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When we try to predict what the economy will look like weeks, months, and years from now, it’s important to remember that this is not the first time the human race has had to come back from a low point. No matter which example you choose to look at — whether it be in sports, politics, or economics — humans have a way of adapting. However, it will take a certain skill set to do so successfully under our current circumstances.
In an article published on McKinsey last month, the author describes five qualities that are critical for businesses trying to survive the transition to a new sense of normalcy: resolve, resilience, return, reimagination, and reform. These stages are not set in stone — there may be some overlap and they may come at different times for certain business owners, but they are all worth thinking about when considering how to do business in our new economy.
While the process looks different for everyone, one thing is universal: those who step up their game will be better off and far more ready to confront the challenges—and opportunities—of the next normal than those who do not.
1. Start bringing in new revenue as quickly as possible.
Companies are going to need to fundamentally rethink their revenue profile in order to position themselves for the long term and to get ahead of the competition. To do this, companies should follow McKinsey’s “SHAPE Up” model:
Start-up mindset. When starting a new business, action often comes before research and creative testing is favored over in-depth analysis. It’s important to establish a brisk cadence that encourages agility and accountability by implementing daily team check-ins, weekly 30-minute CEO reviews, and twice-a-month 60-minute reviews.
Human at the core. Companies will need to rethink their operating model based on how their people work best. 60% of businesses surveyed by McKinsey in early April said that their new remote sales models were proving as much (29%) or more effective (31%) than traditional channels.
Acceleration of digital, tech, and analytics. While the term “Zooming” has become as commonly used as “Ubering,” many companies still have not fully embraced the rapid acceleration of technology that is crucial to enduring the COVID-19 crisis. The strongest companies are successfully using advanced analytics to combine new sources of data, such as satellite imaging, with their own insights to make better and faster decisions and strengthen their links to customers.
Purpose-driven customer playbook. Companies need to understand what customers will value, post-COVID-19, and develop new use cases and tailored experiences based on those insights. We recommend using social media strategies to communicate with your customers and provide information-rich content that is easy to understand.
Ecosystems and adaptability. As more supply chains are being disrupted every day — including the meat industry — adaptability is an important characteristic of a resilient company in crisis. The adaptations to start implementing include changing the ecosystem and considering nontraditional collaborations with partners up and down the supply chain.
2. Be open-minded to new business opportunities.
As the demand for certain products and services shifts globally, new vulnerabilities are being revealed in nearly every sector of the economy. Even still, some companies have made rapid changes and found innovative ways to grow their business, even as their competitors struggle to maintain. The most common changes made at these companies all relate to increased visibility, agility, productivity, and end-customer connectivity.
To prepare for a wider and more acute range of potential shocks, successful companies will have to completely overhaul their operations and supply chains to reflect consumer demand and balance their dependency on outside suppliers in a more manageable way. We will see more and more companies using multiple suppliers across the global supply chain and relying on more creative strategies for manufacturing.
Beyond supply chain operations, the way we work may never be the same after COVID-19. While we have been moving towards a workforce more dependent on automation and technology for many years, the pandemic has pushed us years ahead of schedule in terms of working remotely, using digital communication, and collaborating without any face-to-face meetings. In operations, changes will likely go further, with an increased decline in manual and repetitive tasks and a rise in the need for analytical and technical support. This shift will call for substantial investment in workforce engagement and training in new skills, much of it delivered using digital tools.
3. Be prepared to move quickly.
In 2019, a leading retailer was exploring how to launch a curbside-delivery business; the plan stretched over 18 months. When the COVID-19 lockdown hit the United States, it went live in two days. There are many more examples of this kind. “How can we ever tell ourselves that we can’t be faster?” one executive of a consumer company recently asked.
Coronavirus has encouraged organizations that have been putting off certain forms of innovation for years, mostly by forcing shifts in their operating models — clear goals, focused teams, and rapid decision making have replaced miles of corporate red tape. Now, as the world begins to move into the post-COVID-19 era, leaders must commit to not going back. The way in which they rethink their organizations will go a long way in determining their long-term competitive advantage.
Leaders of resilient companies must rely on the skills that put them in their role to being with: creativity, forward-thinking, and the ability to guide their teams through organizational change. Returning to “business as usual” won’t work with the ever-changing environment. By rethinking how your business can recover, operate, organize, and use technology, even as your employees to work, your organization can set the foundations for enduring success.
Reach out to us today to learn how the associates of Milikowsky Tax Law can help you make these changes and avoid the risk of penalty or audit.


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Lovecraftian Mystery Game The Sinking City to Be Released on Nintendo Switch
The upcoming title from Frogwares will also be making its way to the hybrid console.
By Chris Morse
Nintendo's E3 showcase from earlier this week gave us quite the respectable haul for the horror genre, but there's always a little more room for something Lovecraftian, isn't there? Among the reveals during the company's livestream event was an upcoming Nintendo Switch port of The Sinking City, which is scheduled to be released later this month on June 27th.
A few months ago, we reported the game had received a slight delay, moving out of a crowded March into its new early summer release date. That date still stands and it looks like the Switch version should be coming out at the same time, although this has yet to be officially confirmed by the developer, Frogwares. If you are just hearing about this title for the first time, read on for some additional details!
The Sinking City takes place in the fictional city of Oakmont, Massachusetts during the famous Roaring Twenties. With the city suffering from unprecedented supernatural floods, private investigator Charles W. Reed is tasked with discovering what is destroying Oakmont and driving its citizens into madness.
Resident Evil 8 Showcased at PlayStation 5 Reveal Event
The next entry in the long-running survival horror video game series is coming your way in 2021.
Review: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 Once Again Delivers Retro Castlevania-Style Goodness
Koji Igarashi and Inti Creates keep the past alive in this latest 8-bit delve into the Bloodstained world.
Review: Boss Fight Books' Resident Evil Explores the Storied Origins of Survival Horror
Philip J Reed's deep dive into the video game that started a legendary horror franchise is more than just a trip down memory lane.
Weekly Horror News Round-Up July 3: Candyman, Fallout, Into the Dark
Plus, upcoming additions to Resident Evil Resistance, a premiere date for HBO's Lovecraft Country, and more.

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Wolverine Recalls Logger Boots Due to Shock Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Wolverine World Wide, today announced a voluntary recall of its Caterpillar brand steel toe logger boots.
The company states that the estimated 9,500 recalled logger boots could be incorrectly labeled as resistant to electrical current, posing a shock hazard to consumers who come in contact with an electrical current. No injuries have been reported.
The boots were sold in women's and men's sizes. Women's boots were sold in black and have stock number P88030. Men's boots were sold in brown and black and have stock numbers P88033 or P88034. Stock numbers are printed on a label on the tongue of the shoe. The Caterpillar logo and "EH" are also printed on the label. The word "Caterpillar" is printed on the outside of the boots.
The boots were sold at shoe stores and other independent retailers nationwide from September 2006 through July 2007 for between $90 and $130.
Consumers are advised to stop wearing the recalled boots immediately and contact Wolverine to receive a free replacement pair of boots. For additional information, call 800-789-8586 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or visit www.wolverineworldwide.com. Consumers can also send an email to [email protected], or write to Attn: Melissa Newman at Wolverine World Wide at 9341 Courtland Drive NE, Rockford, Mich.49351.


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Sustainability News & Insights
We have the experience and knowledge necessary to provide valuable sustainability insights. Take a look at what's happening in our world below.
March 20, 2014Playing the Game: J.D. Power and Utilities
Customer satisfaction is a nebulous concept. And it’s particularly challenging for a sector that doesn’t exactly “feel the love”...
January 31, 2013Utility rates are up slightly – will consumer frustration be up big time?
Our nation's utilities are at the top of the "blame" list for rising prices (for the first time in eight years) and Americans are growing...


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Camilla Bowles & Prince Charles Ask People to Remember The Elderly This Holiday Season
Every year as the holiday season begins, we rush to the shopping centers and wait in long queues just to grab the best deals on our favorite items. But how many times do we check up on our friends and relatives during these happy times?
Ever since the pandemic set foot on Earth, we’ve been separated from our loved ones. Now, as things slowly return to normal, we’ve grown so habitual of not catching up with them that we still rarely try to find chances to meet friends and family. Everyone has become used to staying inside a cocoon.
But it’s high time we change that and get back to the old normal, where our families and friends were our first priority. A time when even time and distance couldn’t part us. And that’s something, not just us, even the British Royal family wants you to do!
A vital reminder
On December 17, 2021, Prince Charles and Camilla expressed their festive spirit in their social media post. The couple uploaded a cute picture of themselves on Instagram, with a special message asking people to remember their friends and relatives over the festive season.
The duo who sported an all-black ensemble in the pic posed in front of the Christmas tree at Clarence House. They even shared the same message on their respective Twitter handles, encouraging people to lend a helping hand to the elderly.
Along with the message, the couple informed everyone about the state of the elderly, saying that millions of elderly people feel more lonely during holidays like Christmas than at any other time of the year.
The post even disclosed info about the couple’s patronages, with Prince Charles being a Patron of Age UK and Camilla of The Silver Line. ICYDK, both organizations work for the betterment of senior citizens in the United Kingdom.
A peek into the royals Christmas preparations
Queen Elizabeth’s family is absolutely ready for Christmas. They’ve sorted everything from Christmas cards to tree decorations. But it seems people aren’t entirely convinced with their idea of a pandemic-themed card.
On December 11, 2021, when Charles and Camilla shared their 2021 Christmas card on Instagram, they got a mixed response from people.
According to some, the card, which displayed a picture of Charles fixing Camilla’s mask at Royal Ascot back in June, didn’t portray holiday vibes. However, some appreciated it, saying it shows our reality and how we need to support each other in tough times.
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Sony unveiled on Wednesday two new versions of its PlayStation 4 Console in an effort to help Sony maintain its sales lead over Microsoft Corp and Nintendo Co Ltd.
The PlayStation 4 Pro, which will launch on 10 November, will support higher resolution and more realistic imagery by enabling 4k resolution and higher dynamic range (HDR), said Andrew House, chief executive of Sony Interactive Entertainment, at a PlayStation event in New York City on Tuesday, announcing the new products. The console will cost $399.
Additionally, the company unveiled a slimmer, lighter and more energy efficient version of its PlayStation 4 Console, which will come out 15 September and will cost $299.
PlayStation Pro, whose code name is “Neo,” will support Sony’s virtual reality headset, due to launch in October.
The PlayStation VR headset will go on sale in the United Sattes on 13 October with 50 titles available by the end of the year, the company has said.
Additionally, Sony will make an upgrade available that will enable all 40 million users of its PlayStation 4 console to upgrade to HDR, House said.
Since the 2013 launch, Sony has sold more than 40 million units of the PlayStation 4 console, far outpacing Microsoft Corp’s XBox One and Nintendo’s Wii U.
Sony has said the games business is set to be its biggest growth driver, helped by strong PS4 console sales, a rise in subscribers to its PlayStation network and the launch of its virtual reality headset.


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Displaying items 49-60 of 250 » View Sun-Sentinel.com items only< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11-21 Next >
All The RageAs I get ready to head off to the men's fall and winter 2011-2012 European runway shows, I've been on the lookout for versatile pieces that maximize suitcase space and style. And, on a recent trip through the new retail......
As we mark Memorial Day Monday and approach the 65th anniversary of the Normandy invasion, let's look back on a war that sprang from incredible human evil, inspired astounding personal bravery and produced amazing facts. 1. On May 5, 1945, Elsie Mitchell...
The 33 NewsNaya is a shoe company with a conscience. The company uses natural, vegetable dyes and rubber soles, yet still maintains a fashion and style element. We had Jessica Nunzes into the studio to talk about Naya and why buying natural products are a better...
The 33 NewsWith just a few hours before the artic blast arrives in north Texas kids are stilly playing in tee shirts and skirts. Tomorrow, that may be dangerous. Baylor- Carrollton pediatrician Farah Naz says that kids, because of their size, are at greater risk...
Tags: Carrollton, Frostbite
Associated PressWASHINGTON -- Children's toys carrying the Barbie and Disney logos have turned up with high levels of lead in them, according to a California-based advocacy group -- a finding that may give consumers pause as they shop for the holiday season. The...
Associated PressNEW YORK -- After shoppers gave retailers a somewhat encouraging start to the holiday shopping season, stores now turn their attention to the online promotions known as Cyber Monday and bringing back customers the rest of the season. The good news is...
Web ReporterA shoe manufacturer is recalling footwear made for children because the products have high levels of lead. The recall includes about 21,000 Classic Scuffproof Boots made by The Timberland Company. The logo stamped onto the insoles of the children's boots...
The annual solicitation letter from Santa Claus Anonymous arrived in the mail the other day, with its trademark depiction of a classic Santa with his hat pulled over his eyes. The iconic drawing, of course, suggests a fundamental tenet of the 75-year-...
Tags: Society, National Government, Family, Children, Rite Aid Corp.
Here's a new spin on the idea that getting there is half the fun: A new study, commissioned by the Axe body spray company, has ranked Orlando International Airport as the 22nd best airport in the country to "make a connection" (wink, wink), up 12 spots...
Jan 7, 2011 | Los Angeles Times
May 24, 2009 |Story| Chicago Tribune
Nov 23, 2010 |Story| KDAF-LTV
Dec 23, 2010 |Story| Associated Press
Jan 6, 2010 |Story| KDAF-LTV
Nov 13, 2009 |Resource Link| SFL
Nov 18, 2009 |Story| KTLA-LTV
Nov 30, 2009 |Story| KTLA-LTV
Dec 17, 2009 |Story| KCPQ-LTV
Dec 10, 2009 |Story| WXIN-LTV
Dec 15, 2009 |Column| Baltimore Sun
Dec 27, 2009 |Column| Orlando Sentinel
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After cancelling its exclusive July Prime member event, Amazon has finally announced the official dates for Prime Day 2020 – October 13-14. The event features deals on everything from Amazon’s new Echo and Dot models, to home gym equipment and televisions.
Traditionally held in July since its inception in 2015, Prime Day was delayed this year because of the pandemic and the resulting increase of online shipping experienced by the online retailer. Amazon Prime Day 2020 begins Tuesday, October 13 at 12am (PT) and ends on Wednesday, October 14 at 11:59pm (PT).
In 2017, Amazon expanded Prime Day’s duration. The retail holiday expanded from a 24-hour event to one that lasted for 30 hours. In 2018, Amazon lengthened the holiday to 36 hours and in 2019 it lasted a full 48 hours. Prime Day 2020 will once again last for 48 hours.
While the deals are searchable by anyone, you have to be an Amazon Prime member to purchase at the discounted rates. Fortunately, Amazon offers limited trial memberships you can take advantage of if you are not a current member – or you can sign up for a membership here and be ready for the event.
Amazon recently announced their 2020 product launches, including the new Amazon Echo – and its new sphere design. This means Amazon’s previous-gen devices will hit the bargain bin this Prime Day, whereas Amazon’s new 2020 devices will see more modest price cuts that could range from $20 to $50 off (based on the Prime Day deals we saw last year). Those items that will launch post-Prime Day will likely be on sale on Black Friday.
Deals Editors from our sister site, Tom’s Guide will be providing coverage of the best Amazon Prime Day deals during the event, you can follow their coverage here.
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ELAN In The News
Now, with the ELAN system in place, they have full control of the indoor and outdoor spaces of their home at their fingertips, truly bringing their lifestyle to a new level of relaxation.
Within the ultra-modern home, ELAN controls the security system, lighting, climate, audio and outdoor spaces.
At CES 2019, the company demonstrated its new Elan Intelligent Touch Panels and Elan Intelligent Video Doorbell with facial recognition and video analytics built in.
To bring their vision to fruition, the couple relied on technology integrator ZettaComm, the home automation company ELAN, and Nortek Security & Control. “We were looking for partners who would say ‘Hey, let’s try this,’” Ms. Junaid said.
Irvine, California-based electronics integrator, Smart Systems Technologies Inc., will install a standard ELAN package in each home through the ELAN New Home Program, which offers homebuyers mobile app control of a video doorbell, smart thermostat, and smart light switches.
JL Automation Helps Former MLB Pitcher Settle into Retirement HomeTech JL Automation Helps Former MLB Pitcher Settle into Retirement
According to Cain, the system has seamlessly fit into his family’s every day routine. “Even our kids are able to use ELAN to turn on the lights and televisions – it’s that intuitive,” he said. “And beyond that, it’s so reliable. With ELAN, I know that it’s going to work every time.”
ELAN Brings Total Control to Chinese Villa With A Meaty 700 Lighting Loads And 150 Motorised Window Shades
A recent ELAN installation in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China, has turned owner’s new 200,000-square-foot luxury villa into a high-tech home with impressive scale delivering control of 700 lighting loads, 150 motorised window shades,110 individual climate zones, 25 surveillance cameras, 12 zones of audio and eight zones of security.


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On Sunday, May 5, at 11:30 a.m., Liberty Safe is being featured on the highly acclaimed cable television program, Built In America.
“Liberty makes jobs,” said Collin Williams, the producer of Built In America. “This truly American company provides not only peace of mind and security but also American jobs for proud American workers. We are very excited to have them on our program.”
Built In America is a documentary/educational program featuring American companies that are on the cutting edge of manufacturing and production innovation. The featured companies receive exposure to consumers and media outlets around the world.
Williams says his producers were attracted to Liberty Safe because it is the #1 seller and largest producer of home and gun safes in the world. The directors visited the company in Payson, Utah, to witness for themselves the amazing automated production process that builds more than 150,000 safes a year.
According to Jamey Skousen, marketing director for Liberty Safe, “Liberty employees take great pride in the products they build. They know if their quality state-of-the-art product stands up to attempted break-ins, a fire, tornado, hurricane, or earthquake…let me tell you, the pride that these guys have knowing they are part of a huge success story is just fantastic. That’s where the real joy and satisfaction comes from, the chance to build safes with the Liberty name attached.” Skousen is also seen on the documentary.
Built In America is aired at 11:30 a.m. EDT, on the FOX Business Network (FBN). Williams says the May 5 segment featuring Liberty Safe will reach more than 92 million households in North America and internationally.
For a sneak preview of the introduction, click here.


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Millions of Taylor Swift fans swarmed Live Nation Entertainment Inc’s Ticketmaster website on Tuesday seeking seats for her first tour in five years, causing periodic outages and long online waits that often ended in disappointment.
The ticket-selling site told fans on Tuesday morning, via a statement on Twitter, that it was experiencing “intermittent issues” that the company was “urgently” working to resolve.
Later, Ticketmaster tweeted that there had been “historically unprecedented demand” for Swift’s “The Eras Tour,” her first since 2018, from millions of people. Ticket sales for West Coast shows were delayed by three hours.
Fans reported waiting in online queues for up to eight hours, and many finding they were too late to purchase tickets, which cost between $49 and $449 each.
“I’m a failure as a father,” wrote Dave Pell, author of the popular NextDraft newsletter.
“The one time my daughter really needed me to come through for her, I ended up on the outside looking in, banished to the barren badlands of the Taylor Swift ticket waiting list wasteland,” he said.
Other Swifties, the nickname for Swift’s fans, said they were repeatedly dropped from queues and turned their ire toward Ticketmaster. Some said they took a day off work and felt the process should have gone more smoothly.
A Ticketmaster spokesperson said the number of people who registered for the early sale was more than twice the number of tickets available, and that millions of others also jumped online to buy.
“This caused some delays for fans which we know is frustrating and we worked as quickly as possible to adjust some on sale times to manage the volume, and queues are now flowing,” the spokesperson said.
A Democratic US lawmaker also criticised the company.
“@Ticketmaster’s excessive wait times and fees are completely unacceptable, as seen with today’s @taylorswift13 tickets,” Rep. David Cicilline wrote on Twitter.
He added that the 2010 merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, which had Justice Department approval, should not have been allowed. “It’s no secret that Live Nation-Ticketmaster is an unchecked monopoly,” he said.
Cicilline, who chairs the House of Representatives antitrust panel, called on the Justice Department to investigate. The agency declined to comment.
The ticketing industry has frustrated Americans for years with hidden fees, limited ticket availability because of pre-sales, and other irritations.
Waits of several hours also were reported on ticket seller SeatGeek, which was selling tickets to Swift shows in Arlington, Texas, and Glendale, Arizona. SeatGeek said it, too, experienced high demand and urged fans to “please be patient.” Hundreds of thousands of people did grab tickets to Swift’s tour, Ticketmaster said. Another presale, for Capital One credit card holders, was postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Swift released her latest album, the pop record “Midnights,” in October. She has promised hits from albums spanning her career on the “Eras” tour. The US tour is scheduled to start in March and end in August.
Some buyers already were looking to cash in on the fervour.
Resale sites such as Stubhub were offering seats on Tuesday afternoon for as much as $18,000 each.


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Eaze, a cannabis-delivery service with an operating style similar to UberEats, has quickly become the delivery giant in the industry. However, as companies continue to grow, they are unfortunately still struggling to get banks on board with allowing credit card payments for THC products, regardless of the processors’ continuously growing acceptance of CBD.
So, when Eaze’s earnings quadrupled since beginning to accept credit card payments, as reported by CannabisMD, suspicions from rival companies began to rise over the validity of the company’s payments system.
Now, Toronto-based DionyMed is filing a lawsuit on behalf of Herban Industries, the cannabis company that runs Eaze’s rival delivery service, Chill, claiming that Eaze has been fraudulently hiding customers’ cannabis purchases when they use credit and debit cards.
DionyMed is filing the suit under California’s unfair competition laws and is accusing Eaze of credit fraud, claiming that payments for cannabis delivery are routed through phony businesses to avoid credit card company rules against using their services to purchase cannabis. The 72-page complaint was filed earlier this month, laying out the company’s apparent plans to make it look like customers are buying pet supplies or outdoor gear rather than weed.
According to the suit, cannabis purchases from the company are shown on customers’ bills from obscure websites with bare-bones designs that are in some cases identical to one-another.
Eaze, however, has denied all accusations, alluding to them as an attempt by rivals to boost their own business. In a statement to Marijuana Business Daily, Eaze spokeswoman Elizabeth Ashforda referred to the entire lawsuit as a “thinly veiled attempt by publicly traded Canadian company DionyMed to gain an advantage through litigation, prop up their failing stock price and publicize their new delivery platform.”
With the validity of these accusations remaining unknown while the case continues to progress, only one thing is certain: the U.S. is in dire need of federal banking reforms


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Though the overall plastic production in the recording industry has dropped, greenhouse gas emissions caused by music consumption have reached an unprecedented high, a new study from the University of Glasgow shows. The changes in environmental impact are due to the decreasing popularity of physical music formats and rise in digital music streaming.
The amount of plastic production used to package vinyl, cassettes, and CDs have dropped drastically in the U.S. In 1977 (the year in which U.S. sales of the vinyl record peaked), the recording industry used 58 million kilograms of plastic. In 1988 (the peak of cassette sales), that figure dropped slightly to 56 million kilograms of plastic. In 2000 (the peak of CD sales), the industry used 61 million kilograms of plastic. When streaming became the primary method of music listening, the amount of plastics dropped drastically down to around 8 million kilograms by 2016.
“The figures may even suggest that the rises of downloading and streaming are making music more environmentally friendly,” says Dr. Kyle Devine, the University of Oslo professor who led research on the environmental costs of music consumption. “But a very different picture emerges when we think about the energy used to power online music listening. Storing and processing music online uses a tremendous amount of resources and energy—which has a high impact on the environment.”
After translating the production of plastics and the generation of electricity (for storing and transmitting digital audio files) into greenhouse gas equivalents (GHGs), researchers found that the rise in streaming has led to an increasingly negative impact on the environment. While 140 million kilograms of GHGs were generated in 1977, 136 million kilograms in 1988, and 157 million in 2000. By 2016, the generation of GHGs by storing and transmitting digital music files was estimated to be between 200-350 million kilograms in the U.S. alone.
The research also shows that while the environmental cost of music consumption has never been higher, the price consumers are willing to pay for music has never been lower. In 1997, consumers were willing to pay roughly 4.83% of an average weekly salary. That percentage decreased to roughly 1.22% of an average weekly salary in 2013. Since the advent of streaming, the research shows that consumers now pay only just over 1% of their weekly salary to listen to a vast library of music.


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In VW inquiry, states scrutinize ads to build case
WASHINGTON (AP) — For years, Volkswagen lured customers with "clean diesel" ads that sent cars zooming off the lot and the company's revenues spiraling. Now, in the wake of VW's admission that its software cheated emissions tests, those ads could bring major sticker shock for the German automaker.
An expanding investigation by state attorneys general into VW's emissions claims will likely focus on every ad, banner or social media sales pitch describing its diesel cars as good for the environment. Those ads are at odds with the company acknowledging that it put stealth software in millions of vehicles worldwide to cheat on emissions tests. State laws ban deceptive or misleading business practices and violations can bring fines of $5,000 or more for each instance.
In all, Volkswagen sold nearly 500,000 "clean diesel" cars in the U.S. that emitted smog-causing exhaust up to 40 times dirtier than the law allows. The affected cars date back to the 2009 model year, so the states' legal strategy could implicate advertisements that aired or were published since then.
"Each incident is a separate violation," said James Tierney, former Maine attorney general and now program director of the National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia Law School. "Advertising, even if the sale does not occur, could violate these laws. Every time there was a banner on a website, every time a salesman said this car is terrific, all of that is a violation."
Jeannine Ginivan, a VW spokeswoman, said the company was unable to comment on active or pending litigation.
The deceptive practices statutes are one element of the multistate review, which will also examine VW's environmental harm, and is only one piece of a larger body of inquiries into VW. The Environmental Protection Agency this week said it discovered more emissions-cheating software on other VW vehicles, including Audi and Porsche models, which the company disputes. The Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission are also examining the company's actions.
So far, the District of Columbia and every state but three have joined the multistate investigation. California, Texas and West Virginia are pursuing their own lawsuits.
States have sent wide-ranging demands for records and testimony to Volkswagen in a sweeping investigation that could last for years. The company is coordinating its response to the various requests, which include potentially overlapping information, said Kristina Edmunson, a spokeswoman for Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, whose state is among those leading the investigation. New York, another state leading the review, has also demanded documents from VW.
Last week, the National Association of Attorneys General awarded a $1.5 million grant to support the case.
West Virginia's lawsuit notes that Volkswagen claimed its models were the "most clean," delivered 30 percent better fuel mileage, offered "significantly more torque" and were "more fun" to drive. Consumers paid a premium from $1,000 to $6,855 above the cost of standard gasoline engines, the lawsuit said.
Texas' lawsuit said Volkswagen's brochures and Internet and television ads dismissed the longstanding reputation of diesel as a pollutant — "Diesel is no longer a dirty word," one claimed — and touted the vehicles as cleaner than most on the road. The lawsuit seeks $20,000 for each violation.
One goal is to compensate drivers.
"It's horrible timing for us, just horrible," said Rob Lynch, 41, of Columbia, Missouri, who believes the company lied to him.
His family was offered $17,500 to trade a 2013 Jetta SportWagen days before the Volkswagen scandal. Now, the same dealer will only offer $15,200. He listed the car for sale online, but has received scant interest.
Nick Pipkin, 28, of Springfield, Illinois, said his 2012 Jetta SportWagen has dropped in value by about $5,000, and he is trying to sell it. He said he hasn't received any communication from Volkswagen and is unsure whether he needs to keep the car to be compensated.
"I just wish I am reimbursed for my car's lost value," he said.
As the scandal unfolds, VW's advertising continues to raise eyebrows. One example: Audi, part of the Volkswagen Group of cars, employs the sales pitch, "Truth in Engineering."
"VW should be compelled to offer every consumer a buy back," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a former state attorney general. "They should buy back every car consumers want to sell back or (offer) restitution compensation."


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If anything else, this must have been one heck of an impact as it takes a considerate amount of force for an alloy wheel to completely break off from the wheel hub. According to the folks over at Autogespot, the accident involving the Aston Martin DB7 occurred somewhere in the Netherlands. Hit the jump for more pictures.
Via: Autogespot , Source: Geenstijl
Retro design has had its day in the sun, but with each passing year, we see fewer throwback styles being launched and more being discontinu...https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P2papSuNlD4/WH4LYFCysTI/AAAAAAAASvg/G2gQQnd2XkMqUPjrHtLTZuRVLyb4w_puwCLcB/s72-c/retro-vette1.jpg
Interested in buying a used Camaro? You're in luck, because Chevy has made over 5 million of them since the model first debuted in 1967...https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MFsYtEsgKy0/WHuQbZlfuMI/AAAAAAAASlo/ZwoavID8VbkNdgXqin__EPzGz8LojOPcQCLcB/s72-c/retro-maro.jpg
With over a quarter-century separating their debuts and following a gap in production of over a decade, the second iteration of the Acura N...https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QCdn2AKHwV8/WHTU-uMxRqI/AAAAAAAASNk/qNbElcRE5eoyi3_ghYlWyPTkIOI-WyWAQCLcB/s72-c/nsx.jpg
Video footage of the facelifted 2018 Ford Mustang has surfaced on the web.https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N5qRv7EfO0Y/WH1G1VJpoQI/AAAAAAABhYY/hNw83CRpR3AGVxWdqowCVv987GeH3V_fwCLcB/s72-c/Ford18-Mustang.jpg
After a successful career of almost two-and-a-half years on the market, the sixth-gen Ford Mustang is getting its awaited facelift for the ...https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5EOKbX0o3nU/WH47boz4TaI/AAAAAAASVdk/4THpE7a_JFkCpwPBG8Ze5l_8Xs7BiRoJgCLcB/s72-c/2018-Ford-Mustang-2455.jpg


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just the Round-Up - The week in drinks
The week in drinks
The top ten stories published on just-drinks last week:
C&C Group is aiming to triple the size of its international business over the next four years, with the division expected to account for a fifth of group earnings.
A US Congressman has called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate advertising claims made by energy drinks producers.
Pernod Ricard has linked its global workforce in a new online company social network.
A law to raise beer tax in France by 160% has been approved by the country's Parliament, sparking a fresh attack from a trade body.
Diageo has said it believes its vodka stable is well placed to grow in China, despite its recent entry into the country's domestic white spirits category.
Brown-Forman has said it is “so far, so good” for the global roll-out of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, but has distanced itself from further flavour extensions for the core brand.
Coca-Cola Hellenic is the first company to use a new Tetra Pak package for The Coca-Cola Co’s Dobry juice range in Russia.
Brick Brewing has announced a jump in nine-month profits despite operational “challenges” in Q3.
Drinks trade bodies in Ireland have branded the Government's decision to hike alcohol taxes as “disproportionate”, and urged a re-think.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has welcomed a new trade agreement with Russia, saying it will accelerate spirits exports to the world's third-largest spirits market.
The US vodka market remains a fierce battlefield. New products continue to flood the sector, while "predatory" pricing policies affect some US states. What should be the approach of established produc...
- AB InBev, SABMiller - Here's what'll happen next
- Is time right for TWE to move for Diageo's wines?
- Will a sexed-up SABMiller tempt AB InBev?
- Is Brown-Forman at the end of the SoCo road?
- Making consumers the centre of your business
- AB InBev makes formal offer for SABMiller
- Diageo makes US$780.5m beer deal with Heineken
- SABMiller formally rejects AB InBev's offer
- Brito gives call to arms to SABMiller shareholders
- Carlsberg UK chief James Lousada quits
- The IWSR Duty Free/Travel Retail Summary Report 2015
- Future growth opportunities for global spirits
- Global gin insights - market data, product innovation and consumer trends research
- Global non-Scotch whiskies insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research
- Global Scotch whisky insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research


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Apple’s event is definitely the biggest tech event this month as the company unveiled some relevant products from its 2020 stables. The media buzz it attracted is really massive and it’ll be nice if you get a glimpse of what happened.
Apple’s event took place on Tuesday 15th, September, 2020. It lasted the whole day and definetely came with some highlights.
I know some of you were expecting the release of iPhone 12 and iPhone pro series but that didn’t happen as expected.
Below are some of the brief highlights from Apple’s event.
Apple’s Event: Fitness machine
For the love of fitness to announce a Fitness+ subscription, specifically for Apple Watch. This subscription was specially in-built in Apple watches. This Fitness+ subscription costs about $9.99 a month, including cost of cycling and yoga exercises.
Although Apple announced it this September, they announced that it will not launch this year.
Unveiling iPad Air
The unveiling of iPad Air was quite dramatic as Apple’s CEO;Tim Cook, did the unveiling himself. He called it the “all-new, completely redesigned iPad Air”.
Looking at the ‘all-new iPad Air’ , you’ll see that it has 10.9-inch screen, a Touch ID sensor for fingerprint unlock, A14 silicon chip.
Apple didn’t leave out talks on its performance as they said it has a more powerful performance, in comparison to previous iPads.
It comes in display of Five colours namely rose gold, green, black, silver and blue.
The iPad Air will start selling at $599. It can be accessed from next month.
It’s available starting Friday for $329.


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Head shops cashing in as herbal drugs escape ban
LOOPHOLE: Customers get round ruling with cannabis substitute
Head shop customers have found a loophole in the Government crackdown on "legal highs" with cannabis substitutes which do not contain any of the drug but mimic its effects.
One Dublin head shop was doing a booming trade last night as people flocked to buy herbal drugs with names like Neder Gold and Salvia.
These are not covered by the Government ban and can still be legally sold.
They can be smoked or used in tea and are said to create similar effects to cannabis.
New regulations left many head shops closed yesterday but last night customers queued at the Dublin Head Store in Temple Bar to buy the herbal cannabis substitutes.
Stronger cannabis alternatives marketed under the name of Spice or similar names have been banned under the new law which criminalises the sale of any synthetic cannabinoids.
The herbal drugs get around this regulation and a three gram packet of Neder Gold, which looks and smells like the herb oregano, was on sale for €25.
The packet claims to contain "a blend of herbs and herbal extracts including Damian, Wild Dagga, Kanna, Leonurus, Sibirius and Kratom".
Packaged in the UK where the same packet sells for £11.99 on the internet, the manufacturers say it can be "smoked in a joint or a pipe or water bong".
The packet also contains a health warning "Smoking Kills".
It says the product should not be taken without consulting a doctor if the consumer is on medication or has health problems. It also warns against using it while driving or using machinery or if pregnant.
It is not clear if these herbal products will be banned under the new Criminal Law (Psychoactive Substances) Bill 2010.
The Bill will put the onus on shop owners to prove they are not selling illegal products. It is intended to prevent the makers of banned products from circumventing the banned list with new chemical compounds.
Thursday May 13 2010
Dear Drugs-Forum readers: We are a small non-profit that runs one of the most read drug information & addiction help websites in the world. We serve over 4 million readers per month, and have costs like all popular websites: servers, hosting, licenses and software. To protect our independence we do not run ads. We take no government funds. We run on donations which average $25. If everyone reading this would donate $5 then this fund raiser would be done in an hour. If Drugs-Forum is useful to you, take one minute to keep it online another year by donating whatever you can today. Donations are currently not sufficient to pay our bills and keep the site up. Your help is most welcome. Thank you.


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Intern architect Eric Charron has taken the environmentally conscious recycling movement one step further. Inspired by the 2009 Toronto garbage strike, Charron founded Upcycled XD, a one-man design company that repurposes materials bound for processing and transforms them into functional items.
A graduate of Carleton University, Charron obtained his master’s in architecture from the University of British Columbia in 2008. He now works at Spencer R Higgins architecture firm in Toronto, yet his passion for design led him to found his upstart company in 2009.
When the massive trash strike left Canada’s largest city wading in heaps of garbage, he saw an opportunity to capitalize on the debris.
“A roommate of mine was buying all these four-litre water bottles, and they were taking up all this space in our recycling bins,” he says. “So I asked him not to put them in the bins and I started developing storage and lighting out of them.”
Aside from lighting fixtures and storage units, Charron creates tables and wall units from plastic and serving trays made out of cork. All the materials he uses are donated locally or liberated from recycling bins. Several Toronto restaurants have purchased Upcycled XD trays.
“I’m essentially creating value or giving value to products that currently have none. Through my research I’ve found that 80 percent of plastics don’t end up getting recycled; they end up in landfills,” he says. “So by reusing them for these purposes, I’m contributing more to the reuse and recycle effort than most recycling programs do.”
Obtaining materials can be tricky. However, conceptualizing the pieces was Charron’s biggest hurdle. He says designing the items took a lot of trial and error, which produced some surprising results.
“All of the pieces took time to develop. They evolved based on exploration and discovery, basically through playing with the materials,” he says. “All the pieces either had a purpose that I initially envisioned for them or I made discoveries along the way.”
Consultant David Megathlin has three of Charron’s pieces on display in his New York City apartment, including a chandelier, coffee table and wall storage unit.
Megathlin says he was first drawn to Charron’s work because of the environmental aspect. However, the upscale look of the Upcycled pieces also played a factor.
“Everything is clear, light and modern,” Megathlin says. “The look is very fresh and new. They fit the aesthetic of my apartment.”
The peculiarity of Charron’s work doesn’t go unnoticed. Megathlin says everyone from friends to delivery people comment on the repurposed refuse.
“The most amusing comments come from delivery men who come to my door and say, ‘I have a package for . . . what is that?’” he says with a laugh.
Megathlin plans on purchasing more work from Upcycled XD in the future, saying Charron’s willingness to please his clients is a rare commodity in the world of design.
“He understands his clients’ needs while being able to fit his own perspective and aesthetic into the pieces,” Megathlin says. “That sets him apart from other designers.”
Charron recently donated a chandelier to the Autism Speaks Canada foundation and says he will work with any client to achieve the look they desire.
“I’ll work with any client on any type of custom design,” he says.
For more information, visit upcycledxd.com.


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MUMBAI (Reuters) – Reliance Industries, which has upended India’s telecoms sector with its low-cost cellular information plans, launched its fiber broadband system on Thursday in a push to make deeper inroads into the nation’s wi-fi and fixed-line web business.
Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, stated the corporate will start registrations for its fiber-to-home service from Aug. 15, India’s Independence Day.
“India is ranked fairly low at 134th within the world rating for fastened broadband … Jio is set to maneuver India to among the many high 5 in fixed-line broadband,” Ambani informed shareholders on the oil-to-telecoms large’s 41st annual basic assembly (AGM).
Jio, Reliance’s telecoms enterprise, is a key plank of Ambani’s long-term imaginative and prescient to make consumer-facing companies as large as the corporate’s core oil-and-gas enterprise that at the moment accounts for 90 p.c of its revenues.
Since its launch in 2016, Jio has roiled India’s telecoms sector by providing free calls and cut-price information plans, forcing rivals akin to Bharti Airtel to reply with value cuts of their very own and spurring consolidation.
Jio now has 215 million subscribers and is on monitor to cowl 99 p.c of the nation, Ambani stated.
Reliance’s new fiber community, JioGigaFiber, can be rolled out in 1,100 cities and can doubtlessly join 50 million properties, enabling shoppers to make use of sensible options akin to real-time surveillance and related gadgets, Ambani stated, with out giving any pricing plans.
Shares in rival Indian companies that supply residence broadband providers fell after Reliance unveiled JioGigaFiber. DEN Networks closed down about 10 p.c, whereas Hathway Cable and Datacom ended about 15 p.c decrease.
NEW REVENUE STREAM
The plan to launch fiber broadband opens up a brand new income stream for Reliance below its Jio enterprise. The corporate has already invested round $36 billion in its telecoms initiative.
Whereas Ambani reiterated the corporate’s concentrate on high-margin petrochemicals enterprise, native brokerage Sharekhan, which is owned by BNP Paribas, hailed the JioGigaFiber launch as “a step in (the) proper path”.
Reliance has been testing its broadband service in some cities, providing what it says is quicker web connectivity than common broadband the place pace is much less because the fiber reaches solely as much as the constructing and never immediately into properties.
The corporate has additionally been betting on buying content material to gasoline information consumption in a rustic of over a billion cellular subscribers. It has invested in Eros, Indian manufacturing home Balaji Telefilms and music app Saavn.
Billionaire Ambani stated the corporate was concentrating on 100 million customers for its internet-enabled JioPhone that now additionally helps Fb, WhatsApp messenger and YouTube.
Reliance final 12 months launched the JioPhone, which allowed digital funds and was successfully free: patrons may get a tool for a refundable charge of 1,500 rupees.
The Mumbai-headquartered firm stated a JioPhone 2 price at 2,999 rupees ($43.50) can be obtainable from Aug. 15.
Reliance, which runs a number of grocery, electronics and trend shops throughout India in addition to an internet trend portal, plans to digitize its retail community utilizing Jio’s community.
Reliance shares have surged almost 83 p.c since Sept. 1, 2016, the day its telecom service was launched. Jio turned a revenue inside a 12 months of its operation.
“From right here onwards, it can depend upon the profitability of Jio,” stated a fund supervisor, whose mutual fund owns Reliance shares. “That may both make or break the inventory.”
Reliance shares closed 2.6 p.c decrease in a broader Mumbai market that ended down zero.19 p.c.
Reporting by Promit Mukherjee and Sankalp Phartiyal; Extra reporting by Abhirup Roy; Modifying by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Himani Sarkar


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Pakistan’s leading telecommunication Network, Zong 4G sets a new innovative benchmark, by offering the largest roaming Continental Bundle for Asia. The unique bundle will offer unprecedented convenience and ease to Zong 4G customers traveling across 9 Asian destinations. Zong 4G is the first operator in Pakistan which is offering its 4G roaming services across 72 countries through its more than 100 partners.
The Asia Bundle 4G offers unmatched roaming rates to Zong 4G’s customers across 9 popular tourist and business destinations including Australia, Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Through interconnect technology, Zong 4G’s subscribers can now roam internationally while maintaining their LTE connectivity around Asia.
The Hybrid bundle comes with 60 Voice Mins, 60 SMS & 1 GB Data just for PKR 5000+Tax.
Zong Spokesperson said, “Zong 4G truly understands its customers and their diverse connectivity needs. The launch of the Asia roaming bundle is in-line with our strategy of providing our customers with seamless connectivity both at home and abroad. We will continue innovating and enhancing our portfolio to take connectivity to the next level”
With the widest 4G roaming services in Pakistan, Zong 4G is providing multiple bundles along with the most cost-effective rates, foreseeing its customers’ need for unlimited connectivity beyond borders and providing the best industry rates to enable this uninterrupted usage. With a commitment to offering best-in-class services and solutions, Zong 4G is ensuring that customers have a home away from home, by providing these services on the go, anywhere in the world. And, there’s no better way to stay connected other than with Pakistan’s leading network, Zong 4G.


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Flyover Geeks is kicking off its “Bootstrappers Ball” series of one day conferences in cities across the U.S. in Milwaukee on November 18, 2010 at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee!
It will be a day long event of what makes an entrepreneur and entrepreneur. You’ll hear personal stories of entrepreneurs and how they overcome the obstacles facing them as they survive in this economy and make their businesses grow.
There are only 200 tickets available for this event- once they are gone no more will be available
You’ll hear innovative solutions to time old problems and how the digital ecosphere has made things possible that haven’t before and how change is happening not only in Milwaukee but around the Midwest!
It is a full day of speakers and two hours of networking immediately following the event. A full lunch is included in the ticket price as great minds think better on full stomachs.


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Brands in spotlight as Morrisons reveals price cuts
With sales under pressure, in March the UK's number four grocer set out plans to invest GBP300m in its "proposition". Today (1 May) came details of where it has cut prices to try to lure back consumers.
Morrisons today (1 May) gave the first significant details on its plan, announced in March, to lower prices across the store in a bid to stem and revitalise the UK grocer's falling sales.
Morrisons management may be feeling the heat today (28 April) after a scathing attack on strategy from a former director made weekend headlines.
Morrisons has set out its bid to win back consumers and reignite sales - and the UK's fourth-largest grocer has insisted it could hold its own in an increasingly price-focused market.
UK grocer Morrisons plans to increase its investment in pricing in order to "strengthen" its competitive proposition.
- What post-Brexit trade with the EU could look like
- Nestle catering for an ageing global population
- Unilever is "working harder" in tough environment
- What next for Nestle under new CEO Schneider?
- Mondelez on China, Hershey and Q2 results
- Kerry Foods sets its sights on C-sector
- Kar's gets Non-GMO verification for Second Nature
- Tesco drops John West products over sustainability
- Greencore pays GBP15m for Cranswick sandwich unit
- Job cuts imminent as General Mills restructures


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On Wednesday’s “Full Frontal,” Samantha Bee read highlighted parts of the book, Devil’s Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency, by Bloomberg Businessweek reporter Joshua Green which talks about Bannon’s rise to President Donald Trump’s administration.
“This is the true story of how Steve Bannon brought the alt-right into our world,” Bee said. “Like a reverse Buffy standing at hell-mouth going, ‘Come on in, demons!’”
Bannon apparently first learned the power of internet trolls in 2005, when he encountered the online gaming community while working for a company that employed “low-wage Chinese workers” to play “World of Warcraft” and win in-game gold that they could then sell back to players for real money.
“They had enough power that they basically ruined Bannon’s business,” according to Green in the extract that Bee highlighted. “But the lesson he took away from that was that these rootless white males who spend all their time online actually had what he told me was, quote, ‘monster power’ to go out there and effect change”.
“Unleashing monsters! That never goes wrong,” Bee quipped.
Once Bannon took over the far-right site Breitbart, Bee said he courted that same audience, which she referred to as “penis goblins,” as “he set about turbo-charing the website’s white populist agenda and ‘fuck everyone’ attitude.”
“Meanwhile, his beloved penis goblins had discovered a cool, new multiplayer game ― coordinated rape threats,” Bee said. “So many rape threats! Honestly, I don’t even know when they found time to play video games anymore.”


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The national accounts released on Wednesday paint an alarming picture of a slowing economy that is staying in positive growth territory for all the wrong reasons.
GDP growth of 1.7 per cent over the past year is extremely sluggish, but that’s not the main point of interest.
The contribution of household consumption was the big question, because other sources of growth – government spending, business investment and net exports – aren’t enough to get things moving.
Headline household consumption wasn’t too bad, growing 0.5 per cent in the March quarter or 2.3 per cent over the past 12 months.
However, it’s the kind of consumption that is worrying.
The biggest increases in household spending were in ‘electricity, gas and other fuel’ (up 2.9 per cent) and ‘operation of vehicles’ (1.3 per cent).
The problem with the first category is that it represents ‘price inelastic’ goods. As prices rise, we still use our gas heaters or run our cars a similar amount.
Gas and electricity prices are getting eye-watering, and average unleaded prices have gone up 8 per cent since the December quarter.
So we’re spending more money and boosting ‘growth’, while consuming roughly the same amount of energy and fuel.
As for the ‘operation of vehicles’, that is harder to quantify.
Auto-industry economist Richard Johns tells me a number of factors are at work.
While currency fluctuations are not having much of an impact on car prices, Mr Johns has noticed many Australians opting for higher price-bracket vehicles.
That takes two forms. Firstly, cars are getting better, so even basic models include features such as automatic emergency braking. For some reason, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) tends to strip out those price components when it measures car-price inflation.
As a result the ABS says car prices have fallen over the past three quarters, whereas Mr Johns’ own research shows prices paid have risen.
The second factor influencing the ‘operating of vehicles’ is that Australians who earn more of their incomes from shares and property are gradually moving into luxury marques, whereas families who rely on wages are not.
That’s not just a function of ageing, but of the inequalities being created by perverse incentives in the tax system.
So household consumption isn’t as rosy as Treasurer Scott Morrison implies. He said on Wednesday that “household spending continues to support the economy, while household savings remain positive.”
Well only just, Mr Treasurer. While households are spending more on gas, electricity, fuel and vehicles, they are cutting back on discretionary items – alcohol spending fell 1 per cent and clothing and footware contracted 0.7 per cent.
More worrying, though, is how all this consumption is being funded.
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen noted on Wednesday, “…weak household income growth is meaning that households are dipping into their savings more and more … [that’s] is not a sustainable plan for the Australian economy.”
Mr Bowen’s right, though it’s worse than he says.
Before the global financial crisis, Australians were saving very little – often a ‘negative’ amount during 2003 to 2007 (see chart below).
What that means is that, after putting away 9 per cent of their incomes as super savings, households were not only eroding that saving by racking up debts, but sometimes borrowing more than the 9 per cent.
In the days of rapid house price growth that didn’t matter too much – the ballooning equity in homes offset the low savings rate.
But look at the figures now – we’re putting away a mandatory 9.5 per cent in super, then borrow about 4.8 per cent of our incomes to give an average savings rate of 4.7 per cent.
And this time around, house prices are forecast to remain flat or falling in the near future.
All told, the national accounts show a nation spending more on life’s essentials with less money left for the kind of spending that would buoy key areas, such as the sagging retail sector.
The economy needs stimulus, which the Treasurer obliquely admits. He said at his Wednesday media conference: “We made the right choices in the budget to invest in productivity-boosting public infrastructure and to deliver further support to small businesses to invest in their future.”
All true. These are not a good set of economic figures, but at least with those pragmatic measures in the budget the government is starting to take the problems seriously.


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"My only question is, who is our bigger enemy, Jay Powell or Chairman Xi?" Trump wrote amid a series of tweets that rattled markets Friday.Politicsread more
Stocks dropped after Donald Trump ordered that U.S. manufacturers find alternatives to their operations in China.US Marketsread more
"We don't need China and, frankly, would be far better off without them," Trump tweeted.Politicsread more
Yields slipped after Powell said that the central bank will continue to act as appropriate to sustain the economic expansion.Bondsread more
Here are the products that stand to be the most affected by China's new tariffs on $75 billion worth of U.S. goods.Marketsread more
The president tweeted Friday morning that he was ordering "our great American companies" to "immediately start looking for an alternative to China."Marketsread more
Semiconductor stocks and shares of Apple slid on Friday after President Donald Trump said U.S. companies should "immediately start looking for an alternative" to their...Technologyread more
The two American car companies are among the top exporters of U.S.-produced vehicles to China along with BMW and Daimler/Mercedes-Benz, according to industry data obtained by...Autosread more
Multinationals that rely on the supply chain from China are tumbling after President Donald Trump ordered them find alternatives to their Chinese operations.Marketsread more
Powell repeats his pledge to keep the economic expansion going while acknowledging that tariffs and other factors are causing growth to slow.The Fedread more
These are the stocks posting the largest moves in midday trading.Market Insiderread more
The stock has catapulted 172% this year and has been one of the best performers in the market since going public in 2017, even as competition heats up with big names entering the video streaming industry. The underdog stock is beating both Netflix and Disney this year.
"Streaming is very popular right now, and it's more popular than ever," Roku CEO Anthony Wood told the "Mad Money" host Wednesday. "We had almost 3 million people cut the cord last year — a million last quarter alone. So you know there's a lot of momentum behind streaming."
Though Roku is one of the pioneers in TV streaming, many Wall Street watchers — including Cramer at one point — were skeptical about how the company could survive in the sector. When the tech company started out, its only real competitor was Netflix, Wood said.
"One of the things about Roku, we have succeeded by building a great user interface, making it super easy to use," he said. "And for regular Americans, it's an easy way to watch TV."
Traditional media giants such as Disney and Comcast's NBCUniversal have plans to launch their own on-demand services. Earlier this year, Apple announced it will launch its own video subscription platform. Now Roku is landing deals with new entrants into the video streaming landscape, including a partnership with Comcast. Disney and Apple are potential partners as well, Wood said.
Instead of just making gadgets to stream content, Roku began licensing their technology to TV manufacturers. The product is now installed in many smart TV models. Roku's strategy is helping to scale the business, monetize active accounts with advertising, earn revenue from content distribution and help partners build audience for their services, Wood said.
"I think those kinds of services coming to streaming — it just brings even more people to streaming, and of course we're a great partner," he said. "We can really help those companies build scale if they want to use some of the marketing techniques we have on our platform."
Because of those changes, Cramer became more bullish on the stock earlier this year when shares were trading in the $40 range. Roku stock closed Wednesday at $83.34.
Roku reported $207 million in revenue during the first quarter, while analysts expected $192 million. Wall Street expected Roku to deliver a loss per share of 24 cents, but the company beat estimates and recorded a loss per share of 9 cents. The company also raised its full year guidance.
Disclosure: Cramer's charitable trust owns shares of Disney, Apple, and Comcast. Comcast owns CNBC parent NBCUniversal.


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“The faux furs look great on the big screen!” Kym Canter was speaking about the collection of coats created for the fantasy musical Rocketman. The film, which charts Sir Elton John’s rise to fame through the soundtrack of his greatest hits, has music at its heart, but the singer’s colorful and flamboyant clothes undoubtedly share the starring role. And to the surprise and delight of Canter and her young Carmen-backed brand, House of Fluff was asked to create eco-friendly faux replicas of his signature furs.
Part of 85-plus wardrobe changes, the collection of furs was created by the New York-based company in less than a week. “We were very flattered,” said Canter about being asked to be part of the project. “At that point we were not even a year old brand!” She went on to explain how the House of Fluff team had a series of conversations with the costume designer Julian Day, and how important it was for Alex Dymek, the company’s design director, to help him understand how the coats should be constructed so that actor Taron Egerton, who takes on the leading role, would be as comfortable as possible on screen.
The team were sent sizes and sketches, and from these made muslin versions of the coats which were then shipped to London for the initial fittings. Only then did the company move on to make to the actual garments. “We were under such time pressure to make everything and ship it out to the costume team,” said Canter. “It takes a lot of time to make the muslins, send them for fittings, wait for them to come back, then make the pattern and finally the real coats. Luckily, Alex is a genius and the whole team nailed it!”
While Day had freehand in creating the wardrobe for the film, he didn’t simply want to replicate every one of the singer’s outfits, and Elton John had worn a lot of real fur in the past. “We were thrilled they decided to go faux,” said Canter. “No animal lost its life for the sake of vanity or a movie.” Indeed, the House of Fluff brand is 100% cruelty free. It develops its faux fur textiles in Italy, or sources them directly from around the globe, and has partnered with renowned scientists to create the most non-toxic textiles on the market. All of its products are made at a fair trade factory in New York City, with excess fabric repurposed into sweatshirt designs or plush collectibles called Scrappys. And the company partners with a women’s co-op in El Salvador for the production of its fabric garment and dust bags.
Commenting on feedback from the film, Canter explained that although the coats weren’t created as a capsule collection, perhaps in hindsight they should have been. “We have already had requests from customers for similar styles,” she said. “Everyone loves the piano key coat!” Watch this space...
Shop House Of Fluff here.
Home Page Image: David Appleby/Paramount Pictures.


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Unilever PLC has chosen JD.com Inc. to serve as its logistics provider in China, as the global consumer goods giant looks to extend its reach to more remote parts of the country.
JD.com said in an Aug. 14 blog post that Unilever will use the Chinese e-commerce giant's in-house logistics network to move goods between warehouses for distribution to physical retailers around the country. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Unilever, which offers brands including Lipton, Vaseline and Lux, has previously used local logistics companies to handle distribution in China, where its products are primarily sold through offline channels.
The partnership is in line with JD.com's "retail as a service" strategy, under which the Chinese company provides its technology and infrastructure to third-party businesses. The Chinese operations of French food producer Danone and dairy company Oldenburger are already utilizing JD.com's warehousing, transportation and inventory management software under the initiative.
JD.com has developed its own proprietary logistics network covering more than 500 warehouses and 7,000 delivery stations in addition to fleets of drones and autonomous vehicles. The online retailer said it is able to provide same- or next-day delivery for more than 90% of its orders in China and can reach 99% of the population.
Rohit Jawa, executive vice president of Unilever North Asia, said in a statement: "By opening that infrastructure to business outside of its own platform, JD will now help us bring our most popular products to the most hard-to-reach communities in China, securely and quickly."


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veganuary 2022 has become the biggest ever been and we can confirm it today since, with just less than two weeks to go, sign-ups have surpassed last year's sign-ups.
In 2021 the number of participants pledging to go vegan for at least the month of January reached 580,000. But as of 9am on Tuesday, January 18, numbers climbed to 605,000.
The organizers credit this growth thanks to the participation of prominent celebrities as the key driver. Celebrities such as Joanna Lumley, Deborah Meaden, Venus Williams, Dr. Jane Goodall, were among the big names encouraging people to try out the lifestyle.
These numbers are set to climb even higher as the sign-up trend keeps growing.
Meaden, a businesswoman known for her appearance on Dragon's Den, joined as an ambassador this year after taking part back in 2020.
Why is Veganuary so successful this year?
From last month hundreds of new vegan products and menu offerings were released in stores and restaurants across the world. From the likes of Impossible Foods and Costa to Linda McCartney and Morrisons, it made the movement more accessible for those new to it.
Also, businesses took part in the Veganuary Workplace Challenge by involving their employees to try veganism this month by eating more meatless meals when at work.


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July 7, 2009
‘Magic’ powder is no Chianti, farmers say
magic powder sold by a German company that allegedly turns water into Chianti wine is a dubious trick, angry Italian farmers say.
The Web site for the German company, Trek'n Eat, promises that its
magic powder, when mixed with water, allows mountain hikers to enjoy a glass of Chianti at the summit of their climbs, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
terrible copyof real Chianti wine, which, it says,
is made from grapes and not packets of powder from which hodgepodges are made.
ANSA said the farmers' group has denounced the Trek'n Eat powder as
just the latest trick at the expense of one of Italy's most prestigious products. This risks fooling less expert consumers on the real contents of the product on sale and damages the image of Italian and European production.
Italian rules demand that in order to obtain the designation Chianti, the wine must be at least 80 percent comprised of Sangiovese red grape and smell of violets, the news agency reported.


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Wonders of the World Book and Toy Store in Gulfport is celebrating Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday and they’re inviting the entire Gulf Coast! WoW Book and Toy Store is the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s only multicultural children’s bookstore and they are hosting their first Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday April 30, 2022 from 1p to 5p at their location at 1520 29th Ave, Suite 3, Gulfport MS 39501.
Independent Bookstore Day
(IBD) is a celebration of books, readers, and indie bookselling that started in California in 2014. IBD is a one-day national party that takes place at indie bookstores across the country on the last Saturday in April. Every store is unique and independent, and every party is different.
For Tonisha Kimble, owner of WoW Book and Toy Store, this IBD is particularly special for her and her store. “This is our first Indie Bookstore Day
we’ve been able to host since opening our physical space last summer, so we’re just excited to have folks come visit and see what all we have to offer.”
WoW Book and Toy Store has several fun activities planned throughout the day on Saturday. David Jackson
, a talented caricature artist and illustrator based out of Jackson, MS, will be doing free caricatures for customers from 2p to 4p. Treats will be available while they last by fellow Gulfport based Black woman owned business, Crumb Bucket Novelty Cakes
and they will be giving away signed copies of books by some of your favorite diverse children's book authors every hour.
Indie bookstores have much to celebrate this year as they, like many industries, have spent the past couple of years worried about the pandemic and dealing with the supply chain disruptions that came along as a result. However, according to American Bookseller Association CEO Allison K. Hill
, independent booksellers have largely avoided disaster and as of May 2020 ABA membership has grown to 1,701 members. While the numbers of independent booksellers have grown over the past couple years, diversity among booksellers is still low, as approximately only 6 percent
of independent bookstores are Black owned.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is home to several independent bookstores and Black owned independent bookstores in addition to WoW Book and Toy Store, including: Pass Christian Books, Southern Bound Book Shop, Covenant Christian Bookstore, and Black Authors Rock Bookstore.
Wonders of the World Book and Toy Store is a multicultural children’s bookstore located in beautiful Gulfport, MS. They opened their physical location this past summer, but have been in operation since 2017. WoW Book and Toy Store offers diverse children’s books for all ages from baby to young adult, and several genres including comic books and graphic novels. They also delight in making handmade stationery and book accessories.


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CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M) today reported total sales of $2.465 billion for the four weeks ended Nov. 26, 2011, an increase of 5.3 percent compared with total sales of $2.341 billion in the four weeks ended Nov. 27, 2010. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc. sales were up 4.8 percent in November.
“A strong Black Friday punctuated our very positive sales performance throughout November at both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. This was the first year that Macy’s stores opened at 12 midnight on Black Friday, which particularly attracted millennial customers who gravitate to the fashion, newness and value in our merchandise assortments,” said Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc. “Our success in November came on top of a very strong month last year and continued the upward trend in our business in stores and online.”
For the year to date, Macy’s, Inc. sales totaled $20.146 billion, up 5.6 percent from total sales of $19.075 billion in the first 43 weeks of 2010. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc.’s year-to-date sales were up 5.2 percent.
Online sales (macys.com and bloomingdales.com combined) were up 49.6 percent in November and 40.9 percent in 2011 year-to-date. Online sales are included in the same-store sales calculation for Macy's, Inc.
Macy’s, Inc. reiterated its fourth quarter guidance for same-store sales to be up by 4 percent to 4.5 percent. Should the November sales trend continue, the company said it could exceed that guidance.
Macy’s, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation’s premier retailers, with fiscal 2010 sales of $25 billion. The company operates about 850 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the names of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, as well as the macys.com and bloomingdales.com websites. The company also operates seven Bloomingdale’s Outlet stores.
All statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Macy’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this release because of a variety of factors, including conditions to, or changes in the timing of, proposed transactions, prevailing interest rates, changes in expected synergies, cost savings and non-recurring charges, competitive pressures from specialty stores, general merchandise stores, manufacturers’ outlets, off-price and discount stores, new and established forms of home shopping (including the Internet, mail-order catalogs and television) and general consumer spending levels, including the impact of the availability and level of consumer debt, the effect of weather and other factors identified in documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(NOTE: Additional information on Macy’s, Inc., including past news releases, is available at www.macysinc.com/pressroom).
Media - Jim Sluzewski, 513-579-7764
Investor – Matt Stautberg, 513-579-7780
Source: Macy’s, Inc.
Released December 1, 2011


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Warframe Goul Purge Bounties Update Released; Includes New Enemies, Weapons, and More
A brand new update for Warframe, titled Goul Purge Bounties, has been released, and it includes four new enemies, four new weapons, and a new feature.
It’s that time of the year again when developers of online games try to get players into the holiday spirit by making winter-themed community events and updates, and it seems like indie developer Digital Extremes is no exception, as they have just unveiled, and released a brand new update for its hit game Warframe.
The update, which is titled Goul Purge Bounties, adds a few new enemies, each with their own unique weapon: the Rictis Goul uses a vehicular buzzsaw, the Auger Goul uses a flamethrower, the Devourer Goul uses spiked fists, and finally the Expired Goul uses exploding gloves.
In addition to the new enemies, players will also be able to wield four new weapons: the Cornith (a double-barrel shotgun), the Gunsen (a bladed weapon), the Guartekk (a four-barrelled rifle), and the Stubba (a submachine gun with an insane rate of fire).
Finally, players can also customize their individual Quarters. The exact number of items and combinations have not yet been revealed, but it seems like it’s enough that no two spaces will look the same.
To celebrate the release of this brand new update, the developer has released a brand new, albeit short, trailer. You can check it out at the end of the article.
Warframe was originally released on March 25, 2013, and is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC.


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Final Fantasy XIV producer Naoki Yoshida shared a peek at what’s to come in 2016 with a few screenshots, including a boss and a couple showing the Adamantoise mount’s new flying capabilities.
The above image is from the new content that we’ll see in patch 3.2. It looks like it could be part of the Warring Triad that will be introduced in the update.
Here’s another look at the flying Adamantoise mount.
In case you were wondering about flying turtles, here’s a video showing that it’s totally a thing:


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Chinese electric vehicle battery manufacturer CATL has signed a strategic agreement with Tencent Cloud, aiming to jointly build an AI innovation base and expand cooperation in R&D, achievement application, personnel training and other areas.
According to the agreement, Tencent Cloud will provide infrastructure such as a data center, private cloud storage and an AI algorithm platform for the innovation base. Based on the technical advantages of Tencent’s Youtu Lab in the field of computer vision, both parties will focus on tackling a series of global problems in the field of new energy quality inspection.
This cooperation will help CATL improve its R&D efficiency for cutting-edge AI technology and high-level electric batteries.
President Xi Jinping announced in September 2020 that China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, aimes to reach its carbon emissions peak by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The world is currently undergoing a round of technological and industrial changes, in which new energy has gradually become the main engine of transformation in global automobile industry.
Facing a rapid increase in market demand, new energy battery enterprises are eager to improve their production capacity to meet more customers’ needs. Previously, CATL put forward the concept of “extreme manufacturing,” planning to integrate AI, big data and cloud computing into all aspects of manufacturing new energy vehicle batteries, improving production efficiency.
CATL announced in June that it has signed a new long-term agreement with Tesla, an American electric vehicle manufacturer, to supply lithium-ion batteries to Tesla from January 2022 to December 2025.
Zeng Yuqun, founder and chairman of CATL, overtook Alibaba’s founder Jack Ma for the first time to become the 25th richest person in the world, Global Times reported on July 8.


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Amber Heard suffers a financial crisis
Hollywood entertainer Amber Heard was as of late spotted shopping at a discount department store in New York’s Hamptons.
The Aquaman actress, whose lawyers had said that ‘she is not capable of paying the damages awarded by the court to ex-husband Johnny Depp.
Amber Heard, 36, was wearing a simple white oversized T-shirt and a pair of blue denim as she looks at the clothes in the store.
New York Post that Heard, who lost to Depp over the defamation trial, was supposedly ‘broke’.
Heard's spending plan shopping came just after she confronted her reaction to flying on a personal luxury plane, in spite of guaranteeing monetary emergency.
Heard owes Depp an amount of $8.4 million in penalties for criticizing Depp. Moreover, she likewise needs to pay weighty lawful charges connected with the preliminary case.


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The latest news is that Google has announced that it will be banning 150 dangerous apps from being sold through the Play Store.
According to a Google representative, the reason for the latest Google ban 150 dangerous apps are due to a need to make an “ensemble of protection” against spyware, adware, and malware. As such, if you are attempting to download any app on your smartphone, you need to know whether or not it has been scanned by Google. If you have any suspicions about an app, Google states that they will notify the user before it is downloaded. Here’s how…
If you received a notification from google about the latest Google bans 150 dangerous apps, you are one of the first people to receive this message. There are also other ways to receive this message, so if you didn’t receive the original email, you can also try subscribing to your Google Play Group, or Google+ circles. It’s important to note that this was not an error, but an actual change in the way that apps are scanned by Google. It’s also worth noting that it doesn’t affect apps which were downloaded from the Play Store or purchased through a credit card. Additionally, it does not appear to affect third-party applications.
So, if you have an e-reader or other e-commerce device, you may still be able to use them.
According to Google, the latest changes in the way that dangerous apps are detected will cause users to need to take action immediately in order to delete the app. The way that the new feature works is that once the app is downloaded, it will stay on the phone even after you exit out of the program. As such, if you exit out of the app within the first five hours or so, it will remain on the phone for at least five hours longer.
This means that if you leave apps on overnight, it could be on your phone for several hours or more. For many, this may seem like a minor annoyance but imagine waking up to find that it’s on there for an entire 4 hours. That’s not very nice. In addition to being an irritant, this could actually pose a real danger if you aren’t careful about how much time you leave the apps on.
How did this problem arise, and has Google made any changes?
Google representatives have provided few details as to why the app ban was implemented, other than to say that it was an error. However, one reason that experts speculate about could have caused this issue to arise. Google changed the way that certain apps would be detected, and this could be a potential violation of the European Union’s ban on discrimination. Google has yet to confirm if this is indeed the case, but it is possible that it is.
The solution to this problem is simple; you just need to make sure that you don’t install apps that are dangerous unless you really need them. There’s a very simple way to check your phone to see what apps are dangerous, and it’s all done using an online tracker. By typing “dangerous android apps” into Google or any other search engine, you can get access to a comprehensive list of dangerous apps. If you want to find out what apps are dangerous, this is by far the easiest option.
The only problem with this method is that it will only work if you have an Android device running since this is how the tracker can tell if the app is dangerous. Also, because the tracker only checks for currently installed apps, if they have been uninstalled in the last hour or so, Google will not include them in the list. This way, it is nearly impossible to completely remove a dangerous app from your phone in a 1 hour’s time. But if you don’t need those apps, removing them in a reasonable amount of time won’t be a problem. But if you still download apps that you shouldn’t, like games, you should be good to go in a few hours.
What is the Future For 3rd Party Apps?
We all know what is the future of mobile apps. We are hearing a lot about it, and developers are coming out with new products on a regular basis. But what is the future of 3rd party apps?
Well, we already know what the future of mobile apps looks like. Let us take a look at the current situation and what might be in store for the future.
The first part to what is the future for 3rd party apps looks like is that people will no longer be bound to just one mobile platform. Apple has said that they will no longer be developing their own apps and will begin licensing their platforms to other companies. This will happen on both a global scale and for specific languages as well. Whether the platform they choose will be cross platform or specific language dependent does not matter, what does matter is that the audience and target market will be much smaller.
As third party platform holders, you will no longer have to rely on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry OS, Windows Phone, or any other app store that is available on mobile devices. Instead, you will become an app on someone else’s platform. Apple is clearly doing this to increase their developer’s market share. However, this move may hurt those businesses who have chosen to be exclusive to one particular platform.
It is hard to say what the future of apps will look like for a couple of reasons. One, this is only going to affect those apps that have chosen to stay exclusive to one platform. If you were an app developer that developing an app for iOS only, this would not have any effect on you. You would still be able to sell your app to mobile devices, and would be making money from downloads, and advertising revenue.
The other factor to consider is what the future of apps will look like for those app stores that are not currently part of Apple’s iOS platform.
You might think that a third party app store for iOS development would not be that difficult. After all, it is called a “mobile” app. You would just need to find an app developer that can create an app for you. Once they have done this, you would fill out their development specs and submit your app to them. They will then begin working on your project.
The other future for iOS apps may see additional apps being launched by major developers. Why?
Because users continue to demand more apps. Now that Apple has opened the door for third party developers, and the company is going to continue to do so in the future, the apps that are created now will become some of the most popular ones on the app store.
So what is the future for 3rd party apps?
The answer is that anyone who gets in early will have an advantage over those that got in later. If you get in now, you have a leg up on everyone else. As the industry shifts into the mobile era, and into the future, there will be more apps being created. You could be one of the first.
Now that Apple has opened the door to third party apps, what is the future for 3rd party apps on other platforms?
Well, for one thing, Windows Phone and Android have decided not to allow apps. This leaves only the iPhone and iPad as mobile devices that can be used with games, social networking, checking email, and viewing the web. Those that are left, like the BlackBerry, will probably see less developer activity moving forward. That means that there will be less user friendliness on those platforms as well.
What is the future for the app store?
Hopefully, it will continue to innovate and expand into new areas. It is very likely that within a year or two, more than one-third of all applications will be available on the app store. Some estimates have indicated that it may happen sooner rather than later.
The app store is a valuable part of the mobile industry and developers are watching it like a hawk. If it continues to expand with innovative and exciting new features, then the future for what is the future for 3rd party apps looks bright. We all know that consumers are always looking for new and exciting things, so having an amazing and versatile app store is an excellent way to win in this market. As we move into 2021, It’s possible that many changes and new features will be coming to app stores.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.


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Apple Computer, the self-styled rebel of the American computer industry, has removed images of the Dalai Lama from an advertising campaign in Asia for fear of offending China.
Apple has used Tibet's exiled spiritual leader in the United States, where he appears as one of a series of revolutionary figures from politics, academia, culture and business. But he will be conspicuously absent from Apple's ads here, which will feature Muhammad Ali, Mohandas K. Gandhi, Alfred Hitchcock, Pablo Picasso and Amelia Earhart.
''Where there are political sensitivities, we did not want to offend anyone,'' said Sue Sara, a spokeswoman for Apple's Asia-Pacific division in Sydney, Australia. ''We needed to decide on images that were appropriate across the region.''
Ms. Sara said the Chinese Government had not put pressure on Apple to leave the Dalai Lama out of its advertising. But she added, ''Our management here is Chinese, so we're pretty aware of the sensitivities.''
The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after the Chinese Army put down an uprising there, leaving thousands dead, laying waste to Buddhist monasteries and forcing monks to flee. China annexed the secluded country and has kept firm control since. The Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent efforts to regain some autonomy for Tibet, remains a potent symbol of resistance to Chinese oppression.Continue reading the main story
Apple's decision drew a tart response from the Dalai Lama's spokesman in London, who said the Tibetan leader had given the company permission to use his image around the world and had not been told that it would not be used in the Chinese campaign.
''It is unfortunate that they see an advantage in using him selectively,'' said Tseten Samdup, the spokesman for the Dalai Lama. ''Obviously, it has to do with not offending China, which is such a huge market for them.''
In fact, mainland China is now a tiny market for Apple. The company, which is based in Cupertino, Calif., shipped just over 10,000 Macintosh and Notebook computers to the country in 1997, according to Dataquest, a technology-market research company in Hong Kong. That compares with 170,000 personal computers shipped by I.B.M., the largest non-Chinese supplier.
But the overall Chinese market generated 2.2 million shipments of personal computers in 1997, mostly by domestic manufacturers, according to Dataquest. So there is plenty of room for Apple to grow.
Apple's ad campaign, which just began running on television and in magazines and newspapers here, is not directed at mainland China. But it is running in regional publications like Time and Fortune magazines and the Asian Wall Street Journal, which are distributed on the mainland.
The campaign plays on Apple's carefully honed image as an upstart thumbing its nose at the computer establishment. An early television commercial showed black-and-white images of famous figures, as the narrator, the actor Richard Dreyfuss, intoned: ''Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world usually do.''
The print ads feature the image of a single person, with the slogan ''Think Different.'' So far, in the United States, Apple has used everyone from the media mogul Ted Turner to the jazz musician Miles Davis. The Dalai Lama began appearing in ads in January and is on the back cover of the current issue of Time.
Apple has given conflicting responses since its decision not to use the Dalai Lama was first reported in The South China Morning Post on Monday. A company executive initially said Apple wanted people who were more recognizable in the region than the Dalai Lama. But that explanation seemed far-fetched, given its plans to use Amelia Earhart, who is hardly a household name here.
On Tuesday, Apple acknowledged that the company's decision had little to do with the Tibetan leader's recognition factor. He has been a well-known figure in Asia for years, with one public-opinion pollster in Hong Kong estimating that fewer than 20 percent of Hong Kong residents did not know of him.
In Apple's case, the decision to excise the Dalai Lama will have little effect on its overall campaign. Mr. Samdup, the Tibetan leader's spokesman, said the Dalai Lama would not ask to be removed from Apple's ads in the United States. He said the religious and political leader was not paid for the use of his likeness, though some Tibetan organizations may receive donations of computer equipment from the company.
Still, the decision has symbolic importance for Apple, which has used evocative advertising to cultivate the image of a corporate underdog taking on industry titans like I.B.M..
''The Dalai Lama really stands for our message in the United States,'' said an Apple spokeswoman in the United States, Rhona Hamilton. ''But in China, he may not get across the message that Apple is trying to send.''Continue reading the main story


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Friday, January 20, 2012
Local hardware stores throughout Oregon are seeing a surge of customers as rain continues to pour down.
Manager Wendy Fisher said she's seen an uptick in the sales of extenders to take the walls of water cascading out of gutters away from their homes. Still, she's expecting business to pick up as the rains continue to soak the region.
"People are a bit timid to go outdoors right now, but we're getting the calls for sure," she said. "People are just getting soaked and are doing whatever they can to get water away from their foundations."
Read more at OregonLive.com.