European diplomats to the villages of Muslim mountaineers, The Ghost of Freedom paints a rich portrait of one of the world's most turbulent and least understood regions. We assess their technical design, related ecosystem data, and qualitative factors such as key ecosystem members to get an understanding of how they differ. By using our website, you accept our terms and conditions in full. Thanks to this counterfactual it is possible to see whether shutdowns of online drug trading platforms cause an increase in offline drug trading and crimes that are usually connected to it. You read the news and you know that the Dark Web isn’t a place where you want to see your information end up.
The Chainalysis report suggests that on the whole, people are placing fewer orders via darknet most popular darknet market sites, but at a higher value. These are black market merchants who would just move onto other illicit products because that is their skill, to evade law. Tämä tarkoittaa, että markkinapaikka tallentaa varojasi ja siirtää sen myyjälle vain silloin, kun sopimus on viimeistelty.


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Mountain Trail is seeking “approval for undertaking retail trade of food products including tea and beverages, manufacture and/or produced in India through existing chai trade channels and ecommerce platform”, according to the DIPP website.
Amazon had sought approval to invest Rs 3,500 crore in India over five years to sell third-party and its own private-label food articles, sourced and packaged locally.
There may be nothing concrete that the government can do to protect the home-grown unicorns and both Ola and Flipkart seem to know it after failing to follow-up on their weak nationalism argument.
Apple presents its plans and demands for setting up a manufacturing facility in country to government
Currently, the government provides support by way of benefits under the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS) to boost electronic manufacturing.
Urban Ladder's store in the Millennium City would be “more room-oriented, inspiration-oriented“ and spread over about 5,000 square feet, Goel said.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is interacting with the private players in the sector to finalise the scheme.
According to the sellers, online marketplaces – Flipkart and Amazon – are allowing some sellers WS Retail and Cloudtail respectively to account for more than 25% of the total sale of the marketplace which is against the regulations.
Apple may be allowed relaxation in norms if the government considers what it brings in terms of investment and job.
Apple wants the government to relax labelling rules so that it doesn't have to print product-related information directly onto devices to avoid cluttering up their minimalist design.
As per DIPP guidelines, e-commerce marketplace players cannot directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods or services on their platforms and shall maintain a level playing field.
Industry experts have earlier said the sales of large appliance have slumped 40-50% in the past two weeks, compared with the year-ago period.
The move comes at a time when several vertical focused online retailers have set up offline network of 300-400 stores through franchisee networks.
For Flipkart, LeEco's latest move may not be a positive development in the run up to its annual sale event —BigBillionDay where such exclusive pacts help e-commerce companies to ramp up their gross merchandise value (GMV)
While large sellers have been able to absorb the impact, the sentiment among other sellers has taken a hit and many are not very upbeat about the upcoming discount period.
The move makes Urban Ladder the first foreign-funded ecommerce marketplace to capitalise on new regulations that allow foreign-funded single brand companies to sell directly through online portals.
In the meeting, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and IT body NASSCOM gave detailed presentations to the members on fast the growing e-commerce sector.
Sitharaman had asked the consumer affairs ministry to assign two officials to run a grievance redressal mechanism along with the commerce ministry for ecommerce-related queries.
Editor's Picks ›
Raymond acquires remaining 50% stake in JK Ansell JV / Shopping malls will witness great benefits with GST / Luxury-beauty is new trend says Nykaa, to launch luxe makeup brand Smashbox Cosmetics / Tata CLiQ adds kids fashion / Brand Factory celebrates Independence Day Sale with flat 50% off / Softbank invests in Flipkart; becomes one of the largest shareholders / Amazon launches virtual customer service to reach wider talent pool / Launched exclusively on Amazon last year, Japanese TV brand Sanyo TV now signs Flipkart / Toronto’s make-up brand Little M.A.C comes exclusively online on Myntra / Toronto’s make-up brand Little M.A.C comes exclusively online on Myntra


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Category Archives: study
Wed, Nov 06, 2013 | 03:50 GMT
Researchers in Berlin report that regularly playing video games can increase the power of certain sections of the brain, and may be able to help counteract mental diseases such as schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Wed, Jul 17, 2013 | 14:48 BST
Digi-Capital has just published the Q2 2013 update to its global Games Investment Review, and according to the firm’s findings, games investment is recovering from the 2012 decline; however, it is still well-below the $2 billion record logged in 2011 and mobile development is “fundamentally disrupting the games market” on a global scale.
Tue, Jul 16, 2013 | 15:52 BST
A GDC Europe survey has revealed that developers who create console titles in the region are more apt to develop for PS4, with the Steam Box concept coming in close behind it.
Wed, Jun 12, 2013 | 01:46 BST
The ESA has released a report which states that 31% of video game players are adult women, and 17 year old boys make up only 19%. This makes women 45% of the entire game playing population and 46% of the time they are the most frequent game purchasers.
Tue, Jun 04, 2013 | 17:54 BST
A national study by the Research Strategy Group, has found Rocksmith is “the fastest way to learn how to play the guitar.
Thu, May 02, 2013 | 15:12 BST
NPD has released its Online Gaming 2013 report, and it finds that 72% of US gamers play video games online, a 5% increase year-over-year.
Tue, Apr 30, 2013 | 20:27 BST
Guardian analysis of top 50 games sold in 2012 found “more than half contain violent content labels”
The Guardian has posted a graph and a video, which shows information the site compiled through research regarding guns and violence in games. According to the site, an analysis of the top 50 video games sold in 2012 found that “more than half contain violent content labels,” and “one-third have weapons that depict real-life firearms.” According to the firm’s analysis, 68% of the games looked at contained violence while 32% contained none. Realistic firearms were found in less than half of of the 50 games of 2012, with 38% having guns in general. 62% having no guns. You can watch the video and run your mouse over the interactive chart through the link.
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 | 19:45 GMT
A new study from Nielsen has found that most US PS3 owners use the console mainly for streaming services instead of gaming.
Thu, Feb 28, 2013 | 21:14 GMT
GDC organizers have released results from its State of the Industry survey, which independently polled 2,500 North American developers which attended the conference in 2012 or had plans to attend in 2013. Turns out, 4.6% have developed titles for Wii U; 6.4% are currently developing a title for Wii U; 13.2% are currently developing for Xbox 360; 14% plan on releasing a new title on Xbox 360; 13% are releasing a game for PS3; and 12.4% plan to launch a new development title on the platform.
More figures are below.
Fri, Jan 11, 2013 | 14:51 GMT
Common Sense Media has released the results of a study conducted in the US, which found that 75% of parents surveyed believe violence in video games contributes to violence in
the United States.
Fri, Feb 15, 2013 | 01:14 GMT
A survey conducted by Emily Matthew over on the Pricecharting blog, found that 80% of 874 respondents polled believe sexism is rampant in the gaming community, and 35% have been on the receiving end of sexual harassment while playing online.
Wed, Sep 05, 2012 | 15:52 BST
NPD Group has released a report citing a decline in the number of gamers in the US during 2012.
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 | 18:02 BST
Media research group Nielsen has posted results from its latest survey of 2012’s most anticipated video games, and it appears participants are looking forward to more of the same.
Sat, Jun 09, 2012 | 22:16 BST
A new study from market research firm DFC Intelligence predicts industry revenue across consoles, mobile, PC and the web will grow from $52 billion in 2011 to $70 billion in 2017.
Fri, Jun 01, 2012 | 16:17 BST
A survey conducted by UK’s AskMen.com asked participants what the most important innovations were in the modern world. With over 30,000 votes cast, the Internet won out over everything else, and Sony’s PlayStation came in at number four on the list followed by PC. Microsoft’s Xbox Live came in at 20th. Via IGN.
Thu, May 24, 2012 | 10:00 BST
A new book by creator of the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment and retired Stanford University professor Dr. Phillip Zimbardo cites addiction to video games and pornography as the cause of what he calls the “demise” of young men.
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 | 19:21 BST
The British Psychology Society Annual Conference has released a study which shows Tetris can help treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Too bad our dad wasn’t aware of this upon returning from Vietnam. Seriously, though, the firm tested the effects of playing the arcade classic over many week and found participants suffered significantly fewer flashbacks when watching a traumatic film shown to them than those who did not play Tetris. Lead researcher on the study,Emily Holmes, said “the visual-spatial demands of Tetris disrupt the formation of the mental imagery involved in flashbacks.” There’s more on GamePolitics.
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 | 18:48 BST
Tue, Apr 10, 2012 | 20:52 BST
Nielsen’s latest research has found that the most anticipated sequels in the US for 2012 are mostly comprised of sequels and entries continuing current franchises on the market.
Tue, Apr 03, 2012 | 20:59 BST
A study polling 500 people conducted by Niko Partners had found that 64% of China’s 180 million casual and core gamers pay for their pleasure each month, and the country is outpacing other countries in terms of money spent. The age of those playing games each month is up as well, with those ages 40 and up making up 10% of those surveyed, which suggested a rise in causal games, while the firm denoted a decline in core gamers – which consume over 22 hours of game time a week. Thanks, GI International.


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ROSS Murray has taken over as managing director of Stonehouse Property Management and Leasing.
He succeeds Stonehouse’s founder, Lynne Watson, who has moved into the new role of marketing director.
Ross joined Stonehouse in August 2010 as finance director and has put in place various new procedures which have led to the company reporting a particularly successful year.
He said: “I joined from an accountancy and business development background and I’ve spent the last year getting to know the property leasing market.
“Lynne has made a great success of Stonehouse but realised that bringing a new skillset into the business could take it to the next level.
“The changes we have made over the past year mean that Stonehouse is already growing, but without compromising the high standards we have set ourselves.”
Stonehouse is now in a position to offer landlords and potential landlords advice about the type of property to buy and how best to buy it, as well as advising on tax matters.
They can then furnish the property, find the ideal tenant and also provide a comprehensive maintenance service.
Added Ross: “We have benefitted in the past year from the way the market has gone. More properties are available to rent because owners can’t sell them so they have brought them to the leasing market.
“This is ideal for us as we have a steady supply of corporate and professional tenants looking for high-quality properties.”
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Granite PR. You too can post media releases (aka press releases) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.


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The Hallyu star is the new face for the brand for Asian market.
Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun has created a successful career for himself through popular TV series and movies. Now he has added skincare to his list of accomplishments.
Together with The FaceShop’s global model Suzy (a member of Miss A), Kim is expected to bring an explosive growth through the brand’s publicity activities in Asian countries (except for South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong).
He has played lead roles in the television drama Moon Embracing Sun and in the recent hit movie Secretly, Greatly.
In addition, the recent series My Love from the Star has been extremely popular, especially in the Chinese market.
Yoon Young-jun, the head of TheFaceShop’s overseas division, commented: “Kim’s popularity is growing exponentially with his image of masculinity and gentleness. The brand’s image of nature matches well with his style.”
Currently, TheFaceShop operates over 2,300 shops in 29 countries where it sells nature-based eco-friendly products.


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Google is working on a new technology called VP10 that will allow it to squeeze higher-quality video over broadband and mobile networks. And thanks to patent issues with a rival standard, it has a chance to catch on.
Lots of TV shows are arriving on Netflix, including the fifth season of "The Walking Dead." Find out what else is being added and which titles are disappearing soon.
Amazon Prime Video, a Netflix competitor from the retailing giant, will let you download shows and movies to watch offline on nearly any smartphone.
From CNET Magazine: Fingerprint readers, which are more convenient and more secure than passcodes, could finally do away with the weakest link in almost any security system.
The alliance, which includes Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Netflix, pledges to build next-generation video technology -- and offer it for free.
Technically Incorrect: Jared Fogle, who pleaded guilty to child pornography charges, had his porn collection discovered by a dog whose nose can differentiate between a thumb drive and an iPad.
To mark a decade of the online radio service next week, Pandora music will play for one full day without commercials.
We're currently living in the year imagined by the classic sci-fi flick, but what would another sequel look like if it envisioned the future 30 years from today?
The devices will be known as Cityman and Talkman, according to leaks that have hit Twitter.
Which has the most apps? Which has the coolest features? Which one is the best? The most popular streamers all have their merits, so we'll help you decide which box is right for you.


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38% of ASEAN’s 620 million population, or 235 million, is involved in the agriculture and food sector. This is the largest employment sector for ASEAN. As the majority of ASEAN countries rely heavily on the sector for growth, trade, investment and employment, free flow of agriculture and food products within ASEAN becomes a necessity. There is enormous potential for intra-ASEAN trade if ASEAN is able to achieve harmonization of standards and is able to eliminate the most significant technical barriers in the sector. Read more
The 2015 deadline is quickly approaching for a single ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Why is economic integration important in ASEAN for the private and public sectors? What role can the food industry play to support the 2015 integration?
Mr. Pushpanathan: Economic integration in ASEAN will help unlock the region’s significant economic growth potential. As a one of the drivers of the global economy, the ASEAN region already has a combined GDP of US$2.2 trillion. This figure is expected to double by 2020, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), trade forecast to grow at around 6% across the region. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will encourage the intra- and extra-regional free flow of goods and services, by reducing costs and complexities associated with importing and exporting around the region.
The region’s agro-food industry plays an important role in this growth in trade. Growing at around 36.6% in 2011, it is the fastest growing sector in the region. In many countries in the region, the industry contributes significantly to the GDP, reaching 50 per cent in Myanmar and 33.4 per cent in Cambodia for example.
However, the industry also faces non-tariff barriers and technical constraints that is impeding the growth of trade within ASEAN. These barriers in the food sector stem from the inadequate harmonization in areas such as product registration and labeling standards; highlighting the importance of economic integration and Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) on food standards across the region. Read more
Feb 10, 2012. Hong Kong’s role in the global garment industry over the last 20 years has shifted away from a manufacturer to a servicing and sourcing centre. It will take on even more diverse roles in the future, as more production shifts to ASEAN.
In 2008 China’s labour costs began to rise rapidly. In 2010, the minimum wage in 30 provinces rose by 22.8%, while China’s 12th and current five-year plan (2011-15) has earmarked workers’ wages increasing at 15% per year over the period, effectively doubling within five years. The appreciation of the yuan, which has risen 26% against the dollar since 2005, is another factor behind the rising cost of doing business in China.
China’s share of world clothing exports is being gnawed at by its neighbours and the decline is likely to be more rapid in the near future. In the first eight months of 2011, the US imported 1.4% more clothing by volume, but saw a decline of 3.2% from China while most ASEAN countries rose.
Nov. 15 (Bloomberg). Japanese companies, Thailand’s biggest foreign investors, may spend more to build factories in neighbors including Indonesia and Vietnam after the worst flooding in 70 years disrupted global production.
“Executives recognize the concentration risk after the floods,” said Takahiro Sekido, chief Japan economist at Credit Agricole CIB in Tokyo. “The recent trend of accelerating investment into Thailand will cool despite the fact that Thailand was such an ideal destination.”
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has proposed spending 130 billion baht ($ 4.2 billion) on reconstruction and steps to prevent future floods. She seeks to reassure investors that Thailand remains a safe place for business, as companies including Pioneer Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. scrapped profit forecasts after the floods shut factories.
We’re helping the U.S. Chamber of Commerce prepare the second annual ASEAN economic integration scorecard, grading how ASEAN countries are doing meeting their declared goals for regional economic integration.
The findings will be presented to the ASEAN economic ministers when they meet on August 13 for the 2011 ASEAN Trade Facilitation forum in Manado, Indonesia.
The ASEAN Secretariat believes it would be very helpful for economic ministers to receive feedback from companies on areas in which they are doing well and areas in which they are falling behind.
Hanoi (AsiaNews) – As it prepares to survey the Spratly Islands for oil and gas, China continues to chase Vietnamese fishing boats. In a few days, the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) will meet for its annual summit on security. The territorial disputes between China and other nations over the islands in the East Sea (South China Sea) will be on its agenda.
Fishermen from the Vietnamese province of Quang Ngai reported on Saturday that a Chinese naval ship, bearing the number 44861, “threatened a Vietnamese fishing boat, numbered QNG- 98868TS, with machine guns. About ten Chinese sailors boarded the vessel and beat Vietnamese fishermen and seized about a tonne of fish”.
In China, media have reported the arrival of Ocean 981, a deepwater drilling platform. It is 650 metres long, 136 metres high, and has a load of 30,000 tonnes. It can drill at depths of 1,500-3,000 metres, and ha operational costs of about a US$ 1 million a day.
By engaging in such a survey, China is staking its claim to the area. Experts believe the East Sea (South China Sea) has an estimated equivalent of around 35-50 billion tonnes in oil and gas, second only to the Persian Gulf.


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Experts are warning consumers about the dangers of buying cheap skin peels on eBay after reports of people suffering severe facial burns.
The products, being sold by rogue manufacturers for as little as £11, are being advertised as medical-grade chemical peels but contain up to 100% pure acid and banned substances like trichoroacetic acid (TCA).
An eBay spokesperson said that “this type of item is prohibited on our UK platform” and the company has taken action to remove products once they have been reported.
Campaign group Safety in Beauty had received 27 reports of chemical peels gone wrong in the past year. A spokesperson for the Department of Business commented: “The use of trichloroacetic acid is banned for use in cosmetic products and Trading Standards have powers to take action where a product is unsafe.”
NEWS IN PICTURES
The Lygon Arms Hotel in the Cotswolds has launched a spa following a major refurb. It has seven treatment rooms, a pool with retractable roof and saunas.
// The first monthly beauty subscription box for professionals has been launched by agency Go Gorgeous, aimed at mobile therapists, nail techs and make-up artists. It contains six full-sized products from brands including Aromatherapy Associates, Dr’s Remedy, Glo & Ray, Kure Bazaar, Lin & Lo Mineral Make-up and Voesh.
The Eyelash Design Company has appointed Heath Donnelly as field sales manager for the UK and Ireland. Donnelly previously worked in senior roles for Schwarzkopf and Indola and will be responsible for developing new business and supporting key Lash FX and Hi Brow accounts. The company also recently appointed a new distributor for Japan, Charis & Co.
Salon and spa uniforms supplier La Beeby, part of the Behrens Group, has relaunched its website with a sleek new design, easier navigation and a blog section featuring helpful everything from helpful tips and trends to interviews with beauty titans.
Ribby Hall’s new swimming pool and spa area has been shortlisted in four categories in the UK Pool & Spa Awards 2017. The pool opened in April and features a 48m interactive play slide. The awards celebrate outstanding swimming pools, swim spas and hot tubs.
Cancer charity Look Good Feel Better has created its second #Warpaint4Life media campaign, which takes inspiration from 1940s wartime posters to create an empowering message. Pros including make-up artist Caroline Barnes gave their time for free to create the campaign.


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Cancer drugs among US goods spared from tariffs as China issues first exemptions in trade war
In its first move to spare certain US imports from the trade war, China has offered some relief to cancer drugmakers.
Twelve drugs — mostly chemotherapy agents — featured on the list of products to be exempted from retaliatory tariffs until September 2020. They also belong to the subgroup where tariffs already collected will be returned.
AstraZeneca’s EGFR inhibitor Iressa appears to be the only non-chemo drug in the group. Here’s the list, translated from the Ministry of Finance’s original announcement:
decitabine, floxuridine, cyclophosphamide, gefitinib, capecitabine, raltitrexed, fludarabine, tegafur, cytarabine hydrochloride, gemcitabine hydrochloride, icotinib hydrochloride, ifosfamide
Officials told the state-owned People Daily that there were three main reasons behind the exemptions on these 16 classes of products — including fish feed and lubricants — which marks the first time the Chinese government has done so since the trade war started. It’s been difficult to find alternate sources for these goods, and tariffs have been detrimental to both individual companies and the related industries.
While the exemptions signal goodwill from Beijing, it’s unlikely to have a big impact on pharma players’ plans in the country as they shift their focus from old drugs near the end of their patent life to innovative treatments, which are getting to market more quickly thanks to dramatic reforms. Last August, the regulatory body, now known as the National Medical Products Administration, unveiled a list of 48 foreign drugs eligible for priority review.
Days ago, AstraZeneca’s head of international markets Leon Wang said in an interview with Bloomberg that he expects novel therapies to make up 60% of the company’s China revenue by 2024. The figure was 18% in 2018 by Bloomberg’s count. Meanwhile, Novartis has a plan to submit 50 new drug approvals by 2023.


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Blink Productions made history last week by becoming the first UK
production house to launch an interactive commercials company.
Sleeper, a joint venture with the digital design outfit Deepend, aims to
produce interactive communications for any platform, from digital TV to
the internet. Headed by Mark Iremonger from the brand communications
company Maritz Communications, it promises to make creativity, not
technology, the essence of its work.
’Deepend has always been about brand communications - the technology
itself should be as invisible as possible,’ Peter Beech, the managing
director of Deepend, says.
James Studholme, the managing director of Blink, adds: ’We want to
produce the kind of work that will win Pencils.’
The pair are keen to stress the creative nature of the company in a bid
to get advertising creatives on board. They recognise that, although
clients and media owners are embracing the changes, interest within ad
agency creative departments is limited.
’The creative industry’s low opinion of the interactive arena is driven
by their poor experiences of the technology - they feel constrained by
it. But there will be seismic changes in the next 12-24 months, which
will present huge creative opportunities,’ Beech says.
What these changes are, the pair cannot say. ’It’s hard to say what our
offering is. What we can say is that TV commercials are a monologue and
we want to find a way to provide a mainstream dialogue,’ Studholme
Educating and stimulating creatives appears to be a tough task. Although
many look at the new venture with interest, a wait-and-see attitude
still prevails. One senior figure even suggested that it was a publicity
stunt: ’It’s like when everyone rushed to get a website up, and once
they did, they didn’t know what to do with it.’
Adrian Harrison, the managing director of RSA Films, also questions
whether the launch is premature. ’No-one quite knows how it’s all going
to work out. In some respects, Blink is clever in launching early but
there are still questions that need to be answered.’
A similar situation exists in the US, where only a handful of production
companies are gearing up for the digital revolution.
John Kamen, a co-proprietor at @radical.media, is one of the few who has
been operating an ’emerging media’ department for some years. He argues
that it’s good to get in quick.
’You can’t apply the traditional production company model to new media.
There is no money to be made in just providing the resources. The key is
in providing original content.’
Despite the fact that some ad agencies - such as Grey, BMP DDB, HHCL &
Partners and Bartle Bogle Hegarty - are entering the digital arena and
despite the criticism about its timing, Studholme remains confident.
He explains: ’It won’t happen overnight - hence the name Sleeper - but
you can’t step into this in two years’ time. You have to earn your


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Press releasesOctober 7, 2021
Intelcom further expands its Canadian network with operations in Whitehorse and Yellowknife
This enables shorter delivery times and a marked improvement in the consumer experience. among other advantages
Montréal, October 7, 2021 – Canadian logistics company Intelcom is continuing its national rollout with the launch of its last-kilometre delivery services in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, specifically in the cities of Whitehorse and Yellowknife.
With this new breakthrough, Intelcom is expanding its presence across the country by offering its last-kilometre delivery services in all Canadian provinces, in addition to these two territories.
“Our arrival in Whitehorse and Yellowknife is prompted by two main factors: our commitment to providing reliable and predictable home delivery service across the country, and our clients’ interest in improving the online shopping experience for consumers in these cities,” explains Intelcom President François Poliquin. “Besides the importance of online commerce during the pandemic, we firmly believe that the quality and efficiency of our last-kilometre delivery services substantially enhances the consumer experience when they are completing a purchase.”
Intelcom’s arrival will considerably shorten delivery times for purchases made from the company’s clients. The consumer will also benefit from a more predictable delivery experience, with notification within three hours of delivery and photographic evidence sent by e-mail once the package is delivered. Finally, Intelcom’s entry into these markets is accompanied by seven-day-a-week delivery capability.
Intelcom is a last-mile logistics company delivering packages in the most efficient, agile, and predictable way, powered by a technology platform that provides quick, reliable, and adapted solutions to retailers and consumers. Intelcom leads the way in last-mile logistics in Canada, with close to 400,000 parcels delivered every day, sorted out of 60+ stations across every province and two territories. Headquartered in Montreal, QC, Intelcom employs more than 1,800 permanent people in Canada and contracts with more than 470 independent delivery contractors daily. Founded in 1986, Intelcom is the parent company of Dragonfly Shipping Pty Ltd, which operates in Australia.
For more information
Lead, External Communications and Media Relations


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This is how rumors get started. One media outlet misreads or misinterprets another media outlet’s report, or an overzealous headline writer gets involved and pretty soon you’ve got customers thinking they have to choose between having a drive-thru or alcohol at their local Taco Bell.
The company has announced a major push into urban markets that would add 300 to 350 of its beer- and wine-serving Taco Bell Cantina concept restaurants by the year 2022, Food and Wine reported. It’s a concept the chain has already rolled out in downtown Berkeley and Southern California.
In an interview, Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams told the magazine: “One of the cool things happening in America right now is the revitalization of urban areas, and we’re seeing millennials moving into downtown areas” — and naturally, Taco Bell would like to tap into that market.
But these urban eateries would likely be situated in dense neighborhoods of cities like New York, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Nashville where there isn’t the room or the desire for drive-thru lanes.
“No drive-thrus will be removed from existing locations,” a Taco Bell spokesman confirmed Tuesday. “This is just an expansion of restaurants in urban markets (like Berkeley) that will not have drive-thrus as part of those new developments.”
If you want to check out the concept, the Berkeley cantina at 2528 Durant Ave. features an open kitchen, a menu of shareable items (besides the traditional menu), extended hours — and several microbrews.
You in suburbia? According to Food & Wine, your drive-thru orders account for 55 percent to 70 percent of Taco Bell revenues. So after pulling away from the window, you may need to hit the convenience market for beer on your way home.


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North Carolina-based toy company gears up to ship millions of toys for the holiday season
CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 CHARLOTTE) – Millions of toys will travel to the Charlotte area this holiday season. Workers at a Queen City-based toy company prepare to produce fun for children in the Carolinas and across North America.
Schleich is a German company. The owners moved the North American operations to Charlotte about six years ago.
Right now, the company is set to name its “Chief Storyteller” for the holiday season following a search across America for a child with that special sparkle.
When you enter the Schleich warehouse in North Charlotte, you will come across a tiger in a safari scene. A few steps away, grazing in the office, you will find a huge cow.
“Our job is to examine what makes children laugh, what makes them shine,” said Kelli Masilun, Schleich’s marketing director for North America.
Over 50 people in the Schleich Charlotte office are responsible for bringing smiles to millions of children across North America.
“We work hard, there’s a lot of planning and forecasting and things like that, but at the end of the day if you’re in the toy industry and you’re not having fun you’re probably doing something wrong.” . Masilun said.
Each year, over 10 million toys come in and out of Charlotte’s office. It is about now that the task begins to expand.
“During the holiday season, it’s a bit like working at the North Pole, but without the temperature issues,” Masilun said.
Instead of elves, the Schleich crew have a giant T-REX, which serves as a kind of mascot.
“Schleich toys are really the essential part of the storytelling. So we create characters and sets that allow kids to imagine any story they want to continue, ”Masilun said.
Being part of a story is why the toy team traveled to New York City as part of a search for a “storyteller.” The chosen child will be featured in advertising campaigns during the holiday season. Hundreds of children participated in the research across the country.
“An incredible array of personalities. We were so excited and felt really privileged to have such a big turnout, ”said Masilun.
A panel is meeting this week at Charlotte’s office to review the audition videos and help choose the “chief narrator.”
Suggest a correction


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Sprint to Cut $2.5 Billion, Surrendering in Wireless Wars
Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S), according to a number of media sources, will cut annual expenses by $2.5 billion a year. Presumably the brunt of the restructuring will be layoffs. In a brutally competitive industry in which Sprint has fallen into fourth place among the carriers, cuts of this size mean it has surrendered the race to catch number three carrier T-Mobile US Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) so it can consolidate and defend the customer base it already has.
In September, Sprint management said the company would not participate in the upcoming wireless spectrum auctions. On September 26, management announced its plans concerning the auction:
Sprint after thorough analysis, announced today that it will not participate in the 600 MHz incentive auction. Sprint has concluded that its rich spectrum holdings are sufficient to provide its current and future customers great network coverage and be able to provide the consistent reliability, capacity, and speed that its customers demand.
Many analysts viewed the decision more as a means to save costs than a belief that Sprint had adequate spectrum. The new $2.5 billion cost cuts signal a closely related retreat.
Sprint either cannot or will not spend the money to fight for customers as all costs. Its primary rival, T-Mobile, is willing to. Its “net adds” of subscribers was 2.1 million in its most recently reported quarter. Its growth has not destroyed its financials:
T-Mobile grew Adjusted EBITDA by 42% year-over-year for the third quarter of 2015 to $1.9 billion. The increase was primarily due to higher service revenues from growth in the customer base, strong cost control, especially in cost of services, and decreased losses on equipment sales, partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses due to customer growth.
T-Mobile’s clever and aggressive marketing is working.
Just as troubling for Sprint is that it has abandoned the goal it has had for years, which was to take large market share from leaders AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ). With iron-clad balance sheets, 100 million subscribers and extraordinary marketing muscle, not even T-Mobile has a chance to do it. And Sprint has given up.


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Australia’s original narrowcasting advertising company, Convenience Advertising, today celebrates an unprecedented 30 years in the business.
Formed in Melbourne in 1984, Convenience Advertising has pioneered the use of advertising in public washrooms across Australia, and internationally, to promote targeted and engaging messages.
At a time when advertising mediums were focused on targeting mass audiences, Convenience Advertising pioneered segmentation to captive audiences, long before the advent of digital.
Starting with a solution to providing targeted messages to those at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, the company has grown into an immersive media network providing measurable advertising solutions for a huge range of commercial and not-for-profit clients.
With an Australian footprint that covers over 3,000 bars and clubs, 100 shopping centres, 50 universities and TAFEs, 50 airport terminals and many more high-profile locations, Convenience Advertising have grown to be the country’s largest and most successful media brand in their category.
Convenience Advertising founder David Stanley said the ability to target a captive audience made washroom marketing the pioneer of targeted advertising in Australia.
“We started Convenience Advertising in 1984, looking for an effective way to accurately pinpoint, measure and engage those at risk of public health issues. This approach to talking directly to what has to be Australia’s most captive audience, has allowed us to grow into the market leader we are today. Research proves we can achieve a minimum recall rate of 84%, which is unprecedented and certainly is the core value of our proposition,” he said.
“Increasing media fragmentation has meant that more and more brands are looking for media solutions that can accurately identify and talk to audiences on a large scale. This segmentation is sometimes seen as a new idea, spearheaded by the launch of digital technology,“ he said.
“In truth, however, Convenience Advertising has been working with advertisers to easily identify markets by venue-type, location, and gender for 30 years now, to ensure the execution is relevant to the audience.
“It is sometimes said that there are no new ideas in advertising, and our success in working with world renown brands, local and federal government and NGOs over three decades clearly shows we can take pride in being the original, and best, in our field,” he added.
Convenience Advertising is based in Melbourne, Australia, with statewide offices in Sydney, and Brisbane. Internationally, they operate from Wellington, New Zealand, Dublin, Ireland and California, United States.
Verizon Media’s talent program has come to an end for the third year, closing with a hybrid pitch-off event for Musicians Making A Difference (MMAD). The Verizon Media Academy class of 2021, made up of 44 emerging leaders from across Australia and New Zealand media, advertising and marketing industry, were given just one hour to […]
Social purpose organisation UnLtd’s Big Games competition has raised a combined $85,000 for children and young people at risk. Running over five weeks, the competition involved 32 teams from across the advertising, marketing and media industries battling it out virtually for a chance to qualify for the Rocket League final. The tournament culminated in a […]
Stan has announced that the Stan Original Film Transfusion commenced filming in Sydney earlier this week and will premiere on Stan in 2022. Transfusion is a taut, muscular thriller starring Sam Worthington (Avatar) as Ryan Logan, a former Special Forces operative, who is battling to cope with life after the loss of his wife and is thrust […]
According to a decade of data collected by iStock, Australian brands turned to imagery depicting outdated gender stereotypes during the pandemic. Tracking the keyword ‘women’, iStock by Getty Images found that in 2020, ANZ brands and businesses reverted to gender stereotypes. Images of mothers home-schooling were used at almost twice the rate of images of […]
Schwartz Media is congratulating Maddison Connaughton on her three years as editor of The Saturday Paper. Connaughton has decided to finish up her editorship this month. “It’s been an honour to edit the paper,” Connaughton said. “The Saturday Paper is one of the brightest voices in Australian media and I have been happy to see […]
Research from EdBbirdie using Spotify data has identified the most popular songs to study to. After analysing thousands of studying and homework playlists on Spotify, American singer Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘drivers license’ came out as top song to study to. It featured on 48 study playlists, while other top songs included ‘Ophelia’ by The Lumineers, ‘Falling’ […]
Dayna Stewart is the Business Director – Digital Marketing, Media & Creative Services at The Nudge Group. Here, she discusses the challenges that come with building a successful marketing team when working remotely. Before COVID-19 changed the way businesses work, most marketing teams spent their days together in a meeting room collaborating on the next […]
The line-up for the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Festival has been announced as the legendary event returns live in Las Vegas in September. This year, the epic two-day lineup for the iHeartRadio Music Festival main stage will feature performances by Billie Eilish, Cheap Trick, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Florida Georgia Line, Journey, Khalid, Lil Baby, Maroon 5, Nelly, […]
Shop! ANZ is calling on shopper and retail marketing professionals from all retail related disciplines to participate in the first ANZ Shopper and Retail Marketing Industry Survey in four years. This important research provides a guide of where the retail marketing industry in Australia and New Zealand has come from and what is anticipated to […]


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So far, Windows Phone-based devices in the US have been limited to just a few manufacturers, including HTC, Samsung and most recently Nokia. Now there's word that a company that has a big smartphone market in Japan could launch these products here in the US.
AllThingsD.com reports that Fujitsu is making plans to sell smartphones in the US. According to Senior Executive Vice President Hideyuki Saso, the company is looking to start its US move sometime late in 2012 or in early 2013. He added, "If we try to do same thing as how our competitors because of the competition, it is going to be tough. We would like to identify the right way of entering the North American market that would make use of our technology and expertise to make a steady landing."
While Fujitsu makes Android-based smartphones in Japan, it also has made Windows Phone-based products. The company is also known for creating a series of waterproof phones.
The smartphone market in the US is already very crowded but the nice thing about Fujitsu is that if it does decide to launch a Windows Phone device in North American it won't face as much competition. It should be interesting to see what kinds of phones the company brings over to the US.


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GKN Automotive has launched a new inverter, which is designed for EVs with 800 V systems, but also compatible with 400 V systems. It’s part of the company’s eDrive product line.
“The performance we have been able to deliver with the new inverter is an important next step in our mission to drive a cleaner, more sustainable world, as we’ve been able to vastly increase performance and improve efficiency,” says Director of Systems Engineering at GKN Automotive Christoph Gillen.
Compared to the previous generation of its inverter, the company says the new inverter increases power output by 20%, boosts power density by 50%, raises the power-to-weight ratio by 60% and decreases the copper content by 63%.
Source: GKN Automotive


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The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law ten years ago, gave the US Food & Drug Administration new authority to prevent and respond to food safety issues. For the first time, the FDA could require comprehensive, science-based preventive controls that included requiring food manufacturers to document and implement these plans. Inspections, testing and records access were new tools FSMA put in the hands of the FDA to ensure oversight, and FDA was given the ability to issue mandatory recalls in the event a company fails to do so voluntarily.
Manufacturers faced other consequences as well, such as administrative detention for products potentially in violation of the law, suspension of facility registration, enhanced product tracing and additional record-keeping requirements for high-risk foods.
Lee Sanders, senior vice president, government relations and public affairs, American Bakers Association (ABA), explained the new approach: “What systems do you have in place to ensure that your product is always safe, that you have the right staff trained for those critical jobs and that protocols are always being followed so that you’re confident in the product that leaves the production facility?”
FSMA also gave the FDA authority to hold imported food to the same standard as domestic products and encouraged the agency to bolster its partnerships with other federal agencies and those at the state and local level. While the food industry experienced a culture shift as it implemented FSMA, FDA’s new focus on partnership required a similar shift in the agency as well.
“I think there’s been a concerted effort for FDA to be more open,” Ms. Sanders said of FSMA guidance. “While the nutrition staff at FDA was more accustomed to working with the industry, the food safety staff took more of a compliance approach. The FDA realized it needed to change that culture. … The agency has been open to listening and partnering with us, and having framework in place where we could do that as the whole food industry was critical.”
She’s referring to the Food and Beverage Issue Alliance (FBIA), which is a broad coalition of more than 50 US-based food and beverage trade associations that communicate regularly with federal agencies like FDA and the US Department of Agriculture regarding regulations and guidance.
“Early on as the FSMA rules came together, we saw the need to bring the food industry together as a whole to dialogue with the FDA to share the challenges we’re seeing and provide an opportunity to weigh in and share information,” said Rasma Zvaners, vice president, regulatory and technical services, ABA. “We may not always agree, but we’re more proactive getting in front of issues and asking questions. I look back, and if we hadn’t had that proactive conversation and structure in place, we wouldn’t have been able to be as nimble in responding to COVID-19 because we knew how to engage with the agency and have an open dialogue.”
When it comes to the details of FSMA — and there are many — a few themes emerged that have completely revamped the way the food industry, including the baking sector, thinks about food safety programs. One of the most significant is the emphasis on having preventative controls and documentation that the company is implementing those controls effectively. This forces companies to be proactive and significantly raises accountability, as well as the number of audits and inspections.
“FSMA made all companies of all sizes think about their food safety plans, their company’s internal workings and their team’s approach to food safety day-by-day,” Ms. Sanders said. “There are a lot of audits and inspections now, and bakers have to know how to manage those and make sure they’re covering those critical points. Being able to demonstrate to customers that they are doing the right thing every day has been a big driver in all of this.”
Audits and inspections aren’t new to the baking industry. Before FSMA, the industry largely followed standards set forth by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and were audited by a third party to confirm those standards were being met.
“I don’t think the baking industry was shocked by what was coming from FSMA,” said Judi Lazaro, senior category director, food safety, AIB International. “They were surprised by the regulatory action that FDA would now show up and hold them accountable. The industry was previously used to only being held accountable by customers and consumers.”
In addition to GFSI audits, bakeries today undergo audits by individual customers as well as FDA inspections and, in many instances, AIB International inspections. The focus has changed too, Ms. Lazaro — who once was an inspector — pointed out.
“Now you can’t do business without an independent inspection,” she said. “And they have greatly evolved. When I was a food safety inspector, that meant 75%-80% of my time was on the production floor inspection, and 20% was spent looking at records and programs. Now we focus more on the programs and records and some time on the floor.”
Ms. Lazaro warns, however, that this emphasis on inspections and audits could backfire.
“I do think there comes a time where we have an audit overload that we are so worried about the audit that we lose sight of what we’re preparing for, which should be prioritizing food safety,” she said.
The other piece of FSMA that will come into play next is the focus on modernization and using the technology of today to take food safety to the next level.
“The FDA is looking at smarter food safety through its Smarter Food Safety initiative,” said Joe Stout, founder and general manager of Commercial Food Sanitation LLC. “In the age of iPhones, iPads and other computerization, it seems to me that we should be able to have a much brighter and connected food safety program in manufacturing plants. That includes pre-op inspections, recording them, tracking them. The technology has really helped us out on monitoring critical control points. You can see the information live on your desktop and know exactly what’s going on; lab results come in automatically, and all of this saves us time and money and helps us be more efficient.”
As Sosland Publishing Company, publisher of Baking & Snack, gears up to celebrate 100 years of providing food industry professionals timely information, news and commentary, we will be publishing a series of articles across all our titles to celebrate the past, present and future of the people and industry that feeds the world.
This article is an excerpt from the September 2021 issue of Baking & Snack. To read the entire feature on Centennial Report: Food Safety, click here.


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Saxophonist Logan Richardson will release his latest full-length studio recording this week.
Logan Richardson will release Shift, his latest full-length studio recording this week. The album is Richardson’s first for Blue Note Records and his third overall full-length studio recording. It comes a little more than six years after his most recent album, 2008’s Ethos. That album was released via Inner Circle Music. Richardson brought enlisted one of the biggest names in the jazz industry today for the record in guitarist Pat Metheny for the record. In discussing joining Richardson for Shift Metheny noted Richardson’s talent and his overall vision that impressed him most about working with him. “While he is unquestionably one of the best new alto players to emerge of his generation, it is his overall artistic vision that impresses the most,” he said. Also on board for the project are pianist Jason Moran, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Nasheet Waits.
Shift will be available in stores and online this Friday, February 26th. It can be pre-ordered online now via Amazon and iTunes. It boasts ten original compositions from Richardson and a cover of Bruno Mars’ ‘Locked Out Of Heaven.’ Audiences that pre-order the album now will get the album’s lead track ‘Mind Free’ immediately. The song is also streaming in full online now via YouTube and other streaming services. Audiences can also check out the album’s trailer online now via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbieGieGfGk&feature=youtu.be.
Richardson will tour in support of Shift beginning March 12th in Vincennes, France. His current tour takes him to a handful of venues throughout Europe in March and April. There is also a planned date in New York, NY on May 20th at Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club. All of the latest updates on Richardson’s tour is available online now along with all of his latest news and more at:
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Lincoln’s Biggest Strength Is That It’s Not Infiniti
Lincoln, the luxury division of Ford, has occupied a relatively weak and precarious position in the luxury ranks. Many other brands offer more popular models, versatile lineups, and more comprehensive future plans. Not to mention more effective marketing strategies to court potential customers. Still, Lincoln has advantages in the marketplace, most notably, the fact that it isn’t Infiniti.
Why Infiniti is in a weaker position than Lincoln
Though Lincoln is behind the curve against many of its competitors, it is certainly in a better position than rivals Infiniti.
Lincoln is far outpacing Infiniti in sales. Three of Lincoln’s SUVs sold in greater numbers than the best-selling Infiniti, the QX60, in 2022, according to GoodCarBadCar. The full-size Navigator outsold its QX80 competitor by nearly a two-to-one margin in 2022.
Despite serving as the luxury wing of Nissan, which has several hybrids and an EV on sale, Infiniti has still yet to introduce any hybrids of fully-electric models.
Simultaneously, Infiniti’s lineup is showing its age across the board. The Q50 sedan hasn’t been significantly updated since 2014, and the same can be said for the QX80. The QX50, the QX55 fastback, and the QX60 are more modern, but they have still failed to impress overall.
As Infiniti’s models lack leading status in their markets, don’t cater to those seeking a hybrid or EV, and are aged against their rivals, the brand appears to be focusing on the wrong things. The brand recently unveiled a new design philosophy…for its dealerships. An updated dealership experience might serve to benefit those purchasing an Infiniti. However, its models must first get customers in the door. And Infiniti isn’t doing itself any favors in attracting new customers at the moment.
Lincoln’s current lineup and discontinued models
Henry Ford famously wrote in his autobiography that buyers of the Model T could have their car painted in any color they liked, “so long as it’s black.” More than a century later, Lincoln buyers can have any body style they like, so long as it’s an SUV.
Like Ford, Lincoln has discontinued its lineup of sedans. This includes the MKC, Continental and MKZ, retooling the brand to exclusively offer SUVs. While SUVs have certainly become more popular among the general car-buying population, luxury cars remain a stalwart among other brands. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Acura, and others are popular in this segment. As such, other luxury automakers can offer prospective buyers a range of choices. Lincoln’s lineup is limited to a selection of SUV sizes.
Lincoln currently offers for SUVs – the compact Corsair, mid-size Nautilus and Aviator, and the full-size Navigator. The Navigator and Corsair are a bit aged against their competition. But the Nautilus has been overhauled for 2024, while a revamped Aviator is set to hit the road soon.
You probably didn’t know that Lincoln has hybrid models
If you didn’t know that Lincoln has a lineup of hybrid models, you’re not alone. While its rivals, particularly Lexus and Volvo, have touted their hybrid offerings, Lincoln has quietly (at least from a general car buyer’s perspective) introduced several hybrid SUV models.
The compact Corsair has an optional 2.5-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain developing 266 horsepower and an all-electric range of about 28 miles.
New for 2024, the Nautilus is now available in three hybrid trims with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four and 100kW electric motor combining for 310 total horsepower.
Luxury rivals with better reviews, stronger sales, and more variety
Lincoln was once at the pinnacle of the American luxury market, but rivals like Cadillac, Lexus, Genesis, Volov, and others have added appeal. These brands offer more variety in body styles as all still sell sedans. To boot, these brands have put a stronger emphasis on hybrids, and all have fully electric models available, something Lincoln has yet to offer.
Brands like Cadillac and Lexus have proved more popular among consumers, and Genesis is quickly gaining ground on the more established luxury automakers; Lincoln is no exception.
While reviewers are generally positive about Lincoln’s current lineup, the brand doesn’t particularly stand out in any category in which it competes.
Future plans for the Lincoln brand
The next major step for all automakers is electrifying their lineups, and Lincoln currently trails the pack with only two hybrids and no all-electric models. Lincoln announced in 2021 that it expected half of its models sold to be EVs by mid-decade and that the brand would be fully electric by 2030. So far, Lincoln has only debuted the Star Concept, an EV SUV, but revealed at the time three EVs would be released by 2025.
Meanwhile, the Navigator is set to receive a refresh, purportedly for the 2025 model year.


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Fall in oil and ruble, prices in Russia spark "political battle"
Moscow (AsiaNews) - The illusion of oil is over, but the Russian government have realized it too late. This is according to newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta commenting on what has become the most discussed topic in Russia, surpassing even the Ukrainian crisis: the relentless fall in oil prices. On January 13 Brent fell under 46 dollars, the lowest point in the last six years. The fall in black gold, along with Western sanctions against Moscow and fears of a debt downgrade by Standard & Poor's in the coming days are even dragging down the Russian currency, which today exchanged at 77 per euro and 65 per dollar.
The drop in the price of oil per barrel has led experts to revise inflation forecasts upwards, while prices have sparked what the media have called a "political battle" in Russia. Oil and gas account for two thirds of exports and count for half of the federal budget for the Federation (which has no plan B for a scenario of a barrel below 60 dollars); fluctuations in crude oil prices are a key factor of economic development, the trend of the currency and inflation, explained Morgan Stanley in a recent report on the country. According to the online newspaper Gazeta.ru, which has sought the opinion of several analysts, consumer prices will rise by 13-15%, twice as much as announced by the government. This level of inflation in Europe is only matched by Ukraine (21%) and Belarus (16.2%).
Inflation will return to double digits for the first time since the 2008 crisis, even according to the data of the Federal statistics agency Rosstat, according to which prices rose by 8.1% in 2014, while food (affected by the Russian embargo on imports from Western countries) is up by 15.4%. After the introduction this summer of the ban on some categories of foods imported from nations that had launched punitive measures against Russia for the Ukrainian crisis and before the dramatic collapse of the ruble, which made the imported products even more expensive, Moscow had promised to monitor the situation to prevent the market from going out of control. Upon returning from vacation in the New Year, however, the Russians have discovered increases everywhere and a diverse geographical origin of those products available: for example garlic, widely used in national cuisine, now only comes from China.
Thus, the prices of consumer goods - again Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports - has already sparked a "political battle" to gather support, pushing aside the nationalist and patriotic rhetoric which has so far accompanied public debate since the outbreak of the Ukrainian conflict. The Kremlin has asked the judiciary to monitor the prices of gasoline, food and medicines to prevent speculation and to intervene if the payment of wages or benefits is deferred. Communist MPs, for their part, are preparing a bill that establishes consumer prices of fifteen products including bread, dairy products, cereals and pasta and potatoes, providing penalties such as the withdrawal of licenses from traders who do not pass the Federal Antimonopoly controls. For Tatiana Komissarova, of the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, this is a populist proposal that goes against the market economy.


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A collection of news and information related to Michael Bastian published by this site and its partners.
Displaying items 1-12 of 16 » View Sun-Sentinel.com items only1 2 Next >
For holiday parties, today's sophisticated man can take a cue from runways and red carpets by choosing tuxedos for formal occasions or components thereof for more casual events. Fashion designers, obsessed as they are these days with all manner of...
Conde Nast men's magazine Details has commissioned 10 members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America -- including Marc Jacobs, Thom Browne and John Varvatos -- to create limited-edition pocket squares to benefit the CFDA's charitable efforts. As...
Los Angeles TimesNEW YORK — As it gets ready to enter its 10th year, the Band of Outsiders brand has just about become the ultimate fashion insider. In June, founder and creative director Scott Sternberg presented his menswear collection in Paris for the first time...
Matthew Singer, Director of Men’s Fashion for Neiman Marcus, has plenty of tips on how men can look their best. From the perfect pair of shoes to this season’s must-have accessories, Singer is well-versed in the wonder of men’s...
Tags: Fashion Shows, Italy, Apple iPad, Etro, Neiman Marcus
Los Angeles TimesIf you think camouflage is just the stuff of old beat-up military uniforms and cheap thermals lying around dusty army-navy shops, you're missing out on the biggest hiding-in-plain-sight trend in cutting-edge menswear this fall. Camo, as fashion folk say,...
Text is relatively rare on Nick Wooster's eponymous Web site; just shot after intriguing shot of clothing, people, attitude, culture. And that's as it should be. For Wooster has made his mark focusing on the visual. Fashion adviser to Gilt MAN and its...
The fall-winter 2012 menswear collections that showed during the recently wrapped New York Fashion Week brought the usual riffs on masculine archetypes. Rag & Bone and Tommy Hilfiger served up military men. Michael Kors went for plaid-clad lumberjack...
All The RageIt wasn't just the luxury menswear brands that were headed in a dressier direction for fall and winter 2012, with labels like Brooks Brothers and J. Crew taking the guy's wardrobe up a couple of notches....
All The RageMichael Bastian's fall and winter 2012 collection was inspired by the extra man -- a.k.a. the escort or walker. The result is a dressy, dapper and ultra-luxe wardrobe for the man about town....
All The RageMichael Bastian showed his James Dean-inspired spring-summer 2012 menswear collection on September 12, 2011, during New York Fashion Week....
TV WatchersCheck out GQ to see Freedom graduate and star of "Hawaii Five-0" wearing a pair of Dockers khakis redesigned by six different designers. In the photos by Kai Z. Feng, the former Bethlehem resident alternates between sporty, breezy, casual and......
All The RageIf you appreciate all things preppy, it's time to bust out your best pink and green, slip on your boat shoes, pile into the Jeep Wagoneer and head for the Grove shopping center. That's because the Tommy Hilfiger Prep World......
Dec 9, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Nov 19, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Oct 14, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Oct 10, 2012 |Story| City Link
Sep 9, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Mar 20, 2012 |Story| Chicago Tribune
Feb 19, 2012 |Story| Los Angeles Times
Feb 16, 2012 | Los Angeles Times
Feb 14, 2012 | Los Angeles Times
Sep 15, 2011 | Los Angeles Times
Aug 26, 2011 | Allentown Morning Call
Jun 9, 2011 | Los Angeles Times
Original site for Michael Bastian topic gallery.


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New York, New York (PRWEB) June 29, 2012
Bill Drummy, Founder and CEO of integrated marketing agencies Heartbeat Ideas and Heartbeat West, has been selected to join DTC Perspectives first-ever eDTC Revolution Conference Board.
Convening at the upcoming eDTC Revolution Conference on Sept. 13-14, 2012, the board will be charged with ensuring that conference content provides attendees with progressive insights and forward-thinking predictions on the future of digital marketing of pharma brands. Chosen by DTC Perspectives, eDTC Revolution Conference Board members consist of individuals recognized as experts in various areas of digital health marketing, specifically as it relates to the challenging arena of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical marketing.
Mr. Drummy is already a member of the DTC Perspectives Advisory Board and the DTC Perspectives Hall of Fame. This latest honor provides Mr. Drummy further opportunity to help shape the conversation around DTC marketing and bring to the forefront some of the upcoming issues DTC marketers will be facing.
The full list of 2012 eDTC Revolution Conference Board members includes:
For more information about the eDTC Revolution Conference, visit the DTC Perspectives website.
About Heartbeat Ideas
Heartbeat Ideas creates indelible brand experiences for an increasingly digital world. A privately held, full-service agency, Heartbeat is committed to ideas and innovation in the emerging marketing environment. The company’s proprietary GRADETM toolset enables Heartbeat to mine competitive and audience insights from the complexity of the digital landscape, while the agency’s versatile engagement process flexes to meet the needs of both traditional and digital environments.


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A new video for Black Ops Cold War’s Fireteam multiplayer mode may have given the Call of Duty community its first look at the next battle royale map in Warzone.
When Activision confirmed that Warzone would continue to exist beyond Modern Warfare, many came to the conclusion that either a whole new BR map would be released or massive changes would be made to the current one.
In either case, we may have gotten our first glimpse at what Warzone will look like in Black Ops Cold War, thanks to the new trailer released for the Fireteam: Dirty Bomb mode in the BOCW Beta.
At several points in the video, there are shots shown that closely resemble what the battle royale looks like. For example, there’s this view of a player dropping down with a parachute in a fashion very similar to Warzone.
We also have a brief view of a massive military-style plane, just like the one that flies over Verdansk and drops players off.
This ties in with a video that dataminers dug up and posted on Reddit – the file was called “wz_startscreen” and features a slideshow of images from the two large-scale Fireteam maps, even before they were officially revealed.
Those of you who may discount this theory or think it’s too big of a stretch would do well to remember that Activision teased Warzone way before it was even officially announced. They went as far as to even include glimpses of the battle royale in the Modern Warfare multiplayer trailer in May of 2019, almost a whole year before it was released.
Furthermore, several of MW’s bigger maps, specifically in Ground War, are based on Warzone locations, and vice-versa, so it’s perfectly plausible for Treyarch to use these large-scale terrains for both Fireteam and as points of interest on the new BR map.
There’s also overwhelming speculation, based on several leaks, that there will be a nuclear event in Verdansk that’ll transform the map completely to fit within the world of BOCW, which would explain why these new areas are so different from what we’re used to seeing in WZ.


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Finnish food company Fazer will build a €10.7 million facility in Finland capable of producing xylitol from oat hulls.
The new facility will be built near Lahti, about 100km north of Helsinki, next to the site where Fazer is investing €40 million in a new plant-based food factory.
The company called the xylitol expansion “the most significant investment in a new line of business in the history of Fazer”.
Anna Nicol, vice-president of the firm’s xylitol venture, said: “It is fantastic to be able to strengthen the Finnish knowhow in oats and to bring the production of domestic xylitol back to Finland. Our mill in Lahti is a world-class forerunner in oat products. With this investment, we will become the first industrial actor utilising oat hulls to produce value-added oat products.”
The company intends to export the oat-derived xylitol for use worldwide.
The new production facility, located next to Fazer’s oat mill in Lahti, is the world’s first xylitol plant utilising raw materials originating from the company’s own production. The Lahti oat mill produces several million kilograms of oat hulls as a side stream every year. Previously, the oat hulls have been used as animal feed or biofuel.
The project to construct the xylitol plant – awarded to Swedish company NCC – covers the plant itself as well as related auxiliary equipment, area works and an extension to the mill area’s car park. The total land area involved is 4,000 square metres.
Once completed, the development will represent a significant investment in a crop that Finland exports $65 million’s worth of every year – third only to Australia and Canada in terms of the world’s largest exporters of oats.
Construction work began in February with the logging of timber and the removal of topsoil. Actual construction work will start this week, with installations of the production equipment due by the end of the year. The plant will go live in late 2020.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2019


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You know how annoying it can get when you make plans to grab a beer with friends, only for them to cancel last minute.
Well, Swedish beer brand Norrlands Guld has a solution, and it’s not funny.
For its new campaign, Norrlands Guld worked with a tech company and a team of lawyers to create a “Beer Contract” that legally bind friends when they agree to meet for drinks.
Two friends can agree to grab drinks, create and sign an agreement electronically to that effect, and whoever doesn’t show up would be levied a $50 fine, and failure to pay could lead to a court date.
“Trying to plan a simple get together with a friend can be tricky. Just because you agree to grab a beer doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen,” Norrlands Guld’s Charlotte Liljewall said in a statement. “To put an end to this half-hearted behavior and get more Swedes to meet as agreed, we’ve created a digital tool that helps turn empty words into action with a contract that guarantees a beer will take place. We want the contract to transform ‘maybe we’ll grab a beer’ into a legally binding ‘yes.’”
Well, it only works in Sweden. You wouldn’t want to sue, but you’d surely appreciate if your friends would stop skipping drink dates.


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Don’t Washing Your Hair or Brush It!
Are we witnessing a new trend in hair care? It seems that more and more people are confessing to skipping out on washing their hair or even ditching their trusty hair brushes altogether. This so-called ‘no wash hair trend’ has sparked curiosity and controversy alike.
While some swear by it, others are skeptical, even downright disgusted. But what does this mean for the world of hair care? Could it be a revolutionary approach to beauty or just another gimmick? Let’s dive deeper into the no wash hair trend and what it entails.
The prospect of skipping shampoo in the name of beauty is, to some, a paradoxical one. How could going without something that’s traditionally considered crucial for hygiene make anyone look better? And yet, the trend has caught on like wildfire in recent years, with influencers and celebrities alike promoting the benefits of a ‘no-poo‘ lifestyle.
Advocates claim that ditching shampoo and other hair-cleansing products can lead to shinier, fuller hair, as well as a more balanced scalp. But critics argue that the trend is just another disturbing fad, one that could lead to greasy, unhealthy locks and even hair loss.
So who’s right? As it turns out, the answer might not be as simple as one would think.
What is it?
Have you ever thought of ditching your hairbrush and shampoo? Well, if you’ve been following the latest ‘hair brush-free beauty routine’ trend, then you already have! The new trend proposes that washing your hair every day can strip away the natural oils, while brushing can cause breakage and split ends. Instead, going longer periods without washing and simply running your fingers through your hair to distribute natural oils.
Critics argue that going without washing or brushing can lead to a build-up of oils, dirt, and other pollutants, resulting in an itchy, flaky scalp and even hair loss. Others believe that while the trend may work for some, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
So, what do you think- should we brush our hair and shampoo it every day, or go with this new trend?
Pros and cons.
‘Washing hairless: beauty benefit or myth?’ is a question that has sparked a controversial beauty trend – going without washing your hair or brushes. It seems incredulous that someone would opt-out of this daily ritual, but some swear by this haircare routine.
The idea behind washing hairless is that the natural oils from our scalp are enough to keep our hair clean and healthy. Healthline, argues that it can lead to softer, shinier hair and less styling damage, healthier hair and scalp that produces a more balanced amount of oils in your hair, more voluminous hair, better-textured hair, and less need for styling products, less exposure to potentially irritating chemicals less plastic packaging waste, breaking an artificial cycle of shampooing, which dries out the hair, causing you to use products to add moisture back, and then shampoo again to remove product
However, experts believe that not washing your hair could lead to a buildup of bacteria, oil, and dandruff, causing it to look greasy, limp, and flaky. While there is no research to support either side, it’s clear that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to hair care. Angela Lamb, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, says that washing your hair depends on its thickness, how much you sweat, exercise, and style it. You should go with your gut feeling on how long you can go without washing your hair. Lamb says, don’t go longer than 14 days, ever,
So, whether you prefer luscious locks or freshly washed tresses, ultimately, the decision is up to you.
Impact on hair health.
‘The no-wash hair movement’ has garnered its fair share of controversy and popularity alike. Some swear by the practice, saying it has transformed their hair game, while others remain skeptical of its effectiveness and even hygiene.
But what impact does forgoing shampoo and brushes have on hair health? While there’s no denying that going without washing your hair can lead to a buildup of oil and product, some experts argue that over-shampooing strips the scalp of its natural oils, leading to dryness and potential hair loss. Brushing, too, if done too aggressively, can damage hair strands and cause breakage.
However, others point out that going too long without washing can lead to dandruff and clogged hair follicles, ultimately hindering growth. It’s a contentious topic, to be sure, but one thing is clear: there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to hair care.
So, yeah — you need to wash your hair. Alli Webb, professional hair stylist and founder of Drybar. “For hair that’s normal in terms of oiliness and medium weight, I sometimes tell my clients to go as long as they can without shampooing.”
If you are scrolling through Instagram, you might come across glossy-haired influencers with a head full of luscious locks, and you can’t help but wonder what the secret behind their hair perfection really is? A hair routine or some miracle product working wonders to keep their mane pristine? But the truth is, these influencers are ditching their hairbrushes and washing less regularly. Yes, it’s a new ‘brush-free hair care’ trend that’s taking the beauty world by storm.
This controversial beauty trend has raised concerns about the health of hair and scalp. Some argue it’s the natural way to care for your hair, while others believe this is a recipe for disaster, especially for those with thick, curly hair.
So, what’s the bottom line? Is it worth giving up your favorite shampoo and brush to achieve luscious locks? The debate rages on.
In conclusion, while skipping a hair wash or two may seem like a tempting shortcut, it ultimately leads to more hair woes than gains. From scalp infections to greasy, unmanageable locks, the consequences just aren’t worth it.
And don’t even get us started on the detangling nightmares that can ensue when hair brushes go untouched for days on end. So, the next time you’re feeling lazy, just remember: a little extra effort now will save you a world of trouble down the line.
Trust us, your hair (and those around you) will thank you.
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